OBJECTIVETo analyze the electrical activity property changes in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of heroin-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) rats during different stages of heroin dependence and to explore NAc's roles in the formation of drug dependence.

METHODSRecording electrodes were bilaterally embedded into the NAcs of rats with the aid of stereotaxic apparatus, followed by establishment of heroin-dependent rat model. The NAc electrical activity during 3 different stages of heroin dependence, including heroin pre-exposure, immediate post-exposure and heroin withdrawal, were respectively recorded using EEG wireless telemetry techniques. The frequency distribution (ranging from 0.5 to 30 Hz) and the amplitude of NAc electrical activity were analyzed and measured.

RESULTSHeroin-dependent rat models were successfully established and their withdrawal symptoms were evident. All rats showed a conditioned place preference (CPP) for the white box after 5-10 days of heroin-exposure, and displayed a maximum withdrawal symptoms on 2d after heroin- withdrawal. During all statges of heroin-dependence, the NAc electrical activity contained the highest proportion of delta rhythm and the lowest proportion of alpha2 rhythm. The discharge frequence band was similar across different stages. There was a significantly increased ratio of low-frequency discharges (delta rhythm) and decreased ratio of high-frequency discharges (beta rhythm) in NAc of rats during the immediate post- heroin exposure stage when compared with that during pre-exposure and heroin withdrawal stages. During the withdrawal stage, the ratio of at rhythm was significantly lower than during pre- and post-heroin exposure stages (P < 0.01). Further, the mean discharge amplitude in NAcs during immediate post-exposure and withdrawal stages was significantly increased relative to pre-exposure stage. However, the mean discharge amplitude during heroin withdrawal stage was significantly lower than during immediate post-exposure stage.

CONCLUSIONThe electrical activity properties in rat NAcs showed a significant change during different stages of heroin-dependence, which suggested that neuronal activities in NAcs might contribute to the modulation of drug-dependence.

Animals ; Conditioning, Operant ; Heroin ; pharmacology ; Heroin Dependence ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nucleus Accumbens ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Telemetry

AIM: To investigate the changes of the L-type calcium channel subunit expression and calcium currents (I_~Ca -L) in cultured rat ventricular myocytes infected by coxsackie virus B_3 (CVB_3). METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were infected with CVB_3. The changes of L-type calcium channel subunits mRNA in normal and infected myocytes were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. I_~Ca -L was recorded in two groups respectively using whole cell patch-clamp techniques. RESULTS: The expression of ?_1 and ? subunits of L-type calcium channel mRNA increased in the infected group compared with the normal one (4.00?0.07 vs 2.21?0.41, P0.05). The average current density of I_~Ca -L significantly increased by CVB_3 infection [(-8.66?0.99) pA/pF vs (-6.97?1.75) pA/pF, P

Adult ; Encephalocele ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Meningocele ; surgery ; Nasal Cavity ; surgery

Adult ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Health

Objective To investigate the surgical approaches, technics, complications and prognosis to tumors in the lateral ventricle trigone. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 15 patients admitted to our hospital and performed microsurgery to tumors in the lateral ventricle trigone from January 2005 to April 2009. Results Total resection was achieved in 13 patients, subtotal resection in 1 and partial resection in 1; 1 patient died 26 dafter the operation; CNS infections appeared in 2 patients, temporary subdural effusion in 7, and temporal horn enlargement in 2. Thirteen patients got 5 scores and 1 got 4 sores in the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Conclusions There exist different approaches in the resection of tumors in the lateral ventricle trigone, with their respective advantages and disadvantages. Surgical method should have a personalized choice based on the characteristics of tumor growth. Less surgical complications and low neurologic deficits are the goal of surgery.

Objective To search for the neutralizing epitopos on hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid besides the known neutralizing epitope (aa459-606). Methods By analysis of several strains of monoclonal antibodies against HEV capsid and their recognized epitopes, the neutralizing activity of epitope (aa394-458) at N-terminus was compared with that of an immunodominant neutralizing epitope (an459-606). Re-suits The research showed a novel potential neutralizing epitope in aa423-437 of HEV ORF2 though detec-ting and comparing the characteristics of several antibodies and corresponding determinations. The epitope is a linear non-immunodominant epitope which is different from the other neutralizing epitope in aa459-606.And the amino acids sequence of this novel epitope is conservative. Conclusion ORF2 aa423-437 is a no-vel potential neutralizing leaner epitope of HEV. It is believed that the present work adds fundamental knowl-edge to our understanding of HEV capsid domain and contributes to the prevention and control of this dis-ease.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of thrombopoietin (TPO) on platelet engraftment in hematological malignancies patients after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients were enrolled in a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial, and were randomized into 4 treatment groups following allo-HSCT. Group A was the control arm without TPO, while group B, C and D were trial arms with received 300 U×kg(-1)×d(-1) of TPO starting from day +1, +4 and +7, respectively. A total of 89 cases were evaluated, of which 22 cases in group A, 23 in group B, 20 in group C and 24 in group D. Efficacy evaluation (the time of platelet engraftment, the number of platelet transfusion) and safety evaluation \[adverse events, routine blood tests, liver and renal function, coagulation function and occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)\] were observed.

RESULTSThe median platelet engraftment time in experimental groups (groups B, C and D) were on day (13.17 ± 2.89), day (12.15 ± 2.08), day (12.33 ± 1.76), respectively, and that in control group was on day (14.82 ± 5.05). There was statistically significant difference between two groups (P = 0.029), There were no statistically significant difference in the average amount of platelet transfusion, platelet engraftment time, and platelet nadir value among the 3 experimental groups. No significant adverse events were observed in experimental groups.

CONCLUSIONSTPO administration following allo-HSCT for patients with hematologic malignancies appears to shorten platelet engraftment time. TPO given starting from day +7 is effective and safe.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Platelets ; Child ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Transfusion ; methods ; Thrombopoietin ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of a key biomarker, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), for the detection of NASH progression. Methods: A mouse NASH model was established using a high-fat diet and a high-sugar drinking water. Gene expression profile of the NASH model was analyzed using RNA sequencing. Moreover, 360 NAFLD patients (steatosis, 83; NASH, 277), 40 healthy individuals, and 87 patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease were recruited. Results: Inflammatory infiltration, focal necrosis in the leaflets, steatosis, and fibrosis were documented in the mouse liver. In total, 504 genes were differentially expressed in the livers of NASH mice, and showed significant functional enrichment in the inflammation-related category. Upregulated liver LCN2 was found to be significantly interactive with various interleukins and toll-like receptors. Serum LCN2 levels were significantly increased in NAFLD patients. Serum LCN2 levels were correlated with steatosis, intralobular inflammation, semiquantitative fibrosis score, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. The area under the curve of serum LCN2 was 0.987 with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93.5% for NASH diagnosis, and 0.977 with almost the same specificity and sensitivity for steatosis. Conclusions LCN2 might be involved in the transition from NAFL to NASH by mediating inflammation. Serum LCN2 levels might be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of NASH.

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of a key biomarker, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), for the detection of NASH progression. Methods: A mouse NASH model was established using a high-fat diet and a high-sugar drinking water. Gene expression profile of the NASH model was analyzed using RNA sequencing. Moreover, 360 NAFLD patients (steatosis, 83; NASH, 277), 40 healthy individuals, and 87 patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease were recruited. Results: Inflammatory infiltration, focal necrosis in the leaflets, steatosis, and fibrosis were documented in the mouse liver. In total, 504 genes were differentially expressed in the livers of NASH mice, and showed significant functional enrichment in the inflammation-related category. Upregulated liver LCN2 was found to be significantly interactive with various interleukins and toll-like receptors. Serum LCN2 levels were significantly increased in NAFLD patients. Serum LCN2 levels were correlated with steatosis, intralobular inflammation, semiquantitative fibrosis score, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. The area under the curve of serum LCN2 was 0.987 with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93.5% for NASH diagnosis, and 0.977 with almost the same specificity and sensitivity for steatosis. Conclusions LCN2 might be involved in the transition from NAFL to NASH by mediating inflammation. Serum LCN2 levels might be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of NASH.

In recent years,the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection has become a global public health issue.Ceftazidime/avibactam(CAZ/AVI)has been approved as a novel antimicrobial agent for the treatment of healthcare-associated pneumonia/ventilator-associated pneumonia,bloodstream infection,infection after kidney transplantation,and severe infection combined with liver cirrhosis.However,the use of CAZ/AVI has also led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains.The major mechanisms of drug-resistance include over-expression of blaKPC gene,mutation of β-lactamase and amino acids at key sites,changes in cell permeability caused by loss of membrane porin,and over-expression of efflux pump.This article reviews the research progress of CAZ/AVI in the treatment of CRKP infection,providing reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.