Objective To observe the expression of anti-cardiac myosin antibody(AMA) and the collagen volume fraction(CVF) in serum in mice with chronic viral myocarditis(CVMC),and to explore the preventive and protective function of oxymatrine on myocardium.Methods BALB/c mice(n=60) were infected with coxsackievirus B3(CVB3) of increased dose biweekly to establish CVMC model.Mice in normal control group(n=8) received equal-volume 9 g?L-1 saline without CVB3 at the same time.The surviving mice in CVMC model group were randomly divided into CVMC control group(n=8) and oxymatrine therapy group(n=8) at the 42th day.From then on,mice in oxymatrine therapy group were treated with oxymatrine at the dose of 100 mg?kg-1?d-1 by gastric perfusion once a day for 28 days,and meanwhile mice in CVMC control group and the normal control group received equal-volume 9 g?L-1 saline by gastric perfusion every day.Then all mice were sacrificed at the end of the experiment.The ratio between heart weight to body weight(HW/BW) was calculated.Myocardium slides were stained with collagen specific Picric acid-Sirius red staining,and the CVF was calculated with image analysis software.The serum level of AMA(optical density value,A value) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results HW/BW(0.007 9?0.000 3),CVF [(15.30?1.08)%] and the A value of AMA(0.286?0.053) in mice of CVMC control group were increased significantly compared with those in normal control group HW/BW(0.005 5?0.000 2),CVF[(6.84?1.11)%],the A value of AMA(0.160?0.050)(Pa

Objective To establish rat models with Alzheimer's disease(AD) induced by ?-amyloid,and to observe the effects of nicotine on learning and memorizing ability of the rats. Methods Aggregated A?1-40 was injected into the bilateral basal forebrain of the rats.Learning and memorizing ability of the rats were inspected through Morris water maze test.The effects of nicotine on learning and memorizing ability of the rats induced by ?-amyloid peptide were observed. Results The learning and memorizing ability of AD animal models injected aggregated(A?1-40) for 2 weeks decreased(P

Objective To explore a better method for treatment atrophic rhinitis.Methods 56 patients with atrophic rhinitis(96 lateral)were treated by nasal submucou pediculated bone-suberiosteal muscle flap extracted from anterior wall of sinus maxillaries.Results All patients were followed 2 to 10 years,total effective rate was 100 %, with 49 cases(87.5 %)showing prominent effect.Conclusion The grafted flap cannot be assimilated,felled off and necrosis,because the flap has rich blood supply.This methods has obvious short-term effective and stable long-term effective.No complications were found.

Objective A resistin binding peptide (RBP) was selected by phage display in our previous work. Studies had shown that RBP could antagonize the role of resistin on the lipid metabolism and endocrine function of adipose tissue, but whether RBP affects the insulin secretion of pancreatic cells is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of RBP on basal insulin secretion in RINm5F insulinoma cells. Methods The cell viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethyhhiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay. The supernatants were assayed for insulin content by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reverse transcriptase-PCR assay and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) involved in insulin secretion. Cytosolic Ca2+, the trigger of insulin exocytosis, was analyzed with the fluorescent probe FURA-3/AM. Results RBP did no effect on the cell viability with a concentration of 10-8-10-12mol/L of 2 hours intervention. But it stimulated basal insulin secretion of RINm5F cells, accompanied by up-regulated increased expression of GLUT2 and elevated concentration of cytosolic Ca2+. Conclusion RBP could stimulate basal insulin secretion without affecting the cell viability.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of carbon disulfide (CS(2)) on the health of workers, and to provide the basis for the further preventive measures.

METHODSThe occupational health examination of 881 workers exposed to CS(2) in a chemical fiber factory was carried out according to the national technical standard of occupational health surveillance. The time weighted average concentrations (TWA) of CS(2) in the workshops of short silk and long silk exceeded the national standard, The workers in these two workshops served as the high exposure group. The workers of the other workshops were classified as low exposure group, in which TWA met the national standard. All exposed workers were also divided into long-term exposure group and short-term exposure group on the basis of average exposure years (16 years). The statistical analysis was used by t test, χ(2), and fisher exact test.

RESULTSThe symptom rates of numbness, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia and headache were 12.5%, 8.5%, 8.2%, 7.5%, and 7.2% respectively. The abnormal rates of superficial sensation, three fibrillation, achilles tendon reflex, patellar reflex, EMG, hypertension, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein B were 33.0%, 26.1%, 20.8%, 18.6%, 10.8%, 33.4%, 24.5%, 17.0% and 9.3% respectively. Among the high exposure group, the abnormal detectable rates of dizziness, headache, fatigue, insomnia, numbness, achilles tendon reflex, superficial and deep sensation, EMG, hypertension, ECG, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein in long-term exposure group were significantly higher than those in short-term exposure group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, among the low exposure group, the abnormal rates of the insomnia achilles tendon reflex and superficial sensation in long term exposure group were significantly higher than those of short term exposure group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The detected rates of hypertension, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, creatinine and uric acid were in males significantly greater than those in females (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to high concentrations of CS(2) could lead to the damage of nervous system, elevate blood pressure and promote the development and progression of hyperlipemia and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, CS(2) had greater effects on blood pressure and lipid in males than in females.

Adult ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; Cardiovascular System ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiphasic Screening ; Nervous System Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics of 267 cases with occupational chronic carbon disulfide (CS(2)) poisoning and to provide the basis for revising the items of periodical medical examination of workers occupationally exposed to CS(2).

METHODSThe subjects of present study were 267 patients with mild CS(2) poisoning diagnosed according to "Diagnostic Criteria of Occupational Chronic Carbon Disulfide Poisoning (GBZ4-2002)" from April in 2006 to May in 2010. All patients were from the same chemical fiber factory. When a subject was diagnosed as patient with CS(2) poisoning, who should interview with questionnaire which included the illness and occupational history, symptoms, individual habits. The physical examination, nervous test, cardiovascular test, biochemical test and electromyogram were performed.

RESULTSThe rate of decreased motor conduction velocity was 87.3% (233/267 roots). The highest detection rate of slowing conduction velocity was the common peroneal motor nerve which was 48.6% (138/248 roots) and the second was median motor nerve with delay rate of 37% (155/419 roots). The main symptoms of the patients were neurasthenia, numbness and paresthesia. The rates of abnormal achilles tendon reflex and knee jerk reflex in patients were were 79.4% and 49.8%, respectively. The detected rates of patients with ST-segment changes and hypertension were 19.1% and 27.5%, respectively. The rates of hypertension, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were 27.3%, 22.5% and 21.1%, respectively. The rates of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were high. The detected rates of urine acid, indirect bilirubin and total bilirubin in male patients were higher than those in female patients. In addition, the abnormal detected rate of urea nitrogen and indirect bilirubin increased with exposure years.

CONCLUSIONOccupational chronic CS(2) poisoning mainly affects the nervous system, as well as liver and kidney function. Detecting the median and common peroneal motor nerve conduction velocities could be the screening indicators for the peripheral nerve injury induced by CS(2) in the occupational exposure population during the periodical occupational medical examinations.

Adult ; Aged ; Carbon Disulfide ; poisoning ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiphasic Screening ; Nervous System ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Neural Conduction ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo compare the antifibrotic effect of oxymatrine and captopril in mice with chronic viral myocarditis (CVMC) and determine the possible antifibrotic mechanism of oxymatrine in CVMC.

METHODSNinety Balb/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group 1 (n = 10), normal control group 2(n = 10) and CVMC model group (n = 70). The mice in CVMC model group were infected with coxsackievirus B(3) (CVB(3)) on days 0, 14 and 28 to establish CVMC model. The volume of CVB(3) suspension was 0.20 ml, 0.25 ml and 0.30 ml, whose 50% tissue culture infection dose was 10(9) respectively. The mice in the normal control group 1 and 2 were given normal saline of volumes equal to those of viral suspension given to the model group at the same time points. Echocardiography and collagen specific picrosirius red staining were performed to evaluate the CVMC model on day 42 for the mice of the normal control group 1 and 8 mice of CVMC model group. The remaining mice in CVMC model group were randomly divided into CVMC control group, captopril group and oxymatrine group on day 42. From then on, the mice in captopril group and oxymatrine group were treated with captopril or oxymatrine at the dose of 100 mg/kg, by gavage once a day for 28 days, and meanwhile the mice in CVMC control group and the normal control group were given equal-volume normal saline by gastric gavage every day, for 28 days successively. All these mice were sacrificed on day 70. Heart tissue slices were stained with collagen specific picrosirius red and the collagen volume fraction (CVF) was calculated with image analysis software. The expressions of AngII and TGF-beta1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with normal group 1, the left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameters, left ventricular end-systolic internal diameters and heart rates were significantly increased in CVMC model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), ejection fractions, fractional shortenings and peak velocity of aorta were all significantly decreased in CVMC model group (P < 0.01 for all comparisons), and CVF levels were significantly increased in CVMC group (P < 0.01) on day 42. Compared with normal control group 2, captopril group and oxymatrine group, CVF levels and the expressions of TGF-beta1 were significantly increased in CVMC control group (P < 0.01 for all comparisons) on day 70. The expressions of AngII in CVMC control group were higher than those in normal control group and captopril group (P < 0.01 for all comparisons), but there were no significant difference between oxymatrine group and CVMC control group (P > 0.05) on day 70.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine can inhibit myocardial fibrosis in CVMC, and the mechanisms of its antifibrotic effects might be related with the down-regulation of TGF-beta1 expression.

Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Captopril ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Virus Diseases ; pathology

BACKGROUNDThe neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury is difficult to treat clinically. The aim of this research was to establish an artificial bladder reflex arc in rats through abdominal reflex pathway above the level of spinal cord injury, reinnervate the neurogenic bladder and restore bladder micturition.

METHODSThe outcome was achieved by intradural microanastomosis of the right T13 ventral root to S2 ventral root with autogenous nerve grafting, leaving the right T13 dorsal root intact. Long-term function of the reflex arc was assessed from nerve electrophysiological data and intravesical pressure tests during 8 months postoperation. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing was performed to observe the effectiveness of the artificial reflex.

RESULTSSingle stimulus (3 mA, 0.3 ms pulses, 20 Hz, 5-second duration) on the right T13 dorsal root resulted in evoked action potentials, raised intravesical pressures and bladder smooth muscle, compound action potential recorded from the right vesical plexus before and after the spinal cord transaction injury between L5 and S4 segmental in 12 Sprague-Dawley rats. There were HRP labelled cells in T13 ventral horn on the experimental side and in the intermediolateral nucleus on both sides of the L6-S4 segments after HRP injection. There was no HRP labelled cell in T13 ventral horn on the control side.

CONCLUSIONUsing the surviving somatic reflex above the level of spinal cord injury to reconstruct the bladder autonomous reflex arc by intradural microanastomosis of ventral root with a segment of autologous nerve grafting is practical in rats and may have clinical applications for humans.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Animals ; Atropine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Abdominal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Trimethaphan ; pharmacology ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEThe main purpose of this work was to give the evidence of reasonable and feasible dust control measures which will be taken in the future by analyzing the trend of dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 and identifying working faces with the severe dust contamination in one underground iron mine.

METHODSThe data was from routine monitoring between the years 1991 and 2010, which enclosed the total dust concentrations and silica contents. China National Standard of Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace used to judge whether the dust concentration exceeded the National Standard.

RESULTSThe general trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, especially maximum and average levels. The highest exceeding rate was 43.16% in 1993 and the best years were 2009 and 2010, but the exceeding rates were still over 30%. The dust exposure levels varied with different work faces. The mining and supporting were the most severe dust pollution faces which the highest ultra exceeding rates were 51.61% and 51.48% and the maximum exceeding times were 64.6 and 16.4 respectively. The next was constructing face with 40.23% exceeding rate and 24.6 times more than standard.

CONCLUSIONThe trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, but the dust exceeding rate was still high. The strong measures should be taken to control the dust pollution in this iron mine, especially mining and supporting faces.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Iron ; analysis ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis

PURPOSE: Insufficient sensitivity and specificity prevent the use of most existing biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Recently, it was reported that serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may be potential biomarkers in many cancer diseases. In this study, we investigated whether serum levels of 5 miRNAs including miR-21, miR-125b, miR-145, miR-155, and miR-365 could discriminate breast cancer patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Serum levels of miRNAs were measured by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 99 breast cancer patients and 21 healthy controls. The abundance change of serum miRNAs were also evaluated following surgical resection in 20 breast cancer patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers. RESULTS: Serum levels of miR-21 and miR-155 was significantly higher, while miR-365 was significantly lower in breast cancer as compared with healthy controls. The serum levels of miR-21 and miR-155 significantly decreased following surgical resection. Additionally, the serum level of miR-155 at stages I and II was significantly higher compared to stage III. The serum miR-145 level was remarkably higher in progesterone receptor (PR)-positive patients than PR-negative. The positivity of miR-21, miR-155, and miR-365 was high compared to CA 153 and CEA in breast cancer. ROC curve analyses of a combination of miR-21, miR-155, and miR-365 yielded much higher area under curve and enhanced sensitivity and specificity in comparison to each miRNA alone. CONCLUSION: The combination of serum miR-21/miR-155/miR-365 may potentially serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker that enables differentiation of breast cancer from healthy controls.
Area Under Curve ; Biomarkers ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Progesterone ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity