Working memory span training improves working memory capacity / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore whether working memory span training can expand working memory capacity.Methods:A randomized controlled trial design was adopted and a total of 60 healthy college students were recruited and randomly divided into training group ( n=30, receiving adaptive training of spatial breadth task) and control group ( n=30, receiving non-adaptive training of low difficulty spatial breadth task). The cognitive behavior and event-related potential (ERP) data of all subjects when completing the change awareness task were collected before and after training.The SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. The differences between the training group and the control group before and after training were compared by repeated measurement analysis of variance. Results:Repeated measurement ANOVA showed that there were significant time and group interactions at the levels of cognitive behavior(K score, F=5.352, P=0.025) and ERP (CDA, F=4.644, P=0.037) levels. Further post test found that compared with pre-training (pre-test), the K-score ((0.51±0.93), (1.61±1.07), F=26.81, P<0.001) and CDA ((-1.49±1.07)μV, (-2.03±0.94)μV, F=4.731, P=0.041) of the training group increased significantly after training (post-test), and there was no significant difference in K-score and CDA of the control group before and after training (boh P>0.05). Conclusion:Working memory span task can be used as an effective training paradigm to improve working memory capacity.

Transfer effect of working memory span training in college students: evidence from behavioral and magnetic resonance imaging / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore the transfer effect of working memory span task training on n-back task and its accordant brain mechanism.Methods:First, a randomized controlled experiment was carried out in 60 college students.The training group ( n=30) received adaptive training on a working memory span task and the control group ( n=30) received low difficulty repeated practice.The difference on 2-back task between the two groups at posttest and pretest was compared.Next, 60 college students who received adaptive training were divided into high transfer group ( n=30) and low transfer group ( n=30) according to their improvement median on 2-back task.The differences of brain activation across the whole brain between the two groups at posttest and pretest were compared. Results:Compared with before training, the accuracy of the 2-back task in the training group increased significantly after training( F=21.45, P<0.001), in which the training group increased by (0.15±0.18). While the control group increased by (0.03±0.17), and the difference was not significant( F=0.99, P=0.327). Compared with the low transfer group, the activation of the right striatum in the high transfer group increased significantly (corrected P=0.028). There was a significant correlation between the change of striatum activation and the change of 2-back task accuracy ( R2=0.084; F=5.21, P=0.025). Conclusion:The working memory span training effect can be transferred to n-back task, and the striatum plays an important role in this transfer effect.

Value of MR diffusion tensor imaging in the assessment of the changes of trigeminal nerve and its correlation with the degree of vascular compression / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the value of MR diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in assessment of the microstructural changes of the trigeminal nerve,and analyze it's correlation with the degree of vascular compression. Methods Thirty-four patients with trigeminal neuralgia from November 2015 to April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed in this study.And they were treated by microvascular decompression(MVD). There were 11 cases of gradeⅠ,16 cases of gradeⅡand 7 cases of gradeⅢaccording to the severity of the contact between nerves and vessels during the operation. All of them were scanned with three dimensional time-of-flight(3D-TOF)sequences, three dimensional fast imaging employing steady state acquisition(3D-FIESTA)sequences and DTI before undergoing surgical decompression. According to the preoperative MR scans,the trigeminal nerves were divided into the healthy side without neurovascular contact (25 cases) and the healthy side with a neurovascular contact (9 cases).The DTI parameters of the trigeminal nerve,including the anisotropic fraction(FA)and the ADC values were obtained.Comparison of the FA and ADC values of the trigeminal nerve between the different stages of the affected side was performed with single factor analysis of variance, and the paired samples t test was used to compare the difference of FA and ADC values of bilateral trigeminal nerve. The difference of FA and ADC values between the asymptomatic side with or without vascular contact was compared with independent sample t test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between DTI parameters and the degree of compression. Results The FA values of patients with grades Ⅰ,ⅡandⅢwere 0.311±0.009, 0.308±0.007 and 0.299±0.009 respectively,and there was significant difference among different levels(F=5.269,P<0.05).The ADC values of the three grades were(2.298 ± 0.309)×10-3,(2.214 ± 0.175)×10-3and (2.259 ± 0.248)×10-3mm2/s respectively, showing no statistically significant difference(F=0.402,P>0.05). The FA values of bilateral trigeminal nerves in healthy side without neurovascular contact and in healthy side with neurovascular contact were statistically significant (t=-32.528,-25.178,P<0.05). There was significant difference in the ADC value of bilateral trigeminal nerves in the group without neurovascular contact(t=2.162,P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the ADC values of bilateral trigeminal nerves in the healthy side of the neurovascular contact group(P>0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the FA and ADC values between the two groups on the healthy side of the trigeminal nerve(P>0.05).The FA value was negatively correlated with the degree of vascular compression (r=-0.453,P<0.05),while the ADC value was not correlated with the degree of vascular compression(P>0.05). Conclusion DTI imaging can be used to evaluate the degree of trigeminal nerve injury. More obvious vascular compression leads to lower FA value.

Relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods A total of 792 patients of T2DM were enrolled in the study.There were 448 males and 344 females,with an average age of (54.13 ± 13.06)years.The average duration of diabetes was (8.03 4±6.70) years.The patients were grouped according to the degree of DR and thyroid function.Among them,483 patients (61.0％) were no DR,240 patients (30.3％) were mild DR,69 patients (8.7％) were severe DR.725 patients (91.5％) were normal thyroid function,67 patients (8.5％) were SCH.The prevalence of SCH among no DR group,mild DR group and severe DR group was compared.And the prevalence of DR between normal thyroid function group and SCH group was compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between SCH and DR.Results No significant differences among the three groups (no DR group,mild DR group,severe DR group) were found in the prevalence of SCH (x2=1.823,P=0.402).There were no significant differences in the incidences of DR between normal thyroid function group and SCH group (x2=1.618,P=0.239).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that SCH was not significant associated with DR [mild DR:odds ratio (OR)=1.361,95％ confidence interval (CI)=0.773-2.399,P=0.286;severe DR:OR=1.326,95％CI=0.520-3.384,P=0.555;DR:OR=1.353,95％ CI=0.798-2.294,P=0.261).Conclusion SCH is not significant associated with DR in patients with T2DM.

Evaluation of Hemodynamics of Posterior Circulation Distal Ischemia with Perfusion-weighted MR Imaging / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the way to evaluate hemodynamics of posterior circulation distal ischemia with PWI. Methods Thirty-two patients with vertebral basilar artery severe stenosis were reviewed and compared with thirty normal persons. Information and data of PWI and MRA were collected and analyzed. Following parameters were observed, index of vascular stenosis, collateral vessels, cerebral blood flow (rCBF), cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and mean transit time (rMTT). Results All the patients had at least one vertebral basilar artery with more than 70% stenosis. There were 17 cases with severe vertebral artery stenosis , 20 cases with severe basal artery stenosis , 8 cases with severe superior cerebellar artery stenosis , 17 cases with posterior cerebral artery stenosis , 22 cases with after the traffic artery open , 11 cases with soft meningeal arteries show and 12 cases with small artery show. The ratio of ROI with frontal white matter was lower than the rCBF and rCBV in the country group. MTT value was extended and P value of the parameters in both groups was less than 0.05, reflecting the statistical difference. Conclusions PWI combined with MRA can effectively evaluate the posterior circulation distal ischemia area and tissue perfusion , as well as the hemodynamic status of ischemia area.

Association study of ZNF804A gene polymorphism rs7597593 with schizophrenia and working memory / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To assess the association between rs7597593 polymorphism of ZNF804A gene and schizophrenia,and to assess the relationship between rs7597593 polymorphism and working memory.Methods Schizophrenia patients and healthy controls were diagnosed in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ) ; 767 schizophrenia patients and 690 healthy controls were involved.Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was carried out to genotype rs7597593 polymorphism.The cognitive function of working memory was assessed by the N-back task.Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS19.0 software.Results The study found no significantly different genotype frequencies (x2=1.519,P=0.468) and allele frequencies(x2=1.263,P=0.261) of rs7597593 polymorphism between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls,however in the subgroup of higher IQ (IQ ≥ 110),there were significant different distributions of both genotype and allele (x2 =9.411 and 6.529; P=0.009 and 0.011 respectively).It was also found in this subgroup that risk T allele was associated with more error at 1-back task (F=6.854,P=0.009).Conclusion These results indicated that rs7597593 polymorphism was associated with individuals having spared cognitive function; carriers of T allele had worse cognitive function,which maybe a pathway that it contributes to schizophrenia.

The effects of visual feedback in retraining upper limb motion after stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effectiveness of visual feedback in retraining upper limb function after stroke.Methods Sixty-one hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group (31 cases)which received motion training using visual feedback in addition to routine neurodevelopment treatment and a motor relearning program,and a control group (30 cases) which received only the neurodevelopment treatment and a motor relearning program.The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were used for as-sessment before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,the FMA and MAS scores of both groups had improved significantly,as had the strength of the forearm flexors.The improvements were significantly greater in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion Motion training with visual feed-back can alleviate upper limb spasticity after stroke significantly better than routine rehabilitation alone.

Investigation of the change in redox state of plasma factor Ⅺ in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with macroangiopathy / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the potential effect of the redox state of plasma factor Ⅺ (FXI) on the pathogenesis of elderly diabetic hypercoagulability and macroangiopathy.Methods The plasma levels of reduced FXI were detected in elderly type 2 diabetic(T2DM)patients with/without macroangiopathy (T2DM group/DMAP group) and healthy subjects (control group),and variables associated with reduced FXI were analyzed.Results Elderly patients with T2DM had higher plasma levels of reduced FXI as compared with healthy controls.The level of reduced FXI was significantly higher in patients with macroangiopathy than without macroangiopathy [control group:(80.6± 15.6) ％,T2DM group:(94.7 ± 16.0) ％,DMAP group (142.6 ± 36.5) ％,all P＜ 0.05].The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that plasma levels of triglyceride,cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were the independent predictors for reduced FXI.Conclusions The plasma level of reduced FXI is increased in elderly T2DM patients with macroangiopathy.The abnormality of lipid profiles may associate with the increment of reduced FXI.These findings maybe provide the novel mechanisms for diabetic hypercoagulability and macroangiopathy.

A survey on the current status of type 2 diabetic patients who failed to achieve the glycemic control target / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To investigate the current status of type 2 diabetic patients who failed to achieve the glycemic control target, and provide theoretic evidences for making corresponding strategies. Methods The 2 diabetic patients who failed to reach the glycemic target were recruited from 181 hospitals in 26 cities and received a standard questionnaire, the conditions of their blood glucose level, lifestyle intervention, blood sugar monitoring, and drug therapy were recorded. Totally 3 861 questionnaires with complete information were collected. And the causes which account for glycemic control status were analyzed. Results Among these patients, the mean HbA1c was 7.9%, the mean fasting plasma glucose was 8.2 mmol/L, and the mean postprandial plasma glucose was 11.5 mmol/L. Only 25.6% of patients take their diet control strictly as prescribed and 44. 5% of patients have little exercise. 35. 8% and 47.8% of patients did not monitor their fasting and postprandial plasma glucose,respectively. Glycemic control in the patients aged ＞ 60 years was similar to the younger patients, but the hypoglycemia incidence in the elder group reached 35.5%, which was higher than those in the other 2 groups (20.8% and 21.4%, both P＜0. 05 ). The proportion of patients with mono-therapy and combination therapy was 46. 1% and 51.7%, while the proportion with combination therapy rose in the patients aged ＞60 years (58.7%;Compared with the other age-groups, all P＜0.05 ). 75 % of patients have adjusted their drug administration regimen since initial treatment. Conclusions Inadequate or inappropriate drug therapy regimen is a major cause responsible for this poor glycemic control status. In addition, the unhealthy life styles, insufficient blood sugar monitoring, and poor compliance were also important causes. Thus, for these patients, it is necessary to further enhance patients' education, to improve life style intervention, as well as to select more effective, safer, and compliant drug therapy regimens. Finally, the glycemic control target for the elder patients should be more flexible.

Improvement of insulin sensitivity by adding on glimepiride in type 2 diabetes patients poorly controlled with sub-maximal insulin dose / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To observe the effect of adding on glimepiride in treating type 2 diabetic patients who had suffered the disease for more than 10 years and were poorly controlled with insulin combined with nonsulfonylureas drugs. Methods Seventy-five type 2 diabetic patients poorly controlled with insulin combined with non-sulfonylureas drugs were randomly divided into glimepiride-added group (INS+GM, n = 39 )and continuation of insulin group ( INS, n = 35 ). HbA1c, plasma glucose, daily insulin dose, number of hypoglycemic events, body weight, plasma lipid concentration,and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)were recorded at weeks 0, 12,and 24. The levels of plasma free fatty acid ( FFA), adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α ) were measured before and 24 weeks after the therapy. Results At 12 and 24 weeks, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose,and HbA1c were improved in INS+GM group more markedly than in INS group, and daily insulin dose and body weight were decreased in INS+GM compared with INS ( P＜0. 05 ). The number of hypoglycemic events and plasma lipid concentration did not differ between two groups ( P＜0.05 ). The levels of plasma FFA,TNF-α,hs-CRP, and HOMA-IR were lower in INS+GM than INS ( P＜0.05 ), the adiponectin was higher in INS + GM than INS ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion Adding glimepiride to insulin therapy resulted in a sustained better glycemic control with less insulin daily dose, decresed body weight, and no increase in hypoglycemic events as compared with the continuing insulin therapy group. Increased adiponectin, as well as decreased plasma FFA and TNF-α may underlie the improvement of insulin resistance with glimepiride treatment.

