This paper discusses the law of atrial electrical activity propagation (the timing of signal and the conduction velocity) under the sinus rhythm before and after AF caused by high-frequency electrical stimulation. The paper analyzes how different doses of acetylcholine affect the conductivity of the atrial cells of dogs. This result can also help the diagnoses and treatment of human's AF.
Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dogs ; Epicardial Mapping ; Heart Atria ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular

Purpose: This study explored the direct and indirect effects of risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) in nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. ICU nurses from 28 tertiary hospitals in the Hunan and Guangdong provinces participated in a survey conducted via a self-reported online questionnaire. A structural equation model was used to fit the data and to evaluate associations among WRMDs and risk factors. Results: Valid questionnaire samples were submitted by 984 ICU nurses. The prevalence of WRMDs within the previous year among ICU nurses was 96.8%. A valid structural equation model was constructed, and a good fit was shown: Chi-square value/degrees of freedom = 2.248; comparative fit index = .931; normal fit index = .905; goodness-of-fit index = .978; adjusted goodness-of-fit index = .966; and root mean square error of approximation = .036. All regression coefficients for direct effect reached significant levels (critical ratio > 1.96 and p < .05). In the structural equation model, the occurrence of WRMDs was directly affected by the following: physical factors, risk perception, and job stress. Physical factors and a safe environment indirectly affected WRMDs through risk perception and job stress. The strongest correlations with WRMDs were physical factors. Conclusion The model provided a new perspective for understanding the associations among physical factors, workplace safety environment, risk perception, job stress, and WRMDs. To improve the practice setting of the ICU, efforts should be made to help prevent WRMDs from physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors.

Purpose: This study explored the direct and indirect effects of risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) in nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. ICU nurses from 28 tertiary hospitals in the Hunan and Guangdong provinces participated in a survey conducted via a self-reported online questionnaire. A structural equation model was used to fit the data and to evaluate associations among WRMDs and risk factors. Results: Valid questionnaire samples were submitted by 984 ICU nurses. The prevalence of WRMDs within the previous year among ICU nurses was 96.8%. A valid structural equation model was constructed, and a good fit was shown: Chi-square value/degrees of freedom = 2.248; comparative fit index = .931; normal fit index = .905; goodness-of-fit index = .978; adjusted goodness-of-fit index = .966; and root mean square error of approximation = .036. All regression coefficients for direct effect reached significant levels (critical ratio > 1.96 and p < .05). In the structural equation model, the occurrence of WRMDs was directly affected by the following: physical factors, risk perception, and job stress. Physical factors and a safe environment indirectly affected WRMDs through risk perception and job stress. The strongest correlations with WRMDs were physical factors. Conclusion The model provided a new perspective for understanding the associations among physical factors, workplace safety environment, risk perception, job stress, and WRMDs. To improve the practice setting of the ICU, efforts should be made to help prevent WRMDs from physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors.

This paper introduces an adaptive filtering algorithm based on the LMS principle to inhibit the ventricular interference in the atrial epicardial mapping experiments.
Algorithms ; Electrocardiography ; Epicardial Mapping ; Heart Ventricles

In order to realize real-time sampling and display in 128-channeled Epicardial Mapping System whose sampling frequency is 2 kHz per channel, the article introduces a mapping software and preliminarily validates its practicability. The software is designed in MFC, using multiple-thread technology and buffering and pumping values method.
Epicardial Mapping ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software ; Software Design

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of compound Huang Gan in delaying chronic renal failure in rats after 5/6 nephrectomy and explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODSHigh-performance liquid chromatography was used to was used identify the components of compound Huang Gan extract. Rat models of 5/6 nephrectomy received a 12-week treatment with intragastric administration of Niaoduqing, Cozaar, or compound Huang Gan at low, moderate or high doses (n=10). After the treatments, the rats were sacrificed for detecting Scr, BUN, Ucr and 24h UPr , pathological examination of the renal tissues, and determination of FN, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 expression levels in the renal tissues using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe major chemical components of compound Huang Gan extract included glycyrrhizin (0.61%), paeonol (1.2%), aloe emodin (0.72%), rhein (0.85%), emodin (0.87%), chrysophanol (0.79%) and physcion (0.8%). Treatment with compound Huang Gan at low, moderate and high doses significantly reduced Scr, BUN, Ucr , Ccr and 24 h UPr levels (P(P<0.05), improved interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis, and reduced FN and ICAM-1 expressions (P(P<0.05) in rats following nephrectomy.

CONCLUSIONSCompound Huang Gan can improve the renal function and lessen glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis to delay the progression of chronic renal failure in rat models of 5/6 nephrectomy.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Nephrectomy ; Rats

