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Helicobacter pylori infection is characterized as progressive processes of bacterial persistence and chronic gastritis with features of infiltration of mononuclear cells more than granulocytes in gastric mucosa. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is considered a double-edged sword in inflammation-associated diseases, but its function and clinical relevance in H. pylori-associated pathology are unknown. Here, we demonstrate both pro-colonization and pro-inflammation roles of ANGPTL4 in H. pylori infection. Increased ANGPTL4 in the infected gastric mucosa was produced from gastric epithelial cells (GECs) synergistically induced by H. pylori and IL-17A in a cagA-dependent manner. Human gastric ANGPTL4 correlated with H. pylori colonization and the severity of gastritis, and mouse ANGPTL4 from non-bone marrow-derived cells promoted bacteria colonization and inflammation. Importantly, H. pylori colonization and inflammation were attenuated in Il17a−/−, Angptl4−/−, and Il17a−/−Angptl4−/− mice. Mechanistically, ANGPTL4 bound to integrin αV (ITGAV) on GECs to suppress CXCL1 production by inhibiting ERK, leading to decreased gastric influx of neutrophils, thereby promoting H. pylori colonization; ANGPTL4 also bound to ITGAV on monocytes to promote CCL5 production by activating PI3K–AKT–NF-κB, resulting in increased gastric influx of regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) via CCL5–CCR4-dependent migration. In turn, ANGPTL4 induced Treg proliferation by binding to ITGAV to activate PI3K–AKT–NF-κB, promoting H. pylori-associated gastritis. Overall, we propose a model in which ANGPTL4 collectively ensures H. pylori persistence and promotes gastritis. Efforts to inhibit ANGPTL4-associated pathway may prove valuable strategies in treating H. pylori infection.

Abstract Background To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of children with unilateral retinoblastoma (RB) and intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion. Methods A total of 14 children with unilateral RB and intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion were enrolled in this retrospective study from January 2009 to December 2018. Clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Results Of 14 cases, there were 7 male and 7 female, ranging in age from 22.85 to 121.97 months (median, 41.03 months). Seventy-one percent of patients came from first-tier cities in China and effected in the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results indicated that all patients presented with thickened and enhanced optic nerve and intracranial segment of optic nerve invasion. Nine patients received comprehensive therapeutic regimen (chemotherapy, eye enucleation, radiotherapy and intrathecal therapy). The patients were followed up to December 2019, with a median follow-up of 20.6 months. The median disease specific survival was 48.99 ± 8.62 months, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 64.3%. Radiotherapy and comprehensive therapeutic regimen had significant impact on survival time (all p

Objective To compare the characteristic of cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms and different cerebral glucose metabolism between patients with progressive supranuclear palsy(PSP) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Methods Twenty PSP patientsand 65 bvFTD patients wererecruited afterfollow⁃upfor morethan 36 months. The Mini⁃Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were used to evaluate the degree of cognitive impairments, the abilities of daily living, and behavioral and psychological symptoms, respectively. Part of the atypical patients, including 18 bvFTD and 17 PSP, were examined by 18F⁃FDG PET to analyze the difference of cerebralglucose metabolism between 2 groups. Results The MMSE scores(P=0.046)and MoCA scores (P=0.009) were higherin PSP groupthan bvFTD group. A detailanalysisof MoCA sub⁃item showedthe scores of naming (P=0.038), language (P=0.006), abstraction (P=0.011), delayed recall (P=0.001) and orientation (P=0.004) were higher in PSP group than those in bvFTD group, while the score of executive function/visuospatial ability and attention had no difference between both 2 groups. And there was no significant difference in ADL score and NPI score between 2 groups. In respect of the 12 items of NPI, the 16 PSP patients (88.89%) and 63 bvFTD patients (96.92%) had one or more neuropsychiatric behavior symptoms, respectively. The incidence of agitation (P=0.015) and irritability (P=0.036) was significantly lower in PSP group than in bvFTD group, while the incidence of apathy (P=0.047) and depression (P= 0.024) was higher than in bvFTD group. The 18F⁃FDG PET imaging of all the patients in 2 groups presented decreased metabolism in frontal lobe, insular lobe and caudate nucleus, and PSP group also showed hypometabolism in thalamus and midbrain. Conclusions The PSP patients showed obvious cognitive impairment and psychological symptoms, combined with 18F⁃FDGPET imaging, which were helpful for distinguishing PSP from bvFTD. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.09.010

