Search

Objective To summarize the clinical and imaging characteristics with Dandy-Walker syndrome (DWS) in children before and after peritoneal shunt. Methods and Results All 6 children with DWS admitted to Fujian Sanbo Funeng Brain Hospital from January 2016 to January 2023 were selected as the objects of observation, including one case of Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) and 5 cases of Dandy- Walker variant (DWV). Before surgery, the main manifestations were cerebellar vermis defect, upward movement of the tentorial and sinusional area, severe dilatation of the fourth ventricle, posterior cranial fossa cystic lesions, supratentorial ventricle dilatation and hydrocephalus (one case); or cerebellar vermis dysplasia, cerebellar hemisphere compression, the fourth ventricle dilatation, posterior cranial fossa cystic lesions, supratentorial ventricle dilatation and hydrocephalus (5 cases). Right lateral ventriculoperitoneal shunt (2 cases) or posterior cranial fossa cyst-peritoneal shunt (4 cases) were performed, and the operations were successful without surgery - related complications. After 2.31-7.00 years of follow - up, 6 cases of hydrocephalus and posterior cranial fossa cystic malformation were gradually relieved, 3 cases of good prognosis, cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum development, speech, movement and intelligence normal; there were 3 children with general prognosis, including cerebellar disequilibrium symptoms (one case), autism, claustrophobia (one case), and speech, motor and intellectual disorders (one case) complicated with neurocutaneous melanosis. Conclusions The brain structure of the children with DWS presented with hydrocephalus can be well developed after the hydrocephalus is corrected by single shunt. Among them, the cerebellar vermis of the DWV is well developed, while the development of the DWM presented with cerebellar vermis defect needs to be observed in more cases.

A series of ultrabasic-acid igneous rocks are distributed in the belt of Urad houqi-Damaoqi-Siziwangqi, in middle Inner Mongolia. The formation age and geochemistry of these rocks can provide basic geological information for the metallogenic regularities of Cu-Ni deposits related to ultrabasic-basic rocks. The age and geochemistry can also be used to infer the tectonic setting during magma emplacement. The Huanghuatan copper-nickel deposit in Damaoqi was selected for this research. Because of less fractures, high transparency, uniform cathodoluminescence and clear oscillatory zonings, zircon U-Pb dating is prior to be tested on LA-ICP-MS. The result yielded a weighted age of 262.4±1.1 Ma. The geochemical characteristics investigated by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) indicate that Huanghuatan gabbros may have formed in a post-collision tensional environment. Combining with previous studies, it is suggested that the central region of Inner Mongolia had entered into the post-collision stage during the late Permian (255-275 Ma), whereas the close of Paleo-Asian Ocean in this limited area occurred before late Permian (about 285 Ma). This conclusion provides the upper time limit for the close of Paleo-Asian Ocean and the tectonic setting of the central part of Inner Mongolia during middle-late Permian.

Delta-like ligand-4 (DLL4)-Notch signaling is known to play a pivotal role in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis. We had previously found that DLL4 was overexpressed, while Notch1 receptor, which binds to DLL4 during angiogenesis, was absent in the majority of human primary glioblastomas. Thus, DLL4-Notch signaling pathway in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis in primary glioblastoma remains unknown. Tumor tissues from 70 patients with primary glioblastoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of components of DLL4-Notch signaling, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and microvessel density (MVD). Immunohistochemistry results showed that the positive staining of DLL4 and Notch4 was primarily distributed in tumor vascular endothelial cells but rarely detected in tumor cells. However, VEGF, hairy/enhancer of split-1 (HES1; a target gene of Notch signaling), and Notch1-3 expression was seen in both tumor vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells. Univariate analysis showed that the expression levels of VEGF and DLL4, HES1, and Notch4 in tumor endothelial cells were significantly associated with MVD in primary glioblastoma ( P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that high expression levels of DLL4, HES1, and Notch4 in tumor endothelial cells were associated with a decrease of MVD in primary glioblastoma, while MVD increased with elevated VEGF expression in contrast. In addition, DLL4, Notch4, and HES1 expression were positively correlated in tumor vascular endothelial cells ( P < 0.05). We conclude that the vascular DLL4-Notch4 signaling and VEGF signaling complementing each other plays an important role in the progression of tumor angiogenesis in primary glioblastoma. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi1-xHoxFeO3(BHFO, x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a simple double solvents based sol-gel route. X-ray diffraction analysis shows the BHFO samples with x = 0-0.10 are pure-phased perovskite structure. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal that the BHFO particles are in nano scale. UV-Vis measurement was taken to determine the band gap of BHFO samples, suggesting the band gap of BHFO samples can be modulated by Ho doping. The absorption spectra of RhB solution show that the BHFO nanoparticles have photocatalytic effect of degrading RhB organic dye which reaches a maximum of 42% for x = 0.10. Well-shaped M–H hysteresis loops of BHFO nanoparticles were observed at 300 K. The magnetism at room temperature is obviously enhanced by Ho doping. For x = 0.10, the BHFO sample performed the strongest ferromagnetism (Ms= 5.3 emu/g, Mr= 1.5 emu/g). The result confirms the contribution of Ho3+towards enhancement of ferromagnetic properties of BiFeO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delta-like ligand-4 (DLL4)-Notch signaling is known to play a pivotal role in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis. We had previously found that DLL4 was overexpressed, while Notch1 receptor, which binds to DLL4 during angiogenesis, was absent in the majority of human primary glioblastomas. Thus, DLL4-Notch signaling pathway in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis in primary glioblastoma remains unknown. Tumor tissues from 70 patients with primary glioblastoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of components of DLL4-Notch signaling, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and microvessel density (MVD). Immunohistochemistry results showed that the positive staining of DLL4 and Notch4 was primarily distributed in tumor vascular endothelial cells but rarely detected in tumor cells. However, VEGF, hairy/enhancer of split-1 (HES1; a target gene of Notch signaling), and Notch1-3 expression was seen in both tumor vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells. Univariate analysis showed that the expression levels of VEGF and DLL4, HES1, and Notch4 in tumor endothelial cells were significantly associated with MVD in primary glioblastoma (P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that high expression levels of DLL4, HES1, and Notch4 in tumor endothelial cells were associated with a decrease of MVD in primary glioblastoma, while MVD increased with elevated VEGF expression in contrast. In addition, DLL4, Notch4, and HES1 expression were positively correlated in tumor vascular endothelial cells (P < 0.05). We conclude that the vascular DLL4-Notch4 signaling and VEGF signaling complementing each other plays an important role in the progression of tumor angiogenesis in primary glioblastoma. Graphical abstract A, positive staining of DLL4 in human kidney; B, positive staining of VEGF in human breast cancer; C, positive staining of CD34 in human lung cancer; D, positive staining of HES1 in human breast cancer; E-H, positive staining of Notch1-4: E-F in human lung cancer; G-H in human kidney.

