Traumatic axonal injury of the cingulum in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: a diffusion tensor tractography study

The cingulum, connecting the orbitofrontal cortex to the medial temporal lobe, involves in diverse cognition functions including attention, memory, and motivation. To investigate the relationship between the cingulum injury and cognitive impairment in patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury, we evaluated the integrity between the anterior cingulum and the basal forebrain using diffusion tensor tractography in 73 patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury(39 males, 34 females, age 43.29 ± 11.42 years) and40 healthy controls(22 males, 18 females, age 40.11 ± 16.81 years). The patients were divided into three subgroups based on the integrity between the anterior cingulum and the basal forebrain on diffusion tensor tractography: subgroup A(n = 19 patients)-both sides of the anterior cingulum were intact; subgroup B(n= 36 patients)-either side of the anterior cingulum was intact; and subgroup C(18 patients)-both sides of the anterior cingulum were discontinued. There were significant differences in total Memory Assessment Scale score between subgroups A and B and between subgroups A and C. There were no significant differences in diffusion tensor tractography parameters(fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient, and fiber volume) between patients and controls. These findings suggest that the integrity between the anterior cingulum and the basal forebrain, but not diffusion tensor tractography parameter, can be used to predict the cognitive function of patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury. This study was approved by Yeungnam University Hospital Institutional Review Board(approval No. YUMC-2014-01-425-010) on August 16, 2017.     

Transient left bundle branch block after posture change to the prone position during general anesthesia: A case report

Rationale:The prone position is commonly used in spinal surgery. There have been many studies on hemodynamic changes in the prone position during general anesthesia. We report a rare case of transient left bundle branch block (LBBB) in a prone position.Patient concern:Electrocardiogram (ECG) of a 64-year-old man scheduled for spinal surgery showed normal sinus rhythm change to LBBB after posture change to the prone position.Diagnosis:Twelve lead ECG revealed LBBB. His coronary angio-computed tomography results showed right coronary artery with 30% to 40% stenosis and left circumflex artery with 40% to 50% stenosis. The patient was diagnosed with stable angina and second-degree atrioventricular block of Mobitz type II.Intervention:Nitroglycerin was administered intravenously during surgery. Adequate oxygen was supplied to the patient. After surgery, the patient was prescribed clopidogrel, statins, angiotensin II receptor blocker, and a permanent pacemaker was inserted.Outcome:Surgery was completed without complications. After surgery, the transient LBBB changed to a normal sinus rhythm. The patient did not complain of chest pain or dyspnea.Lesson:The prone position causes significant hemodynamic changes. A high risk of cardiovascular disease may cause ischemic heart disease and ECG changes. Therefore, careful management is necessary.     

山西省出生缺陷高发区土壤元素分布特征

目的 了解出生缺陷高发区土壤中元素分布特征,为出生缺陷的干预和治疗提供理论依据.方法 于2005年1-5月,选择山西省吕梁山区出生缺陷高发的中阳县和交口县作为出生缺陷高发区,以人口相对集中的河道两侧为采样点,共涉及8个乡镇,79个行政村;选择晋中盆地出生缺陷低发的祁县作为出生缺陷对照区,采样点均匀分布,共涉及6个乡镇,27个行政村.采集距耕地表层10～20cm深的土壤,共采集样品131件.采用ICP-电感耦合等离子发射光谱法,对土壤样品中的16种元素进行测定.结果 高发区土壤中元素总量明显高于低发区.与祁县相比,交口县土壤中元素含量偏高的有As、Mo、Pb、Ni、V,含量偏低的元素有Se,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);中阳县土壤中含量偏高的元素为Sn、Se、Mo、Zn、Sr、Pb、Ni、Fe、V、Ca、Cu、Al,偏低的元素为Mg和Na,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).土壤中元素含量(μg/g)与出生缺陷发病率的(1/万)逐步回归分析显示,交口县土壤中Mo、Al、As、Ni、Pb、Zn元素对病情影响有统计学意义(均P＜0.01),其标准的逐步回归判别方程为:y=-1.321 1.106 Mo-0.509 Al 0.117 As 0.663 Ni-0.429 Pb-0.262 Zn(R2a=0.891);中阳县土壤中Pb、Mg、Ca、Al、Zn元素对病情影响有统计学意义(均P＜0.05),其标准回归方程为:y=-1.757 0.441 Pb-0.264Mg 0.309 Ca-0.186Al 0.162Zn (R2a2=0.839).结论 交口县和中阳县土壤中Pb、Mo、Al等含量异常可能是两县出生缺陷高发的原因之一.     

