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It is necessary to control the mechanical stimuli precisely in the studies of cardiac mechano-electrical feedback (MEF). In the present study a ventricular pressure-clamping system has been developed, which can be applied to isolated-perfused rabbit hearts. Controlled by a computer, this system not only can make the left ventricle follow a command defining the same pressure wave as that during a beating cycle under physiological condition, but also deliver mechanical stimuli with a proper waveform to the ventricle at a particular time phase. This system integrates multiple functions, including perfusing, pacing, recording of electrocardiogram and monophasic action potentials, and clamping and measuring of ventricular pressures in isolated-perfused hearts. Thus, it is a distinct system for investigating the phenomena and mechanisms of cardiac MEF at organ level.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Constriction ; Electrocardiography ; Feedback ; Heart ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Rabbits ; Ventricular Pressure

OBJECTIVETo develop a system for automatically controlling carotid sinus pressure in the study on baroreceptors.

METHODSThe preparation containing carotid sinus with parts of the connected vessels and carotid sinus nerve (CS-CSN) were isolated and perfused. A critical pressure controlling component (PRE-U, Hoerbiger, Deutschland) dictated by a computer was integrated into the system to clamp the intrasinus pressure. The pressure command and the relevant intrasinus pressure were compared to evaluate the validity of the pressure controlling system.

RESULTSA variety of sinus pressure-controlling patterns, including pulsation, ramp and step pressures, could be achieved accurately by using the system, and the pressure-dependent discharge activities of sinus nerve were confirmed.

CONCLUSIONThis system for clamping carotid sinus pressure could realize multiple pressure-controlling patterns and is a useful and flexible pressure controlling method that could applied in the study on mechano-electric transduction of baroreceptors.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Sinus ; innervation ; physiology ; Nerve Fibers ; physiology ; Pressoreceptors ; physiology ; Rabbits

Paeoniflorin (PAE) is the most abundant compound in Xuebijing injection widely used to treat sepsis. We aimed to investigate effect of PAE on expression of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in a rat model of sepsis. Wistar rats were divided into Normal, Model, and PAE groups (n=20 each). Endotoxin was administrated at 5 mg/ml/kg in Model and PAE rats to establish rat sepsis model. 1 h after endotoxin administration, PAE was administrated at 4 ml/kg in PAE group once per day for 3 days. Routine blood tests and biochemical indexes were assessed, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB). The plasma sTREM-1 level was measured using quantitative ELISA. At the end of experiment, the small intestine, liver, kidney and lung were subjected to pathological examinations. A rat model of sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was established successfully with endotoxin administration (5 mg/ml/kg), evidenced by histo-pathological examinations, routine blood tests and biochemical indexes: platelet count decreased and white blood cell count increased (p<0.05), CK-MB and AST increased (p<0.05). PAE treatment significantly reduced the plasma levels of AST, CK-MB, and sTREM-1, compared to Model group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, sepsis-induced damages in the liver, lung, stomach and intestinal mucosa were also markedly ameliorated by PAE treatment. PAE demonstrated a significantly protective effect in a rat model of sepsis by decreasing plasma sTREM-1 level, reducing inflammation, preventing MODS and protecting organ functions.
Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Creatine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hematologic Tests ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestine, Small ; Kidney ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver ; Lung ; Models, Animal ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; Stomach

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations of four genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: A total of 300 patients with sporadic PTSD and 150 healthy subjects (the control group) were selected according to the diagnostic criteria of PTSD (DSM-IV), and the genotypes of the BDNF SNPs G-712A, C270T, rs6265, and rs7103411 were detected by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing to determine intergroup differences in the genotypes and allele frequencies; the p values were corrected with the permutation test. RESULTS: The genotypes and allele frequencies of the SNPs G-712A, rs6265, and rs7103411 of BDNF showed no significant intergroup differences (p>0.05). However, the genotype and allele frequencies of C270T showed significant differences between the PTSD group and the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The SNP C270T of BDNF may be associated with PTSD. Individuals carrying the polymorphic T allele of C270T may be more likely to suffer from PTSD.
Alleles ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of promoting male circumcision among the general population in the high HIV prevalence areas of Guangxi Province.

METHODSWe interviewed 590 male residents from Hezhou and Qinzhou areas of Guangxi Province and conducted intervention using male circumcision promotion materials and various methods. If the subjects were willing and had no contraindication, they were referred to the appointed hospitals to receive circumcision. We conducted follow-up visits at 6 and 9 months after intervention for the changes in the subjects' knowledge, attitude and practice related to male circumcision.

RESULTSThe male circumcision knowledge, willingness and operation rate were significantly improved after intervention (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the two follow-up visits (P > 0.05). The number of those who knew that phimosis and redundant prepuce were the reasons for circumcision increased from 66.1% at baseline to 81.9% and 79.8% at the two follow-up visits; those who knew that circumcision could prevent AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases increased from 28.0% to 77.4% and 78.6%; those who knew that surgical complications could be pain, bleeding and infection increased from 29.5%, 19.3% and 39.3% to 72.5%, 58.2% and 59.4% at the first follow-up and 75.0%, 57.0% and 63.0% at the second; those who were willing to receive circumcision increased from 35.3% at baseline to 59.6% and 61.3% at the two follow-up visits; and the rate of surgery increased from zero to 12.7% and 16.1%.

CONCLUSIONThe promotion of male circumcision among the general population in the high HIV prevalence areas of Guangxi Province significantly improved their knowledge, attitude and practice related to AIDS prevention. And the promotion activities should focus on the publicity of AIDS knowledge, risks of phimosis and redundant prepuce, and safety of circumcision.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Adult ; China ; Circumcision, Male ; psychology ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To study the acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)program on prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection among female sex workers (FSWs) in Guangxi of China.Methods A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was administered among 405 FSWs in Nanning,Liuzhou and Beihai cities of Guangxi,China.Self-designed questionnaire,face to face interviews were used to collect HIV-related risk behaviors,knowledge and acceptability of PrEP.Results After an introduction on PrEP,presuming that it was effective,safe and free of charge,85.9％ of the 405 FSWs said they would use it.Data from logistic regression analysis showed that significant factors of intent to use PrEP would include the followings:workplace (OR=2.256,P=0.009),monthly income (OR=0.257,P=0.004),family closeness (OR＝0.338,P＝0.012),knowledge on HIV/AIDS (OR＝2.802,P=0.028),HIV/AIDS risk was introduced from a strange client (OR＝0.363,P＝0.049),whether the gatekeeper ordering the use of condom (OR＝0.432,P=0.010),whether consistent using condom with clients (OR＝3.010,P＝0.002),whether ever using drugs to prevent STD infection (OR=3.570,P=0.049) etc.Conclusion Awareness on HIV/AIDS knowledge and self-protection seemed the main influential factors while health education might promote the acceptability of PrEP.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for People with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP), which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) and conducted from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Based on the presence or absence of anxiety-related characteristics, 1,178 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious depression (n=915) or non-anxious depression (n=263), respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the non-anxious group, the anxious-depression group had an older age at onset (t=-4.39, p<0.001), were older (t=-4.69, p<0.001), reported more lifetime depressive episodes (z=-3.24, p=0.001), were more likely to experience seasonal depressive episodes (chi2=6.896, p=0.009) and depressive episodes following stressful life events (chi2=59.350, p<0.001), and were more likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorders (chi2=6.091, p=0.014). Their positive and total scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) (p<0.05) were also lower. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, p<0.001), a lower total MDQ score (OR=0.94, p=0.011), depressive episodes following stressful life events (OR=3.04, p<0.001), and seasonal depressive episodes (OR=1.75, p=0.039) were significantly associated with anxious depression. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that older age, fewer subclinical bipolar features, an increased number of depressive episodes following stressful life events, and seasonal depressive episodes may be risk factors for anxiety-related characteristics in patients with MDD.
Anxiety* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bipolar Disorder ; Checklist ; China ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mood Disorders ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons

Objective To explore the influence of triple anti-tumor therapy which bases on sirolimus combined huaier granule and thymosin α-1 on T lymphocyte of rat model with liver cancer recurrence after transplantation.Methods Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into triple therapy group,sirolimus group,huaier-granule group,thymosin α-1 group,positive-control group and blank group (n=1 2 in each group).Except the blank group,rats in all the other groups were established the simulation animal model of liver cancer recurrence after liver transplantation by chemical-induced method.After the model was established,rats in the positive control group were executed to appraise whether the model was successful.The proportion of regulatory T cells (Treg)of CD4 + T lymphocytes in peripheral blood (Treg%),the percentage of CD4 + T lymphocyte of total lymphocyte(CD4 +T%)and the percentage of CD8 + T lymphocyte of total lymphocyte (CD8 +T%),were detected by the flow cytometry respectively.The relationship between Treg% and CD4 + T %,CD8 + T %,the ratio of CD4 +/CD8 + T lymphocytes(CD4 +/CD8 +)was analyzed by the method of Spearman rank correlation.Results Pathological section of rat liver tissue suggested that the rat model was established successfully.Treg % of positive control group was higher than that of blank group,the difference had statistical significance(P <0.05).Treg% of triple therapy group was significantly lower than that of the positive control group,huaier-granule group,thymosin α-1 group,and significantly higher than the blank group (all in P <0.05 ).Compared with positive-control group,CD4 +T% and CD8 +T% of triple therapy group,sirolimus group and thymosin α-1 group were significantly higher (all in P <0.05).CD4 +T%and CD8 +T% of triple therapy group were significantly higher than those of thymosin α-1 group,sirolimus group and huaier-granule group(all in P <0.05).The relationship between Treg% and CD4 +T%,CD8 +T%, CD4 +/CD8 + in peripheral blood were negatively correlated for rats in each group.In addition,the triple anti-tumor therapy decreased the negative correlation between Treg% and CD4 +/CD8 +.Conclusions Sirolimus based triple anti-tumor therapy can decrease the peripheral blood Treg level of the liver cancer rat,increase the number of T lymphocyte and CD4 +/CD8 +,and play the role of anti tumor cell growth and proliferation.

The thioredoxin system plays a role in a variety of physiological functions, including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and immunity. We previously confirmed that butaselen (BS), a novel thioredoxin reductase inhibitor, can inhibit the growth of various human cancer cell lines, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of BS in vivo through regulating the immune system of KM mice. We found that BS inhibits tumor proliferation by promoting the activation of splenic lymphocytes in mice. BS can elevate the percentage of CD₄^-CD₈⁺ T lymphocytes and the secretion of downstream cytokines in mice via down-regulating the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on the tumor cells' surface in vivo. Further study in HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells showed that decrease of PD-L1 level after BS treatment was achieved by inhibiting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation. Taken together, our results suggest that BS has a role in promoting the immune response by reducing PD-L1 expression via the STAT3 pathway, and subsequently suppresses tumorigenesis.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Benzene Derivatives/therapeutic use* ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Organoselenium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/physiology* ; Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Tumor Burden/drug effects*