Objective This study aims to investigate the sex difference in the hippocampus and parahippocampus in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods We acquired T1－weighted structural MRI from 133 bipolar type I patients (60 males) and 144 normal controls (81 males). The General Linear Model was used to examine the relationship between sex and brain volumes of the hippocampus and parahippocampus, with age and intracranial volume as covariates. Results Patients showed significantly smaller volumes of the bilateral hippocampus and parahippocampus (P＜0.01). There were sex－by－diagnosis interactions in the left parahippocampus gyrus (F=6.534, P=0.044). Male patients had significant smaller volumes of the left parahippocampus gyrus compared to the male normal controls (P＜0.001) whereas the volumes were not significantly different between female patients and female normal controls (P＞0.05). Conclusion The results suggest sex difference in the left parahippocampus gyrus volume in patients with bipolar type I disorder, which deserves further investigation in the future bipolar imaging researches.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of c-Met-siRNA on the proliferation, movement and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells in vitro. METHOD: Firstly, the pSilencer 2.0/c-Met-shRNA recombinant plasmid was transfected into laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells with transfecting agent of cationic liposome Lipofectamine 2000. Secondly,the transfection efficacy was tested by RT-PCR and Western-Blot, then the most inhibitive c-Met-siRNA sequence was elected. Cell proliferation, movement and invasion were detected with MTT, cell migration assay and cell invasion assay, respectively. RESULT: After the transfection of pSilencer 2.0/c-Met-shRNA recombinant plasmid into laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells, the expression of mRNA and protein of c-Met decreased significantly in Hep-2 cells, and ability of the proliferation, movement and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells were also inhibited. CONCLUSION The results indicated that c-Met-siRNA can down-regulated the expression of c-Met and markedly inhibited laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cell proliferation, movement and invasion. It may have the potential as a therapeutic modality to treat human laryngeal carcinoma.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Liposomes ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective:To investigate the effect of pterostilbene on the growth, apoptosis and autophagy of a human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) -immortalized cervical epithelial cell line H8.Methods:H8 cells were treated with pterostilbene at different concentrations of 0 (control group) , 25, 50, 75, 100 μmol/L for 24 and 48 hours. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was performed to evaluate the cellular proliferative activity, flow cytometry was conducted to detect apoptosis and cell cycle, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and fluorescence microscopy were performed to detect autophagy, and Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the expression of the cell cycle-related protein cyclinD1, apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3 and caspase-9, autophagy-related proteins Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) -Ⅱ/Ⅰ, ATG5 and P62, as well as HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7. Statistical analysis was carried out by using one-way analysis of variance, repeated measures analysis of variance and least significant difference- t test. Results:After 48-hour treatment with pterostilbene at different concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 μmol/L, the relative cellular proliferation rate significantly differed among the groups (100.00% ± 1.56%, 99.02% ± 4.97%, 93.59% ± 2.01%, 81.28% ± 4.90%, 69.17% ± 7.56%, respectively; F = 77.22, P < 0.05) , and gradually decreased along with the increase in the concentration of pterostilbene; compared with the control group, the pterostilbene groups all showed significantly decreased cellular proliferation rate (all P < 0.05) . After 24-hour treatment with pterostilbene, the proportions of H8 cells at G1, G2 and S phases significantly differed among the above groups ( F = 7 845.00, 51.14, 266.50, respectively, all P < 0.05) ; compared with the control group, the pterostilbene groups showed significantly increased proportions of H8 cells at G1 and G2 phases (all P < 0.05) , but significantly decreased proportions of H8 cells at S phase ( P < 0.05) . After 48-hour treatment with pterostilbene, the apoptosis rate was significantly higher in the 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-μmol/L pterostilbene groups (14.66% ± 0.22%, 13.50% ± 0.49%, 14.56% ± 0.19%, 15.30% ± 0.76%, respectively) than in the control group (11.58% ± 0.50%, all P < 0.05) . After 24-hour treatment with pterostilbene, MDC staining showed only a small number of H8 cells with bright dot-like fluorescence in the control group, but increased number of autophagosome-positive H8 cells with bright dot-like fluorescence in the pterostilbene groups. Western blot analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the protein expression of cyclin D1, caspase-3, caspase-9, Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ, ATG5, P62, E6 and E7 among the control and pterostilbene groups after 24- and 48-hour treatment with pterostilbene (all P < 0.05) . The treatment with pterostilbene could down-regulate the expression of cyclin D1, E6 and E7, and up-regulate the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ, ATG5 and P62, with significant differences between the control group and most pterostilbene groups in expression of the above proteins (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Pterostilbene can inhibit the proliferation of H8 cells, promote their apoptosis and autophagy, and down-regulate the expression of oncogenes E6 and E7.

Objective To observe the effect of compound Huang Gan in delaying chronic renal failure in rats after 5/6 nephrectomy and explore the possible mechanisms. Methods High-performance liquid chromatography was used to was used identify the components of compound Huang Gan extract. Rat models of 5/6 nephrectomy received a 12-week treatment with intragastric administration of Niaoduqing, Cozaar, or compound Huang Gan at low, moderate or high doses (n=10). After the treatments, the rats were sacrificed for detecting Scr, BUN, Ucr and 24h UPr , pathological examination of the renal tissues, and determination of FN, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 expression levels in the renal tissues using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results The major chemical components of compound Huang Gan extract included glycyrrhizin (0.61%), paeonol (1.2%), aloe emodin (0.72%), rhein (0.85%), emodin (0.87%), chrysophanol (0.79%) and physcion (0.8%). Treatment with compound Huang Gan at low, moderate and high doses significantly reduced Scr, BUN, Ucr , Ccr and 24 h UPr levels (P<0.05), improved interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis, and reduced FN and ICAM-1 expressions (P<0.05) in rats following nephrectomy. Conclusion Compound Huang Gan can improve the renal function and lessen glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis to delay the progression of chronic renal failure in rat models of 5/6 nephrectomy.