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Background. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Dahuang Danshen decoction (DD) is used to treat pancreatic fibrosis. Pancreatic fibrosis is a typical manifestation of chronic pancreatitis (CP), which affects the digestive system. The therapeutic mechanisms of DD in pancreatic fibrosis are unclear. Aim. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of DD on oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in CP. Materials and Methods. Experimental rats were intraperitoneally injected with 500 mg/kg BW of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) twice a week for six weeks to induce CP. At the same time, DD was administered orally at daily doses of 1.37 g/kg BW, 2.74 g/kg BW, and 5.48 g/kg BW to evaluate its treatment effects on CP. After all treatments, pancreatic tissues were harvested and subjected to H&E staining. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was also performed to show the endoplasmic reticulum structure in the pancreatic tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the α-SMA expression level in the pancreatic tissues. Metabolomics analysis of the serum and proteomics analysis of the pancreatic tissues were performed to reveal the changes of endogenous metabolites and proteins, respectively. Concentrations of GSH, MDA, SOD, ROS, col-1, and col-3 were determined using corresponding kits. The western blotting method was used to determine the protein levels of Keap-1, HO-1, NQO1, Nrf2, GRP, JNK, and caspase 12. The pancreatic mRNA levels of NQO1, GPX1, HO-1, GST-π, GRP, JNK, and caspase 12 were also determined by quantitative PCR. The interactions between TCM components and Keap-1 were investigated by molecular docking modeling. Results. The pathohistological results demonstrated that DD could ameliorate DDC-induced CP in vivo, indicated by reduction of α-SMA, col-1, col-3, TNF-α, and IL-6. DD increased serum levels of GSH and SOD but reduced pancreatic ROS. DD decreased cytoplasmic Keap-1 and increased Nrf2 nuclear localization. Correspondingly, DD increased the expression levels of Nrf2 downstream antioxidant genes NQO1, GPX1, HO-1, and GST-π. DD also decreased ERS hallmarks caspase 12 cleavage and GRP expression. Eventually, DD inhibited PSC activation by reducing JNK phosphorylation and MMK-3/p38 expression. Molecular docking analysis showed that salvianolic acid B and emodin had a good binding affinity toward Keap-1. Conclusions. These results demonstrated that DD could ameliorate the oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress through releasing Nrf2 from Keap-1 binding and inducing the downstream antioxidant enzymes. As a result, DD could thwart pancreatic fibrosis by inhibiting PSCs activation, which was induced by OS and ERS through JNK and MMK3/p38 pathways.

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) coating nanoparticles (NPs) surface can form NPs-EPS corona, which significantly affect the adsorption of NPs to toxic substances and alter the ecotoxicological effect of NPs. In this work, the EPS coronas on TiO2 NPs (TNPs) and CeO2 NPs (CNPs) were characterized and the adsorption characteristics of NPs with and without EPS corona to five heavy metals were investigated in single-metal and multiple-metal systems. The results of spectral analysis showed that NPs-EPS corona exhibited new crystalline phases and abundant functional groups. Moreover, 42 and 13 proteins were identified in the TNPs-EPS and CNPs-EPS coronas, respectively. The rates of Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ and Ag+ adsorption by NPs-EPS corona increased to values that were 6.7-7.6, 4.4-5.1, 4.2-5.5, 3.9-4.9 and 8.5-8.8 times those of NPs without EPS corona, respectively, in single-metal system. NPs-EPS coronas are effective in absorbing Ag+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ compared with Cd2+and Ni2+ in multiple metal adsorption. These results indicated that NPs-EPS corona effectively adsorb and remove heavy metals by forming NPs-EPS-metal complexes and inducing precipitation. However, NPs-EPS corona can enhance the toxicity of NPs by accumulating highly-toxic heavy metals in aquatic environments.

Objective: To explore the application value of neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR) combined with high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the evaluation of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: From November 2015 to October 2016, 58 cases of CAP patients admitted in our department were selected as research objects and were divided into low risk group and high risk group according to the PSI score and CURB-65 standard for evaluation. They were divided into improved group (48 cases) and death group (10 cases) according to prognosis. Hs-CRP was determined by immunoturbidimetric assay, procalcitonin (PCT) by immunofluorescence, NLR by count method of laser scattering, and white blood (WBC) was counted. The differences in WBC, PCT, NLR and hs-CRP between different risk groups were compared, and the correlation was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation analysis method. The changes in indexes were observed in the improved and death cases. Results: The high risk group had higher NLR, PCT and hs-CRP than low risk group (P0.05). No correlation was found between NLR and WBC, while a strong correlation was found between hs-CRP and PCT. The WBC, PCT, NLR and hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in the improved group than the death group (P

There is increasing evidence that cirrhosis may affect functional connectivity among various brain regions in patients prior to onset of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, most investigators have focused mainly on alterations in functional connectivity strengths, and the changes in functional connectivity density (FCD) are largely unknown. Here, we investigated alterations in resting-state FCD in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without overt HE. Totally, 31 patients with HBV-RC without overt HE and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI examinations. FCD mapping was employed to compute local and global FCD maps. Then, short-range and long-range FCD values were calculated and voxel-based comparisons were performed between the two groups. The HBV-RC group showed significant decreases in FCD, including decreased short-range FCDs in the bilateral middle cingulum gyrus/precuneus, the bilateral cuneus, and the left lingual gyrus/inferior occipital gyrus and decreased long-range FCD in the bilateral cuneus/precuneus. In addition, the decreased long-range FCD in the bilateral cuneus/precuneus in the HBV-RC group was related to performance on the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) test. These findings suggest aberrant functional connectivity density in cirrhotic patients prior to overt HE onset, which may provide better insight into understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the cirrhotic-related cognitive impairment.

