Quantitative Evaluation of a Cross-Sectional Area of the Fetal Straight Sinus by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Its Clinical Value.

Objective: The intracranial venous system plays an important role in ensuring blood circulation and a stable blood supply to the fetal brain. In the present study, a cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus was quantitatively evaluated by fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the method's clinical value. Methods: The clinical and MRI data of 126 normal fetuses in mid-to-late stage pregnancies were retrospectively analyzed. The "dominant" sequence of the fetal straight sinus was selected, and the cross-sectional area of the lumen was measured at each gestational age to obtain the normal range at different ages and to analyze the developmental pattern and characteristics of the fetal straight sinus. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus among different gestational ages (P < 0.05). The cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus was positively correlated with gestational age (coefficient of determination = 0.6892, P < 0.05). That is, the cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus grew with increasing gestational age, and the regression equation was y = 0.27 x - 2.14 (P < 0.05). Additionally, there were five fetuses with cerebral venous abnormalities, including four with heart failure and one with venous sinus thrombosis. Conclusion: Quantitative measurement of a cross-sectional area of the fetal straight sinus by MRI enhanced understanding of the anatomical features and developmental pattern of fetal cerebral veins and provided a reference for the clinical diagnosis of related diseases and investigation concerning pathogenesis.

[Spatial Heterogeneity of PM2.5 Concentration in Response to Land Use/Cover Conversion in the Yangtze River Delta Region].

The sustainable management direction of PM2.5 concentrations in the Yangtze River Delta region remains unclear due to regional spatial effects. This study combined the random forest model, spatial econometric model, and multi-scale geographically weighted regression model (MGWR) to explore the multi-scale spatial response of PM2.5 concentration to land use/cover conversion. The results show that:① PM2.5 concentrations in the Yangtze River Delta region from 2000 to 2018 showed four types of spatial-temporal patterns of spatially continuous aggregation, with strong regional synchronous changes. ② The relative influence of land conversion on PM2.5 concentrations showed a complex performance, and the source-sink effect of cultivated land and forest land was obvious. Neighborhood analysis indicated that the effect of surrounding aggregated land use conversion was generally more significant than that of single cells on PM2.5 concentration change, and the spatial effect was obvious. ③ PM2.5 concentration changes were mostly significantly negatively correlated with forest land and grassland conversion types and significantly positively correlated with conversion types between cropland, construction land, and water bodies. The importance ranking of the random forest model and correlation coefficient intensity indicated that the conversion between cropland-cropland (29.65%; 0.650), forest land-forest land (26.98%; 0.726), construction land-cropland (22.57%; 0.519), cropland-forestland (17.84%; 0.602), and cropland-construction land (16.34%; 0.424) contributed more to the variation in PM2.5 concentration. The spatial Durbin model revealed a significant spatial dependence of the change in PM2.5 concentration and a strong spatial spillover effect. ④ The MGWR model revealed the scale effects and non-stationary characteristics of the spatial relationships between different land use conversions acting on PM2.5 concentration change, and its spatial relationship showed strong differences in transfer types. However, the multi-models revealed that different land conversions drove the PM2.5 concentration change in different ways, so it is necessary to formulate targeted joint management strategies in a categorical and hierarchical manner.

Morphological and functional parameters of left atrial appendage play a greater role in atrial fibrillation relapse after radiofrequency ablation.

