Research progress on tremors in patients with Parkinson′s disease / 中华全科医师杂志

Parkinson′s disease is a motion disorder mostly occurring in middle and old age with high disability and death rate. According to epidemiological studies, the incidence of Parkinson′s disease increases year by year worldwide. Tremor is one of the four major symptoms of Parkinson′s disease. However, due to the similarity of signs with other diseases, the diagnosis is mostly based on the clinical experience of neurologist, which makes accurate identification of Parkinson′s disease tremor a challenge. Understanding tremors in Parkinson′s disease can be of help to more accurately diagnose the disease. This article reviews the research progress of tremors presented in Parkinson′s disease and other diseases, and their differentiation, which is expected to be helpful for the diagnosis of Parkinson′s disease.

Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on emotional face perception over brain right dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex in college students / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate whether modulating the activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC) by transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS) can influence emotional perception. Meth-ods Seventy-eight undergraduates were randomly divided into four groups by simple random sampling meth-od. TDCS (1. 5 mA) noninvasive technique was used to test group 1 (n=23) for 3 minutes to intervene in DLPFC,group 2 (n=17) for 15 minutes to intervene in DLPFC,group 3 (n=20) for 3 minutes to intervene in primary visual cortex,and group 4 (n=18) for non-emotional picture test. The data were analyzed with re-peated measurement variance analysis. Results (1) The interaction between short-term(3 min) stimula-tion of tDCS and facial expression was statistically significant (F(1,22)=7. 448,P=0. 012). There was signifi- cant difference in positive face perception (before:70. 58%,period:74. 75%,P=0. 036) and no significant difference in negative face perception (before:70. 58%,period:70. 73%,P=0. 569). (2) There was no sig-nificant difference in the correlation between prolonged tDCS stimulation(15 min) and face expression recog-nition ( F (1,16)= 1. 621, P=0. 221). (3) The primary visual cortex was not affected by anodal tDCS (F(1,19)<1,P>0. 05). (4) There was no significant difference in the interaction between tDCS and facial ex-pression (F(1,17)=2. 566,P=0. 128) when visual stimulus was changed to non-expressive faces. Conclu-sions By applying tDCS technique,the present findings suggest that modulating DLPFC can influence emo-tional face perception,and support the valence-specific lateralization of emotional perception.

Helper T cells in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis / 国际儿科学杂志

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular transmission disorder caused by the body's own antibodies that attack receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.Its pathogenesis and helper T lymphocytes (Helper T cell,Th) and its secreted cytokines are inseparable.In this paper,Thl,Th2,Th9,Thl7,Th22,T follicular helper (Tfh),regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cell) and their secreted cytolines are involved in the pathogenesis of MG.The role and research progress are comprehensively elaborated.

High-level expression and characterization of Selenomonas ruminantium β-xylosidase in Pichia pastoris / 生物工程学报

β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) is an important part of the xylanolytic enzymes system. In the present research, β-xylosidase gene Sxa derived from Selenomonas ruminantium was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. According to the codon bias and rare codons of P. pastoris, mRNA secondary structure and GC content, Sxa gene was optimized. The optimized full-length gene mSxa was obtained by gene synthesis technique and the recombinant yeast expression vector pPIC9K-mSxa was constructed. After being digested by restriction enzyme BglⅡ, the mSxa gene was transformed into P. pastoris GS115. Then, phenotype and geneticin G418 resistance screening, and PCR were adopted to identify the positive transformants. Finally, the recombinant P. pastoris GS115-pPIC9K-mSxa was obtained. Based on enzymatic activity assay, a high-level expression clone was picked up and then the enzymatic characteristics of the recombinant β-xylosidase were studied. The results showed that the molecular weight of the mSxa expressed in P. pastoris G115 was about 66 kDa. The maximum activity was achieved 287.61 IU/mL at fermenter level. Enzymatic characterization showed the β-xylosidase was stable between 40 ℃ and 60 ℃, and pH between 5.0 and 7.0. The optimal reaction temperature and pH were 55 ℃ and 6.0, and preferentially degrading the β-xylose glycosidic bond. The enzymatic activity was activated by Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺, and inhibited by Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, EDTA and SDS. The study indicates that the modified β-xylosidase gene mSxa from Selenomonas ruminantium can express successfully with high activity in P. pastoris. The study lays a foundation for further industrial application of the β-xylosidase.