Background: A synovial sarcoma arising from the kidney is extremely rare. To date, few data are available on their radiological features. Purpose: To identify the computer tomography (CT) imaging findings of primary renal synovial sarcomas (PRSSs). Material and Methods: Five cases of PRSS confirmed by histopathological and cytogenetic studies were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had undergone unenhanced and multiphase enhanced CT examinations (one patient underwent CT twice). The CT characteristics, including shape, size, margin, attenuation, and enhancement pattern after intravenous contrast medium injection, were analyzed. Results: The study involved two female and three male patients (mean age, 27.4 years; range, 15–43 years). Unenhanced CT showed completely or partly well-defined masses, with heterogeneous ( n = 5) or homogeneous ( n = 1) patchy low density. On multiphase contrast-enhanced CT, in five of the six CT examinations, the tumors appeared as solid-cystic masses with cyst walls or pseudo-capsules, and demonstrated moderately heterogeneous ( n = 5) and/or septate enhancement ( n = 2), with a “rapid wash-in and slow wash-out” pattern of enhancement in the solid component. Only one tumor showed a simple cyst appearance and developed an irregular, intratumoral, septate soft density 8 months later. A renal vein and inferior vena cava thrombus was noticed in one patient, while lymphadenopathy was not observed in any patient. Conclusion: PRSS should be included in the differential diagnosis when an adolescent or young adult presents with a renal neoplasm appearing as a solid-cystic mass with well-defined borders, a cystic wall or pseudo-capsule, heterogeneous or septate enhancement, a “rapid wash-in and slow wash-out” pattern of enhancement in the solid component, and no sign of lymphadenopathy.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of C- reactive protein (CRP), calcitonin (PCT) and D- two (D-D) in community acquired pneumonia. Methods: A total of 102 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted from March 2015- March 2016 as the research objects. A total of 5 mL peripheral venous blood of CAP patients (within 24 h of admission, before antibiotic therapy) were collected, and centrifuged to obtain serum. Immune turbidimetric method was used in determination of CRP and DD, immune fluorescence method was used for determination of PCT. Results: As grade increasing, the levels of CRP, PCT, D-D were increased gradually, with significant difference among different levels (P

A mild and efficient method for N-alkylation of aromatic amines with various acetals such as aryl, alkyl, cyclic and acyclic acetals was developed. A number of aromatic amines bearing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents were directly alkylated by acetals with excellent yields. The method uses a catalytic amount of I2 and triethylsilane as the hydride source without a metal present. Monoalkylation with excellent chemoselectivity was observed.

In order to obtain excellent cooling module, it is necessary to make air flow flowing into the radiator vary with ambient temperature. Cooling fan speed must vary with cooling power continuously. In this paper, the relation was obtained between fan speed and flow, static pressure, torque, power based on calculation and performance test data related to cooling fan. The mathematical model between fan speed and heat dissipation power in cooling module was deduced. Driving characteristics of cooling fan were analyzed.

A straightforward, mild, efficient, one-pot method has been found for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles via three-component Strecker reaction using acetals or cyclic acetals, curious aromatic amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) catalysed by hafnium tetrachloride at room temperature. It is with good to excellent yields under mild conditions. This developed approach has been successfully applied for the synthesis of a wild rang of α-aminonitriles with a variety of functional groups.

A straightforward, mild, one-pot method has been found for the preparation of quinolines via a multi-component reaction using acetals or cyclic acetals, aromatic amines and alkynes catalysed by Bi(OTf)3. It gives good yields under mild conditions. This approach has been successfully applied for the synthesis of a range of quinolines with a variety of functional groups.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture intervention on excessive eccentric training-induced changes of perimysial junctional plates (PJPs) domain. Thirty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups: control group, four-week training group, four-week training + 1-week recovery group and four-week training + 1-week acupuncture group. Rats were subjected to continuous excessive eccentric training for 4 weeks (incline -16°, speed 16-20 m/min, 60-90 min/d, 5 day per week), and then were subjected to one-week spontaneous recovery or one-week recovery with acupuncture intervention (a piece of filiform needle for 4 min every day). The PJPs domain changes were observed under transmission electron microscopy, and the perimysial collagen network structural changes were examined by scanning electron microscopy with or without a digestion technique (NaOH). The following results were obtained: (1) Compared with control group, PJPs domain of four-week training group showed excessive shortening of sarcomere (P0.001), serious damage of sarcomere structure, and altered mitochondria morphology in intermyofibria and subsarcolemma; 54% degradation of sarcolemma, and increased number of caveolae (P0.01); reduced number of PJPs (P0.001). (2) In comparison with four-week training group, PJPs domain was slightly changed in four-week training + 1-week recovery group, i.e., partial recovery of sarcomere length and structure (accounting for 85.23% of control group), and recovery of intermyofibrial and subsarcolemmal mitochondria morphology; decreased sarcolemmal degradation (P0.001), and increased number of caveolae (P0.05); increased PJPs number (P0.001). (3) PJPs domain changed in four-week training + 1-week acupuncture group compared with four-week training + 1-week recovery group, which were substantial recovery of sarcomere length (accounting for 94.51% of control group), increased subsarcolemmal mitochondrial fusion (P0.001), decreased caveolae number (P0.001), and decreased PJPs number (P0.001). The results indicated that excessive eccentric training resulted in excessively reduced number of PJPs with altered PJPs domain homeostasis, thus impeding the adaptability to eccentric training. After 1 week of natural recovery, the number of PJPs was excessively increased, hindering muscle damage repair. Acupuncture intervention helped to recover PJPs number and PJPs domain homeostasis, thus significantly relieving overuse injuries.

Objective. To explore the effects and mechanism of Jinhong Tablet on intestinal mucosal barrier function and SIRS in rats with acute biliary infection.Methods. 36 SD male rats were divided into three groups: sham operation (control), acute biliary infection (ABI) model, and Jinhong Tablet (Jinhong) group. Jinhong group were force-fed with Jinhong Tablet, while the other two groups received oral saline. At days 3 and 5, morphological changes of intestinal mucosa were assessed. Serum diamine oxidase (DAO), D-lactate, and endotoxin levels were measured. And the genes bcl-2 and bax in intestinal tissues were tested by real-time PCR and Western blotting.Results. Intestinal damage was significantly less severe in Jinhong group compared with ABI group, as indicated by Chiu’s scoring, TUNEL analysis, and serum DAO, D-lactic acid, and endotoxin levels. Additionally, the expression of bax mRNA and protein was decreased and the ratio of bcl-2/bax mRNA and protein was increased compared with ABI group.Conclusion. Jinhong Tablet had a positive intervention on acute biliary infection through improving inflammation and intestinal mucosal barrier, inhibiting excessive apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells via bax and bcl-2 gene, and protein regulation.

This study employed statistically based on experimental designs to optimize transesterification conditions for biodiesel production from waste oil via lipase-catalyzed in homoeothermy. Optimization of different reaction parameters were done by using response surface methodology. Results indicated optimum conditions including: alcohol to oil molar ratio 3:1, lipase concentration 58.38 U each gram of oil, water and n-hexane content were 24.59% and 13.28% respectively, reaction temperature at 20 °C , and reaction time for 24 h. Under these optimal conditions, 98.24% yield of biodiesel was obtained. This study will probably contribute to the development of continuous enzymatic processes, and maybe a suitable method for industrial production of biodiesel.

A lipase gene from sequencing genomic DNA of Bacillus subtilis strain I4 (I4-2) was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequences for the lipase I4-2 was composed of 31-amino-acid signal sequence and a 181-amino-acid mature part, corresponding to a molecular mass (Mr) of 19.33 kDa. Based on the Mr and the protein sequence, the lipase I4-2 was belong to the lipase family1.4. The activity of the purified recombinant lipase I4-2 was apparently optimal at 45°C and pH 7.0. The enzyme was stable at 25°C, and more than 56% of the initial activity after incubation in buffer pH 7.0 for 120 min at 37°C. In addition, lipase I4-2 was mixed with methanol (50, v/v) for 30 min and residual activity was 45%. lipase I4-2 can catalyzed biodiesel production from soybean oil at methanol : soybean (molar ratio of methanol to oil = 3:1), 10% n-hexane, 3.5% water. The results of GC–MS analysis demonstrated that a 3-stepwise process resulted in a 98% conversion yield after 8 h of reaction at 37°C.

Background Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that affects both the retina and central visual pathway. Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) is a sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that can detect degenerative changes in the brain. Purpose To investigate the geniculocalcarine (GCT) and striate areas in primary glaucoma patients using region of interest (ROI) analysis of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Material and Methods Twenty patients with primary glaucoma in both eyes were compared with 31 healthy control patients. All of the participants were examined on a 3.0 T scanner using a three-dimensional T1-weighted spoiled gradient recalled acquisition (SPGR) with and without a MT saturation pulse. A two-sample t-test was used to evaluate the MTR difference between the groups. P Results The MTR of the glaucoma group was lower than the healthy controls in both the bilateral GCT (t = 3.781, P = 0.001) and striate areas (t = 4.177, P = 0.000). Conclusion The MTR reductions in the bilateral GCT and striate areas suggest that there is GCT demyelination and striate area degeneration in primary glaucoma. These neurodegenerative effects may be induced as a direct effect of retrograde axonal degeneration along with the indirect effect of anterograde trans-synaptic degeneration.

