Lack of Association between Genetic Polymorphisms Affecting Autonomic Activity and Coronary Artery Spasm

Coronary artery spasm （CAS） is one of the leading pathological causes of a wide spectrum of ischemic heart diseases, ranging from variant angina pectoris to acute myocardial infarction and even sudden cardiac death[1]. Furthermore, Pierron et al. concluded that CAS of angiographically normal or sub-normal arteries is responsible for death or myocardial infarction in 11.6% of all cases. Oddly, the incidence of CAS is remarkably higher in Asians than in Caucasians[3], suggesting genetic involvement In its pathogenesis.

Association between the fMRI manifestations of activated brain areas and muscle strength in patients with space-occupying lesions in motor cortex

BACKGROUND ： Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） studies have disclosed the changes of the motor function in the motor cortex of ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of tumor, which have special significance for making the surgical planning and most greatly minimizing the postoperative functional damages. OBJECTIVE： To analyze the association between the manifestation characteristics of hand functional area and motor dysfunction using fMRI in patients with space-occupying lesions of tumor in motor cortex. DESIGN ： A case-controlled observation SETTING： Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College .PARTICIPANTS： Twenty-three patients （13 males and 10 females） with space-occupying lesions of central sulcus area, aged 21-53 years with a mean age of （47±1） years were selected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College. All the patients were diagnosed by MR scanning as space-occupying lesions of motor area, and pathologically confirmed that the lesions involved central sulcus and central Iobule; Lesions occurred in left and right hemispheres in 13 and 10 cases respectively. The tumor types were astrocytoma （n =8）, metastatic tumours （n =7）, meningiomas （n =5） and oligodendroglioma （n =3）. The muscle strength was normal in 11 cases （grade 5） and obviously decreased in 12 cases （grade 2-3 in 3 cases and grade 4 in 9 cases）; muscle strengths of both upper and lower limbs were decreased in 7 cases, and only that of upper limbs was decreased in 5 cases. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects. Meanwhile, 9 healthy physical examinees （5 males and 4 females） of 20-56 years old with an average of （34±1） years were taken as controls. All the patients and healthy subjects were right-handed. METHODS： All the enrolled subjects were examined with MR scanning and functional imaging. Twenty cases whose clinical symptoms were mild in the patient group and 9 healthy volunteers adopted simple active finger-tapping movements, and for the 3 cases whose clinical symptoms were severe in the patient group, the simple passive finger-tapping movements were used. The manifestations in the activated brain areas were analyzed in the patients with brain tumor of different muscle strength and the controls. The motor deficit and activation of contralateral primary motor cortex （M1） in simple finger-tapping movements were observed in the patient group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： （1） Brain areas activated by finger-tapping movements in each group： （2） Activated volumes in hemisphere by finger-tapping movements between groups. RESULTS： The contralateral M1 area could not be activated in 1 case in the patient group,, all the other 22 patients and 9 healthy subjects were involved in the analysis of results. （1） In the control group, unilateral finger tapping movement activated the contralateral primary motor cortex （M1）, bilateral SMA and bilateral PMC. The activation volume was the largest in contralateral primary motor cortex （M1）, smaller in the SMA, and the smallest in PMC. The finger tapping movement in healthy subjects could activate contralateral primary motor cortex （M1）, bilateral SMA and bilateral PMC, which had no obvious differences from the manifestations of brain functional area activated by active finger tapping. There was no significant difference in the volume of activated functional areas between right and left hands. In the patient group, the central sulcos around the tumor in the activated M1 area displaced towards dorsal or ventral side, also extended. The distance of displacement in the functional area was determined as compared with the contralateral central sulcus, and the results suggested the M1 displacement, including that there were 10 cases with the M1 displacement larger than 10 mm in the patients with motor deficit, which were obviously more than in those without motor deficit （n =1, P 〈 0.01）, and the activated volume in contralateral M1 area was obvious smaller in the patients with motor deficit than in those without motor deficit （P 〈 0.01）. （2） The M1 activation and changes were observed in contralateral hemisphere in the patient group, and the activated volume was obviously larger than that in the control group （P 〈 0.01）. The activated volumes of M1 and PMC in ipsilateral hemisphere were obviously larger than those in the control group （P 〈 0.05）, but that of SMA had no obvious difference between the two groups （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION： fMRI can be used to observe the activation of the brain motor functional areas of patient with space-occupying lesions in motor area, and evaluate the state of their motor function. The larger the distance of displacement of M1 compressed by tumor, the more obviously the muscle strength decreases in the patients.

