OBJECTIVE To investigate the delayed cytotoxicity effect of chlorpyrifos (CPF) with?drawal on primary hippocampal neurons. METHODS Hippocampal neurons were prepared from SD rat fetuses on the 17th day of gestation. Seven days after culture,neurons were exposed to CPF 10 and 30 μmol · L-1,respectively,for 72 h or for 48 h followed by CPF withdrawal for 24 h. CCK-8 kit and neuronal nuclei(NeuN), 5-bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) and β Ⅲ tubulin immunofluorescence expression methods were used to evaluate the cell viability. RESULTS Compared with normal control, no significant cytotoxicity was found after CPF 72 h continuous exposure. However,CPF 48 h expo?sure followed by CPF withdrawal for 24 h induced evident cytotoxicity. The amount of BrdU positive and β Ⅲ tubulin positive hippocampal neurons were both decreased significantly(P<0.05),and cell survival and viability reduced after CPF withdrawal. CONCLUSION CPF exposure withdrawal can induce more seriously delayed cytotoxicity than continuous exposure in rat primary hippocampal neurons.

Objective To investigate the status of treatment institution selection and its influencing factors in elderly patients with chronic diseases in a community in Changsha.Methods By using systematic sampling,400 elderly patients with chronic diseases from June to August 2012 were included in the investigation by questionnaires.The influencing factors were analyzed by binary logistic regression model or multinomial logistic regression model on the basis of the numbers of response variables.Results In mild conditions in self-consciousness,more than half of the elderly patients with chronic diseases (206 cases,51.5％) preferred community health service centers including private clinics (67 cases,16.8％),municipal hospitals (92 cases,23.0％),third-grade class-A hospitals (35 cases,8.8％).In serious conditions in self-consciousness,patients preferred third-grade class-A hospital (238 cases,59.5％) and municipal hospitals (162 cases,40.5％),no one selected the private clinics or community health service center (x2=443.240,P＜0.001).The analysis of impact factors for the first treatment institution selection in patients with serious conditions in self-consciousness showed that,compared with patients selecting the municipal hospital,the following personnel preferred to choose third-grade class-A hospital:patients in the staff remaining in positions (OR=32.38) and retirees (OR=15.17),patients with monthly income more than 5,000 yuan (OR=134.28),rural cooperative medical patients (OR=661.42),patients with highly trusting in community health service centers (OR=4.23),patients with BP and serum glucose determination at a frequency of once a month to every three months (OR=83.93),patients unknowing the telephone numbers of community health service centers(OR=3.02)and patients living far away from community health service centers (OR=15.70),patients with little information about community health service centers (OR=1.62).The analysis of impact factors for the first treatment institution selection in patients with mild conditions in self-consciousness showed that,compared with patients selecting the private hospitals,the following personnel preferred to choose community health service centers:patients with primary education level (OR=0.15),retired persons (OR=0.14),patients with higher health attention (OR=0.26),while persons with less health attention (OR-10.65) and patients living far away from community health service center (OR =5.22) were more willing to choose the private hospitals.Conclusions Patient selection for treatment agencies is affected mainly by the perceived severity,in addition,age,education level,employment status,income,health insurance type,trust and understanding on community health services centers,and the emphasis on health and the distance from community health services centers.

AIM: To investigate the effects of metallothionein (MT) induced by zinc on doxorubicin (DOX)-treated mice and to explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into 4 groups (n = 6) following control, DOX, Zn and Zn plus DOX. Mice were pretreated with eikg-1, ip) or equal volume of saline, and were killed on d 4 after the last injection. Serum and hearts were collected for examination. RESULTS: Zinc pretreatment elevated cardiac MT levels significantly while other antioxidants in heart including glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) , superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were not altered. Severe oxidative injury occurred in the mice treated with DOX as myocardial lipid peroxidation and morphological changes manifested by myocardial fibers swelling and vacuolization and nuclear condensation or dissolution, with increased activities of serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase and depletion of GSH, GSHpx, and SOD while CAT activity was increased in compensation. However, pre-induction of MT with zinc attenuated all of these toxic changes significantly. Furthermore, DOX induced elevation of hydrogen peroxide in heart tissues was greatly inhibited by zinc pretreatment. CONCLUSION: Preinduction of MT by zinc protects the heart from DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, and this effect is possibly correlated with the property of MT on scavenging free radicals in vivo.