Progress of the pathological study of dry eye / 基础医学与临床

Dry eye is one of the common chronic disease of ocular surface characterized by the stability of tear film decrease and ocular surface lesion .The change of tear film and the inflammatory reaction which based on immune and the neural regulation abnormality are the important factors in the occurrence , development of dry eye .Alterations in gene structure has become a new research direction , also computer image processing techniques and detection tech-niques of molecular biology gradually have been applying in research and diagnosis of dry eye .

Study of using an individualized treatment strategy to treat patients with chronic hepatitis C / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the outcomes of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with antiviral regimens of interferon (IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) using individualized doses and durations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was designed as an open-label, prospective clinical trial to analyze the virological responses of 169 CHC patients who received individualized dosages of IFNa-2b or pegylated (Peg)IFNa-2a combined with RBV based on their weight ( less than 60 kg or more than or equal to 60 kg), age (less than 65 years or 65-75 years), morbid state (liver cirrhosis or not), and complications (such as heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disorder). Treatment duration was calculated using the time required to induce HCV RNA negativity. The rates of virological response and adverse effects among the different groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IFNa-2b treatment was given to 116 patients, and PegIFNa-2a was given to 53 patients. Compared to the IFNa-2b group, the PegIFNa-2a group showed significantly higher rates of complete early virological response (cEVR; 76.7% vs. 92.5%, P less than 0.05) and sustained virological response (SVR; 53.6% vs. 92.3%, P less than 0.05) among the patients who had completed their course of treatment; the rapid virological response (RVR) rate was also higher for the PegIFNa-2a group but the difference did not reach statistical significance (48.7% vs. 60.4%, P more than 0.05). Seventy-eight patients received the routine dose, and 91 patients received the low dose; there were no significant differences between these two groups for RVR (53.8% vs. 58.9%, P more than 0.05), cEVR (78.0% vs. 80.8%, P more than 0.05), or SVR (65.5% vs. 58.3%, P more than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Use of an individualized antiviral treatment strategy designed according to the patient's baseline condition, early viral kinetics, and tolerability to adverse reactions can achieve a high rate of SVR, as well as improve the safety, prognosis, and cost-effectiveness associated with treating CHC patients.</p>

Relation of IL-17 polymorphisms and serum levels in patients with chronic HCV infection / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin 17 (IL-17) gene and serum protein levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 228 patients with chronic HCV infection and 81 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of IL-17 rs8193036 and rs2275913 polymorphisms were detected by the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Serum levels of IL-17 protein were detected by ELISA. Pairwise comparisons were made by the Chi-square test, and the significance of between-group differences was assessed by the Student's t-test with P less than 0.05.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients with chronic HCV infection and the healthy controls showed similar frequencies of the rs8193036 C/T allele (x2 = 1.428, P = 0.232) and the rs2275913 A/G allele (x2 = 0.106, P = 0.744). In addition, the two groups showed similar distribution of the rs8193036 CC (chronic HCV infection: 46.49% vs. healthy controls: 41.98%), CT (45.61% vs. 44.44%) and TT (7.89% vs. 13.58%) genotypes (x2 = 2.346, P = 0.309), and of the rs2275913 AA (16.23% vs. 13.58%), AG (48.25% vs. 50.62%) and GG (35.53% vs. 35.80%) genotypes (x2 = 0.340, P = 0.844). Subgroup analysis of chronic HCV infection patients stratified according to HCV genotypes 1 and 2 showed no differences in the distribution of rs8193036 and rs2275913 alleles (x2 = 1.127, P = 0.288; x2 = 1.088, P = 0.297) and genotypes (x2 = 2.825, P = 0.246; x2 = 0.970, P = 0.616). However, the chronic HCV infection group did show significantly higher levels of serum IL-17 than the controls (97.67+/-39.68 vs. 71.60+/-19.78 pg/ml, t = 2.414, P = 0.033).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chronic HCV infection is associated with increased serum IL-17; however, the IL-17 polymorphisms rs8193036 and rs2275913 were not associated with chronic HCV infection susceptibility in this study's Chinese cohort.</p>

