Comparative efficacy of targeted structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback in children with inattentive or combined attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effects of three courses of different structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback on predominantly inattentive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD-PI) and combined ADHD (ADHD-CT). METHODS: Thirty-eight ADHD-PI and ADHD-CT children were selected and completed three courses of different structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback according to their ADHD type. Before and after each course, relative power value of electroencephalography, including θ, ß, α, SMR and their ratios (θ/ß, θ/α), and eighteen integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA/CPT) quotients were obtained and compared. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, and p < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: After one course, θ, three IVA/CPT quotients in both types and two comprehensive quotients in ADHD-CT changed significantly (all p < .05). After two courses, θ/α, θ/ß and five IVA/CPT quotients in both types, θ and α in ADHD-PI, four comprehensive quotients, and four respond control quotients in ADHD-CT varied significantly compared to before treatment and after one course (all p < .05). After three courses, α, ß, θ, θ/α, θ/ß and ten IVA/CPT quotients in both types changed significantly compared to before treatment and after one course (all p < .05). In addition, six IVA/CPT quotients in both types after three courses were significantly higher than those after two courses (all p < .05). CONCLUSION: Different structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback targeted for ADHD-CT and ADHD-PI were both effective and feasible. Three courses of EEG neurofeedback were most effective.

A dual-mediated liposomal drug delivery system targeting the brain: rational construction, integrity evaluation across the blood-brain barrier, and the transporting mechanism to glioma cells.

As the global population ages, cancer rates increase worldwide, and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), brain tumors, and inflammation threaten human health more frequently. We designed a dual-mediated (receptor-mediated and adsorption-mediated) liposome, named transferrin-cell penetrating peptide-sterically stabilized liposome (TF-CPP-SSL), to improve therapy for gliomas through combining molecular recognition of transferrin receptors (TF-Rs) on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and glioma cells with the internalization and lysosomal escaping ability of CPP. Based on the systematic investigation of structure-activity relations on the cellular level, we constructed TF-CPP-SSL rationally by conjugating TF and CPP moieties to the liposomes via PEG3.4K and PEG2.0K, respectively, and found the optimum densities of TF and CPP were 1.8% and 4%, respectively. These liposomes had the highest targeting efficacy for brain microvascular endothelial cell and C6 cell uptake but avoided capture by normal cells. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology and coculture models of BBB and glioma C6 cells indicated that TF-CPP-SSL was transported across the BBB without drug leakage, liposome breakup, or cleavage of ligand. TF-CPP-SSL offered advantages for crossing the BBB and entering into glioma C6 cells. Real-time confocal viewing revealed that TF-CPP-SSL was entrapped in endosomes of glioma C6 cells and then escaped from lysosomes successfully to release the liposomal contents into the cytosol. Entrapped contents, such as doxorubicin, could then enter the nucleus to exert pharmacological effects.

[Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in rats: the correaltion of imaging fratures and histologic microvascular density].

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the characteristic images of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) in rats using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and microvascular density (MVD) in the surrounding invasion range of HAE lesions. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were infected with Echinococcus multolocularis suspension (approximately 800 protoscoleces in 0.2 ml per rat) through abdominal opening injection in liver. Three months after the inoculation, rats with hepatic E. multilocularis infection were examined by conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The location, size, shape, boundary, inner echogenicity, and blood flow of the lesions, signal intensity and dynamic enhancement pattern were recorded. The positive rats were sacrificed and their livers were obtained. The structure of HAE lesions was observed by HE staining. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on the infiltrative region of HAE lesion and the expression of CD34 in the surrounding hepatic parenchyma. Scoring was based on the percentage of positively stained cells and stain intensity. The correlation of MVD and the characteristic images of HAE using CEUS was analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three Wistar rats with hepatic E. multilocularis infection were killed, and 27 HAE lesions was found. The largest diameter of HAE lesion was 2.24 cm, and the average size was (0.97 +/- 0.48) cm. The shape of HAE lesions was round, oval, or irregular. HAE lesions presented a complex internal echo pattern. Spot-like color flow signal was observed in the tissues around the lesions, no blood flow signal was observed in HAE lesions. In 25 lesions, a circular rim-like enhancement belt was visualized at the periphery during early arterial phase, and honeycomb enhancement appeared in the other two lesions. The positive expression rate of CD34 in infiltrative zones surrounding HAE lesions was 99.2% (118/119), with 17.6% (21/119) of strong positive, 73.1% (87/119) of moderate positive, 8.4% (10/119) of weak positive, and 0.8% (1/119) of negative, respectively. In normal liver tissues, the positive expression rate of CD34 was 25.2% (30/119), no strong positive was found, with 4.2% (5/119) of moderate positive, 21.0% (25/119) of weak positive, and 74.8% (89/119) of negative, respectively. The sonographic infiltrative region in HAE lesion correlated with microvascular density (r = 0.238, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a positive correlation between the circular rim-like enhancement belt surrounding HAE lesions and the microvascular density in the rat model.

