Brain magnetic resonance-imaging findings of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a cohort follow-up study in Chinese patients.

The aim of this report was to assess routine clinical brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its relation to clinical characteristics and disease prognosis. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis patients were consecutively recruited from West China Hospital between October 1, 2011 and April 1, 2016. Brain MRI findings of 106 patients were analysed, and outcomes were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 months after discharge from the hospital using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). An MRI of the brain was normal in 52/106 (49.1%) patients and abnormal or atypical in 54/106 (50.9%) patients. The initial MRI was abnormal with T2 or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hyper-intensity signals in 20/106 (18.9%) patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the MRI findings and clinical presentations (seizure, hypoventilation, loss of consciousness, and tumour) (P > 0.05). Patients with normal MRIs were younger than patients with abnormal MRIs (P < 0.05). The mean mRS score at the 4-month follow-up was significantly higher in patients with abnormal MRIs than in patients with normal MRIs (P < 0.05). Brain MRI abnormalities are typically mild or unrelated to clinical symptoms, which is a clinico-radiological paradox of this type of immune encephalitis. Abnormal MRIs did not affect prognosis evaluated by mRS.

[Distribution patterns of Juglans cathayensis populations at different slope aspects in Tianshan valley in Xinjiang, China]. / æ–°ç–†å¤©å±±å³¡è°·ä¸åŒå¡å‘é‡Žæ ¸æ¡ƒç§ç¾¤åˆ†å¸ƒæ ¼å±€.

Eight 4000 m2 plots were set up at eight sites distributed on sunny and shady slopes of four valleys, and adjacent lattice method was used to survey Juglans cathayensis populations. At different scales, aggregation intensity index such as variance/mean ration and deviation index (Cx), negative binomial parameter (K), clumping index (I), mean crowding index (m*), patchiness index (PAI) and aggregation index (Ca) were used to analyze distribution patterns of populations. With the increase of surveying scales, the distribution patterns changed from cluster to random. Populations presented a clustered distribution when the scale was 25 m2. Aggregation intensity had great differences among different plots, and the maximum one located on west shady slope and the minimum one did on south shady slope. However, populations presented a random distribution when the scale was 50-400 m2. When scale was 25 m2, saplings, young and mature trees showed a clustered distribution. Aggregation intensity of mature trees was the maximum one and that of saplings was the minimum one. When the scale was 200-400 m2, saplings, young and mature trees showed random distribution. The pattern size of J. cathayensis populations was 25 m2 and pattern intensity was 2.49-9.38 m2. The pattern intensity of young trees was the largest and that of mature trees was the least in population components. In a word, when sampling scale was close to population patch size, a reliable conclusion usually could be obtained by using adaptive determination method and multi-index comprehensive decision.

[Effect of levetiracetam on the sodium currents of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to coriaria lactone].

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of Levetiracetam (LEV) on the sodium currents of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to epileptogenic coriaria lactone (CL). METHODS: Acutely isolated Sprague-Dawley Rat hippocampal neurons were subjected to the whole-cell mode of patch clamp under experimental conditions designed to detect voltage-gated sodium currents. The CL (0.2 mg/mL) was used to increase the sodium currents of the neurons. Then the LEV was added (150 or 300 micromol/L) to test the effect of LEV on the peak current amplitudes through a comparison with the control group in which extracellular solution was added instead and the group in which nothing was added. Another. group was pretreated with 300 micromol/L of LEV before the neutrons were treated with the CL. RESULTS: The maximum peak amplitudes (MPA) of the sodium currents increased 36.92% +/- 2.84% by the 150 micromol/L of LEV (P < 0.05), similar to those exposed to the CL only (P > 0.05). The increase of MPA of the sodium currents by the 300 micromol/L of LEV (16.58% +/- 1.56%) was less than those exposed to the CL only (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the 300 micromol/L LEV treated group and the control group (P > 0.05). The MPA of the sodium currents of LEV pretreated neutrons increased 32.86% +/- 6.73% (P < 0.05), similar to those without pretreatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The LEV does not decrease the sodium currents of rat hippocampal neurons induced by the CL. The antiepileptic action of LEV has nothing to do with the neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels.