Aim. Investigate the disruption of geniculocalcarine tract (GCT) in different occipital neoplasm by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods. Thirty-two subjects (44.1 ± 3.6 years) who had single occipital neoplasm (9 gliomas, 6 meningiomas, and 17 metastatic tumors) with ipsilateral GCT involved and thirty healthy subjects (39.2 ± 3.3 years) underwent conventional sequences scanning and diffusion tensor imaging by a 1.5T MR scanner. The diffusion-sensitive gradient direction is 13. Compare the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of healthy GCT with the corresponding values of GCT in peritumoral edema area. Perform diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) on GCT by the line propagation technique in all subjects.Results. The FA values of GCT in peritumoral edema area decreased (P=0.001) while the MD values increased (P=0.002) when compared with healthy subjects. There was no difference in the FA values across tumor types (P=0.114) while the MD values of GCT in the metastatic tumor group were higher than the other groups (P=0.001). GCTs were infiltrated in all the 9 gliomas cases, with displacement in 2 cases and disruption in 7 cases. GCTs were displaced in 6 meningiomas cases. GCTs were displaced in all the 7 metastatic cases, with disruption in 7 cases.Conclusions. DTI represents valid markers for evaluating GCT’s disruption in occipital neoplasm. The disruption of GCT varies according to the properties of neoplasm.

Extraventricular neurocytoma is a rare entity, most frequently occurring in brain parenchyma outside the ventricular system. The purpose of this study was to characterize the MR imaging findings in a series of 9 patients with EVN verified by results of pathologic examination. All 9 EVNs were solitary and intracranially located. Eight lesions were well demarcated, and 3 showed intratumoral hemorrhage. The solid parts of 7 tumors were primarily isointense on T1-weighted images and heterogeneously enhanced on T1WI with contrast. Although cerebral EVNs can present a wide spectrum of appearances on MR, the imaging patterns appear to vary according to anatomic location and cellularity. Lesions in frontal or parietal lobes often present as well-demarcated large masses with cystic degeneration, hemorrhage, mild-to-moderate edema, and inhomogeneous enhancement. Moreover, the general isointensity of the solid parts of EVN on T1WI may be of some specificity.

Objective To investigate the changes of hipbone biomechanics after the resection of ischiopubic tumors and their relationships with the complications in the convalescent stage, and directing the postoperative pelvic reconstruction. Methods DICOM data were used to create an intact hipbone finite element model and postoperative model. The biomechanical indices on the same region in the two models under the same boundary condition were compared. The differences of displacement, stress, and strain of the two models were analyzed with statistical methods. Results The distribution areas of the hipbone nodes' displacement, stress, and strain were similar before and after the simulated operation. The sacroiliac joint nodes' displacement (P=0.040) and strain (P=0.000), and the acetabular roof nodes' stress (P=0.000) and strain (P=0.005) of two models had significant differences, respectively. But the sacroiliac joint nodes' stress (P=0.076) and the greater sciatic notch nodes' stress (P=0.825) and strain (P=0.506) did not have significant differences. Conclusions The resection of ischiopubic tumors mainly affect the biomechanical states of the homolateral sacroiliac joint and acetabular roof. The complications in the convalescent stage are due to the biomechanical changes of the sacroiliac joint and the acetabular roof and disappearances of the stabilization and connection functions of the pubic symphysis and superior ramus of pubis.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation defects are a common cause of mitochondrial diseases, which are characterized by multiorgan involvement and clinically heterogeneous manifestations. Diagnosis is difficult because of the lack of clinically feasible methods. In this study, mitochondrial complex I-V enzyme activity was measured in 64 patients with suspected mitochondrial disease and 200 healthy controls. Spectrophotometric assay was used for the analysis of mitochondrial complex I-V enzyme activity in peripheral leukocytes. Diagnosis was based on clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), muscle pathology, and point mutation screening in mitochondrial DNA. The differential diagnosis of aminoacidopathies, organic acidurias, and fatty acid β-oxidation defects was made. Thirty-five patients (54.7%) were diagnosed with Leigh syndrome based on characteristic brain MRI. Complex enzyme activity in controls was found to be stable. A deficiency in the oxidative phosphorylation was found in 29 patients (45.3%). Twenty (31.2%) patients had isolated complex defects, complex I deficiency (n = 2, 3.1%), complex II deficiency (n = 3, 4.7%), complex III deficiency (n = 5, 7.8%), complex IV deficiency (n = 5, 7.8%), and complex V deficiency (n = 5, 7.8%). Nine patients were found to have combined deficiencies, 3 (4.7%) had combined deficiencies of complex I and IV, 2 (3.1%) had combined deficiencies of complex III and V, and 2 (3.1%) had a combined deficiency of complex I and V. In conclusion, the peripheral leukocyte oxidative phosphorylation enzyme activity assay was found to be a reliable method for the diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Shengqing Capsule (SQC), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on biochemical parameters in C57BL/6J mice with cholesterol gallstone. METHODS Thirty-eight C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10), untreated group (n=15) and SQC group (n=13). Cholesterol gallstone was induced in mice of the latter two groups by feeding high cholesterol diet. Mice in the SQC group were intragastricly administered SQC 0.22 g/(kg.d). After 8-week treatment, animals were sacrificed and sampled to calculate the incidences of stone formation. The contents of serum cholesterols and Ca(2+), and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver tissues were detected. RESULTS The incidences of stone formation were 73.33% in untreated group, 0% in normal control group, and 23.08% in the SQC group. And the INCIDENCE in untreated group was significantly higher than those in the normal control group and the SQC group (P

