AIM: To investigate the significance of autoantibodies against ?_1-adrenoceptors induced by hepatitis B virus in the pathogenesis of hepatitis virus myocarditis. METHODS: 30 mice were injected peritoneally with an emulsion of hepatitis B virus and complete Freund's adjuvant every three weeks. The autoantibodies were examined by ELISA, the heart and liver specimens were collected on 56 d for pathological observation and the binding of the autoantibodies to guinea pig cardiac myocytes were examined by immunofluorescence. Using the patch clamp technique, the effects of (1∶50) autoantibodies purified by octanoic acid extraction on the action potential and L type Ca~(2+) currents of guinea pig cardiac myocytes were also investigated. RESULTS: There was a good correlation between the autoantibodies and hepatitis B virus. Without pathological changes in the heart and liver specimens, 6 mice of the test group manifested bundle branch block, sinus arrest and premature ventricular beat etc, which were positive in the autoantibodies. The specific binding of the autoantibodies of the mice to guinea pig cardiac myocytes was observed. (1∶50) autoantibodies of the mice prolonged APD_(20), APD_(50), APD_(90) by 36.46%, 29.63% and 12.40%, respectively and enhanced L type Ca~(2+) currents by (49.67?16.01)%. CONCLUSIONS: Autoantibodies against ?_1-adrenoceptors of the mice induced by hepatitis B virus result in several arrhythmias, which might be mediated by the enhancement of L type Ca~(2+) currents.

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the possible roles played by the autoimmune mechanism in the progression of myocarditis into dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using an animal model, we investigated whether autoimmune myocarditis might develop into DCM.

METHODSExperimental Balb/C mice (n = 20) were immunized with cardiac myosin with Freund's complete adjuvant at days 0, 7 and 30. The control Balb/C mice (n = 10) were immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant in the same mannere. Serum and myocardium samples were collected after the first immunization at days 15, 21 and 120. The anti-myosin antibody was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting.

RESULTSPathological findings demonstrated that there was myocardial necrosis or inflammatory infiltration during acute stages and fibrosis mainly in the late phase of experimental group, but the myocardial lesions were not found in the control group. Autoimmunity could induce myocarditis and DCM in the absence of viral infection. High titer anti-myosin IgG antibodies were found in the experimental group, but not in the control group. Furthermore, the anti-myosin heavy chain (200 KD) antibody was positive in 21 of 48 patients with DCM and viral myocarditis, but only 4 of 20 patients with coronary heart disease, including 1 case and 3 cases that reacted with heavy and light chains (27.5 KD), respectively. The antibodies were not detected in healthy donors.

CONCLUSIONCardiac myosin might be an autoantigen that provokes autoimmunity and leads to the transformation of myocarditis into DCM. Detection of anti-myosin heavy chain antibody might contribute to diagnosis for DCM and viral myocarditis.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Autoimmune Diseases ; complications ; Cardiac Myosins ; immunology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; etiology ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; complications ; Myocardium ; pathology

Objective:Based on the cost-effectiveness,it aimed to assess the health benefits amd economic value of screening,di-agnosis,treatment,and optimal delicacy management of liver disease in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.Methods:A Deci-sion tree-Markov model was developed to compare the cost-effectiveness of HCC screening and long-term surveillance versus no screening in population at risk from the health care system perspective.Results:It is found that HCC screening was a cost-effective approach compared to no screening(Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio[ICER]:17 790 yuan/QALY).Scenario analyses suggested that initiating HCC screening at the age of 40,as recommended by clinical guidelines,and implementing long-term surveillance based on risk stratification were more cost-effective.Conclusions:For the implementation of HCC screening programs,attention should be paid to improving participation and compliance among the population at risk,incorporating advanced screening methods,improving management efficiency with digital tools,and introducing innovative payment methods to reduce economic burden.

Objective To investigate the current status of agitated behaviors among institutionalized elderly with dementia. Methods The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and General Information questionnaire were used to collect information of agitated behaviors among 141 institutionalized elderly with dementia in a long-term care facility in Guangzhou. Results Nearly 90.07％(127/141) of the elderly with dementia had the symptoms of agitation. Among the four categories of the agitated behaviors, the incidence for physically non-aggressive behaviors (82.27％, 116/141) was the highest, followed by physically aggressive behaviors (78.72％ , 111/141), verbally non- aggressive behaviors (74.47％, 105/141) and verbally aggressive behaviors (64.54％, 91/141). Spitting, repetitive sentences or questions, complaining occurred frequently. Conclusions The incidence of the agitated behaviors was high and the manifestation and types of agitated behaviors were varied, which should be paid attention to by the institution. It is necessary to develop the personalized, systematic, standardized nursing intervention to provide the support for caregivers and help the elderly with dementia to cope with agitation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and molecular features of a child with carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) deficiency.

METHODSClinical data of the child was collected. Blood acylcarnitine was determined with tandem mass spectrometry. DNA was extracted from the child and his parents. All exons and flanking regions of the CPT1A gene were analyzed by PCR and Sanger sequencing.

RESULTSAnalysis showed that the patient carried compound heterozygous mutations c.1787T>C and c.2201T>C of the CPT1A gene, which derived his father and mother, respectively. Both mutations were verified as novel through the retrieval of dbSNP, HGMD and 1000 genome databases. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that the mutations can affect protein function.

CONCLUSIONAcyl carnitine analysis has been the main method for the diagnosis of CPT1A deficiency. The c.1787T>C and c.2201T>C mutations of the CPT1A gene probably underlie the disease in this patient. Gene testing can provide important clues for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Base Sequence ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase ; deficiency ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Infant ; Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Point Mutation ; Pregnancy