[Classification of the types of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors based on routine MRI using wavelet transformation analysis of whole tumor].

Objective: To evaluate the classification of the types of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors based on routine MRI (T(1)WI, T(2)WI and ADC) using wavelet transformation analysis of whole tumor. Methods: MRI images of medulloblastoma (n=59), ependymoma (n=13) and pilocytic astrocytoma (n=27) confirmed by pathology before treatments in Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2014 to February 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective study as well as the clinical data of age, gender and symptoms. Registration was performed among the three sequences and wavelet features of ROI were acquired. Afterwards, the top ten features were ranked and trained among groups by using random forest classifier. Finally, the results were compared and analyzed according to the classification. Results: The top ten contribution three sequences and wavelet features of ROI were acquired from the ADC sequence. The random forest classifier achieved 100% accuracy on training data and was validated best accuracy (86.8%) when combined of first and third wavelet features. The sensitivity was 100%, 94.8%, 76.9%, and the specificity was 97.6%, 88.0%, 98.8% respectively. Conclusions: Features based on wavelet transformation of ADC sequence of entire tumor can provide more quantitative information, which could provide help in the differential diagnosis of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors. The optimum combination to distinguish three pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors is sixth and twelfth wavelet features of ADC sequence.

Threshold and subthreshold generalized anxiety disorder among US adolescents: prevalence, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Threshold and subthreshold forms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are highly prevalent and impairing conditions among adults. However, there are few general population studies that have examined these conditions during the early life course. The primary objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the prevalence, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of threshold and subthreshold forms of GAD in a nationally representative sample of US youth; and (2) test differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between threshold and subthreshold forms of the disorder. METHOD: The National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement is a nationally representative face-to-face survey of 10,123 adolescents 13 to 18 years of age in the continental USA. RESULTS: Approximately 3% of adolescents met criteria for threshold GAD. Reducing the required duration from 6 months to 3 months resulted in a 65.7% increase in prevalence (5.0%); further relaxing the uncontrollability criterion led to an additional 20.7% increase in prevalence (6.1%). Adolescents with all forms of GAD displayed a recurrent clinical course marked by substantial impairment and co-morbidity with other psychiatric disorders. There were few significant differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between threshold and subthreshold cases of GAD. Results also revealed age-related differences in the associated symptoms and clinical course of GAD. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the clinical significance of subthreshold forms of GAD among adolescent youth, highlighting the continuous nature of the GAD construct. Age-related differences in the associated symptoms and clinical course of GAD provide further support for criteria that capture variation in clinical features across development.

Olfactory mucosal microstructural changes in a rat model of acute rhinosinusitis with dysosmia.

This study aimed to examine olfactory mucosal changes in a rat model of acute rhinosinusitis and to determine how acute rhinosinusitis induces dysosmia. Total 100 rats were divided into the experimental (N = 80) and control (N = 20) groups. An acute rhinosinusitis model was established in the experimental rats. From the experimental group, 20 rats each were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. The control group was sacrificed at 1 week without inoculation. Olfaction was tested by the buried food pellet test before killing the rats, and the duration until the pellet was recorded and analyzed by a statistical software program. Mature olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) were examined. The durations spent by the experimental group in the BFPT were 402.9 ± 9.3, 453.7 ± 7.3, 351.9 ± 8.9, and 278.7 ± 8.1 s at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, respectively. These durations were greater than that of the control group (178.3 ± 6.6 s), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). A reduction in ORNs and thinning of the epithelium were detected in the experimental group, most notably in the 2nd week and less in the fourth week. OECs were reduced in the 1st week, increased in the 2nd week, and almost completely recovered in the fourth week. In addition, some growing OECs were detected in the experimental group. Acute rhinosinusitis decreased both the mature ORNs and OECs, but OECs increased faster than the ORNs.

Immunolocalisation and expression of Smad2 and Smad4 proteins in dog testis during postnatal development.

The expression and localisation of downstream signalling molecules of transforming growth factor beta superfamily, Smad2 and Smad4 proteins, was investigated in immature and mature dog testis. Cellular localisation of Smad2 and Smad4 proteins was examined using immunohistochemistry. Quantitative analysis of immunostaining was determined by the image analysis system. The specificity of the antibodies was examined using Western blotting assay. Smad2 and Smad4 were widely expressed in the testes, mainly immunolocalised in the cytoplasm of gonocytes, Leydig cells and Sertoli cells of immature testes, and Leydig cells and Sertoli cells of mature testes. At the same time, the expression levels for both proteins were different between immature and mature age groups: the expression of Smad2 and Smad4 proteins in the Sertoli cells of mature testis was higher than in the immature group (P < 0.05), but the expression of these two proteins in Leydig cells of mature testis was weaker than that seen in immature stage (P < 0.05). The temporospatial distribution of Smad2 and Smad4 proteins in testicular cells suggests that these two signalling molecules may play an important role in specific stages of testicular development and spermatogenesis, thus providing direct evidences for transforming growth factor beta action in the dog testis.

Flight hormones as therapeutic target for novel Coronavirus infectious disease.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made more awful effect on wellbeing and economy worldwide on an extraordinary scale. Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), the principal receptor of SARS-CoV2, has been found to be communicated with Dopa decarboxylase in unwinding the connection of catecholamines with COVID-19 infection. Cardiovascular (CV) sickness, diabetes, hypertension, and related conditions cause significant risks during the current situation and the affected people are under basic observation around the world. The hypertension and diabetes are related with alterations in the degrees of catecholamines associated with renal gland. The naive form of renal dopaminergic framework is related with the expanded reabsorption of sodium resulting in downregulation of the ACE2 expression. Catecholamine biosynthesis is managed by counter-controlling angiotensin type 1R (AT1R) and angiotensin type 2R (AT2R), incitement of AT2 lessens catecholamine biosynthesis by means of a diminishing in cGMP levels likewise incitement of AT1 initiate catecholamine biosynthesis. This audit sums up the conceivable contribution of catecholamines in intense COVID-19 contamination and furthermore featured possible restorative adequacy of catecholamine flagging pathways against the incessant SARS-CoV-2.

[Clinical analysis of seven cases of rare hemolytic disease of the newborn].

Objective: To summarize the clinical features of 7 rare cases of hemolytic disease of newborn (HDN), and to improve the understanding of rare HDN. Methods: Data of clinical information, laboratory findings, treatments and outcomes were collected and analyzed for four cases with HDN due to anti-M, two cases due to anti-Kidd, and one case due to anti-Duffy. All of them were admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medial University from July 2007 to June 2017. Results: Among the four MN hemolytic babies, two were males and two were females. Jaundice was found in three cases. Two cases had hyperbilirubinemia, one of them had severe hyperbilirubinemia. All the four cases developed anemia, including severe anemia in three cases. Two cases of Kidd hemolytic disease and 1 case of Duffy hemolytic disease had jaundice and anemia, but did not reach the level of severe hyperbilirubinemia and severe anemia. MN hemolytic disease babies got negative results in direct antiglobulin test, whereas the Kidd and Duffy hemolytic disease babies had positive findings in direct antiglobulin test. None of the babies had blood transfusion, and they were discharged from the hospital. Conclusions: Without maternal and fetal blood group incompatibility (ABO or Rh blood-group system), for early onset of jaundice, severe jaundice or anemia, antiglobulin test to mother and child earlier should be administered, and MN, Kidd, Duffy and other rare hemolytic disease of the newborn should be pay attention to.

Local tunneling spectroscopy across a metamagnetic critical point in the bilayer ruthenate Sr3Ru2O7.

The local spectroscopic signatures of metamagnetic criticality in Sr(3)Ru(2)O(7) were explored using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Singular features in the tunneling spectrum were found close to the Fermi level, as would be expected in a Stoner picture of itinerant electron metamagnetism. These features showed a pronounced magnetic field dependence across the metamagnetic critical point, which cannot be understood in terms of a naive Stoner theory. In addition, a pseudogap structure was observed over several tens of meV, accompanied by a c(2 x 2) superstructure in STM images. This result represents a new electronic ordering at the surface in the absence of any measurable surface reconstruction.

Direct observation of the bandwidth-disorder induced variation of charge/orbital ordering structure in RE(0.5)(Ca(1-y)Sr(y))(1.5)MnO(4).

Changes in the charge/orbital ordering (CO/OO) structure with the bandwidth of the e(g) band and quenched disorder were investigated in doped manganites RE(0.5)(Ca(1-y)Sr(y))(1.5)MnO(4)(RE = Pr,Eu) with a single-layer perovskite structure. A systematic study of the modulation structure associated with the CO/OO phase demonstrated that the long-range commensurate structure changes to a short-range incommensurate structure with increasing Sr content through the enhancement of the bandwidth and quenched disorder in these systems. At the same time, the transition temperature of CO/OO (T(CO/OO)) decreases. Changes in structure and T(CO/OO) with different A-site combinations reveal that the CO/OO phase is strongly suppressed by the widening of the e(g) band and the stronger quenched disorder in these layered manganites.

Mechanics of running under simulated low gravity.

Using a linear mass-spring model of the body and leg (T. A. McMahon and G. C. Cheng. J. Biomech. 23: 65-78, 1990), we present experimental observations of human running under simulated low gravity and an analysis of these experiments. The purpose of the study was to investigate how the spring properties of the leg are adjusted to different levels of gravity. We hypothesized that leg spring stiffness would not change under simulated low-gravity conditions. To simulate low gravity, a nearly constant vertical force was applied to human subjects via a bicycle seat. The force was obtained by stretching long steel springs via a hand-operated winch. Subjects ran on a motorized treadmill that had been modified to include a force platform under the tread. Four subjects ran at one speed (3.0 m/s) under conditions of normal gravity and six simulated fractions of normal gravity from 0.2 to 0.7 G. For comparison, subjects also ran under normal gravity at five speeds from 2.0 to 6.0 m/s. Two basic principles emerged from all comparisons: both the stiffness of the leg, considered as a linear spring, and the vertical excursion of the center of mass during the flight phase did not change with forward speed or gravity. With these results as inputs, the mathematical model is able to account correctly for many of the changes in dynamic parameters that do take place, including the increasing vertical stiffness with speed at normal gravity and the decreasing peak force observed under conditions simulating low gravity.

Relation between changes of TXB2 and PGF1 alpha and the severity of the disease and pathological lesions in cases of severe icteric hepatitis.

Clinically, 32 cases of intrahepatic cholestasis and 30 cases of severe chronic hepatitis with a bilirubin level higher than 171 mumol/L were studied. The results showed that bilirubin was 420 mumol/L in the first group, and 480 mumol/L in the second group (P greater than 0.05); TXB2 was 306 pg/ml and 271 pg/ml (P greater than 0.05) while PGF1 alpha was 253 pg/ml and 494 pg/ml (P less than 0.05) respectively, both were higher than their normal values (P less than 0.01). The cases were divided into acute, moderate and severe types according to their pathological lesions. Experimentally, intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis and necrotic liver tissues were induced by ANIT, ligation of common bile duct, and carbon tetrachloride respectively. Bilirubin was 629 mumol/L, 124.8 mumol/L, and lower than 17.1 mumol/L (P less than 0.01); plasma TXB2 was 634 pg/ml, 1036 pg/ml, and 239 pg/ml (P less than 0.01); PGF1 alpha was 186 pg/ml, 218 pg/ml, and 868 pg/ml (P less than 0.01) in the three groups respectively. No statistic difference was found in their TXB2 and PGF1 alpha. Our studies suggested that plasma TXB2 and PGF1 alpha in the liver was not related to the severity of liver lesions. TXB2 and PGF1 alpha are positively correlated with the increase of bilirubin while TXB2 is negatively correlated with PGF1 alpha, which might serve as an index for cholestasis, and be a cause for deepening jaundice.

Pain-relief and movement improvement by acupuncture after ablation and axillary lymphadenectomy in patients with mammary cancer.

INTRODUCTION: In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pain and movement restrictions are considered as the result of a blocking of the "Jing-Luo-system" or of a disordered flow of the Jing-Qis in the "Jing-Luo-system". PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY: In this study 48 patients with mammary cancer after ablation and axillary lymphadenectomy were treated with acupuncture (group I); a control group of 32 patients with the same operation but without acupuncture was compared (group II). RESULTS: The results showed a significantly higher maximum abduction angle (AA) at the first treatment immediately after acupuncture without pain (59.1 degrees vs. 80.4 degrees, p < 0.001) with respect to maximum tolerable pain barrier (73.6 degrees vs. 92.3 degrees, p < 0.001). Between group I (12.3%) and group II (50%) there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) in the appearance of pain in the operation field in the rest position on the 5th postoperative day, while on the 7th postoperative day 8.3% vs. 12.5%) and at the time of discharge a significant difference could not be seen (p > 0.05). The percentage of patients with pain during arm movements showed a statistically significant difference between group I and group II on the 5th postoperative day (81% vs. 100%, p < 0.01), on the 7th postoperative day (43% vs. 96.9%, p < 0.01) and at time of discharge (27.1% vs. 65.6%, p < 0.001). The differences in the abduction angle between group I and group II were also statistically significant on the 5th postoperative day at indolency (89.3 degrees vs. 74.5 degrees, p < 0.001) with respect to maximum tolerable pain (105.8 degrees vs. 87.4 degrees, p < 0.001). The differences in the abduction angle on the 7th postoperative day at indolency (97.5 degrees vs. 81.2 degrees, p < 0.001) and at maximum tolerable pain (118.5 degrees vs. 93.4 degrees, p < 0.001) were statistically significant. This statistically significant difference in the maximum abduction angle between group I and group II at indolency (116.1 degrees vs. 91.5 degrees) with respect to maximum tolerable pain (129.4 degrees vs. 112.7 degrees, p < 0.001) could be observed until discharge. DISCUSSION: Acupuncture seems to be an effective treatment to relieve pain and improve arm-movements after ablation and axillary lymphadenectomy. The "Xie-technique" is used at the main acupuncture points and the patient's feeling must be particularly considered. The combination of the different main points with the correctly selected additional acupuncture points--referred to the basic state and the pre- und post-operative state of the patient--are very important for a successful application of acupuncture.

