The role of BDNF methylation and Val66Met in amygdala reactivity during emotion processing

Epigenetic alterations of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene have been associated with psychiatric disorders in humans and with differences in amygdala BDNF mRNA levels in rodents. This human study aimed to investigate the relationship between the functional BDNF‐Val⁶⁶Met polymorphism, its surrounding DNA methylation in BDNF exon IX, amygdala reactivity to emotional faces, and personality traits. Healthy controls (HC, n = 189) underwent functional MRI during an emotional face‐matching task. Harm avoidance, novelty seeking and reward dependence were measured using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Individual BDNF methylation profiles were ascertained and associated with several BDNF single nucleotide polymorphisms surrounding the BDNF‐Val⁶⁶Met, amygdala reactivity, novelty seeking and harm avoidance. Higher BDNF methylation was associated with higher amygdala reactivity (x = 34, y = 0, z = ?26, t₍₁₆₆₎ = 3.00, TFCE = 42.39, p_(FWE) = .045), whereby the BDNF‐Val⁶⁶Met genotype per se did not show any significant association with brain function. Furthermore, novelty seeking was negatively associated with BDNF methylation (r = ?.19, p = .015) and amygdala reactivity (r = ?.17, p = .028), while harm avoidance showed a trend for a positive association with BDNF methylation (r = .14, p = .066). The study provides first insights into the relationship among BDNF methylation, BDNF genotype, amygdala reactivity and personality traits in humans, highlighting the multidimensional relations among genetics, epigenetics, and neuronal functions. The present study suggests a possible involvement of epigenetic BDNF modifications in psychiatric disorders and related brain functions, whereby high BDNF methylation might reduce BDNF mRNA expression and upregulate amygdala reactivity.     

膝关节前外侧韧带的研究进展

目的对膝关节前外侧韧带（anterolateral ligament，ALL）的研究进展进行综述，为临床诊治提供参考。方法广泛查阅近年来国内外有关 ALL 损伤诊断及治疗的文献，总结膝关节 ALL 解剖形态、生物力学以及 ALL 损伤机制、治疗现状。结果膝关节 ALL 具有限制胫骨内旋及前移作用，影响膝关节轴移。ALL 损伤后可结合患者体征和 MRI 检查诊断。膝关节 ALL 手术指征尚未统一，但多数学者倾向于对需进行前交叉韧带（anterior cruciate ligament，ACL）重建或翻修且伴有高度轴移试验阳性的患者进行 ALL 重建。目前 ALL 重建方式较多，但尚无最佳治疗术式。此外，由于缺乏高质量的术后长期随访研究，远期临床疗效仍不明确。结论ALL 在维持膝关节稳定性方面具有一定作用，但 ALL 重建技术及临床疗效仍待进一步研究。     

新型纳米根管充填材料对成骨细胞生长的影响

通过体外培养的成骨细胞,采用二甲基噻唑二苯基四唑溴盐比色法和流式细胞术对新型纳米根管充填材料(nHA-PA66)作用下的成骨细胞生长情况的变化进行研究,评价其对成骨细胞生长的影响。以该材料的细胞培养基浸提液作用于实验组细胞,对照组采用培养基本身。实验组和对照组成骨细胞的生长情况和细胞周期无显著性差异,表明该新型纳米材料对成骨细胞的生长和细胞周期无不良影响。提示新型纳米根管充填材料的成骨细胞相容性较好,具有用作根充材料的基础。     

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met and psychiatric disorders: meta-analysis of case-control studies confirm association to substance-related disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing recognition that the pathophysiology of mental disorders could be the result of deregulation of synaptic plasticity with alterations of neurotrophins. The valine (Val)66-to-methionine (Met) variant, located in the pro brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) sequence, has been extensively studied through linkage and association approaches in several psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis restricted to individual case-control studies in different categories of mental disorders and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. We included data from 39 case-control studies encompassing psychiatric phenotypes: eating disorders, substance-related disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia, among others. RESULTS: The association of Val66Met was confined to three diagnoses: substance-related disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. The Val/Met and the Met/Met genotypes increase the risk for eating disorders up to 33%, while these same genotypes confer a 21% protective effect in substance-related disorders. The homozygous carriers Met/Met showed a 19% increased risk of schizophrenia with respect to the heterozygous state. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the association of Val66Met to substance-related disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. It remains to be determined if other variants in tight linkage disequilibrium with Val66Met could configure an extended functional haplotype that would explain observed discrepancies in risk estimations across studies.     

Cyclotron production of carrier-free 66Ga as a positron emitting label of albumin colloids for clinical use

A method for producing carrier free ⁶⁶Ga (T_1/2:9.4h; ⁺) by ⁴He bombardment of natural copper targets is presented. ⁶⁶Ga is formed by means of the ⁶³Cu (⁴He, n) ⁶⁶Ga reaction. Production yields are given in the 17.5 to 8 MeV ⁴He energy range. Chemical purification of ⁶⁶Ga from the copper target is described. The only radionuclidic impurity found in the final product was ⁶⁷Ga. Albumin colloids from commercially available kits designed for use with ^99mTc could easily be labeled with ⁶⁶Ga and employed for studies of the lymphatic system by positron emission tomography.     

原位检测新基因SNC66在胃癌组织与正常胃粘膜中的表达

目的: 观察新基因SNC66在胃癌组织中的表达水平,分析SNC66表达水平与胃癌发生的相关性。 方法:以β-actin为对照,对20例胃癌组织及其配对正常胃粘膜的石蜡切片,进行原位cRNA/mRNA分子杂交和原位RT-PCR扩增。 结果:两种检测方法表明,SNC66在正常胃粘膜组织中都呈强阳性表达。而在胃癌组织中,原位分子杂交检测表明,20例标本SNC66不表达和弱阳性表达各8例,强阳性表达4例。原位RT-PCR检测表明,当循环数为10时,此20例胃癌标本中不表达、弱阳性和呈强阳性表达数分别为6,9和5;而当循环数为25时,则4例不表达,16例呈强阳性表达。 结论:SNC66基因在胃癌组织中存在明显的表达降低和表达缺陷。SNC66可以作为一个胃癌负相关基因加以进一步研究。     

Worldwide genomic diversity of the human papillomaviruses-53, 56, and 66, a group of high-risk HPVs unrelated to HPV-16 and HPV-18

Among more than 200 human papillomavirus (HPV) types presumed to exist, 18 "high-risk" HPV types are frequently found in anogenital cancer. The best studied types are HPV-16 and 18, which are only distantly related to one another and form two separate phylogenetic branches, each including six closely related types. HPV-30, 53, 56, and 66 form a third phylogenetic branch unrelated to HPV-16 and 18. Worldwide comparison of HPV-16 and 18 isolates revealed a distribution of variant genomes that correlated with the geographic origin and the ethnicity of the infected cohort and led to the concept of unique African, European, Asian, and Native American HPV-16 and 18 variants. Here, we address the question whether similar phylogenies are found for HPV-53, 56, and 66 by determining the sequence of the long control regions (LCR) of these HPVs in samples from Europe, Asia, and Africa, and from immigrant societies in North and South America. Phylogenetic trees calculated from point mutations and a few insertions/deletions affecting 2-4.2% of the nucleotide sequences were distinct for each of the three HPVs and divergent from HPV-16 and 18. In contrast to the "star-phylogenies" formed by HPV-16 and 18 variants, 44 HPV-53 isolates represented nine variants, which formed two deep dichotomic branches reminiscent of the beginning split into two new taxa, as recently observed for subtypes of HPV-44 and 68. A total of 66 HPV-56 isolates represented 17 variants, which formed three branches preferentially containing European, Asian, and African variants. Variants of a fourth branch, deeply separated from the other three, were characterized by a 25 bp insertion and created a dichotomy rather than star-like phylogeny. As it contained isolates from cohorts in all continents, it may have evolved before the spread of humans into all continents. 18 of 31 HPV-66 isolates represented the prototype clone, which was found in all parts of the world, while the remaining 13 clones formed 11 branches without any geographic association. Our findings confirm the notion of a quantitatively limited genomic diversity of each HPV type with some correlation to the geographic origin of the sample. In addition, we observed in some variants of these three HPV types mutations that affect the amino acid sequence of the E6 oncoproteins and the L1 capsid protein, supporting the possibility of immunogenic and oncogenic diversity between variants of any HPV type.     

Chronic pelvic pain: Psychological features and laparoscopic findings

One hundred three consecutive patients referred for treatment of chronic pelvic pain underwent MMPI testing, and 60 had diagnostic laparoscopy. A physical cause for the pain was found in 45 (75%) of the 60. However, three fourths (34) of patients with an organic cause for the pain also had evidence of psychopathology on the MMPI. Reassurance and education as to the role of stress in causing or exacerbating pain complaints appeared helpful. Most patients improve without major surgery.     

肩关节上关节囊重建治疗肩袖损伤适应证和移植物处理方法研究进展

目的对肩关节上关节囊重建治疗肩袖损伤适应证和移植物处理方法的研究进展进行综述。方法广泛查阅近年来国内外有关肩关节上关节囊重建治疗肩袖损伤的文献，并进行总结分析。结果肩关节上关节囊重建可以有效恢复肩关节上方稳定性，其手术适应证包括不可修复巨大肩袖撕裂、巨大肩袖撕裂合并肩关节假性麻痹、肩袖分层撕裂以及中或大的肩袖撕裂合并肩袖严重退变。为了获得较好的腱骨愈合以及降低移植物远期再撕裂率，必须选择合适厚度的移植物，并以适当的强度固定移植物并恢复其连续性。结论肩关节上关节囊重建的手术应用已发展至上关节囊加强重建，手术适应证从肩袖实质性巨大缺损扩展至肩袖严重退变。移植物处理是上关节囊重建手术成功的关键。