Cloning of the promoter region of the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene TPS1 of the self-flocculating yeast and exploration of the promoter activity on ethanol stress / 生物工程学报

Improving stress tolerance of the microbial producers is of great importance for the process economy and efficiency of bioenergy production. Key genes influencing ethanol tolerance of brewing yeast can be revealed by studies on the molecular mechanisms which can lead to the further metabolic engineering manipulations for the improvement of ethanol tolerance and ethanol productivity. Trahalose shows protective effect on the cell viability of yeast against multiple environmental stress factors, however, further research is needed for the exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, the promoter region of the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene TPS1 was cloned from the self-flocculating yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae flo, and a reporter plasmid based on the expression vector pYES2.0 on which the green fluorescence protein EGFP was directed by the TPS1 promoter was constructed and transformed to industrial yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC4126. Analysis of the EGFP expression of the yeast transformants in presence of 7% and 10% ethanol revealed that the P(TPS1) activity was strongly induced by 7% ethanol, showing specific response to ethanol stress. The results of this study indicate that trehalose biosynthesis in self-flocculating yeast is a protective response against ethanol stress.

Impact of pentoxifylline on the pathway of high glucose-induced expression of connective tissue growth factor in mesangial cells / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of pentoxifyccine (FIX) on the pathway of high glucosd-induced expression of CTGF in mesangial cells. Methods Cultured rat mesangial celld were used to study the influence of different concentration of high glucose on the expression of TGF-β, CTGF, p-Smad2/3, Smad7 and FN in different exposure time. Furthermore the effect of high glucose plus TGF-β neutral antibody and different concentration of FIX on the obove expression was evaluated as well. Results High glucose could increase TGF-β, CTGF mRNA and protein expression in mesangial cells (P<0.05) in time-and dose-dependent manner, and at the same time p-Smad2/3 expression increased and Smad7 expression decreased (P<0.05).The blockage of TGF-β could decrease high glucose-induced CTGF mRNA and protein expression by 86.4% and 91.8%. PTX could suppress high glucose-induced CTGF expression in mesangial cells. When the PTX dosage increased, the suppressive effect became more remarkable, but PTX had no influence on the TGF-β expression. Conclusions High glucose up-regulates CTGF mRNA and protein expression mainly through TGF-β-Smads pathway. PTX can suppress CTGF expression effectively, but has no direct inhibition of TGF-β expression.

Ethanol tolerance in yeast: molecular mechanisms and genetic engineering / 生物工程学报

Improvement of stress tolerance to various adverse environmental conditions (such as toxic products, high temperature) of the industrial microorganisms is important for industrial applications. Ethanol produced by yeast fermentation is inhibitory to both yeast cell growth and metabolisms, and consequently is one of the key stress elements of brewer's yeast. Research on the biochemical and molecular mechanism of the tolerance of yeast can provide basis for breeding of yeast strain with improved ethanol tolerance. In recent years, employing global gene transcriptional analysis and functional analysis, new knowledge on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of yeast ethanol tolerance has been accumulated, and novel genes and biochemical parameters related to ethanol tolerance have been revealed. Based on these studies, the overexpression and/or disruption of the related genes have successfully resulted in the breeding of new yeast strains with improved ethanol tolerance. This paper reviewed the recent research progress on the molecular mechanism of yeast ethanol tolerance, as well as the genetic engineering manipulations to improve yeast ethanol tolerance. The studies reviewed here not only deepened our knowledge on yeast ethanol tolerance, but also provided basis for more efficient bioconversion for bio-energy production.

Isolating method of rat pancreatic islets and affect factors for its activity / 基础医学与临床

Objective To assess the factors which affect the activity of isolated islets,and to construct a steady and effective isolation method of rat pancreatic islets.Methods Pancreatic islets were isolated by collagenase method.The glucose-stimulation of insulin secretion(GSIS) in different conditions was performed by batch incubation method and measured by RIA.Results GSIS was improved by BSA;There was a evident decrease of insulin secretion in cultured islets of 7 days,however,no difference was observed between the freshly isolated islets group and the 1～5days cultured islets groups.Compared to the groups of(5.5 mmol/L) and(25 mmol/L) glucose in the culture medium,(11.1 mmol/L) glucose group stimulated higher insulin release.Conclusion BSA,glucose concentration of RPMI1640 medium and the culture period are related to the activity of isolated islets.

Construction of a Questionnaire of Attitudes toward Homosexuals in Chinese University Students / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective: To develop a scale to measure attitudes toward homosexuals in Chinese university students.Methods:Based on surveys and literatures, we conducted the pre-test and test for accessing the construct validity of the scale by EFA ( exploratory factor analysis) and CFA (confirmatory factor analysis) in 1010 Chinese university students.Results: There were three components that could explain 63.84% of the total variance with loading between 0.501 and 0.851 in the scale.The three components could explain 46.67%,10.27% and 6.90% of the variance separately.They were named cognitive tolerance, emotional tolerance and behavior tolerance.The scale had NFI 0.979,NNFI 0.981,CFI 0.985,RMSEA 0.073 by CFA.The Cronbach'?coefficient was 0.931 and the test-retest reliability was 0.839 (with P