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BACKGROUND The hydrocarbon generation materials in thin sections of black source rocks (such as black mudstone, oil shale), from the Chang 7 Member of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, are often partially or entirely black under the transmitted-light viewing system of a polarized optical microscope, because they are covered by black organic matter (such as oil, asphaltene) or opaque. OBJECTIVES To put forward an effective method to observe the hydrocarbon generation materials in thin sections of black source rock. METHODS A method for observation of characteristics of hydrocarbon generation materials of black source rock was proposed, using the reflected-light viewing system of a polarized optical microscope on electron probe thin sections. RESULTS The method can overcome the problem that hydrocarbon generation materials in thin section were covered by black organic matter or were opaque. The size, shape, structure, distribution of hydrocarbon generation materials and composition can be entirely and clearly observed in thin sections of black source rock. CONCLUSIONS In the long-term test, it has been proved that the method for observation of characteristics of hydrocarbon generation material in thin sections of black source rock by the reflected-light viewing system of a polarized optical microscope is simple and effective, and can be easily used in the study of hydrocarbon generation of tight oil and shale oil.

Aims To detect specific oculomotor deficits in preclinical stage of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 ( SCA3) and evaluate whether these abnormalities prove useful as potential biomarkers of disease progression. Methods A Chinese cohort of 56 patients with SCA3, including 12 preclinical carriers of SCA3 (pre- SCA3) and 44 manifest SCA3, and 26 healthy control individuals were recruited. We performed a detailed investigation on central oculomotor performance including fixation, gaze, smooth pursuit, prosaccade, and antisaccade using video-oculography. Results Common oculomotor features of pre- SCA3 included square-wave jerk during central fixation and gaze holding, impaired vertical smooth pursuit, slow upward saccade, and increased antisaccade error rate. In our SCA3 cohort, all oculomotor parameters were correlated with the score of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, whilst some of them were correlated with disease duration. Conclusion This study showed that a series of neuropathological changes reflected by oculomotor abnormalities appeared preferentially in preclinical stage of SCA3. Accordingly, objective oculomotor preclinical signs may be useful to detect the optimum time-point for therapeutic interventions in future clinical trials of SCA3. Larger and longitudinal data are warranted to confirm our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown cognitive impairment in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). However, there is a lack of data on Chinese patients with SCA3. Method: We investigated 22 native Chinese with SCA3 and 18 controls matched for age, education as well as mental status. Cognitive assessments were carefully carried out to measure verbal fluency, memory, attention, executive function, visuospatial and visuoconstructive functions. Results: The most common impairments of cognition in native Chinese with SCA3 were disruption of phonemic verbal fluency and frontal executive dysfunction. Deficits in semantic fluency were detected in about 31.8% patients. Impaired visuospatial function and verbal memory were also found in native Chinese with SCA3. The degree of ataxia, CAG repeat length and education were found to correlate with cognitive performance. Multivariate binary logistic regression suggested that an oculomotor disorder and depression are predictors of cognitive impairment. Conclusion: Native Chinese with SCA3 had cognitive impairment of frontal executive function, temporal and parietal functions. An oculomotor disorder might be an index of cognitive dysfunction. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has been reported in Wilson's disease with neurological manifestation (WDNM), but there is a paucity of studies on the role of adjunctive antioxidant therapy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive vitamin C and E treatment in reducing oxidative stress and improving clinical outcomes. Forty-nine patients with WDNM were included and their clinical details were noted. Glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using spectrophotometer at baseline and follow-up. All patients received zinc with or without chelating therapy, and 32 of them prescribed vitamin C (500 mg/day) and E (400 mg/day). Clinical outcomes at 6, 12, and 24 months were categorized as improved, static, or worsened based on improvement in Burke-Fahn-Marsden (BFM) score (>10%) and/or severity grade (> 1). Baseline parameters were similar between two groups; except BFM score was higher in the antioxidant group. At follow-up, the antioxidant group had higher GSH, TAC, and lower MDA levels compared with baseline. Patients on antioxidant treatment experienced improvement more frequently at 6 (53.1% vs. 29.4%), 12 (62.5% vs. 29.4%), and 24 months (68.8% vs. 35.3%) compared with those without antioxidant treatment. In WDNM, adjunctive vitamin C and E treatment reduce oxidative stress and improve clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of characterizing the brain-mineral deposition in patients with Wilson disease (WD) using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Materials and Methods: The study enrolled 30 WD patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Neurological symptoms were scored using the modified Young Scale. The hepatic function indices, serum and urinary copper content, and serum iron content were determined. All study objects received the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and SWI test of the brain. The values of corrected phase (CP) were calculated on SWI. The relationship between CP values and the clinical status were evaluated. Results: The serum iron content of WD patients was higher than the normal. The CP values of substantia nigra, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus of WD were lower than the normal values, while the CP value of substantia nigra was the lowest. No correlations were determined between the CP values and the iron and copper parameters. There was negative correlation between the scores of dysarthria and the CP values of the globus pallidus. There was negative correlation between the scores of tremor and the CP values of caudate nucleus. Some regions, which had high signals on T2-weighted image, had low signals on SWI. Conclusions: There might be abnormal iron metabolism in patients with WD. The decreased CP values might reflect a deposition of both copper and iron. SWI may be more sensitive than the ordinary MRI. The mineral deposition may contribute to the neural symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]