Establishment of a quantitative method for tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride in rat plasma using pyramide as internal standard / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To develop an HPCE method of tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride in rat plasma using pyramide as the internal standard. METHODS: The separation was performed on a fused-silica uncoated capillary with an inner diameter (ID) of 75 μm, an effective length of 50 cm and a total length of 60 cm. The optimum HPCE conditions were as follows: 100 mmol·L-1 SDS-30 mmol·L-1 sodium tetraborate solution (40:60) was used as the background electrolyt, the samples were injected at the anodic end at 0.5 psi for 6 s, separation voltage was 20 kV at positive power, capillary temperature was 20°C, and detection wavelength was 295 nm. RESULTS: The linear range was 1.12-286.72 mg·L-1(r=0.9996), and the inter-day and intra-day precisions expressed as RSDs were less than 4.21% and 4.74%, respectively. The average recoveries were 91.22%-97.48%, and the limit of detection was 0.16 mg·L-1. CONCLUSION: This method is rapid and accurate to quantify tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride in rat plasma.

Mechanisms of neuroprotection of silent information regulation 2 homolog 3 against hypoxic injury in hypoxic preconditioning / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To investigate the mechanisms underlying neuroprotection of silent information regulation 2 homolog 3 ( SIRT3 ) against hypoxia via preconditioning.Methods PG12 cells were randomly divided into control,hypoxic preconditioning ( Hyp),Hyp with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and OGD.MTT assay and DAPI staining were used to evaluate cellular viability.MitoSOX Red was used to measure the production of mitochondrial superoxide.The protein expression of SIRT3,PGC-1α and MnSOD were assessed by Western blot.Recombinant SIRT3 was also given to further investigate its roles in hypoxic preconditioning.Results The preconditioned PC12 cells had a higher survival rate.When expressed as a percentage of the control group,MTT values following 6 h OGD were around 51.0% in the OGD group but around 74.7% in the Hyp + OGD group ( F = 56,P ＜ 0.01).Mitochondrial ROS after Hyp was less than the OGD group.Both Hyp + OGD and OGD increased the expression of SIRT3,PGC-1α and MnSOD proteins,and these increases were greater after Hyp + OGD.Similarly,the application of recombinant SIRT3 to OGD also further increased the expression of these proteins.Conclusions Hypoxic preconditioning can protect PC12 cells against hypoxic injury.One possible mechanism of hypoxic preconditioning is via SIRT3 to upregulate PGC-la and,in turn,MnSOD to reduce generation of ROS.

Comparison of Surgical Outcomes in Thoracolumbar Fractures Operated with Posterior Constructs Having Varying Fixation Length with Selective Anterior Fusion

PURPOSE: Surgical treatment in the case of thoracolumbar burst fractures is very controversial. Posterior instrumentation is most frequently used, however, but the number of levels to be instrumented still remains a matter of debate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 94 patients who had a single burst fracture between T11 and L2 were selected and were managed using posterior instrumentation with anterior fusion when necessary. They were divided into three groups as follows; Group I (n = 28) included patients who were operated by intermediate segment fixation, Group II (n = 32) included patients operated by long segment fixation, and Group III (n = 34) included those operated by intermediate segment fixation with a pair of additional screws in the fractured vertebra. The mean follow-up period was twenty one months. The outcomes were analyzed in terms of kyphosis angle (KA), regional kyphosis angle (RA), sagittal index (SI), anterior height compression rate, Frankel classification, and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire. RESULTS: In Groups II and III, the correction values of KA, RA, and SI were much better than in Group I. At the final follow up, the correction values of KA (6.3 and 12.1, respectively) and SI (6.2 and 12.0, respectively) were in Groups II and III found to be better in the latter. CONCLUSION: The intermediate segment fixation with an additional pair of screws at the fracture level vertebra gives results that are comparable or even better than long segment fixation and gives an advantage of preserving an extra mobile segment.

