A comment on Farwell (2012): brain fingerprinting: a comprehensive tutorial review of detection of concealed information with event-related brain potentials

In a recent issue of Cognitive Neurodynamics Farwell (Cogn Neurodyn 6:115–154, 2012) published a comprehensive tutorial review of the use of Event Related Brain Potentials (ERP) in the detection of concealed information. Farwell’s review covered much of his own work employing his “brain fingerprinting” technology. All his work showed a 100 % accuracy rate in detecting concealed information. We argue in this comment that Farwell (Cogn Neurodyn 6:115–154, 2012) is misleading and misrepresents the scientific status of brain fingerprinting technology.     

几种杀虫剂对小地老虎的毒力测定

本研究了９种杀虫剂对小地老虎Ａｇｒｏｔｉｓ ｙｐｓｉｌｏｎ（Ｒｏｔｔｅｎｂｅｒｇ）３龄幼虫的触杀毒力。结果得出,触杀毒力从大到小的顺序：功夫菊酯、溴氰菊酯、农哈哈、卡死克、拉维因、米满、辛硫磷、锐劲特、敌百虫。其中功夫菊酯、溴氰菊酯和农哈哈的触杀毒力最强,比敌百虫高出１００００倍以上,在生产上可推荐使用。本试验还发现３龄幼虫的体重对毒力也有一定的影响。     

HPV-DNA 与TCT 联合检测在宫颈癌诊断中的应用

目的:探讨高危型人乳头状瘤病毒(HPV)DNA检测与液基细胞学检查(TCT)在子宫颈病变诊断中的应用价值。方法:对600例患者分别做HPV-DNA和TCT检测,对其中一项或两项异常者做阴道镜病理活检,对病理结果阳性患者进行HPV-DNA和TCT检测结果分析。结果:其中一项或两项异常者150例,HPV-DNA检测阳性者(H组)为115例,其中病理结果阳性为39例,符合率为33.9%;TCT检测阳性者(T组)为76例,其中病理结果阳性为40例,符合率为33.9%;两项均为阳性者(H+T组)是56例,其中病理结果阳性为51例,符合率为91.1%。H组与H+T组比较x2=13.95,P<0.01;T组与H+T组比较x2=4.00,P<0.05,结果有显著差异。结论:HPV-DNA及TCT联合起来进行检测可以提高宫颈癌及癌前病变的筛查及早期诊断的检出率。     

注意缺损多动障碍和儿茶酚-O-甲基转移酶基因无关联性

以往研究表明,儿茶酚胺系统可能参于注意缺损多动障碍（attention—deficit hyperactivityity disorder,ADHD）的发生,而儿茶酚胺-O-甲基转移酶（catechel—O—methyltransferase,COMT）是一种降解多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素系统的儿茶酚胺神经递质的酶。因此,采用两种以家系为基础的分析方法,即传递不平衡实验（transmission disequilibrium test,TDT）和单倍型为基础的单倍型相对风险率（haplotype—based haplotype relative risk,HHRR）去探讨COMT和中国人群中79个ADHD核心家系的关联性,ADHD诊断符合DSM—IV的诊断标准。TDT（X^2=1．03,df=1,P〉0．05）和HHRR（X^2=1．08,df=1,P〉0．05）两种方法的分析结果表明,COMT等位基因不能优先传递给ADHD儿童,提示在中国人群中ADHD与COMT基因无关联性。     

参加CAP真菌检验室间质评结果分析

目的能力比对检验(Proficiency testing,PT)是室间质评的重要方案,通过参加美国病理家学会(College of American Pathologist,CAP)能力比对检验,监控实验室检验能力,确保检测结果的准确性、可重复性和可比性,促进实验室质量改进。方法中国医学科学院北京协和医学院北京协和医院检验科实验室于2009年参加CAP真菌检测能力验证活动。实验室收到标本后,按照常规真菌标本进行真菌学检查和免疫学测定,在规定的时间内将检测结果回报给CAP。CAP在同方法组内对检测结果进行评估,并提供所有参与实验室的结果统计报告。结果截至目前完成2009年3次共17份标本,回报结果正确率:F-A和F-C为100%,F-B为80%,结果评价均为满意。结论通过参加CAP能力比对检验,实现对检验结果准确性的持续性监测,提高真菌感染实验室诊断水平。     