This study was to quantitatively investigate the role of morphological and functional parameters of the left atrium (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) with 256-slice spiral computed tomography (CT) in the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Eighty-three patients with AF who underwent RFA for the first time were divided into the recurrence (n = 27) and non-recurrence (n = 56) groups. All patients underwent a 256-slice spiral CT examination before the operation. The clinical data and quantitative measurement of the morphology and functional parameters of the LA and LAA were analyzed, including the maximal and minimal volume, ejection fraction and volume, and volume strain of LAA and LA (LAAVmax, LAAVmin, LAAEF, LAAEV, and LAA-VS, LAVmax, LAVmin, LAEF, LAEV and LA-VS, respectively). The CHA2DS2-VASc score and the proportion of patients with heart failure were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the recurrence than non-recurrence group. The LAAVmax, LAAVmin, LAVmax, LAVmin, LAAV and LAV were all significantly greater in the recurrence than non-recurrence group (P < 0.05), and the perimeter, major and minor axes of LAA orifice and LAA depth were also significantly greater in the recurrence than non-recurrence group. The LAAEF, LAEF and LAA-VS were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the recurrence than non-recurrence group (P < 0.05). Heart failure, CHA2DS2-VASC score, LAEF, LAV, LAAEF and LAA-VS were univariately significant (P < 0.05) risk factors for AF recurrence after ablation. Multivariate analysis revealed LAAEF (HR: 0.790, 95% CI: 0.657-0.950, P = 0.012) and LAAV (HR: 1.160, 95% CI: 1.095-1.229, P <0.001) to be two significant independent predictors of recurrence. ROC curve analysis showed that LAAEF <44.68% had the highest predictive value for recurrence after radiofrequency ablation, with the sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 67.4%, whereas LAA volume >9.25 ml had the highest predictive value for AF recurrence after RFA, with the sensitivity of 85.2% and specificity of 67.9%. In conclusion, the volume of left atrium, volume and morphology of left atrial appendage have all significantly increased while the ejection fraction and volume strain of left atrium and left atrial appendage have both significantly decreased in recurrence than in non-recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. The ejection fraction and volume of left atrial appendage are significant independent predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation.

Thrombopoietin protects H9C2 cells from excessive autophagy and apoptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Cardiac toxicity has been the major concern when using doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer therapy. Thrombopoietin (TPO) protects cardiac cells from DOX-induced cell damage; however, its molecular mechanism remains exclusive. The anti-autophagic and anti-apoptotic effects of TPO upon DOX treatment were studied in the cardiac H9C2 cell line, with bafilomycin A1 treatment as a positive control for autophagy inhibition. Cell viability was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay in different treatment groups. The mRNA and/or protein levels of apoptotic markers and autophagy-associated factors were detected. The mean number of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) puncta per cell was quantified to indicate autophagosomes and autolysosomes, of which the ones co-stained with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 were considered as autolysosomes. DOX treatment (5 µg/ml, 24 h) significantly impaired H9C2 cell viability compared with the control, while TPO pretreatment (10 ng/ml, 36 h) improved cell viability upon DOX treatment. DOX exposure markedly increased LC3 puncta in H9C2 cells, and TPO pretreatment reduced the number of autophagosomes, but showed no significant inhibitory effect on autolysosome formation. The autophagy inhibition by TPO upon DOX treatment was confirmed according to protein quantification of LC3-II and nucleoporin 62. TPO also suppressed autophagy-promoting protein Beclin-1, and elevated the anti-autophagic factors GATA-binding protein-4 and B cell lymphoma-2. Furthermore, TPO reduced DOX-induced apoptosis in H9C2 cells, as reflected by the amount changes of caspase-3. Taken together, these results revealed that TPO has a protective role in H9C2 cells from DOX-induced autophagy as well as apoptosis, and indicated that TPO may act as a cardioprotective drug in DOX-treated patients.

[Changes of Thrombopoietin Levels in Patients with Acute Inflammatory Disease and Its Significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of TPO levels in patients with acute inflammatory response disease of different etiologies. METHODS: In the case -control study, 65 patients with acute inflammatory response disease were enrolled in the case group (15 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 15 patients with acute cerebral infarction, 25 patients with acute trauma and 10 patients with acute pneumonia), and 42 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. The levels of TPO in peripheral blood and blood cell counts between the case group and the control group were compared by Student's t test for examing whether the level of TPO in acute inflammation states was higher than that in healthy people. And, by using Kruskal-Wallis H test and Nemenyi test, subsequent subgroup compaison was performed to assess whether there was a difference in TPO levels under the condition of inflammation of different etiologies and at different levels. RESULTS: Compared with the control group,serum TPO levels in case group were significantly higher (181.11±35.38 vs 96.13±9.7 pg/ml)(P<0.001), and the white blood cell count in case group (9.64±3.43)×109/L was higher than that in control group(7.35±1.49)×109/L(P<0.001), but the platelet count in the case group was not statistically different from that in the control group (P=0.313). In the further subgroup analysis, it was found that changes in TPO level were different in different levels of inflammation. The level of TPO in patients with inflammatory disease of high level(acute trauma, acute pneumonia) was greatly higher than that in patients with inflammatory disease of low level(acute myocardial infarction, acute cerebral infarction) (P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in platelet count among subgroups. CONCLUSION: In acute inflammation states, the increase of serum TPO levels does not correlate with platelet counts, but correlates with inflammation levels, and TPO may act as an acute response protein to protect the body.

Diagnosis of Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation using fetal MRI.

PURPOSE: To present three fetal vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs), which were diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and highlight these cardiovascular findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed three fetuses with VGAM at 31, 32, and 33 weeks of gestation. Feeding arteries and draining veins were observed by MRI. Secondary changes in the brain and high-output heart failure caused by high blood flow in the lesion were evaluated. Two fetuses were born, and neonatal MRI was performed. One fetus was terminated. RESULTS: A characteristic dilated structure in the midline of the brain presented in each fetus. The arteriovenous fistula led to anatomical brain changes such as in the hydrocephalus, dilated feeding vessels (one or more), jugular vein, and/or superior vena cava. Substantial brachiocephalic vessel dilation was observed in two fetuses. Following parturition, one baby had neonatal asphyxia and sinus thrombosis, and MRI revealed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Cardiomegaly was detected in all three cases. CONCLUSION: With a large field of view, fetal MRI can observe brain VGAM, as well as the heart and affected large vessels. It can determine hydrocephalus, ischemia, intracranial hemorrhage, and sinus thrombosis. Providing such information on the infant's entire body can aid clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1535-1539.

Evaluation of left gastric vein in Chinese healthy adults with multi-detector computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the classification and diameter of left gastric vein (LGV) in healthy Chinese adults with multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: MDCT angiography was performed in 234 healthy adults for the portal venous system. CT cross-sectional thin-layer reconstruction combined with maximum intensity projection, volume rendering and multiplanar reconstruction were applied. The diameter of LGV was measured at the point within 2 cm from LGV origination. RESULTS: Of 234 subjects, 11 subjects (4.70%) who did not have clear images were excluded, and 223 subjects (95.30%) with excellent images were included. The LGV was originated from the portal vein in 46.15%, splenic vein in 30.77%, portal splenic angle in 14.53%, and the left branch of the portal vein in 3.85%. The maximal diameter of LGV was 4.74 ± 0.84 mm with a 95% confidence interval of 4.63-4.85 mm, and the LGV diameter was positively correlated with the weight of patients (R = 0.26, P = 0.006). No significant difference existed in the maximal diameter of LGV at different origination sites (P = 0.35). The diameter of LGV was significantly greater in males than in females (4.90 ± 0.85 vs. 4.56 ± 0.80 mm, P = 0.002), and the maximal diameter of LGV was significantly (P = 0.02) greater in the age range of 30-39 and 40-49 years than in the range of >70 years. No statistical significance (P = 0.36) was detected in the other groups. CONCLUSION: MDCT can clearly display the detailed anatomy and variation of LGV in healthy adults, providing a normal range of LGV diameter for clinical reference for diagnosing possible portal hypertension and for possible intervention.

[Role of PDGF/PDGFR Pathway in Essential Thrombocythemia and Its Action Mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of PDGF/PDGFR in essential thrombocythemia (ET) by investigating the expression of PDGF-BB in bone marrow and the expression of PDGFR-ß in bone marrow cells of patients with ET and explore the new target for treating ET patients through inhibiting the PDGFR of megakaryocytes. METHODS: The expression level of PDGF-BB in bone marrow of ET patients and normal controls were assayed by using ELISA, the expression level of PDGFR-ß (CD140) in bone marrow of ET patients and normal controls were detected by using flow cytometry, the effect of PDGF-BB in JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathway was detected by using flow cytometry or Werstern blot, and the effect of imatinib on the megakaryopoiesis of PDGF was observed. RESULTS: The expression level of PDGF-BB in bone marrow of ET patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls; the expression level of PDGFR-ß in bone marrow of ET patients was significantly higher than that in nornal controls; PDGF-BB could activate JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathway of megakaryocytes, while the imatinib could block the effect of PDGF-BB on megakaryocyte. CONCLUSION: The elevated PDGF-BB and PDGFR-ß may be involved in ET, and the physiopathologic mechanism is that the elevated PDGF-BB activates PDGFR with subsequent activation of the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathways, stimulating megakaryopoiesis. Imatinib may have a therapeutical effect on ET via blocking of PDGFR.

