Lack of the cerebral peduncle involvement in a series of adult supratentorial AVM: A diffusion tensor imaging study

Congenital as arteriovenous malformation(AVM) is, most patients with AVM would be asymptomatic until adults. During the past 2 years, 23 cases of adult supratentorial AVM patients had DTI after admission. The region of interest was placed in the cerebral peduncle. Their FA value and fiber number was compared with those of cavernous malformation (CM) and tumor (glioma and meningioma). In the AVM group, there was no significant difference in FA of the cerebral peduncle (ipsilateral 0.758 ± 0.055 versus contralateral 0.755 ± 0.049; P > 0.05) and fiber number (319.6 ± 82.9 versus 304.7 ± 89.1; P > 0.05). In the CM group, FA of the cerebral peduncle on ipsilateral side (0.711 ± 0.092) was significantly lower than that of contralateral side (0.768 ± 0.043) (P < 0.01). Similar result was in fiber number of the CM group (251 ± 82.1 versus 307.3 ± 77.0; P < 0.05). In tumor group, FA of ipsilateral side (0.713 ± 0.084) was lower than that of contralateral (0.751 ± 0.052) without significant difference. There was no significant difference in fiber number between ipsilateral and contralateral sides in the tumor group (308.9 ± 112.4 versus 287.9 ± 62.4). Unlike non-AVM lesions (CM and tumor), FA value and fiber number of the ipsilateral cerebral peduncle is less influenced in the AVM group. The lack of the cerebral peduncle involvement indicates that there is plasticity of white matter in AVM.     

FAK is involved in invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Studies have shown that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is overexpressed in several human tumors and plays an important role in tumor progression. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of FAK in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined FAK and phosphorylated FAK Tyr397 expression in a large series of HCCs. We found that both FAK and phosphorylated FAK Tyr397 were overexpressed in HCC samples and HCC cell lines. Increased FAK and phosphorylated FAK Tyr397 expressions were correlated with tumor stage, vascular invasion and intrahepatic metastasis in HCC. Furthermore, HCC cell adhesion, migration and invasion were substantially impaired by siRNA-mediated knockdown of FAK expression, whereas cell growth, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were not affected. In addition, depletion of FAK induced a significant reduction in expressions and activities of both MMP-2 and MMP-9. Taken together, FAK contributes to invasion and metastasis of HCC partly through regulating expressions and activations of both MMP-2 and MMP-9, suggesting FAK could be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.     

Effects of temperature, salinity, and pH on the survival and activity of marine cercariae

Alterations of abiotic factors due to global climate change are predicted to impact disease dynamics, particularly for pathogens with complex life cycles involving free-living infectious stages, such as the cercariae of trematode parasites. Previous investigations of cercarial output, longevity, and infectivity suggest an overall increase in trematode transmission in response to elevated temperature. However, while increased temperature will likely be accompanied by changes in salinity and pH in marine ecosystems, little is known regarding their influence on cercariae. We investigated the response of trematode cercariae of the intertidal horn snail Cerithidea californica to altered temperature, salinity, and pH. The survival and activity of one trematode species, Euhaplorchis californiensis (Heterophydae), appears to be largely unaffected by increased temperature, while that of a second species, Acanthoparyphium spinulosum (Echinostomatidae), decreased at the warmer temperature (25°C). Cercariae of E. californiensis generally fared best at the highest salinity (40 ppt), whereas A. spinulosum showed the opposite effect. Neither species was affected by pH alone although there were interactions with salinity and time. These results may reflect different emergence patterns of the two species and demonstrate that trematode parasitism in intertidal zones may be impacted by alterations of the marine environment resulting from climate change.     

心理干预对产后抑郁症疗效的影响

目的探讨心理干预对产后抑郁症疗效的影响。方法将产后抑郁症患者随机分为心理干预组和对照组,治疗6周,分别给予心理干预配合药物治疗和单独使用药物治疗,采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和临床疗效总评量表对病情严重程度(CGI-SI)评定疗效。结果 1治疗第6周末心理干预组有效率优于对照组,差异有显著性(χ2=5.455,P=0.020);2两组治疗后各周末HAMD评分较治疗前均极显著降低(P0.01);两组间比较,治疗后2周开始心理干预组HAMD评分明显低于对照组,差异有显著性(P0.05);3治疗第6周末两组病情严重程度(CGI-SI)均较治疗前有极显著改善(t=14.46及14.42,均为P0.01);治疗后心理干预组CGI-SI评分低于对照组,差异有显著性(t=2.50,P=0.015)。结论心理干预可显著改善产后抑郁症患者的抑郁症状,提高其生活质量。     