[Association analysis of the parkin gene in patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease from a Han population of Sichuan province].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there are any associations between the -258T/G polymorphism of the promoter and the IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism in parkin gene and Parkinson's disease (PD) from a Han population in Sichuan province. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(dHPLC) and sequence analysis were used to determine the genotype of each subject. The -258T/G polymorphism and IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism were analysed in 198 patients with sporadic PD and 187 healthy controls, matched for age and gender. RESULTS: There were significant differences in allele frequency of the -258T/G polymorphism between PD patients and controls, with the G allele more common in cases than controls (52.5% vs 43.3%; chi square is 6.17, P< 0.025, OR is 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-1.86). There were also significant differences in G allele frequency between PD patients with onset age over 50 years old and controls(chi square is 9.048, P< 0.01, OR is 1.57, 95% CI:1.08-2.06). The frequency of TG+GG genotype was significantly higher in PD patients than in controls (78.79% vs 69.51%; chi square is 3.854, P< 0.05, OR is 1.63, 95% CI:0.88-2.38). In addition, there were significant differences in age of onset between PD patients with different genotypes (P< 0.05). The average age of onset in group of GG genotype was later about 5 years compared with the group of TT or TG genotype. The frequency of CC genotype in IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism was much higher than that of TC genotype. No TT genotype was found. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the parkin promoter -258T/G polymorphism might be a risk factor for late onset PD in Sichuan. CC genotype for IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism is common in Sichuan Han population. No TT genotype for IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism is found in Sichuan Han population.

[Effects of coriaria lactone on the sodium currents of actuely isolated rat hippocampal neurons].

OBJECTIVE: The present study tried to find out the effects of coriaria lactone (CL) on the sodium currents of the rat hippocampal neurons and their significance. METHODS: The sodium currents of the acutely isolated Sprague-Dawley rat hippocampal neurons were recorded by employing the patch-clamp technique in the whole-cell voltage-clamp mode. The effects of CL on the peak currents in the neuron membrane were assessed and analyzed. RESULTS: Both 0.1 mg/mL and 0.2 mg/mL CL increased the maximal peak density of sodium currents significantly (17.32%+/-8.52% vs 37.98%+/-4.91%). The effect of 0.2 mg/mL CL (P < 0.05) was more significant than that of 0.1 mg/mL CL (P > 0.05), when compared with the control (3.16%+/-0.65%). CONCLUSION: CL can increase the amplitudes of the voltage-dependent sodium currents in the acutely isolated hippocampal neurons. This effect may contribute to the enhanced excitability of hippocampal neurons and play a role in the epileptogenetic process of CL.

[Effect of batroxobin on K+ channel activated by Ca2+ in primary culture rat cortex neurons of rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of batroxobin on K+ channel activated by Ca2+ in primary cultured cortex neurons of fetal SD rat. METHODS: The patch clamp technique of single channel recordings including cell-attach and inside-out mode was used. RESULTS: Extracellular batroxobin activated the Kca. In Ca2+ bath solution of cell-attach mode, Vp +30 mV, when the concentrations of batroxobin were 0.15, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 mmol/L, the open probabilities of the channel were 0.013 +/- 0.002, 0.082 +/- 0.011, 0.131+/- 0.012, 0.211+/- 0.010 and 0.062 +/- 0.009 (P < 0.01), respectively. It appeared concentration-dependent within 0.75 mmol/ L. batroxobin. In Ca2+ free-bath solution of cell-attach mode, Vp+50 mV, when the concentrations of batroxobin were 0.15, 0.40, 0.60 and 1.0 mmol/L, the open probabilities of the channel were 0.013 +/- 0.001, 0.112 +/- 0.007, 0.193 +/- 0.010 and 0.301 +/- 0.009 (P < 0.05), respectively. In the 6 cases of inside-out mode patch clamp, Vp +40 mV, when the concentrations of batroxobin were 0, 0.25 and 0.50 mmol/L, the open probabilities of the channel were 0. 012 +/- 0.007, 0.011 +/- 0.009 and 0.013 +/- 0.008 (P > 0.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in open probabilities, average open/close times and amplitudes at different intracellular batroxobin concentrations. CONCLUSION: Batroxobin can affect the activation of the Kca channel through regulating the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+. It may have a protective effect on neurons.

[Effect of the Ca2+ -activated K+ channel in veratridine-induced cortex neurons damage].

AIM: To observe the effects of Ca2+ -activated K+ channel of primary cultured fetal SD rat cortex neurons in the veratridine triggered neuronal damage. METHODS: The patch clamp technique of cell-attach and inside-out mode for these two kinds of single channel recordings were used. RESULTS: Extracellular veratridine activated the Kca. In Ca2+ bath solution of cell-attach mode, Vp + 30 mV, when the concentration (micromol/L) of veratridine were 15,25,50 and 75, the open probabilities of the channel were 0.014 +/- 0.003, 0.085 +/- 0.010, 0.132 +/- 0.016 and 0.059 +/- 0.006 (P < 0.01) respectively. It appeared concentration-dependent within 50 micromol/L veratridine. In Ca2+ free bath solution of cell-attach mode, Vp = +50 mV, when the concentration (micromol/L) of veratridine were 15, 40,60 and 100, the open probabilities of the channel were 0.014 +/- 0.010, 0.113 +/- 0.006, 0.141 +/- 0.004 and 0.295 +/- 0.009 (P < 0.05) respectively. In the 6 cases of inside-out mode patch clamp, Vp = +40 mV, when the concentration of veratridine were 0, 25 micromol/L and 50 micromol/L, the open probabilities of the channel were 0.011 +/- 0.008, 0.010 +/- 0.010 and 0.012 +/- 0.007 (P > 0.05) respectively. There were no significant difference on open probabilities, average open/close times and amplitudes at different intracellular veratridine concentration. CONCLUSION: Veratridine can affect the activation of the Kca channel through regulating the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+. The opening of Kca activated by increase of intracellular Ca2+ during the early stage of anoxia may be a protection reaction of ischemic neurons.

[Effect of coriaria lactone on the activation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel in hippocampal pyrimidal neurons of rats].

OBJECTIVE: This research sought to disclose the regulatory effect of Coriaria lactone (CL) on the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel in hippocampal pyrimidal neurons of Wistar rats in epileptogenesis. METHODS: Cell-attached and inside-out methods of patch clamp technique were used to record the activity of single channel. The sample data were stored in a computer and analyzed by the application of Pclamp softwares. RESULTS: 1. By means of inside-out method, the KCa channels (120.34 +/- 25.12) pS on the membrane of hippocampal pyrimidal neurons showed a distinct dependence on calcium concentration (n = 6) and on voltage (n = 17), and the channels could be blocked by TEA. 2. With the use of cell-attached method, the KCa channels could be activated by CL apparently (n = 25, P < 0.01). 3. In the conditions where the neuronal membranous voltage was kept at 20 mV and the [Ca2+]i at 10(-8) mol/L in bath solution, the CL at concentrations from 0 microliter/ml to 1.0 microliter/ml could make the open state probability of KCa to increase from 0.025 to 0.553 (P < 0.01), the mean opening time (ms) to prolong from 1.875 +/- 0.412 to 6.829 +/- 0.136, and the mean closing time (ms) to decrease from 179.342 +/- 13.831 to 6.412 +/- 1.383 (n = 25, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The membranous KCa activation induced by CL may play an important negative feedback regulating role in the mechanism of epileptogenesis.