Plasmodium falciparum infection by blood transfusion：a case report / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

This paper reported one acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient who infected with Plasmodium falciparum after blood transfusion. Through the epidemiological investigation on this patient and the related blood donors as well as laboratory detections, the source of infection was ascertained. This blood donor was an overseas student from Africa, whose blood sample was positive in the rapid diagnostic test, and the results of microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear and PCR both suggested P. falciparum positive.

Plasmodium falciparum infection by blood transfusion：a case report / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

This paper reported one acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient who infected with Plasmodium falciparum after blood transfusion. Through the epidemiological investigation on this patient and the related blood donors as well as laboratory detections, the source of infection was ascertained. This blood donor was an overseas student from Africa, whose blood sample was positive in the rapid diagnostic test, and the results of microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear and PCR both suggested P. falciparum positive.

Transcranial Sonographic Alterations of Substantia Nigra and Third Ventricle in Parkinson's Disease with or without Dementia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a higher prevalence of substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity compared with controls. Our aim was to explore the neuroimaging characteristics of transcranial sonography (TCS) of patients with PD and those with PD with dementia (PDD). The correlation between the echogenicity of the SN and clinical symptoms in Chinese patients with PDD was also assessed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ratios of SN hyperechogenicity (SN+), maximum sizes of SN+, and widths of third ventricle (TV) were measured using TCS for all the recruited patients. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, rank-sum test, Chi-square test, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The final statistical analysis included 46 PDD patients, 52 PD patients, and 40 controls. There were no significant differences in ratios of SN+ and maximum sizes of SN+ between PDD and PD groups (P > 0.05). TV widths were significantly larger in PDD group (7.1 ± 1.9 mm) than in PD group (6.0 ± 2.0 mm) and controls (5.9 ± 1.5 mm, P < 0.05); however, the ratios of enlarged TV did not differ among the three groups (P = 0.059). When cutoff value was set at 6.8 mm, the TV width had a relatively high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating between PDD and PD groups (P = 0.030) and between PDD group and controls (P = 0.003), based on ROC curve analysis. In PDD patients, SN+ was more frequently detected in akinetic-rigid subgroup, and patients with SN+ showed significantly higher Hoehn and Yahr stage and Nonmotor Symptoms Questionnaire scores (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared to Chinese patients with PD, patients with PDD had a wider TV, altered SN sonographic features, and more severe clinical symptoms. Our findings suggest that TCS can be used to assess brain atrophy in PD and may be useful in discriminating between PD with and without dementia.</p>

Sonographic Alteration of Basal Ganglia in Different Forms of Primary Focal Dystonia: A Cross-sectional Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Few studies have addressed whether abnormalities in the lenticular nucleus (LN) are characteristic transcranial sonography (TCS) echo features in patients with primary dystonia. This study aimed to explore alterations in the basal ganglia in different forms of primary focal dystonia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>cross-sectional observational study was performed between December 2013 and December 2014 in 80 patients with different forms of primary focal dystonia and 55 neurologically normal control subjects. TCS was performed in patients and control subjects. Multiple comparisons of multiple rates were used to compare LN hyperechogenicity ratios between control and patient groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirteen individuals were excluded due to poor temporal bone windows, and two subjects were excluded due to disagreement in evaluation by sonologists. Totally, 70 patients (cervical dystonia, n = 30; blepharospasm, n = 30; oromandibular dystonia, n = 10) and 50 normal controls were included in the final analysis. LN hyperechogenicity was observed in 51% (36/70) of patients with primary focal dystonia, compared with 12% (6/50) of controls (P < 0.001). Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity did not differ between the two groups. LN hyperechogenicity was observed in 73% (22/30) of patients with cervical dystonia, a greater prevalence than in patients with blepharospasm (33%, 10/30, P = 0.002) and oromandibular dystonia (40%, 4/10, P = 0.126). LN hyperechogenicity was more frequently observed in patients with cervical dystonia compared with controls (73% vs. 12%, P < 0.001); however, no significant difference was detected in patients with blepharospasm (33% vs. 12%, P = 0.021) or oromandibular dystonia (40% vs. 12%, P = 0.088).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LN hyperechogenicity is more frequently observed in patients with primary focal dystonia than in controls. It does not appear to be a characteristic TCS echo feature in patients with blepharospasm or oromandibular dystonia.</p>