2-Amino-6-chloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline: A novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with antidepressant character

2-Amino-6-chloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline HCl (A6CDQ, 4) binds at 5-HT₃ serotonin receptors and displays antidepressant-like action in the mouse tail suspension test (TST). Empirically, 4 was demonstrated to be a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist (two-electrode voltage clamp recordings using frog oocytes; IC₅₀ = 0.26 μM), and one that should readily penetrate the blood–brain barrier (log P = 1.86). 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists represent a potential approach to the development of new antidepressants, and 4 is an example of a structurally novel 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist that is active in a preclinical antidepressant model (i.e., the mouse TST).     

Effects of weak mobile phone - electromagnetic fields (GSM, UMTS) on event related potentials and cognitive functions

Modern mobile phones emit electromagnetic fields (EMF) ranging from 900 to 2000 MHz which are suggested to have an influence on well-being, attention and neurological parameters in mobile phone users. Until now most studies have investigated Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)-EMF and only very few studies have focused on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)-EMF. Therefore, we tested the effects of both types of unilaterally presented EMF, 1950 UMTS (0.1 and 1 W/kg) and pulsed 900 MHz GSM (1 W/kg), on visually evoked occipital P100, the P300 of a continuous performance test, auditory evoked central N100 and the P300 during an oddball task as well as on the respective behavioral parameters, reaction time and false reactions, in 15 healthy, right handed subjects. A double-blind, randomized, crossover application of the test procedure was used. Neither the UMTS- nor the GSM-EMF produced any significant changes in the measured parameters compared to sham exposure. The results do not give any evidence for a deleterious effect of the EMF on normal healthy mobile phone users.     

手臂早期重复刺激有助于脑卒中患者运动功能恢复

为了探究脑卒中患者手臂进行重复感觉运动训练后5年的效果,本研究将100名脑卒中患者随机分配到实验组与对照组,进行为期6周的治疗。使用Brunnstrom-Fugl-Meyer (BFM)测试、上肢动作研究(ARA)和Barthel指数(BI)对脑卒中患者进行治疗前、中途和治疗后以及治疗后6个月和12个月评估,并对62位患者治疗后第5年重新评估。第5年随访结果显示,实验组BFM测试和ARA具有显著性差异,从初始评估到第5年评估各组间改善平均差为BFM17分和ARA17.4分,在BI指数中未发现效果。干预治疗对运动缺陷严重的患者治疗效果最佳。卒中急性期对患者手臂进行特定干预措施,对运动功能具有临床意义及长期效应,该结果归功于早期,重复和有针对性的手臂刺激。     

重组人细胞因子制品细菌内毒素的检测

为了考察细菌内毒素检测法（BET法）检测重组人细胞因子制品的细菌内毒素及其质量控制的可行性。按照2000年版《中国生物制品规程》的规定,确定L值,计算MVD,进行干扰试验,检测制品的细菌内毒素,并与家兔热原法（RPT法）进行比较。结果表明,用标示灵敏度为0.125EU/ml的鲎试剂,重组人干扰素α2a(IFNα2a）、粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（GM－CSF）、白介素－2（IL－2）制品,最高非干扰浓度分别为稀释至31.7倍（9.5万IU／ml）,10.9倍（27.5万μg/ml）,40倍（0.25万IU/ml）。将IFNα2a和GM－CSF按规程规定稀释80位,对细菌内毒素的检测均无干扰作用,而IL－2稀释8倍对检测有抑制作用,但经40倍稀释后可消除抑制。以BET法检测上述制品的细菌内毒素和以RPT法测定家兔热原香,符合率为100％。结果提示,用BET法代替PRT法检测上述细胞因子制品的细菌内毒素及其质量控制是可行的。     

A semi-parametric approach for comparing the estimated spectra of two stationary point processes

