Pediatric temporal fistula: Report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric temporal fistulae are rarely reported in the literature. Dissemination of these cases can help inform future diagnosis and effective treatment. CASE SUMMARY: Three pediatric patients came to the clinic due to repeated infections of the skin and soft tissue of the temporal area. One patient presented with a temporal fistula that penetrated the temporal bone and reached the dura mater. Another patient presented with a temporal fistula that penetrated into the temporal muscle fascia. The third patient presented with a fistula that penetrated the lateral wall of the orbit and entered the orbit. All patients underwent surgical fistula resection informed by preoperative computed tomography (CT) evaluation. Histopathological evaluation was also performed. All three patients were surgically treated successfully. Histopathological evaluations confirmed the fistula diagnoses in all three cases. CONCLUSION: For patients who have temporal fistulae with repeated infections, surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible to prevent serious complications. CT can be very useful for preoperative evaluation. B-mode ultrasound examination and evaluation also have a certain auxiliary role.

Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier in Spinal Cord Injury: A Review.

The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), a physical barrier between the blood and spinal cord parenchyma, prevents the toxins, blood cells, and pathogens from entering the spinal cord and maintains a tightly controlled chemical balance in the spinal environment, which is necessary for proper neural function. A BSCB disruption, however, plays an important role in primary and secondary injury processes related to spinal cord injury (SCI). After SCI, the structure of the BSCB is broken down, which leads directly to leakage of blood components. At the same time, the permeability of the BSCB is also increased. Repairing the disruption of the BSCB could alleviate the SCI pathology. We review the morphology and pathology of the BSCB and progression of therapeutic methods targeting BSCB in SCI.

Molecular mechanism of Chuanxiong Rhizoma in treating coronary artery diseases / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Most of the studies on the herb Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CR) have focused on the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway, but the nitrate-nitrite-NO (NO

Active Soil Nitrifying Communities Revealed by In Situ Transcriptomics and Microcosm-Based Stable-Isotope Probing.

Long-term nitrogen field fertilization often results in significant changes in nitrifying communities that catalyze a key step in the global N cycle. However, whether microcosm studies are able to inform the dynamic changes in communities of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) under field conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the transcriptional activities of nitrifying communities under in situ conditions, and we found that they were largely similar to those of 13C-labeled nitrifying communities in the urea-amended microcosms of soils that had received different N fertilization regimens for 22 years. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and transcripts suggested that Nitrosospira cluster 3-like AOB and Nitrososphaera viennensis-like AOA were significantly stimulated in N-fertilized fresh soils. Real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated that the significant increase of AOA and AOB in fresh soils upon nitrogen fertilization could be preserved in the air-dried soils. DNA-based stable-isotope probing (SIP) further revealed the greatest labeling of Nitrosospira cluster 3-like AOB and Nitrosospira viennensis-like AOA, despite the strong advantage of AOB over AOA in the N-fertilized soils. Nitrobacter-like nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) played more important roles than Nitrospira-like NOB in urea-amended SIP microcosms, while the situation was the opposite under field conditions. Our results suggest that long-term fertilization selected for physiologically versatile AOB and AOA that could have been adapted to a wide range of substrate ammonium concentrations. It also provides compelling evidence that the dominant communities of transcriptionally active nitrifiers under field conditions were largely similar to those revealed in 13C-labeled microcosms.IMPORTANCE The role of manipulated microcosms in microbial ecology has been much debated, because they cannot entirely represent the in situ situation. We collected soil samples from 20 field plots, including 5 different treatments with and without nitrogen fertilizers for 22 years, in order to assess active nitrifying communities by in situ transcriptomics and microcosm-based stable-isotope probing. The results showed that chronic N enrichment led to competitive advantages of Nitrosospira cluster 3-like AOB over N. viennensis-like AOA in soils under field conditions. Microcosm labeling revealed similar results for active AOA and AOB, although an apparent discrepancy was observed for nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. This study suggests that the soil microbiome represents a relatively stable community resulting from complex evolutionary processes over a large time scale, and microcosms can serve as powerful tools to test the theory of environmental filtering on the key functional microbial guilds.

Roles of extra-cellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 signaling pathway in the development of spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: In consideration of characteristics and functions, extra-cellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling pathway could be a new target for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. Our study aimed to evaluate the roles of ERK5 signaling pathway in secondary damage of SCI. METHODS: We randomly divided 70 healthy Wistar rats into five groups: ten in the blank group, 15 in the sham surgery + BIX02188 (sham + B) group, 15 in the sham surgery + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; sham + D) group, 15 in the SCI + BIX02188 (SCI + B) group, and 15 in the SCI + DMSO (SCI + D) group. BIX02188 is a specific inhibitor of the ERK5 signaling pathway. SCI was induced by the application of vascular clips (with the force of 30 g) to the dura on T10 level, while rats in the sham surgery group underwent only T9-T11 laminectomy. BIX02188 or DMSO was intra-thecally injected at 1, 6, and 12 h after surgery or SCI. Spinal cord samples were taken for testing at 24 h after surgery or SCI. RESULTS: Expression of phosphorylated-ERK5 (p-ERK5) significantly increased after SCI. Application of BIX02188 indeed inhibited ERK5 signaling pathway and reduced the degree of spinal cord tissue injury, neutrophil infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine expression, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and apoptosis (measured by TdT-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick-end labeling, expression of Fas-ligand, BCL2-associated X [Bax], and B-cell lymphoma-2 [Bcl-2]). Double immunofluorescence revealed activation of ERK5 in neurons and microglia after SCI. CONCLUSION: ERK5 signaling pathway was activated in spinal neurons and microglia, contributing to secondary injury of SCI. Moreover, inhibition of ERK5 signaling pathway could alleviate the degree of SCI, which might be related to its regulation of infiltration of inflammatory cells and release of inflammatory cytokines, expression of NF-κB and cell apoptosis.

The mitochondrial transfer RNAAsp A7551G mutation may contribute to the clinical expression of deafness associated with the A1555G mutation in a pedigree with hearing impairment.

The role of mitochondrial (mt)DNA variations in hearing loss have been studied extensively; in particular, the well­known pathogenic A1555G mutation in the human mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene is associated with aminoglycoside­induced and non­syndromic hearing loss. The present paper described a Chinese pedigree with hearing impairments. We first performed polymerase chain reaction and direct sequence analysis for the mtDNA genes. Additionally, the GJB2 gene mutations were also genotyped. Notably, this family had a very high penetrance of deafness (66.7 and 33.3%; including and excluding aminoglycoside use, respectively). Sequence analysis of the mtDNA genes from the matrilineal relatives identified the occurrence of A1555G mutation, as well as the tRNAAsp A7551G mutation. The A7551G mutation occurred at position 37 in the anticodon stem of tRNAAsp, which is extremely conserved among various species. The nucleotide at this position is often chemically modified and thus contributes to the maintenance of functional tRNAAsp, therefore, this mutation may cause an imbalance in the level of tRNAAsp and lead to mitochondrial dysfunction which is involved in the pathogenesis of hearing loss. Taken together, the findings of the present study demonstrated that the A7551G mutation may have contributed to the deafness phenotype caused by the A1555G mutation.

[Research progress of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate in cardiovascular complication of end-stage renal diseases].

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common complications and the main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Uremic toxins are the primary cause of cardiovascular disease in renal insufficiency. In patients with chronic kidney disease, the protein-bound uremic toxins represented by indoxyl sulfate are difficult to be removed by conventional dialysis and are extremely toxic. In recent years, studies have confirmed that the occurrence of cardiovascular disease induced by chronic kidney disease is closely related to the accumulation of indoxyl sulfate. Indoxyl sulfate can induce oxidative stress to cause endothelial injury, smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and promote the occurrence of atherosclerosis, thereby affecting multiple systems throughout the body. This article reviews the research progress of uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate in end-stage renal diseases associated cardiovascular diseases.

Fine motor skill training enhances functional plasticity of the corticospinal tract after spinal cord injury.

Following central nervous system injury, axonal sprouts form distal to the injury site and extend into the denervated area, reconstructing neural circuits through neural plasticity. How to facilitate this plasticity has become the key to the success of central nervous system repair. It remains controversial whether fine motor skill training contributes to the recovery of neurological function after spinal cord injury. Therefore, we established a rat model of unilateral corticospinal tract injury using a pyramidal tract cutting method. Horizontal ladder crawling and food ball grasping training procedures were conducted 2 weeks before injury and 3 days after injury. The neurological function of rat forelimbs was assessed at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks after injury. Axon growth was observed with biotinylated dextran amine anterograde tracing in the healthy corticospinal tract of the denervated area at different time periods. Our results demonstrate that compared with untrained rats, functional recovery was better in the forelimbs and forepaws of trained rats. The number of axons and the expression of growth associated protein 43 were increased at the injury site 3 weeks after corticospinal tract injury. These findings confirm that fine motor skill training promotes central nervous system plasticity in spinal cord injury rats.

[Effect of GABA(B) Receptor Signal to Corticosterone-induced Neuron Apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether corticosterone results in neuron apoptosis through regulating γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor. METHODS: In vivo: the hyperglycemic rat model with applying chronic restraint stress to healthy male SD rats (3 months) was established, after paraffin embedding the brain was sliced, and the level of neuron apoptosis was tested by detecting active Caspase-3 with immune-histochemical staining and TUNEL. The level of corticosterone in serum was detected by using ELISA. In vitro: the level of active Caspase-3 in NG108-15 cells (neuroblastoma and glioma cell line) after treated with corticosterone (10(-7) mol/L) was detected with Western blot. In NG108-15 cells recombinanted with GABA(B2) receptor, after administrating separately with the GABA(B) agonist baclofen (100 µmol/L) and antagonist CGP35348 (100 µmol/L), the level of active Caspase-3 under the effect of corticosterone (10(-7) mol/L) was detected. RESULTS: Active Caspase-3 positive apoptotic cells and TUNEL-positive cells were detected in solitary nucleus of hyperglycemia rat induced by chronic restraint stress, and the level of serum corticosterone had recovered after an initial ascent. NG108-15 cells could express GABA(B1) receptor endogenously, and the expression of active Caspase-3 increased after corticosterone treatment (P < 0.05). In NG108-15 cells transfected with GABA(B2) receptor subunits, baclofen could reduce the effect of corticosterone- induced active Caspase-3 upexpression, while CGP35348 enhanced this effect (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Corticosterone may lead to abnormal neuron excitability and neuron apoptosis by means of inhibiting GABA receptor B.

