Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Tai Ji

Objective　To understand the overall under-reporting of cause of death monitoring in Hainan Province, and to provide a scientific basis for evaluating the data from death registration report and health planning in Hainan. Methods　Multi-stage cluster random sampling was used, all towns/streets in cities and counties of the province were ranked from highest to lowest in terms of crude death rate, divided into high, medium and low levels (the number of each level was basically the same), and one was randomly selected from each level. A total of three towns/streets were used as survey areas, and all households in the area were survey households. Death information of resident population during 2018-2020 was collected and compared with routine surveillance data for the same period. The under-reporting rate was calculated, and comparison between groups was performed by chi-square. Results　A total of 12 583 death cases were investigated from 2018 to 2020, and the average mortality was 621.48/105. 4 809 cases were missed with the total under-reporting rate of 38.22%. The under-reporting rate from 2018 to 2020 were 39.75%, 39.99% and 34.77% (χ2=30.404, P<0.01) respectively. The under-reporting rate in eastern and central and western areas were 30.33%, 30.10% and 60.15% (χ2=931.901, P<0.01) respectively. The negative rate were different in different years old group (χ2=14.834, P<0.05). Of the 4 809 under-reported cases, as many as 93.49% died at home, and the composition of deaths in hospitals was about 10 times higher in the center than in the east and west, and the proportion of those who died in hospital in central areas was about 10 times higher than in eastern and central areas. Conclusions　More than half of the cities and counties in Hainan Province have improved the completeness of cause of death surveillance data. The under-reporting rate in age group <5 years are still high, and regular under-reporting investigations are still needed to strengthen the reporting and management of death information.

Objective:To explore the effect of lipoic acid (LA) on chronic oxidative stress,cytokines and inflammatory gene expression with mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) and whether LA supplementation could prevent development of chronic inflammation.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups.The control group were administrated with an ordinary diet.The two experimental groups were fed with a high fat diet or high fat plus 0.1% LA.Antioxidants defense index such as SOD,CAT,GSH-Px and MDA were examined after 10 week.Cytokines such as IFN-?,IL-4,IL-6,TNF-? and IL-10 were examined after 10 week,respectively.Gene expression related to oxidative stress and inflammation were confirmed by QRT-PCR.Results:HFD led to potently weaken antioxidant defenses in mice.HFD significantly increased levels of IFN-?,IL-6 and TNF-?,and decreased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in mice plasma.QRT-PCR results showed an up-regulation of inflammation related genes and a down-regulation antioxidant-related genes.Conclusion:LA is a possibly effective supplementation with HFD,both to prevent from the development of long-term oxidative stress and to attenuate chronic inflammation.

Objective To study the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of depressive neurosis.Methods The 60 selected patients of depressive neurosis were randomized into treatment group(acupuncture regulating the liver group)and con- trol group(near-by sham-point acupuncture group),with 30 in each.The scores of Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90),Self-rating De- pression Scale(SDS),and Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),and the total effective rate after treatment were observed.Results The total effective rate of the treatment group and the control group was 92.6% and 56.0% respectively,and the difference was sig- nificant(P

This study was designed to investigate the impact of ultra-filtration extract mixture from Astragals mongholicus (UEMAM) o radiosensitivity of H22 ascitic tumor in mice to 12C6+ ions radiation. The H22 ascitic tumor model was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mL H22 ascitic cells. The animals were subsequently divided into 4 groups randomly, treated with normal saline, UEMAM, heavy ion beam radiotherapy and UEMAM plus heavy ion beam radiotherapy, respectively. The body weights, abdomen circumference of the mice were measured and the mouse behavior was monitored every day; survival time was recorded to evaluate life extension effect; flow cytometry technique was used to detect H22 cell apoptosis and cell cycle; protein levels of p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved Caspase-3 were analyzed by Western blot; the single cell gel electrophoresis was used to detect the level of deoxyribonucleic acid damage (DNA damage). The results suggest that UEMAM significantly increased survival time, and decreased body weights and abdomen circumference over the saline control group. The treatment increased cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and DNA damage compared to the saline control group. UEMAM significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of heavy ion beam radiation in survival time, and decreased body weights and abdomen circumference in the tumor-baring mice. The combination increased cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and DNA damage compared to the radiotherapy group. The results of Western blot suggest that the treatment significantly enhanced p53-induced apoptotic signals. The experiment discovered that UEMAM could improve radiosensitivity of H22 ascitic tumor through activation of p53-mediated apoptotic signal pathway.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage ; Ions ; Mice ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Radiation Tolerance ; Signal Transduction

