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This study examined the effect of a putative steroidal pheromone, 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20β-P) on milt volume and serum gonadotropin-II in precocious male common carp (40–285 g). 17,20β-P significantly increased both milt volume (14–18 h post-exposure) and GtH level (90 min post-exposure) at both doses tested (5 × 10−11 and 5 × 10−10 M in aquarium water), whereas a conjugated form of 17,20β-P (17,20β-P-sulphate) was ineffective at the only dose tested (5 × 10−11 M). Increases in milt, packed sperm volume, and GtH following exposure 5 × 10−10 M 17,20β-P also were compared to those induced by injection of Ovaprim (Syndel; mixture of salmon GnRH analogue and dopamine receptor antagonist) at two doses (0.1 and 0.5 ml/kg body weight). Increases in milt and GtH induced by the high Ovaprim dose were significantly greater than those induced by 5 × 10−10 M 17,20β-P. Increases in milt, and packed sperm volume, and GtH induced by the lower Ovaprim dose were not significantly larger than those induced by 17,20β-P. The results suggest: (1) in common carp, 17,20β-P has a pheromonal role in milt production similar to that demonstrated in goldfish; (2) waterborne 17,20β-P might be a practical non-invasive technique for enhancing milt production in cultured common carp.

Neuroimaging findings in 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) encephalopathy have seldom been reported. We present the comprehensive neuroimaging findings, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and 1 H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS), in a case of 1,2-DCE encephalopathy. On day-4 the signal intensity of the lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was higher than that with T2-weighted imaging (T2WI); mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for lesions were lower than control values. On day-20, the mean ADC value was increased gradually, whereas the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) of the lesions was significantly reduced. 1 H-MRS showed reduced ratios of N-acetyl aspartate to creatinine (NAA/Cr) and NAA to choline (NAA/Cho) on day-20 as compared with the control values. Combining conventional MRI with DTI and MRS is valuable in the early diagnosis and prognosis of 1,2-DCE-induced encephalopathy.

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.

Lactic acid is one of metabolisms from the glycolysis. Brain anoxia and ischemia will cause accumulation of lactate. Noninvasive detection of lactate using MR spectroscopy has played an important role in diagnosis and treatments of diseases. But lactate is usually difficult to be detected in most of cases. The purpose of present study was to obtain optimal detection and quantitative analysis of lactate by changing a series of parameters used in the sequences. The experiment was carried out in a glass model containing lactate and 12 patients with brain diseases. The MR scanner is a 1.5T system (Signa MR/i, GE). The spectra were obtained by using both PRESS and STEAM sequences. The spectra were processed using a GE software. The curves of lactate peaks versus TE obtained by the model exhibited waveform characteristic. The up doublets were recorded with their maximum peak heights using TE values of 26 ms and 270 ms, whereas the down doublets were recorded at their peaks using a TE value between 135 to 160 ms. All the peaks recorded by STEAM sequence were weaker than those by PRESS sequence. The results indicate that the optimized sequences are useful for better detection of lactate in clinical examinations.

Modularization of BCCDS (bornite craftworks creative design system) asks for data communications between functional modules of the system. This paper presents an improved communicating mechanism based on shared memory, expounding its design and algorithms, and applies it to BCCDS to build up a BCCDS oriented data communicating model. The efficiency of the communicating model is verified in the communication between two functional modules of BCCDS. Both methodology and case analysis prove that the data communicating model can preferably implement the data communications between functional modules of BCCDS and improve the efficiency of the bornite craftworks creative design.

The olfactory-mediated responses to the sex hormone 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17 alpha,20 beta-P) were studied in spermiated and regressed male crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.). The position and spontaneous locomotor activity of single male crucian carp were continuously recorded in an artificial stream. 17 alpha,20 beta-P (final concentration 10(-11) M) was supplied to one half and its ethanol carrier to the other half of the test area. Milt volume and gonadotropin (GtH-II) concentration in the plasma were also measured. The smell of 17 alpha,20 beta-P significantly increased both the GtH-II concentration in the plasma and the volume of strippable milt in spermiated crucian carp. Behaviorally, the side of the test area scented with 17 alpha,20 beta-P was significantly avoided by spermiated males. None of the described effects of 17 alpha,20 beta-P on spermiated males were observed for the regressed crucian carp. In view of the lack of response from regressed crucian carp we suggest that the observed avoidance behavior of 17 alpha,20 beta-P by spermiated males is a relevant reaction for spawning male crucian carp. The results are well in accordance with responses obtained in the closely related goldfish and gives strong support that the wild male crucian carp use the 17 alpha,20 beta-P signal from the females to prepare for the coming spawning.

Objective: Assessing the value of ALFF and ReHo in detecting the acute effects of alcohol on healthy human brains. Background Prior studies report that amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal are used to assess functional connectivity between different brain regions in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Design/Methods: Eight healthy volunteers were studied with conventional MR imaging and resting-state fMRI prior to and 0.5 h, 1.5 h, 2.5 h after the initiation of acute alcohol administration. With fMRI data acquired during resting state from different time course, we used a ALFF and ReHo method to investigate spontaneous neural activity in the resting state. Breath alcohol concentrations (BrACs) were measured at each time point after drinking to estimate blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). Results: No abnormalities were found by conventional MR imaging at every time point of all subjects. The fMRI analyses showed increasing ReHo in cerebellum, left postcentral gyrus, right frontal region and increasing ALFF in left precentral gyrus, right medial frontal after acute alcohol administration. It also showed decreasing ReHo in left superior temporal gyrus, left cuneus and decreasing ALFF in cerebellum, left frontal region, and right cuneus. BrAC (BAC) were significantly increased to reach a peak at 0.5 h of both doses and decreasing gradually. Conclusions: This resting-state fMRI indicates that brain regions implicated are affected by alcohol and might provide a neural basis for alcohol9s effects on behavioral performance. Disclosure: Dr. Kong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kong has nothing to disclose.

Reproductive biology of the guitarfish, Rhinobatos hynnicephalus from Xiamen coastal waters is described. Males have two functional testes. Spermatogenic cells in different seminiferous follicles are at different developmental stages while those in the same follicle are at the same stage. The development of claspers suggests that males mature at 380–400mm TL. Females mature at 390–440mm TL. Both ovaries are functional. The first generation of ovarian eggs reach mature size when 22–24mm in diameter in April or May. The subsequent crop of eggs is ready for ovulation when the intrauterine embryos reach full term. The guitarfish is aplacentally viviparous. Longitudinal folds were observed on the internal wall of the uterus. Gestation takes one year and parturition takes place in June or July. Fecundity ranges from 2 to 9, with the large females usually being more fecund. Of 29 embryos ranging from 52–157 mm TL, there were 15 females and 14 males indicating an embryonic sex ratio 1:1.

Objective To analyze the chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) findings of human infection with avian-origin influenza H7N9 virus from a hospital. Materials and methods Chest X-ray or CT was performed in five patients with H7N9 avian influenza within 2 weeks after onset. The chest imaging data and characteristics of five patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results Abnormal findings were shown on chest X-ray and CT images in all of the patients. The main abnormal findings included ground-glass opacities (GGOs) in all five cases, consolidations with air bronchograms and pleural effusion in four patients. In the early onset of four patients, the right lobe was more commonly affected (particularly in the right lower lobes). Over the course of disease, the lesions were rapidly progressed to bilateral lungs, and from focal or multifocal to diffuse. Ipsilateral pleural effusion also appeared and developed with the coexisting consolidation. Imaging findings closely reflected the overall clinical progression and severity of the disease. Conclusion With the right lower lobe prominence, the main abnormal findings in H7N9 pneumonia include rapidly progressive GGOs, consolidations with air bronchograms, and pleural effusion. CT imaging may provide a more accurate assessment of the lung pathology with H7N9 avian influenza, helping the early diagnosis and monitoring its progression.