OBJECTIVETo assess the depression and anxious status among transferred injured survivors in Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province.

METHODSA total of 43 transferred injured survivors were investigated by questionnaire exploring their trauma symptoms and mental health status.

RESULTSHigh rates of trauma symptoms were remarkably observed in these survivors. Of all the respondents, 60% had some emotional symptoms and sleeping difficulties. About one third of respondents experienced recurrent and intrusive distressing recollection of event, 16 (37.21%) experienced nightmare, 15 (34.88%) had flashback and 7 (16.28%) of them tried to avoid relative stress.

CONCLUSIONMany mental symptoms were observed in transferred injured survivors. The two major factors of mental stress were emotional symptoms and re-experience of the disaster.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; Survivors ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Wounds and Injuries ; psychology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo prepare rat whole-kidney acellular matrix (ACM) scaffolds using fluid perfusion method.

METHODSThe kidneys with ureters and renal vessels were harvested from 12-week-old Wistar rats. Intravenous catheters were inserted through the renal arteries to establish channels for whole-kidney retrograde perfusion successively with heparinized PBS, 1% SDS, deionized water, 1% TritonX-100 and antibiotic-containing PBS under a pressure of 100 cmH2O. After decellularization, the scaffolds were observed under microscope with HE staining, scanning electron microscope, and fluorescence microscope with DAPI fluorescence staining.

RESULTSNo cell residue was found in the scaffolds under microscope. Scanning electron microscope identified reticular structures consisting of basilar membrane and collagen without normal cellular structures in the scaffolds, and no strong fluorescence due to the binding of DAPI to the cell nuclei was observed under fluorescence microscope.

CONCLUSIONFluid perfusion is simple and reliable to prepare rat whole-kidney acellular matrix, which may serve as an ideal cell-free scaffold.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Kidney ; cytology ; Male ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of epilepsy in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and the effect of PFO closure on seizures. Patients diagnosed with PFO were recruited and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and transthoracic echocardiography with right ventriculography. In patients with epilepsy, electroencephalography was performed. A total of 110 patients completed the assessment. A chief complaint of chest tightness or palpitations was proportionately higher in patients aged<18 years, whereas headaches and seizures were higher in patients aged≥18 years ( χ2=4.69 ,P<0.05). Comorbid epilepsy was observed in 20.9% of patients with PFO. The age at admission in the epileptic group (14-66(27±14)years) was significantly lower than that in the non-epileptic group (16-81(38±21)years) and that in patients with headache as the chief complaint (16-68(39±12)years) ( t=3.29, P<0.05). The multivariate analysis found no risk factors related to the prognosis of epilepsy. The incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in patients with PFO than in the general population.

BACKGROUNDAlthough DNA vaccine is considered as the next generation of vaccine, most DNA vaccine candidates are still suffering from the relatively weak immunogenicity despite the increased dosage of plasmid DNA administered. In order to enhance the immune responses elicited by a codon-optimized HIV gag DNA vaccine, a modified plasmid vector pDRVI1.0 and a booster immunization with replicating Tiantan vaccinia (RTV) strain expressing the same gene were employed.

METHODSVector pDRVI1.0 was constructed through inserting the 72-bp element from the SV40 enhancer, which was reported promoting nuclear transport of plasmid DNA, to the upstream of cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter region of the plasmid vector pVR1012. Gene expression levels from expression plasmids based on pDRVI1.0 and pVR1012 were tested. Humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccine alone or DNA prime-RTV boost regimen were determined in mice.

RESULTSIt was shown that the 72-bp element significantly enhanced the gene expression level in non-dividing cells. gag-specific humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccination were both significantly improved, while the Th1/Th2 balance was not obviously affected by the 72-bp element. RTV boosting further significantly enhanced DNA vaccine-primed antibody and T cell responses in a Th1-biased manner.

CONCLUSIONSThe 72-bp SV40 enhancer element should be included in the DNA vaccine vector and RTV strain is a very efficient live vector for boosting immunization.

AIDS Vaccines ; immunology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; Female ; Gene Products, gag ; immunology ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Simian virus 40 ; genetics ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Vaccinia ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect under highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in AIDS patients and for improving the curative effect and prognosis.

METHODSEpidemiological method was used from five aspects to describe the post-treatment clinical symptoms of 181 AIDS patients in Suizhou, and to evaluate the change of virus load and immune function of 79 AIDS patients. Data was doubly recorded by Epi Data and database was set up by SPSS 13.0 for analysis.

