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15 July 2013, Volume 8 Issue 20 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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A three-dimensional digital visualization model of cervical nerves in a healthy person Jiaming Cao, Dong Fu, Sen Li 2013, 8 (20):  1829-1836.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.001 Abstract ( 168 )   PDF (255KB) ( 817 )   Save Three-dimensional reconstruction nerve models are classically obtained from two-dimensional im-ages of “visible human” frozen sections. However, because of the flexibility of nerve tissues and small color differences compared with surrounding tissues, the integrity and validity of nerve tissues can be impaired during milling. Thus, in the present study, we obtained two-dimensional data from a healthy volunteer based on continuous CT angiography and magnetic resonance myelography. Semi-automatic segmentation and reconstruction were then conducted at different thresholds in different tissues using Mimics software. Small anatomical structures such as muscles and cervical nerves were reconstructed using the medical computer aided design module. Three-dimensional digital models of the cervical nerves and their surrounding structures were successfully developed, which allowed visualization of the spatial relation of anatomical structures with a strong three-dimensional effect, distinct appearance, clear distribution, and good continuity, precision, and integrality. These results indicate the validity of a three-dimensional digital visualization model of healthy human cervical nerves, which overcomes the disadvantages of milling, avoids data loss, and exhibits a realistic appearance and three-dimensional image. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Processing Chinese hand-radicals activates the medial frontal gyrus A functional MRI investigation Qing-Lin Wu, Yu-Chen Chan, Joseph P. Lavallee, Hsueh-Chin Chen, Kuo-En Chang, Yao-Ting Sung 2013, 8 (20):  1837-1843.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.002 Abstract ( 254 )   PDF (320KB) ( 1059 )   Save Embodied semantics theory asserts that the meaning of action-related words is neurally repre-sented through networks that overlap with or are identical to networks involved in sensory-motor processing. While some studies supporting this theory have focused on Chinese characters, less attention has been paid to their semantic radicals. Indeed, there is still disagreement about whether these radicals are processed independently. The present study investigated whether radicals are processed separately and, if so, whether this processing occurs in sensory-motor regions. Materials consisted of 72 high-frequency Chinese characters, with 18 in each of four categories: hand-action verbs with and without hand-radicals, and verbs not related to hand actions, with and without hand-radicals. Twenty-eight participants underwent functional MRI scans while reading the char-acters. Compared to characters without hand-radicals, reading characters with hand-radicals acti-vated the right medial frontal gyrus. Verbs involving hand-action activated the left inferior parietal lobule, possibly reflecting integration of information in the radical with the semantic meaning of the verb. The findings may be consistent with embodied semantics theory and suggest that neural representation of radicals is indispensable in processing Chinese characters. Related Articles | Metrics

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Approximate entropy and support vector machines for electroencephalogram signal classification Zhen Zhang, Yi Zhou, Ziyi Chen, Xianghua Tian, Shouhong Du, Ruimei Huang 2013, 8 (20):  1844-1852.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.003 Abstract ( 191 )   PDF (227KB) ( 1160 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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How does ethanol induce apoptotic cell death of SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells? Yong Moon, Yongil Kwon, Shun Yu 2013, 8 (20):  1853-1862.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.004 Abstract ( 355 )   PDF (401KB) ( 1083 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Cell cycle-related genes p57kip2, Cdk5 and Spin in the pathogenesis of neural tube defects Xinjun Li, Zhong Yang, Yi Zeng, Hong Xu, Hongli Li, Yangyun Han, Xiaodong Long, Chao You 2013, 8 (20):  1863-1871.