Quantitative chemical exchange saturation transfer (qCEST) MRI – omega plot analysis of RF‐spillover‐corrected inverse CEST ratio asymmetry for simultaneous determination of labile proton ratio and exchange rate

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI is sensitive to labile proton concentration and exchange rate, thus allowing measurement of dilute CEST agent and microenvironmental properties. However, CEST measurement depends not only on the CEST agent properties but also on the experimental conditions. Quantitative CEST (qCEST) analysis has been proposed to address the limitation of the commonly used simplistic CEST‐weighted calculation. Recent research has shown that the concomitant direct RF saturation (spillover) effect can be corrected using an inverse CEST ratio calculation. We postulated that a simplified qCEST analysis is feasible with omega plot analysis of the inverse CEST asymmetry calculation. Specifically, simulations showed that the numerically derived labile proton ratio and exchange rate were in good agreement with input values. In addition, the qCEST analysis was confirmed experimentally in a phantom with concurrent variation in CEST agent concentration and pH. Also, we demonstrated that the derived labile proton ratio increased linearly with creatine concentration (P < 0.01) while the pH‐dependent exchange rate followed a dominantly base‐catalyzed exchange relationship (P < 0.01). In summary, our study verified that a simplified qCEST analysis can simultaneously determine labile proton ratio and exchange rate in a relatively complex in vitro CEST system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

儿童可逆性后部脑病综合征的研究现状与进展

可逆性后部脑病综合征(PRES)是一组异质性疾病,需要结合临床及神经影像学共同诊断。其病因复杂,发病机制不甚明确,高血压和钙调神经蛋白抑制剂是公认的危险因素。但对于儿童来说,其本身的基础疾病可能对此症的发生起决定性作用。PRES的临床表现与病变位置有关,头颅磁共振成像是首选的检查。其治疗的关键是迅速诊断,如诊治不及时,部分患者将发生不可逆的神经系统损害而遗留后遗症,甚至导致死亡。     

从“血不利则为水”探讨乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿

导致血不利的原因一是不足,即由于气、血、津、液等物质的缺乏致无源行血;一是不通,即水、湿、痰、饮、瘀、食积、火郁、内风、外伤等病理因素阻滞,致血行不畅。血瘀经脉之内,则水亦瘀积脉中,致脉络胀满,形成水肿。乳腺癌术后患者,金刃本已损伤血脉,术后的放疗、化疗又属祛邪之法,故机体元气受损,气虚无力行血,血运行不畅,导致患侧上肢水肿。故治疗乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿时,应当血水同治,即活血利水之法要贯穿始终。先病血而后病水者,可以活血化瘀为主,利水为辅;先病水后病血者,则以利水消肿为主,酌加活血养血之品。但需要注意的是:①临证时切不可拘泥于单纯的活血利水法,而忽视乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿(breast cancer related lymphedema,BCRL)患者机体本身的状况。②临证勿忽视五脏与血、水的关系,以及肺、脾、肾、三焦与水肿的内在关系。③可多种方法联合运用,审证求因,标本同治。BCRL术后宜补气活血,通脉利水;术后兼化疗者可疏肝健脾、利水消肿;早期可在活血利水基础上,侧重利湿消肿,后期多湿聚为痰,治疗侧重化痰软坚。     

Role of macrophages in peripheral nerve injury and repair

Resident and inflammatory macrophages are essential effectors of the innate immune system. These cells provide innate immune defenses and regulate tissue and organ homeostasis. In addition to their roles in diseases such as cancer, obesity and osteoarthritis, they play vital roles in tissue repair and disease rehabilitation. Macrophages and other inflammatory cells are recruited to tissue injury sites where they promote changes in the microenvironment. Among the inflammatory cell types, only macrophages have both pro-inflammatory(M1) and anti-inflammatory(M2) actions, and M2 macrophages have four subtypes. The co-action of M1 and M2 subtypes can create a favorable microenvironment, releasing cytokines for damaged tissue repair. In this review, we discuss the activation of macrophages and their roles in severe peripheral nerve injury. We also describe the therapeutic potential of macrophages in nerve tissue engineering treatment and highlight approaches for enhancing M2 cell-mediated nerve repair and regeneration.     

2014—2018年黄山市淋病疫情流行特征分析

目的分析2014-2018年黄山市淋病的流行特征,为全市的淋病防控工作提供科学依据。方法通过中国疾病预防控制信息系统收集黄山市2014—2018年的淋病数据、人口数据,进行统计分析。结果2014—2018年黄山市累计报告淋病病例761例,年均发病率为11.09/10万,年均增长率为29.14%,发病率呈逐年上升趋势(χ^2趋势=112.29,P<0.05)。淋病的人群分布中,男女报告病例数之比为13.63:1,男女发病率有统计学差异(χ^2=113.18,P<0.05);15~49岁年龄组病例数最多,占85.94%,职业以农民最多,占44.81%;以屯溪区、歙县报告病例数较多,分别占37.45%、23.26%。结论2014—2018年黄山市淋病发病率呈上升趋势,淋病防控形势严峻,需进一步完善各项防控措施。     

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester,a propolis polyphenolic,attenuates potentially cadmium-induced testicular dysfunction in mice

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) as environmental pollutant can induce severe damage, particularly to the testis. This study investigated the effects of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on testicular dysfunction induced by Cd. Adult mice were intraperitoneally injected with cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) with different doses of CAPE pretreatment. After CdCl₂ injection, body/testis weight ratio decreased, Cd levels accumulated and zinc levels decreased in testis. Furthermore, Cd intoxication caused a significant increase of oxidative stress levels, antioxidant enzymes activities, and glutathione levels. Interestingly, significant improvements were observed after the administration of CAPE. Our results demonstrated the protective effect of CAPE, linking Cd testicular dysfunction to oxidative stress.     

受控型蜕皮激素诱导表达截短型hIGF-Ⅰ转基因载体的构建及其在细胞水平上的有效性检测

目的：构建一种可以在哺乳动物细胞中蜕皮激素诱导表达截短型hIGF-Ⅰ的受控型转基因载体，为制备受控型蜕皮激素诱导表达截短型MGF-Ⅰ的转基因小鼠奠定基础。方法：利用分子克隆技术构建受控型蜕皮激素诱导表达截短型hIGF-Ⅰ的转基因载体；将其电转至AM1菌中，利用其中的Cre重组酶将载体上两个同向LoxP序更锚定的新霉素（neomycin）基因删除，解除其对蜕皮激素诱导表达系统的阻断作用，利用PCR、酶切和测序鉴定删除情况；将重组后的载体转染至COS7细胞中进行瞬间表达，蜕皮激素诱导后回收培养上清和细胞裂解物进行Western印迹分析，检测hIGF-Ⅰ的表达情况。结果和结论：成功构建大小为13．6kb的转基因载体pOE-IGF-Ⅰ；转化至AM1中后，PCR、酶切和测序的结果都证明其中的Cre酶能够将载体上neomycin基因删除；重组后的载体转染至COS7细胞中进行诱导表达，Western印迹实验证明截短型MGF-Ⅰ能够在COS7细胞中顺利表达。上述结果证明该蜕皮激素诱导表达截短型hIGF-Ⅰ的受控型转基因载体能够用于转基因小鼠的制备。