Novel mutation of SPG4 gene in a Chinese family with hereditary spastic paraplegia:A case report

BACKGROUND Hereditary spastic paraplegia(HSP)is a group of neurogenetic diseases of the corticospinal tract,accompanied by distinct spasticity and weakness of the lower extremities.Mutations in the spastic paraplegia type 4(SPG4)gene,encoding the spastin protein,are the major cause of the disease.This study reported a Chinese family with HSP caused by a novel mutation of the SPG4 gene.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for long-term right lower limb weakness,leg stiffness,and unstable walking.His symptoms gradually worsened,while no obvious muscle atrophy in the lower limbs was found.Neurological examinations revealed that the muscle strength of the lower limbs was normal,and knee reflex hyperreflexia and bilateral positive Babinski signs were detected.Members of his family also had the same symptoms.Using mutation analysis,a novel heterozygous duplication mutation,c.1053dupA,p.(Gln352Thrfs*15),was identified in the SPG4 gene in this family.CONCLUSION A Chinese family with HSP had a novel mutation of the SPG4 gene,which is autosomal dominant and inherited as pure HSP.The age of onset,sex distribution,and clinical manifestations of all existing living patients in this family were analyzed.The findings may extend the current knowledge on the existing mutations in the SPG4 gene.

Genesis and Distribution of Ultra-alkaline Magmatism within the East Antarctic Associated with the Kerguelen Plume Activity

Alkaline magmatism is often associated with the initial or final stages of huge plume activity.The alkaline bodies are most often found within the boundary area of plume impact upon the continents.The initial stages of the

Cryptotanshinone attenuates isoprenaline-induced cardiac fibrosis in the mouse associated with upregulation and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2

Objectives The impairment of matrix metallopro- teinase-2(MMP-2)has been associated with the development of cardiac fibrosis.Although the Chinese herb Salvia miltior-rhiza has been widely used in patients with cardiovascular disorders,the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the administration of cryptotanshinone,an active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza,could prevent the cardiac fibrosis induced by isoprenaline and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Methods and Results Male C57BL/6 mice were submitted to receive daily injection of 0.9%saline,3 mg/kg isoprenaline, or isoprenaline plus 20 mg/kg cryptotanshinone by gastric gavage for 2 weeks.Herein,we demonstrate that cryptotanshinone can significantly ameliorate the isoprenaline-induced cardiac fibrosis,which was associated with marked up-regulation and activation of MMP-2 in ventricular myocardium. Additionally,we demonstrate that cryptotanshinone can dose-dependently upregulate and activate MMP-2 in cultured cardiac fibroblast.Moreover,incubation with cryptotanshinone also can prevent isoprenaline-induced downregulation and inactivation of MMP-2 in cultured cardiac fibroblast. Conclusions Taken together,our data suggest that cryptotanshinone may become a novel and potent antifibrotic agent. The present findings might further our understanding of the role of MMP-2 in cardiac fibrosis and antifibrotic mechanisms of cryptotanshinone.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES The Chinese Association of the Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine 1996 National Congresses

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Association of secretory IgA with clinical pathological characteristics and complement activation in IgA nephropathy

Objective To further investigate the association among clinical pathology,complement activation and renal secretory IgA(SIgA)deposition in patients with IgA nephropathy(IgAN).Methods The activation of serum complements was detected by immunoturbidimetry and ELISA.Renal deposition of SIgA and activation of complements were detected by immunofluorescence.