[Transnasal endoscopic anatomy and approaches to the cavernous sinus].

Objective: The goal of the current study is to describe the transnasal endoscopic anatomy of the cavernous sinus and to provide the surgical approaches to this area.

Methods: Six silicon-injected adult cadaveric heads (12 sides) were dissected through endoscopic endonasal approach. The cavernous sinus and adjacent structures were exposed; detailed anatomies were demonstrated.

A post-GWAS replication study confirming the PTK2 gene associated with milk production traits in Chinese Holstein.

Our initial genome-wide association study (GWAS) demonstrated that two SNPs (ARS-BFGL-NGS-33248, UA-IFASA-9288) within the protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) gene were significantly associated with milk production traits in Chinese Holstein dairy cattle. To further validate if the statistical evidence provided in GWAS were true-positive findings, a replication study was performed herein through genotype-phenotype associations. The two tested SNPs were found to show significant associations with milk production traits, which confirmed the associations observed in the original study.

Genome-wide association study for cytokines and immunoglobulin G in swine.

Increased disease resistance through improved immune capacity would be beneficial for the welfare and productivity of farm animals. To identify genomic regions responsible for immune capacity traits in swine, a genome-wide association study was conducted. In total, 675 pigs were included.

Identification of genome-wide copy number variations among diverse pig breeds using SNP genotyping arrays.

Copy number variations (CNVs) are important forms of genetic variation complementary to SNPs, and can be considered as promising markers for some phenotypic and economically important traits or diseases susceptibility in domestic animals. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide CNV identification in 14 individuals selected from diverse populations, including six types of Chinese indigenous breeds, one Asian wild boar population, as well as three modern commercial foreign breeds. We identified 63 CNVRs in total, which covered 9.

[Rash and fever illness caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 needs to be distinguished from hand, foot and mouth disease].

An epidemic of rash and fever illnesses suspected of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) occurred in Gansu Province of China in 2008, laboratory tests were performed in order to identify the pathogen that caused this epidemic. Eight clinical specimens collected from the 4 patients (each patient has throat swab and herpes fluid specimens) with rash and febrile illness, were inoculated onto RD and HEp-2 cells for virus isolation, and the viral nucleic acid was then extracted with the positive virus isolates, the dual-channel real-time reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect the nucleic acid of human enterovirus (HEV) in the viral isolates at the same time. For the viral isolates with the negative results of HEV, a sequence independent single primer amplification technique (SISPA) was used for "unknown pathogen" identification.

Application of computer techniques in repair of oblique facial clefts with outer-table calvarial bone grafts.

Objective: This study focused on the application of computer-aided and rapid prototyping techniques in the repair of oblique facial clefts with outer-table calvarial bone.

Methods: Five patients with oblique facial clefts underwent repair with outer-table calvarial bone. A mirror technique and rapid prototyping techniques were applied to design and prefabricate the individualized template for the preoperative repair of orbital inferior wall and maxillary anterior wall defects.

Glycine site N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist 7-CTKA produces rapid antidepressant-like effects in male rats.

Background: Glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists exert fast-acting antidepressant effects, providing a promising way to develop a new classification of antidepressant that targets the glutamatergic system. In the present study, we examined the potential antidepressant action of 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CTKA), a glycine recognition site NMDA receptor antagonist, in a series of behavioural models of depression and determined the molecular mechanisms that underlie the behavioural actions of 7-CTKA.

Methods: We administered the forced swim test, novelty-suppressed feeding test, learned helplessness paradigm and chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm in male rats to evaluate the possible rapid antidepressant-like actions of 7-CTKA.

Responses of nutrients and mobile carbohydrates in Quercus variabilis seedlings to environmental variations using in situ and ex situ experiments.

Forest tree species distributed across a wide range of geographical areas are subjected to differential climatic and edaphic conditions and long-term selection, leading to genotypes with morphological and physiological adaptation to the local environment. To test the ability of species to cope with changing environmental conditions, we studied the ecophysiological features of Quercus variabilis using seedlings grown in geographically widely isolated populations (Exp. I, in situ) and in a common garden (Exp.

Application of protective stents in endovascular repair of acute complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections.

Purpose: To describe the use of protective stents in the endovascular repair of acute complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections.

Methods: From 2009 to 2011, 33 patients (27 men; mean age 47 years, range 31-73) with acute complicated Stanford type B aortic dissection underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) assisted by protective stents. In all cases, the proximal and distal landing zones differed in size by >5 mm, and the primary entry tear was in the proximal descending aorta.

Stress within a restricted time window selectively affects the persistence of long-term memory.

The effects of stress on emotional memory are distinct and depend on the stages of memory. Memory undergoes consolidation and reconsolidation after acquisition and retrieval, respectively. Stress facilitates the consolidation but disrupts the reconsolidation of emotional memory.

Role of melanin-concentrating hormone in the nucleus accumbens shell in rats behaviourally sensitized to methamphetamine.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide and its receptor is extensively expressed throughout the brain. MCH has been suggested to regulate the rewarding and reinforcing effects of psychostimulants by potentiating the dopaminergic system within the midbrain. Moreover, MCH and its receptor can regulate ERK activity.

GbWRKY1, a novel cotton (Gossypium barbadense) WRKY gene isolated from a bacteriophage full-length cDNA library, is induced by infection with Verticillium dahliae.

WRKY transcription factor proteins play important roles in diverse stress responses. In this study, we first cloned a novel WRKY from our constructed bacteriophage full-length cDNA library for cotton (Gossypium barbadense). The plants were stressed by exposure to a defoliating strain of Verticillium dahliae.

[Application of unilateral olfactory testing and clinical analysis of unilateral hyposmia].

Objective: To investigate whether patients presenting with self-reported olfactory disorders demonstrates significant side difference in odour recognition by measuring separately for each nostril.

Methods: One hundred and four patients with chief complaint of hyposmia were evaluated by medical history, physical examination, T&T olfactory testing and medical imaging. Smell was tested using T&T olfactometry in each nostril separately.

Hippocampal CLOCK protein participates in the persistence of depressive-like behavior induced by chronic unpredictable stress.

Rationale: Circadian disturbances are strongly linked with major depression. The circadian proteins CLOCK and BMAL1 are abundantly expressed but function differently in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and hippocampus. However, their roles in depressive-like behavior are still poorly understood.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics of partial olfactory dysfunction].

Objective: To apply different types and concentrations of T&T olfactometer odorants to exam smell function and explore the clinical characteristics of partial olfactory dysfunction.

Methods: From March 2007 to May 2008, a total of 24 patients with olfactory dysfunction were examined by medical and psychiatric history enquiry, physical examination, smell testing and medical imaging. Olfactory function of each nostril was assessed separately by T&T olfactometer.

Genome-wide association study for T lymphocyte subpopulations in swine.

Background: Lymphocytes act as a major component of the adaptive immune system, taking very crucial responsibility for immunity. Differences in proportions of T-cell subpopulations in peripheral blood among individuals under same conditions provide evidence of genetic control on these traits, but little is known about the genetic mechanism of them, especially in swine. Identification of the genetic control on these variants may help the genetic improvement of immune capacity through selection.

Clinical outcome of cranioplasty with high-density porous polyethylene.

Background: High-density porous polyethylene (Medpor) has long been used in cranioplasty and is still one of the best materials for calvarial reconstruction. Calvarial defects can be effectively reconstructed with fewer complications by using Medpor. This article reports our study on the use of Medpor in reconstructing calvarial defects.

Real-time tracking of adipose tissue-derived stem cells with injectable scaffolds in the infarcted heart.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) has shown promise in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Many studies have highlighted the importance of coadministering a "scaffold" for increasing intramyocardial retention of stem cells. In this work, an optimized method was developed for efficient transduction of ADSCs with a lentiviral vector carrying a triple-fusion reporter gene that consists of firefly luciferase, monomeric red fluorescence protein, and truncated thymidine kinase (fluc-mrfp-ttk).

[Effects of habitat change on nutrient contents in Quercus variabilis seedlings].

Quercus variabilis seedlings were collected from the habitats at different latitudes, and transplanted on the same experimental sites installed in the central part and southern and northern boundaries of China, where Q. variabilis has a natural distribution, aimed to study the effects of habitat change on the nutrient contents in the seedlings in their vigorous growth period. With habitat change, the various organs nitrogen (N) content and the stem phosphorous (P) content of the transplanted seedlings changed significantly, but the organs potassium (K) content and the leaf- and root P content had less change.

PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the basolateral amygdala mediates the rapid antidepressant-like effects of trefoil factor 3.

Depression is one of the most common and debilitating psychiatric illnesses around the world, but the current antidepressants used to treat depression have many limitations. Progressively more studies have shown that neuropeptide systems are potential novel therapeutic targets for depression. However, whether the neuropeptide trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) participates in the development of depression has not been examined.

Congenital skull defect and neurofibroma: without scalp and other abnormalities.

Congenital skull defect is a rare malformation that is usually associated with congenital anomalies of the scalp and comparable lesions in the brain, spinal cord, limbs, and skeletal muscle. Most previously reported cases have described skull defects with aplasia cutis congenita and other congenital abnormalities. Very few patients with skull defects present with an intact scalp or neurofibroma.

Role of IKK/NF-κB signaling in extinction of conditioned place aversion memory in rats.

The inhibitor κB protein kinase/nuclear factor κB (IKK/NF-κB) signaling pathway is critical for synaptic plasticity. However, the role of IKK/NF-κB in drug withdrawal-associated conditioned place aversion (CPA) memory is unknown. Here, we showed that inhibition of IKK/NF-κB by sulphasalazine (SSZ; 10 mM, i.

[Surgical therapy of midline skull defect accompanied with frontal sinus injury].

Objective: To investigate the surgical therapy of midline skull defect accompanied with frontal sinus injury.

Methods: 11 cases with midline skull defect accompanied with frontal sinus injury were treated. Free temporal fascia was transplanted to close the top of frontal sinus after curettage of the frontal sinus wall.

A genome-wide detection of copy number variations using SNP genotyping arrays in swine.

Background: Copy Number Variations (CNVs) have been shown important in both normal phenotypic variability and disease susceptibility, and are increasingly accepted as another important source of genetic variation complementary to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Comprehensive identification and cataloging of pig CNVs would be of benefit to the functional analyses of genome variation.

Results: In this study, we performed a genome-wide CNV detection based on the Porcine SNP60 genotyping data of 474 pigs from three pure breed populations (Yorkshire, Landrace and Songliao Black) and one Duroc × Erhualian crossbred population.