A Rare Case of Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy With Contemporaneous Thalamic Infarct.

We report a case of isolated left abducens nerve palsy accompanying a right thalamic infarct. The patient, a 43-year-old Malay male with newly diagnosed hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, initially reported binocular diplopia on left lateral gaze persisting for five weeks. Subsequently, he experienced acute left-sided body weakness and slurred speech for over one day. Clinical examination revealed restricted left eye lateral gaze (-3) with no relative afferent pupillary defect. Additionally, decreased power (4/5) was noted in the left upper and lower limbs. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed restricted diffusion in the right thalamus extending to the right posterior internal capsule, left anterior cingulate gyrus, and left caudate nucleus. The patient was initiated on antiplatelet, antihypertensive, and oral hypoglycemic agents, resulting in symptom improvement. This rare neuroophthalmological finding has not been reported previously.

A Triggering Event of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion With Concurrent Ischemic Stroke.

We report a case of central retinal artery occlusion with concurrent ischemic stroke in a young patient. A 34-year-old Malay gentleman, an ex-smoker with underlying dyslipidemia, however, not on medication or follow-up, presented with acute, generalized, and painless right eye blurring of vision for one day. He also complained of on-and-off headaches for the past three months prior to the presentation. Visual acuity assessment demonstrated hand movement in the right eye, whereas in the left eye, it was 6/6, along with a right eye relative afferent pupillary defect. His right eye showed reduced optic nerve function and unremarkable anterior segment, with fundus examination revealing the presence of a cherry red spot, pale macula, boxcarring pattern over superior arcuate, and vascularized retina over inferior optic disc with blurred optic disc margin. The left eye examination was unremarkable. All cranial nerves were intact, except for the optic nerve. He was admitted to the ward. While in the ward, he developed a sudden onset of left-sided upper and lower limb weakness and numbness and was diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Blood investigations showed raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 3.51 mmol/L, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) positive, with electrocardiogram (ECG) sinus rhythm, and no atrial fibrillation. The echocardiogram was normal, and computed tomography angiography of the brain showed non-opacification at the origin and proximal part of the right ophthalmic artery, suspicious of thrombosis with distal reconstitution, with no evidence of thrombosis in the rest of neck and intracranial arteries. The patient was started on aspirin 150 mg once a day and atorvastatin 20 mg at night; subsequently, his vision improved slightly.

Life cycle water footprint of electric and internal combustion engine vehicles in China.

With the expansion of China's automobile market and the increase in the proportion of electric vehicles, the influence of the automobile industry on water resources has been increasingly, and as a result, water resources will become an important factor restricting the development of the electric vehicle industry in China. Until now, there are still no in-depth studies on the influences of the water footprint of electric vehicles. The paper establishes a life cycle assessment model by which to analyze the reduction potential of the water footprint of various types of passenger vehicles in their operation. The paper also compares the water footprint of passenger vehicles under different power structures, revealing the potential influence of developing electric vehicles on the demand of water resources. The results show that at the base year (2019), the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles consume more water than the gasoline-based internal combustion engine vehicles do, while water consumption of the hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles is lower than that of the gasoline-based internal combustion engine vehicles; as for the year 2035, even after the proportion of renewable energy generation increases, the water withdrawal and consumption of the battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will still be larger than those of the gasoline-based internal combustion engine vehicles.

Efficacy and outcome of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage plus surgery vs surgery alone with advanced gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. After resection, one of the major problems is its peritoneal dissemination and recurrence. Some free cancer cells may still exist after resection. In addition, the surgery itself may lead to the dissemination of tumor cells. Therefore, it is necessary to remove residual tumor cells. Recently, some researchers found that extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) plus intraperitoneal chemotherapy can improve the prognosis of patients and eradicate peritoneal free cancer for GC patients. However, few studies explored the safety and long-term outcome of EIPL after curative gastrectomy. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcome of advanced GC patients treated with EIPL. METHODS: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 150 patients with advanced GC were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups. All patients received laparotomy. For the non-EIPL group, peritoneal lavage was washed using no more than 3 L of warm saline. In the EIPL group, patients received 10 L or more of saline (1 L at a time) before the closure of the abdomen. The surviving rate analysis was compared by the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic factors were carried out using the Cox appropriate hazard pattern. RESULTS: The basic information in the EIPL group and the non-EIPL group had no significant difference. The median follow-up time was 30 mo (range: 0-45 mo). The 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 71.0% and 26.5%, respectively. The symptoms of ileus and abdominal abscess appeared more frequently in the non-EIPL group (P < 0.05). For the OS of patients, the EIPL, Borrmann classification, tumor size, N stage, T stage and vascular invasion were significant indicators. Then multivariate analysis revealed that EIPL, tumor size, vascular invasion, N stage and T stage were independent prognostic factors. The prognosis of the EIPL group was better than the non-EIPL group (P < 0.001). The 3-year survival rate of the EIPL group (38.4%) was higher than the non-EIPL group (21.7%). For the recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients, the risk factor of RFS included EIPL, N stage, vascular invasion, type of surgery, tumor location, Borrmann classification, and tumor size. EIPL and tumor size were independent risk factors. The RFS curve of the EIPL group was better than the non-EIPL group (P = 0.004), and the recurrence rate of the EIPL group (24.7%) was lower than the non-EIPL group (46.4%). The overall recurrence rate and peritoneum recurrence rate in the EIPL group was lower than the non-EIPL group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EIPL can reduce the possibility of perioperative complications including ileus and abdominal abscess. In addition, the overall survival curve and RFS curve were better in the EIPL group.

Are electric vehicles cost competitive? A case study for China based on a lifecycle assessment.

Promoting the development of electric vehicles (EVs) is regarded as an important measure to ensure energy security, mitigate climate change, and solve the transport sector's air pollution problems. Nowadays, compared to gasoline vehicles, whether the EVs are more competitive in terms of cost is still a question. There is no consensus achieved since the total cost depends on the development stage of the automobile industry and power generation structure as well as the cost accounting boundary. Many of existing studies did not include the costs occurred in all the stages. In response to this concern, this study estimates the lifecycle cost covering the whole process of production, use, disposal, and infrastructure construction as well as externalities for passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV), fuel cell vehicle (FCV), and gasoline vehicle (GV) by applying the comprehensive lifecycle cost model to China. The results indicate that in 2018, BEV and FCV were more expensive than GV (1.2-5.3 times), but that BEV will become cheaper after 2025, and its cost advantage will be enlarged to $419 (5%) compared to GV by 2030. The lifecycle cost of FCV will be $527 (or 5%) lower than that of GV by 2030. These results clarify that the costs of vehicle production account for the largest proportion in the total lifecycle cost.

Effect and Mechanism of Xianlian Jiedu Prescription Against Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells in Hypoxic Microenvironment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP） on the activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway induced by bromodomain-containing protein 4 （Brd4） in hypoxic microenvironment and to explore its mechanism in inhibiting the proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. MethodThe human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells were cultured in a hypoxic incubator or normoxia incubator and treated with XLJDP at 0.8，1，1.2，1.6，3.2，6.4，and 12.8 g·L-1 for 48 h， respectively. Following the detection of cell vitality using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） colorimetry， the effects of XLJDP （1.25，2.5，and 5 g·L-1） on the cell mitochondrial membrane potential were determined using a fluorescent probe （JC-1）， and the apoptosis of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The cell colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine （EDU） staining were conducted to test the proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. The Western blot was carried out to measure the expression levels of Brd4 and its downstream relevant proteins such as c-Myc and hexamethylene bisacetamide-inducible protein 1 （HEXIM1）， as well as the effects of XLJDP on related proteins in the NF-κB signaling pathway. ResultCompared with the blank control group， XLJDP at 0.8，1，1.2，1.6，3.2，6.4，and 12.8 g·L-1 inhibited the vitality of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells （P<0.05 ， P<0.01）， with the median inhibitory concentration （IC50） under the hypoxic condition higher than that under the normoxia condition. Compared with the blank control group， XLJDP at 1.25，2.5，and 5 g·L-1 significantly decreased the mitochondria membrane potential， enhanced the apoptosis （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and lowered the number of cell colonies and also the EDU-positive cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The results of Western blot showed that compared with the blank control group， XLJDP at 1.25，2.5，and 5 g·L-1 down-regulated Brd4， c-Myc， p-NF-κB p65， and p-IκBα protein expression to varying degrees and up-regulated the expression of HEXIM1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionIn the hypoxic microenvironment， XLJDP inhibits the proliferation of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells regulated by Brd4， which may be related to its inhibition of the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Effect of Xianlian Jiedu Prescription on Proliferation and Glycolysis of Human Colorectal Cancer HCT-116 Cells and Mechanism / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP） on the proliferation and glycolysis of human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells and the underlying mechanism. MethodHCT-116 cells were cultured with XLJDP and then the survival rate was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay. The effect on the HCT116 cell proliferation was detected by colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine （EDU） incorporation assay. The amount of glucose consumed by HCT-116 cells was measured by glucose test kit， and the amount of produced lactic acid was determined by lactic acid test kit 48 h after the treatment with XLJDP. The expression of glycolysis-related proteins mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， phosphorylated mTOR （p-mTOR）， glucose transporter 1 （GLUT1）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDHA） was detected by Western blot. ResultThe half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） of XLJDP against HCT-116 cells was 6.82 g·L-1. Compared with the blank group， XLJDP （1.625， 3.25， 6.50 g·L-1） inhibited the proliferation of HCT-116 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， compared with the blank group， XLJDP （1.625， 3.25， 6.50 g·L-1） suppressed glucose uptake and lactic acid production in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression of p-mTOR/mTOR， LDHA， and GLUT1 was down-regulated by XLJDP （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionXLJDP can significantly inhibit the proliferation and the Warburg effect of glycolysis in colorectal cancer cells by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway and the down-regulating the expression of LDHA， GLUT1， and other key proteins and enzymes in glycolysis.

Transcriptome Analysis of Xianlian Jiedu Prescription in Intervention of Colorectal Carcinoma Due to Dampness， Heat， Stasis， and Toxin in Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo analyze the transcriptome characteristics of Xianlian Jiedu prescription （XLJDP） in the intervention of colorectal carcinoma by high-throughput cDNA-sequencing （RNA-seq）. MethodNinety male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group， colorectal carcinoma due to dampness， heat， stasis， and toxin model group， and XLJDP group， with 30 mice in each group. Mice in the model group and XLJDP group were fed a high-fat diet and provided with azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate （AOM/DSS） for inducing colorectal carcinoma. Those in the XLJDP group were further treated with intragastric administration of 12.9 g·kg-1 XLJDP since the day of modeling for 112 days. The colorectal tissues were collected from each group 4 h after the last drug treatment and stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and methylene blue for observing the pathological changes. The total RNA was extracted from colorectal tissues for RNA-Seq-based transcriptome profiling， followed by gene oncology （GO） and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis and the screening and verification of differentially expressed genes. ResultCompared with the model group， XLJDP significantly relieved the colorectal congestion and edema and decreased tumor number and volume in mouse colorectal tissues. The methylene blue staining results indicated that XLJDP significantly suppressed the development of aberrant crypt foci （ACF，P<0.01）. As revealed by HE staining， XLJDP significantly alleviated the injury and dysplasia of colorectal tissues. Transcriptome analysis identified 615 differentially expressed genes （446 up-regulated and 169 down-regulated） between the model group and the blank group and 54 differentially expressed genes （29 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated） between the XLJDP group and model group. XLJDP mainly affected the expression of NIMA-related protein kinase 7 gene （Nek7， P<0.01）， Mucin 16 （Muc16， P<0.01）， SiahE3 ubiquitin protein ligase family member 3 （Siah3， P<0.01）， regenerating islet-derived protein 3-gamma （Reg3g， P<0.01）， RNA polymerase Ⅱ elongation factor-associated factor 2 （Eaf2， P<0.01）， transforming growth factor‐alfa gene （TGF-α， P<0.05）， secretoglobin family 1A member 1 （Scgb1a1， P<0.05）， family with sequence similarity 227 member B （Fam227B， P<0.05）， cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily c polypeptide 40 （Cyp2c40， P<0.01）， and ankyrin repeat and EF-hand domain containing protein 1 （Ankef1， P<0.05）. Enrichment analysis showed that intestinal epithelial cell proliferation， metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450， and arachidonic acid metabolism signaling pathway were significantly enriched. ConclusionXLJDP is able to interfere with colorectal tumorigenesis and development due to dampness， heat， stasis， and toxin in mice， which has been proved by transcriptome analysis to be related to the regulation of metabolism-related pathways.

