Predictive value of transcranial doppler ultrasound for cerebral small vessel disease in elderly patients / Valor preditivo do ultrassom doppler transcraniano para doença de pequenos vasos em pacientes idosos

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the predictive value of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound for cerebral small vessel disease in elderly patients. Methods: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed on 184 elderly patients with cerebral small vessel disease. The relationship of clinical characteristics and TCD ultrasound parameters with severe white matter lesions (WMLs) in MRI were investigated by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Results: The univariate analysis showed that age, left middle cerebral artery (MCA) mean flow velocity, right MCA mean flow velocity and mean MCA pulsatility index were significantly correlated with severe WMLs (p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only age (odds ratio: 1.21; 95%CI: 1.10-1.36; p < 0.01) and MCA pulsatility index (dominance ratio: 1.13; 95%CI: 1.06-1.80; p = 0.02) were significantly correlated with severe WMLs. The analysis of TCD ultrasound parameters showed that when the cut-off for MCA pulsatility index was 1.04, it could identify severe WMLs. The area under the curve was 0.70 (95%CI: 0.60-0.80). The sensitivity and specificity were 63.0% and 72.0%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 35.4% and 86.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The MCA pulsatility index in TCD ultrasound is significantly correlated with severe WMLs; and TCD ultrasound can guide selective MRI for the detection of WMLs.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar o valor preditivo do ultrassom de Doppler transcraniano (TCD) para doença de pequenos vasos (SVD) em pacientes idosos. Métodos: ultrassonografia de TCD e ressonância magnética (RM) foram realizadas em 184 idosos portadores de SVD cerebral. As relações das características clínicas e os parâmetros ultrassonográficos do TCD com lesão grave de substância branca (WML) no desempenho da RM foram investigados por análise univariada e análise multivariada. Resultados: A análise univariada mostrou que, a idade, a velocidade média de fluxo (MFV) da artéria média cerebral (MCA) esquerda, a MFV da MCA direita e o índice de pulsatilidade (PI) médio estiveram significativamente relacionados à WML grave (P <0,05). A análise de regressão logística multivariada mostrou que apenas a idade (razão de chances: 1,21; IC95%: 1,10-1,36; P <0,01) e o PI da MCA (razão de dominância: 1,13; IC 95%: 1,06-1,80; P = 0,02) estiveram significativamente relacionados a WML grave. A análise dos parâmetros ultrassonográficos do TCD mostrou que, quando o ponto de corte do IP do MCA foi 1,04, ele pôde identificar à WML grave. A área sob a curva foi de 0,70 (IC 95%: 0,60-0,80). A sensibilidade e especificidade foram de 63,0% e 72,0%, respectivamente. Os valores preditivos positivos e negativos foram de 35,4% e 86,6%, respectivamente. Conclusão: O PI da MCA na ultrassonografia do TCD está significativamente relacionado à WML grave. A ultrassonografia TCD pode orientar a ressonância magnética seletiva para detecção da WML.

Efficacy and safety of endostar intracavitary infusion in treatment of malignant serous cavity effusion: A case control study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of endostar or carboplatin combined with endostar intracavitary perfusion in the treatment of malignant serous cavity effusion. Methods     We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 78 cancer patients with malignant serous cavity effusion who received paracentesis and intracavitary endostar, or carboplatin combined with endostar in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between November 2011 and November 2016. There were 42 males and 36 females at a median age of 62 years ranging from 17 to 78 years. According to treatment methods, 78 patients were divided into two groups, in which 33 patients received intracavitary endostar combined with carboplatin (a combination group, 15 males and 18 females at a median age of 56 years ranging from 17 to 66 years), and 45 patients received intracavitary endostar (an endostar group, 27 males and 18 females at a median age of 63 years ranging from 38 to 78 years). The efficacy and safety of two methods were analyzed and compared. Results     The response rate in the combination group was 75.8%, which was higher than that in the endostar group (60.0%, P=0.035). In quality of life improvement, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.113). The incidence of fatigue, myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reactions in the endostar group was significantly lower than that of the combination group (P=0.006, 0.000 and 0.017, respectively). Analysis of long-term efficacy revealed that the median time to progress (TTP) in the combination group and endostar group was 171 days and 143 days, respectively (P=0.030). Conclusion     Intracavitary infusion of endostar alone, or carboplatin combined with  endostar is effective and tolerable for controlling malignant serous cavity effusion. But for the patients with poor physical state who can not tolerant platinum perfusion, intracavitary infusion of endostar alone can be adopted to control malignant serous cavity effusion.

Incorporation of Na+/H+ antiporter gene from Aeluropus littoralis confers salt tolerance in soybean (Glycine max L.).

To develop a salt-tolerant soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivar, a minimal linear Na+/H+ antiporter gene cassette (35S CaMV promoter, open-reading-frame of AlNHX1 from Aeluropus littoralis and NOS terminator) was successfully expressed in soybean cultivar TF-29. Southern and Northern blot analysis showed that AlNHX1 was successfully incorporated into the genome and expressed in the transgenic plants. The AlNHX1 transgenic plant lines exhibited improved growth in severe saline condition (150 mM NaCl). The transgenic lines accumulated a lower level of Na+ and a higher level of K+ in the leaves than wild-type plants under saline condition (150 mM NaCl). Observations on the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rates, malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity indicated that transgenic plants exhibited tolerance to salt stress, growing normally at salt concentrations up to 150 mM. These results demonstrated that AlNHX1 was successfully transferred into soybean and the salt-tolerance was improved by the overexpression of AlNHX1.

In vitro Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Effect of Hypericum perforatum L / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The anti-hepatitis B virus(HBV)effects and its mechanisms of the ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum L.(EHP)in vitro were explored.HepG2 2.2.15 cells,a stable HBV-producing cell line,were cultured as the model system to observe the anti-HBV effect.The viral antigens of cellular secretion,HBsAg and HBeAg,were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The quantity of HBV-DNA released in the supernatant was assayed by real-time PCR.In order to understand the mechanisms of the suppression of HBV replication,all HBV promoters(Cp,Xp,S1p,S2p and Fp)with luciferase reporter gene were transfected into HepG2 cells respectively.Then the activities of viral promoters were examined by luciferase reporter assay.It was found EHP effectively suppressed the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg from HepG2 2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner,as well as the extracellular HBV DNA.And EHP could selectively inhibit the activity of HBV promoter Fp.Our data suggest that EHP exerts anti-HBV effects via inhibition of HBV transcription,which helps to elucidate the mechanism underlying the potential therapeutic value of EHP.

Tea Polyphenols Exerts Anti-hepatitis B Virus Effects in a Stably HBV-transfected Cell Line / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In this study,the anti-HBV effects of tea polyphenols (TP) were examined.After cells were exposed to TP for 3,6,9 days,amounts of HBsAg,HBeAg and HBV-DNA released into the supernatant of the cultured HepG2 2.2.15 cells were detected.TP,to some extent,inhibited the secre-tion of HBsAg and strongly suppressed the secretion of HBeAg in a dose-dependent (P<0.01) and time-dependent manner,with 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value being 7.34 μg/mL on the 9th day,but the time-dependence was not significant (P=0.051).Expression of HBV-DNA in the supernatant of the cell culture also was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent fashion (P<0.01).The IC50 of TP in inhibiting HBV DNA was 2.54 μg/mL.It concluded that TP possessed potential anti-HBV effects and may be used as a treatment alternative for HBV infection.