Prediction of Parkinson's disease by transcranial sonography-based deep learning.

OBJECTIVES: Transcranial sonography has been used as a valid neuroimaging tool to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to develop a modified transcranial sonography (TCS) technique based on a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model to predict Parkinson's disease. METHODS: This retrospective diagnostic study was conducted using 1529 transcranial sonography images collected from 854 patients with PD and 775 normal controls admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou, Jiangsu, China) between September 2019 and May 2022. The data set was divided into training cohorts (570 PD patients and 541 normal controls), and the validation set (184 PD patients and 234 normal controls). Using these datasets, we developed four different DCNN models (ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet152, and DenseNet121). We then assessed their diagnostic performance, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and F1 score and compared with traditional diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Among the 1529 TCS images, 570 PD patients and 541 normal controls from 4 of 6 sonographers of the TCS team were selected as the training cohort, and 184 PD patients and 234 normal controls from the other 2 sonographers were chosen as the validation cohort. There were no sex and age differences between PD patients and normal control subjects in the training and validation cohorts (P values > 0.05). All DCNN models achieved good performance in distinguishing PD patients from normal control subjects on the validation datasets, with diagnostic AUROCs and accuracy of 0.949 (95% CI 0.925, 0.965) and 86.60 for the RestNet18 model, 0.949 (95% CI 0.929, 0.971) and 87.56 for ResNet50, 0.945 (95% CI 0.931, 0.969) and 88.04 for ResNet152, 0.953 (95% CI 0.935, 0.971) and 87.80 for DenseNet121, respectively. On the other hand, the diagnostic accuracy of the traditional diagnostic method was 82.30. The accuracy of all DCNN models was higher than that of traditional diagnostic method. Moreover, the 5k-fold cross-validation results in train datasets showed that these DCNN models are robust. CONCLUSION: The developed transcranial sonography-based DCNN models performed better than traditional diagnostic criteria, thus improving the sonographer's accuracy in diagnosing PD.

Clinical study of transcranial sonography image characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from subgroups of varying severity and substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity as well as cerebral blood flow detected by transcranial sonography (TCS). The study also explored if there were differences in damage of the SN and in the cerebral blood flow between the bilateral sides. METHODS: Right-handed men diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography were recruited from August 2018 to August 2020. The included patients were divided into 3 subgroups (mild, moderate, and severe OSA), and all patients underwent TCS. RESULTS: Among the 157 study patients (30 with mild OSA, 25 moderate, and 102 severe), the overall prevalence of SN hyperechogenicity was 15% (23/157). The hyperechogenicity detection rates were 3% (4/157) in the right SN subgroup and 13% (20/157) in the left SN subgroup, which were significantly different. The left side always had reduced blood flow on TCS (P < 0.05). No correlation was observed between the severity of OSA and the detection rates of SN hyperechogenicity (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with OSA showed a higher detection rate of SN hyperechogenicity on the left compared with the right side. The left middle cerebral arteries had reduced blood flow, which was consistent with the more severe damage of the left SN. No relationship was observed between the severity of OSA and the detection rate of SN hyperechogenicity or hemodynamic parameters.

Sarcopenia is associated with non-motor symptoms in Han Chinese patients with Parkinson's Disease: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is commonly seen in the older adults and increases in incidence with age, also in Parkinson's disease (PD). Although research has indicated that the development of sarcopenia in patients with PD may be related to both motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms (NMS), the precise relationship between the two conditions remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the incidence of sarcopenia in patients with PD and its association with NMS. METHODS: The study included 123 patients with PD and 38 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). All participants were evaluated for sarcopenia using the 2019 Asian Sarcopenia Diagnostic Criteria, and patients with PD underwent standard assessments of motor symptoms and NMS. Multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to examine the association between sarcopenia and NMS in patients with PD. RESULTS: The incidence of sarcopenia was significantly higher in patients with PD than in HC (26.8% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.046). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that poorer sleep quality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.245; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.011-1.533; p = 0.040) and fatigue (OR: 1.085, 95% CI: 1.006-1.170, p = 0.034) were independently associated with sarcopenia. ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores was 10, with 72.7% sensitivity and 74.4% specificity (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.776, 95% CI: 0.683-0.868, p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scores was 39, with 87% sensitivity and 50% specificity (AUC = 0.725, 95% CI: 0.629 -0.820, p < 0.001). Joint use of FSS and PSQI scores increased the predictive value for sarcopenia(AUC = 0.804, 95% CI: 0.724-0.885, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with PD are more susceptible to sarcopenia than healthy older adults, and fatigue and poorer sleep are positively associated with sarcopenia. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the causal relationships.