Objective To investigate the effect of kinesio taping on upper crossed syndrome (UCS). Methods From December, 2016 to March, 2017, 52 patients with UCS were randomly divided into control group (n=26) and observation group (n=26). The control group re-ceived exercise therapy, and the observation group received kinesio taping in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with Visual Ana-logue Scale (VAS), forward head angle (FHA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA). Results There was no significant difference in the score of VAS, FHA and FSA between two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the scores of VAS, FHA and FSA significantly de-creased (t>2.804, P<0.05), and they were less in the observation group than in the control group (t>2.632, P<0.05). Conclusion Exercise therapy could relieve pain and correct abnormal posture of UCS, which is more effective combined with kinesio taping.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; Anus, Imperforate ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; abnormalities ; Male ; Rectum ; abnormalities ; Urethra ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats.

METHODSFifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-α were determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR.

RESULTSThe rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermittent and destruction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-α in CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups.

CONCLUSIONCOPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

Objective To establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Methods Fifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-αwere determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR. Results The rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermiment and destrction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-αin CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups. Conclusion COPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.

Objective To establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Methods Fifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-αwere determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR. Results The rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermiment and destrction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-αin CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups. Conclusion COPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of pre-pregnancy body mass index on baby's physical growth and nutritional status. METHODS: A total of 491 pairs of mother-infant were divided into 3 groups according to mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI): a pre-pregnancy low BMI group (BMI<18.5 kg/m², n=93), a pre-pregnancy normal BMI group (18.5 kg/m² ≤ BMI<24.0 kg/m², n=326), and a pre-pregnancy high BMI group (BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m², n=72). Analysis of variance of repeated measurement data and the median percentage methods were used to compare the physical growth and nutritional status of babies in different groups. RESULTS: Baby's weight in the high BMI group were higher than that in the normal BMI and the low BMI group (F=3.958, P=0.020). The incidence of malnutrition in the low BMI group showed a tendency to decline along with the months (χ²=5.611, P=0.018), the incidence of overweight and obesity in the high and the normal BMI groups displayed a tendency to decline along with the months (χ²=18.773, 53.248, all P<0.001). Baby in the low BMI group had higher incidence of malnutrition while baby in the high BMI group had higher incidence of overweight and obesity. CONCLUSION Pregnancy BMI was correlated with the growth of baby. Too high or too low prepregnancy BMI exerts harmful effect on baby's weight and nutritional status. Medical workers should strengthen the education on women's pre-pregnancy to remind them keeping BMI at normal level.
Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Pregnancy ; Weight Gain

Objective:To explore the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in the diagnosis of immunoglobulin light-chain cardiac amyloidosis(AL-CA) patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods:A total of 92 consecutive patients diagnosed with systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis(sAL) and with normal LVEF from October 2014 to January 2018 in Xijing Hospital were enrolled.Based on the diagnostic criteria of cardiac involvement, the patients were divided into AL-CA group (52 cases) and immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) group (40 cases). The clinical data and serological markers of the patients were collected, the conventional echocardiography and full-volume three dimensional dynamic images were acquired, left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global area strain (GAS) were analyzed using off-line TomTec software. The differences between the two groups were compared.Results:Compared with the AL group, the NT-proBNP of AL-CA group was significantly higher ( P<0.05) and there were no significant differences of the other serological indexes between the two groups(all P>0.05). Compared with the AL group, the maximal left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index, and E/e′ in the AL-CA group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences of other conventional echocardiographic measurements between the two groups(all P>0.05). Compared with the AL group, GLS, GAS, and GRS were significantly lower in AL-CA group (all P<0.05); but there was no significant difference of GCS between the two groups( P>0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values discriminating cardiac involvement were 16.09% for GLS, 36.54% for GAS and 31.90% for GRS. Conclusions:3D-STI measurements of left ventricular myocardial mechanics could detect cardiac involvement in patients with sAL amyloidosis, and provides a new method for diagnosis of AL-CA.