[Clinical value of diffusion tensor imaging parameter value in evaluating the prognosis of spinal cord injury in acute cervical spinal cord injury].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical application value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameter in evaluating the prognosis of spinal cord injury in acute cervical spinal cord injury. Method: From October 2012 to December 2015, a total of 23 patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury were examined by routine MRI-T2WI high signal DTI examination, according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) damage standard. One month later according to the functional outcome of the spinal cord, all patients were divided into non improvement group (group A) 4 cases (2 cases of ASIA-A, 2 cases of grade B) and improvement group (group B) 19 cases (13 cases of ASIA-C, 5 cases of grade D, 1 case of grade B), 15 cases of healthy volunteers as the normal group (group C ). The FA value, ADC and axial eigen value[λ∥=λ1], radial eigen value[λ⊥=(λ2+ λ3)/2]of before and after the treatment in group A and group B were compared by paired t test respectively. Single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the differences of DTI among the group A, group B and group C, and LSD test was used to compare the differences among the groups.Before and after treatment, the DTI measurement area was consistent.Changes of nerve fiber bundles in group A and group B before and after treatment were displayed in DTT. Results: After the treatment , the FA value of group A decreased , ADC value and λ⊥ value increased than that of before treatment(t=3.037, -4.183, -4.805, all P<0.05), λ∥ value increased(t=-1.160, P>0.05). After the treatment , the FA value and ADC value of group B increased , λ⊥ value decreased than that of before treatment(t=-3.344, -3.642, 4.694, all P<0.05), λ∥ value increased(t=-0.596, P>0.05). After treatment, there were statistical differences in FA values, λ⊥ value , ADC values and λ∥ values among three groups (F=71.958, 70.432, 75.902, 22.521, all P<0.01). Conclusion: The changes of FA value, λ⊥ value are the two most sensitive indicators of acute cervical spinal cord injury of spinal cord function prognosis.It suggests the poor prognosis of spinal cord function when FA value decreases and λ⊥ value continues to increase.DTT can visually display subtle changes in the nerve fiber bundle.

Multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in heat stroke.

AIM: To assess the role of proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) in the detection of changes in metabolite levels of the cerebellum after heat stroke (HS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of eight patients after HS, with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3-9. The MR studies were performed with a 1.5 T system. MR spectra were recorded from a normal-appearing cerebellum region. Spectra from patients were compared with a control group including seven age-matched healthy volunteers recorded with the same techniques. Metabolites ratios including N-acetyl aspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), N-acetyl aspartate/creatine2 (NAA/Cr2), choline/creatine (Cho/Cr), choline/creatine2 (Cho/Cr2), and N-acetyl aspartate/choline (NAA/Cho) were calculated and the differences between the two groups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyse the relationship between NAA/Cr ratios and GCS scores for eight patients after HS. RESULTS: In the cerebellum of the patients after HS, NAA/Cr ratios were found to be significantly decreased compared to normal controls (p = 0.004) and Cho/Cr ratios were found to be decreased compared to normal controls (p = 0.032). Significant positive correlation was found between NAA/Cr ratios and GCS scores for eight patients after HS (r = 0.748, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolite abnormalities were seen in normal-appearing cerebellum structures in patients after HS. Proton MRS is a useful tool for evaluating major changes in metabolite levels of the cerebellum after HS and the severity of the disease can be effectively evaluated by NAA/Cr ratios.

Polyketides with different post-modifications from desert endophytic fungus Paraphoma sp.

Three new polyketides 4,6,8-trihydroxy-5-methyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (2) and 1-(4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1,7-dimethyl-3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-1-yl) ethyl acetate (3) together with seven known analogues (4-10) were isolated from desert endophytic fungus Paraphoma sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of NMR data. The absolute configuration of (1-3) was established on the basis of CD experiments. The possible biosynthetic pathway of compounds (1-10) was suggested, which implied that these secondary metabolites might be originated from polyketide biosynthesis with different post-modification reactions. Compounds 2, and 5-8 were evaluated for bioactivities against plant pathogen A. solani, whereas none of them displayed any biological effects. In addition, compounds 1, 2 and 5-10 were also tested for cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2 cells, MCF-7 cells and Hela cells) without biological effects.

A steroidal saponin from the seeds of Allium tuberosum.

A steroidal saponin, named tuberoside, together with seven known compounds, were isolated from the seeds of Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng. Its structure was established by spectroscopic data, hydrolysis, and comparison with spectral data of known compounds to be (2alpha, 3beta, 5alpha, 25S)-2,3,27-trihydroxyspirostane 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoyl-(1-->2)-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranoyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

[Studies on the chemical constituents from roots of Agastache rugosa].

Eleven compounds were isolated from roots of Agastache rugosa and eight of them were identified as maslinic acid (I), oleanolic acid (II), 3-O-acetyl oleanolic aldehyde (III), acacetin (IV), tilianin (V), agastachoside (VI), daucosterol (VII) and beta-sitosterol (VIII). Compound IX is a new diterpenoid and its structure was proposed to be 19(4----3)abeo-11,14-dihydroxy-12-methoxy-abieta-8,11,13,15- tetraen-7-one based on spectral data, named dehydroagastol. The studies on X and XI are in progress.

[Studies on the steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca vagans].

The root of Sarcococca vagans Stapt (Buxaceae) is well-known Chinese folk drug called as "Jie Gu Mu", distributed in southern of China. They are used in treatment of traumatic injury. Four new steroidal alkaloids, named sarcovagine A, B, C and D, were isolated from the root of Sarcococca vagans. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral evidence.

Two new triterpene saponins from Lysimachia capillipes.

Two new saponins, capilliposide G (1) and capilliposide H (2), were isolated from the whole plants of Lysimachia capillipes. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, MS technique and chemical methods.

Diarylheptanoids from Alpinia officinarum.

A new diarylheptanoid, along with five known diarylheptanoids, was isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum (Zingiberaceae). The structure of the new compound was determined to be trans,trans-1(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-5-ol-4,6-dien-3-heptanone on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.

A new cerebroside from Uvaria tonkinensis var. subglabra.

A new cerebroside, subglain A (1), together with five known compounds (2-6) have been isolated from the stems of Uvaria tonkinensis var. subglabra. The structure of 1 has been determined to be 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8Z,2'R)-2-[N-(2'-hydroxytetracosanyl)-N-(1'',2''-dihydroxyethyl)-amide]-8-tetradecene-1,3,4-triol by spectroscopic evidence. The known compounds were identified as schisandriside (2), erythritol (3), beta-D-glucopyranose (4), kaempferol-3,7-O-alpha-L-dirhamnoside (5), and (+)-lyoniresinol (6).

Sphingosine derivatives from the seeds of Allium tuberosum.

A new ceramide, named tuber-ceramide (2), along with a known cerebroside (1) were isolated from the seeds of Allium tuberosum. The structure of tuber-ceramide was determined on the basis of spectral data as N-(2',3'-dihydroxy-tetracosenoyl)-2-amino-1,3,4-trihydroxy octadecane (2). This is the first report of sphingosine derivatives isolated from the genus Allium.