[The distribution of caspase-3 positive apoptotic cells in 18 months old SD rat's brainstem compared with that in 3 months rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether there is apoptosis in brainstem neurons while aging by oberving the distribution of Caspase-3 positive apoptotic cells in in brainstem of young and old SD rats. METHODS: Healthy male SD rats were divided into 2 groups (3 and 18 month-old respectively), 3 rats each group. Brainstem specimens were treated followed the brainstem's common paraffin embedding, sectioning and HE staining procedures (sections were 6 µm in thickness). The sections were also determined by Caspase-3 immunostaining and TUNEL. The Caspase-3 positive cells on the rat stereotaxic atlas were drew, then composed the sections into a 3D model. RESULTS: Compared to 3 month-old rats, there were more Caspase-3 positive neurons in the brainstem and the positive neurons were distributed more extensively in 18 month-old rats spectially in nucleus of solitary tract and pontine reticular nuclei. CONCLUSION: More neurons suffer apoptotic changes in the brainstem while aging.

[Establishment of chronic constraint stress animal model and its application in the study of hyperglycemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore chronic constraint stress (CCS) animal model in the application to observe hyperglycemia by improving the method of constraint, diet food and blood glucose assay. METHODS: Chronic constraint stress was performed 12 h per day on SD rats for 4 periods with 10 d per periods. The rats were fed normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD) respectively, while HFD+ Streptozotocin (STZ) and HFD as control. Blood glucose was tested on the 3rd day after every bound period. Insulin, cortisone and adrenaline in serum were tested by ELISA at 3 days after the last bound period. The expressions of insulin and glucagon in pancreas were detected by immunohisto-chemical (ICH) straining. RESULTS: There were 32.5% rats suffering hyperglycemia after chronic constraint stress. Compared with control group, the serum level of insulin increased significantly in CCS group. The blood glucose and serum insulin levels in the HFD-STZ and HFD group were not significantly different to those of control group (P > 0.05). HE and ICH sections showed that the pancreas volume of CCS rats increased, insulin expression in islets decreased. Insulin and glucagon expression in HFD islets decreased. Islets of STZ rats were seriously damaged and no insulin or glucagon positive cells were observed. CONCLUSION: CCS could induce hyperglycemia, which might be used in the further study on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[Data analysis of laser desorption/ionization mass spectrum of individual particle using adaptive resonance theory based neural network].

On-line measurement of size and chemical composition of single particle using an aerosol laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ALTOFMS) was designed in our lab. Each particle's aerodynamic diameter is determined by measuring the delay time between two continuous-wave lasers operating at 650 nm. A Nd : YAG laser desorbs and ionizes molecules from the particle, and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer collects a mass spectrum of the generated ions. Then the composition of single particle is obtained. ALTOFMS generates large amount of data during the process period. How to process these data quickly and extract valuable information is one of the key problems for the ALTOFMS. In the present paper, an adaptive resonance theory-based neural network, ART-2a algorithm, was used to classify mixed mass spectra of aerosol particles of NaCl, CaCl2, dioctylphthalate (DOP), and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB). Compared with the traditional methods, ART-2a can recognize input patterns self-organically, self-adaptively and self-steadily without considering the complexity and the number of the patterns, so it is more favorable for the analysis of the mass spectra data. Experimental results show that when vigilance parameter is 0.40, learning rate is 0.05 and iteration number is 6, ART-2a algorithm can successfully reveal these four particle categories. The weight vectors for these four particle classes were obtained, which can represent the characters of these four particle classes remarkably.

[Evaluation and clinical significance of HBV large protein (LHBs) in diagnosis of hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the significance of HBV large protein (LHBs) in diagnosis of hepatitis B, we detected the LHBs, HBV DNA, PreS1 and other hepatitis B viral markers (HBV M) in the serum of patients infected with HBV. METHODS: HBV DNA was quantitatively detected using RT-PCR, LHBs, PreS1 and HBV M were analyzed by ELISA in totally 385 serum samples. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the positive rate of LHBs (86.97%) and PreS1 (49.5%) in the 307 serum positive for HBV DNA (P less than 0.05). There was a correlation between the levels of LHBs and the logarithm of HBV DNA (r=0.935). In the serum specimens of patients negative for HBeAg, there was no significant difference between the positive rate of LHBs (76.92%) and the HBV DNA (67.95%), but the positive rate of PreS1 (45.73%) was lower than that of LHBs or HBV DNA. CONCLUSION: There was a close correlation between the copies of HBV DNA and the levels of LHBs, both the positive rate and the coincidence rate of LBHs and HBV DNA were higher than those of PreS1. LHBs can reflect the replication status of HBV.