OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the active fraction of Tiaoxin recipe (TXR-A), in inhibiting long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by beta amyloid protein (beta-AP) in CA1 area of rats' hippocampal slices.

METHODSThe population spike (PS) in CA1 area of hippocampal slices incubated in different medium was recorded before and after LTP was evoked by a 100 Hz, 100 trains high frequency stimulation (HFS), using extracellular microelectrode recording techniques.

RESULTSThe amplitude of PS significantly decreased after HFS in hippocampal slices incubated in medium containing 0.2 micromol/L beta-AP for more than 1.5 hour, as compared with that incubated in normal cerebrospinal fluid, the difference was significant, suggesting that beta-AP could inhibit LTP in hippocampal slices. The average amplitude of PS in slices incubated in beta-AP containing medium could be significantly enhanced by adding high-concentration TXR-A or TXR into the medium, and TXR-A showed a better effect of enhancing than that of TXR, indicating that TXR-A could increase the amplitude of LTP.

CONCLUSIONTXR-A may be the chief ingredient extracted from TXR for improving beta-AP induced LTP in CA1 area of rats' hippocampus, to antagonise the inhibition of beta-AP on LTP is possibly one of the mechanisms for its intelligence benefiting action.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Gene Library ; Motion Sickness ; genetics ; Rats

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Motion Sickness ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the relationship of the ratio of plasma adrenomedullin(AM)and endothelin-1(ET-1)with serum concentration of neuron-specific enolase(NSE)in full-term neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Plasma concentrations of AM,ET-1 and serum NSE from 32 full-term neonates with HIE were detected by radioimmunoassay(RIA)on the 1,3 and 7 d after parturition,30 neonates in the corresponding periods in our hospital were employed as controls.The infants with HIE were divided into mild,moderate or severe group in terms of diagnostic standard of HIE.Results 1.Plasma concentrations of AM and ET-1 in newborns with mild,moderate or severe HIE were significantly higher than that of control group at 1 d after life with a decline from 3-7 d(Pa

Objective To evaluate the acute and delayed killing effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on Echinococcus granulosus(E. granulosus)protoscolices in vitro.Methods E. granulosus protoscolices were treated with different dosage of effective power(0,25,50,100,200,250 W)and time(5,10,20,30,40,50,60 s)of HIFU in vitro to obtain the dosage-effect curves.Then the survival pmtoscolices were incubated,and the mortality of each group was counted daily.The protoscolicidal effects were investigated by trypan blue exclusion assay.Results Compared with the untreated group,the Vitality of E.granulosus protoscolices significantly decreased immediately after treated by HIFU of different dosage(F=5201.59 vs 1865.65,P＜0.05),there were the interaction both different dosage and time(F=214.50,P＜0.05).The protoscolices were broken into pieces by HIFU of 250 W×40 s,whereas the growth of the surviving protoscolices after exposed to HIFU was obvious suppressed.Both the acute killing effect and the delayed inhibitory effect showed a dosage-dependant manner.The inhibitory effect increased along with the increased dosage of HIFU(P＜0.05).The inhibitory effect in 50 W×10 s group was stronger than 25 W×20 s group(P＜0.05).The mortality was increased in parallel with the increase of HIFU dosage.Conclusions HIFU show an effective immediately killing effect,as well as a growth-inhibiting effect on the E.granulosus protoscolices in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between occupational stress and musculoskeletal disorders in lower extremity.

METHODSThe cross-sectional study was used to investigate 5338 workers in 13 factories and companies for prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in lower extremity, working postures and occupational stress were investigated with questionnaires for past year. Perceived occupational stress was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Model Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between occupational stress and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in lower extremity.

RESULTSIn the main dimensions of job strain and ERI model, physical demands and effort were risk factors of hip disorders, but job control was a protective factor of hip disorders. When job strain and ERI model scales were analyzed simultaneously, only physical demands were risk factor of hip disorders. When job strain and the effort-reward imbalance were computed by creating four independent categories, job strain was a risk factor of hip disorders, ERI was a risk factor of hip and knee disorders. The risk of imbalance between job strain and effort-reward the protective effect of job control increased with the disorder regions. According to continuous variable analysis, job strain by calculated with physical demands was risk factor of hip disorders, continuous ERI variable was risk factor of hip and knee disorders.

CONCLUSIONOccupational stress is associated significantly with musculoskeletal disorders in lower extremity. The control of occupational stress and increase of job control should be considered for preventing the musculoskeletal disorders in lower extremity.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Lower Extremity ; physiopathology ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adult ; Biomarkers ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; analysis ; Isoenzymes ; analysis ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Saliva ; enzymology ; immunology ; Stress, Psychological ; diagnosis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of occupational stress on ambulatory blood pressure.

METHODS30 male healthy workers from the refrigerator assembly line in Henan province in China were investigated. Psychosocial work conditions were measured by using the Job Demand-control Model, the Effort-reward Imbalance Model questionnaires and Occupational Stress Measurement Scale. Ambulatory blood pressure(ABP) was measured by using mobile ABP monitor. The t test was utilized to analyze the difference of parameters of ABP monitoring between different groups of occupational stress and other variables scores. The stepwise regression analysis was used to analyse the effect of occupational stress factors on parameters of ABP.

RESULTS(1) As to stressors, systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV), mean arterial blood pressure variability (MABPV) and heart rate at 30 minute after work in workers with high role conflict score were significantly higher than those in workers with low score (P < 0.05). Workers with high skill utilization score had significantly lower mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 30 minute after work than workers with low score (P < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure variability (DBPV) and heart rate variability (HRV) in workers with high decision latitude score were significantly higher than those in workers with low score (P < 0.05). Workers with high job psychological demands score had significantly higher SBPV, DBPV and MABPV than workers with low score (P < 0.05). Heart rate-pressure product(RPP) and SBPV in workers with high effort score were significantly higher than those in workers with low score (P < 0.05). Workers with low rewards score had higher mean heart rate and heart rate at 30 minute after work than workers with high score (P < 0.05). (2) For personalities, workers with high work locus of control score had significantly higher mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) than workers with low score (P < 0.05). Workers with high patience score had significantly lower mean SBP at 30 minute after work than workers with low score (P < 0.05). Heart rate at 30 minute after work in workers with high organization commitment score was significantly lower than that in workers with low score (P < 0.05). (3) Concerning buffer factors, HRV in workers with high control strategies score were significantly lower than that in workers with low score (P < 0.05). Workers with low supervisor support score had higher RPP and MABPV than workers with high score (P < 0.05). (4) In the multiple stepwise regression, daily life stress affected SBPV (R2 = 0.12) and MABPV (R2 = 0.05), depression was related to DBPV at 30 minute after work (R2 = 0.15) and SBPV (R = 0.03), mental health was predictor of MABPV (R2 = 0.07) and negative affection was predictor of heart rate at 30 minute after work (R2 = 0.24).

CONCLUSIONSOccupational stressors, personality and social support have effect on parameters of ABP. Parameters of ABP monitoring could be used to evaluate occupational stress in the field research.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Burnout, Professional ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of occupational stress on hypertension.

METHODS498 workers whose accumulative length of service was more than two years were investigated with questionnaire by method of cluster sampling from a thermal power plant in Henan province in China; 446 respondents returned qualified questionnaire including 281 male and 165 female Han People. After the patients with secondary hypertension, diabetes patients, and patients with liver or kidney disease were excluded, 84 workers (58 males and 26 females) were diagnosed as hypertension. The occupational stressors, personalities, buffering factors and occupational strain were measured by using the Job Demand-control Model, the Effort-reward Imbalance Model questionnaires and Occupational Stress Measurement Scale. Main risk factors for the development of hypertension such as heredity, body mass index, high salt diet, alcohol use, smoking habit and lack of physical activity were investigated. 498 whole blood samples were collected from workers in field epidemiologic survey. All of the samples were detected TG, CHO and FPG by common biochemistry methods. Multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between occupational stressors and prevalence rate of hypertension. The difference of morbidity of hypertension between different stress level subjects was analyzed by chi2 test.

RESULTS(1) Logistic regression analysis of the hypertension by all occupational stressors and risk factors of hypertension indicated that not only some common factors such as parents' hypertensive history, BMI, alcohol use and TG, but also responsibility for person, work locus of control and social support were significantly correlated with elevated risks of hypertension. (2) Logistic regression analysis of the hypertension by main dimensions of effort-reward imbalance model and risk factors of hypertension indicated that parents' hypertensive history, BMI, alcohol use, TG, and effort were significantly correlated with elevated risks of hypertension. Logistic regression analysis indicated the risk of hypertension had an effect on the FRI and effort (OR was 1.71 and 2.43 respectively). (3) For the job strain model, results indicated that parents' hypertensive history, UMI, alcohol use, TG, work locus of control and social support were significantly correlated with elevated risks of hypertension. But the main dimensions of job strain model (job demands and decision latitude) didn't enter regression equation. (4) The difference of prevalence of hypertension between high- and low stress level groups in male was statistically significant (OR = 3.13, P < 0.01), but the case was not the same in female (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOccupational stress might be risk factor of hypertension; The predictive power of effort-reward imbalance model for the development of hypertension would be larger than that of job strain model.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; complications ; Chi-Square Distribution ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of surgical skills, anhepatic time and preoperative hepatic function grading with bacteria infection after the liver transplantation and identify the common bacterial flora involved for effective prevention and treatment of the posttransplant bacterial infection. METHODS;The clinical records of 31 cases of liver transplantation from August 2004 to August 2005 were reviewed and the collected data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS; Among the 31 cases, posttransplant bacterial infection occurred in 16 cases accounting for a total incidence of 51.61%, with the incidence of multi-system (or multi-organ) infection of 22.58%. The earlier cases had longer average surgery time and anhepatic period than the later cases, with also higher incidence of infection. Among the 19 patients with hepatic function class A before surgery, 7 acquired bacterial infection involving one system or organ, 2 had infections compromising multiple system or organ. In the 8 patients of hepatic function class B before surgery, 2 had single-system or -organ infection and 1 multi-system or -organ infection. Four out of the 5 patients with hepatic function class C before surgery acquired posttransplant bacterial infections, all involving multiple systems or organs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacteria responsible for the infections in these cases.

CONCLUSIONImprovement of surgical skills can obviously reduce the incidence of bacterial infection after liver transplantation. No evidences suggest the correlation between the incidence of infections (including severe ones) and hepatic function class A or B before the operation, whereas patients with preoperative hepatic function class C seems to be at higher risk for infection involving multiple systems or organs. The anhepatic time does not significantly impact on the incidence or severity of the posttransplant infections, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common bacteria causing the infections.

Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pseudomonas Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors