OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors (RAGE) in the pathogenesis of diabetic mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED) and the effects of AGEs and RAGE on the activity of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in rat cavernosum.

METHODSForty male Sprague-Dawley rats were taken at random to construct 2 groups of diabetes mellitus (DM) models of equal number, one given free access to water and the other administered aminoguanidine hydrochloride (DM + AG) in water at the dose of 1 g/L. Another 20 male SD rats were equally divided into a normal control and an AG control group. After 8 weeks, the cavernosum tissues were harvested from all groups of rats, part of the isolated penile tissues homogenated to detect the content of AGE-peptide (AGE-P) and the activity of ET-1, and the AGEs and RAGE in the rest of the penile tissues analyzed by immunohisto- chemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the expressions of AGEs and RAGE, the content of AGE-P and the activity of ET-1 in the cavernosum tissues were significantly high in the DM group (P < 0.05), while the administration of AG to the DM rats reversed the above results. No significant difference was observed between the normal control and AG control groups in any of the data (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn DM conditions, the joint effect of AGEs and RAGE may elevate the activity of ET-1 in rat cavernosum and thus promote the development of DMED.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Guanidines ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Penis ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Shenfu Injection (SFI) pretreatment on brain of patients receiving aortic valve replacement (AVR) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODSThirty AVR patients undergoing CPB were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the control group and the experimental group, 15 cases in each group. SFI at 1.5 mL/kg (dissolved in 250 mL 5% glucose solution) was intravenously dripped to those in the experimental group 5 days before operation, once daily for 5 successive days. SFI at 1.5 mL/kg (dissolved in 250 mL 5% glucose solution) was intravenously dripped to those 30 min before anesthesia induction. Equal dose of normal saline was intravenously dripped to those in the control group, and the other procedures were the same as those for patients in the experimental group. The venous blood sample (2 mL) was drawn from the right internal carotid vein immediately after induction of anesthesia (T1),10 min after CPB (T2), 30 min after GPB (T3), 2 h after CPB (T4), 24 h after CPB (T5), and 48 h after CPB (T6), thus detecting the plasma levels of S100beta and neuron specific enolase (NSE). And patients' cognitive function was assessed with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale on the day before operation, the 2nd and the 7th day after operation.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the levels of S1001 and NSE between the two groups at T1 (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the levels of S100beta and NSE between the two groups at T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, when compared with those at T1 (P <0.05). Besides, the levels of S100beta and NSE at T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 were lower in the experimental group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P <0.05). The MMSE scores decreased on the 2nd day after operation in the two groups, showing statistical difference when compared with those on the day before operation (P <0.05). It was lowered more obviously in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the MMSE score between the 7th day post-operation and the day before operation (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFI pretreatment had protective effect on brain in AVR patients undergoing CPB.

Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the methodology as well as the features, quantificational index, and reference standard of 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on the normal rabbit's liver.

METHODSTwenty New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled and DWI was performed after anesthetics with multi-b values at 3.0 T MR scanner. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as well as the difference between maximum and minimum ADC values, signal strength (SH), noise signal (SD), signal to noise ratio (SNR), and quality index (QI) were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSWith b value increased, the ADC values decreased accordingly (P < 0.001). The difference between maximum and minimum ADC values with b = 1000 s/mm2 was the least (good stability), b = 600 s/mm2 was the second least, and b = 300 s/mm2 was greatest (bad stability). The SH decreased at the same time (P < 0.001), but the difference among DWI with b =600, 800, and 1000 s/mm2 was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The SD decreased at the same time (P < 0.001), but the difference between DWI with b = 800 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm2 was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The SNR decreased at the same time (P < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between DWI with b = 600 s/mm2 and b = 800 s/mm2 or b = 600 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm2 (P > 0.05). The SNR of DWI with b = 800 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm2 was lower. The QI decreased at the same time (P < 0. 001) , but the difference between DWI with b = 800 s/mm2 and b = 1000 s/mm was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen 3.0 T MR DWI is applied for rabbit liver, it is better to use b = 600 s/mm2 for reducing scanning time and assuring better diffusion weights, quantity of images, and stability of ADC measurement.

