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Objective To investigate the difference of the motif patterns in brain directed functional network between first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, and to analysis the alterations of the underlying information flow patterns in patient networks. Methods The resting-state functional MRI data were collected from 44 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 39 healthy controls. The convergent cross mapping approach was employed to measure the causality connections between brain regions, and the directed functional networks were constructed. The calculations of the frequency and probability spectrum of all motif classes were performed at both whole brain and modular connected level. The between-group difference was then calculated. Results Compared with healthy controls, the frequency spectrum values of all motif classes in schizophrenia were significantly reduced (P＜0.05, FDR corrected), the Z scores of frequency spectrum of were decreased in chain-like motifs and increased in loop-like motifs. In the two groups, the probability values were higher at modular level than at whole brain level in two loop-like motifs (P＜0.05). Conclusion The present study revealed a loss in brain directed functional connections and abnormal alterations in the basic information flow patterns in first-episode schizophrenia brain.
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Objective To investigate the potential association of Ghrelin(GHRL)gene polymorphisms susceptible to schizophrenia by case-control study.Methods Six hundred and thirty-four patients,six hundred and six healthy control subjects were recruited.Four SNPs rs696217,rs26802,rs27647 and rs26311 were detected by the polymerase chain reaction-based-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.Results No significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies of the four SNPs were observed between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls (Pvalues of genotype frequencies were 0.649,0.944,0.410,0.826;P values of allele frequencies were 0.773,0.992,0.301,0.723).However,seven haplotypes(GAAG,GAGC,GAGG,GCGC,GCGG,TAGC,TAGG)showed significant differences in frequency between schizophrenic and control groups(P values were 0.011,0.001,1.76×10-6,9.84×10-10,1.38×10-9,2.12×10-5,2.57×10-6).Conclusion These data suggest that the GHRL gene may not be associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population.However,the haplotype of GA may be the susceptive factor of schizophrenia.
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BACKGROUND:Delayed therapy widely occurs in patients with dementia praecox;therefore,it brings a series of difficulties for clinical treatment and rehabilitation.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the influential factors of delayed therapy in patients with dementia praecox.DESIGN:Cross-sectional study based on patients with dementia praecox.SETTING:The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College.PARTICIPANTS:A total of 96 patients with dementia praecox,including 52 males and 44 females,were selected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from January to June 2005.Their ages ranged from 16 to 55 years and the mean age was (32.7±12.3) years.Among them,54 patients had middle-school education and 42 patients had high-school education.METHODS:A domestic inventory was used to carefully record basically clinical data of each patient.and the inventory included sex,marriage status,educational level,attack styles,home address,home environment,economic status,family history,etc.All data were classified and analyzed in details.In addition,condition of delayed therapy,which determined as the duration over 1 year from onset of psychiatric symptoms to accepted treatment,in each classification was surveyed gradually.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Delayed therapeutic rate and occurent rate of related factors.RESULTS:Among 96 patients,60 patients had delayed therapy,and the delayed therapeutic rate was 62.5%.Influential factors of delayed therapy:Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that regression equation was involved in educational level,family history,attack style and economic status.Meanwhile,the standard regression coefficient was 0.332 1,0.210 1,0.190 3 and 0.101 2. CONCLUSION:Educationallevel,family history,attack style and economic status of patients with dementia praecox are risk factors of delayed therapy. It is of importance for strengthening these factors to interfere and reduce delayed therapeutic rate at an early phase.
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BACKGROUND: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) ischaracterized by its trophic function on motor neurons, but there is stilllack of quantitative data concerning the influence of different concentra tions of the neurotrophic factor on the growth of in vitro cultured motorneurons. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of GDNF on neuronal growth byobserving fetus rat spinal cord motor neurons cultured in vitro. DESIGN: Verifying observation taking in vitro cultured cells as subjects. SETTING: Neurological Department of the Second Hospital Affiliated toHebei Medical College. MATERIALS: This experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Neu rological Department, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical College, between January 2001 and September 2002. Adult male and female rats were raised together in the same cage, embryonic rats at 15 days of gestation were obtained for spinal cord separation. METHODS: Ventral spinal tissues were obtained from embryonic rats at 15 days of gestation for prinary in vitro culture. They were divided into four groups according to the density of GDNF, namely 1, 10, 50 and 100 μg/L GDNF groups, while the culture medium in control group did not contain GDNF. Neurons were cultured in 8 wells foreach group, which was repeated for two batches. Then the influence of GDNF on spinal cord motor neu rons was observed from the perspective of cell morphology with MTF method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The survival rate of motor neurons andthe length of cell processes. RESULTS: ① The length of spinal cord motor neuronal processes: It was found obviously longer in GDNF 1 μg/L group, 10 μg/L group, 50 μg/L group and 100 μg/L group than in control group [(107.4±35.406 8,160.5±38.564 9, 450.5±60.640 3, 293.5±67.381 4, 82.8±7.972 5) μm, t=2.610-2.647, P ＜ 0.01]. ② Cell survival rate: It was higher in GDNF 1 μg/L group, 10 μg/L group, 50 μg/L group and 100 μ g/L group than in control group [(13.9±0.899 9, 16.1±0.668 0, 20.1±0.667 9, 26.0±0.603 0,10.5±0.782 0) μm, t=2.211-2.312, P ＜ 0.05]. ③ MTT colorimetric analy sis: It was obviously higher in GDNF 1 μg/L group, 10 μg/L group, 50 μg/Lgroup and 100 μ g/L group than in control group [(0.350±0.059 8, 0.366 7±0.071 9, 0.381 9±0.063 8, 0.395 3±0.060 5, 0.285 8±0.032 5) μm,t=2.259-2.577, P ＜ 0.05]. CONCLUSION: GDNF of different concentrations exerts different effects on in vitro cultured embryonic spinal cord motor neurons.