Platelet Carcinoembryonic Antigen Cell Adhesion Molecule 5 (CEACAM5) as a Possible Novel Diagnostic Tool for Evaluation of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) occurs approximately every 40 seconds, and was an underlying cause of death in 1 out of every 7 deaths. More accurate indicators are needed to distinguish patients with ACS from patients manifesting negative changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) and myocardial enzymes. This study aimed to investigate whether the expression of platelet carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule-5 (CEACAM5/CEA/CD66e) could help predict ACS. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 82 participants (mean age 60 years, 33 females and 49 males). The expression of CEA on washed human platelets was assessed using two-color flow cytometry. The CEA levels on platelets and in serum of these 82 consecutive patients were detected using two-color whole-blood flow cytometry analysis and a custom-made Luminex multiplex assay, respectively. RESULTS CEA was expressed on the surface of human platelets. The expression of platelet CEA (P<0.01), but not serum CEA (P=0.30), was significantly higher in patients with ACS compared to patients with normal coronary artery. Increased platelet CEA levels could serve as a new independent indicator for ACS (P=0.0003). Platelet CEA testing (P=0.000002), as well as cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (P=0.0005), can diagnose ACS with high sensitivity and specificity, and, combined with cTnI (P<0.0001), can improve the diagnostic value. CONCLUSIONS Platelet CEA expression was higher in individuals presenting with ACS. Hence, platelet CEA might be a novel and reliable biomarker for ACS. Large-scale studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Xinmailong Modulates Platelet Function and Inhibits Thrombus Formation via the Platelet αIIbß3-Mediated Signaling Pathway.

Background: Xinmailong (XML), a bioactive composite extracted from Periplaneta americana, has been widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure. However, it is unclear whether XML has antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. Methods: The effects of XML on agonist-induced platelet aggregation, adhesion and spreading, granule secretion, integrin α II bß3 activation, and thrombus formation were evaluated. Phosphorylation of Syk, PLCγ2, Akt, GSK3ß, and MAPK signaling molecules was also studied on agonist-induced platelets. In addition, the antithrombotic effects of XML were observed in vivo using an acute pulmonary thrombosis mouse model. Results: XML dose-dependently inhibited in vitro platelet aggregation and granule secretion induced by thrombin, collagen, and arachidonic acid (AA). XML also greatly reduced platelet adhesion and spreading on both collagen- and fibrinogen-coated surfaces. Biochemical analysis revealed that XML inhibited thrombin-, collagen-, and AA-induced phosphorylation of Syk, PLCγ2, Akt, GSK3ß, and MAPK. Additionally, XML significantly inhibited in vivo thrombus formation in a collagen-epinephrine-induced acute pulmonary thrombosis mouse model. Conclusions and General Significance: Here, we provide the first report showing that XML inhibits platelet function and that it possesses antithrombotic activity. This suggests that XML could be a potential therapeutic candidate to prevent or treat platelet-related cardiovascular diseases.