Relationship between sarcopenic obesity and cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has linked sarcopenic obesity (SO) to cognitive function; however, the relationship between cognitive performance and SO Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate their relationship in AD patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty mild to moderate AD patients and 56 normal controls were recruited. According to sarcopenia or obesity status, AD patients were classified into subgroups: normal, obesity, sarcopenia, and SO. Body composition, demographics, and sarcopenia parameters were assessed. Cognitive performance was evaluated using neuropsychological scales. RESULTS: Among the 176 participants, the prevalence of SO in the moderate AD group was higher than in the normal control group. The moderate AD group had the lowest appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and the highest percentage of body fat (PBF). Hypertension and diabetes were more prevalent in the SO group than in the normal group among the subgroups. The sarcopenia and SO groups exhibited worse global cognitive function compared to the normal and obesity groups. Partial correlation analysis revealed that ASMI, PBF, and visceral fat area were associated with multiple cognitive domains scores. In logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounders, obesity was not found to be associated with AD. However, sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR) = 5.35, 95% CI: 1.27-22.46) and SO (OR = 5.84, 95% CI: 1.26-27.11) were identified as independent risk factors for AD. CONCLUSIONS: SO was associated with cognitive dysfunction in AD patients. Moreover, the impact of SO on cognitive decline was greater than that of sarcopenia. Early identification and intervention for SO may have a positive effect on the occurrence and progression of AD.

Diagnostic value of ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in septic acute kidney injury.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the clinical value of ultrasonic Doppler examination and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) in the circulation of septic acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: Patients with intensive care unit-related infection were divided into AKI group and control groups. The AKI group was divided into three subgroups according to the serum creatinine value: stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3. Relevant parameters and blood flow of the renal artery were measured, and further contrast-enhanced US was performed and time-intensity curve was analyzed. RESULTS: The renal blood flow (RBF) and time-averaged velocity decreased significantly in the AKI group compared with the control group (p = .021 and p = .001). The peak value decreased and time to peak (TTP) prolonged in the AKI group (p < .001). With the aggravation of the disease, the RBF decreased slightly among subgroups (p = 0.124). However, the peak value gradually decreased and the TTP prolonged (all p < .05). The multiple linear regression model showed that only PI, RI, and TTP were independently and linearly correlated with the serum creatinine value. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler US and contrast-enhanced US are of great help in the detection of condition changes and prognosis of patients with sepsis-induced AKI.

Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation plus plastic stent placement versus stent placement alone for unresectable extrahepatic biliary cancer: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We sought to compare the efficacy and safety between endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and stent placement alone in patients with unresectable extrahepatic biliary cancer (EBC). METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or ampullary cancer who were unsuitable for surgery were recruited from 3 tertiary centers. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to RFA plus plastic stent placement (RFA group) or plastic stent placement alone (stent placement alone group) in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups underwent 2 scheduled interventions with an interval of approximately 3 months. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Altogether, 174 participants completed the 2 index endoscopic interventions. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were noted between the 2 groups. The median OS was significantly higher in the RFA group (14.3 vs 9.2 months; hazard ratio, .488; 95% confidence interval, .351-.678; P < .001). A survival benefit was also shown in patients with CCA (13.3 vs 9.2 months; hazard ratio, .546; 95% confidence interval, .386-.771; P < .001). However, no significant between-group differences were found in jaundice control or stent patency duration. The postprocedural Karnofsky performance scores were significantly higher in the RFA group until 9 months (all P < .001). Adverse events were comparable between the 2 groups (27.6% vs 19.5%, P = .211), except for acute cholecystitis, which was more frequently observed in the RFA group (9 vs 0, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with stent placement alone, additional RFA may improve OS and quality of life of patients with inoperable primary EBC who do not undergo systemic treatments. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT01844245.).