大学生积极心理资本与学习倦怠状况的关系

目的探讨大学生积极心理资本与学习倦怠之间的关系。方法采用积极心理资本问卷和学习倦怠问卷,对天津师范大学389名大学生进行调查。结果①大学生积极心理资本状况:自我效能感因子在性别上具有显著性差异(t=3.99,P0.05);乐观因子在年级上具有显著性差异(F=3.96,P0.05),进一步多重比较表明,三年级大学生乐观水平显著高于二年级;乐观因子在学科类别上具有显著差异(t=5.49,P0.05);②大学生学习倦怠状况:情感耗竭因子在性别上具有显著性差异(t=10.99,P0.01);在学科类别上具有显著性差异(t=16.00,P0.001);在不同家庭住址上也具有显著性差异(t=3.50,P0.05);成就感低因子在年级上具有显著性差异(F=5.06,P0.01),进一步多重比较表明,一年级大学生成就感水平显著高于二、三年级大学生;③大学生的积极心理资本与学习倦怠负相关,前者对后者具有显著的预测效应(23.7%)。结论大学生积极心理资本对学习倦怠有重要的影响,应当鼓励他们发挥自身积极心理资本优势,避免学习倦怠心理与行为。     

Effects of physical positions on sleep architectures and post-nap functions among habitual nappers

The post-lunch sleepiness is considered to be part of biological rhythm. Many people take nap as a countermeasure to this afternoon circadian nadir. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of a short-term midday nap in different physical positions after a full night sleep on subjective and physiological measures. Thirty-six young healthy habitual nappers (18 men, 18 women) aged 18-23 participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: to nap in a seat (NS), to nap in a bed (NB) and no-nap (NN). Measures of subjective sleepiness, mood, fatigue, and P300 component were taken before and after a 20 min nap. Results showed that sleepiness, fatigue, and mood for both NS and NB were improved after napping. Moreover, objective alertness was enhanced in NB relative to NS and NN, which showed the larger P300 amplitude after nap. The delta power during sleep stage 2 of NS was inferior to that of NB, which induced a lower alertness after the sitting nap. Consequently, the result demonstrated the function of delta wave during stage 2 on arousal level following the brief midday nap. In general, taking a nap in a seat is a way to subjective restoration but taking a nap in a bed benefits the habitual nappers subjectively and physiologically.     

Survey of pertussis in patients with prolonged cough.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pertussis is an acute respiratory tract illness resulting from Bordetella pertussis. Widespread use of pertussis vaccine over the past 50 years has decreased the incidence of pertussis. The incidence of pertussis in adolescents and adults has increased in many areas of the world. This study aimed to evaluate the etiologic role of B. pertussis in patients with prolonged cough in Taiwan. METHODS: Patients with cough lasting for more than 1 week were recruited. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken for culture of B. pertussis and detection of nucleic acid of B. pertussis by polymerase chain reaction. Serum samples were collected in a subset of patients for assay of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A antibodies against pertussis toxin. RESULTS: In total, 111 patients were recruited. Thirty-three patients agreed to have their serum samples taken and tested. Eight patients had evidence of acute infection with B. pertussis; among them, 1 was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction and 7 by serology. Older subjects were more likely to suffer from pertussis than younger subjects. The incidence of pertussis in patients with prolonged cough was 7.2%. However, the rate could have been as high as 21% in those with serum samples tested. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pertussis is a prevalent disease in Taiwan, especially in adolescents and adults.     

Flow-injection chemiluminescent immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein based on epoxysilane modified glass microbeads

A flow-injection chemiluminescent immunoassay system based on a novel transparent immunoaffinity reactor is proposed for the quantitation of alpha-fetoprotein. The reactor prepared with alpha-fetoprotein immobilized epoxysilane modified glass microbeads was used as an immunosensor for chemiluminescent detection. With a non-competitive immunoassay format, the proposed immunosensor system is a low cost, flexible and rapid assay for alpha-fetoprotein. After an off-line incubation of the analyte alpha-fetoprotein with horseradish peroxidase-labeled alpha-fetoprotein antibody as enzyme tracer, the mixture was injected into the reactor, which led to trapping of the free enzyme tracer by the reactor. The trapped enzyme tracer was detected by the p-iodophenol-luminol-H2O2 chemiluminescence system. Under optimal conditions, the decrease in chemiluminescence intensity was proportional to the alpha-fetoprotein concentration in the range of 5.0-100 ng/ml with a detection limit of 2.7 ng/ml at a signal/noise ratio of 3. The immunosensor system showed an acceptable reproducibility and stability. Clinical serum samples were assayed with this method and the results were in acceptable agreement with those obtained from immunoradiometric assay.     

CCR2 allele polymorphisms in 15 Chinese ethnic populations

Chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2) is a co-receptor for the entry of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) into the target cells. A mutation in CCR2 (CCR2-64I) exhibited a protective effect to delay the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To study the mutant frequency and polymorphism of CCR2 in Chinese populations, 1082 individuals from 15 Chinese populations distributing widely from north to south were collected. The genotypes of CCR2-64I were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with the digestion of restriction endonuclease FokI. Of the 1082 individuals, 352 (32.53%) were carriers of CCR2-64I allele, 257 of whom (23.75%) were heterozygotes (CCR2-64V/I), whereas 95 (8.78%) were homozygotes (CCR2-64V/V). The frequency of the CCR2-64I allele in those tested individuals was 20.66%. This prevalence of CCR2-64I was higher than what was known for American and European populations. Moreover, the frequencies of CCR2-64I were generally higher in northern China than they were in southern China, and the frequencies had significant variance in 15 populations of China (chi2 = 27.135, P = 0.018).