Objective To explore post-effect of acupuncturing ST36 (Zusanli) on brain functional connectivity. Methods Twelve healthy volunteers participated in this experiment. The fMRI data taken before and 25 minutes after removed acupuncturing stimulation were analyzed, while posterior cingulated cortex were chosen as seed points. Results At 25 minutes after removed acupuncturing stimulation, new increased functional connectivity were found in the left paracentral lobule, right superior parietal lobule and right postcentral gyrus. After acupuncture, there was intensity functional connectivity greater than in primary brain regions. Conclusion Post-effect of acupuncture can increase functional connectivity in healthy volunteer's brain.

Objective To compare the differences in gait characteristics and stability of women walking with or without sports bra.Methods Twelve women with C cup breast were required to walk on the treadmill (at the speed of 6 krn/h) with and without sports bras,respectively.Their gait parameters were collected by using Qualisys Track Manager high-speed infrared motion capture system.Results Compared with the bare-breasted condition,the maximum and minimum angles of the upper trunk were significantly smaller when subjects wearing the sports bra,the range of trunk flexion angles and trunk torsion angles were also relatively smaller,and the standard deviation of hip flexion angles during 10 gait cycles was obviously smaller.However,no differences were found in stride frequency between two breast support conditions.Conclusions Different breast support conditions have a significant influence on the upper trunk angle,trunk flexion angle and trunk torsion angle.Walking without bra will increase the range of trunk angle and deteriorate the walking stability.The stride frequencies under different breast support conditions have individual differences.

BACKGROUNDIsoflurane, a commonly used inhaled anesthetic, induces apoptosis in primary rat cortical neurons of rat in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by an unknown mechanism. We hypothesized that isoflurane induced apoptosis by causing abnormal calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via activation of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors. Sevoflurane has a reduced ability to disrupt intracellular calcium homeostasis and is a less potent cytotoxic agent. This study examined and compared the cytotoxic effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane on rat primary cortical neurons and their relationship with disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

METHODSPrimary rat cortical neurons were treated with the equivalent of 1 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane and sevoflurane for 12 hours. MTT reduction and LDH release assays were performed to evaluate cell viability. Changes of calcium concentration in the cytosolic space, [Ca(2+)](c), and production of ROS were determined after exposing primary rat cortical neurons to isoflurane and sevoflurane. We also determined the effects of IP(3) receptor antagonist xestospongin C on isoflurane-induced cytotoxicity and calcium release from the ER in primary rat cortical neurons.

RESULTSIsoflurane at 1 MAC for 12 hours induced cytotoxicity in primary rat cortical neurons, which was also associated with a high and fast elevation of peak [Ca(2+)](c). Xestospongin C significantly ameliorated isoflurane cytotoxicity in primary cortical neurons, as well as inhibited the calcium release from the ER in primary cortical neurons. Isoflurane did not induce significant changes of ROS production in primary rat cortical neurons. Sevoflurane, at equivalent exposure to isoflurane, did not induce similar cytotoxicity or elevation of peak [Ca(2+)](c) in primary rat cortical neurons.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that isoflurane induced elevation in [Ca(2+)](c), partially via elevated activity of IP(3) receptors, which rendered cells vulnerable to isoflurane neurotoxicity. ROS production was not involved in isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity. Sevoflurane, at an equivalent exposure to isoflurane, did not induce similar elevations of [Ca(2+)](c) or neurotoxicity in primary cortical neurons of rat.

Anesthetics, Inhalation ; toxicity ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Isoflurane ; toxicity ; Methyl Ethers ; toxicity ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; analysis ; Coal Mining ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; metabolism ; Pneumoconiosis ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare perioperative myocardial enzyme changes in 107 patients with congenital (CHD, n = 53), rheumatic (RHD, n = 40) and coronary artery (CAD, n = 14) diseases, and to find whether different diseases can affect the release and recovery of myocardial enzymes after heart operations.

METHODSOn the day before operation and the 1st, 3rd, 5th and the 8th day after operation, the venous blood was taken to measure the release of myocardial enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and LDH-1.