Background To summarize the clinical, genotype and olfactory characteristic in patients with 11 C⁃Pittsburgh compound B (11C⁃PIB)⁃positive cognitive impairment. Methods Twenty⁃seven patients with 11C ⁃ PIB ⁃ positive cognitive impairment, including 19 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 8 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were recruited from January 2015 to February 2016 in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital. The clinical, genotype and olfactory profiles were retrospectively analyzed. Mini ⁃ Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), and Hamilton Depression Scale ⁃ 21 (HAMD ⁃ 21) were used to evaluate cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms, activities of daily living, and symptoms of depression, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction ⁃ restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR ⁃ RFLP) was used to determine ApoE genotype, and T ＆ T olfactometer was used to test threshold of detection and recognition. Results Compared with MCI patients, AD patients had lower MMSE score (P = 0.000), orientation to time (P = 0.031), short ⁃ term memory (P = 0.021), recall (P = 0.009), calculation (p = 0.000), repetition (P = 0.038), reading (P = 0.021), writing (P = 0.002), visual ⁃ spatial ability (P = 0.039), MoCA score (P = 0.000) and CDT score (P = 0.020), and higher ADL score (P = 0.000). But there was no significant difference in orientation to place, naming, comprehension, NPI score and HAMD⁃21 score between 2 groups (P > 0.05, for all). There were no statistical differences in incidence of olfactory dysfunction, threshold of detection and recognition between 2 groups (P > 0.05, for all). There were statistical differences in the incidence of olfactory disorders among different ApoE genotypes Fisher's exact probability : P = 0.000). To further evaluate the effect of ApoE ε 4 allele on the olfactory function, subjects were additionally dichotomized according to the presence or absence of at least one ApoEε4 allele. Comparing with the subjects without ApoE ε 4 allele, the olfactory function decreased significantly in those with ApoE ε 4 allele (0/11 vs. 12/13; Fisher's exact probability : P = 0.000). Conclusions The patients with 11 C⁃PIB ⁃ positive cognitive impairment (AD and MCI) had significant olfactory isturbance, which was related to ApoE ε 4 allele. The assessment of clinical, genotype and olfactory characteristic was helpful in early diagnosis of AD patients. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.05.013

Abstract Background The modified polycystic ovary syndrome health-related quality-of-life questionnaire (MPCOSQ) is a 30-item instrument measuring quality-of-life in English-speaking patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We aimed to: 1) cross-culturally adapt the MPCOSQ into Chinese, and 2) assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the MPCOSQ (Chi-MPCOSQ). Methods The MPCOSQ was translated using the forward-backward method, and its validity and reliability were assessed among 283 Chinese patients with PCOS. Internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were assessed by Cronbach’s α and intra-correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Construct validity was tested through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Discriminant validity was assessed by Mann-Whitney U test to compare the scores on the Chi-MPCOSQ between 283 women with PCOS and 93 women without PCOS. Results Exploratory factor analysis generated a 7-factor structure of the 30-item version of the Chi-MPCOSQ, which accounted for 77% of the overall variance. The Chi-MPCOSQ had high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.88) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.89). Compared to PCOS patients, women without PCOS had consistently lower scores for every dimension of the Chi-MPCOSQ, demonstrating its good discriminant validity. Conclusion The Chi-MPCOSQ is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring quality-of-life among Chinese women with PCOS.