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Qingdan Capsule (QDC) and Yanggan Lidan Granule (YGLDG), two kinds of compound traditional Chinese herbal medicines, on biochemical parameters in guinea-pigs with pigment gallstones. METHODS An animal model of pigment gallstones was established in male guinea-pigs by hypodermic injection of lincomycin. The guinea-pigs were randomly divided into blank control group, untreated group, QDC group and YGLDG group. There were 8 guinea-pigs in each group. After ten-day treatment, animals were sacrificed and sampled to calculate the rate of stone formation, total bilirubin (TB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) and Ca2+ density in bile of the four groups. RESULTS In comparison with the untreated group, the rates of stone formation in the QDC and YGLDG groups were significantly decreased (P

Potential ecological risk of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in agricultural black soil in Jilin Province, China was analyzed by the methods of risk assessment based on dose–effect relationships and ecological risk index. Heavy Cd-contamination occurred mainly around the coal mine region. The accumulation area for Pb appeared mostly in the suburbs and roadsides, whereas the higher As content was mainly found in the farmland of suburb and coal mine vicinity. In acute toxicity test, Cd, Pb and As in the soil had adverse effects on both roots and shoots growth in soybean with the greatest toxicity of arsenic and the least toxicity of lead at the same concentration levels. Exposed to Cd, Pb and As, the EC50 (50% effective concentration) values for the growth of soybean root (shoot) were 212.59 (376.70), 528.53 (828.69) and 194.60 (299.03) mg/kg, respectively. Results of potential ecological risk index showed that soil contamination from Cd in some samples had very high potential ecological risk; Pb contamination for almost all sampling sites had moderate ecological risk; while soil contamination from As had low ecological risk. With the present accumulation rate, concentrations of Cd, Pb and As in agricultural black soil near coal mine would reach the threshold values in 68, 175 and 120 years, respectively.

Previous studies have shown that patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) are associated with a varying degree of cognitive dysfunction. Several resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have been conducted to explore the neural correlates of such cognitive deficits, whereas little effort has been made to investigate the cortical integrity in cirrhotic patients without OHE. Here, using cortical thickness, surface area and local gyrification index (lGI), this study performed a comprehensive analysis on the cortical morphometry of patients with HBV-RC without OHE (HBV-RC-NOHE) versus matched healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, we found significantly increased cortical thickness in the bilateral lingual and parahippocampal gyrus, right posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, peri-calcarine sulcus and fusiform gyrus in patient with HBV-RC-NOHE, which may closely relate to be the low-grade brain edema. Cortical gyrification analysis showed significantly increased lGI in the left superior and inferior parietal cortex as well as lateral occipital cortex, which was speculated to be associated with disruptions in white matter connectivity and sub-optimal intra-cortical organization. In addition, the mean cortical thickness/lGI of the regions with structural abnormalities was shown to be negatively correlated with psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) of the patients with HBV-RC-NOHE. These morphological changes may serve as potential markers for the preclinical diagnosis and progression of HBV-RC-NOHE.

OBJECTIVE To further probe the mechanisms of herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver in reversing bile lithogenicity of guinea pig. METHODS Sixty guinea pigs were divided randomly into control group (fed with normal diet, n=20), model group (fed with lithogenic diet, n=20) and treatment group (fed with lithogenic diet plus herbal medicine, n=20). After four-week feeding, the animals were sacrificed and sampled, the rates of gallstone formation in each group were estimated, and the total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), conjugated bilirubin (CB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), and calcium ion in the bile were determined, and the different bilirubins were analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS (1) The rate of gallstone formation was 5% in normal group, 81.25% in model group and 31.25% in treatment group (P

A mild, metal-free approach for the direct reductive N-alkylation of aromatic amines with acetals using the iodine-triethylsilane reductive system is described.

No products are obtained when an internal alkyne diphenylacetylene or unsubstituted dimethoxymethane are used as substrates.

Background Cavernous hemangiomas (CHs) of the adrenal gland are extremely rare. To date, only a few studies of adrenal CH imaging have been reported. Purpose To analyze the computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of adrenal CHs. Material and Methods Ten cases of adrenal CHs confirmed by a histopathological examination were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients had undergone unenhanced and enhanced CT examinations, and eight had also undergone multiphase CT enhancement examinations. CT characteristics, including shape, size, margin, attenuation, and enhancement patterns, were analyzed. Results The study included six women and four men with a mean age of 49.2 years (age range, 25–62 years) and no signs of abnormal endocrine activity. The unenhanced CTs showed well-defined, heterogeneous ( n = 8) or homogeneous ( n = 2) density masses with scattered ( n = 8) or spread calcifications ( n = 2) in six tumors. In the contrast-enhanced CTs, seven tumors appeared to be marked with heterogeneous enhancement, whereas three cases exhibited no obvious enhancement. The evaluation of the pattern of dynamic enhancement in eight patients revealed that the tumors showed early peripheral enhancement ( n = 4), early central enhancement ( n = 1), and mixed enhancement ( n = 1) with progressive partial filling-in, and no obvious enhancement in any phases ( n = 2). Conclusion Adrenal CHs should be included in the differential diagnosis when an adrenal neoplasm is incidentally found and appears as a well-defined, heterogeneous mass with calcifications and various enhancement patterns, including heterogeneous enhancement with characteristic progressive partial filling-in, as well as lack of enhancement in any phase.

