Objective: To investigate the effect of lethal Vibrio vulnificus infection on the blood system and the pathology changes of the major organs in mice, and to explore the possible mechanism of the related death. Methods: Lethal Vibrio vulnificus-infection model was established with mice. The model mice were divided into two groups: a control group and an infection group. ELISA was used to examine the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and TF. Serum total bilirubin (TBIL), creatinine (Cre), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were analyzed using automatic biochemical analyzer; whole blood cell analysis was also performed. The pathological changes of the heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney were observed under electron and light microscopes. Results: Compared with the control group, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and TF were significantly increased in mice after infection with Vibrio vulnificus (P < 0.05); the serum levels of BUN, Cre, TBIL, diastase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The ratios of WBC, platelet, and lymphocytes were all significantly decreased after infection compared with the control group (P<0.05). The ratios of red blood cells, monocytes, and Hb level were significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.05). The pathological changes of major organs included hyperaemia, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and apoptosis. Conclusion: Lethal infection with Vibrio vulnificus can initiate super-inflammation reaction in mice; it can also activate the blood coagulation system and induce systemic tissue injury, finally leading to death.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Organotin Compounds ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Astrocytes maintain homeostasis of neuronal microenvironment, provide metabolic and trophic support to neurons and modulate neuronal responses to injury. Rotenone specifically inhibits mitochondrial complex I, and long exposure to rotenone may increase the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) and cause Parkinsonism. However, little is known about the role of astrocytes in the process of rotenone-induced dopaminergic neuron injury. In order to investigate this issue, we used MN9D cells as a cell model of dopaminergic neurons and rotenone as a toxin to initiate mitochondrial deficiency. MN9D cells treated with the normal medium or astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) were exposed to different concentrations of rotenone for different time followed by cell viability measurement by MTT assay. Besides, various concentrations of ACM and temporally different treatments were devised to evaluate protective efficiency of ACM. Growth curve of cells in the normal medium or ACM was continuously assessed by cell counting for 8 d. The influence of rotenone and ACM on cellular oxidative stress was determined by DCFH-DA staining followed by flow cytometric analysis. Glutathione (GSH) content after treatment of ACM or rotenone was measured by GSH assay kit. Our results showed that rotenone decreased viability of MN9D cells in a dose-dependent manner and ACM treatment significantly attenuated rotenone toxicity at each concentration. No significant difference in growth rate was observed between the normal medium and ACM treatment. Four concentrations of ACM, namely 1/3ACM, 1/2ACM, 2/3ACM and pure ACM, all displayed protection, increasing cell viability to (124.15+/-0.79)%, (126.59+/-0.82) %, (125.84+/-0.61) % and (117.15+/-1.63) % of the cells exposed directly to rotenone, respectively. Treatment with ACM through the whole experiment except the initial 24 h, 24 h before or at the same time of rotenone addition all exerted protective effects, with cell viability being (110.11+/-2.52)%, (113.30+/-2.36) %, (114.42+/-2.00)% of the cells exposed directly to rotenone, respectively. Conversely, ACM treatment 12 h after rotenone addition had no protective effect, with cell viability being (102.54+/-1.36)% of the cells exposed directly to rotenone. Moreover, ACM treatment up-regulated GSH level in MN9D cells nearly twofold. Incubation with 100 nmol/L rotenone for 24 h depleted GSH level by nearly two thirds of the control, but ACM treatment mitigated the drop of GSH level, maintaining its content at (147.83+/-0.63)% of the control. Consistent with GSH change, rotenone administration resulted in a positive rate of 96.24% of DCF staining, implying a great extent of oxidative stress, whereas treatment with ACM reduced the extent of oxidative stress to a positive rate of 78.31%. Taken together, these findings suggest that astrocytes protect MN9D cells from oxidative stress caused by rotenone, and GSH partially accounts for the protection. Therefore, astrocytes may play a protective role in the process of PD.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoprotection ; Glutathione ; analysis ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rotenone ; toxicity

To illustrate the theoretical basis of warming and dredging function of moxibustion from the treatment features, indications and effects. The causation of moxibustion is warming stimulation, and the mechanism of action is dredging meridians and collaterals. In a word, promoting the dredging function by warming is the main mechanism of therapeutic effect of moxibustion. It is summarized that warming and dredging function of moxibustion has the differences in weakness and strongness, and degree of urgency; and the initial study of clinical application is discussed as well.
Humans ; Meridians ; Models, Theoretical ; Moxibustion ; Physiological Phenomena

As a neuropeptide, neurotensin (NTS) is widely expressed in central and peripheral nervous system, which is mainly mediated byneurotensin receptor1 (NTSR1) to activate the related downstream signaling pathways. After summarized the function and mechanism of NTS/NTSR1 in various malignant tumors, we found that NTS/NTSR1 played essential roles during tumor initiation and development. NTS/NTSR1 regulates tumor initiation, proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and differentiation mainly through three pathways, including IP3/Ca2+ /PKC/MAPKs pathway, MMPs/EGFR/MAPKs (PI3K/Akt) pathway, or Rho-GTPsaes and non-receptor tyrosine kinase pathway. Besides, NTS/NTSR1 is also regulated by some upstream pathways and some traditional Chinese medicine preparations and traditional Chinese medicine therapies. In this article, we summarized the function of NTS/NTSR1 and its mechanisms, and discussed the prospective in its application to clinical diagnosis and drugs targeting.
Animals ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; Neurotensin ; chemistry ; physiology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; physiology ; Receptors, Neurotensin ; chemistry ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; physiology

Objective To solve the problems of hospital high-value consumables during purchase,warehouse-in and-out management,utilization,charging and etc.Methods High-value consumables management was improved based on No.1 Military Medical Project high-value consumables management system and bar code technology.Results Integrated management,whole-course supervision,safe utilization,convenient and accurate charging were realized for high-value consumables.Conclusion Bar code technology contributes to reducing high-value consumables inventory,decreasing hospital cash flow pressure,achieving high value consumables used safely and zero error valuation of financial accounting.It can become an effective management mode of hospital high-value consumables.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and mechanism of Poly I:C in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.

METHODSSMMC-7721 cells were treated with different doses of Poly I:C for 24, 48, and 72 h, and the cell growth inhibition rate was analyzed with CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle and the apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry with Annexin-V and PI staining, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis were used to detect the expression of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta mRNA in cells.

RESULTSIn the cells exposed to Poly I:C at low, moderate, and high doses, the inhibitory rates was the highest in high-dose Poly I:C group, and at a given Poly I:C dose, prolonged exposure resulted in significantly increased cell growth inhibition rate (P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that Poly I:C induced cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner and significantly increased the percentage of G1-phase cells as compared with that in the control group. The mRNA level of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta were also increased following Poly I:C treatment in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSIONPoly I:C can induce significant growth inhibition and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner possibly by causing cell cycle arrest and TLR3 signaling pathway activation that leads to IFN-beta production and cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Poly I-C ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 3 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of curcumin derivatives B06 on myocardium from type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODSThirty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, normal control group (NC group), high fat group (HF group), high fat treatment group (FT group), diabetes mellitus group (DM group) and diabetes treatment group (DT group) (n = 7). The late four groups were fed with high fat food, after four weeks of high fat feeding, the rats from DM group and DT group were injected with low dosage of streptozocin intraperitoneally to induce diabetes mellitus, FT group and DT group were gavaged with curcumin derivatives B06 at the dosage of 0.2 mg/kg x d. The blood glucose and lipid were detected biochemically, blood insulin was assayed by ELISA and the insulin resistance index was calculated, the morphology of myocardium was observed by light and transmission electron microscopy, the protein expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKalpha) and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (p-AMPKalpha) in myocardium were tested by Western blot.

RESULTSThe level of blood glucose, lipid, insulin and the insulin resistance index were increased in HF group and DM group, but they were decreased after the treatment with B06. The expression of AMPKalpha and p-AMPKalpha were decreased, but they became increased after the treatment of B06. There were increased collagen fibers in interstitium and expansion of mitochondria in cytoplasm of myocardium from DM group, but they were ameliorated in B06 treatment group.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that B06 may relieve the damage of myocardium from type 2 diabetic rats and the increased expression of AMPKalpha and p-AMPKalpha may be involved in it.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

Objective To compare the left ventricular function parameters of patients with sick sinus syndrome ( SSS ) and DDD pacemaker implantation during atrioventricular conduction ( AVC ) and right ventricular apex pacing ( RVAP ) mode . Methods Forty‐six consecutive patients with SSS who had undergone DDD pacemaker implantation were studied . Fifty volunteers were included as control group . Changing from AVC to RVAP mode ,the acute effect on echocardiographic parameters ,including LVEF , parameters of aortic/pulmonary artery pulse wave Doppler ,and parameters of left ventricular twist by speckle tracking imaging were measured respectively . Pacemaker implantation duration and cumulative ventricular pacing proportion ( Cum% VP) were recorded . The relationships of pacemaker parameter and above left ventricular function parameters were analyzed . Results Compared with control group ,values of peak rotation in LV apex and LV twist were significantly lower during AVC and RVAP mode . The value of peak rotation in LV base showed no significant difference between three groups .Apical‐basal rotation delay during RVAP was significantly longer than those during AVC and in control group respectively ( P <0 .05) . LVEF during RVAP decreased statistically ( P< 0 .05 ) ,but showed no difference during AVC , compared with the control group . The peak LV twist related positively with LVEF ,and negatively with Cum% VP . Conclusions RVA pacing decreases left ventricular function , which is independent of asynchrony contraction patterns caused by pacing . LVEF ,apical rotation and LV twist are more sensitive to demonstrate the LV dysfunction in patients with pacemaker implantation . LV twist related negatively with Cum% VP .

Objective:To explore clinical application effect of cardiac remote real -time monitoring system.Methods:Cardiac remote real -time monitoring warning instrument(iHolter)was applied in 210 patients.The iHolter gave a-lerts automatically in case of ECG abnormalities for corresponding treatment in time,and it offered corresponding reports on monitoring results.According to age,patients were divided into youth group(<45 years,n=59),mid-dle-aged group(45160 years,n=56)and aged group(≥60 years,n=95).Characteristics of arrhythmias among different age and sex were analyzed.Results:ECG abnormalities were found in 191 cases(90.95%)out of 210 pa-tients,including eight cases with malignant arrhythmias,in which five cases were treated and survived after timely intervention via alerts.Compared with youth group and middle -aged group,there were significant rise in percenta-ges of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia(16.9%,26.8% vs.54.7%)and atrial fibrillation(0%,0% vs.8.4%)in aged group,P< 0.05 or <0.01;abnormal percentages of heart rate variability of middle -aged group and aged group were significantly higher than that of youth group(25.0%,36.8% vs.5.1%,P<0.01 both).Male percent-age of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia was significantly higher than that of female(81.3% vs.18.8%,P=0.013).Conclusion:Cardiac remote real-time monitoring system can offer timely alerts for cardiovascular events such as arrhythmia and myocardial ischemia etc.,fight for more time for rescuing patients,maximally protect cardi-ac function and improve accuracy of clinical diagnosis.