Raman spectral characteristics of magmatic-contact metamorphic coals from Huainan Coalfield, China.

Normal burial metamorphism of coal superimposed by magmatic-contact metamorphism makes the characteristics of the Raman spectrum of coal changed. Nine coal samples were chosen at a coal transect perpendicular to the intrusive dike, at the No. 3 coal seam, Zhuji Coal Mine, Huainan Coalfield, China, with different distances from dike-coal boundary (DCB). Geochemical (proximate and ultimate) analysis and mean random vitrinite reflectance (R0, %) indicate that there is a significant relationship between the values of volatile matter and R0 in metamorphosed coals. Raman spectra show that the graphite band (G band) becomes the major band but the disordered band (D band) disappears progressively, with the increase of metamorphic temperature in coals, showing that the structural organization in high-rank contact-metamorphosed coals is close to that of well-crystallized graphite. Evident relationships are observed between the calculated Raman spectral parameters and the peak metamorphic temperature, suggesting some spectral parameters have the potentials to be used as geothermometers for contact-metamorphic coals.

Endovascular treatment for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms with the Enterprise stent.

BACKGROUND: The development of self-expanding stents dedicated to intracranial use has significantly widened the applicability of endovascular therapy to many intracranial aneurysms OBJECTIVE: To report the angiographic and clinical outcomes of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms treated using the Enterprise stent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-six patients with 50 wide-necked and fusiform aneurysms (19 aneurysms with dissections), admitted between June 2009 and December 2010, were treated using Enterprise stents. Demographic information, procedural data, and technical complication were reviewed. Angiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated at a 9.1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Stent deployment was successful in all the 50 lesions, and additional coil embolization was performed in 48. Complete or near-complete occlusion immediately after stent deployment was achieved in 44 aneurysms, whereas, no immediate coil embolization was chosen in two cases. There was one (2%) procedure-related complication, which resulted in death. At mean 9.1-month follow-up, the result was good (GOS ≤2) in 45 patients. Angiographic recurrences arose in two cases, one of which was re-treated completely. CONCLUSIONS: The Enterprise stent is very useful for endovascular embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, because it is easy to navigate and place precisely. The overall morbidity and mortality rates are low.

[Effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on learning and memory function and morphology of hippocampal neurons of rats with electrical hippocampal injuries].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1) on the morphology of the hippocampal neurons of rats with electrical hippocampal injuries and evaluate its protective effects on the learning and memory function. METHODS: Forty female SD rats were randomly divided into G-Rg1 group, saline group, sham-operated group and G-Rg1+Sham operation group. Using the stereotactic apparatus, electrical hippocampal injury was induced, not in the two sham groups, by application of direct electrical current, followed by treatments with intragastric administration of G-Rg1 or saline for 14 consecutive days. The learning and memory function of the rats was assessed with Morris water maze test. The viability and arrangement of the hippocampal neurons and the number of Nissl bodies were observed after the treatments. RESULTS: Treatment with G-Rg1 significantly improved the learning and memory function of rats with electrical hippocampal injury. The viability of the hippocampal neurons showed no significant changes in the two sham-operated groups (P>0.05), and the number of Nissl bodies was much lower in saline group than in the other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: G-Rg1 can improve the learning and memory function of rats with electrical hippocampal injury, the mechanism of which is probably associated with its protective effect on the hippocampal neurons against electrical injury.

[Relationship between anti-myelin basic protein antibody and myelinoclasis in rat brain stem after brain trauma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relations between anti-myelin basic protein antibody (anti-MBP) variation and myelinoclasis in the brain stem following brain trauma. METHODS: In rat models of brain trauma, MBP content and anti-MBP titer in the blood were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at different time points after brain trauma, and the degree of myelinoclasis in the brain stem slices was assessed with osmic acid staining. RESULTS: Early after brain trauma, MBP content in the blood increased followed by significant reduction 10 days later. Four days after the trauma, anti-MBP titer was markedly increased, accompanied by obvious exacerbation of myelinoclasis in the brain stem, both reaching the highest levels on day 10, at the point of which anti-MBP titer increased by 4 folds and the number of myelinoclasis by 10 folds compared with the control group. Anti-MBP titer and brain stem myelinolysis both lowered 30 days later. Correlation analysis showed an intimate positive correlation between anti-MBP titer and the degree of myelinoclasis. CONCLUSION: After brain trauma, MBP is released as a specific antigen into the blood to stimulate the immune system for anti-MBP production, and the antibody is intimately related to the brain stem myelinoclasis.

[Association of blood and cerebrospinal fluid IgG contents and severity of craniocerebral injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG contents and the severity of craniocerebral injury. METHODS: Totalling 143 patients with craniocerebral injury were divided into 3 groups according Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, namely the mild injury group with GCS score of 12-15 (n=41), moderate injury group with GCS score of 9-11 (n=71) and severe injury group (GCS score 3-8, n=32). Another 9 patients with congenital hydrocephalus were also recruited as the control group. The CSF and blood samples were collected from these patients to measure the IgG contents 4 and 14 days and 1, 2, and 6 months after the injury, respectively. Physical disabilities of the patients were estimated with Rappaport's disability rating scale (DRS), whose correlations with CSF and blood IgG contents were analyzed. RESULTS: In the early stage of moderate to severe brain injury, the IgG content was lowered significantly in the blood but increased in CSF as compared with the control patients (P<0.05), and the changes in CSF and blood IgG displayed a significant correlation with the severity of the injury (r=0.950, P<0.01). During the recovery of severe brain injury, DRS score was in inverse correlation with blood IgG content but in positive correlation with CSF IgG content (Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.800, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the early stage of brain injury, detection of blood IgG content may help with the assessment of the injury severity. During the recovery of the injury, dynamic monitoring of blood and CSF IgG contents provides clues of the outcome of the patients and benefit the modification of the treatment plan.

[Clinical analysis of 36 cases of sinus-straddling hematoma after craniocerebral injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between sinus-straddling hematoma (SSH) and venous sinus injury and explore the approaches for surgical management. METHODS: Thirty-six cases of stride sinus hematoma were reviewed to observe the incidence rate of sinus injury complicated with (SSH) and explore its surgical management. RESULTS: The incidence rate of venous sinus injury following (SSH) was 80.56% (29/36), and appropriate surgical management yielded good therapeutic effect in these patients. CONCLUSION: Intracranial stride sinus hematoma is often accompanied by venous sinus injury, and adequate preoperative risk evaluation may improve the success rate of the operation.

[Damaging nucleus centromedianus thalami for treatment of cancer pain in experimental and clinical aspects].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: There is no perfect method to control cancer pain. It is reported that nucleus centromedianus thalami plays a crucial role in the analgesia of central nerve system. The authors conducted this study, based on rat experiments, together with the clinical treatment of more than 90 cases involving various cancer pains, to explore the pain-relieving effects after damaging nucleus centromedianus thalami. METHODS: Ten SD rats, whose nucleus centromedianus thalami were damaged by electrolysis, were chosen, and then measured the pain degree by applying electricity to stimulate the tails of the rats. Meanwhile, another 10 rats, whose nucleus centromedianus thalami were not damaged, were chosen as the control group, among whom the same operation procedure as the above mentioned was carried out. The range of pain scale of the rats was measured by the alteration of the electric intensity. A total of 90 cases of intractable cancer pain were treated, including 36 cases of lung cancer, 21 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 10 cases of intestinal cancer, 8 cases of cancer of pancreas, 8 cases of osteocarcinoma, 4 cases of carcinoma of kidney, 3 cases of hepatocarcinoma. The brain stereotactic technique was used to damage the nucleus centromedianus thalami with radiofrequency coagulation lesions. The 10-grade method recommended by WHO was used to rank pain degree. RESULTS: Pain scale of rats in the first group rose from 0.152+/-0.034 mA prior to the damage to 0.326+/-0.05 afterwards, with a significant difference (P< 0.001), while the pain scale of the control group dropped from 0.142+/-0.027 mA prior to the operation to 0.138+/-0.035 mA afterwards, with no remarkable difference (P > 0.05). To patients with cancer pain, the average pain grade in this study went above 7 scores, but dropped to 0-3 scores after operation, according to the 10 grade method by WHO. A life-long tracing observation indicted that cancer pain in 24 cases relapsed to varying degrees but below 5 scores, the rest of the patients were analgesic persistently, 3 cases among whom lasted for as long as 2 years. The incidence cases of operational complications were 15 of somnolence, 10 of urinary incontinence, 8 of divagation, and 3 of unilateral oculomotor paralysis. These complications released after symptomatic treatments. CONCLUSION: Nucleus centromedianus thalami damage is an effective way to relieve cancer pain, as well as the complications should be paid attention.