Shear wave elastography characteristics of upper limb muscle in rigidity-dominant Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Rigidity is one of the major manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD), but no quantitative and objective imaging method has been developed to measure rigidity. Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) can reflect the stiffness of tissue by providing a quantitative index. Thus, we conducted this study to evaluate the potential clinical value of SWE in assessing rigidity in PD. METHODS: A total of 63 subjects (44 patients with rigidity-dominant PD and 19 right-dominant-hand normal controls with matched age) were enrolled, and each underwent ultrasound SWE testing. The tests were conducted on the brachioradialis (BR) and biceps brachii (BB) on the more affected side in patients with PD and on the right side in normal controls. Differences in quantitative shear wave velocity (SWV) between patients with PD and normal controls were determined. The relationship of muscle SWV with joint rigidity, UPDRSIII, disease duration, sex, and age in patients with PD was analyzed. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the reliability of SWE in assessing muscle stiffness in patients with PD. RESULTS: The mean SWVs of the BB and BR were higher in the PD group (3.65±0.46 and 4.62±0.89 m/s, respectively) than in normal controls (2.79±0.37 and 3.26±0.40 m/s, respectively). Stiffness in BR and BB was correlated with the upper-limb joint rigidity, UPDRSIII, and disease duration but not with sex or age in the PD group. The intraobserver correlation coefficients (ICCs) for interobserver and intraobserver variations in measuring SWV were 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.56-0.95) and 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.58-0.95), respectively, for BR and 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.73-0.97) and 0.86 (95% confidence interval 0.61-0.95), respectively, for BB. CONCLUSIONS: SWV is associated with joint rigidity and disease duration, indicating that SWE can be potentially used as an objective and quantitative tool for evaluating rigidity.

Transcranial sonography image characteristics in different Parkinson's disease subtypes.

Recently, Parkinson's disease (PD) has been classified into three subtypes: postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD), tremor dominate (TD), and indeterminate PD. Transcranial sonography (TCS) is considered to be an important tool to diagnose PD. However, it is uncertain that whether there are differences in TCS image characteristics in different PD subtypes, so 373 idiopathic PD (188 PIGD, 108 TD, 77 indeterminate PD) were registered and received TCS in our investigation; also, the association between clinical characteristics and TCS results in different PD subtypes was analyzed. In accordance with several previous studies, we detected substantia nigra (SN) by TCS in 85.4% of patients with idiopathic PD; we concluded that PIGD patients had more serious disease than TD and indeterminate PD group (p < 0.05). They always had larger SN hyperechogenicity areas on TCS (p < 0.05), and we found that there was no correlation between SN hyperechogenicity and disease duration or severity (p > 0.05). Similarly, abnormal brainstem raphe signal was also more often in PIGD group than in TD and indeterminate PD group (p < 0.05), which might imply that PIGD group was vulnerable to suffer from depression in the future.

[Effect of methylphenidate on c-Fos expression in parvalbumin interneurons of juvenile rat frontal cortex].

The etiology of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been generally linked to the decrease in cortex activity, as well as to the reduction in dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) levels. Methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin) is the most commonly prescribed medication for ADHD. It has been determined that MPH acts primarily on the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems through blockade of DA and NE transporters, thereby increasing the concentrations of these neurotransmitters in the brain to correct the attention deficits and hyperactivity. In addition, MPH has been proposed to increase the excitability of pyramidal neurons and the overall activity of cortex. However, the effect of MPH on the activity of interneurons is lack of investigation. Here, by using immunohistochemistry technique, we examined c-Fos expression in parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons of frontal cortex of rats (28-day-old) at 1 h after a single MPH infusion (1 or 8 mg/kg; s.c.). We analyzed the c-Fos expression in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (MO), ventral orbitofrontal cortex (VO), and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (LO) subregions of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), as well as the prelimbic cortex (PrL) and infralimbic cortex (IL) subregions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) after MPH infusion. Our data showed that MPH increased c-Fos expression in MO, VO and LO, and the c-Fos expression in PV-expressing interneurons elevated significantly in MO, VO, but not in LO. Meanwhile, the increases of c-Fos expression in PrL and IL, as well as in PV-expressing interneurons of these two regions, were only induced by 1 mg/kg MPH, but not 8 mg/kg. Both 1 and 8 mg/kg MPH dramatically increased c-Fos expression in ACC, especially, in PV-expressing interneurons of ACC as well. In conclusion, acute systemic injection of MPH significantly increases the c-Fos expression in PV-expressing interneurons of the OFC, PFC and ACC.

