Associations of MRI-lesions and clinical features with disability in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective: To analyze associations of MRI-lesions and clinical features with disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Shanghai, China. Methods: We studied patients with MS, identified from a survey in Shanghai, whose sites of lesions in the CNS was based on the MRI examinations. Associations between MRI-lesions, various clinical variables and the severity of disability were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 210 patients in this study. The disability of the patients with lesions confined to the spinal cord was significantly more severe than those with lesions in the brain (p < 0.008). Current age (OR: 1.041, 95% CI: 1.007~1.077), MS duration (OR: 1.082, 95% CI: 1.011~1.159) and MRI-lesions in the spinal cord (OR: 2.441, 95% CI: 1.039~5.737) were significantly associated with severity of disability on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: MRI-lesions in the spinal cord, older age, a longer MS duration were significantly associated with a more severe disability in this MS study in Shanghai China.

Effect of perfusion flow rate on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the effect of different perfusion flow rates on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in large scale β-TCP (tricalcium phosphate) scaffold at perfusion bioreactor. Methods hMSCs isolated from iliac bone marrow aspiration were loaded into large scale β-TCP scaffold and cultured in perfusion bioreactor at the perfusion flow rate of 3, 6 or 9 mL/min for 15 days. The culture media were collected for D-glucose consumption assay every 3 days. After perfusion culture for 15 days, the cell-scaffold composites were harvested for assessment of cell viability by MTT colorimetric method, SEM observation and osteogenic gene expression by real-time PCR. Results The proliferation of hMSCs assayed by daily glucose consumption showed that at early stage of culture, cells proliferated faster at flow rate of 9 mL/min than at 3 or 6 mL/min (P<0.001); while at late stage of culture, cells proliferated faster at flow rate of 6 mL/min (P<0.05). The cell viability indicated that the cell-scaffold composites at flow rate of 6 mL/min exhibited the most viable cells (P<0.001). SEM indicated that all the macropores of the scaffold at different flow rates were filled with cellular layers. All cellular layers at flow rate of 3 mL/min were incompact, but that at 9 mL/min were compact; at flow rate of 6 mL/min, the cellular layers were either compact or incompact. Real-time PCR revealed that after perfusion culture for 15 days, the mRNA expression of osteobalstic genes including ALP and OP, were enhanced significantly at flow rate of 6 and 9 mL/min as compared to that at 3 mL/min (P<0.01); however, the 9 mL/min group presented the higher OC expression than 3 and 6 mL/min group (P<0.001). Conclusions At early stage of perfusion culture, the proliferation of hMSCs was promoted at flow rate of 9 mL/min, while at late stage, there was more viable cells in scaffolds at flow rate of 6 mL/min. The osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs was facilitated with the increase of perfusion flow rate, which was attributed to the increased flow shear stress.

Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with locoregional recurrence of esophageal carcinoma after curative treatment / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this paper was to evaluate the treatment outcome of multimodal treatment for 196 patients with locoregional recurrent esophageal cancer after curative treatment and to determine the prognostic factors of recurrence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and ninety six patients with locoregional recurrent esophageal cancer curatively treated in our hospital were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate. Log rank test was used to evaluate the difference between the groups. Multivariate survival analysis was conducted using a Cox proportional hazard regression model with a backward stepwise procedure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 29.8%, 5.9% and 4.0%, respectively, with a median survival time of 8.0 months. The univariate analysis showed that ECOG PS, the interval between initial treatment and recurrence, the regimens of initial treatment and retreatment were independent prognostic factors. The multivariate analysis showed that the regimens of initial treatment and retreatment were independent prognostic factors. Retreatment methods significantly influenced the survival. The median survival time of chemoradiotherapy, radiation therapy alone, chemotherapy alone, EGFR-TKI and best supportive care were 13.0, 7.0, 6.0, 4.0 and 3.0 months, respectively (P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prognosis of patients with locoregional recurrent esophageal cancer after curative treatment is poor. The main prognostic factors are the regimens of initial treatment and retreatment. Multimodal treatment including radiotherapy and chemotherapy may improve the long-term survival of the patients.</p>

Toxic influence of chronic oral administration of paraquat on nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in C57BL/6 mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Paraquat (PQ; 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium), a widely used herbicide, has been repeatedly suggested as a potential etiologic factor for the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), owing to its structural similarity to the known dopaminergic neurotoxicant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). This study aimed to observe the influence of paraquat on nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in C57BL/6 mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 24 male C57BL/6 mice were assigned randomly to 3 groups: control group (treated by saline), PQ treated group, and MPTP treated group. Mice in PQ treated group were taken orally with PQ (10 mg/kg) daily for four months. Locomotor activity was measured. Level of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites levels in the striatum were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector (HPLC-ECD), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons were detected by using immunohistochemistry. At the same time, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in substantia nigra were measured by spectrophotometry. mRNA expression of dopamine transporter (DAT) in dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra was also determined by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Locomotor activities were significantly impaired in the PQ treated group. Level of DA and its metabolites levels in the striatum were declined. The activities of SOD and GSH-PX were decreased, and the content of MDA was increased in PQ treated mice compared with that in control group. Numbers of TH positive neurons and the mRNA expression of DAT in substantia nigra of mice were also decreased after PQ taken orally for four months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present study suggests that chronic oral administration of PQ could trigger dopaminergic neuron degeneration. Oxidative stress could be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of PD induced by PQ.</p>

Influence of paraquat on oxidative stress of dopaminergic neuron in substantia nigra of mice / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To explore the oxidative stress pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease(PD) induced by paraquat in substantia nigra of mice. Methods The model of PD was established by oral administration of paraquat to mice.The spectrophotometry was used to determine the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) in substantia nigra.At the same time,number of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) positive neurons in substantia nigra of mice was estimated by immunohistochemistry. Results The activities of SOD and GSH-PX were significantly decreased,and the content of MDA was increased in paraquat-treated mice compared to that of mice treated by saline taken orally(P

Therapeutic window of hyperbaric oxygenation for acute cerebral infarction / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To study the influence of different starting time of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO)therapy on acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods A total of 120 patients with first-time acute cerebral infarction were randomly and evenly divided into 4 groups:groups A,B,C and D.All the patients were treated with routine clinical regime.In addition,the patients in groups A,B andC started with HBO within 24 hours,between 24 and 72 hours and after 72 hours post-onset of the disease,respectively,while those in group D without HBO.All the patients were evaluated in terms of their neurological function and their perform- ante in activities of daily living,using the National Institutes of Health stroke survey(NIHSS)and Barthel In- dex(BI).Results At 14,28 and 90 davs after treatment,the patients in group A scored significantly better with NIHSS and BI than those in groups B,C and D(P0.05).No serious adverse reaction was found in the four groups.Conclusion The earlier the HBO therapy was started, the better the treatment.There will be no significant effects of HBO if it was started after 72 hours pust-onset of the disease.HBO therapy appears safe.