Chemical shift imaging spectroscopy and memory function in temporal lobe epilepsy

PURPOSE: Hippocampal neuron loss and associated memory deficits are characteristic of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Proton chemical shift imaging (CSI) spectroscopy is a sensitive tool for detecting neuronal loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between memory functions and results provided by CSI spectroscopy of the hippocampal structures. METHODS: Ten patients with cryptogenic TLE participated. The study protocol involved both the acquisition of high-spatial-resolution CSI spectroscopy and neuropsychological evaluation, including memory testing and intracarotid sodium amytal test (IAT). The analysis of the CSI data was based on normative data obtained in 30 healthy volunteers. Memory functions were represented by verbal, visual, and general memory indices. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between CSI spectroscopy of the hippocampal formation and the verbal memory indices for the dominant hemisphere. In addition, there was a significant correspondence of the qualitative judgment "hippocampal pathology indicated by CSI spectroscopy" and both "material specific memory deficit" and "memory deficit in the IAT." CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that CSI spectroscopy of the hippocampal structures is strongly related to lateralized memory deficits in patients with TLE. This suggests that CSI spectroscopy may be useful in the prediction of postoperative outcome in respect of seizure control and memory.     

当归六黄汤加减对32例混合痔术后盗汗患者临床疗效观察

[目的]探讨当归六黄汤加减对混合痔术后盗汗的疗效。[方法]对32例混合痔术后盗汗患者采用当归六黄汤加减。[结果]治愈11例(占34·4%),显效16例(占50·0%),有效5例(占16·6%)。[结论]当归六黄汤能有效治疗混合痔术后盗汗。     

Light-induced phase-shifts in the circadian expression rhythm of mammalian period genes in the mouse heart

To investigate the molecular mechanism that regulates circadian rhythms in mammalian peripheral tissues, we examined the phase shifts evoked by light exposure in the circadian mRNA expression rhythms of mammalian Period genes (mPer1, mPer2 and mPer3) and a clock-controlled gene Dbp, in the mouse heart, by Northern blot analysis. The light pulse did not induce any acute mRNA expression of mPer in the heart, but the pulse gave rise to phase shifts in the circadian mRNA rhythms. On the first day after the exposure, only mPer1 mRNA showed a phase shift, whereas obvious phase shifts were not observed in the rhythms of mPer2, mPer3 and Dbp mRNAs. On the second day, phase shifts occurred to a similar extent in the mRNA rhythms of all four genes examined. The rhythm of mPer1 mRNA shifted fastest among those of the three mPers. Therefore mPer1 seems to play an important role in phase resetting of mammalian peripheral oscillators. Immediate responses to light pulses in mRNA expression of mPers may not be required for phase shifting of peripheral circadian oscillators. Our findings suggest that mammals require more than one day to have peripheral oscillators entrained to a new daily schedule.     

Dynamic profile of ocular refraction in pediatric cataract patients after lens surgeries

AIM: To study the change in ocular refraction in patients with pediatric cataracts (PCs) after lens extraction. METHODS: A total of 1258 patients who were undergoing cataract extraction with/without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were recruited during preoperative examinations between Jan 2010 and Oct 2013. Patient ages ranged from 1.5mo to 14y. Follow-ups were conducted at 1wk, 1, and 3mo postoperatively and every 3mo in the first year, then 6mo thereafter. Ocular refraction [evaluated as spherical equivalent (SE)] and yearly myopic shift (YMS) were recorded and statistically analyzed among patients with age at surgery, baseline ocular refraction, gender, postoperative time and laterality (bilateral vs unilateral). RESULTS: By Dec 31st 2015, 1172 participants had been followed for more than 2y. The median follow-up period was 3y. The critical factors affecting the ocular refraction of PC patients were baseline ocular refraction, postoperative time for both aphakic and pseudophakic eyes. YMS grew most rapidly in young childhood and early adolescence. CONCLUSION: After lens surgeries, ocular refraction in PC patients shows an individual difference of change. Further concerns should be raising to monitor the rapid myopic shift at early adolescence of these patients.     