AIM: To analyze the impacts of the shape of uveal melanoma on retinal structure.METHODS: Histopathological sections and clinical data from patients with uveal melanoma were retrospectively observed and analyzed, and key indicators including the tumor's shape, size, height-to-base ratio, retinal thinning and retinal invasion were analyzed.RESULTS: The study included 102 patients(102 eyes)with a mean age of 45.6±12.4 years, with 76(75%)uveal melanomas showing the spindle cell type, 6(6%)showing the epitheloid cell type, 16(16%)showing the mixed cell type and 4(4%)showing predominantly other cell types. Differentiated by tumor locations: 3 cases of ciliary body melanoma(2.9%), 28 cases of ciliary body and choroid melanoma(27.5%), 71 cases of choroid melanoma(69.6%). Retinal thinning was detected in 43(43%)eyes and retinal invasion by the tumor cells in 86(84%)eyes. Maximal tumor height ranged between 1.2 and 15.6(mean: 8.3±3.6)mm, and mean maximal tumor base diameter was 17.3±6.5(range: 4.8-31.2)mm. Mean R-value as ratio of tumor peak height to maximal tumor base diameter was 0.53±0.32. Mean R-value was significantly higher in the group with retinal thinning(n=43)than in the group without retinal thinning(n=59)(0.69±0.31 vs 0.42±0.27; PR-value was slightly, however statistically not significantly higher in the group with retinal tumor invasion(n=86)than without retinal tumor invasion(n=16)(0.56±0.33 vs 0.41±0.25; P=0.09).CONCLUSION: A high R-value indicating a prominent tumor is associated with tissue thinning in the adjacent retina, and marginally significantly with intra-retinal tumor cell invasion. Shape of uveal melanomas's corss section is of importance for the secondary involvement of the adjacent retina.

LAG-3 is one of the common tumor immune checkpoints. LAG-3 can inhibit the activation and proliferation of T cells, and can also suppress immunity by regulating other immune-related cell functions. FGL1 was recently discovered to be the main ligand of immune checkpoint LAG-3 and play a critical role in the inhibition of T cells. However, the FGL1 expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Therefore, this bioinformatics analysis was performed to assess the expression of FGL1 in various tumors and its association with immune infiltration. After that, CTCs from 109 HCC patients were detected and the immunofluorescence staining was performed (CD45, EpCAM, CK8/18/19, Vimentin, Twist, DAPI and FGL1). Then, we investigated FGL1 expression and EMT of CTCs and analyzed its relationship with patient survival and clinical relevance. Bioinformatic results showed that FGL1 expression was abnormal in various tumor and it was correlated with the infiltration level of several immune cells. FGL1 expression was detected in CTCs of 40 patients (36.7%). The proportion of advanced TNM stage (P

AIM: To reveal the insight mechanism of liver metastasis in uveal melanoma, we investigated cell functions of microRNA-21 in three different uveal melanoma cell lines and analyze the relationship of target gene p53 and its downstream targets. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect microRNA-21 expression in normal uveal tissue and uveal melanoma cell lines. Lenti-virus expression system was used to construct OCM-1, MuM-2B and M619 cell line with stable overexpression and inhibition of microRNA-21. In vitro cell function tests such as cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell circle and abilities of migration and invasion were examined by MTT, BrdU assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay and Matrigel invasion assay respectively. The target gene was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed by using a dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression of p53 and its suspected downstream targets LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) and glutathione S transferase pi (GST-Pi) were determined by qRT-PCR in mRNA level and Western blotting analysis in protein level. Finally, the effect of microRNA-21 in a xenograft tumor model was assessed in four-week-old BALB/c nude mice. RESULTS: Compared to normal uveal melanoma, expressions of microRNA-21 were significantly higher in uveal melanoma cell lines. Overexpression of microRNA-21 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of OCM-1, M619 and MuM-2B cells, while inhibition of microRNA-21 reveal opposite effects. Wild type p53 was identified as a target gene of microRNA-21-3p, and proved by dual luciferase reporter assay. Up-regulated microRNA-21 inhibited the expression of wild type p53 gene, and the increased expression of LASP1 in mRNA level and protein level, while down-regulated microRNA-21 presented opposite way. However, GST-pi showed the potential pattern as expected, but relative mRNA level showed no statistically significant difference in OCM-1 cells. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of GST-pi was decreased in microRNA-21 overexpressing MuM-2B, and increased in M619 cells with inhibition of microRNA-21. In vivo, inhibition of microRNA-21 reduced tumor growth with statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: These findings provide novel insight into molecular etiology of microRNA-21 in uveal melanoma cell lines, and suggest that microRNA-21 might be a potential candidate for the diagnosis and prognostic factor of human uveal melanoma.

Objective To investigate the correlation of sex hormone levels with depression and anxiety in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods A total of 46 PD patients (27 male and 19 female) were enrolled in this study. After withdrawing anti-PD drugs for 12 h, their fasting blood was taken from cubital vein. Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay was used to detect serum estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) were used to evaluate depression and anxiety. Results Fourteen cases (30.43%) were diagnosed as possible depression (HAMD score 8-19), and 5 cases (10.87% ) were diagnosed as definite depression (HAMD score ≥ 20). Nine cases (19.57%) were diagnosed as possible anxiety (HAMA score 7-13), and 7 cases (15.22%) were diagnosed as definite anxiety (HAMA score ≥ 14). The body mass index (BMI) of female PD patients was significantly higher than that of male [(26.93 ± 1.29) kg/m2 vs. (23.99 ± 1.51) kg/m2; t = 6.872, P = 0.000]. The serum estradiol [(46.29 ± 17.87) pmol/L vs. (129.64 ± 32.34) pmol/L; t = 10.080, P = 0.000], progesterone [0.99 (0.67, 1.18) nmol/L vs. 1.30 (0.86, 2.04) nmol/L; Z = -2.722, P = 0.006] and testosterone [(0.38 ± 0.17) nmol/L vs. (13.52 ± 5.41) nmol/L; t = 10.538, P = 0.000] in female PD patients were significantly lower than those in male patients. In female PD patients, BMI was negatively correlated with HAMA score (r = -0.591, P = 0.020), serum estradiol level was negatively correlated with HAMD score (r = -0.558, P = 0.031) and HAMA score (r = -0.675, P = 0.006), serum testosterone level was positively correlated with HAMA score (r = 0.674, P = 0.006). In male PD patients, only serum testosterone level was negatively correlated with HAMD score (r = -0.450, P = 0.031) and HAMA score (r = -0.507, P = 0.013). Conclusions Non-motor symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, are very common in PD. The lower serum estradiol level, the more severe depression was in female PD patients. The lower BMI and serum estradiol level and the higher serum testosterone level, the more severe anxiety was in female PD patients. The lower serum testosterone level, the more severe depression and anxiety were in male PD patients. Therefore, hormone replacement therapy may become a new method for improving depression and anxiety symptoms in PD. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2018.04.007

Objective To study the clinical manifestations, imaging and pathological features, treatment and prognosis of 5 patients diagnosed as demyelinating pseudotumor (DPT) by pathology. Methods The data of clinical features, radiological and histological examination of 5 patients with DPT were retrospectively analyzed, and relevant literatures were reviewed. Results All patients were male. Main symptoms included limb weakness in 3 cases, dizziness and impaired memory in 2 cases, seizures in one case. Head MRI examination revealed space-occupying lesions with hypointense signal on T1WI, hyperintense signal on T2WI and FLAIR. Enhanced MRI showed obvious enhancement of lesions (open-ring enhancement in 3 cases). The lesion were totally (4 cases) or partially (one case) removed, and postoperative histological examination showed inflammatory demyelination. One case died after twice relapse, and others had favorable prognosis. Conclusions DPT is an inflammatory demyelination with mass effect. It should be differentiated from central nervous system tumors in order to avoid unnecessary resection or radiotherapy. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.03.010

Background/Aims: An enriched environment (EE) ameliorates learning and memory impairments induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway exerts both beneficial and deleterious effects on the nervous system during the progression of ischemia. Methods: The present study investigated whether p38 MAPK participates in the process by which EE exposure ameliorates the cognitive deficits induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Results: EE exposure significantly enhanced the cognitive performance of vascular dementia (VD) model rats, and p38 MAPK protein decreased in parallel with cognitive improvements. Inhibition of p38 MAPK function by its selective inhibitor SB203580 improved the cognition index of VD rats and upregulated p38 MAPK expression with p38 MAPK antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. This impaired cognition in VD rats could not be rescued by EE exposure. Conclusion: p38 MAPK participates in the process by which EE exposure ameliorates cognitive deficits induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Objective To summarize the clinical manifestations, laboratory and MRI examinations, treatment and prognosis of 4 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Methods The clinical data of 4 patients with HIV-associated PML was retrospectively analyzed. Results All of the 4 cases presented with progressive neurological function deficit and limb weakness. One case was accompanied by dysphasia, and one by dizziness. These symptoms got worsened as time went on. Cranial MRI revealed demyelination, hypointense signal in T1WI, hyperintense signal in T2WI and FLAIR. DWI revealed central hypointense and peripheral hyperintense signal. Enhanced scan revealed no contrast enhancement. Two cases were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and the longest survival was 20 months. Patients who did not take standard anti-HIV therapies had a poor long-term prognosis. Conclusions Patients with HIV-associated PML mainly present progressively worsened neurological function deficit. The imaging manifestations are typical. Early and timely HAART may play a role in the treatment. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2016.08.005