[Research and Application of iPS Cells in Blood System].

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) were first constructed by Takahshi and et al in 2006. They converted the mouse fibroblasts into ES-like cells via viral transduction with four transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc). Since, the significant progress has been made and many researchers have succeeded in inducing iPS cells from other human somatic cells by some novel approaches, such as combining transcriptional factors and small chemicals. IPS cells have significant prospect in clinical application. IPS cells derived from patient somatic cells can be used as a model in studying the pathogenesis of genetic hematological disease and applied in therapeutic screenings. Recent studies suggested that iPS cells can differentiate into red blood cells and platelets in vitro, which may make up a big blood bank for transfusion in future. In this review, current understanding of both recombinant technology of iPS cells and the research progress in hematology are summarized.

Association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a meta-analysis based on 51 case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: Studies and systematic reviews have reached inconsistent conclusions on the role of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism C677T in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present meta-analysis comprising of 51 case-control studies, including 7892 cases and 14 280 controls was performed to reevaluate the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and ALL risk. RESULTS: Statistical differences were found in the dominant model (TT+CT vs. CC, odd ratio (OR)=0.89, 95% CI, 0.79-1.00, P=0.04) and the CT vs. CC (OR=0.89, 95% CI, 0.80-1.00, P=0.05), but not in the allele contrast model (T vs. C, OR=0.92, 95% CI, 0.84-1.01, P=0.08), additive model (TT vs. CC, OR=0.87, 95% CI, 0.73-1.05, P=0.15), or recessive model (TT vs. CT+CC, OR=0.94, 95% CI, 0.81-1.10, P=0.44) in overall populations. In the subgroup analyses stratified by age (children and adults) and ethnicity (Asian and Caucasian), no significant associations between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and ALL risk were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The current study found no sufficient evidence of a protective role of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in ALL susceptibility.

[Treatment of middle-aged and aged patients with knee osteoarthritis of yang-deficiency induced cold-damp syndrome by ozone combined Chinese materia medica: a clinical research].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of treating middle-aged and aged patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of yang-deficiency induced cold-damp syndrome (YDICDS) by ozone combined Fugui Gutong Granule (FGG). METHODS: Using a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial, 200 KOA patients of YDICDS were randomly assigned to four groups. i.e., the control group (Group A), the Chinese medicine treatment group (Group B), the ozone group (Group C), and the Chinese-r medicine treatment plus ozone group (Group D).Patients in Group A took Voltaren Tablet. Those in Group B took FGG. Those in Group C received ozone injection (10 -18 mL) from knee joint cavity at 25 mg/L, once weekly for 4 weeks in total. Those in Group D received injection from knee joint cavity and took FGG. The therapeutic course for all was one month. The efficacy was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario MacMaster University Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC). RESULTS: The VAS score was obviously lower in Group D than in Group B and Group A at 24 h and 1 week (P <0. 05). After one month of treatment, the VAS score was obviously lower in Group D than in Group A, B, and C (P < 0.05). After treatment the total integral of WOMAC was 25.34 +/- 2.12 in Group D, obviously lower than that in Group A (44.72 +/- 6.57), Group B (40.58 +/- 5.98), and Group C (38.53 +/- 5. 13), showing statistical difference (P <0.05). The pain score, the joint stiffness score, the score for daily activities were lower in Group D than in Group A (P <0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 76.0% in Group D, higher than that of Group A (25. 0%), Group B (25. 0%), and Group C (43.8%), respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ozone combined FGG had advantages in alleviating joint pain, and improving joint stiffness and daily activities of middle-aged and aged patients with KOA of YDICDS.

Potential prevention and treatment of maifanite for Alzheimer's disease based on behavior test, oxidative stress assay, and trace element analysis in hippocampus of Aß(25₋35)-induced AD rats.

