Transforming brain signals related to value evaluation and self‐control into behavioral choices

The processes involved in value evaluation and self‐control are critical when making behavioral choices. However, the evidence linking these two types of processes to behavioral choices in intertemporal decision‐making remains elusive. As the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), striatum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) have been associated with these two processes, we focused on these three regions. We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging during a delayed discounting task (DDT) using a relatively large sample size, three independent samples. We evaluated how much information about a specific choice could be decoded from local patterns in each brain area using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA). To investigate the relationship between the dlPFC and vmPFC/striatum regions, we performed a psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. In Experiment I, we found that the vmPFC and dlPFC, but not the striatum, could determine choices in healthy participants. Furthermore, we found that the dlPFC showed significant functional connectivity with the vmPFC, but not the striatum, when making decisions. These results could be replicated in Experiment II with an independent sample of healthy participants. In Experiment III, the choice‐decoding accuracy in the vmPFC and dlPFC was lower in patients with addiction (smokers and participants with Internet gaming disorder) than in healthy participants, and decoding accuracy in the dlPFC was related to impulsivity in addicts. Taken together, our findings may provide neural evidence supporting the hypothesis that value evaluation and self‐control processes both guide the intertemporal choices, and might provide potential neural targets for the diagnosis and treatment of impulsivity‐related brain disorders.     

Increased intracranial hemorrhage of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - The impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is controversial, and with a paucity of...     

I125 irradiation stent for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis: A meta-analysis

PurposeA meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the safety and efficiency of I¹²⁵ irradiation stent placement for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) combined with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).Materials and methodsThe Cochrane library, PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, CNKI, Wanfang Data and CQVIP were systematically screened out from the earliest to December 2019. The qualities of all included studies were assessed. The primary endpoints were the 6-month, 12-month stent cumulative patency rate and 6-month, 12-month, 24-month overall survival rate while the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate of PVTT, main portal venous pressure changes and treatment-related adverse events. Our meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 12.0 software.ResultsTotally seven studies with 1018 patients were included in the final analysis, in which 602 patients received TACE and I¹²⁵ irradiation stent placement, and 416 patients in control group underwent TACE and stent placement without endovascular brachytherapy (EVBT). Meta-analysis showed that the I¹²⁵ irradiation stent improved the cumulative stent patency rates in 6 months [OR = 1.65, 95% CI (1.32–2.05), P < 0.001] and 12 months [OR = 2.55, 95% CI (1.90–3.42), P < 0.001] and the survival rates in 6 months [OR = 1.77, 95% CI (1.41–2.22), P < 0.001], 12 months [OR = 3.14, 95% CI (2.24–4.40), P < 0.001] and 24 months [OR = 7.39, 95% CI (3.55–15.41), P < 0.001]. However, there was no difference in the objective response rate of PVTT [OR = 1.13, 95% CI (0.87–1.48), P = 0.365], main portal venous pressure and the occurrence adverse event [OR = 0.88, CI = 0.72–1.08, P = 0.212] between two groups.ConclusionI¹²⁵ irradiation stent seems to be more effective in treating hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis. The usage of portal vein stent combined endovascular brachytherapy has the potential to act as an alternative therapy for HCC with PVTT. On account of the limitation of studies included, more studies with high-level evidence, such as RCTs, are requisite to support the above promising results.     

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated neuroprotective effects on the degenerative retina: the therapeutic potential of erythropoietin

Retinal degeneration (RD) results in photoreceptor loss and irreversible visual impairments. This study sought to alleviate the photoreceptor degeneration via the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated erythropoietin (EPO) therapy. AAV-2/2-mCMV-EPO vectors were constructed and delivered into the subretinal space of a RD model. The retinal morphology, optokinetic behaviour and electrophysiological function of the treated animals were analysed. The subretinal delivery of AAV-2/2 vectors induced robust EPO gene expressions in the retinas. AAV2/2-mediated EPO therapy ameliorated the photoreceptor degeneration and visual impairments of the RD animal model. Furthermore, the multi-electrodes array (MEA) was used to detect the firing activities of retinal ganglion cells. MEA recording showed that the EPO therapy could restrain the spontaneous firing response, enhance the light-induced firing response and preserve the basic configurations of visual signal pathway in RD model. Our MEA assay provided an example to evaluate the potency of pharmacological compounds on retinal plasticity. In conclusion, AAV2/2-mediated EPO therapy can ameliorate the photoreceptor degeneration and rectify the abnormities in visual signal transmission. These beneficial results suggest the AAV vector is a viable therapeutic option for retinopathies with rapidly degenerating kinetics and lay the groundwork for future development of EPO gene therapy.     