In this paper, we provide a semi-parametric test for the hypothesis that the spectra of two stationary point processes (SPPs) are the same. The estimates of the second-order spectral density functions of the SPPs are obtained by using two different approaches: (a) by smoothing the modified periodogram statistics using a moving average weighting scheme, (b) by employing the Welch's method on the modified periodogram statistics. The test is based on the likelihood ratio function under two alternative hypotheses. The first alternative hypothesis suggests that the ratio of the spectra is a constant (there is a shift to the power) while the second one adopts a quadratic model for the logarithmic ratio of the spectra. A comparison with a log-linear model indicates coincidence in the results. This is explained by using an illustrative example from the field of neurophysiology. It is shown that the information transferred to the spinal cord by the sensory axons, closely related with the complex physiological system called muscle spindle, under the influence of two different stimuli can be separated in two parts. The first part corresponds to the range of frequencies 0-19 Hz while the second to the range of frequencies 19-100 Hz. However, the dependence on the frequency in both parts is of a quadratic form.     

Joint report1 of the First International Workshop on Lymphocyte Alloantigens of the Horse held 24–29 October 1981

Six equine lymphocyte alloantigen (ELA) specificities were defined by an international antiserum comparison test and workshop held in 1981. Twelve laboratories from four countries submitted 195 antisera for analysis. The antisera were exchanged among the 12 laboratories and tested in a standard lymphocyte microcytoxicity assay against the isolated lymphocytes at 1009 horses of several breeds. The data was pooled and analysed by a single computer analysis. The calculated χ² values of all cells with all antisera provided comparisons between antisera. Fifteen antisera clusters were formed by this analysis, but only six of these clusters met the criteria established by the workshop for the identification of ELA antigens. No horses of the cell panel positively reacted with more than two of these six specificities. The consensus of the participants, although not substantiated in this workshop, was that these six clusters of antisera define alleles of a single genetic region, the ELA region, and it is likely that this genetic region is the major histocompatibility complex of the horse.     

Characterization of films made with chayote tuber and potato starches blending with cellulose nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to characterize chayotextle starch films reinforced with cellulose (C) and cellulose nanoparticle (CN) (at concentrations of 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.8% and 1.2%), using thermal, mechanical, physicochemical, permeability, and water solubility tests. C was acid-treated to obtain CN. The films were prepared by casting; potato starch and C were used as the control. The solubility of the starch films decreased with the addition of C and CN compared with its respective film without C and CN. No statistical difference (α = 0.05) was found in the films added with different concentrations of C and CN. In general, the mechanical properties were improved with the addition of C and CN, and higher values of tensile strength and elastic modulus were determined in the films reinforced with CN. The melting temperature and enthalpy increased with the addition of C and CN, and the values of both thermal parameters were higher in the films with CN than with C; the enthalpy value of the film decreased when the concentration of C or CN increased in the composite. Low concentration of C and CN is better distributed in the matrix film. The addition of C and CN in the starch films improved some mechanical, barrier, and functional properties.     

Saline and buffers minimize the action of interfering factors in the bacterial endotoxins test

The bacterial endotoxins test (BET) is the most sensitive assay for measuring endotoxin levels in solution. However, it is difficult to quantify endotoxin levels in some solutions because unknown interfering factors may inhibit or enhance the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) coagulation reaction. We investigated the mechanisms of this interference and found that interference can be reduced or totally suppressed by preparing sample solutions in saline, Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline (D-PBS), N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES), or 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (Tris) buffers. We examined the inhibitory effect on the interfering action of various reagents. The reagents examined were classified into two groups: a weak interference and a strong interference group. The interference of the strong interference group was suppressed by adding endotoxin and the test factors to LAL individually. Endotoxin peaks analyzed by gel-filtration HPLC disappeared in the presence of interfering factors. When buffers were used to prepare sample solutions instead of water, endotoxin peaks were maintained and interference with LAL reaction was suppressed. These results indicate that for the strong interference group, interference of the LAL reaction was a direct consequence of interfering factors binding to endotoxin. This alters endotoxin complexation, but this effect may be suppressed by preparing solutions in saline or other buffers instead of in water.     

宫颈上皮内病变与HPV相关

目的了解辽宁省妇女生殖道人乳头瘤病毒（Human Papillomavirus,HPV）感染情况,研究辽宁省妇女宫颈上皮内病变与HPV感染的相关性。方法回顾性分析600例行核酸分子快速导流杂交基因芯片技术（Hybri Max）检测的患者,该600例患者均行薄层液基细胞学技术（Liguid-based cytologic teset,LCT）检查,有127例患者行病理活检,结合3种方法研究HPV感染与宫颈病变的相关性。结果导流杂交HPV-DNA检测结果与LCT结果相结合,600例患者中,感染HPV的阳性率分别为正常32%（92/288）,Asc-us42%（87/208）,LSIL53%（40/75）,HSIL86%（19/22）,癌100%（7/7）。导流杂交HPV-DNA检测结果与病理活检结果相结合,感染HPV的阳性率分别为：正常或慢性炎症36.17%（17/47）,CINⅠ66.67%（36/54）,CINⅡ-Ⅲ84.21%（16/19）,癌100%（7/7）,HPV感染阳性率随宫颈病变程度加重而明显升高。细胞学与组织学病理诊断符合率分别为LSIL72%（54/75）,HSIL86.36%（19/22）,SCC100%（7/7）。不同年龄阶段妇女感染HPV的阳性率依次为20-29岁46.76%（65/139）,30-39岁43.41%（79/182）,40-9岁40.48%（71/174）,50-59岁38.16%（29/76）,60-69岁37.50%（6/16）,70岁76.92%（10/13）。600例患者HPV感染总阳性率为40.83%（245/600）,在HPV21种亚型中,有19种亚型均被检测出,感染率最高的是HPV16 35.51%（87/245）,其它常见型别依次为HPV58,HPV6,HPV53,HPV18,HPV31,HPV52和cp8304。此外还发现高危型HPV16的感染率：正常或慢性炎症35.29%（6/17）CINⅠ33.33%（12/36）,CINⅡ-Ⅲ56.25%（9/16）,癌85.71%（6/7）,其感染率阳性率在各种程度的宫颈病变中占很大比重,也随宫颈病变的严重程度而增高,进一步论证了HPV16的高危性。结论辽宁省妇女HPV感染的主要亚型是HPV16,HPV58及HPV6.无论是与细胞学检测结果相结合还是与病理活检结果相结合,HPV感染阳性率均随宫颈病变程度的加重而增高。提示宫颈病变的防治重点应放在预防及治疗HPV感染。     

薄层细胞涂片新方法在宫颈细胞学检查中应用的研究

目的：研究一种新的宫颈细胞薄层涂片方法,以提高传统手工涂片方法的制片质量。方法：随机选择的妇科门诊病人100例,随机分成2组,薄层细胞涂片组和手工涂片组,其中薄层细胞涂片组的刮片标本经过我们设计的双层滤网的过滤和分离液离心的步骤去除标本中的黏液、炎细胞和血细胞。这两组得到的涂片根据其细胞分布的均匀度及细胞重叠的多少,把涂片的结果分为满意、基本满意和不满意。结果：薄层细胞涂片组的涂片质量满意率（98％）高于手工涂片组的涂片质量满意程度（32％．P〈0．01）。讨论：薄层细胞涂片法在宫颈细胞学检查中的满意程度明显好于传统手工涂片（P〈0．01）,有统计学意义。效果稳定,适合在大范围内推广。薄层细胞涂片法相对于传统手工涂片有5大优点,大大提高了宫颈细胞学诊断的准确性。     

伪狂犬病病毒gE基因主要抗原表位区在大肠杆菌中的表达与gE乳胶凝集鉴别诊断方法的建立

将伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)Ea株gE基因主要抗原表位区段融合到原核表达载体pET28b的T7启动子下游,构建成原核表达质粒,经IPTG诱导,SDS-PAGE和Western blot印迹分析,证实gE基因主要抗原表位区在大肠杆菌中获得了表达,表达产物具有抗原性,分子量为38kD,位于包涵体中.包涵体经变性、复性处理,复性产物致敏乳胶,并对抗原致敏浓度、致敏时间、致敏温度进行优化,建立了gE乳胶凝集试验(gE-LAT).该方法不仅能显著区分gE基因缺失疫苗免疫猪血清和野毒感染猪血清,而且具有简便、快速等优点.检测临床360份猪血清,阳性率为57.78%(208/360),比国外阻断gE-ELISA的58.06%(209/360)略低,阳性符合率为94.86%(203/214),总符合率为96.94%(349/360),两种检测方法结果差异不显著(P＞0.05).     