This study aimed to assess whether maifanite can improve the learning and memory, and antioxidant abilities of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. The 70 rats were divided into seven groups: [A] normal control group, [B] AD model group, [C] sham group, [D] positive control group (donepezil), [E] low-dose maifanite group, [F] middle-dose maifanite group, [G] high-dose maifanite group. For [B], [D], [E], [F], and [G] groups, Aß(25-35) ventricle injection was carried out, then respective medicine were administered once a day for 60 consecutive days. The step-down and step-through test were used to measure learning and memory ability. The hippocampus levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed. The hippocampus contents of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mn were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer. Maifanite decreased the acquisition errors and the retention errors while prolonging the step-down latency, and decreased the number of electric shocks while prolonging the first latency of AD rats. Aß(25-35) ventricle injection initiated the decrease of SOD and GSH-Px activities and the increase of MDA content, and triggered the rise of Al, Fe, and Cu levels and the decline of Mn, Zn, and Se levels. The SOD and GSH-Px activities were enhanced followed by reduced MDA level, and the levels of Mn, Zn, and Se increased accompanied by Al, Fe, and Cu decreased in the maifanite treat groups. Maifanite could improve the learning and memory, and the antioxidant abilities of AD rats. Maifanite had the potential prevention and treatment for AD.

Clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus infection in middle school students born after the universal infant vaccination program in Shanghai, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and clinical characteristics of middle school students infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) after initiation of the HBV immunization program in China. A total of 82,156 serum samples were collected from students in 33 junior schools and 25 senior schools. HBsAg was tested by ELISA. Samples from HBsAg-positive students were collected and analyzed for HBV serum markers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBV DNA levels, and HBV genotypes. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 1.11% in middle school students in Shanghai, China. The prevalence of HBsAg in students born during the immunization program to HBsAg-positive mothers was significantly higher than that in students born during the universal vaccination program (1.47% vs 0.78%, P < 0.01). Only HBV genotypes B and C were found in these infections, and genotype C was the dominant one. Twenty-one (13.0%) of 162 HBsAg-positive students had active hepatitis B, and 18 were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive. The universal infant vaccination program has reduced the prevalence of HBsAg significantly. HBeAg-positive hepatitis B, however, needs to be monitored among the students in whom vaccination failed.

Isolation and bioactivities of a non-sericin component from cocoon shell silk sericin of the silkworm Bombyx mori.

The cocoon shell of the silkworm Bombyx mori consists of silk fibroin fiber (70%) surrounded by a sericin layer made up of sericin (25%) and non-sericin (5%) components. The non-sericin component which consists of carbohydrate, salt, wax, flavonoids and derivatives is often overlooked in applied research into sericin and its hydrolysate. Here, sericin and non-sericin compounds were obtained from the sericin layer of five types of cocoon shell by means of degumming in water followed by extraction and separation in ethanol. These ethanol extracts were found to mainly contain flavonoids and free amino acids possessing scavenging activities of the 2,2-diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and inhibiting activities of tyrosinase, which were much greater than the corresponding activities of the purified sericin proteins. The extracts also strongly inhibited α-glucosidase while the sericins had no such activity. In particular, the inhibitory activities of the ethanol extract of Daizo cocoons were much greater than those of the other cocoons. The IC(50) values of the Daizo cocoons for DPPH free radicals, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase were 170, 27, and 110 µg mL(-1), respectively. The bioactivities of the non-sericin component were much higher than the activity of sericin alone. In addition, the in vivo test showed preliminarily that the administration of the non-sericin component had effectively resistant activity against streptozocin (STZ) oxidation and that of the purified sericin could also evidently decrease the induction ratio of diabetic mice induced by STZ. Therefore, ethanol extract protocols of the sericin layer of cocoon shells provide a novel stock which, together with sericin protein, has potential uses in functional food, biotechnological and medical applications.

[Changes of soil nutrient contents after prescribed burning of forestland in Heshan City, Guangdong Province].

A comparative study was conducted to analyze the changes of soil nutrient contents in Eucalyptus forestland and in shrubland after three years of prescribed burning. In Eucalyptus forestland, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available potassium contents and soil pH decreased significantly; soil available phosphorus and exchangeable magnesium contents, net nitrogen mineralization rate and ammonification rate also decreased but showed no significant difference. In shrubland, soil exchangeable calcium content increased significantly, but the contents of other nutrients had no significant change. The main reason of the lower soil net nitrogen mineralization rate in Eucalyptus forest could be the decrease of available substrates and the uptake of larger amount of soil nutrients by the fast growth of Eucalyptus. The soil nutrients in shrubland had a quick restoration rate after burning.