BACKGROUND: In the past twenty years, codeine-containing cough syrups (CCS) was recognized as a new type of addictive drugs. However, the exact neurobiologic mechanisms underlying CCS-dependence are still ill-defined. The aims of this study are to identify CCS-related modulations of neural activity during the resting-state in CCS-dependent individuals and to investigate whether these changes of neural activity can be related to duration of CCS use, the first age of CCS use and impulse control deficits in CCS-dependent individuals. We also want to observe the impact of gray matter deficits on these functional results. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Thirty CCS-dependent individuals and 30 control subjects participated. Resting-state functional MRI was performed by using gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) was calculated by using REST software. Voxel-based analysis of the ReHo maps between controls and CCS-dependent groups was performed using two-sample t tests (p

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim was to investigate the disintegration of the geniculocalcarine tract by using DTI-derived parameters in cases of unilateral occipital or temporal-occipital ischemic stroke with geniculocalcarine tract involvement and to determine whether geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction and unaffected ipsilateral geniculocalcarine tract fibers have different disintegration processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients underwent routine MR imaging and DTI of the brain. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity of the geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction, ipsilateral unaffected GCT fibers, and the contralateral geniculocalcarine tract were measured and compared at 5 different time points (from 1 year) poststroke. RESULTS: The fractional anisotropy of geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction (0.27 ± 0.06) was lower than that of contralateral GCT fibers (0.49 ± 0.03). The fractional anisotropy of geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction was not different in the first 3 weeks (P = .306). The mean diffusivity of geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction (0.53 ± 0.14) was lower than that of the contralateral GCT fibers (0.79 ± 0.07) in the first week but higher after the second week (0.95 ± 0.20 to 0.79 ± 0.06). The mean diffusivity gradually increased until it was equal to the mean diffusivity of CSF after the eighth week (2.43 ± 0.26), at which time both the fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values stabilized. The fractional anisotropy (0.50 ± 0.04) and mean diffusivity (0.77 ± 0.06) of the ipsilateral unaffected GCT fibers were similar to those of the contralateral GCT fibers (0.50 ± 0.03 and 0.79 ± 0.07) during the first 3 weeks. The fractional anisotropy then gradually decreased (from 0.42 ± 0.03 to 0.27 ± 0.05), while the mean diffusivity increased (from 0.95 ± 0.09 to 1.35 ± 0.11), though to a lesser degree than in the corresponding geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction. CONCLUSIONS: The geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction and the ipsilateral unaffected GCT fibers showed different disintegration processes. The progressive disintegration of geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction was stable until the eighth week poststroke. The ipsilateral unaffected GCT fibers began to disintegrate at the fourth week, but to a lesser degree than the geniculocalcarine tract fibers affected by infarction.

Objective To characterize the association between clinical symptoms and anatomical and functional cerebral deficits in codeine-containing cough syrups (CCS) users using voxel-based morphometry and resting state functional connectivity analysis. Methods Participants were 30 CCS users and 30 matched controls. Both groups were scanned using a volumetric three-dimensional fast field echo sequence and a gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence. Impulsivity traits of both groups were evaluated with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 (BIS 11). Voxel-based morphometry was used to characterize gray matter (GM) deficits in CCS users. The clinical significance of regional volume reduction was investigated by evaluating its association with impulsivity in CCS users and with alterations in resting state functional connectivity when brain regions with GM volume reduction were used as seed areas. Results Significantly decreased GM volume was observed in CCS users in bilateral ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) which was related to greater impulsivity in CCS users. Significantly decreased integration was found in CCS users between the vmPFC and the default mode network. Also, significantly enhanced functional connectivity was found between the vmPFC and the right insula, and the right dorsal lateral PFC. Negative correlation was observed between BIS total scores, scores for attentional impulsivity and vmPFC-inferior parietal lobe connectivity in CCS users. Conclusions The findings revealed volume loss and aberrant functional organization in vmPFC among CCS users. In addition, the decreased vmPFC GM volume and attenuated functional connectivity of the vmPFC-inferior parietal lobe network were associated with clinical higher impulsivity trait in CCS users.

Background To investigate the WM microstructure deficits in heroin dependent individuals (HDIs) with different length of heroin dependence, and to investigate whether these WM deficits can be related to the duration of heroin use and to decision-making deficits in HDIs. Methodology/Principal Findings Thirty-six HDIs [including eighteen sHDIs (duration of heroin dependent is less than 10 years) and eighteen lHDIs (duration of dependent is between 10∼20 years)] and sixteen healthy controls participated in this study. Whole brain voxel-wise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (Da) and radial diffusivity (Dr) were performed by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to localize abnormal WM regions among groups. TBSS demonstrated that sHDIs had significantly lower FA than controls in right orbito-frontal WM, bilateral temporal WM and right parietal WM. The lHDIs had significantly lower FA throughout the brain compared with the controls and sHDIs. The lHDIs had significantly lower Da than controls in bilateral inferior frontaloccipital fasciculus, bilateral splenium of corpus callosum, left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and had significantly higher Dr than controls in bilateral uncinatus fasciculus, bilateral inferior frontaloccipital fasciculus and bilateral cortical spinal fasciculus. Volume-of-interest (VOI) analyses detect the changes of diffusivity indices in the regions with FA abnormalities revealed by control vs sHDIs. In most VOIs, FA reductions were caused by the increase in Dr as well as the decrease in Da. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between FA and behavioral measures in HDIs and controls available. Significantly positively correlations were found between the FA values in the right orbital-frontal WM, right parietal WM and IGT performance. Conclusions The extent and severity of WM integrity deficits in HDIs was associated with the length of heroin dependent. Furthermore, abnormal WM microstructure may correlate with decision-making impairments in HDIs.

