Phase II trial of icotinib in adult patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 and progressive vestibular schwannoma.

Objective: Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a rare autosomal dominant syndrome associated primarily with bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs). Conventional surgical or radiosurgical treatments for VS in NF2 usually result in high risks of hearing loss and facial nerve impairment, while there is no validated medical option to date. This single-institution phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of icotinib, an oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with NF2 and progressive VS.

Semi-quantitative FDG-PET Analysis Increases the Sensitivity Compared With Visual Analysis in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Encephalitis.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential diagnostic benefit of SPM-based semi-quantitative FDG-PET analysis in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) compared with visual analysis by experienced neuroradiologists using a larger sample size. This observational retrospective case series study was conducted from a tertiary epilepsy center between May 2014 and March 2017. Healthy individuals without any neurologic or psychiatric diseases were recruited as control.

Metabolic covariance networks combining graph theory measuring aberrant topological patterns in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: We aimed to study the networks' mechanism of metabolic covariance networks in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), through examining the brain value of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( F-FDG-PET).

Methods: F-FDG-PET images from 16 patients with mTLE were analyzed using local and global metabolic covariance network (MCN) approaches, including whole metabolic pattern analysis (WMPA), hippocampus-based (h-) MCN, whole brain (w-) MCN, and edge-based connectivity analysis (EBCA).

Results: WMPA showed a typical ipsilateral hypometabolism and contralateral hypermetabolism pattern to epileptic zones in mTLE.

[Establishment of a monitoring database of historical environments at grass - root level for schistosomiasis prevention based on Google Earth].

Objective: To establish a monitoring database of historical environments at grass-root level for schistosomiasis prevention based on Google Earth (GE), so as to improve the management efficiency of historical environments.

Methods: GE was labeled with the information about the historical environments through adding landmark, path and polygon. Meanwhile, POCO web album was used to storage the practice situation pictures of the environments, which could be imported into GE so that the environments could be monitored dynamically.

Mid-term effect of stem cells combined with transmyocardial degradable stent on swine model of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: We aimed to confirm the mid-term results of the new method combined with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation and transmyocardial drilling revascularization (TMDR) with degradable stent incorporated with basic fibroblast growth factor and heparin.

Methods: The miniswine underwent acute myocardial infarction by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Transmyocardial channels with 3.

Degradable PLGA scaffolds with basic fibroblast growth factor: experimental studies in myocardial revascularization.

Our goal was to investigate the efficacy of degradable poly(D,L-lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in inducing cardiac neovascularization, increasing perfusion, and improving cardiac function.For ease of scaffold implantation into the ventricular wall, we developed a channel-producing device. Mini-swine, established as the animal model, were grouped as follows: channels-alone (control) group, channels and blank scaffolds (CBS) group, and channels and bFGF-incorporating scaffolds (CFS) group.

[Diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging and multislice spiral computed tomography for coronary artery disease].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Coronary angiography (CAG), MPI and MSCT were performed in 43 patients (36 with suspected, 7 with known CAD). MPI examinations were evaluated semiquantitatively by agreement of two experienced observers.

Enhancement of gastrointestinal absorption of quercetin by solid lipid nanoparticles.

The aim of the present study is to design and characterize quercetin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (QT-SLNs), clarify the absorption mechanism of QT-SLNs and to evaluate the potential of using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as an oral delivery carrier for poorly water soluble drugs. QT-SLNs were prepared by an emulsification and low-temperature solidification method. The QT-SLNs presented as spherically shaped under transmission electron microscopy, with an average diameter of 155.