AIM: To investigate the role of SMADs singal pathway in rat myocardial hypertrophy. METHODS: The rat model of myocardial hypertrophy was produced by constriction of the abdominal aorta. The wet left vertricular/body weight ratio (LVMI) was measured. The expression of TGF-beta l and Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The LVMI and the expression of TGF-beta l and Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA in cardiomyothy were increased in 3 day after the operation and continued at last 4 weeks. The peak expression of TGF-beta l and Smad 2, 3, 7 mRNA was in 2 weeks after operation. The expression of Smad 7 was increased in 3 days after operation, but the peak was in 1 week after operation, then decreased. CONCLUSION: The signal protein Smad 2, 3, 7 are involved in the progress of rat myocardial hypertrophy produced by constriction of abdominal aorta. [

Objective To confirm existence of Sarcocystis suihominis and possible transmission cycle between human and pigs. Methods Based on the human-pig-human infection cycle of Sarcocystis suihominis, feces of naturally infected pigs were collected and over 10 000 sporocysts were received by flotation technique, which were mixed with fodder to infect a normal pig. Fresh pork meat containing mature sarcocysts was chopped into pieces and swallowed by a volunteer (the first author of this paper) with about 71 000 sporocysts. Symptoms and development of the parasites after infection were observed. Results The volunteer showed abdominal distension in about 5 hours after infection, with watery diarrhea 13 times from the 8th to 36th hour, vomiting 4 times, chilling and fever with a temperature of 38.5℃, dizziness, headache, joint and muscle ache, epigastralgia, and anorexia. Un-sporized sporocysts were found in the faces 10 days after infection and sporocysts appeared on the 12th day. The average size of sporocysts was 11.9(8.8-14.5)?m?9.2(7.5-12.5) ?m. The infected pig showed a slight anorexia, fatigue, constipation, hair loosen in 5～8 days after infection, and returned normal on the 17th day. The average size of the sarcocysts was 299.2(175-575)?m?62.3(30-102.5)?m. Size of bradyzoites was 11.5(9.5-13.5)?m?4.1(2.8-5.0)?m. The volunteer was treated with acetylspiramycin for 15 days(0.2 g/time, 4 times/d) after 46 days of infection, and fecal examination turned negative 30 days later. Conclusion There is a man-pig cycle for Sarcocystis suihominis in Guangxi.

Objective To analyze the effect of malaria surveillance and evaluate the surveillance measure in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 1995 to 2004 so as to provide scientific basis for formulating control strategy at the late-stage of malaria control. Methods The data on blood smear examination of febrile patients among local residents, focus residents and mobile population in 92 counties from 1995 to 2004 were collected,described and analyzed. Results The totals of 10920395,427600,246159 and 253530 slides in local residents,focus residents, returned population and endemic population were examined. The average positive rates of blood examination were 0.009%,0.079%,1.386% and 0.324%,respectively. The indigenous cases and imported cases accounted for 23.29% (1285/5517) and 76.71% (4232/5517) of the total malaria cases respectively. Conclusions The malaria incidence in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has been under 1/10000 for 17 years. There is less indigenous malaria in Guangxi. The imported malaria cases are dominated and scattered in whole Region. The secondary cases of imported malaria is very low. The results show that the present surveillance system and control programs are effective for monitoring the epidemic situation of malaria.

Objective:To investigate the supply status of dementia care services in pension agency in Guang zhou,thus to put forward suggestions for improving the service quality of the long-term care for dementia.Methods:Using questionnaire research and individual interview,an interview survey was conducted among managers,dementia and nursing assistant in ten pension agencies in Guangzhou.The data was analyzed by SPSS16.0 statistical method.Results:The dementia had been increasingly paid attention by the pension agencies,but there were still considerable defects in the aspect of the zone set up and service supply;the professional quality of nursing personnel in pension agencies had steadily increased,but shorthanded situation was more obvious.Conclusions:It suggests that we should provide specialized nursing level and the classification standard of care requirements for dementia elders;strengthen the training of mental health worker to enhance the level of medical care and supply ability of nursing assistant;allocate the mental health resources rationally;explore the “combination of medical treatment and endowment” service model which meets the need of dementia elders.

The neural stimulator is a core component of animal robots. While the control effect of animal robots is influenced by various factors, the performance of the neural stimulator plays a decisive role in regulating animal robots. In order to optimize animal robots, embedded neural stimulators had been developed using flexible printed circuit board technology. This innovation not only enabled the stimulator to generate parameter-adjustable biphasic current pulses through control signals, but also optimized its carrying mode, material, and size, overcoming the disadvantages of traditional backpack or head-inserted stimulators, which have poor concealment and are prone to infection. Static, in vitro, and in vivo performance tests of the stimulator demonstrated that it not only had precise pulse waveform output capability, but also was lightweight and small in size. It had excellent in vivo performance in both laboratory and outdoor environments. Our study has high practical significance for the application of animal robots.
Animals ; Robotics