Urodynamic studies in the evaluation of young men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms

AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of urodynamic study in young men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 50 men with LUTS aged 50 years and below. Those with neurological diseases, urethral trauma or strictures were excluded. All underwent multichannel urodynamic studies (UDS). The pre- and post-UDS diagnoses and treatment modalities were compared. RESULTS: Mean age was 38.1 years (17-49). The main pre-UDS diagnoses included prostatitis in seven (14%), overactive bladder in seventeen (34%) and benign prostatic hyperplasia in nine (18%). Pre-UDS management ranged from anticholingeric agents for thirteen (26%), alpha-adrenergic antagonists for nine (18%), antibiotics for six (12%). Abnormal UDS were noted in 36 (72%), including detrusor overactivity in 9 (18%), detrusor underactivity/acontractility in 5 (10%) and bladder outlet obstruction in 21 (42%). Fourteen (28%) had primary bladder neck dysfunction and five (10%) had benign prostatic hyperplasia. Post-UDS management included anticholingeric agents for ten (26%), alpha-adrenergic antagonists for seventeen (34%), catheterization for four (10%), behavioral therapy for three (6%), surgery for three (6%). None were prescribed antibiotics. Following UDS, the diagnosis had to be updated in 40 (80%) and concomitant change in management was required in 34 (68%). CONCLUSION: Young men presenting with LUTS have different underlying etiologies. Clinical diagnosis and treatment are often empiric and inaccurate. Urodynamic study is useful in the evaluation of this group of patients as it aids in arriving at an accurate diagnosis and guides treatment therapy.     

T辅助细胞在疫苗研制中的作用

发展感染性疾病疫苗之关键挑战在于利用确定的抗原以刺激产生能引起保护作用的合适的免疫反应。肽类疫苗的运用得到了极大的关注，其意义在于，已知不同的多表位构成单一结构以诱导出所希望的免疫反应所表现出的灵活性。这一般比利用减毒的活疫苗要安全并且相对而言比制造亚单位疫苗要容易。然而，多肽疫苗的发展面临巨大挑战。这一方法在诱导遗传背景复杂的人群免疫反应方面受到限制，这与主要组织相溶性复合物(MHC)多态性有关。因同样的理由，肽类免疫应答常因缺乏适当的辅助T淋巴细胞(HIL)而引导出不充分的细胞毒素T淋巴细胞(CTL)和抗体反应。另一个运用线性肽链结构的可能缺点是：为了引导出合适抗体反应，表面免疫球蛋白受体簇对于激活静息的B细胞就成为必须因素。由WHC多肽性引起的问题可由运用不加区别的T细胞表位来解决。从麻疹病毒F蛋白(氨基酸288到302)中得到的不加区别的T细胞表位和鼠的确定结合在多种MHC分子上的辅助T细胞表位(v1EB，aa191-209)已被定性并且被用于能极大激发免疫应答的结构中，以克服单一限制型免疫应答的缺陷。合成的，非自然Pan DR表位(PADRE)具有退化的结合几种通常HLA—DR的能力，能以绝对效价和抗体反应质量两种形式来增强激发短肽链的免疫应答。另外，一些所谓的从流感病毒血凝素(HA)来的“不加区别的”T细胞表位，恶性疟疟原虫红细胞前期抗原和分枝杆菌蛋白被报道能激发广泛的免疫应答。为了不加区别地结合于几种同型和同种异型的MHCⅡ类分子，这些肽类应显示出部重叠MHC结合形式或应利用保存于配体中的固定位点和应缺失等位基因特异性固定残基，以防止结合于其它Ⅱ类分子。了解MHCⅡ类分子对肽链的不加区别及特异性识别的生物物理学基础将为在疫苗设计中突破遗传限制的策略提供分子水平的依据。     

藤茶提取物的抗炎作用研究

目的：采用几种不同类型的炎症动物模型对AGE的抗炎作用进行研究。方法：大鼠角叉菜胶性足肿胀，醋酸诱导的小鼠腹腔毛细血管通透性增高，小鼠羧甲基纤维素囊中的白细胞数目，大鼠巴豆油性气囊肿的形成。结果：连续灌胃给药5天，AGE（5、10g/kg）可以显著抑制角叉菜胶所致的大鼠足肿胀、醋酸所致的小鼠腹腔毛细血管通透性增高、小鼠羧甲基纤维素囊中白细胞的游出数目以及大鼠巴豆油性气囊的形成。结论：藤茶提取物具有显著的抗炎活性。