The relation between residual stress, interfacial structure and the joint property in the SiO2f/SiO2-Nb joints.

In order to achieve a high-quality joint between SiO2f/SiO2 and metals, it is necessary to address the poor wettability of SiO2f/SiO2 and the high residual stress in SiO2f/SiO2-Nb joint. Here, we simultaneously realize good wettability and low residual stress in SiO2f/SiO2-Nb joint by combined method of HF etching treatment and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). After etching treatment, the wettability of E-SiO2f/SiO2 was improved, and the residual stress in the joint was decreased. In order to better control the quality of joints, efforts were made to understand the relationship between surface structure of E-SiO2f/SiO2 and residual stress in joint using FEA. Based on the direction of FEA results, a relationship between residual stress, surface structure and joint property in the brazed joints were investigated by experiments. As well the FEA and the brazing test results both realized the high-quality joint of E-SiO2f/SiO2-Nb and the shear strength of the joint reached 61.9 MPa.

Aneurysm Formation After Endovascular Treatment of Acute Type A Dissection.

Recently, reports have described successful endovascular stent graft (ESG) treatment of patients with acute type A aortic dissection. We report 1 ESG treatment for this condition and the complication of a new aneurysm formation during a 6-month follow-up.

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture effects on acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: possible association with upregulation of transforming growth factor beta 1.

Electroacupuncture at the head acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Shuigou (GV26) improves recovery of neurological function following ischemic cerebrovascular events, but its mechanism remains incompletely understood. We hypothesized that the action of electroacupuncture at these acupoints is associated with elevated serum levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). To test this, we established a rat model of cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Electroacupuncture was performed at Baihui and Shuigou with a "disperse-dense" wave at an alternating frequency of 2 and 150 Hz, and at a constant intensity of 3 mA. Each electroacupuncture session lasted 30 minutes and was performed every 12 hours for 3 days. Neurological severity scores were lower in injured rats after acupuncture than in those not subjected to treatment. Furthermore, serum level of TGF-ß1 was greater after electroacupuncture than after no treatment. Our results indicate that electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shuigou increases the serum level of TGF-ß1 in rats with acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and exerts neuroprotective effects.

Hepatitis crónicas virales B y C en población inmigrante en España / Chronic viral hepatitis B and C in immigrant population, Spain

Fundamentos: En España la prevalencia de la hepatitis crónicas de origen viral puede variar a causa de los inmigrantes procedentes de áreas de elevada prevalencia de infección por virus B y C de la hepatitis. La infección por estos virus es un problema importante de salud pública global por los procesos crónicos que originan. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer el impacto de la inmigración en la prevalencia de las hepatitis crónicas virales en España. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica cualitativa de la literatura científica sobre el tema publicada entre enero de 1998 y diciembre de 2012 utilizando las bases Medline y MEDES-MEDicina. Resultados: Se analizaron los datos procedentes de 19 artículos originales. En conjunto la prevalencia de infección por los virus B y C de la hepatitis fue mayor en la población emigrante que la descrita para la población general española. Los emigrantes de África y Europa del Este presentaron las mayores prevalencias y los inmigrantes iberoamericanos las menores. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de las infecciones por virus B y C de la hepatitis en inmigrantes sugiere que podrían tener un importante impacto en la salud pública en España (AU)

Background: the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Spain could vary because of the immigrants coming from countries having an elevated with a higher endemicity of hepatitis B and C virus. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections are an important health problem worldwide taking into account their chronic consequences. The aim of this study was to know the impact of immigration in the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Spain. Methods: qualitative of scientific papers searching in Medline and MEDES-MEDicina, with date limit January 1998- December 2012 and only papers in English and Spanish. Results: data from19 original articleswere analyzed. The prevalences of hepatitis B and C virus infections in the immigrant population, on the whole, are higher than Spanish population. Immigrants from Africa and East European countries presented the higher prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infection, whereas the Latin American-origin population displayed the lowest one. Conclusion: the prevalences of hepatitis B and C virus infections in the immigrant population suggest they could have a substantial public health impact in Spain (AU)

[Chronic viral hepatitis B and C in immigrant population, Spain]. / Hepatitis crónicas virales B y C en población inmigrante en España.

