Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in farmed raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Shandong province, eastern China

Toxoplasma gondii is a successful opportunistic parasite, affecting a wide range of vertebrate animals and humans. Genetic diversity of T. gondii in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is of great importance to understand the transmission of T. gondii in the environment. However, no information is available about the distribution of genetic diversity of T. gondii infection in raccoon dogs. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and genetic characterization of T. gondii from raccoon dogs in Shandong province, eastern China. A total of 314 brain tissue samples of raccoon dogs were collected and genomic DNA was extracted and assayed for T. gondii infection using semi-nested PCR targeting B1 gene. The positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers (SAG1, SAG2(5'+3' SAG2, alter.SAG2), SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) by multiplex multilocus nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (Mn- PCR-RFLP) technology. Thirty-five (11.15%) of 314 DNA samples were detected positive. Only six samples were completely typed at all genetic loci, and these samples represented ToxoDB genotype#9. Two sample were typed at 9 genetic loci and one was typed at 8 genetic loci, all of them represented Type I. To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic characterization of T. gondii in raccoon dogs in China. These results revealed the existence of genetic diversity of T. gondii in raccoon dogs in China. These data provided base-line information for controlling T. gondii infection in raccoon dogs.

Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Farmed Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Three Cities of Northeast China

The apicomplexan protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed etiological agent of foodborne illness. This parasite can cause production losses in livestock and serious disease in humans through consumption of contaminated meat. Pig meat is the most likely source of human infection, and wild boars may play a role in the transmission of T. gondii by serving as a reservoir host. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii among farmed wild boars in China. In an 11-month survey, a total of 882 serum samples were obtained from farmed wild boars from three cities (Jilin City, Siping City, and Baishan City) in Jilin province, Northeast China and were tested for antibodies specific for T. gondii. Using modified agglutination test and a cutoff titer of 1:25, the prevalence of T. gondii infection in the examined samples was 10.0% (88 of 882). The highest seroprevalence was observed in animals from Jilin city (15.3%, 43/281) and followed by Siping (11.4%, 30/263) and Baishan (4.4%, 15/338). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the investigated geographic region and T. gondii infection. In addition, prevalence was higher in females compared to males, and the highest prevalence was detected in piglets. These findings indicate that farmed wild boars may become a source of foodborne toxoplasmosis, posing a food safety threat to the public health in the investigated areas. Implementation of effective measures to control T. gondii infection in farmed wild boars in China may be warranted.

Occurrence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Donkeys (Equus asinus) in China: A Public Health Concern

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an important zoonotic parasite. It can infect virtually all animal species and has a global distribution. However, the prevalence of E. bieneusi in donkeys (Equus asinus) has only been reported in Algeria and Spain, and no information is available concerning genotypes of E. bieneusi in donkeys worldwide. In the present study, a total of 301 donkey fecal samples (48 from Jilin Province, 224 from Shandong Province and 29 from Liaoning Province) were collected and examined by PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The overall E. bieneusi prevalence was 5.3% (16/301), with 6.3% (3/48) in Jilin Province, 4.9% (11/224) in Shandong Province, and 6.9% (2/29) in Liaoning Province. Prevalence in different age groups ranged from 4.2 to 5.5%. E. bieneusi prevalence in donkeys sampled in different seasons varied from 4.2 to 6.5%. Altogether, four E. bieneusi genotypes were identified in this study, with two known genotypes (J and D) and two novel genotypes (NCD-1and NCD-2). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that genotypes D, NCD-1 and NCD-2 belonged to group 1, while the remaining genotype J was clustered into group 2. These findings revealed the occurrence of E. bieneusi in donkeys in China for the first time. Moreover, the present study also firstly genotyped the E. bieneusi in donkeys worldwide. These findings extend the distribution of E. bieneusi genotypes and provide baseline data for controlling E. bieneusi infection in donkeys, other animals and humans.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Fascioliasis in Yaks, Bos grunniens, from Three Counties of Gansu Province, China

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of fascioliasis in yaks, Bos grunniens, from 3 counties of Gansu Province in China. A total of 1,584 serum samples, including 974 samples from white yaks from Tianzhu, 464 from black yaks from Maqu, and 146 from black yaks from Luqu County, were collected and analyzed using ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against Fasciola hepatica. The overall F. hepatica seroprevalence was 28.7% (454/1,584), with 29.2% in white yaks (284/974) and 27.9% in black yaks (170/610). The seroprevalence of F. hepatica in yaks from Tianzhu, Luqu, and Maqu was 29.2%, 22.6%, and 29.5%, respectively. Female yaks (30.9%) had higher F. hepatica seroprevalence than male yaks (23.4%). Also, F. hepatica seroprevalence varied by different age group from 24.1% to 33.8%. Further, the seroprevalence ranged from 21.8% to 39.1% over different seasons. Interestingly, the season and age of yaks were associated with F. hepatica infection in yaks in the investigated areas. These findings provided a basis for further studies on this disease in yaks from 3 counties of Gansu Province in northwestern China, which may ultimately support the development of effective control strategies of fascioliasis in these areas.

Transcriptomic responses of water buffalo liver to infection with the digenetic fluke Fasciola gigantica

Background

Fasciola gigantica, the tropical liver fluke, infects buffaloes in Asian and African countries and causes significant economic losses and poses public health threat in these countries. However, little is known of the transcriptional response of buffaloes to infection with F. gigantica. The objective of the present study was to perform the first transcriptomic analysis of buffalo liver infected by F. gigantica. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin F. gigantica infection in buffaloes will contribute to our ability to control this parasite.

Methods

We challenged buffaloes with 500 viable F. gigantica metacercariae and collected liver samples through a time course at 3, 42 and 70 days post-infection (dpi). Then, we performed gene expression analysis on liver samples using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) Illumina technology and confirmed the RNA-Seq data by quantitative RT-PCR analysis.

Results

Totals of 496, 880 and 441 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in the infected livers at 3, 42 and 70 dpi, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that transcriptional changes in the liver of infected buffaloes evolve over the course of infection. The predominant response of buffaloes to infection was mediated by certain pathways, such as MHC antigen processing and presentation, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and the cytochrome P450. Hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and bile secretion were also affected.

Conclusions

Fasciola gigantica can induce statistically significant and biologically plausible differences in the hepatic gene expression of infected buffaloes. These findings provide new insights into the response of buffaloes to F. gigantica over the course of infection, which may be useful in determining pathways that can modulate host-parasite interaction and thus potentially important for clearance of the parasite.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-1990-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Farmed Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in China

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite, can infect homoiothermal vertebrate animals, including raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides). Regretfully, data on T. gondii infection in raccoon dogs were limited in China. Therefore, to investigate the seroprevalence and to evaluate risk factors for T. gondii infection in raccoon dogs, a total of 1181 raccoon dog blood samples were collected from Jilin and Shandong provinces, China, from September to December 2014. The antibodies of T. gondii were examined using the modified agglutination test. Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 8.64% in the examined raccoon dogs. The prevalences of T. gondii infection were different among cities (ranging from 2.96% in Yantai to 17.62% in Qingdao), genders (female: 7.58%; male: 9.22%), and ages (young: 8.53%; subadult: 7.71%; adult: 7.73%). Region was considered as an important risk factor for T. gondii infection in this study. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in raccoon dogs in China, providing baseline information for prevention and control of T. gondii infection in raccoon dogs in Jilin and Shandong provinces, China.

Occurrence and multilocus genotyping of Giardia intestinalis assemblage C and D in farmed raccoon dogs, Nyctereutes procyonoides, in China

Background

Giardia intestinalis, the only causative agent of human giardiasis, can infect a wide range of animals. As no information concerning the prevalence and genotyping of G. intestinalis in raccoon dogs in China is available, examination of 305 faecal samples from raccoon dogs in Jilin Province (n = 110), Heilongjiang Province (n = 40), Liaoning Province (n = 72), Hebei Province (n = 54) and Shandong Province (n = 29) was conducted to estimate the prevalence of G. intestinalis in raccoon dogs in northern China and identify their genotypes using a genetic approach.

Findings

Of 305 faecal samples from farmed raccoon dogs, 22 (7.21 %) were detected G. intestinalis-positive by nested PCR amplification of the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene. The prevalence of G. intestinalis was strongly related to the region and season of sampling. All 22 samples were analysed at the tpi, the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and the beta giardin (bg) gene loci, showing 13, 3, 2 subtypes, respectively. The results also demonstrated that two raccoon dogs harboured mixed infections of assemblage C and assemblage D (or mixed C/D), whereas only assemblage C was detected in the remaining 20 samples. Moreover, five new multilocus genotypes, named as MLGs C1-C5, were observed in the assemblage C in the present study.

Conclusions

This is the first report of G. intestinalis infection in raccoon dogs in China. DNA sequence analysis of the tpi, gdh and bg gene indicated that 13, 3, 2 subtypes were found at these loci, respectively. Furthermore, this is also the first report of five new multilocus genotypes (MLGs C1-C5) in farmed raccoon dogs, which provides baseline data for further studies of the distribution of G. duodenalis in different hosts.

Parameters of diffusional kurtosis imaging for the diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction in different brain regions

Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is a new type diffusion-weighted sequence which measures the non-Gaussianity of water diffusion. The present study aimed to investigate whether the parameters of DKI could distinguish between differences in water molecule diffusion in various brain regions under the conditions of acute infarction and to identify the optimal DKI parameter for locating ischemic lesions in each brain region. A total of 28 patients with acute ischemic stroke in different brain regions were recruited for the present study. The relative values of DKI parameters were selected as major assessment indices, and the homogeneity of background image and contrast of adjacent structures were used as minor assessment indices. According to the brain region involved in three DKI parametric maps, including mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (Ka) and radial kurtosis (Kr), 112 groups of regions of interest were outlined in the following regions: Corpus callosum (n=17); corona radiata (n=26); thalamus (n=21); subcortical white matter (n=24); and cerebral cortex (n=24). For ischemic lesions in the corpus callosum and corona radiata, significant increases in relative Ka were detected, as compared with the other parameters (P<0.05). For ischemic lesions in the thalamus, subcortical white matter and cerebral cortices, an increase in the three parameters was detected, however this difference was not significant. Minor assessment indices demonstrated that Ka lacked tissue contrast and the background of Kr was heterogeneous; thus, MK was the superior assessment parameter for ischemic lesions in these regions. In conclusion, Ka is better suited for the diagnosis of acute ischemic lesions in highly anisotropic brain regions, such as the corpus callosum and corona radiate. MK may be appropriate for the lesions in low anisotropic or isotropic brain regions, such as the thalamus, subcortical white matter and cerebral cortices.

Evaluation of mean diffusion and kurtosis MRI mismatch in subacute ischemic stroke: Comparison with NIHSS score

Neurological deterioration (ND) is a devastating complication following ischemic stroke. This study aimed to identify the differences in lesion characteristics in subacute ischemic stroke patients with and without ND using diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI), as well as to confirm the responsible lesions that may lead to ND, as assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Seventy-nine patients with subacute cerebral infarction were allocated to the ND (-) and ND (+) groups according to the NIHSS score and lesion number. The mean diffusion (MD) lesions were significantly larger than the mean kurtosis (MK) deficits in the ND (+) group (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the ND (-) group (P>0.05). The MD and MK in the lesion recovered to normal levels over time; however, the recovery trends in the ND (+) group were substantially slower than the ND (-) group. The differences between the two groups were only significant regarding the MK (p<0.05). Furthermore, multiple infarction lesions exhibited good consistency in the ND (-) group, but were non-homogeneous in the ND (+) group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that a significant MD/MK mismatch and heterogeneity of multiple ischemic lesions on MK in subacute ischemic stroke may represent a new expansion of an ischemic lesion or acute reinfarction, which is closely related to ND.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Farmed Minks (Neovison vison) in Northeastern and Eastern China

Toxoplasma gondii is an important intracellular parasite, which can infect endothermic vertebrate animals, including minks (Neovison vison). However, information on T. gondii infection in minks in China is limited. Therefore, we investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in minks in northeastern and eastern China. A total of 1499 mink blood samples were randomly collected from eight cities between March 2014 and January 2015 in northeastern and eastern China, and antibodies to T. gondii were examined using the modified agglutination test. Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 8.14% in the examined minks. The T. gondii seroprevalence was different among cities (ranging from 1.85% in Changchun to 15.75% in Dalian), genders (4.31% in male and 6.22% in female), seasons (spring: 11.64%; summer: 7.34%; autumn: 7.37%; and winter: 7.32%), and ages (young: 5.79%; subadult: 5.03%; and adult: 11.08%). Region and age were considered as risk factors for T. gondii infection. These results provided baseline data for the prevention and control of T. gondii infection in minks in China.

First report of Cryptosporidium canis in farmed Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in China

Background

Cryptosporidium is an important genus of enteric zoonotic parasites, which can infect a wide range of animals including foxes. Little information is available concerning the prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. in farmed Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in China. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Arctic foxes in China using nested PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene.

Findings

The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Arctic foxes was 15.9 % (48/302), with 12.9 % in male (18/139) and 18.4 % in female (30/163) foxes, respectively. The prevalence in different farms varied from 0 to 31.43 %. The prevalence of infection in different age groups varied from 14.1 % to 19.0 %. Foxes from Hebei Province (7.8 %, 11/141) had a significantly lower Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence than those from Heilongjiang Province (22.9 %, 16/70) and Jilin Province (23.1 %, 21/91) (P= 0.0015). Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene indicated that all the 48 isolates represented C. canis.

Conclusions

This is the first report of C. canis infection in farmed Arctic foxes in China, which also provides foundation data for preventing and controlling Cryptosporidium infection in foxes, other animals and humans.

Prevalence and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in sika deer in Jilin province, Northeastern China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is one of the most important zoonotic pathogen that can infect almost all animals, including humans. However, little information is available regarding prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi in sika deer. In the present study, the prevalence of E. bieneusi infection in sika deer in Jilin province, Northeastern China was examined using PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. 23 (7.06%) of 326 samples were tested E. bieneusi-positive, and the risk factor significantly associated with E. bieneusi prevalence was the age of sika deer. Sequence analysis of the ITS rRNA gene suggested that 8 genotypes of E. bieneusi were found in this study, with five known genotypes, namely J (n = 11), BEB6 (n = 4), EbpC (n = 1), CHN-DC1 (n = 1), KIN-1 (n = 1) and three novel genotypes, namely JLD-1 (n = 2), JLD-2 (n = 2) and JLD-3 (n = 1). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that genotypes CHN-DC-1, KIN-1, EbpC, JLD-2 and JLD-3 fell into group 1, while other three genotypes (genotypes J, BEB6 and JLD-1) were clustered into group 2 (so-called bovine-specific groups). These findings indicated the presence of zoonotic E. bieneusi in Jilin province, Northeastern China. Effective strategies should be performed to control E. bieneusi infection in sika deer, other animals and humans.

Prevalence, risk factors and multilocus genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in farmed foxes (Vulpes lagopus), Northern China

Background

Microsporidiosis is a common disease in animals and humans around the world. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidian species in humans. Many animal species may be a potential source of human microsporidiosis. However, information concerning prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi infection in farmed foxes (Vulpes lagopus) is scarce. Therefore, the present study examined prevalence, risk factors and genotypes of E. bieneusi in farmed foxes in northern China using a genetic approach.

Results

Of 302 fecal samples from farmed foxes, 37 (12.25 %, 95 % CI 8.55–15.95) were PCR-positive for E. bieneusi, and the prevalence was highly associated with the farming mode in that foxes raised outdoors (26.03 % positive, 95 % CI 18.91–33.15) had a significantly higher E. bieneusi prevalence than those raised indoors. Eleven internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotypes were identified among the positive samples: four known E. bieneusi genotypes (Peru 8, Types IV, CHN-DC1 and D) and seven novel genotypes (NCF1-NCF7). Genotype NCF2 was the commonest (n = 13) and was found in five farms across three provinces (Jilin, Heilongjiang and Hebei). All genotypes belonged to phylogenetic group 1. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analyses revealed additional diversity.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the presence of zoonotic E. bieneusi infection in farmed foxes in northern China. This is also the first report of genotypes Peru8, CHN-DC1 and Type IV, and seven novel genotypes (NCF1-NCF7) in farmed foxes by ITS combining with microsatellite and minisatellite markers for the first time. The results will provide baseline data for preventing and controlling E. bieneusi infection in farmed foxes, other animals and humans.

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Multilocus Genotyping of Giardia intestinalis in Dairy Cattle, Northwest China

Giardia intestinalis is a cosmopolitan protozoan parasite that can infect a range of animals, including dairy cattle. As information regarding the prevalence and genotyping of G. intestinalis infection in dairy cattle in northwestern China is limited, 2,945 feces samples from 1,224 dairy cattle in Gansu Province and from 1,614 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NXHAR) were examined between December 2012 and March 2014. The overall prevalence of G. intestinalis was 3.63% (107/2,945), with 2.63% and 4.38% in Gansu and NXHAR, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed region, age and season to be significant risk factors for G. intestinalis infection. Assemblage analysis identified 106 assemblage E and one assemblage A at the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) locus in this study. Intravariations were also detected at tpi, glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and beta giardin (bg) loci within assemblage E, showing seven, three, and five new subtypes, respectively. Moreover, 13 new multilocus genotypes (E20-E32) were observed in assemblage E. Effective strategies and measures should be taken to prevent and control giardiasis in Gansu and NXHAR.

Effects of broccoli stem and leaf meal on broiler performance, skin pigmentation, antioxidant function, and meat quality

Three hundred sixty 1-d-old Ross 308 male broilers were used to study the effects of broccoli stem and leaf meal (BSLM) on growth performance, skin pigmentation, antioxidant function, and meat quality. The chicks were fed 4 diets containing different levels (0, 4.0, 8.0, and 12.0%) of BSLM as partial replacement for corn and soybean meal for a period of 42 d. The results showed that dietary supplementation of BSLM had no effect (P > 0.05) on growth performance. As compared with control, dietary 4%, 8%, and 12% BSLM increased (P < 0.05) b value (yellowness) both in shank and breast skin, increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of xanthophylls in abdominal fat and breast skin, improved (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capability, lowered malondialdehyde concentration, and decreased drip loss percentage of breast muscle. Dietary 8% and 12% BSLM decreased (P < 0.05) shank L values (lightness), increased (P < 0.05) shank a value (redness), and increased (P < 0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase of breast muscle as compared with control. The results indicated that dietary supplementation of BSLM in broiler chickens improved the poultry products quality with the more skin pigmentation and the less drip loss percentage of breast meat. The more skin pigmentation mainly related to the high amount of xanthophylls in BSLM. The decreased meat drip loss fed BSLM may be caused by the antioxidative function of BSLM.

Acute effects of alcohol on the human brain: diffusion tensor imaging study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

DTI can provide information about brain ultrastructure by quantifying water diffusion. Our objective was to assess the value of DTI in detecting the acute effects of alcohol on healthy human brains.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen healthy volunteers were studied with conventional MR imaging and DTI before and 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours after the initiation of acute alcohol administration. Two DTI parameters, FA and ADC, were measured in the frontal lobe, internal capsule, external capsule, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, thalamus, middle cerebellar peduncle, and brain stem. BrACs were measured at each time point after drinking to estimate BACs.

RESULTS

No abnormalities were found by conventional MR imaging at any time point in all subjects. ADC values of the frontal lobe, thalamus, and middle cerebellar peduncle were significantly reduced, reaching a minimum value at 1 or 2 hours, and FA values of the frontal lobe were significantly increased, reaching a maximal value at 0.5 hour in both doses. BrAC (BAC) was significantly increased to reach a peak at 0.5 hour in both doses and decreased gradually.

CONCLUSIONS

DTI can detect changes in brains after acute alcohol consumption that are not detectable by conventional MR imaging. The frontal lobe, thalamus, and middle cerebellar peduncle are more vulnerable to the effects of acute alcohol consumption. DTI is more effective than BrAC or BAC for the detection of alcohol-induced changes on the human brain.

Functional magnetic resonance mapping of motor cortex in patients with mass lesions near primary motor and sensory cortices

PURPOSE

To study motor cortex mapping in patients with mass lesions near primary motor and sensory cortices with BOLD-fMRI.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

18 patients with mass lesions near primary motor and sensory cortices, and 8 healthy volunteers were investigated with fMRI using a 1.5 T GE Signa scanner. The specific task was repetitive selfpaced index finger to thumb opposition with a frequency of approximately 2 Hz. Each task paradigm consisted of twelve 20-second blocks alternating between rest and activation. All functional data was sent to SUN GE Advanced Workstation 4.0 for post processing.

RESULTS

14 patients showed functional activation near mass lesion, 4 patients failed to show, and one patient with meningeoma was excluded because of heavy head movement. Of 14 patients, the functional activation of eloquent cortex was different between the group with declination of muscle force and the group with normal muscle force, generally the activated areas of the former were more scattered, dislocated, relative smaller than that of the latter.

