Compositional and functional alterations of gut microbiota in patients with stroke

Background and aimsThere is accumulating evidence that gut microbiota plays a key role in cardiovascular diseases. Gut bacteria can transform dietary choline, l-carnitine, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) into trimethylamine, which can be oxidized into TMAO again in the liver. However, the alterations of the gut microbiota in large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke and cardioembolic (CE) stroke have been less studied.Methods and resultsWe performed a case–control study in patients with LAA and CE types of strokes. We profiled the gut microbiome using Illumina sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (V4–V5 regions), and TMAO was determined via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Our results showed that the TMAO levels in the plasma of patients with LAA and CE strokes were significantly higher than those in controls (LAA stroke, 2931 ± 456.4 ng/mL; CE stroke, 4220 ± 577.6 ng/mL; healthy control, 1663 ± 117.8 ng/mL; adjusted p < 0.05). The TMAO level in the plasma of patients with LAA stroke was positively correlated with the carotid plaque area (rho = 0.333, 95% CI = 0.08–0.55, p = 0.0093). Notably, the composition and the function of gut microbiota in the LAA stroke group were significantly different from those in the control group (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.05). There was no significant association between gut microbiota and CE stroke in our study.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for significant compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiome in patients with LAA stroke. Gut microbiota might serve as a potential biomarker for patients with LAA stroke.     

基于Gephi的云南民族医药研究可视化分析

采用文献计量法、社会网络可视化分析工具Gephi对云南民族医药研究情况从发文年代、期刊分布、作者分布、合著网络、研究机构分布、关键词共现网络等方面进行分析,指出傣医、傣药为该领域研究的热点。     

我国阅读推广研究的可视化分析

以中国知网收录的CSSCI文献为数据源,采用信息计量、可视化展示和内容分析等方法,从文献量年度分布、核心作者与机构共现网络等方面揭示我国阅读推广研究的分布特征,以知识图谱的形式展示了其发展脉络两个阶段的研究热点,简要评价了其研究内容,以期为促进阅读推广理论和实践的创新发展提供借鉴和参考。     

俯卧位摄影在排泄性尿路造影中的应用

目的完善造影中的摄影体位,显示最佳的造影效果。方法对50例泌尿系梗阻伴积水患者,在IVP中采取先传统仰卧位,必要时俯卧位的造影方法,对其先后两种方法的显影效果进行比较。结果先仰卧位再俯卧位摄影后,肾盂肾盏显影率提高20%,P<0.05;肾盂-输尿管连接部及各段显影率提高18%,P<0.05。结论排泄性尿路造影,必要时采取俯卧位摄影,能弥补传统造影体位的不足,使梗阻部位在仰卧前后位无法显示的解剖机构和病变满意显示出来,是泌尿系梗阻时,肾盂肾盏及解压后输尿管全程显影最好的补充体位。方法简便,值得常规鉴用。     

Visualization of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species via double staining

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of both generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential cannot be detected simultaneously. We here introduce a simple, new double staining method. We have successfully used this for several years utilizing cerium for ROS detection and JC-1 staining to assess the mitochondrial membrane potential. The resultant signals on laser confocal images can be localized in the same cells and can easily quantify them. We used a confocal microscope along with our new, combined staining method to both visualize mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and imaged ROS. These were quantified by JC-1 staining and by cerium ions with reflectance in a method modified in our laboratory. To test this double labeling technique we used PC 12 cells subjected to 1 h hypoxia and 24h re-oxygenization. We are able to produce a quantitative analysis of red/green signals of JC-1 that reflected the energy state of the cells. Cerium reflectance correlates with the amount of ROS release in the same cells. Significant differences have been calculated after hypoxia and re-oxygenation in both modality of the cell staining. The red/green ratio was 18.2+/-9.3 (n=30) in normoxic cells versus 1.65+/-0.9 (n=30) in the hypoxia/re-oxygenation group (p<0.05). In the same randomly selected cells the average cerium reflectance signal intensity was 2.5+/-1.2 (n=30) in the control group while 5.8+/-3.1 (n=30) in the hypoxia/re-oxygenation group (p<0.05). This assay, by characterizing hypoxic injury and re-oxygenization induced ROS production, offers a qualitative and quantitative method to detect the consequences of oxidative stress in experimental conditions and to detect different cell protective strategies.     

药物化学结构式图形资源系统的构建与应用

目的：本文阐述了药物化学图形资源系统开发意义、设计方法及构建网络应用平台的全过程。方法：本系统以Eclipse-JAVA语言平台作为开发环境,以SQL Server 2005数据库作为图形数据存储工具,利用面向对象技术和图形处理技术,设计了基于B/S结构的＂药物化学结构式图形资源系统＂。结果：本系统实现了药物化学结构式图形及信息的分类存储、按药物的名称、性状等信息分类的快速检索及按药效分类的模糊查询等功能。结论：系统具有用户界面友好,使用便捷,内容丰富、支持多种查询方式等特点,为药学工作者带来了方便。     

GOPubMed:基于GO和MeSH的信息检索与分析研究

GOPubMed是一种基于PubMed的结果可视化和后处理类型的智能搜索引擎.从工作原理、关键技术以及扩展功能3个方面对其性能进行解析.研究显示,GOPubMed利用基于语义网的语义分类工具--GO(Gene Ontology,基因本体)和MeSH,对PubMed检索结果进行分类,帮助用户快速地找出最相关的命中文献,实现语义网与生物医学信息检索的完美结合,并能对检索结果从多角度进行可视化统计分析.     

Phase-amplitude coupling of ripple activities during seizure evolution with theta phase

ObjectiveHigh-frequency activities (HFAs) and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) are key neurophysiological biomarkers for studying human epilepsy. We aimed to clarify and visualize how HFAs are modulated by the phase of low-frequency bands during seizures.MethodsWe used intracranial electrodes to record seizures of focal epilepsy (12 focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures and three focal-aware seizures in seven patients). The synchronization index, representing PAC, was used to analyze the coupling between the amplitude of ripples (80–250 Hz) and the phase of lower frequencies. We created a video in which the intracranial electrode contacts were scaled linearly to the power changes of ripple.ResultsThe main low frequency band modulating ictal-ripple activities was the θ band (4–8 Hz), and after completion of ictal-ripple burst, δ (1–4 Hz)-ripple PAC occurred. The ripple power increased simultaneously with rhythmic fluctuations from the seizure onset zone, and spread to other regions.ConclusionsRipple activities during seizure evolution were modulated by the θ phase. The PAC phenomenon was visualized as rhythmic fluctuations.SignificanceRipple power associated with seizure evolution increased and spread with fluctuations. The θ oscillations related to the fluctuations might represent the common neurophysiological processing involved in seizure generation.     

基于Visualization Toolkit的脑模型三维重建方法研究

目的利用可视化工具包VisualizationToolkit(VTK)结合VC++实现医学图像三维可视化。方法基于头部CT测量数据,采用MarchingCubes算法和Raycasting算法重建出头模型的表皮和颅骨。结果和结论VTK使用灵活,功能强大,利用它进行图像重建,具有重建步骤简单、效果好、速度快、交互能力强等优点,可以被广泛应用于医学图像的重建中。