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Objective To study the ultrastructure changes of hippocampus pyramidal cells and capillaries in genetically diabetic mice C57BL/KsJ (db/db).Methods We chose 5 obese C57BL/KsJ db/db mice of 6 weeks old with fast blood glucose (FBG) higher than 11 1mmol/L as diabetic group and 5 normal weight C57BL/KsJ (?/+) mice with FBG lower than 6 0mmol/L as normal group. Mice were killed at 30 weeks and hippocampus samples were embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were cut with ultrathin microtome and observed with electron microscopes. Results Pyramidal cells of hippocampus in diabetic mice had significant retrograde changes. The basement membrane of capillaries thickened significantly and endothelial cells and pericytes degenerated.Conclusion The significant pathological changes in hippocampus pyramidal cells and capillaries of diabetic mice may related to dysfunction of cognition.
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Objective To study the effects of serum from a patient with acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) on the sensory and motor neurons culture in vitro from embryonic rats. Methods Dorsal root ganglions and spinal ventral tissue were isolated from embryonic rats and digested into dissociated cell suspenstion for culture. The cells were identified by immunohistochemistry stain. When culturing for a week, AMAN serum was exposed in a 25% concentration, with normal human serum as control group. The AMAN serum was tested by anti-Penner O∶19 campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharide antibody positive. The changes of motor and sensory neurons were observed and the neurons were stained by using Guillery Shirra and Webster method which was sensitive to degeneration of nerve fiber. Results After normal serum exposure, neurons and their neurites were normal and stained in yellow color without silver granular deposition by using Guillery Shirra and Webster method. While after AMAN serum exposure, the axon from motor neuron became degenerating and stained in brown-black color increased silver-phile property. Conclusion The serum of AMAN patient might be specifically toxic to the neurites of motor neuron and might cause the degeneration of axon following soma changes. The damage of axon might be the response of campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharide antibody without participation of macrophage and complements.
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Objective:To measure the nuclear factor kappa B(NF-?B) activation and its mRNA expression in the PBMC,and to analyze the interaction between NF-?B activation and IL-1?,IL-6,TNF-? mRNA expression for exploration the role of NF-?B in production of cytokine in schizophrenia.Methods:Transcription Factor Assay Kits were used to measure NF-?B activation.RT-PCR technique was perftormed to analyze semiquantitatively NF-?B,IL-1?,IL-6 and TNF-? mRNA expression in the PBMC in both schizophrenia and control group.Results:NF-?B activation and its mRNA expression in the schizophrenia group were significantly higher than in the control group(P0.05).IL-1?,IL-6 and TNF-? mRNA expressions in the PBMCs from the schizophrenia group were significantly higher than those from the control subjects(P0.05).Conclusion:It is of significance to measure NF-?B activation in evaluating the regulation function of NF-?B.Activated NF-?B plays an important role in mediating the expression of IL-1? and TNF-? gene in schizophrenia.
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Objective:To study the effect of different substrates coated on the cell survival and neurite outgrowth of spinal motor neurons (SMN) from embryonic rat cultured in vitro.Methods:The ventral spinal tissue was isolated from embryonic rats and digested into dissociated cell suspention for culture,then the cells were identified as SMN by immunohistochemistry stain.Poly-L-lysine(PLL) was dissolved into distilled water,phosphate-buffered saline solution,boric acid at 0.1 and 0.01 mol/L concentration respectively.The different substrates include PLL,collagen Ⅰ,laminin and PLL combined with laminin.Distilled water was used as control.The neuron survival numbers and the mean length of the neurites were measured and compared.Results:The cells on the PLL dissolved into boric acid at 0.01 mol/L concentration survived well.The SMNs grown on the PLL combined with laminin were in dispersed disitribution with high survival rate.Conclusion:PLL combined with laminin is the best for the study of the motor neuron including both soma and neurite.