新型氟喹诺酮衍生物对水产致病菌及其生物被膜的抑制作用研究北大核心

【目的】细菌的耐药性给动物抗感染和疾病治疗带来了极大的困难和挑战,生物被膜是导致细菌耐药性的主要原因之一,本研究检测分析了氯丙酰基克林沙星对7株菌株的抗菌活性及其生物被膜形成能力,以期发现氯丙酰基克林沙星是否具有抗菌活性。【方法】本研究通过打孔法和微量肉汤二倍稀释法进行常规药敏试验以测定最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(minimum bactericidal concentration,MBC),通过结晶紫染色法检测这7株受试菌在药物亚抑菌浓度下的生物被膜形成能力以及生长速率来测定氯丙酰基克林沙星的抑菌能力。【结果】实验结果显示,氟喹诺酮类衍生物氯丙酰基克林沙星药物对4株受试革兰氏阴性菌的MIC≤10 mg/L、MBC≤48 mg/L,对3株受试革兰氏阳性菌也呈现敏感状态(MIC≤10 mg/L,MBC≤10 mg/L)。结晶紫染色法检测发现,这7株受试菌在药物亚抑菌浓度下的生物被膜形成能力以及生长速率显著下降,说明氯丙酰基克林沙星在亚抑菌浓度即具有良好的抑菌活性。【结论】本研究证明氯丙酰基克林沙星可用作抗菌剂,并为新型生物被膜抗菌剂或细菌感染治疗药物的开发提供了新的依据。     

Repeated electroconvulsive stimuli have long-lasting effects on hippocampal BDNF and decrease immobility time in the rat forced swim test

Electroconvulsive therapy is considered an effective treatment for severe depression. However, the mechanisms for its long-lasting antidepressant efficacy are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated changes of the immobility time in the forced swim test and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein after withdrawal from 14-day repeated electroconvulsive stimuli (ECS, 50 mA, 0.2 s) in rats. Immobility time in the forced swim test was markedly decreased 6 h after withdrawal following 14-day ECS treatment. Thereafter, prolongation of the withdrawal period gradually diminished the decreasing effect of immobility time, but significant effects persisted for up to 3 days after the withdrawal. Locomotor activity in the open-field test increased 6 h after withdrawal from the ECS treatment, and the enhanced effect persisted for at least 7 days. The BDNF protein level in the hippocampus was markedly increased 6 h after the withdrawal, and remained high for at least 7 days. These findings provide further evidence that repeated ECS has long-lasting effect on increase in BDNF and locomotor activity and decrease in immobility time in the forced swim test.     

Exploration of pyridine containing heteroaryl analogs of biaryl ureas as DGAT1 inhibitors

The diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme, DGAT1, presents itself as a potential target for obesity as this enzyme is dedicated to the final committed step in triglyceride biosynthesis. Biphenyl ureas, exemplified by compound 4, have been reported to be potent hDGAT1 inhibitors. We have synthesized and evaluated 2-pyridyl and 3-pyridyl containing biaryl ureas as hDGAT1 inhibitors. Our aim was to incorporate a heteroaryl scaffold within these molecules thereby improving the cLogP profile and making these compounds more drug-like. Compounds within this series exhibited potent hDGAT1 inhibition when evaluated using an in vitro enzymatic assay. Selected compounds were also subjected to an oral fat tolerance test in mice where the percent triglyceride reduction versus a vehicle control was evaluated. Of the studied heteroaryl analogs compound 44 exhibited an in vitro IC(50) of 17nM and a plasma triglyceride reduction of 79% along with a 12-fold improvement in solubility over the biphenyl urea compound 4.