To evaluate the efficacies of gefitinib plus radiotherapy in the treatment of brain metastases in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients.A retrospective analysis was conducted for 161 NSCLC patients with brain metastases treated in Xinqiao Hospital from January 2001 to January 2010. And 38 patients aged 38 - 77 years old received the combined regimen of gefitinib plus radiotherapy. It consisted of synchronically practicing general or stereotactic brain radiotherapy and an oral intake of gefitinib (250 mg, QD for at least 8 consecutive weeks). The efficacies and toxicity were evaluated at Week 12 after the initial treatment. A total of 123 patients aged 37 - 76 years old undergoing whole brain or stereotactic radiotherapy were used as control. χ(2) test between two groups was carried out to evaluate the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), brain metastasis related symptoms and III-IV degree of toxicity. Non-parametric rank tests were performed to compare the U.S. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score between two groups.In the combination therapy group, the levels of ORR and DCR were significantly higher than those in the conventional treatment group (31.6%, 78.9% vs 15.4%, 60.2%). The differences were statistically significant (χ(2) = 4.859, P = 0.027 and χ(2) = 4.479, P = 0.034); significant difference existed in brain metastasis-related symptoms between two groups (χ(2) = 4.612, P = 0.037); the ECOG scores were evaluated in the combination therapy group. And they were as follows: 0 - 1 (n = 18), 2 (n = 11), 3 - 4 (n = 9) at pre-treatment vs 0 - 1 (n = 27), 2 (n = 6), 3 - 4 (n = 5) at post-treatment. The ECOG score significantly improved after treatment (Z = -2.012, P = 0.044). Regarding the III-IV degree of toxicity, the combination therapy group had 4 patients with acne-like rash and it was significantly higher than that in the conventional therapy group (n = 0) (P = 0.003). But no difference existed in the occurrence of fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and myelosuppression.The combined regimen of gefitinib plus radiotherapy can improve the therapeutic efficacies of brain metastases and enhance the quality-of-life in NSCLC patients, side effects are tolerable.

Background Many studies have reported that cognitive deficits exist in cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these deficits are still not fully understood. Aim To investigate regional activity abnormalities in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without OHE using resting-state functional MRI (Rs-fMRI), and to examine the relationship between regional activity abnormalities and impaired cognition. Methods A newly reported regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach was used to compare the local synchronization of Rs-fMRI signals in 32 patients with HBV-RC without OHE and 32 well-matched healthy controls. Cognition was measured in all patients using psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) tests, and the relationship between ReHo variation and PHES was analysed. Results Relative to healthy controls, the cirrhosis group showed high ReHo in the prefrontal cortex, and widespread low ReHo in visual association areas (left lingual gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and right middle occipital gyrus), motor association areas (bilateral precentral gyrus and paracentral lobule) and the bilateral precuneus. Correlation analysis of the mean ReHo values in different brain areas and PHES in cirrhotic patients revealed a significantly positive correlation in the left lingual gyrus (r = 0.352; P = 0.048), right middle occipital gyrus (r = 0.453; P = 0.009) and bilateral precentral gyrus (left: r = 0.436, P = 0.013; right: r = 0.582, P

Our aim was to better understand and improve the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of intraspinal MM by a combined analysis of MR imaging and pathologic findings. All 5 patients had undergone unenhanced and contrast-enhanced MR imaging examinations. All tumor samples had immunohistochemical reactions to HMB-45, vimentin, S-100, EMA, and Leu-7 antibodies. All 5 cases were located in the intradural extramedullary compartment. Two cases had multifocal lesions, and 3 cases were solitary. Two cases showed homogeneously strong enhancement, and 3 cases showed moderate enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1WI. The tumor cells had positive reactions to HMB-45, vimentin, and S-100 antibodies. MR imaging plays an important role in the detection and diagnosis of intraspinal MM. Final diagnosis should be based on histopathology and IHC examinations.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreato­graphy (ERCP) in the detection of cholangiopan­creatic diseases via a prospective study. METHODS: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed in 63 patients with suspected cholangiopancreatic diseases and followed by ERCP within 24 h. The MRCP and ERCP images were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Of the 63 patients studied, 56 (88.9%) were correctly diagnosed by using ERCP and seven (11.1%) by using percutaneous transhepatic cholangio­graphy (PTC); however, all these patients were successfully diagnosed by using MRCP. Cholangio­pancreatic diseases were diagnosed by MRCP with a sensitivity of 98.2%, a specificity of 83.3%, a misdiagnostic rate of 16.7% and a missed diagnostic rate of 1.8%. The total concordance rate of MRCP, ERCP and PTC was 85.7%. For specific conditions, the concordance rates were as follows: biliary calculi 100%; tumors of the bile duct 92.9%; papillary lesions 70.6%; hepatic distomiasis 66.7%; chronic pancreatitis 100%. The complications associated with ERCP were five cases of acute pancreatitis and one case of perinephric abscess. The patient with perinephric abscess had previously had a B-II operation. The complication rate associated with ERCP was 9.5% (6/63), but no complications were associated with MRCP. CONCLUSION: We conclude that MRCP is as effective as ERCP for the diagnosis of bile duct lesions, such as biliary calculi and tumors, but not for papillary lesions and liver fluke infections. Although MRCP can be used in patients who can’t tolerate ERCP or when there are contraindications to using ERCP, it should not be used for therapeutic purposes.

