A 32-Month Follow-Up Study of the Effect of APOE ε4 on the Whole Brain Connection in Young Healthy Individuals.

APOE ε4 is risk for cognitive decline even in normal aging, but its effect on the whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) among time in young adults remain elusive. This study aimed to validate the time-by-APOE ε4 interaction on brain FC of this specific population. Longitudinal changes in neuropsychological assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in 26 ε4 carriers and 26 matched non-ε4 carriers were measured for about 3 years. Whole-brain FC was calculated, and a full factorial design was used to compare the difference among groups. Two-sample t test was used for post-hoc analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between FC and cognitive tests. Of 26 specially appointed ROIs, left superior temporal gyrus (TG) was most sensitive to the effect of time-by-gene interaction. Specifically, the alteration of FC was distributed between the left TG and right TG with GRF correction (voxel-P < 0.001, cluster-P < 0.05), and decreased in ε4 carriers while increased in non-ε4. The main effect of gene showed ε4 carriers has lower FC between left TG and right middle frontal gyrus as compared with non-ε4 both at baseline and follow-up study; ε4 carriers has lower FC between left TG and right supramarginal as compared with non-ε4 at baseline, but no difference in follow-up study. The time-by-APOE ε4 interaction on brain FC was demonstrated at a young age, and left TG was the earliest affected brain regions. The young adult ε4 carriers experience decreased FC among time in the absence overt clinical symptoms.

Fat quantification: Imaging methods and clinical applications in cancer.

Recently, the study of the relationship between lipid metabolism and cancer has evolved. The characteristics of intratumoral and peritumoral fat are distinct and changeable during cancer development. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue are also associated with cancer prognosis. In non-invasive imaging, fat quantification parameters such as controlled attenuation parameter, fat volume fraction, and proton density fat fraction from different imaging methods complement conventional images by providing concrete fat information. Therefore, measuring the changes of fat content for further understanding of cancer characteristics has been applied in both research and clinical settings. In this review, the authors summarize imaging advances in fat quantification and highlight their clinical applications in cancer precaution, auxiliary diagnosis and classification, therapy response monitoring, and prognosis.

Hybrid Au-star@Prussian blue for high-performance towards bimodal imaging and photothermal treatment.

In recent years, branched or star-shaped Au nanostructures composed of core and protruding arms have attracted much attention due to their unique optical properties and morphology. As the clinically adapted nanoagent, prussian blue (PB) has recently gained widespread attention in cancer theranostics with potential applications in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In this article, we propose a hybrid star gold nanostructure（Au-star@PB）as a novel theranostic agent for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ photoacoustic imaging（PAI） and photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. Importantly, the Au-star@PB nanoparticles function as effective MRI/PA contrast agents in vivo by increasing T1-weighted MR/PAI signal intensity and as effective PTT agents in vivo by decreasing the tumor volume in MCF-7 tumor bearing BALB / c mouse model as well as in vitro by lessening tumor cells growth rate. Interestingly, we found the main photothermal effect of Au-star@PB is derived from Au-star, but not PB. In summary, the hybrid structure of Au-star@PB NPs with good biological safety, significant photostability, dual imaging capability, and high therapeutic efficiency, might offer a novel avenue for the future diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Correlation analysis of macular microvascular structure and macular pigment opticaldensity in retinal vein occlusion / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe the changes of macular microvascular structure and macular pigment density (MPOD) in eyes with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and preliminarily analyze their correlation.Methods:A prospective clinical study. A total of 62 eyes of 62 patients with monocular RVO secondary ME (RVO-ME) diagnosed in the Ophthalmology Hospital of Xi'an No.1 Hospital from July 2020 to May 2021 were included in this study. There were 33 males with 33 eyes, 29 females with 29 eyes. The age was 58.30±12.15 years. The course of disease from the onset of symptoms to medical treatment was 12.29±7.65 days. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and MPOD test. BCVA examination was performed using a standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted to logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). The vascular density (VD), vascular skeletal density (SD), foveal avascular area (FAZ) and central macular thickness (CMT) of the superficial retinal capillary plexus (SCP) in the range of 3 mm×3 mm in the macular area of bilateral eyes were measured by OCTA. MPOD was measured by heterochromatic scintillation photometry. Bilateral eyes passed examination in 37 cases. The eyes of 25 patients failed to pass the test. The changes of macular VD, SD, FAZ area, CMT and MPOD between the affected eyes and the contralateral eyes were compared. The MPOD of the affected eye and the contralateral eye was compared by paired t test. FAZ area, CMT, VD, SD, and logMAR BCVA were tested by paired Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between macular blood flow density (VD, SD) and foveal morphology (FAZ area, CMT) with logMAR BCVA and MPOD. Results:Compared with contralateral eyes, VD ( Z=-5.981) and SD ( Z=-6.021) were decreased, FAZ area ( Z=-2.598) and CMT ( Z=-6.206) were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). In 37 patients who passed MPOD test in bilateral eyes, the MPOD value of the affected eye was lower than that of the contralateral eye, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.930, P<0.05). Compared with the affected eye which failed to pass the MPOD detection, macular VD ( Z=-2.807) and SD ( Z=-2.460) were increased, FAZ area ( Z=-4.297) and CMT ( Z=-3.796) were decreased in the affected eye which passed the MPOD test, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that logMAR BCVA in the affected eye was negatively correlated with macular VD and SD ( r=-0.298, -0.461; P<0.05), which was positively correlated with FAZ area and CMT ( r=0.487, 0.789; P<0.05). MPOD in the affected eye was negatively correlated with logMAR BCVA ( r=-0.344, P<0.05). MPOD in the contralateral eye was positively correlated with CMT ( r=0.358, P<0.05). Conclusions:The VD and SD of macular SCP are decreased, FAZ area is enlarged, CMT is thickened, and MPOD is decreased in RVO-ME eyes. MPOD is negatively correlated with logMAR BCVA.

Characteristics of optical coherence tomography angiography in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy patients / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To analyze the superficial retinal blood flow around the optic disc of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) patients with affected eyes and contralateral healthy eyes, compared with healthy people.Methods:From May 2018 to may 2019, 30 patients with NA-AION in Xi′an No. 1 Hospital were selected. The changes of superficial retinal blood flow density and perfusion around the optic disc on OCTA of 30 patients with NA-AION, whose contralateral healthy eyes were compared. The pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) of both eyes was also compared. 30 healthy people with no history of eye disease and history of eye surgery were selected as healthy control group, and differences between healthy control group and contralateral healthy eye group in NA-AION patients of the superficial retinal blood flow density and perfusion around the optic disc were compared.Results:The average values of serum homocysteine, apolipoprotein E and low density lipoprotein in 30 patients with NA-AION were higher than the normal reference range. Compared with the contralateral healthy eyes, the effected eyes of NA-AION patients had lower retinal blood flow density and perfusion in the center, inner layer and complete area of the optic disc, with significantly difference ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the latency and amplitude of PVEP-P100 between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the density and perfusion of superficial retinal blood flow in the center, inner layer and complete area of the optic disc between the contralateral healthy eyes of NA-AION patients and healthy control ( P>0.05). Conclusions:OCTA is a safe, rapid and non-invasive test, and it can detect blood perfusion defects promptly, which can be used as the most commonly test method for patients with NA-AION in order to make auxiliary diagnosis and gain time for clinical treatment.

Effect of radiotherapy on the reproductive and endocrine function of women with gynecological malignant tumors / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

Radiotherapy is an important method in the treatment of gynecological malignant tumors,but it also causes great damage to female reproductive and endocrine function.This article reviews the effects of radiotherapy on reproductive and endocrine function in women and protective methods.

Pomegranate Seed Oil Enhances the Percutaneous Absorption of trans-Resveratrol.

Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) is primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids, implying its potential application as a transdermal enhancer. In this study, the function of PSO in prompting the percutaneous absorption of resveratrol was examined and compared with isopropyl palmitate (IP). IP of 10% enhanced the cumulative permeation amount of resveratrol by 50% but did not influence the permeation velocity. Though 2.5% and 5.0% IP accelerated the penetration process of resveratrol, they had no discernable impact on total permeation amount. In contrast, the cumulative percutaneous amount of the drug with 2.5%, 5.0% and 10% PSO was 1.25, 2.25, and 3.14-fold that of resveratrol alone, respectively. Moreover, PSO of different concentrations speeded up resveratrol to permeate through skin in the whole process, exhibiting its superior capacity over IP in enhancing the transdermal absorption of resveratrol. IP of 2.5% substantially augmented resveratrol retention in stratum corneum (SC), epidermis, and dermis (p < 0.05) while 2.5% PSO only increased the drug detaining in SC. Involvement of oils also aided in resveratrol diffusion within skin. The study demonstrates that both IP and PSO prompted the percutaneous transport of resveratrol. PSO presents more promising opportunities in serving as a percutaneous enhancer for transdermal preparations.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery versus total disc replacement: A comparative study with minimum of 10-year follow-up.

Based on long-term follow-ups, this study was designed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for postoperative adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or total disc replacement (TDR) in treating cervical degenerative diseases. Between January 2000 and December 2005, 108 cases undergoing ACDF and 78 undergoing TDR, were enrolled into this study. All medical records were retrospectively collected. Every patient was followed up at least 10 years. Outcome assessment included visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and radiographic parameters. Consequently, thirty-eight (35.2%) of 108 cases suffered from ASD in ACDF group, and 26 (33.3%) of 78 cases in TDR group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding ASD incidence, VAS/NDI/JOA score, recovery rate. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 2.86, 95% CI, 1.58-4.14) and preoperative segmental lordosis (OR = 1.90, 95% CI, 1.05-3.20) were risk factors associated with increased odds of ASD regardless of surgical procedures. On the other hand, preoperative overall lordosis (OR = 0.54, 95% CI, 0.26-0.82) was most likely protective. In conclusion, advanced age and preoperative segmental lordosis were identified as risk factors for postoperative ASD, while preoperative overall lordosis proves to be a protective factor.