[C-reactive protein and acute-phase proteins in monitoring infection caused by premature rupture of membranes].

Early detection of infection is of utmost importance during the conservative management of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). Sensitivities of C-reactive protein (CRP) and acute-phase proteins (APP) in predicting the infection induced by PROM were studied. The results showed that CRP could demonstrate clinical or subclinical infection with a sensitivity of 100% and 86.7% respectively, and no false positivity was observed. CRP increased remarkably at least 24 hours earlier than that of other parameters when infection occurred. On the other hand the sensitivity of APP (64.1%) was lower with false positivity. Thus, CRP may be used in clinical practice to predict infection resulted from PROM during conservative management.

[Prediction of infection complicating premature rupture of the membranes by monitoring fetal breathing movement with ultrasound].

Modified Vintzileos monitoring skill and scoring criteria of fetal biophysical profile (FBP), were used in assaying 48 patients with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). The last determination before delivery was compared with the outcome of pregnancy. The results showed: (1) The infection rate in patients with low biophysical score (less than or equal to 7) was significantly higher than that of high score (greater than 7); (2) The infection rate in patients presenting fetal breathing movements (FBM) of greater than or equal to 60 sec. It was significantly lower than that in patients with a FBM of less than 60 sec. Infection was almost absent when FBM was present; (3) Fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia could be well predicted by FBP scoring in labor. The above suggested that FBP Scoring FBM is useful in prediction infection and the outcome of babies in patients with PROM.

[Treatment of severe cholestatic hepatitis by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To study the curative effect of Chinese medicine in treating severe cholestatic-hepatitis (SCH). METHODS: Three hundred and fifty patients of SCH with total bilirubin level > or = 171 mumol/L were treated with Chinese medicines. For those with Blood Stasis Syndrome, treated with the recipe mainly consisted of Radix Paeoniae Rubra, and for which accompanied with blood Heat, fluid retention in epigastric region. Dampness dissenubated in Sanjiao ([symbol: see text]) or both Spleen and Kidney Yang-Deficiency Syndrome, the recipe was used in modification according to the Syndrome. RESULTS: Treatment was markedly effective in 288 cases and effective in 26 cases, the total effective rate being 89.7%. CONCLUSION: It is difficult in treating severe cholestatic hepatitis, especially the chronic cholestatic hepatitis, which could develop to severe chronic hepatitis if the jaundice lasted for a long time. This study showed a good effect of Chinese herbal medicine in eliminating jaundice.

Expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in skeletal muscle of plateau animals in response to hypoxic stress.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) transcriptionally regulates expression of several target genes in protecting tissues against hypoxia. With hypoxic stress, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signal protein produced by cells and further contributes to improvement of vascular functions and restoring the oxygen supply to tissues. In this current study, we first hypothesized that the protein levels of HIF-1alpha and VEGF are reduced in skeletal muscles of plateau animals [China Qinghai-Tibetan plateau pikas (ochotona curzoniae)] in response to hypoxia as compared with control animals [normal lowland Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats]. We further hypothesized that HIF-1alpha plays a role in regulating expression of VEGF in skeletal muscle. Note that HIF-1alpha and VEGF were determined by using two-site immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) methods. Our results demonstrated that hypoxic stress induced by exposure of lower O(2) (6 h) significantly increased the levels of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in the oxidative and glycolytic muscles of SD rats and pikas (P<0.05 vs. normoxic conditions). Notably, the increases in HIF-1alpha and VEGF were significantly less in pikas (P<0.05, vs. SD controls) than in SD rats. In addition, a linear relationship was observed between amplified HIF-1alpha and VEGF in oxidative muscle (r=0.76 and P<0.01) and glycolytic muscle (r=0.72 and P<0.01) and inhibiting HIF-1alpha significantly decreased expression of VEGF induced by hypoxic stress in skeletal muscles (P<0.05). Overall, our findings suggest that (1) responsiveness of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in skeletal muscles to hypoxic stress is blunted in plateau animals, and (2) HIF-1alpha has a regulatory effect on VEGF under hypoxic environment.