Alteration of brainstem raphe measured by transcranial sonography in depression patients with or without Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of our study was to assess the alteration of the brainstem raphe (BR) on transcranial sonography (TCS) in depression patients with or without Parkinson's disease (PD) and to explore whether the different changes of BR could reflect an increasing impairment of raphe structures. TCS was performed in patients with PD, depression with PD, depression only, and controls. Using the red nucleus as an internal standard, the BR was rated semi-quantitatively from grades 1-4 with grades 1-3 determined as abnormal. The rate of abnormal BR (≤grade 3) was found to be only 10 % in patients with PD (4/40) and 5 % in control patients (2/40). The rate of abnormal raphe was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in patients with both depression and PD (85 %, 34/40) or patients with depression only (87.5 %, 35/40). TCS of the raphe in most patients with mild depression scored grade 3, while those with moderate depression scored grade 2-3, and those with severe depression scored grade 1. The different BR echogenicity score reflected an increasing impairment of raphe structures in depression patients with or without PD (p < 0.05). TCS provides a good tool for assessing depression, more severe depressive symptoms were associated with different aspects in TCS studies.

[Research of Yuanhu Zhitong prescription based on strategy of integrative pharmacology].

Chinese medicinal formulae (CMF) were usually used in the clinics of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), which were critical for modernization of Chinese medicine to shed light on the interaction between CMF and biological organisms. However, correlation between system and part, macroscopic actions and microcosmic mechanism, ADME process and pharmacologic actions were usually neglected. The put-forward of integrative pharmacology provided a feasible approach to solve the problem of the fragmentation of TCM. For the past years, we applied the strategy of integrative pharmacology to study Yuanhu Zhitong prescription( YZP) systematically, and established two modes, chemical fingerprints-metabolism fingerprints-network targets and intestinal absorption-activity evaluation-data mining, to establish the interaction rule between the chemical composition and biological activity from multiple levels, such as the calculation and in vitro/vivo, which provided proof for the quality control, pharmacodynamic material basis and pharmacological action of YZP. In this paper, we summarized the related progresses of the research of YZP.

Tissue-specific distribution of ginsenosides in different aged ginseng and antioxidant activity of ginseng leaf.

The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effect of the cultivation year on the quality of different ginseng tissues. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of ginsenosides were conducted using a UPLC-UV-MS method. Eight main ginsenosides in three tissues (leaf, rhizome and main root) and four parts (periderm, phloem, cambium and xylem) of ginseng aged from 1 to 13 years were determined using a UPLC-PDA method. Additionally, the antioxidant capacities of ginseng leaves were analyzed by the DPPH, ABTS and HRSA methods. It was found that the contents of ginsenosides increased with cultivation years, causing a sequential content change of ginsenosides in an organ-specific manner: leaf > rhizome > main root. The ratio between protopanaxatriol (PPT, Rg1, Re and RF) and protopanaxadiol (PPD, Rb1, Rb2, RC and Rd) in the main root remained stable (about 1.0), while it increased in leaf from 1.37 to 3.14 and decreased in the rhizome from 0.99 to 0.72. The amount of ginsenosides accumulated in the periderm was 45.48 mg/g, which was more than twice as high compared with the other three parts. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of ginseng leaves were measured as Trolox equivalents, showing that antioxidant activity increased along with time of cultivation. The results show that the best harvest time for shizhu ginseng is the fifth year of cultivation, and the root and rhizome could be used together within seven planting years for their similar PPT/PPD level. Besides, the quality of the ginseng products would be enhanced with the periderm. The ginseng leaf is rich in ginsenosides and has potential application for its antioxidant capacity.

[Effect of doxorubicin on TRAIL resistance and TRAIL receptor expression in lymphoma cell line SNK-6 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of doxorubicin on TRAIL resistance and TRAIL receptor expression in lymphoma cell line SNK-6 cells. METHODS: SNK-6 cells treated with doxorubicin at different concentrations alone or in combination with tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. Apoptosis and the expression of TRAIL receptors were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: MTT assay showed that treatment with 100 and 1000 ng/ml doxorubicin for 24 h, the survival rates of SNK-6 cells were (80.9 ± 7.2)% and (53.7 ± 2.8)%, significantly higher than that by treatment combined with 500 ng/ml TRAIL (64.9 ± 1.1)% and (34.0 ± 3.9)%, respectively (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that after treatment with 100 and 1000 ng/ml doxorubicin for 48 h, the survival rates of SNK-6 cells were (69.9 ± 6.1)% and (31.1 ± 1.9)%, while treated in combination with 500 ng/ml TRAIL, the cell survival rates were (37.5 ± 6.4)% and (15.0 ± 1.8)%, respectively. The early apoptosis rate was (14.8 ± 0.6)% and (30.8 ± 1.5)%, significantly lower than that [(28.7 ± 0.6)% and (46.6 ± 2.8)%] after treatment in combination with TRAIL (P < 0.05). The expressions of TRAIL receptors and decoy receptors were increased when SNK-6 cells were treated with 100 ng/ml doxorubicin for 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Doxorubicin can overcome to a certain extent the TRAIL resistance of SNK-6 cells and induce upregulation of TRAIL death receptors and decoy receptors on the surface of SNK-6 cells. However, a higher dose is needed.

Correlation Between Substantia Nigra Hyperechogenicity and Iron Metabolism in the Postural Instability Gait Difficulty Subtype of Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The correlation between substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity on transcranial sonography (TCS) and serum iron metabolism parameters in patients with the postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) subtype of Parkinson's disease (PD) was investigated so as to explore the pathological mechanism of SN hyperechogenicity. METHODS: The study enrolled 95 PIGD patients recruited by the Parkinson's Disease Specialty in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University during June 2019-2021. On the basis of the TCS results, the PIGD patients were assigned to the PD with SN hyperechogenicity (SN+) group (n = 60) and PD without SN hyperechogenicity (SN-) group (n = 35). Meanwhile, 49 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals were included in the control group. All participants underwent blood tests. Differences in the iron metabolism parameters among the three groups and the correlation between SN hyperechogenicity and serum iron metabolism parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum ferritin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin levels were lower in the SN+ and SN- groups than in the control group (all p values <0.001). The serum ceruloplasmin level was lower in the SN+ group (0.23 [0.20, 0.25] g/L) than in the SN- group (0.25 [0.22, 0.29] g/L) (p = 0.001), and the proportion of patients with an abnormal ceruloplasmin level was higher in the SN+ group than in the SN- group (43.3% [26/60] vs. 14.3% [5/35], χ2 = 8.484, p = 0.004). Moreover, the SN hyperechogenicity area was negatively correlated with the serum transferrin level (r = -0.428, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Decreased serum ceruloplasmin levels may be associated with SN hyperechogenicity development in PIGD patients. The SN hyperechogenicity area is negatively correlated with the serum transferrin level.

Quantitative Transcranial Sonography Evaluation of Substantia Nigra Hyperechogenicity Is Useful for Predicting Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson Disease.

Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common motor complication in Parkinson disease (PD). Abnormal substantia nigra hyperechogenicity (SN+), detected by transcranial sonography (TCS), plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of PD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive performance of quantitative SN+ evaluations for LID. Five hundred sixty-two individuals were included in our analysis, and 198 individuals were followed up. These individuals were divided into two groups at baseline: the PD with LID (PD+LID) group and the PD without LID (PD-LID) group. The association between total hyperechogenic area of the SN on both sides (SNT) and LID was analyzed by binary logistic analysis. A binary logistic regression model including SNT was applied to establish a model for discriminating LID. At baseline, 105 (18.7%) individuals were diagnosed with LID. The PD+LID group had a longer disease duration, shorter education duration, higher levodopa equivalent doses, greater disease severity and larger SNT. A model combining clinical features and SNT was further established with better efficiency (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.839). One hundred ninety-eight individuals were followed up; individuals with a larger SNT and a higher predicted probability were more likely to develop LID in our follow-up. Our study determined that quantitative TCS evaluation of SN echogenicity is useful in predicting LID in PD.

Transcranial sonography on Parkinson's disease and essential tremor in a Chinese population.

We analyzed the results of transcranial sonography (TCS) on 110 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, 30 essential tremor (ET) patients and 110 controls in a Chinese population and compared our findings to the previous literatures. The echo signal intensity of midbrain substantia nigra (SN) was measured and divided into grade I-V. If the high echo signal intensity (grade III, IV or V) was detected in either side of SN, it was measured as well as the whole area of midbrain and the ratio of both sides of SN hyperechogenicity to the whole area of midbrain (S/M) were calculated. In addition, the width of the third ventricle in the level of thalamus was also determined. There were more individuals with the grade of SN ≥ III in PD group (100/110, 85.45%) than these in ET group (4/30, 13.33%, x ( 2 ) = 58.38, P < 0.001) and control group (11/110, 10%, x ( 2 ) = 125.51, P < 0.001). The median and quartile range of SN hyperechogenicity area and S/M in PD patients were greater than those in ET patients and controls. Both the area of SN hyperechogenicity ≥0.2 cm(2) and the S/M ≥ 0.07 were useful indexes to distinguish PD and ET in Chinese population. In conclusion, TCS is an effective and useful tool to detect PD and to distinguish PD from ET in Chinese patients.

Optimizing cryoprotectant perfusion conditions for intact ovary: a bovine model.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to detect the effects of different perfusion pressure and different length of perfusion period on whole ovarian cryopreservation METHODS: Bovine whole ovaries were vitrified-warmed. The ovaries were divided into the experimental groups according to different perfusion pressure and different length of perfusion period. Follicular viability was assessed using the trypan blue test; the percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles and the 17-ß estradiol level in the culture supernatants were measured. RESULTS: When perfusion pressure was 100 mmHg, and the length of perfusion period was 40 min, the viability of ovarian tissues in bovine whole ovarian cryopreservation were higher than other protocols. CONCLUSION: Protocol IIb (the perfusion pressure was 100 mmHg, and the length of perfusion period was 40 min) was appropriate for bovine whole ovarian cryopreservation.

Screening of probiotic lactobacilli for inhibition of Shigella sonnei and the macromolecules involved in inhibition.

A total of 91 lactobacilli were screened for antimicrobial activity against Shigella sonnei. Agar-well assay showed that 16 lactobacilli displayed strong antibacterial activity against S. sonnei. The nature of these antimicrobial agents were investigated and shown to be dependent on their production of organic acids. Adhesion tests showed that 6 lactobacilli demonstrated good adherence to HT-29 cells, of these Lactobacillus johnsonii F0421 were selected for acid and bile salt tolerance properties. We further research on L. johnsonii F0421 inhibition of S. sonnei adhesion to HT-29 cells. The result showed that L. johnsonii F0421 exhibited significant inhibitory activity and excluded, competed and displaced adhered S. sonnei by 48%, 38% and 33%, respectively. In order to elucidate the inhibitory functions of macromolecules involved in L. johnsonii F0421, the cells were treated with 5 M LiCl, 0.05 M sodium metaperiodate and heating and assayed for inhibition activity. The results suggested a role of S-layer proteins on L. johnsonii F0421 cells in inhibition of the adhesion process, but carbohydrates do not seem to be involved. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the presence of S-layer proteins with dominant bands of approximately 40 kDa. In addition, 100 µg/well of S-layer proteins from L. johnsonii F0421 cells were effective in inhibiting adhesion of S. sonnei to HT-29 cells. These findings suggest that L. johnsonii F0421 possesses the capacity for inhibition of S. sonnei activity as well as probiotic properties, which could serve as a potential novel and effective probiotic strain for use in the food industry.

Screening for cholesterol-lowering probiotic based on deoxycholic acid removal pathway and studying its functional mechanisms in vitro.

Elevated serum cholesterol in humans is generally a risk factor correlated with the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Reducing deoxycholic acid (DCA) content in the intestine can reduce serum cholesterol levels, which reduce the incidence of CHD. A total of 150 strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria were isolated from human fecal samples. The DCA removal ability of these strains was evaluated. Results showed that 9 strains displayed above 10% DCA removal rate. The probiotic potentials of the 9 strains were evaluated. The strain Lactobacillus casei F0822 was screened out due to the stronger adhesion to HT-29 cells and tolerance to bile and acid. DCA removal for this strain resulted from that the S-layer protein locating the cell surface bound DCA. The FTIR spectra showed that the carboxyl group in DCA was the principal group by which DCA was bound to the S-layer protein of L. casei F0822. These findings suggested that L. casei F0822 is a better candidate probiotic strain, which has the potential to reduce human serum cholesterol levels.