BACKGROUND: the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Spain could vary because of the immigrants coming from countries having an elevated with a higher endemicity of hepatitis B and C virus. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections are an important health problem worldwide taking into account their chronic consequences. The aim of this study was to know the impact of immigration in the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Spain. METHODS: qualitative of scientific papers searching in Medline and MEDES-MEDicina, with date limit January 1998- December 2012 and only papers in English and Spanish. RESULTS: data from 19 original articles were analyzed. The prevalences of hepatitis B and C virus infections in the immigrant population, on the whole, are higher than Spanish population. Immigrants from Africa and East European countries presented the higher prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infection, whereas the Latin American-origin population displayed the lowest one. CONCLUSION: the prevalences of hepatitis B and C virus infections in the immigrant population suggest they could have a substantial public health impact in Spain.

Neurocognitive impairment of mental rotation in major depressive disorder: evidence from event-related brain potentials.

Mental rotation performance may be used as an index of mental slowing or bradyphrenia and may reflect speed of motor preparation. Previous studies suggest that major depressive disorder (MDD) presents correlates of impaired behavioral performance for mental rotation and psychomotor disturbance. Very little is known about the electrophysiological mechanism underlying this deficit. The present study was the first to investigate the event-related brain potential (ERP) correlates of mental rotation and their mental slowing or bradyphrenia in MDD. ERPs were recorded while we tested 25 MDD patients and 26 healthy controls by evaluating the performance of MDD patients on hand and letter rotation tasks at different orientations, and their 400-to-600-msec time window was measured and analyzed for latencies and peak amplitudes over the electrodes. First, individuals with MDD were slower and made more errors in mentally rotating hands and letters than healthy controls did, and individuals with MDD exhibited a greater difference in response times and errors than controls did between hands and letters. Second, the mean peak amplitude was significantly lower and the mean latency was significantly longer in the 400-to-600-msec time window at the parietal site in the hand tasks in MDD patients than in controls, but this was not seen in the letter task, with only lower mean peak amplitude. MDD patients present the absence of a typical mental rotation function for the amplitude of the rotation-related negativity in the hand and letter tasks. Third, the scalp activity maps in MDD patients exhibited the absence of activation in the left parietal site for the mental rotation of hands, as shown in healthy participants. In contrast, their brain activation for the letter task was similar to those of healthy participants. These data suggest that mental imagery of hands and letters relies on different cognitive and neural mechanisms and indicate that the left posterior parietal lobe is a necessary structure for mental transformations of human hands. Importantly, MDD deficits were more seriously present specific to the hands than the letters. Such impairment may also be an important and possibly defining marker of MDD in particular.

[Clinical observation on fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina for knee osteoarthritistis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a better therapy for knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: One hundred cases were randomly divided into a comprehensive group and an acupuncture group, 50 cases in each one. The comprehensive treatment of fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina on local area of affected knee was applied in the comprehensive group. The Ashi points were mainly selected in the fire needles at bones therapy, once every other day. The cupping and Tuina therapy was adopted once a day. The conventional acupuncture was applied in the acupuncture group, in which Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34) and so on were selected, once a day. Ten days of treatment were taken as a treatment course in both two groups, and totally 1 to 2 courses was required. The pain score of joint before and after the treatment was observed and efficacy was assessed in two groups. RESULTS: Compared before the treatment, the pain score of joint after the treatment was obviously improved in two groups (both P<0.05), and the score in the comprehensive group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The clinical cured rate was 38.0% (19/50), which was superior to 20.0% (10/50) in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive treatment of fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina, considered as a better therapy for knee osteoarthritis, could improve joint pain, swelling and action function, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture.