The structured diagnostic interview for sleep patterns and disorders: rationale and initial evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe and report the initial validity of a newly developed structured interview for sleep disorders (Diagnostic Interview for Sleep Patterns and Disorders [DISP]) administered by trained lay interviewers. METHODS: A total of 225 patients with various sleep disorders were recruited from two nationally recognized sleep centers in the United States. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders, second edition (ICSD-2) criteria, were used to classify sleep disorders (e.g., delayed sleep phase disorder, hypersomnia, narcolepsy with cataplexy [NC], restless legs syndrome [RLS], periodic limb movement disorder [PLMD], insomnia, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder [RBD], and obstructive sleep apnea [OSA]). Interview diagnoses were compared with final diagnoses by sleep specialists (reference diagnosis based on clinical history, examination, and polysomnography [PSG] when indicated). RESULTS: DISP diagnoses had fair to substantial concordance with clinician diagnoses for various sleep disorders, with area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) ranging from 0.65 to 0.84. Participants classified by the clinician as having a sleep disorder were moderately well-detected (sensitivity ranging from 0.50 for RBD disorder to 0.87 for insomnia). Substantial specificity (>0.8) also was seen for five of the eight sleep disorders (i.e., delayed sleep phase, hypersomnia, NC, PLMD, and RBD). Interviews were more likely than clinicians to detect disorders secondary to the primary sleep problem. CONCLUSIONS: The DISP provides an important tool for the detection of a wide range of sleep disorders in clinical settings and is particularly valuable in the detection of secondary disorders that were not the primary referral diagnosis.

Prolyl isomerase Pin1 stabilizes and activates orphan nuclear receptor TR3 to promote mitogenesis.

Pin1 regulates a subset of phosphoproteins by isomerizing phospho-Ser/Thr-Pro motifs via a 'post-phosphorylation' mechanism. Here, we characterize TR3 as a novel Pin1 substrate, and the mitogenic function of TR3 depends on Pin1-induced isomerization. There are at least three phospho-Ser-Pro motifs on TR3 that bind to Pin1. The Ser95-Pro motif of TR3 is the key site through which Pin1 enhances TR3 stability by retarding its degradation. Pin1 can also catalyze TR3 through phospho-Ser431-Pro motif, which is phosphorylated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), resulting in enhanced TR3 transactivation. Furthermore, Pin1 not only facilitates TR3 targeting to the promoter of cyclin D2, a novel downstream target of TR3, but also promotes TR3 to recruit p300, thereby inducing cell proliferation. Importantly, we found that Pin1 is indispensable for TR3 to promote tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. Our study thus suggests that Pin1 has an important role in cell proliferation by isomerizing TR3.

Magnetic reversal of the ferroelectric polarization in a multiferroic spinel oxide.

Ferroelectric transition has been detected in a ferrimagnetic spinel oxide of CoCr2O4 upon the transition to the conical spin order below 25 K. The direction [110] of the spontaneous polarization is normal to both the magnetization easy axis [001] and to the propagation axis [110] of the transverse spiral component, in accord with the prediction based on the spin-current model. The reversal of the spontaneous magnetization by a small magnetic field (approximately 0.1 T) induces the reversal of the spontaneous polarization, indicating the clamping of the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric domain walls.

In-plane anisotropy of the electronic structure for the charge- and orbital-ordered state in half-doped manganite with layered structure.

We report on the in-plane anisotropy of the electronic response in the spin-, charge-, and orbital-ordered phase of a half-doped layered-structure manganite. The optical conductivity spectra for a single domain of Eu1/2Ca3/2MnO4 unambiguously show the anisotropic charge dynamics which well corresponds to the theoretical calculation: the optical conductivity with the polarization along the zigzag ferromagnetic chain direction exhibits a smaller gap and a larger intensity at lower energies than that of the perpendicular polarization mostly due to the charge and orbital ordering and the associated quantum interference effect.