To identify heroin-related modulations of neural activity in the resting state in heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs) by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and a regional homogeneity method and to investigate whether these changes of neural activity can be related to duration of heroin use and to decision-making deficits in HDIs.This prospective study was approved by the appropriate ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Thirty-one HDIs receiving methadone-maintained treatment and 24 control subjects participated. Resting-state functional MR imaging was performed by using a gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence. Regional homogeneity was calculated by using software. Voxel-based analysis of the regional homogeneity maps between control and HDI groups was performed with two-sample t tests by using software. Statistical maps were set at P less than .05 and were corrected for multiple comparisons. The Iowa gambling task (IGT) was used to assess participant decision making during uncertainty. Abnormal clusters revealed by group comparison were extracted and correlated with behavioral performance at the IGT and with duration of heroin use.Regional homogeneity was diminished in the bilateral medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), bilateral dorsal medial thalamus, bilateral cuneus, and lingual gyrus in HDIs compared with control subjects. There were negative correlations between mean regional homogeneity in the medial OFC, bilateral cuneus, and lingual gyrus and duration of heroin use. There was a positive correlation between mean regional homogeneity in the medial OFC and performance level at the IGT.The present study reveals resting-state abnormalities in HDIs that may lead to further improvement of the understanding of the neural substrates of cognitive impairment in HDIs.

To analyze the value of time-signal intensity curve (TIC) in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DEC-MRI) in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.Thirty-six consecutive patients and healthy volunteers were divided into 4 groups according to the stages of fibrosis, namely the normal group (n=9), mild fibrosis group (n=5), moderate to severe fibrosis group (n=7), and liver cirrhosis group (n=15). All the subjects underwent conventional and DEC-MRI, and the TIC was generated automatically to evaluate the peak height, TTP, MSI and MSD. The correlations between the TIC parameters and the stage of fibrosis were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to evaluate the value of the TIC parameters in the evaluation of fibrosis stage.Moderate but significant inverse correlations of the peak height, MSI, and to fibrosis stage were noted in these patients (P0.05); the peak time was positively correlated to the fibrosis stage (P0.05). In patients with a fibrosis stage ≥1, the AUC of the measured TIC parameters ranged from 0.747 to 0.783, with the MSD of the spleen had the highest AUC (0.783). For a fibrosis stage ≥3, the AUC of the indices ranged between 0.728 and 0.877, highest for liver MSI of the arterial phase, followed by the portal vein MSI, liver MSI of portal venous phase, liver MSD, splenic MSI of arterial phase and splenic MSD. In the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, the AUC (range 0.742-0.821) decreased in the order of liver MSI of the portal venous phase, liver MSD, liver MSI of the arterial phase, the portal vein MSI, splenic MSI of the arterial phase and splenic MSD.TIC of DEC-MRI can be used to evaluate hemodynamic changes in the liver, and may serve as a practical non-invasive functional imaging modality for assessing the severity of liver fibrosis.

To evaluate the correlation between T2* relaxation time and the pathological changes in the knee joint of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze the changes of T2* relaxation time in early cartilage injury.Sixty-two patients with OA in different phases underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee and the articular cartilage T2* relaxation time was recorded, with 20 young healthy volunteers as the control group.Patients with mild OA showed significantly different T2* relaxation time for most of the articular cartilage from that of the healthy volunteers (P0.05), but no such difference was found between serious OA group and the healthy volunteers. The change of T2* relaxation time of the cartilage was also associated with age, weight and body height, and the potential effects of other factors could not be excluded.The articular cartilage shows no obvious morphological changes in early OA of the knee, a stage characterized mostly by alterations of the tissue structure and compositions. Cartilage pathologies can be the most obvious on the weight-bearing surface of the medial condyle of the femur or in the patella. T2* relaxation time measurement can be helpful in the detection of early cartilage pathologies.

In order to approach the optimal nitrogen fertilization rate and suitable harvest time for the high grain yield and quality of summer maize in Huanghe-Haihe Area, a field experiment with five nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 113, 181, 249, and 375 kg N x hm(-2)) and two harvest time (S1: September 23, conventional harvest time for local farmers, and S2: September 29, 6 days delayed) was conducted. The results showed that the kernel number, grain yield, and 1000-grain mass increased with nitrogen fertilization rate, but the differences were not significant. With increasing nitrogen fertilization rate, the protein and lysine contents of the grains increased, while the starch content decreased. After 6 days delayed for harvest, the grain yield, 1000-grain mass, and the starch and lysine contents of the grains increased, but the protein and crude fat contents decreased. Based on the yield level, the optimal nitrogen fertilization rate for the summer maize in Huanghe-Haihe Area was 113-180 kg N x hm(-2), and the suitable harvest time was from September 29 to October 5.