Supportive effects of conditioned culture media of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on hematopoiesis in vitro / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore whether the conditioned culture medium of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC) has supportive effects on hematopoiesis in vitro. hUC-MSC were cultured in 75 cm(2) culture flasks at a concentration of 2×10(6) cells per flask. After 48 h, the conditioned culture medium was harvested. CD34(+) cells were isolated with the human cord blood CD34 positive selection kit. The CD34(+) cells were plated in three different culture systems: the culture supernatant from hUC-MSC added into incomplete methylcellulose without recombinant human cytokines as conditioned culture medium; the complete methylcellulose medium with recombinant human cytokines as positive control medium; incomplete methylcellulose adding DMEM/F12 with 10% FBS instead of conditioned culture medium as the negative control medium. After 14 days of culture, colonies containing ≥ 50 cells were scored and types of colonies were classified under inverted microscope. The immunophenotypes of cells which were collected from the colonies were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that conditioned culture medium of hUC-MSC supported the differentiation of CD34(+) cells into CFU-G (47.67 ± 0.58), CFU-GM (48.67 ± 4.73) and CFU-M (3.00 ± 2.00) in vitro, while the CFU-E, BFU-E or CFU-GEMM were absent. Comparatively, in the positive control medium all kinds of CFU were observed. Interestingly, the percentage of CD45(+)cells of CFU in conditioned culture medium (97.43 ± 2.15)% was more than CD45(+)cells in positive control medium (39.69 ± 0.96)% (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the conditioned culture medium of hUC-MSC has been confirmed to have ability to support hematopoiesis separately in vitro. Besides, it enhances the differentiation of CD34(+) cells into myeloid cells except cells of erythroid lineage.

Non-replicating recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins elicits anti-tumor immunity in mice / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-tumor immunity of the non-replicating recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>C57BL/6 mice were immunized by non-replicating recombinant vaccinia virus (NTVJmE6E7), and then specific CTLs were determined. Immune protection effects were evaluated by challenges of different doses of TC-1 tumor cells. Immunotherapeutic effects in form of recurrence were evaluated on the tumor-removed mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mice immunized by NTVJmE6E7 could generate TC-1 cell specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL). Mice boosted with NTVJmE6E7 could tolerate the challenge of 1 x 10(4) TC-1 cells. NTVJmE6E7 could effectively prevent the tumor recurrence in the tumor-removed mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NTVJmE6E7 can be taken as a candidate of therapeutic vaccine for HPV-associated tumors and their precursor lesions.</p>

Effects of berberine on EEG and EEG power spectrum recorded in conscious rabbits / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Aim In order to study the mechanisms of underlying improving learning and memory in rodent, the effects of berberine (Ber) on EEG and EEG power spectrum were recorded in conscious rabbits.Methods EEG and EEG power spectrum were recorded in conscious rabbits with chronical implanted electrodes.Results Ber at doses of 1～4 mg?kg-1 iv showed to decrease dose_dependently the spectrum power of delta dominant frequency in cortical area and transfer the dominant frequency from delta to theta rhythm in hippocampus.Under the same conditions, the effects of physostigmine 0.1 mg?kg -1 iv on EEG were similar to Ber.Ber 2 mg?kg-1 iv reversed significantly these effects of Ber 0.05 mg/rabbit iv on EEG and power spectrum, but scopolamine butylbromide 0.4 mg?kg-1 iv, which can not pass the blood_brain barrier, did not.Conclusion The effects of Ber are closely related to the action on the central cholinergic system.