RESULTSAll the enzymes measured before operation in three groups were in the normal range; their release increased abruptly on the 1st day postoperatively to 2 - 15 times of those before operation; on the 3rd day, they recovered to some degrees, and on the 8th day they recovered to normal in all groups except LDH and LDH-1 in rh and CAD groups. Because the aortic cross-clamp time (CCT) had a good positive correlation to the release of myocardial enzymes, those patients whose CCT was over 60 minutes in three groups were compared revealing that the CCT was not different between three groups (P < 0.05). The release of CK, CK-MB and AST was significantly higher in CHD60 group than those in CHD60 and CAD60 groups, they recovered afterwards; while the release of DH and LDH-1 was higher in CAD60 group than those in CAD60 and in CHD60 groups from the 1st day to the 8th day postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSThe release of all the 5 enzymes measured before operation was in normal range in selected CHD, RHD and CAD patients. The release peak and the recovery order of all enzymes were the same in three groups. The release of CK, CK-MB and AST was higher in CHD60 group than those in RHD60 and CAD60 groups on the 1st day. The release of LDH and LDH-1 was higher in RHD60 group than those in CHD60 and CAD60 groups from the 1st day to the 8th day postoperatively. The shorter the CCT is, the less the release of myocardial enzymes. Using the release of LDH and LDH-1 to evaluate the recovery of myocardial injury after open-heart operations was recommended.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Child ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; enzymology ; surgery ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; enzymology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; pathology ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; blood ; enzymology ; surgery ; Time Factors

The dynamic polar polymers actin filaments and microtubules are usually employed to provide the structural basis for establishing cell polarity in most eukaryotic cells. Radially round and immotile spermatids from nematodes contain almost no actin or tubulin, but still have the ability to break symmetry to extend a pseudopod and initiate the acquisition of motility powered by the dynamics of cytoskeleton composed of major sperm protein (MSP) during spermiogenesis (sperm activation). However, the signal transduction mechanism of nematode sperm activation and motility acquisition remains poorly understood. Here we show that Ca(2+) oscillations induced by the Ca(2+) release from intracellular Ca(2+) store through inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptor are required for Ascaris suum sperm activation. The chelation of cytosolic Ca(2+) suppresses the generation of a functional pseudopod, and this suppression can be relieved by introducing exogenous Ca(2+) into sperm cells. Ca(2+) promotes MSP-based sperm motility by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and thus the energy supply required for MSP cytoskeleton assembly. On the other hand, Ca(2+) promotes MSP disassembly by activating Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase calcineurin. In addition, Ca(2+)/camodulin activity is required for the fusion of sperm-specifi c membranous organelle with the plasma membrane, a regulated exocytosis required for sperm motility. Thus, Ca(2+) plays multifunctional roles during sperm activation in Ascaris suum.
Animals ; Ascaris suum ; metabolism ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Cytoskeleton ; metabolism ; Cytosol ; metabolism ; Egtazic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Helminth Proteins ; metabolism ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; physiology ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Pseudopodia ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatids ; drug effects ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; Type C Phospholipases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the basis of distinctive function of acupoint through observing the effects of acupuncture at the areas of acupoint and non-acupoint on functional connectivity of different brain regions.

METHODSTwenty-one healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: 12 cases in the acupoint group and 9 cases in the non-acupoints group. Bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and its lateral 3-4 mm were punctured with twirling manipulation in the acupoint group and the non-acupoints group respectively. Before and after 25 minutes treatment, data of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was taken from bilateral cingulate gyrus (seed point) to analyze the functional connectivity in both groups.

RESULTSBrain functional connectivity was demonstrated widely in both acupoint group and non-acupoint group after acupuncture. Comparing with the non-acupoint group, in the acupoint group, brain functional connectivity with posterior cingulate gyrus was found more intensively in the bilateral tonsil, right dentate nucleus, bilateral uvula, left declive and right tuber of cerebellum, as well as in the left inferior frontal gyrus, right middle temporal gyurs, bilateral paracentral lobule, left cingulate cortex, right superior temporal gyrus, right anterior cingulate gyrus etc., however, its connectivity was less in the bilateral medial frontal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus.

CONCLUSIONBoth acupoint and non-acupoint can evoke brain functional connectivity that is similar on the most of regions, but the intensity of this connectivity in the acupoint group is higher than that in the non-acupoint group.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore if CHA2DS2 VASc score can predict substrate for persistent atrial fibrillation ( AF) and outcome post catheter ablation of AF.

METHODSFrom January 2011 to December 2012,116 patients underwent catheter ablation of persistent AF in our department and were enrolled in this study. CHA2DS2VASc score was calculated as follows: two points were assigned for a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and age ≥ 75 and 1 point each was assigned for age ≥ 65, a history of hypertension, diabetes,recent cardiac failure, vessel disease, female. Left atrial geometry ( LA) was reconstructed with a 3.5 mm tip ablation catheter with fill-in threshold 10 in CARTO system. The mapping catheter was stabled at each endocardial location for at least 3 seconds for recording. The electrogram recordings at each endocardial location were analyzed with a custom software embedded in the CARTO mapping system. Interval confidence level (ICL) was used to characterize complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) . As the default setting of the software, ICL more than or equal to 7 was considered sites with a highly repetitive CFAEs complex. CFAEs index was defined as the fraction of area of ICL more than or equal to 7 to the left atrial surface. The CFAEs index and outcome of catheter ablation among different CHA2DS2VASc groups were compared.

RESULTSOf the 116 patients, CHA2DS2VASc was 0 in 33 patients, 1 in 31 patients and ≥ 2 in 52 patients. Left atrial surface ((121.2 ± 18.9) cm2, (133.6 ± 23.8) cm2, (133.9 ± 16.1) cm2, P = 0.008), left atrial volume ((103.6 ± 24.8) ml, (118.3 ± 27.8) ml, (120.9 ± 20.9) ml, P = 0.005) and CFAEs index (44.6% ± 22.4%, 54.2% ± 22.2%, 58.7% ± 23.1%, P = 0.023) increased in proportion with increasing CHA2DS2VASc. ICLmax, ICLmin and CFAEs spatial distribution were similar among the three groups. During the mean follow-up of (13 ± 8) months, the recurrence rate were 36.4%, 35.5%, 55.8% among the three groups (P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONA high CHA2DS2VASc score is associated with extensive AF substrate and higher recurrence rate post catheter ablation of persistent AF.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Catheter Ablation ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Recurrence ; Stroke ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDVitamin D status in relation to pancreatic cancer risks is still inconsistent. This study was performed to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and risk of pancreatic cancer using a meta-analysis approach.

METHODSA systemic review of all relevant literature in English was performed by searching Pubmed, Web of Science and Embase to identify eligible studies from the earliest available date to April 1, 2012. The search terms "vitamin D", "25-hydroxyvitamin D", "pancreatic cancer" or "pancreatic neoplasms" were used to retrieve relevant papers. Inclusion criteria were: (1) the exposure of interest was intake of vitamin D or blood levels of vitamin D; (2) the outcome of interest was pancreatic cancer; (3) data on high and low intake or blood vitamin D in cases and controls were available; (4) odds ratio (OR) estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI) were provided; (5) primary epidemiological data were provided reporting pancreatic cancer incidence. The combined OR values and their 95% CIs were calculated via a meta-analysis. The potential presence of publication bias was estimated using Egger's regression asymmetry test.

RESULTSNine studies with a total of 1 206 011 participants met the inclusion criteria. The test for heterogeneity showed there were significant differences among the included studies (I(2)=70.9%, P=0.001), so a randomized-effects model was used in the meta-analysis. The pooled OR of pancreatic cancer for the highest versus the lowest categories of vitamin D level was 1.14 (95% CI 0.896-1.451), and the Z-score for the overall effect was 1.06 (P=0.288), showing that there was no significant association between vitamin D levels and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Egger's test indicated there was a low possibility of publication bias in this study (P=0.348).

CONCLUSIONDietary vitamin D or circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are not associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer based on evidence from currently published studies.

Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin D ; analogs & derivatives ; blood