Forniceal deep brain stimulation in severe Alzheimer's disease: A case report.

Background: Forniceal deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been proposed as an alternative treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies on mild to moderate AD patients demonstrated improvements in cognitive functions brought about by forniceal DBS. Here, we report our longitudinal findings in one severe AD patient for whom the activities of daily living (ADL) rather than cognitive function significantly improved after 3 mo of continuous stimulation.

Differential long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) profiles associated with hippocampal sclerosis in human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the expression profiles of long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) in human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and to detect the functions of lncRNAs in epileptogenesis in MTLE.

Materials And Methods: We used microarray analysis to analyze the differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in three hippocampal sclerosis and three normal hippocampus samples. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the microarrray results.

PIG3 suppresses gastric cancer proliferation by regulating p53- mediated apoptosis.

Gastric cancer (GC), the third leading cause of cancer mortality and the fifth most common cancer in the world, still is an important health problem worldwide. P53-inducible gene 3 (PIG3) was initially isolated in an investigation to identify the genes that were induced by p53 in human colorectal cancer cells. PIG3 can also regulate the stability of p53 through suppressing the process of the MDM2-mediated ubiquitination of p53.

Marinactinospora rubrisoli sp. nov., isolated from red soil.

A novel Marinactinospora strain JX35-4 was isolated from red soil which was collected from Wushan, northern Jiangxi Province, China. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JX35-4 belongs to the genus Marinactinospora and formed a distinct phylogenetic clade with Marinactinospora thermotolerans SCSIO 00652 and Marinactinospora endophytica YIM 690053 with sequence similarity of 96.97% and 96.

Effects of spaceflight and simulated microgravity on microbial growth and secondary metabolism.

Spaceflight and ground-based microgravity analog experiments have suggested that microgravity can affect microbial growth and metabolism. Although the effects of microgravity and its analogs on microorganisms have been studied for more than 50 years, plausible conflicting and diverse results have frequently been reported in different experiments, especially regarding microbial growth and secondary metabolism. Until now, only the responses of a few typical microbes to microgravity have been investigated; systematic studies of the genetic and phenotypic responses of these microorganisms to microgravity in space are still insufficient due to technological and logistical hurdles.

Structural characters and protecting β-cells of a polysaccharide from flowers of Inula japonica.

Our previous studies found that the crude polysaccharides (IJP) from flowers of Inula japonica exhibited significantly anti-diabetic activity in alloxan or MLD-STZ induced diabetic mice. In this study, we will trace an active polysaccharide from IJP and investigate its physico-chemical property and its protective mechanism on islet cell damage. The result showed that an active polysaccharide (IJP-B-1) was isolated from IJP, its molecular mass was 3.

High expression of miR-15b predicts poor prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy.

The present study aimed to analyze the role and mechanism of miR-15b in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative hepatectomy. Tissue samples from 13 patients with HCC who were operated on at the Chinese PLA General Hospital from March 2014 to May 2014 were collected. A consecutive 156 untreated patients with HCC who received curative hepatectomy at the Chinese PLA General Hospital (Beijing, China) from May 2008 to March 2009 were enrolled, and their corresponding para-tumoral and normal tissue samples were acquired.

Propofol inhibits proliferation and accelerates apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells by regulation of microRNA-451 and MMP-2 expression.

Propofol is an extensively used intravenous anesthetic agent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of propofol on the behavior of human gastric cancer cells and the molecular mechanisms associated with this activity. The effects of propofol on proliferation and apoptosis in the SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell line were detected by an MTT assay and measurement of caspase-3 activity.

[The combination of dasatinib and gefitinib enhances the killing effect of gefitinib on HCC827 lung cancer cells].

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying that dasatinib enhances the killing effect of gefitinib on HCC827 lung cancer cells.

Methods: HCC827 cells and gefitinib-resistant HCC827GR cells were treated with 0, 100, 500, 1000 nmol/L gefitinib alone or in combination with 1000 nmol/L dasatinib. The proliferation of HCC827 cells and HCC827GR cells was detected by MTT assay, the activity of caspase 3 was tested by spectrophotometry, and the protein phosphorylation levels of Src and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were examined by Western blotting.

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of the segmental Glissonian pedicle: A new technique for anatomic liver resection.

Background: Anatomic liver resection is widely accepted as the optimal surgical treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the complexity of conventional operative methods limits their use. To explore the possibility of using modern techniques to achieve a simpler approach, we have evaluated ultrasound-guided segmental radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the Glissonian pedicle before liver resection in a porcine model and in HCC patients.

Methods: This study had 2 stages.

Optic radiation mapping reduces the risk of visual field deficits in anterior temporal lobe resection.

Anterior temporal lobe resection (ATLR) is often complicated by superior quadrant visual field deficits (VFDs) because of damage to the anterior portion of the optic radiation (Meyer's loop). This study reports the evaluation of optic radiation mapping in protecting against VFDs in the ATLR. We retrospectively analyzed 52 patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy undergoing ATLR between January 2012 and December 2013.

Intraoperative MRI for optimizing electrode placement for deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson disease.

OBJECT The degree of clinical improvement achieved by deep brain stimulation (DBS) is largely dependent on the accuracy of lead placement. This study reports on the evaluation of intraoperative MRI (iMRI) for adjusting deviated electrodes to the accurate anatomical position during DBS surgery and acute intracranial changes. METHODS Two hundred and six DBS electrodes were implanted in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in 110 patients with Parkinson disease.

Use of interictal (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to localize epileptogenic foci in non-lesional epilepsy in a cohort of 16 patients.

We assessed the efficacy of interictal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) for localizing the epileptogenic foci in a small cohort of patients with non-lesional epilepsy. Sixteen patients, aged 8-32 years, with non-lesional epilepsy underwent MRI, continuous scalp video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, interictal (FDG)-PET and MEG at our institution. Each patient subsequently underwent intracranial grid placement.

Risk scoring system and predictor for clinically relevant pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Aim: To establish a scoring system to predict clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods: The clinical records of 921 consecutive patients who underwent PD between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) was defined and classified by the international study group of pancreatic fistula (ISGPF).

Risk factors for naturally-occurring early-onset hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with HBV-associated liver cirrhosis in China.

Aims: Early onset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (males and females under the age of 40 or 50 years old, respectively) has a significant prevalence and poor prognosis; however, few studies have reported the risk factors and development of HCC in such cases.

Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical, laboratory and demographic data from 588 treatment-naïve HCC patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver cirrhosis (LC) and 708 age-matched HBV-associated LC patients as control in Beijing 302 Hospital.

Results: 15.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization: time of flight mass spectrometry-identified models for detection of ESBL-producing bacterial strains.

Background: The increase in the amount of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing gram-negative bacteria is seriously threatening human health in recent years. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a rapid and reliable method for identification of ESBLs. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel method to discriminate between ESBL-producing and non- ESBL-producing bacteria by using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) technique.

Combining pyramidal tract mapping, microscopic-based neuronavigation, and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging improves outcome of epilepsy foci resection in the sensorimotor cortex.

Aim: To explore the clinical value of combining pyramidal tract mapping, microscopic-based neuronavigation, and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) in the surgical treatment of epileptic foci involving sensorimotor cortex.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 69 patients with focal epilepsy involving motor and sensory cortex. The surgical operations in Group I (n=38) were performed under the guidance of conventional neuronavigation, and the operations of Group II (n=31) were aided by combining pyramidal tract mapping, microscopic-based neuronavigation and the iMRI technique.

Effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on early recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA): a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Functional exercise after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is necessary. However, it may be a difficult and painful process for the patient. Desirable methods of relieving the patient's pain are worth exploring.

[Correlation analysis between abundance of K-ras mutation in plasma free DNA and its correlation with clinical outcome and prognosis in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer].

Objective: To detect K-ras gene mutations in plasma free DNA by peptide nucleic acid clamp PCR assay (PNA-PCR) and nested primer PCR, and to analyze the correlation between K-ras mutations and prognosis in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods: Peripheral blood was collected and free DNA was extracted from plasma in 106 patients with mCRC. Nested primer PCR and PNA-PCR were used to detect K-ras gene mutation in the plasma free DNA.

Bispecific antibody to ErbB2 overcomes trastuzumab resistance through comprehensive blockade of ErbB2 heterodimerization.

The anti-ErbB2 antibody trastuzumab has shown significant clinical benefits in metastatic breast cancer. However, resistance to trastuzumab is common. Heterodimerization between ErbB2 and other ErbBs may redundantly trigger cell proliferation signals and confer trastuzumab resistance.

The synergistic therapeutic effect of hepatocyte growth factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on pulmonary hypertension in rats.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Despite advances in therapy for PAH, its treatment and prognosis remain poor. We aimed to investigate whether the transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), alone or in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), attenuates the development of experimental monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH.

[Possible outer hair cells hazards from occupational exposure to very low frequency electric and magnetic fields: a pilot study].

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate occupational high-strength very low frequency electric and magnetic fields (VLF EMFs) and assess changes of function of the inner ear.

Method: The people exposed to high-strength VLF EMFs were divided into three groups: long- term exposure group ( > 5 years), short-term exposure group (< 5 years) and the control group. The field intensity indicator and noise analyzer were employed for the examination of the electromagnetic energy intensity and noise value at the working sites.

Expression of scFv-Mel-Gal4 triple fusion protein as a targeted DNA-carrier in Escherichia Coli.

Liver-directed gene therapy has become a promising treatment for many liver diseases. In this study, we constructed a multi-functional targeting molecule, which maintains targeting, endosome-escaping, and DNA-binding abilities for gene delivery. Two single oligonucleotide chains of Melittin (M) were synthesized.