Objective To assess the adhesive behavior of dual-targeted microbubbles carrying both Sialyl Lewisx and anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibodies in vitro. Methods Selectin-targeted (with Sialyl Lewisx) microbubbles (MB-S),ICAM-1-targeted (with anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibodies) microbubbles (MB-Ⅰ),and dual-targeted (with both ligands) microbubbles(MB-D) were prepared by attaching the ligands to the biotinylated lipid-microbubbles via multi-step avidin biotin bridging chemistry. A parallel plate flow chamber combined with a novel automated tracking algorithm,were used to analyze the transient velocities,rolling and firmly adherent numbers of microbubbles at various shear stress (0. 6,2.0 and 4.0 dyn/cm2)over 6 min. Microbubbles detachments were tested by ramping up the shear stress at 30 s intervals. Results At 0.6 dyn/cm2 shear stress, the rolling numbers of MB-S and MB-D were remarkably more than that of MB-I( P＜0.05), while at 2.0 and 4.0 dyn/cm2 MB-S performed higher rolling efficiency as compared with either MB-I and MB-D ( P＜ 0.05). In all flow conditions, the adhesive numbers of MB-D to the targets were obviously greater than those of MB-S and MB-I ( P＜ 0.05). Half-maximal detachment decreased gradually in MB-I, MB-D and MB-S by turns ( P＜ 0.05). Conclusions MB-I, MB-S and MB-D have different adhesive behaviors. MB-I exhibites primarily firm adhesion with low rolling efficiency, while MB-S reveales unstable or transient adhesion with high rolling efficiency,and MB-D exhibites firm adhesion with high rolling efficiency. MB-D may be suitable for molecular imaging in high-flow vessels.

Objective To assess the binding capability of microbubbles targeted to VCAM-1 using the parallel plate flow chamber mimic the pulsatile high-shear flow conditions of artery. Methods Targeted microbubbles were designed by conjugating monoclonal antibodies against mouse VCAM-1 to the lipid shell of the microbubbles via an "avidin-biotin" bridge. The binding and retention of targeted microbubbles to VCAM-1 (MBv) immobilized on a culture dish were assessed in a flow chamber at variable shear stress (0.5～ 16.0 dynes/cm2 ). The pulsatile flow conditions were generated and compared to the continuous flow conditions. The retentive ability of MBv was evaluated by the detachment test. Results The marked binding of MBv were seen in pulsatile and continuous flow conditions at low-shear flow conditions of 0.5 ～ 2dyn/cm2 ,but the binding rate in the pulsatile flow group was higher ( P ＜0. 05) than that in the continuous flow conditions. Furthermore,the marked binding of MBv was still noted at the highest shear rates (4～8dyn/cm2) under pulsatile flow conditions, while it was not observed under continuous flow conditions. The half detachment rate of MBv was high up to (20.7 ± 3. 1)dyn/cm2. Conclusions The targeted microbubbles binding to VCAM-1 specific and effective at high-shear stress under pulsatile flow conditions. The molecular ultrasound imaging can be potentially used in the high-shear conditions artery system.

Objective To investigate the value of myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)combined with high-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE)in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods The dobutamine stress MCE and SonoVue contrast infusion were performed before an elective percutaneous coronary intervention in 38 patients with suspected CAD.The total and regional perfusion were scored as normal or abnormal and attributed to the three main epicardial coronary arteries using a 16-segment left ventricular model.Results An intermediate stress level was obtained in 22(58%)patients,and 9(24%)patients were obtained with peak stress.Twenty seven of 38 patients were diagnosed as CAD by quantitative coronary angiography.A perfusion defect was detected in 89% of the patients at peak stress,compared to 37% at baseline,there was significant difference(χ2=15.565,P<0.01).ConclusionsThe MCE combined with DSE can increase the sensitivity of myocardial ischemia detection.As a new non-invasive method,MCE combined with DSE could be used in the early diagnosis of CAD.

Objective To observe dynamically osteopontin(OPN) expression in the renal tubules of streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rats, and to explore the relationship between OPN and angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ), nuclear transcription factor-?B(NF-?B), and renal injuries. Methods Male SD rats were injected with STZ to induce diabetes mellitus, which were randomly divided into 5 groups and meanwhile there were other 5 age-matched normal control groups. Immunohistochemistry was employed to observe the expression of OPN, AngⅡ, NF-?B and fibronectin(FN) in renal tubules. The OPN and I-?B protein in renal cortex was detected by Western blot methods. Blood glucose, serum creatinine and 24 h urine protein were examined. The renal morphology was checked through light microscopy.Results The AngⅡand NF-?B expression from DM day 3, OPN expression from day7, FN from week 2 in renal cortex or tubules was increased as compared with control groups, while I-?B protein in renal cortex was gradually decreased since day 3. In DM week 4, there were positive correlations between OPN and AngⅡ, NF-?B, FN and 24 h urine protein. Conclusion An increase of OPN expression in the renal tubules of diabetic rats may be regulated by AngⅡ and NF-?B, and therefore participates the injury mechanisms of renal tubulo-intestitium.

· AIM :To investigate the role of pericytes in growth of retinal microvascular endothelial cells with a co-culture system in order to understand some mechanism of angiogenesis in hypoxia induced retinal neovascular disorders.(RMECs) were isolated by a modified protocol using CD31 coated Dynabeads, and identified by immunocytochemical staining with anti-Factor Ⅷ and CD31 antibodies. Rat retinal pericytes were isolated and characterized by immunofluorescent staining with PDGFR-β; and desmin antibodies. Pericytes and RMECs were cultured in a contact co-culture system both under normoxia and hypoxia by Millicell chamber. RMECs proliferation was evaluated by MTT and cell cycle assay with flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to detect the alteration of KDR/Flk-1 mRNA level in RMECs under normoxia or hypoxia in the co-culture system.harvested with the modified isolating method. The two cell types were identified by positive Factor Ⅷ, CD31 and PDGFR-β, desmin cytochemical staining respectively.RMECs proliferated significantly under hypoxia from 3 to 9d with a maximal rate on day 6 (24.9%, P ＜ 0.01) by MTT. In the co-culture system, the proliferation of RMECs was inhibited by pericytes. After 6d exposure to hypoxia,the fraction of S-phase RMECs number was greatly increased by 43.9% (P ＜ 0.01). In the co-culture system,RMECs proliferation was inhibited by pericytes through decreasing the fraction of S-phase cell number both under normoxia (3.6%, P＜0.05) and under hypoxia (15.1%,P＜0.01). KDR/Flk-1 mRNA level in single cultured RMECs was shown to increase approximately 1.3-fold when exposed to hypoxia. Compared with single cultured RMECs, co-culture with pericytes could decrease KDR/Flk-1 mRNA by 45.1% (P＜0.05) and 27.7% (P ＜ 0.05) under normoxia and hypoxia condition respectively.pericytes could inhibit proliferation of RMECs under both normoxia and hypoxia. The inhibition effects of pericytes maybe, at least in part, due to downregulation of KDR/Flk-1 of RMECs. These findings confirm that pericytes could be a potential inhibitor in the pathogenesis of retinal neovascularization.