Background The mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+exchanger, NCLX, plays an important role in the balance between Ca2+influx and efflux across the mitochondrial inner membrane in endothelial cells. Mitochondrial metabolism is likely to be affected by the activity of NCLX because Ca2+activates several enzymes of the Krebs cycle. It is currently believed that mitochondria are not only centers of energy produc-tion but are also important sites of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. Methods&Results This study focused on NCLX function, in rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs), induced by glucose. First, we detected an increase in NCLX expression in the endothelia of rats with diabetes mellitus, which was induced by an injection of streptozotocin. Next, colocalization of NCLX expression and mitochondria was detected using confocal analysis. Suppression of NCLX expression, using an siRNA construct (siNCLX), enhanced mitochondrial Ca2+influx and blocked efflux induced by glucose. Un-expectedly, silencing of NCLX expression induced increased ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusions These findings suggest that NCLX affects glucose-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+signaling, thereby regulating ROS generation and NLRP3 in-flammasome activation in high glucose conditions. In the early stages of high glucose stimulation, NCLX expression increases to compensate in order to self-protect mitochondrial maintenance, stability, and function in endothelial cells.

A total of 100 insomniacs were randomly divided into intervention and contrast groups (n=50 each).The contrast group took only alprazolam while the intervention group received both alprazolam and other comprehensive regimens,including acupuncture,psychotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine.One course of treatment lasted 10 days for both groups and 6 courses were offered.After comprehensive interventions,as compared with contrast group,the scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) decreased obviously in intervention group (P ＜ 0.05).And the curative rate (46％) and the total efficacious rate (96％) of intervention group were higher than those of contrast group (P ＜ 0.05).

OBJECTIVETo explore seroepidemiological status and vaccine coverage of hepatitis B among drug users in Xi'an.

METHODS545 drug users in the Xi'an Compulsory Detoxification Center were asked to answer questionnaire and provide blood sample (3-5 ml) for test of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs from March to June 2013. Totally, 545 subjects were surveyed and tested. All of them effectively completed the survey.

RESULTSThe positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs were 29.4% (160/545), 60.0% (327/545) and 56.1% (306/545), respectively. Eighty five subjects (15.6%) were negative for all of the three markers. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc among injection drug users were 40.0% (94/235) and 65.6% (154/235), which was significantly higher than non- injection drug users' (21.6% (52/241), 58.5% (141/241)) and mixed non-injection and injection drug users ((20.3% (14/69), 46.4% (32/69)) (χ(2) = 23.518 and 9.017, respectively, P < 0.05) . The HBsAg positive rate (30.6% (153/500)) of subjects with more than once per day of drug using within one year was significantly higher than those who used drugs for 2-3 times per week (15.6% (7/45)) (χ(2) = 4.51, P < 0.05). Only 11.7% (64/545) of drug users had a clear history of hepatitis B vaccination. The vaccination rate of subjects (3.5% (5/141)) with primary education or below was significantly lower than those with high school (16.3% (45/276)) (χ(2) = 26.61, P < 0.05). The vaccination rate of subjects (7.8% (12/153)) over 45 years old was significantly lower than that of subjects below 30 years old (15.9% (21/132)) and 30-44 years old (11.9% (31/260)) (χ(2) = 30.36, P < 0.05). The vaccinees had a significantly higher positive rate of anti-HBs (73.4% (47/64)) than those who without vaccination (53.8% (259/481)) (χ(2) = 8.81, P = 0.003), but the positive rates of HBsAg (16.7% (11/64)) were lower than those who without vaccination (31.0% (149/481)) (χ(2) = 23.52 and 9.02, respectively;P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe HBV infection status among drug users in Xi'an was in serious condition, while a low vaccination rate was also discovered among them.

Adult ; Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Users ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology ; Vaccination