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.005 Abstract ( 256 )   PDF (334KB) ( 844 )   Save In the field of developmental neurobiology, accurate and ordered regulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis are crucial factors contributing to the normal formation of the neural tube. Preliminary studies identified several genes involved in the development of neural tube defects. In this study, we established a model of developmental neural tube defects by administration of retinoic acid to pregnant rats. Gene chip hybridization analysis showed that genes related to the cell cycle and apoptosis, signal transduction, transcription and translation regulation, energy and metabolism, heat shock, and matrix and cytoskeletal proteins were all involved in the formation of developmental neural tube defects. Among these, cell cycle-related genes were predominant. Retinoic acid treat-ment caused differential expression of three cell cycle-related genes p57kip2, Cdk5 and Spin, the expression levels of which were downregulated by retinoic acid and upregulated during normal neural tube formation. The results of this study indicate that cell cycle-related genes play an im-portant role in the formation of neural tube defects. P57kip2, Cdk5 and Spin may be critical genes in the pathogenesis of neural tube defects. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Why does a high-fat diet induce preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant rats? Jing Ge, Jun Wang, Dan Xue, Zhengsheng Zhu, Zhenyu Chen, Xiaoqiu Li, Dongfeng Su, Juan Du 2013, 8 (20):  1872-1880.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.006 Abstract ( 217 )   PDF (219KB) ( 888 )   Save Changes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain play an important role in epilepsy-like attacks after pregnancy-induced preeclampsia-eclampsia. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 participates in the onset of lipid metabolism disorder-induced preeclampsia. Pregnant rats were fed with a high-fat diet for 20 days. Thus, these pregnant rats experienced preeclampsia-like syndromes such as hyper-tension and proteinuria. Simultaneously, metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 mRNA and protein ex-pressions were upregulated in the rat hippocampus. These findings indicate that increased expres-sion of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 promotes the occurrence of high-fat diet-induced preeclampsia in pregnant rats. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Ischemic stroke susceptibility gene in a Northern Han Chinese population Haiping Wang, Shujuan Shi, Wenjing Yan, Yan Song, Jingjing Zhan, Chen Zhang, Haiji Wang 2013, 8 (20):  1881-1891.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.007 Abstract ( 177 )   PDF (367KB) ( 843 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Motor outcomes of patients with a complete middle cerebral artery territory infarct Sung Ho Jang, Min Cheol Chang 2013, 8 (20):  1892-1897.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.008 Abstract ( 239 )   PDF (183KB) ( 1052 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Post-traumatic stress disorder status in a rescue group after the Wenchuan earthquake relief Junhua Huang, Qunying Liu, Jinliang Li, Xuejiang Li, Jin You, Liang Zhang, Changfu Tian, Rongsheng Luan 2013, 8 (20):  1898-1906.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.009 Abstract ( 239 )   PDF (198KB) ( 973 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy subtypes First-reported cohort from northeastern China Omar Abdulmonem Mahmood, Xinmei Jiang, Qi Zhang 2013, 8 (20):  1907-1918.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.20.010 Abstract ( 234 )   PDF (375KB) ( 1062 )   Save The relative frequencies of different subtypes of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies vary widely among different populations. We estimated the percentage of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy sub-types in Chinese people based on 68 patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy from the Myology Clinic, Neurology Department, First Hospital of Jilin University, China. A diagnosis of calpainopathy was made in 12 cases (17%), and dysferlin deficiency in 10 cases (15%). Two biopsies revealed α-sarcoglycan deficiency (3%), and two others revealed a lack of caveolin-3 (3%). A diagnosis of unclassified limb-girdle muscular dystrophy was made in the remaining patients (62%). The ap-pearances of calpain 3- and dysferlin-deficient biopsies were similar, though rimmed vacuoles were unique to dysferlinopathy, while inflammatory infiltrates were present in both these limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D biopsies. Macrophages were detected in seven dysferlinopathy biop-sies. The results of this study suggest that the distribution of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy sub-types in the Han Chinese population is similar to that reported in the West. The less necrotic, re-generating and inflammatory appearance of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A, but with more lobulated fibers, supports the idea that calpainopathy is a less active, but more chronic disease than dysferlinopathy. Unusual features indicated an extended limb-girdle muscular dystrophy disease spectrum. The use of acid phosphatase stain should be considered in suspected dysferlinopathies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to define the relative proportions of the various forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in China, based on protein testing. References | Related Articles | Metrics