Auditory Evoked Potentials and Audiological Foliow-Up of Subjects Developing Noise-Induced Permanent Threshold Shift

Three examinations, including cochlear microphonics (CM) to 99/s 1 -kHz tones and auditory brainstem evoked potentials (ABEP) to 10/s and 55/s clicks, as well as psychoacoustical tests, were performed on 31 normally hearing subjects, exposed to occupational noise for over a year. The results showed prolongation of the absolute latency of peaks I, III and V, without significant changes in interpeak latency differences (IPLD) or CM latency. The site affected by increasing stimulus rate, giving rise to increased IPLD, appears to be central rather than cochlear. The efficacy of increased stimulus rate in detecting noise-induced auditory changes was higher than that achieved applying the 10/s click rate.

Nous avons precédé à trois examens consecutifs sur 31 sujets audiométriquement normaux mais exposés au bruit depuis plus d'un an. Chaque examen comprend l'enregistrement du potentiel microphonique cochléaire (CM) et des reponses du tronc cerebral (ABEP) évoquées par des clics aux cadences de stimulation de 10/s et de 55/s. De měme, des tests psychoacoustiques ont été faits. Les résultats ont montré une prolongation des latences absolues des pics I, III et Vsans changement significatif dans les différences de latences inter-pics (IPLD) ou dans le CM. L'influence d'une augmentation de la cadence de stimulation paraiˇt d'origine centrale plutôt que cochléaire. On a observé que la cadence rapide était plus efficace pour détecter les changements auditifs causés par le bruit.     

Binaural Acoustic Reflex Activity following Monaural Noise Exposure in Decerebrate Chinchillas1 : Activité du réflexe acoustique binaural chez des chinchillas décérebrés après exposition à un bruit monaural

Acoustic reflex thresholds, latencies and magnitudes were recorded binaurally in decerebrate chinchillas suffering monaural, temporary noise trauma. Simultaneous recordings of cochlear microphonics from both cochleae during monaural reflex stimulation served as an index for acoustic reflex dynamics. Baseline values of threshold, latency and magnitude were recorded from ipsilateral and contralateral ears prior to a monaural 2-hour exposure to a 0.5-kHz octave-band noise at 100 dB SPL. Reflex dynamics were meaured immediately after exposure and again following 1 h of recovery. Cochlear microphonic input-output functions for the exposed ear were completed prior to and after cessation of the noise and after 1 h of recovery. Acoustic reflex threshold and magnitude increased and latency decreased following exposure to noise for both the ipsilateral and contralateral recording conditions. Reflex activity in the nonexposed ear was unaffected. Reflex properties returned to pre-exposure values following recovery. These responses followed the same time course as changes in cochlear sensitivity. Alterations in reflex response following noise exposure is caused by changes at purely peripheral sites.

Les seuils, les latences, et les amplitudes des réflexes acoustiques ont été enregistrés binauralement chez des chinchillas décérébrés souffrant temporaire-ment de traumatisme monaural au bruit. Les enregis-trements simultanés du microphonique cochléaire des deux cochlées pendant la stimulation du réflexe d'une oreille ont servi de points de repère pour la dynamique du réflexe acoustique. Les valeurs de base du seuil, de la latence, et de l'amplitude des réflexes ipsilatéraux et controlatéraux ont été enregistrées avant exposition à un bruit de 100 dB SPL sur une bande d'une octave centrée sur 0,5 kHz. La dynamique du réflexe a été mesurée immédiatement après exposition, puis après 1 h de récupération. Les fonctions d'entrée-sortie du microphonique cochléaire de l'oreille exposée ont été prises avant et après cessation du bruit, puis après 1 h de récupération. Le seuil et Pamplitude du réflexe acoustique ont augmenté alors que la latence a dimi-nué après exposition au bruit, à la fois pour les enregis-trements ipsilatéraux et controlatéraux. L'activité du réflexe de l'oreille nonexposée n'a pas été affectée. Après récupération, les propriétés du réflexe ont repris les valeurs antérieures à l'exposition. Ces réponses ont suivi le měme cours temporel que les changements de sensibilité de la cochlée. Les altérations du réflexe après exposition au bruit sont provoquées par des changements à la périphérie.     