Adjacent Segment Degeneration Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus the Bryan Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an established treatment for degenerative disease of the cervical disc, but adjacent segment degeneration or instability may develop long term. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration following ACDF compared with the use of the Bryan artificial disc for cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective comparative study included 93 patients who underwent ACDF or CDA with the Bryan artificial cervical disc between 2002 and 2004, and who had more than eight years of follow-up. There were 29 cases in the CDA group and 39 cases in ACDF group, with a follow-up rate of 73.12%. Clinical results and imaging data were assessed before and after surgery. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups in radiographic parameters at each follow-up time point. There were 19 cases of adjacent segment degeneration (48.72%) in the ACDF group, and 13 cases of adjacent segment degeneration (44.83%) in the CDA group, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Univariate analysis showed that advanced age (OR 1.271, 95% CI 1.005-1.607), low preoperative overall lordosis (OR 0.858, 95% CI 0.786-0.936) and low preoperative segmental lordosis (OR 1.185, 95% CI 1.086-1.193) were significantly correlated with adjacent segment degeneration. CONCLUSIONS Equally good clinical outcomes were achieved with both the ACDF and the Bryan CDA. Increasing patient age was associated with adjacent segment degeneration in both patient groups.

Clinical application of tissue engineering bone loaded with adipose derived stem cells after flap reconstruction in the treatment of composite tissue defects / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of using the tissue engineering bone loaded with adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs)and perforator flap in the treatment of composite tissue defects.Methods From April,2013 to June,2015,there were 9 cases of traumatic bone and skin composite tissue defects,including 7 males and 2 females,with an averaged age of 43 years old.The ADSCs were isolated,induced and co-cultured with demineralized bone scaffold.The tissue engineering bone and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap were adopted for reconstruction of composite tissue defects.Results All 9 patients were followed up for 12-36 months,averaged of 18 months.The bone growth was obviously for 5 cases with bone defects at the middle and lower part of the tibia.They tolerated full weight bearing walking.One case of middle humeral bone defect demonstrated normal bone tissue growth,and the 2/3 of cross section had been restored.One case of humeral bone defect and 1 case of radial bone defect reached bone union.The remaining 1 with skull defect showed new bone growth,but it had not yet achieved complete bone healing.Conclusion The combination of tissue engineering bone and perforator flap is a minimally invasive,easy accessible and effective method for reconstruction of composite tissue defects.

[Characteristics of photosynthesis and light energy partitioning in Amorphophallus xiei grown along a light-intensity gradient.] / ä¸åŒå ‰ç §å¼ºåº¦ä¸‹è°¢å›é­”èŠ‹çš„å ‰åˆä½œç”¨åŠèƒ½é‡åˆ†é ç‰¹å¾.

The objective of the present study was to examine the adaptation strategy of Amorphophallus xiei, a shade-demanding species, grown under different levels of light intensity. The responses of leaf to photosynthetic active radiation, CO2 and simulated sunflecks were analyzed in A. xiei grown under 100% (high light), 32.6% (moderate light) and 5.98% (low light) of full sun. Meanwhile, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter and light energy partitioning were also recorded and calculated in the above-mentioned responsive process. The results showed that in most cases, the maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax), dark respiration rate, apparent quantum yield and carboxylation efficiency in A. xiei significantly decreased with increasing the light level, however, the light compensation point, CO2 compensation point significantly increased. The photosynthetic induction was quicker in individuals grown under moderate light (P<0.05), and the initial stomatal conductance (gs-i) during dark adaptation increased significantly with increasing the light level. There was a ne-gative correlation between gs-i and the time required to reach 30%, 50% and 90% of Pmax during the process of photosynthetic induction. Moreover, the values of actual photochemical efficiency of PS2 (ΔF/Fm') in the light, phototochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (qP) and photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) were higher and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) recorded in photosynthetic induction was also higher in individuals grown under high light, nevertheless, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PS2 in the light (Fv'/Fm') was higher in individuals grown under low light. The proportion of light energy allocated to non-photochemical quenching (ФNPQ) was lower in individuals grown under high light, and, correspondingly, it was higher in ones grown under low light. The results obtained here suggested that, when exposed to high light stress, moderate- and low-light-grown A. xiei would activate the mechanism of energy dissipation to protect itself from injury. Correspondingly, high-light-grown individuals would employ the strategy of increasing heat dissipation and forming quenching complex to cope with high light stress, which, however, might be one of reasons for the sensitivity of A. xiei to high light environment.