OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of radiofrequency of different temperatures and durations on sciatic nerve motor conduction velocity (MCV).

METHODSThe bilateral sciatic nerve of 70 adult SD rats was dissected and exposed to radiofrequency ablation of different temperatures (30, 50, 55, 60, and 70 degrees C) and durations. The nerves were also exposed to increasing ablation temperatures from 30 degrees C to 50 degrees C with an increment of 5 degrees C (60 s at each temperature), and the changes in the MCV parameters were observed.

RESULTSThe MCV parameters of rat sciatic nerve underwent significant changes following the radiofrequency exposures (P<0.05) except for the exposure at 55 degrees celsius; for 10 s. Below the temperature of 55 degrees celsius;, the MCV showed no obvious correlation to the exposure time for the group. For the nerves exposed to radiofrequency of 55 degrees celsius;, the latency was not correlated to the exposure time within 30 s, and data could be obtained from 55 s group; with these exceptions, the latency was found to positively while the negative phase wave inversely correlated to the exposure time. With fixed exposure time of 60 s, the MCV parameters were positively correlated to the ablation temperature (below 50 degrees C). Failure of MCV measurement occurred following exposures to 55 degrees celsius; for 50 s (or longer) or to 60 degrees C (or higher) for 10 s.

CONCLUSIONLow-temperature radiofrequency (below 50 degrees C) produces definite effects on the MCV of rat sciatic nerve, and the effects are not associated with the exposure time, the mechanism of which remains unclear. At a given temperature, the ablation for sufficiently long durations can result in complete block of the MCV. At higher temperatures, radiofrequency exposure cause obvious nerve conduction block.

Animals ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; physiology ; Neural Conduction ; Pain ; etiology ; Pain Management ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Temperature ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo uncover the transmission patterns of the HIV epidemic in Dehong prefecture.

METHODSThe reviewed case reports, data of sentinel surveillance, testing and special survey were analyzed by SAS 8.0 program. The transmission patterns were modeled by utilizing data including sizes of the whole population and the high risk groups, high risk behavior data from 1989 to 2007, and the population index such as sex ratio and fertility rate.

RESULTSIn 2005, case reports showed the proportion of people infected with HIV through sexual contact was 39.1%, and 46.9% in 2006. Among 1636 cases reported between January 1 to September 20, 2007, the proportion of people infected with HIV through sexual contact was 52%. From 1989 to 2007, the proportion of HIV infection among drug users was declining, while HIV infection through sexual contact was rising after standardizing the population tested/surveyed. The Asian Epidemic Model has shown that the proportions of incident HIV infections through sexual transmissions were 50.6%, 52.3% and 52.7% respectively from 2005 to 2007. Correspondingly, the proportions of incident cases by injecting drug user were 48.9%, 47.2% and 46.7% respectively during this period. Moreover, the Workbook method has shown that, among adults living with HIV in 2007, 50.3% were infected through injecting drugs and 48.4% through unsafe sexual activity.

CONCLUSIONThe rapid rise in HIV infections through injecting drug in Dehong prefecture has been initially curbed. HIV epidemic has already witnessed a change from predominantly through drug injecting-related activity to an almost equally fuelled epidemic by sexual and drug-related transmission.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; transmission ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Models, Statistical ; Risk Factors ; Social Problems

OBJECTIVETo determine the incidence and risk factors on HIV infection among injection drug users (IDU) in Dehong prefecture area of Yunnan province.

METHODSAn epidemiological cohort of HIV-negative IDU had been developed and followed since October, 2004. HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months.

RESULTSBy the end of 2008, 760 HIV-negative IDU had been recruited and followed for a total of 1153.6 person-years. 47 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 4.07/100 person-years during the follow-up period. The HIV incidence was 4.45/100 person-years during 2004 - 2006, 4.50/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.54/100 person-years in 2008. Both the behavior of drug injection and the HIV incidence among the cohort had substantially decreased during the follow-up period. Multiple regression analysis using Cox proportional hazard model indicated that people with Jing-po ethnicity (Hazard ratio, HR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.06 - 6.19) and other minorities except for Dai (HR = 3.26, 95%CI: 0.89 - 11.96) were at higher risk for HIV infection than the people with Han ethnicity. People injecting drugs with (HR = 2.27, 95%CI: 0.98 - 5.25) or without (HR = 5.27, 95%CI: 2.25 - 12.34) needle sharing were at higher risk for HIV infection than those reporting having no drug injection behavior during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONBoth the behavior of drug injection and the HIV incidence among former IDU in Dehong prefecture area of Yunnan province had been decreasing during the four years. However, needle sharing remained the most important risk factor for HIV new infection among IDUs. IDUs with different ethnicities seemed to have different risks towards HIV infection.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Minority Groups ; Needle Sharing ; Risk Factors ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the HIV incidence and risk factors among sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province.

METHODSA cohort of sero-negative spouses of the HIV patients had been developed and followed up since November, 2005. HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months.

RESULTSBy the end of June, 2008, 790 sero-negative spouses of HIV patients had been recruited, of whom 702 were followed-up for at least one time. During the total 1202.35 person-years, 31 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 2.58/100 person-years. The HIV incidence rates were 2.22/100 person-years in 2006, 2.95/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.74/100 person-years in 2008. Data from the Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that those who resided in Yingjiang county [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.37, 95%CI: 1.48 - 12.90, P = 0.008], ever using drugs (HR = 3.49, 95%CI: 1.09 - 11.18, P = 0.035), or having an HIV-infected spouse who never exposed to antiretroviral treatment (HR = 3.60, 95%CI: 1.41 - 9.16, P = 0.007) were at higher risk for HIV infection.