Polyaxial Screws with Thick Rod versus Monoaxial Screws with Thin Rod in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Scoliosis Surgery (VATS) / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective controlled cohort study OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical outcome of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) between two different types of implants. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The problem of correction loss has been reported with VATS, and different screws and rods have been developed to overcome this problem. Different implants will have varying effects in correctional outcome after VATS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 cases of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis treated with VATS between June 2001 and January 2005 were included in the study (mono-axial screws and a 4.5 mm rod: thin rod group=19 cases; poly-axial reduction screws and a 5.5 mm diameter rod: thick rod group=20 cases). All patients were followed for over 2 years postoperatively. For the comparison of surgical outcomes between the two groups, radiographic measurements were performed in the coronal and sagittal planes. RESULTS: Preoperative scoliosis angle (thin rod group 49.8degrees, thick rod group 47.1degrees), age, BMI, Risser stage, union time, operative time, and blood loss showed no statistical difference between the two groups. Postoperative average correction rate of scoliosis angle was 69% (15.8degrees) in the thin rod group and 70% (14.1degrees) in the thick rod group. However, correction rate after 2 years was 51% (24.5degrees) in the thin rod group and 60% (18.7degrees) in the thick rod group, showing statistically significant difference. There was a tendency toward correction loss in the thin rod group (8.7degrees vs. 4.6degrees p=0.0057). CONCLUSION: Postoperative correction rate was satisfactory in both groups. However, the thin rod group showed substantial correction loss. Therefore, poly-axial screws and thick rods are more suitable in VATS correction of scoliosis.

High-performance capillary electrophoresis for determining the chemical compositions of Gegen and Fenge extracts / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method for analyzing the chemical compositions of Gegen and Fenge extracts using high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using HPCE/DAD, the chemical composition of the extracts was analyzed with the buffer solution of 40 mmol/L borax containing 16.7% methanol, with injection pressure at 137.9 kPa for 5 s, separation voltage at 25 kV in 0-5 min time range and at 22 kV in 5-25 min time range, and the temperature of the capillary of 20 degrees celsius.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>The method for analysis of Gegen and Fenge extracts was established, which identified puerarin and daidzein as the two major components. This simple and rapid analysis method can be used for Gegen and Fenge extract fingerprinting.</p>

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and percutaneous ethanol injection for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the management of recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between March 2001 and March 2005, 52 patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (tumor size< or =5 cm) underwent PRFA, and 14 of the patients (tumor size 3-5 cm) also received TACE and PEI, and their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MRI or CT after PRFA revealed complete coagulative necrosis of the tumor in 38 cases (tumor size <3 cm). In the 14 patients (tumor size 3-5 cm) with also TACE and PEI, complete necrosis occurred in 11 cases (78.6%). In the patients involved in this study, the 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year survival rates were 96.2%, 69.4%, 45.5% and 30.0%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PRFA is an effective modality for local treatment of recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma, capable of total elimination of tumors <3 cm. For tumors of 3-5 cm, combination with TACE and PEI may help increase the tumor necrosis rate following the ablation and raise the patients' survival rate.</p>

A new surgical treatment for thumb (finger) reconstruction by the free moulded second toe transfer / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To investigate a more perfect method for a nice outward appearance of the thumb(finger) reconstructed.Methods An artery pedicle composite flap from fibular side of the great toe is inlaid in the tibial(ventral) side of the free second toe for thumb reconstruction and the same free second toe with a distal part of metatarsal bone with a double-wings flap for finger reconstruction before transplantation. Results The reconstructed thumb(finger) gets a nice looking and normal function while no blight to the great toe occurred.Conclusion It is an effective new procedure in ameliorating outward appearance of the recon- structed thumb(finger) by transferring the free moulded second toe.

Influence of Pranlukast on Expression of Eotaxin-3 in Bronchial Epithelia Cells / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate whether leukotriene D4 (LTD4) regulates eotaxin-3 (Eot-3) expression in bronchial epithelial cells, and study effect of pranlukst on the regulation.Methods BEAS-2B cells and normal human bronchial epithelia cells were pre- treated with LTD4 for 1 hour,stimulated with interleukin-4, the cells were incubated for 24 hours. Eot-3 protein in supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The cells were pretreated with pranlukast in different concentration, then the above procedure was repeated. Results The untreated bronchial epithelial cell expressed Eot-3 protein on a very low level. After stimulating with IL-4 and incubating for 24 hours, Eot-3 production increased significantly. Pretreating the cells with LTD4 enhanced the inducing effect of IL-4. Pranlukast inverted the upregulation of LTD4. Conclusions Upregulating the expression of Eot-3 induced by IL-4 on bronchial epithelial cells may explain partially the mechanism of leukotrienes involving airway allergic inflammation of asthma. The invertion impact on upregulation of LTD4 by pranlukast may be one of mechanisms that leukotrienes receptor antagonist cure asthma.