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: To understand the characteristics of new-type drug consumption, sexual behaviors and the prevalence of HIV infection among male new-type drug users in Qingdao, Shandong province. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted from 2015 to 2016. Participants were recruited from MSM community-based organizations (CBO) and general community through snowball method, relying on volunteers and male peer educators who were on new-type drugs themselves. Face-to-face interview was carried to collect information on drug use and sexual behaviors. Blood samples were collected to test HIV, syphilis and HCV antibodies. Urine samples were collected to test the evidence of new-type drugs. Qualitative variables and quantitative variables were analyzed using Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze related factors of binary variables. Results: A total of 1 034 newtype drug users were recruited, including 431 (41.7%) MSM population and 603 (58.3%) who were not MSM. Compared with the the group of people who were not MSM, people in the the MSM group were younger, unmarried and with higher level of education. The proportion of methamphetamine users were 49.7% (214/431) and 100.0% (603/603) among the groups of MSM or not MSM, respectively. People in the MSM group, 66.8% (288/431) used 5-Methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeODIPT, "foxy" ) in the last six months. However, none from the not-MSM group ever used 5-MeO-DIPT. In the last six months, proportions of sharing new-type drugs with more than two people in the MSM or not groups were 87.9% (379/431) and 97.7% (588/602), respectively (χ(2)=39.84, P<0.01). Proportions of unprotected sexual behavior among the MSM or not groups were 47.5% (285/600) and 7.4% (32/430) respectively (χ(2)=190.10, P<0.01). The proportions of 'group sex' after using drugs among the two groups were 78.1% (335/429) and 5.5% (33/600) respectively (χ(2)=573.73, P<0.01). The prevalence rates of HIV, syphilis and HCV antibody positive among the MSM or not groups were 2.1% and 0.2%, 3.3% and 6.3%, 0.0% and 0.3%, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of sharing new-type drugs with more than two people was high among male new-type drug users in Qingdao city. Male new-type-drug-users who were MSM, presented both high prevalence of group sex and HIV infection, and with less condom use. Intervention measures towards this sub-population should be strengthened.
Community-Based Participatory Research ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drug Users/statistics & numerical data* ; HIV Infections/transmission* ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Methamphetamine/adverse effects* ; Prevalence ; Risk-Taking ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syphilis/epidemiology* ; Unsafe Sex

Objective: To study the willingness and influence factors related to "centralized slaughtering, fresh poultry listing and marketing" strategy, among the household chefs, and provide reference for government to adjust and optimize the strategy on avian influenza prevention. Methods: According to the geographical characteristics and regional functions, 6 'monitoring stations' were selected from 12 residential districts of Guangzhou, respectively. Another 21 meat markets which selling live poultry, were selected in each station and 5 household chefs of each market were invited to attend a face to face interview. Basic information, personal cognitive, willingness and influencing factors to the policy were under study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used. Results: A total of 664 household chefs underwent the survey and results showed that the rate of support to the "centralized slaughtering, fresh poultry listing and marketing" strategy was 44.6% (296/664). Results from the multi-factor logistic regression showed that those household chefs who were males (OR=1.618, 95% CI: 1.156-2.264, P=0.005), having received higher education (OR=1.814, 95% CI: 1.296-2.539, P=0.001), or believing that the existence of live poultry stalls was related to the transmission of avian influenza (OR=1.918, 95% CI: 1.341-2.743, P<0.001) were factors at higher risk. These household chefs also intended to avoid the use of live poultry stalls (OR=1.666, 95%CI: 1.203-2.309, P=0.002) and accept the "centralized slaughtering, fresh poultry listing and marketing" strategy. Conclusion: Detailed study on this subject and, setting up pilot project in some areas as well as prioritizing the education programs for household chefs seemed helpful to the implementation of the 'freezing-fresh poultry' policy.
Animals ; Attitude to Health ; China ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; Influenza, Human/prevention & control* ; Male ; Marketing ; Meat-Packing Industry ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pilot Projects ; Poultry/virology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires