[Resting state fMRI study of emotional network in patients with postconcussion syndrome]

Objective: To discuss functional connectivity changes in the emotional network of patients with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and their clinical significance by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods: Twenty-seven patients with PCS were recruited from the Department of Neurosurgery of Anhui provincial hospital affiliated to Anhui medical university from October 2015 to April 2016, and 27 healthy subjects were recruited as the controls. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were used to evaluate the emotional state of two groups of subjects. All fMRI data were preprocessed after RS-fMRI scanning, the left and right amygdala were selected as region of interest (ROI) to make functional connectivity (FC) calculation with the whole brain and then the results were did statistical analysis in order to obtain the altered brain areas of amygdala and whole brain functional connectivity in the PCS patient, to understand the functional changes of emotional network. Results: HAMA and HAMD scores of PCS group and the health controls had significant statistical difference (HAMA: the PCS group 9.8±1.5, the health controls 4.5±1.2, P=0.044; HAMD: the PCS group 12±1.2, the health controls was 4.2±1.5, P=0.024). Compared with the health controls, the left amygdala in PCS patients showed decreased FC with left insula, left putamen, left anterior cingulate gyrus, left inferior orbital frontal gyrus, left medial superior frontal gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, left superior temporal pole, bilateral supramarginal gyrus et al, on the contrary with the increased FC with right superior orbital frontal gyrus, right middle frontal lobe, right orbital frontal lobe, right middle frontal gyrus. The right amygdala in PCS patients showed decreased FC with bilateral putamen, right inferior orbital frontal gyrus, left insula, bilateral precuneus, bilateral superior temporal pole, right superior temporal gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus et al. Similarly, it had the increased FC with the left middle occipital lobe and the left superior occipital lobe. Conclusion: Abnormal emotional network function of PCS patients in resting state, which may be one of the reasons that lead to emotional and cognitive dysfunction in PCS patients.

Isolation of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells using density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening methods

AIM

Under special conditions, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into osteoblasts and chondroblasts. However, MSCs are few in bone marrow. How to harvest, purify and rapidly proliferate in vitro is a foundation of application in tissue engineering technique. To optimize, collect, purify, assess rabbit BMSCs and to observe the biological character of BMSCs.

METHODS

Two female New Zealand rabbits aged 2 months were used for MSC collection and primary culture. Bone marrow solution was purified by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening method. Culture solution was obtained. BMSCs were incubated in phosphate buffered solution (PBS), supplemented with 2.5 g/L trypsin (3.0 mL), and placed in an incubator at 37 °C for two or three minutes. Cell morphology was observed using an inverted microscope. The digestion was stopped when cytoplasm recovery, long and thin cells with large intercellular space, and few round cells appeared. Subsequently, BMSCs were incubated in serum-free L-DMEM, and placed in a plastic culture flask at 1.0×108/L. MSC morphology, ultrastructure and surface marker; proliferation of the first, third, fifth, eighth and tenth passages of BMSCs; cell growth curve was drawn. BMSCs was pure following density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening method. The third and fifth passage of cells had typical whirlpool-shape.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Transmission electron microscope demonstrated that round or oval MSCs possessed large nuclei, big nucleus proportion, a few cellular organ. These were low-differentiated cells. Growth curve of cultured MSCs was "S" shape. The first, third and fifth passage cells had strong reproductive capability. The eighth and tenth passage of cells had significantly reduced proliferation. Cells isolated were positive for CD44 and CD90, but negative for CD34. These were low-differentiated cells under the electron microscope. Isolated cells are MSCs, with the property of stem cells. The third and fifth passage cells are pure, with strong reproductive capability.

Pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy with pulmonary valve stenosis: an unusual association

A patient with pulmonary valve stenosis associated with pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy is reported. The anomalies were detected by two-dimensional echocardiography and elevated serum enzymes, conformed by right ventriculography and muscles biopsy. The association between these two pathologies is unknown.