Letter to the editor

Acquired hepatocerebral degeneration (AHD) is a rare chronic encephalopathy, and its etiology is usually correlated with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. In this study, clinical and radiological data of 326 patients with cirrhosis of the liver were retrospectively analyzed, among whom 11 patients were diagnosed as AHD, with the incidence of 3.37% . The most common neurological symptoms were static tremor (9 cases) and ataxia (7 cases). Cerebral MRI showed T1WI hyperintensity in bilateral globus pallidus of all 11 patients. The lesions were also involved in bilateral thalamus (one case), tegment of midbrain (one case), bilateral posterior crus of internal capsule (one case) and bilateral putamen (one case). Anti-Parkinson's disease drugs, such as levodopa and benserazide, had not presented satisfactory clinical effect. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2015.02.014

Objective To investigate whether cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) can predict hematoma growth in elderly patients with acute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods The clinical records of 98 elderly patients with acute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent initial CT within 6 h and repeated CT and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) within 24 h of onset were analyzed. Based on the performance of SWI, patients were divided into microbleeds group and non-microbleeds group. Forward multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predicting value of CMBs on the growth of intracerebral hematoma. Results Among 98 patients, hematoma growth was found in 25 cases in the second CT scan. The ratio in microbleeds group was significantly higher than that in non-microbleeds group (43.75% vs 16.67%; χ2 = 8.319, P = 0.004). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that CMBs was independent risk factor for intracerebral hematoma (OR = 0.241, 95%CI: 0.065-0.861; P = 0.017). Conclusions CMBs in patients with acute intracerebral hematoma can predict high risk of hemotoma growth, and effective treatment should be taken to improve the prognosis of patients. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2015.01.012

To assess a potential role of Bruch´s membrane (BM) in the biomechanics of the eye, we measured its thickness and the density of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in various ocular regions in eyes of varying axial length.Human globes, enucleated because of an ocular tumor or end-stage glaucoma were prepared for histological examination. Using light microscopy, the histological slides were histomorphometrically examined applying a digitized image analysis system.The study included 104 eyes with a mean axial length of 27.9±3.2 mm (range:22.6mm-36.5mm). In eyes without congenital glaucoma, BM was significantly thickest (P

Objective This article aims to present clinical manifestations and to discuss the clinical features and management of 4 patients with limbic encephalitis (LE). Methods The clinical presentation, MRI examination, laboratory results and treatment of 4 patients with limbic encephalitis were retrospectively analyzed, and relevant literature was reviewed. Results All the 4 cases presented with short-term memory deficits, psychiatric symptoms, while 2 cases were complicated with seizures. None of them had history of infection. MRI showed the involvement of limbic system, with little enhancement. T2WI and FLAIR revealed high-intensity signal. Tumor screenings were negative, and patients improved greatly after treatment. The long-term prognosis was favorable. Conclusions Patients with limbic encephalitis present with symptoms and signs of limbic system. Imaging examinations reveal involvement of limbic system, including hippocampus, amygdala and insular lobe, with little enhancement. Cancer screenings are negative, and immunotherapy is successful. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2014.07.006