Animals ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Liver ; Male ; Rabbits

Objective To explore the effects of stress and self-efficacy on the quality of life in patients with gallstones and the effect relationship of self-efficacy in the quality of life and stress, and provide guidance for the health intervention of patients with gallstones. Methods Totally 362 patients with gallstones after operative that already returned to the community for 12 months were investigated, and their stress condition, self-efficacy and quality status of life were measured by the life events scale ( LES ) , self-efficacy scale and gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI). The effect relationship of self-efficacy in the quality of life and stress was analyzed.Results The self-efficacy played partial mediating effect between stress and quality of life. When the intermediary variables-self-efficacy sense was participated in, the regression coefficient between stress and quality of life was significantly reduced (β was reduced from -0. 695 to -0. 548 ) . Self efficacy played regulating effect between stress and quality of life, which means that self efficacy sense × stress partial regression coefficient in the regression which regard the quality of life as the dependent variable can reach to a significant level (β=-0.086, P<0.05) , and introduced interaction terms after new interpretation (△R2 ) also can reach to a significant level (△R2 = 0. 017, P<0. 05 ) . Conclusions Self efficacy played the mediating effect and regulating effect in the relationship between stress and quality of life. Nursing staff can reduce the negative effects of stress events in patients′quality of life through the interventions in patients′self-efficacy.

Objective To inverstigate the effects of follow-up management based on social goals model on social relation quality in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after transcatheter arterial chemoebolization (TACE).Methods By convenience sampling method, a total of 113 patients after TACE were divided into the control group ( n=56) and the intervention group ( n=57) according to the treatment time. In the control group, routine follow-up based on case-management was adopted, while in the intervention group, the follow-up based on social goals model was adopted. The intervention effect in two groups were tested by social relation quality scale.Results After intervention, the total score of social relation quality, score of family adaptability and score of family commitment were (53.60±8.86),(20.34±3.28) and (18.07±2.96), and they were all significantly higher than the scores in the control group [(49.25±9.75),(18.52±3.55),(16.22±3.21)](P<0.05). Conclusions The follow-up management based on social goals model can effectively improve the level of family adaptability and family commitment. The intervention could be one of the effective ways to implement social relational quality fin patients after TACE.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the binding mechanisms of FVIII Trp1707Ser mutation-associated inhibitor.

METHODSThe APPT, PT, TT, Fg and FVIII:C were detected to make phenotypic diagnosis of haemophilia A. Inhibitors titer were measured by Bethesda method. Long distance-PCR (LD-PCR) and sequence-specific PCR were adopted for screening the intron 22 and intron 1 inversions respectively. FVIII coding and boundary sequences were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. Inhibitor was reacted with different segments of FVIII, including heavy chain and its components A1 and A2, light chain and its components A3, C1 and C2. Corrected test was used to measure the remaining F VIII:C (% ) by adding pooled normal plasmas. After labeling purified inhibitors with biotin, western blot was performed to further confirm the binding reactions between inhibitors and segments.

RESULTSThe haemophilia A patient had mild deficiency of FVIII:C (1.1%) and had high FVIII inhibitor titer of 18.4 BU. A mutation c.97223C>G in exon 14 of F8 gene resulted to p.Trp1707Ser was identified by DNA sequencing. Corrected test showed that the remaining F VIII:C was increased when inhibitors reacted with heavy chain and light chain, especially with heavy chain. The remaining FVIII:C was also increased in the A2 and C2 domain reactions. No significant differences were seen in the A1, A3 and C1 domain reactions. Antigen-antibody reaction bands were confirmed by western blots when degenerated B-domain deleted recombinant FVIII, A2 and C2 were used as antigens.

CONCLUSIONThe binding sites of FVIIITrp1707Ser mutation inhibitor were the A2 domain of heavy chain and C2 domain of light chain. The binding reaction with heavy chain was more intense.

Binding Sites ; genetics ; Exons ; Factor VIII ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Hemophilia A ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe primary reasons for local recurrence and therapeutic failure in the treatment of malignant gliomas are the invasion and interactions of tumor cells with surrounding normal brain cells. However, these tumor cells are hard to be visualized directly in histopathological preparations, or in experimental glioma models. Therefore, we developed an experimental human dual-color in vivo glioma model, which made tracking solitary invasive glioma cells possible, for the purpose of visualizing the interactions between red fluorescence labeled human glioma cells and host brain cells. This may offer references for further studying the roles of tumor microenvironment during glioma tissue remodeling.

METHODSTransgenic female C57BL/6 mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were crossed with male Balb/c nude mice. Then sib mating was allowed to occur continuously in order to establish an inbred nude mice strain with 50% of their offspring that are EGFP positive. Human glioma cell lines U87-MG and SU3 were transfected with red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene, and a rat C6 glioma cell line was stained directly with CM-DiI, to establish three glioma cell lines emitting red fluorescence (SU3-RFP, U87-RFP, and C6-CM-DiI). Red fluorescence tumor cells were inoculated via intra-cerebral injection into caudate nucleus of the EGFP nude mice. Tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed when their clinical symptoms appeared, and the whole brain was harvested and snap frozen for further analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was performed to monitor the mutual interactions between tumor cells and host brain cells.

RESULTSAlmost all the essential tissues of the established EGFP athymic Balb/c nude mice, except hair and erythrocytes, fluoresced green under excitation using a blue light-emitting flashlight with a central peak of 470 nm, approximately 50% of the offsprings were nu/nu EGFP+. SU3-RFP, U87-RFP, and C6-CM-DiI almost 100% expressed red fluorescence under the fluorescence microscope. Under fluorescence microscopic view, RFP+ cells were observed growing wherever they arrived at, locating in the brain parenchyma, ventricles, and para-vascular region. The interactions between the transplanted tumor cells and host adjacent cells could be classified into three types: (1) interweaving; (2) mergence; and (3) fusion. Interweaving was observed in the early stage of tumor remodeling, in which both transplantable tumor cells and host cells were observed scattered in the tumor invading and spreading area without organic connections. Mergence was defined as mutual interactions between tumor cells and host stroma during tumorigenesis. Direct cell fusion between transplantable tumor cells and host cells could be observed occasionally.

CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that self-established EGFP athymic nude mice offered the possibility of visualizing tumorigenesis of human xenograft tumor, and the dual-color xenograft glioma model was of considerable utility in studying the process of tumor remodeling. Based on this platform, mutual interactions between glioma cells and host tissues could be observed directly to further elucidate the development of tumor microenvironment.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Mice, Transgenic

OBJECTIVETo test the ability of isoflurane-induced preconditioning against oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) injury in vitro.

METHODSRat hippocampal slices were exposed to 1 volume percentage (vol%), 2vol% or 3vol% isoflurane respectively for 20 minutes under normoxic conditions (95% O₂/5% CO₂) once or twice (12 slices in each group) before OGD, with 15-minute washout after each exposure. During OGD experiments, hippocampus slices were bathed with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) lacking glucose and perfused with 95% N₂ and 5% CO₂ for 14 minutes, followed by a 30-minute reperfusion in normal ACSF. The CA1 population spike (PS) was measured and used to quantify the degree of neuronal function recovery after OGD. To assess the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in isoflurane preconditioning, U0126, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2), and SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, were used before two periods of 3vol% isoflurane exposure.

RESULTSThe degree of neuronal function recovery of hippocampal slices exposed to 1vol%, 2vol%, or 3vol% isoflurane once was 41.88%±9.23%, 55.05% ± 11.02%, or 63.18% ± 10.82% respectively. Moreover, neuronal function recovery of hippocampal slices exposed to 1vol%, 2vol%, or 3vol% isoflurane twice was 53.75% ± 12.04%, 63.50% ± 11.06%, or 76.25% ± 12.25%, respectively. Isoflurane preconditioning increased the neuronal function recovery in a dose-dependent manner. U0126 blocked the preconditioning induced by dual exposure to 3vol% isoflurane (6.13% ± 1.56%, P < 0.01) and ERK1/2 activities.

CONCLUSIONSIsoflurane is capable of inducing preconditioning in hippocampal slices in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, and dual exposure to isoflurane with a lower concentration is more effective in triggering preconditioning than a single exposure. Isoflurane-induced neuroprotection might be involved with ERK1/2 activities.

Anesthetics, Inhalation ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; pathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Isoflurane ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the periodicity of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Changsha in year 2009 and its correlation with sensitive climatic factors.

METHODSThe information of 5439 cases of influenza A (H1N1) and synchronous meteorological data during the period between May 22th and December 31st in year 2009 (223 days in total) in Changsha city were collected. The classification and regression tree (CART) was employed to screen the sensitive climatic factors on influenza A (H1N1); meanwhile, cross wavelet transform and wavelet coherence analysis were applied to assess and compare the periodicity of the pandemic disease and its association with the time-lag phase features of the sensitive climatic factors.

RESULTSThe results of CART indicated that the daily minimum temperature and daily absolute humidity were the sensitive climatic factors for the popularity of influenza A (H1N1) in Changsha. The peak of the incidence of influenza A (H1N1) was in the period between October and December (Median (M) = 44.00 cases per day), simultaneously the daily minimum temperature (M = 13°C) and daily absolute humidity (M = 6.69 g/m(3)) were relatively low. The results of wavelet analysis demonstrated that a period of 16 days was found in the epidemic threshold in Changsha, while the daily minimum temperature and daily absolute humidity were the relatively sensitive climatic factors. The number of daily reported patients was statistically relevant to the daily minimum temperature and daily absolute humidity. The frequency domain was mostly in the period of (16 ± 2) days. In the initial stage of the disease (from August 9th and September 8th), a 6-day lag was found between the incidence and the daily minimum temperature. In the peak period of the disease, the daily minimum temperature and daily absolute humidity were negatively relevant to the incidence of the disease.

CONCLUSIONIn the pandemic period, the incidence of influenza A (H1N1) showed periodic features; and the sensitive climatic factors did have a "driving effect" on the incidence of influenza A (H1N1).

China ; epidemiology ; Climate ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of landscape elements on the transmission of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Changsha.

METHODSA total of 327 cases of HFRS diagnosed between year 2005 - 2009 were recruited in the study. Based on the demographic data, meteorological data and the data of second national land survey during the same period, a GIS landscape elements database of HFRS at the township scale of Changsha was established. Spatial-temporal cluster analysis methods were adopted to explore the influence of landscape elements on the spatial-temporal distribution of HFRS in Changsha during the year of 2005 - 2009.

RESULTSThe annual incidences of HFRS in Changsha between year 2005 - 2009 were 1.16/100 000 (70 cases), 0.95/100 000 (58 cases), 1.40/100 000(87 cases), 0.75/100 000(47 cases) and 1.02/100 000(65 cases) respectively. The results of poisson regression model analysis of principal component showed that the incidence of HFRS was positively correlated with farmland area (M = 29.00 km2) and urban and rural area (M = 6.12 km2; incidence rate ratios (IRR) = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.27 - 1.41); but negatively correlated with forestland area (M = 39.00 km2; IRR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.55 - 0.81) and garden plot area (M = 0.99 km2; IRR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63 - 0.86). A significant cluster of the spatial-temporal distribution of HFRS cases was found in the study. The primary cluster (28.9 N, 113.37 E, radius at 22.22 km, RR = 5.23, log likelihood ratio (LLR) = 51.61, P <0.01, 67 cases of HFRS and incidence at 4.4/100 000) was found between year 2006 and 2007; and the secondary cluster (28.2 N, 113.6 E, RR = 10.77, LLR = 16.01, P < 0.01, 11 cases of HFRS and the incidence at 10.6/100 000) was found between year 2008 and 2009.

CONCLUSIONThe landscape elements were found to be closely related to the prevalence and transmission of HFRS.

China ; epidemiology ; Climate ; Geographic Information Systems ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Regression Analysis ; Space-Time Clustering