CONCLUSIONSero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province had a relatively high incidence of HIV new infection during 2006-2008. More efforts should put on those people living in these areas, having a history of drug use or having an HIV-infected spouse who had never been exposed to antiretroviral treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; HIV Seronegativity ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Behavior ; Spouses ; Young Adult

Objective To study the HIV incidence and risk factors among sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province. Methods A cohort of sero-negative spouses of the HIV patients had been developed and followed up since November, 2005.HIV new infections and related behaviors had been investigated every six months. Results By the end of June, 2008, 790 sero-negative spouses of HIV patients had been recruited, of whom 702 were followed-up for at least one time. During the total 1202.35 person-years, 31 new HIV infections were identified, with an overall incidence of 2.58/100 preson-years. The HIV incidence rates were 2.22/100person-years in 2006, 2.95/100 person-years in 2007 and 2.74/100 person-years in 2008. Data from the Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that those who resided in Yingjiang county [hazard ratio (HR) =4.37, 95% CI: 1.48-12.90, P=0.008] , ever using drugs (HR=3.49, 95% CI:1.09-11.18, P=0.035) , or having an HIV-infected spouse who never exposed to antiretroviraltreatment (HR=3.60, 95% CI: 1.41-9.16, P=0.007) were at higher risk for HIV infection.Conclusion Sero-negative spouses of HIV patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province had a relatively high incidence of HIV new infection during 2006-2008. More efforts should put on those people living in these areas, having a history of drug use or having an HIV-infected spouse who had never been exposed to antiretroviral treatment.

Objective:To explore the possible mechanism of Yanghe Huayantang in reversing the drug resistance of breast cancer by observing the effect of Yanghe Huayantang on the transplant tumor of tamoxifen （TAM）-resistant breast cancer and its influences on the interaction pathway of estrogen receptor （ER）/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian rapamycin target protein （mTOR）. Method:Fifty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups： blank group， model group， Yanghe Huayantang group， everolimus group， and Yanghe Huayantang+everolimus group. The model of kidney deficiency was established by bilateral ovariectomy， and the blank group was treated with sham operation. Three days after the establishment of the model， all the five groups of mice were inoculated with breast cancer TAM drug-resistant cells （MCF-7/TAM^-） to establish breast cancer TAM -resistant transplanted tumor model. After successful modeling， Yanghe Huayantang group received intragastric administration of Yanghe Huayantang （traditional Chinese medicine preparation 20 mL·kg^-1）， everolimus group received intraperitoneal injection of everolimus （10 mg·kg^-1）. Yanghe Huayantang + everolimus group received Yanghe Huayantang by intragastric administration and everolimus by intraperitoneal injection. The blank group and model group received intragastric administration and intraperitoneal injection of phosphate buffer （PBS）. Drug administration was lasted for 28 days in all groups， once a day. After administration， the tumor tissue was separated and weighed， and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes of tumor tissue. Immunofluorescence and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were used to detect the expression of PI3K， Akt， mTOR， ER protein and mRNA in tumor tissue. Result:Compared with the model group， the tumor volume and tumor weight of Yanghe Huayantang group decreased significantly on the 12th， 20th and 28th days （P<0.01）， and the tumor inhibition rate increased significantly （P<0.01）.Yanghe Huayantang group significantly reduced the density of tumor cells and caused tumor cell necrosis. Compared with the model group， Yanghe Huayantang group， everolimus group and Yanghe Huayantang+everolimus group inhibited the expression of PI3K， Akt， mTOR protein and mRNA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， Yanghe Huayantang group， everolimus group and Yanghe Huayantang+everolimus group all inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of ER， and mRNA expression of ER in Yanghe Huayantang+everolimus group was significantly lower than that in the model group （P<0.01）. Conclusion:Yanghe Huayantang can inhibit the growth of TAM-resistant breast cancer. The mechanism may be that Yanghe Huayantang can reverse the TAM resistance of breast cancer by down-regulating the expression of key molecules of ER/PI3K/Akt/mTOR cross-signal pathway.

Macrophages play an important role in maintaining homeostasis of the body, and they are also one of the most abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). These macrophages are often called tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which play an important role in the development of tumor and are an important target for tumor therapy. Studies have shown that tumor growth and metastasis can be inhibited by regulating the function of macrophages, but the therapeutic efficacy was often hampered by the poor performance of the drugs such as lack of targeting, poor solubility, low bioavailability, and severe side effects. After introduction of the background of macrophage and tumor therapy, this review focuses on the research progress of nano-drug delivery systems in the modulation of the function of macrophages to enhance tumor immunotherapy. Nano-drug delivery systems are diverse in structures and functions, and can regulate macrophage functions through a variety of mechanisms. Four important aspects of macrophage modulation, which included TAMs depletion, repolarization of TAMs, promoted phagocytosis of TAMs, and combinational modulation of TAMs were summarized. Each strategy together with typical examples was reviewed and future directions in this field were also prospected.

Nuclear transporter importin-β1 is emerging as an attractive target by virtue of its prevalence in many cancers. However, the lack of druggable inhibitors restricts its therapeutic proof of concept. In the present work, we optimized a natural importin-β1 inhibitor DD1 to afford an improved analog DD1-Br with better tolerability (>25 folds) and oral bioavailability. DD1-Br inhibited the survival of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells with sub-nanomolar potency and completely prevented tumor growth in resistant CRPC models both in monotherapy (0.5 mg/kg) and in enzalutamide-combination therapy. Mechanistic study revealed that by targeting importin-β1, DD1-Br markedly inhibited the nuclear accumulation of multiple CRPC drivers, particularly AR-V7, a main contributor to enzalutamide resistance, leading to the integral suppression of downstream oncogenic signaling. This study provides a promising lead for CRPC and demonstrates the potential of overcoming drug resistance in advanced CRPC via targeting importin-β1.