[Effects of inhaled nitric oxide on rabbits with meconium aspiration pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on the expression of lung neutrophil adhesion molecule CD(11b) in experimental meconium aspiration pneumonia treated with conventional mechanical ventilation under room air or 100% O(2). METHODS: Rabbits were randomly allocated to 10 groups (n = 60), 6 of each group. Control or meconium aspiration pneumonia model groups were inhaled with room air or 100% O(2). Six treatment groups were treated with continuous NO inhalation at the doses of 6 x 10(-6), 10 x 10(-6) and 20 x 10(-6), respectively for 12 hours under room air or 100% O(2). The ratio of wet/dry (W/D) lung weight, alveolar septal width (ASW), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lung injury score were measured. The expression of CD(11b) in neutrophils of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was detected with flow cytometry. RESULTS: After 12 hours ventilation, the oxygenation was maintained better in treatment groups under different O(2) concentrations than that in model groups. Inflammatory evidence was found in lungs from all the model groups and treatment groups, which was characterized by serious inflammatory cell infiltration in alveolar space and hyaline membrane formation. The lung inflammation was decreased in all groups with nitric oxide inhalation. The ratio of W/D lung weight and ASW among different groups had no significant difference. MPO activities were significantly decreased in groups treated with 10 x 10(-6) and 20 x 10(-6) iNO compared with the model groups [with the concentration of 21% O(2), (1.8 +/- 0.2) U/g vs (4.4 +/- 0.5) U/g and (2.0 +/- 0.1) U/g vs (4.4 +/- 0.5) U/g;with the concentration of 100% O(2), (1.7 +/- 0.4) U/g vs (2.8 +/- 0.5) U/g and (1.4 +/- 0.3) U/g vs (2.8 +/- 0.5) U/g, P < 0.05, respectively]. MPO activities in the 20 x 10(-6) iNO group under 100% O(2) were significantly reduced compared with those under 21%O(2) [(1.4 +/- 0.3) U/g vs (2.0 +/- 0.1) U/g, P < 0.05]. Nitric oxide inhalation with the doses of 10 x 10(-6) and 20 x 10(-6) significantly decreased the expression of CD(11b) (MFI) in neutrophils of the BALF compared with the expressions in model groups without NO treatment (with 21% O(2), 121 +/- 20 vs 392 +/- 204 and 112 +/- 30 vs 392 +/- 204; with 100% O(2), 113 +/- 24 vs 293 +/- 65 and 102 +/- 14 vs 293 +/- 65, P < 0.05, respectively). Under the same iNO dose (10 x 10(-6) or 20 x 10(-6)) no statistic difference was found between groups of different inspired oxygen concentrations (21% and 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled nitric oxide with the doses of 10 x 10(-6) to 20 x 10(-6) could significantly down-regulate the CD(11b) expression in neutrophil of the BALF and reduce the neutrophil sequestration and MPO activity in rabbit lungs, which may decrease the lung inflammation process in meconium aspiration pneumonia.