[Efficacy observation on acupuncture prescription of regulating yin-yang and five viscera for intractable insomnia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a more optimal therapy for intractable insomnia. METHODS: Seven hundred cases of intractable insomnia that were in accordance with the criteria were randomly divided into an observation group (368 cases) and a control group (332 cases). The acupuncture prescription of regulating yin-yang and five viscera was applied in the observation group, where Dazhui (GV 14), Shenmai (BL 62), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhaohai (KI 6), Geshu (BL 17), etc. were selected. The acupuncture prescription of tranquilizing mind was applied in the control group, where Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Anmian (Extra), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyin jiao (SP 6) were selected. The treatment was given once a day, ten times of which made a session. After the treatment for 4 sessions, the clinical efficacy and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 92.6% (338/365) in the observation group, which was superior to 73.1% (242/331) in the control group (P < 0.05). The PSQI score was obviously decreased in two groups after the treatment (both P < 0.05), in which the decreasing in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupuncture prescription of regulating yin-yang and five viscera has better effect for intractable insomnia, which could be considered as a more optimal therapy.

[Impact of 36-hour sleep deprivation on visuo-motor coupling mechanism in young soldiers].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of 36-hour sleep deprivation (SD) on the brain electrophysiological indicators of visuo-motor coupling in young soldiers. METHODS: During the 36-hour SD, 10 healthy young soldiers were tested on visuospatial rotation tasks by event-related potentials system before and after SD. The incubation period and amplitude of P500 as well as their error number and reaction time were measured. RESULTS: Compared with subjects in SD 0-hour,subjects in SD 36-hour had significantly increased error rate [(9.7 ± 3.9)% vs. (18.3 ± 4.5)%, P<0.05] and significantly increased reaction time [(632.5 ± 53.6) ms vs. (693.6 ± 65.7) ms, P < 0.05]. Subjects in SD 36-hour showed significantly reduced amplitudes than those in SD 0-hour [(8.7 ± 2.3) ΜV vs. (5.2 ± 1.6) ΜV, P < 0.05]. Additionally, subjects in SD 36-hour showed significantly increased P500 latencies than did those in SD 0-hour [(489.6 ± 42.6) ms vs .(530.2 ± 51.9) ms, P < 0.05]. Compared with subjects in SD 0-hour, the deficit was an absence of a mental rotation function SD 36-hour in subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The 36-hour SD in young soldiers can harm the processing mechanism of visuo-motor coupling in a certain extent. SD can affect the fixed position ability of visual space cognition in young soldiers.

The association between the disruption of motor imagery and the number of depressive episodes of major depression.

BACKGROUND: Mental rotation performance may be used as an index of mental slowing or bradyphrenia, and may reflect, in particular, speed of motor preparation. Previous studies suggest depressive patients present the correlates of impaired behavioural performance for mental rotation and psychomotor disturbance. The aim of this study is to compare the mental rotation abilities of patients with a first episode of depression, recurrent depression and healthy control subjects with regard to hand tasks. METHODS: We tested 32 first episode of depression, 38 recurrent depression and 36 healthy control subjects by evaluating the performance of depressed patients with regard to the hand mental rotation tasks. RESULTS: First, the first episode and recurrent depression subjects were significantly slower and made more errors than controls in mentally rotating hands. Second, the first depressive episode but not the recurrent depression displayed the same pattern of response times to stimuli at various orientations relative to control subjects in the hand task. Third, in particular, recurrent depression subjects were significantly slower and made more errors during the mental transformation of hands than first depressive episode relative to control subjects and the differences were significantly larger in female than male subjects in the mental rotation hand task. LIMITATIONS: Patients were on antidepressant medication. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the impaired behavioural performance for mental representation processing are related to the number of previous episodes. Moreover, the recurrent major depressive episodes may contribute to the reinforcement of cognitive impairments and further the development or maintenance of mental representation dysfunctions, especially in female patients. A deficit on mental rotation in the depressive patients may be potential biomarkers for recurrence chronically.