Temperature measurement by thermal strain imaging with diagnostic power ultrasound, with potential for thermal index determination.

Over the years, there has been a substantial increase in acoustic exposure in diagnostic ultrasound as new imaging modalities with higher intensities and frame rates have been introduced; and more electronic components have been packed into the probe head, so that there is a tendency for it to become hotter. With respect to potential thermal effects, including those which may be hazardous occurring during ultrasound scanning, there is a correspondingly growing need for in vivo techniques to guide the operator as to the actual temperature rise occurring in the examined tissues. Therefore, an in vivo temperature estimator would be of considerable practical value. The commonly-used method of tissue thermal index (TI) measurement with a hydrophone in water could underestimate the actual value of TI (in one report by as much as 2.9 times). To obtain meaningful results, it is necessary to map the temperature elevation in 2-D (or 3-D) space. We present methodology, results and validation of a 2-D spatial and temporal thermal strain ultrasound temperature estimation technique in phantoms, and its apparently novel application in tracking the evolution of heat deposition at diagnostic exposure levels. The same ultrasound probe is used for both transmission and reception. The displacement and thermal strain estimation methods are similar to those used in high-intensity focused ultrasound thermal monitoring. The use of radiofrequency signals permits the application of cross correlation as a similarity measurement for tracking feature displacement. The displacement is used to calculate the thermal strain directly related to the temperature rise. Good agreement was observed between the temperature rise and the ultrasound power and scan duration. Thermal strain up to 1.4% was observed during 4000-s scan. Based on the results obtained for the temperature range studied in this work, the technique demonstrates potential for applicability in phantom (and possibly in vivo tissue) temperature measurement for the determination of TI.

High resolution electron momentum spectroscopy of dichlorodifluoromethane: unambiguous assignments of outer valence molecular orbitals.

On account of controversial orbital assignment that appeared in previous works, [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 7933 (2004), and references therein] high resolution electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS) measurements on dichlorodifluoromethane has been carried out using a newly developed high resolution energy-momentum dispersive multichannel spectrometer employing asymmetric noncoplanar geometry at an impact energy of 2500 eV plus binding energy. Four resolved structures and two shoulders were obviously observed in high resolution binding energy spectrum in energy range covering eight outermost valence orbitals, whereas only two broad lobes were resolved in previous EMS studies [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 7933 (2004); Chin. Phys. 14, 2467 (2005)]. The ordering of these orbitals was reassigned unambiguously by simple comparison of experimental momentum distributions with theoretical ones.

[The role of activation of nuclear factor-kappa B of rat brain in the pathogenesis of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis].

To investigate the role of activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the activity and protein expression of NF-kappaB p65 in rat brain tissues, which were extracted from EAE rats at 1, 7, 14 and 21 d respectively after EAE was induced by CFA-GPSCH, were measured with electrophoretic mobility shift assay and immunohistochemistry. The relationship between activated NF-kappaB and symptoms of EAE was also investigated. The results showed that protein expression level and the activity of NF-kappaB were very low in the brain of the control group. After EAE was induced, the activity of NF-kappaB and the level of the protein expression in the brains increased gradually with the development of symptoms and brain pathology of EAE. On d 14, both the activity and the level of protein expression in the brains reached a peak, the positive cells of NF-kappaB were mainly located at the choroid plexuses and subfornical organ, as well as around the regions of sleeve-like lesion foci, which were coincident with the locations of lesions of EAE. The incidence, symptoms, reduction of the body weight and pathology of EAE rats brains at the above locations were most significant. On d 21 the activity of NF-kappaB and level of the protein expression reduced gradually, which was in parallel with a gradual alleviation of the symptoms of EAE rats. After a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB, PDTC was applied, the symptoms and pathological lesions of EAE rat brain were mitigated markedly. The above results indicate that the dynamic changes in the activity and protein expression of NF-kappaB were in parallel with the changes in symptoms and pathological lesion of EAE rat brains. In conclusion, the activated NF-kappaB in the brain may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of EAE, and application of some inhibitors of NF-kappaB, such as PDTC, may be one of the effective therapeutic methods for prevention and treatment of EAE.