RESULTSThe effective powers of anomal-fever, cough, diarrhoea, lymphadenectasis, weight drop, erythra, mycotic infection were 81.39%, 85.00%, 84.62%, 81.89%, 82.86%, 66.07% and 45.45% respectively. CD4+ T lymphocyte count rose obviously after treatment, with an averag of 276 x 10(6) cells/ml (65 x 10(6)-824 x 10(6) cells/ml), an 129 x 10(6) cells/ml increase in three months and was 294 x 10(6) cells/ml (102 x 10(6)-750 x 10(6) cells/ml) in six months. The count change of CD4+ T lymphocyte between 3 months and 6 months did not show sigificant difference. The number of deaths among drug withdrawals was 14, with a case fatality rate as 29.79%; while the number of deaths among non-drug withdrawals was 3, with the case fatality rate as 2.24%.

CONCLUSIONResults through this study showed that HAART could obviously improve the clinical symptom of AIDS patients, and to increase the number of virus load. Improving the compliance could also reduce the case fatality rate.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; methods ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the macrolide resistance rate and molecular type withmultiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae of Beijing in 2016 in pediatric patients. Methods Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify M. pneumoniae, and MLVA was performed. The domain V of the 23S rRNA was sequenced to detect macrolide-resistant point mutations. We also investigated the activities of antibiotics against M. pneumoniae isolates in vitro. Results The PCR detection rate of M. pneumoniae in children in Beijing was 40％, and the macrolide resistance rate was 66％. The A2063G mutation in the 23S rRNA V region is the dominant mutation (137/146, 93.84％), whereas the A2064G mutation is rare (9/146, 6.16％). Seventy-three samples were typed successfully by MLVA typing, including 86.3％ (63/73) were MLVA type 4-5-7-2, and 13.7％ (10/73) were MLVA type 3-5-6-2. No other types were found. No strains were resistant to levofloxacin or tetracycline. Conclusion In 2016, a specific decrease in the macrolide resistance rate occurred in Beijing. The detection rate and macrolide resistance rate of outpatients are lower than those of inpatients. The A2063G mutants M. pneumoniae have high levels of resistance to erythromycin and azithromycin. The primary MLVA type is 4-5-7-2, followed by 3-5-6-2. No other MLVA types were detected. No strains resistant to tetracycline or levofloxacin were found in vitro.

Objective To observe the effects of Wuzi Yanzong Pill(WYP)on motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease(PD)and to explore its potential mechanisms.Methods Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group and WYP group,with 8 mice in each group.Mice in model and WYP group were intraperitoneally injected with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine for 7 consecutive days to establish a PD model.From the 1st day of model preparation,mice in WYP group were gavaged with WYP solution[16 g/(kg·d)]twice daily for 14 consecutive days.At the same time,mice in control group and model group were gavaged with 0.9%NaCl solution[50 ml/(kg·d)]twice a day.Gait experiment was utilized to assess the behavioral performance of mice in each group.Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to detect the number of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)-positive cells in the substantia nigra region,the fluorescence intensity of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2),and the number of NeuN neurons co-labeled with Nrf2 in each group.Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of TH,Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap-1),Nrf2,and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)in the brain tissue of mice in each group.Results The gait experiment results showed that,compared with control group,standing time of the left front paw,right front paw,left hind paw,and right hind paw of the mice in model group was significantly shortened(P<0.01),while swinging time of the left front paw,right front paw,left hind paw,and right hind paw was significantly prolonged(P<0.05).Compared with model group,standing time of the left front paw and right hind paw of the mice in WYP group was significantly prolonged(P<0.05),while swing time of the left front paw and right front paw was significantly shortened(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting results showed that,compared with control group,in model group the number of TH-positive cells,average fluorescence intensity of Nrf2,and HO-1 levels decreased(P<0.01),while the Keap-1 protein level increased(P<0.01),and the number of Nrf2 expression on NeuN neurons decreased(P<0.001).Compared with model group,the number of TH-positive cells,average fluorescence intensity of Nrf2,HO-1 level,and the number of Nrf2 expression on NeuN neurons in the brain tissue of mice in WYP group increased(P<0.05),while Keap-1 protein level decreased(P<0.05).Conclusions WYP could alleviate the motor dysfunction and protect dopaminergic neurons in PD mice.The underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of Keap-1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress response.

Objective: To investigate whether large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BK(Ca)) was involved in the migration of pericytes (PC) in the mice of senile cochlear stria vascularis capillaries PC. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3-month (n=10) and 12-month groups (n=10). Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to test the hearing threshold of each group. The immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression changes of osteopontin (OPN) and β-BK(Ca) channels on cochlear stria vascularis PC. The morphological changes of perivascular cells in cochlea were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cell experiment: The PC, which were in the stria vascularis of the cochlea were primary cultured and identified. A cell senile model was made with D-gal. The appropriate intervention concentration of low galactose (D-gal) was determined by CCK8. β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining was used to evaluate the cell decrept level. The change of BK(Ca) channels current on PC were recorded by whole cell patch clamp technique. The expression of BK(Ca) channels on PC was detected by immunofluorescence. The migration and invasion ability of two groups were detected by using Scratch test and Transwell. The levels of OPN and β-BK(Ca) channels were detected by Western blot. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: The ABR threshold in the 12-month group was higher than 3-month group (t=12.66, P<0.01). In the 12-month group, the expression of β-BK(Ca) channel was lower and the expression of OPN was increased (t=14.64, P<0.01; t=20.73, P<0.01). In TEM, cochlear stria vascularis PC were tightly connected to endothelial cells in 3-month group, while PC were loosely connected to endothelial cells or PC soma were separated from the capillary in 12-month group. Cell experiment: The positive rate of PC in the primary cultured cochlear stria vascularis is above 95%. Compared with the SA-β-gal stained cells in the control group, the positive rate of 15 mg/ml D-gal intervention PC was 85% (t=36.90, P<0.01). Whole cell patch clamp BK(Ca) channels current decreased in the D-gal group compared with the young group PC (t=12.18, P<0.05). The OPN expression in the senile group was higher than control group (t=16.30, P<0.01), while the β-BK(Ca) channels expression was decreased (t=11.98, P<0.01; t=15.72, P<0.05), and migration ability raised (t=7.91, P<0.01;t=7.59, P<0.01). After intervened of BK(Ca) channels specific blocker IBTX in the D-gal group, the expression of OPN and migration were increased (t=4.26, P<0.05; t=5.88, P<0.01; t=21.97, P<0.01). Conclusion: PC migration capacity were increased during the senile period, and the expression of β-BK(Ca) channel was decreased. The administration of IBTX, a specific blocker of BK(Ca) channel, at the cell level could increase the migration capacity, suggesting that BK(Ca) might be involved in the migration of PC in the stria vascularis of the aging cochlea.
Aging ; Animals ; Cochlea ; Endothelial Cells ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pericytes ; Stria Vascularis

Small molecules with physiological or pharmacological activities need to interact with biological macromolecules in order to function in the body. As the protein with the highest proportion of plasma protein,serum albumin is the main protein binding to various endogenous or exogenous small molecules. Serum albumin interacts with small molecules in a reversible non-covalent manner and transports small molecules to target sites. Bovine serum albumin( BSA) is an ideal target protein for drug research because of its low cost and high homology with human serum albumin. The research on the interaction between drugs and BSA has become a hotspot in the fields of pharmacy,medicine,biology and chemistry. In this research,molecular docking method was used to study the interaction between three small ginsenosides with high pharmacological value( Rg_1,Rb_1,Ro) and bovine serum albumin( BSA),and the binding mode information of three ginsenosides interacting with BSA was obtained. The results of molecular docking showed that ginsenosides and amino acid residues in the active pocket of proteins could be combined by hydrophobic action,hydrogen bonding and electrostatic action. The interaction between small ginsenosides and bovine serum albumin is not the only form,and their interaction has many forms of force. The interaction between these molecules and various weak forces is the key factor for the stability of the complex. The results of this study can provide the structural information of computer simulation for the determination of the interaction patterns between active components and proteins of ginseng.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Cattle ; Computer Simulation ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protein Binding ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Thermodynamics

Adult male mice emit highly complex ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in response to female conspecifics. Such USVs, thought to facilitate courtship behaviors, are routinely measured as a behavioral index in mouse models of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders such as autism. While the regulation of USVs by genetic factors has been extensively characterized, the neural mechanisms that control USV production remain largely unknown. Here, we report that optogenetic activation of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) elicited the production of USVs that were acoustically similar to courtship USVs in adult mice. Moreover, mPOA vesicular GABA transporter-positive (Vgat +) neurons were more effective at driving USV production than vesicular glutamate transporter 2-positive neurons. Furthermore, ablation of mPOA Vgat+ neurons resulted in altered spectral features and syllable usage of USVs in targeted males. Together, these results demonstrate that the mPOA plays a crucial role in modulating courtship USVs and this may serve as an entry point for future dissection of the neural circuitry underlying USV production.