Euxanthone Impairs the Metastatic Potential of Osteosarcoma by Reducing COX-2 Expression

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common malignancies of bone. This study was aimed to explore the anti-metastatic effect of euxanthone on OS. Adhesion assay and Transwell assay were used to examine the effect of euxanthone on adhesion, migration and invasion of OS cells. COX-2-over-expressing plasmid was applied to transfect OS cells to assess whether COX-2 affects the anti-metastatic function of euxanthone. PDCD4 knockdown and miR-21 mimic were applied to assess whether euxanthone suppresses the transactivation of c-jun via modulating miR-21-PDCD4 signaling. The effect of euxanthone in vivo was also examined by lung metastasis assay. Euxanthone, a xanthone derivative extracted from Polygala caudata, has been found to exhibit anti-neoplastic activities. In present study, our results showed that euxanthone suppressed cell adhesion, migration, and invasion in OS cells. Our experimental data also showed that repression of COX-2 by euxanthone mediated its anti-metastatic activities. Moreover, our findings revealed that euxanthone modulated the COX-2 expression through the miR-21/PDCD4/c-jun signaling pathway. The anti-metastatic activities of euxanthone were also validated in a pulmonary metastasis model. Taken together, our results highlighted the potential of euxanthone to be used in the treatment of OS. Anat Rec, 302:1399–1408, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

多维分析法在住院病案首页数据质量评价中的应用

目的利用多维分析法对住院病案首页数据质量进行评价,以形成科学、系统的住院病案首页质控管理模式,提升住院病案首页填写质量。方法对某三甲医院2019年1月至12月的住院病案按照随机数字表法抽取3000份,采用多维分析法,从住院病案首页填报的完整性、准确性、住院病案首页优质率三个方面进行分析。结果该院住院病案首页数据的完整率、准确率及住院病案首页质量优质率分别为92.40%,96.03%和91.80%。住院病案首页中缺失较多的项目为RH血型、ABO血型、是否有31天再入院计划等;错误较多的项目为主要诊断、主要手术及操作及主要诊断、主要手术及操作编码。其中内科系统及重症医学科完整率高于外科系统,内科系统正确性及住院病案首页优质率高于外科系统和重症医学科,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论多维分析方法是住院病案首页数据质量控制的重要辅助工具,可为临床及医院管理人员进行住院病案首页数据质量控制提供科学的依据。     

葡萄籽原花青素对糖尿病小鼠心室重构的保护作用

目的 探讨葡萄籽原花青素(GSP)对糖尿病小鼠心脏损伤的保护作用及作用机制.方法 采用腹腔注射四氧嘧啶制备1型糖尿病模型,造模成功后,随机分为模型组、GSP低、中、高剂量组(65、130、195 mg/kg)和二甲双胍(MET)阳性对照组(220 mg/kg).同时设置空白对照组,各组灌胃给药30 d,对照和模型组给予0.9％氯化钠溶液灌胃.给药期间记录动态血糖、糖耐量和饮食饮水量的变化.连续给药30 d后,采用BL-420S生物机能实验系统检测小鼠心功能并计算心脏重量指数(HWI)和肾脏重量指数(KWI);苏木精-伊红(HE)染色和马松(Masson)染色观察组织病理学变化;酶联免疫吸附法和比色法检测血清学指标的改变;免疫荧光法和Western blot检测心脏组织蛋白表达的变化.结果 与对照组相比,模型组小鼠血糖、糖耐量、饮食饮水量明显升高;血流动力学、病理形态学、血清学指标发生明显异常改变,如心肌组织内皮素A(ETA)明显升高,内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)明显降低等.与模型组相比,给药组和MET组均能显著改善上述指标.结论 GSP对糖尿病心脏损伤具有一定的保护作用,其机制可能与抗氧化应激和改善内皮功能障碍有关.     

Characterizations of Cholinesterases in Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata)

Cholinesterases (ChEs) have been identified in vertebrates and invertebrates. Inhibition of ChE activity in invertebrates, such as bivalve molluscs, has been used to evaluate the exposure of organophosphates, carbamate pesticides, and heavy metals in the marine system. The golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) is considered as one of the worst invasive alien species harmful to rice and other crops. The ChE(s) in this animal, which has been found recently, but poorly characterized thus far, could serve as biomarker(s) for environmental surveillance as well as a potential target for the pest control. In this study, the tissue distribution, substrate preference, sensitivity to ChE inhibitors, and molecular species of ChEs in P. canaliculata were investigated. It was found that the activities of both AChE and BChE were present in all test tissues. The intestine had the most abundant ChE activities. Both enzymes had fair activities in the head, kidney, and gills. The BChE activity was more sensitive to tetra-isopropylpyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA) than the AChE. Only one BChE molecular species, 5.8S, was found in the intestine and head, whereas two AChE species, 5.8S and 11.6S, were found there. We propose that intestine ChEs of this snail may be potential biomarkers for manipulating pollutions.