CONCLUSION

fMRI is a valuable method for pre-operative evaluation of neurosurgical patients and probably can evaluate the muscle force pre- and post-operation approximately.

Prediction of recovery from a post-traumatic coma state by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with diffuse axonal injury

INTRODUCTION

To determine whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings combined with initial clinical factors indicate the depth of shearing lesions in the brain structure and therefore relate to coma duration in diffuse axonal injury (DAI).

METHODS

A total of 74 adult patients (48 male and 26 female) with DAI were examined with conventional MR imaging and diffusion-weighted MR imaging between 2 hours and 20 days after injury. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were obtained and the mean ADC values of each region of interest (ROI) were measured using MRI console software. The involvement of the brainstem, deep gray matter, and corpus callosum was determined for each sequence separately as well as for the combination of all sequences. The correlations between MR imaging findings indicating the presence of apparent brain injury combined with initial clinical factors were determined.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics, such as initial score on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS), age and number of all lesions, and ADC scores were predictive of the duration of coma.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to predict post-traumatic coma duration in DAI from cerebral MR imaging findings combined with clinical prognostic factors in the acute to subacute stage after head injury. Age, ADC scores, GCS score and number of lesions were highly significant in predicting coma duration. The technique presented here might provide a tool for in vivo detection of DAI to allow the prediction of the coma duration during the early stages in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Coma duration prediction in diffuse axonal injury: analyses of apparent diffusion coefficient and clinical prognostic factors

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the hypothesis that the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values combined with initial clinical factors indicates the depth of shearing lesions in the brain structure and therefore relates to coma duration of diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Seventy-four adult patients (48 male and 26 female patients) with diffuse axonal injury were examined with convention MR imaging and diffusion weighted MR imaging between 2 hours and 20 days after injury. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were obtained and the mean ADC values of each Region of Interest (ROI) were measured using MRI console software. The lesions involvement of brainstem, deep gray matter, and corpus callosum were determined for each sequence separately as well as for the combination of all sequences. The correlations between magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of presence of apparent brain injury combined with initial clinical factors were investigated. Clinical characteristics, such as initial score on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), age, and the number of all lesions, ADC scores of the patient in MR findings were predictive of the duration of coma. Post-traumatic coma duration of DAI could be predicted by cerebral MRI findings in the acute to subacute stage after head injury combined with clinical prognostic factors. Age, ADC scores, GCS, number of lesions are highly significant in predicting coma duration. The technique presented herein might provide a tool for in vivo detection of DAI for the coma duration at the early stages in patients with traumatic brain injury.

[Inhibitory effects of celecoxib combined with octreotide on growth of multidrug resistant human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/ADR]

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor and octreotide can inhibit growth of tumor cells. This study was to investigate inhibitory effects of COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib alone, and celecoxib combined with octreotide on growth of multidrug resistant human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/ADR.

METHODS

Experimental groups:(1)celecoxib (1 x 10(-4)-1 x 10(-8) mol/L); (2)octreotide (1 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-9) mol/L); (3)celecoxib (1 x 10(-4)-1 x 10(-8) mol/L) combined with octreotide (1 x 10-6 mol/L);(4)control group (RPMI-1640 medium without serum). The effects of all treatments on SGC7901 cells, and SGC7901/ADR cells were observed. Cell proliferation was measured by (3)H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected by immunocytochemistry. Cell apoptosis was measured by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay (TUNEL) and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

(3)H-thymidine incorporation into SGC7901/ADR cells treated with celecoxib [(471.3+/-79.7) cpm] was significantly lower than that of control group [(917.5+/-130.8) cpm](P< 0.05). When combined with octreotide, celecoxib presented lower (3)H-thymidine incorporation [(220.0+/-19.7)cpm] than it alone with a 53.3% decrease. The concentration of celecoxib in combination group negatively related to synthesis of DNA in SGC7901/ADR cells (r=0.996,P< 0.001). The expression of PCNA in either celecoxib group or combination group markedly decreased. The apoptosis rates of SGC7901/ADR cells induced by celecoxib alone, and combination treatment were 32.9%, and 52.5%.

CONCLUSION

Celecoxib combined with octreotide may enhance inhibition of growth of multidrug resistant human gastric cancer cells. The mechanism may be related with inhibiting DNA synthesis, and inducing apoptosis.