Circadian control of human cardiovascular function

Endogenous circadian rhythms prepare the cardiovascular (CV) system for optimal function to match the daily anticipated behavioral and environmental cycles, including variable activities when awake during the day and recuperation when sleeping at night. The overall day-night patterns in most CV variables result from the summation of predictable circadian effects with variable behavioral and environmental effects on the CV system. The circadian system has also been implicated in the morning peak in the incidence of adverse CV events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden cardiac death. We discuss the resting and stress-reactive circadian control of CV physiology in humans and suggest future research opportunities, including improving CV therapy by optimally timing therapy relative to a person’s internal body clock time.     

Distortion-product Otoacoustic Emissions Study of the Noise-induced Toughening Effect in Rats

Objective—To compare the toughening effects in rats induced by pure tones and a broadband noise (BBN). Material and Methods—Sprague–Dawley female albino rats (n=148; 8–10 weeks old) were used. Three experimental groups were established as follows. Toughening only: 38 rats, divided into 3 subgroups, were exposed to different conditioning sounds (2 and 4 kHz and a BBN of 0.25–6 kHz, respectively) at 75–85 dB sound pressure limit (SPL) for 8 h/day for 10 days. Acoustic trauma only: 54 rats, divided into 3 subgroups, were exposed to different conditioning sounds as above for 24 h at 100–110 dB SPL. Toughening plus acoustic trauma: 56 rats, divided into 3 subgroups, were exposed to different conditioning sounds as above, followed 8 h later by traumatic exposure to the conditioning sound at 110 dB SPL for 24 h. 2f1–f2 distortion-product (DP) otoacoustic emission measurements were obtained from the right ear of each animal pre-exposure, immediately post-exposure and after 8 h of the traumatic or conditioning exposure. Results—In our control DPgram response, the maximum amplitude occurred at the highest frequencies (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 kHz). No statistical differences between the control DPgram and the DP toughening (2 and 4 kHz and BBN) responses were found. Only 2 and 4 kHz frequencies induced a protective effect against traumatic sound exposures to the same frequencies, and this finding was statistically significant. Conclusion—The toughening phenomenon induced using 2 and 4 kHz pure tones and BBN in rats does not modify the DPgram response. Nevertheless, only 2 and 4 kHz frequencies induce a protective effect against traumatic sound exposures to the same frequencies.     

Intercorrelations of lipoprotein subfractions and their covariation with lifestyle factors in healthy men

So far, little is known about the effect of nutrition and lifestyle on the composition of circulating lipoprotein subfractions. In the current study, we measured the correlations among physical activity, nutrient intake, smoking, body-mass index (BMI), and age with the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids, and apolipoproteins (ApoA1, ApoA2 and ApoB) in subfractions of LDL and HDL in 265 healthy working men. Concentrations of cholesterol, phospholipids, and ApoB in small, dense atherogenic LDL particles (sdLDL) correlated negatively (p<0.001) with those of cholesterol, phospholipids, and ApoA1 in HDL2, respectively. Age correlated positively with sdLDL while increasing BMI correlated with an atherogenic shift of cholesterol, phospholipids, and ApoB from large, buoyant LDL (lbLDL) to sdLDL and decreasing concentrations of HDL2 constituents. Physical activity and alcohol intake correlated negatively with sdLDL constituents and positively with HDL2 components. Consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) correlated with a lower ratio of sdLDL to HDL2 cholesterol. A favorable lipoprotein subfraction profile linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in men was associated with physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, and dietary intake of MUFA, which might be exploited in future interventions for prevention of age- and BMI-associated atherogenic shifts of lipoprotein subfractions.