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the Conception Vessel, Kidney Meridian, Spleen Meridian, and Bladder Meridian on menstrual cycles and duration, and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen 2 (E(2)) levels in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)., Methods: A total of 96 patients with DOR of both yin and yang deficiency were randomly divided into medication group and acupuncture group (n = 48 cases in each group). Patients of the medication group were treated by Estradiol Valerate tablets, 2 mg/d on the first 10 days, and Estradiol Cyproterone, 3 mg/d from day 11 to 21, followed by 5 -7 days' rest, and the next therapeutic course, continuously for 6 months. For patients of the acupuncture group, filiform acupuncture needles were separately inserted into every 5 points of the Conceptional Vessel, Kidney, Spleen and Bladder Meridians, manipulated with uniform reinforcing and reducing methods till Deqi, and retained for 40 min. The treatment was conducted once daily for consecutive 10 days in one menstrual cycle, beginning from the 10(th) day on after menstruation, which was repeated for 6 months. The integrative scores (normal = 0, mild=2, moderate=4 and severe=6 points) of menstrual cycle, menstrual duration, amount, color, quality [blood blot or ame- nia, symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)] were assessed according to "Guiding Principles for Clinical Trials of New Drugs of Chinese Materia Medica". Serum FSH, LH and E(2) contents were detected by Roche's electrochemical luminescence method., Results: After the treatment, of the two 48 cases in the medication and acupuncture groups, 12 (25.0%) and 20 (4.7) were cured, 11 (22.9 %) and 12 (25.0 %) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 20 (41.7%) and 10 (20.8%) were effective, and 5 (10.4%) and 6 (12.5%) failed, with the effective rate being 89.6% and 87.5%, respectively. The integral score of TOM symptoms, menstrual cycle, serum FSH, LH and E2 contents were considerably diminished in both groups after 6 months of treatment (P<0.05), and the TOM symptom score, menstrual cycle, and serum FSH, LH and E2 levels were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the medication group 6 months after cease of the treatment (P<0.05), while the menstrual duration in each cycle was notably longer in both groups after the treatment, and evidently longer in the acupuncture group than in the medication group 6 months after cease of the treatment (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the effective rate, score of TOM symptoms, menstrual cycle and duration, and serum FSH, LH and E(2) contents following the treatment (P>0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the Conception Vessel, Kidney, Spleen, and Bladder Meridians is effective in improving clinical symptoms of DOR patients with deficiency of both yin and yang, and has a longer effect, which may be closely associated with its functions in lowering serum FSH, LH and E(2) levels through regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

Background: Even though cervical cancer is largely considered to be a sexually transmitted disease with a viral etiology, other modes of transmission are theoretically possible., Case: A 38-year-old woman with cervical squamous cell carcinoma adamantly denied having ever had sexual intercourse due to personal, religious and cultural beliefs., Conclusion: Because the human papillomavirus may be spread via nonsexual means, Pap smear screening in sexually active and inexperienced women is important.