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the main carbon reservoirs in the terrestrial ecosystem. It is important to study SOC dynamics and effects of organic carbon amendments in paddy fields because of their vest expansion in south China. A study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the SOC content and organic carbon input under various organic amendments at a long-term fertilization experiment that was established on a red soil under a double rice cropping system in 1981. The treatments included non-fertilization (CK), nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilization in early rice only (NPK), green manure (Astragalus sinicus L.) in early rice only (OM1), high rate of green manure in early rice only (OM2), combined green manure in early rice and farmyard manure in late rice (OM3), combined green manure in early rice, farmyard manure in late rice and rice straw mulching in winter (OM4), combined green manure in early rice and rice straw mulching in winter (OM5). Our data showed that the SOC content was the highest under OM3 and OM4, followed by OM1, OM2 and OM5, then NPK fertilization, and the lowest under non-fertilization. However, our analyses in SOC stock indicated a significant difference between OM3 (33.9 t ha−1) and OM4 (31.8 t ha−1), but no difference between NPK fertilization (27 t ha−1) and non-fertilization (28.1 t ha−1). There was a significant linear increase in SOC over time for all treatments, and the slop of linear equation was greater in organic manure treatments (0.276–0.344 g kg−1 yr−1) than in chemical fertilizer (0.216 g kg−1 yr−1) and no fertilizer (0.127 g kg−1 yr−1).

In order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of mass malicious code analysis,an online analytical model was proposed including feature space construction,automatic feature extraction and fast clustering.Our research focused on the law of malware behavior and code string distribution by dynamic and static techniques.In this model,a sample was described with its API and key code fragment.This model proposed a fast clustering approach to identify group samples that exhibit similar feature when applied this model to real-world malware collections.The result demonstrates that the proposed model is able to extract feature automatically,support streaming data clustering on large-scale,and achieve better precision.

Background Through the analysis of various imaging and angiography data, including computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), this article aims to understand the relation between pontine infarction and posterior circulation lesions, classify different types of causes of isolated pontine infarction, and compare the clinical characteristics of different classification methods. Methods Eighty-five cases with first-onset isolated pontine infarction were selected. On the basis of imaging examinations, they were divided into the following categories: vertebrobasilar large-artery disease (VLAD); basal artery branch disease (BABD); small artery disease (SAD); type of other reasons and type of uncertain causes. According to Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification standard, all patients were divided into the following categories: large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), small artery occlusion (SAO), cardiac embolism (CE), stroke of other determined etiology (SOE), stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE). Results According to imaging classification, BABD was the most common type, accounting for 50.59% (43/85); SAD accounted for 28.23% (24/85); VLAD accounted for 14.12% (12/85); type of uncertain causes accounted for 7.06% (6/85); type of other reasons was not found. Based on the TOAST classification, SAO was the most common type, accounting for 67.06% (57/85); LAA accounted for 30.59% (26/85); SUE accounted for 2.35% (2/85); CE and SOE were not found. Conclusion Based on the TOAST classification, small artery occlusion is the most common etiology of isolated pontine infarction. It is favorable for formulating specific treatment to make TOAST classification based on a variety of imaging data.

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2014.06.019

Clinical data of 102 patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage were retrospectively analysed. Sixty⁃six patients were treated by medical therapy (group A), and 36 patients by surgical operation (group B). In group A the therapeutic effective rate was 83.33% (55/66), and mortality was 16.67% (11/66), while in group B was 75.00% (27/36) and 16.67% (6/36) respectively. No significant differences were seen between both groups ( χ 2 = 4.168, P = 0.124). Reasonable treatment for cerebellar hemorrhage should be selected according to the clinical condition changes, the CT image on the site of bleeding and bleeding volume. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.02.025

Amylose is a promising nanocarrier for gene delivery in terms of its good biocompatibility and high transfection efficiency. Small interfering RNA against survivin (survivin-siRNA) can cause tumor apoptosis by silencing a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-specific gene at the messenger RNA level. In this study, we developed a new class of folate-functionalized, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-loaded cationic amylose nanoparticles to deliver survivin-siRNA to HCC cells. The cellular uptake of nanocomplexes, cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis, and gene suppression mediated by siRNA-complexed nanoparticles were tested. The results demonstrated that folate-functionalized, SPIO-loaded cationic amylose nanoparticles can mediate a specific and safe cellular uptake of survivin-siRNA with high transfection efficiency, resulting in a robust survivin gene downregulation in HCC cells. The biocompatible complex of cationic amylose could be used as an efficient, rapid, and safe gene delivery vector. Upon SPIO loading, it holds a great promise as a theranostic carrier for gene therapy of HCC.