Objective To find out the perception status of Kaschin-Beck disease(KBD)-related knowledge among residents in Aba KBD areas. Methods In 2009, hierarchical clustering random sampling method was used to select 13 villages as survey points in Aba KBD areas, general demographic characteristics, KBD prevalence and KBD-related knowledge of residents were investigated. Results Of the residents investigated, the understanding rate of KBD-related knowledge was 36.7% (7361/20 080), understanding rate among female [40.2% (4427/11012) ]was high than that of male[32.3%(2934/9084), x2 = 134.80, P ＜ 0.05];50-year group[42.5%(2789/6562] was higher than others;Tibetan [42.8% (6775/15829)] was higher than other nationals;residents in Semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas [47.2% (5777/12239)] was higher than people in other areas ;farmer [42.6% (4585/10762) ],people who lost labor ability [42.7% (1487/3482)] and the unemployed [42.8% (941/2199) ] was higher;married people[41.6%(6067/14584)] was higher;KBD patients[47.6%(4585/9632)] was higher[x2 = 92.41,148.04,578.56,116.35,36.96,371.29 respectively, all P ＜ 0.05]. Sixty three point nine persent (978/1530) acquired KBD knowledge through explaination by medical and health personnel. Conclusions The current situation of perception of KBD-related knowledge among residents in Aba KBD areas is not optimistic. Understanding rate among residents with different demographic characteristics is significantly different. Targeted health education strategies and measures should be developed among different population groups.

OBJECTIVEThis study was to identify the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) changes and the relative risk factors within one year after Wenchuan earthquake among middle school students in the disaster area.

METHODSA total of 1966 students from 3 schools in Wenchuan earthquake region were selected as the target population. For each student, personal basic information and standard psychological scale (PCL-C, PSSS) were investigated by a self-administrated questionnaire in the 3rd, the 6th, the 9th and the 12th month after the earthquake, respectively. PTSD trends over the time and the associated risk factors were analyzed through the establishment of multi-level random coefficient model.

RESULTSThere were 1677 middle school students fully participated in the PTSD follow-up study by turning in the valid questionnaires. The averaged scores of PTSD at the time of the 3rd, the 6th, the 9th and the 12th month after the earthquake were 35.14 ± 11.08, 32.90 ± 11.03, 30.67 ± 11.28 and 29.75 ± 11.22, respectively. Meanwhile, the general incidences of PTSD were 36.6% (613/1677), 30.7% (515/1677), 24.8% (416/1677)and 22.2% (373/1677), respectively. The median score of perceived social support system was 60.00 and the general incidences of PSS was 17.20% (289/1677). The PTSD scores for the students had a decreasing trend during the period of our observation (β(time) = -1.879, χ(2) = 47.03, P < 0.05). The averaged scores for boys for the 4 follow-up studies were 33.71, 31.61, 29.66, 28.83; for girls were 36.33, 33.98, 31.51, 30.52; for junior school students were 35.46, 33.28, 30.18, 29.22; for senior school students were 34.89, 32.62, 31.04, 30.15. Moreover, two factors, gender and grade, were related with the decreasing trend (the trend for girls and senior school students was sharper than that for boys and junior school students) (β(gender-time) = -0.354, χ(2) = 4.83, P < 0.05; β(grade-time) = 0.622, χ(2) = 11.30, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of PTSD was high. Meanwhile, there was a trend of self-recovery for adolescent's PTSD during the first year of post-earthquake, but boys and junior school students recovered more slowly.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Change Events ; Male ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of emodin on spinal cord edema induced by acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and its mechanism. Methods A total of 180 healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group(group A),model group(group B),and low-dose group(group C),middle-dose group(group D)and high-dose group(group E)of emodin,with 36 cases in each group.The SCI model was established with the modified Allen's method.Function-al recovery was evaluated with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan(BBB)score and inclined plate test three days,seven days,14 days and 28 days after modeling.Three days after modeling,the pathological changes of the spinal cord were observed by HE staining; the water content of spinal cord was detected by dry-wet weight method, the blood-spinal cord barrier(BSCB)permeability was detected by Evans blue(EB)staining,and the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.Results The BBB score and inclined plate scores were better in groups C,D and E than in group B(P<0.05)seven days, 14 days and 28 days after modeling, especially in group E (P<0.05). Three days after modeling, HE staining showed that there was a large hemorrhage in the section of group B,the nerve cells were swollen and damaged, and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated,the tissue gap was widened and the edema was severe. The above pathological changes were better in groups C,D and E than in group B,especially in group E.The spi-nal cord water content was higher in group B than in group A(P<0.05),and was lower in groups D and E than in groups B and C(P<0.05).EB content was higher in group B than in group A(P<0.05),and was lower in groups C, D and E than in group B (P<0.05). The expression of AQP-4, MMP-2 mRNA and protein were lower in groups C,D and E than in group B(P<0.05),especially in group E(P<0.05). Conclusion Emodin can alleviate spinal cord edema,and improve hind limb movement function after SCI,which could be related with the down-regulation of AQP-4 and MMP-2 expression,and the reduction of the permeability of BSCB.

Objective To investigate the effect of cold-inducible RNA binding protein(CIRP)on the viability of cryopreserved sciat-ic nerve and nerve regeneration after allograft. Methods Sciatic nerve segments of 15 mm from male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in DMEM solution and pretreat-ed with 4 ℃, 15 ℃ and 32 ℃ for 24 hours (group A, group B and group C, respectively). Fresh nerve group (group D)without pretreatment was set up.The mRNA and protein level of CIRP was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.The above nerves were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for four weeks.The via-ble cells of the nerve segments after cryopreservation were observed by calcein-AM/propidium iodide staining. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blotting.After cryopreservation,the nerve segments were cultured in vitro for one week, the protein level of nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)was detected by Western blotting.In addition,the above four cryopreserved groups were transplanted to the Wistar rats by allografting(groups A',B',C'and D').Fresh nerve allograft group(E')and isograft group(F')were set up.At four-week post operation,the expression of CD4of the nerve and plasma level of interleukin(IL)-6 and interferon(IFN)-γ were detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA,respectively.At 20-week postoperation, the muscle compound action potential (CMAP) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were examined by electrophysiological examination. The number and the thickness of myelinated nerve fibers were analyzed by toluidine blue staining. The ultrastructure of the sciatic nerve was observed by electron microscopy. Results The mRNA and protein of CIRP were significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B(P<0.05).After 4 weeks of cryopreservation,compared with groups A,B and D,the viable cells increased,the expression of Bax decreased and the expression of Bcl-2 increased in group C (P<0.05). The expression of NGF and GDNF in-creased in group C than in groups A and B(P<0.05).At four-week postoperation,the expression of CD4and plas-ma concentration of IL-6 and IFN-γ significantly decreased in group C'than in group E'(P<0.05),however,no significant difference was found in group C'compared with groups D'and F'(P>0.05).At 20-week postopera-tion, CMAP, MNCV, the number of axon, and thickness of myelin sheath were significantly better in group C' than in groups A',B',D'and E'(P<0.05).Compared with groups A',B',D'and E',the myelinated nerve fibers were more, the fiber thickness was more uniform, the fiber distribution was wider, and the myelin sheath was thicker in groups C'and F'. Conclusion CIRP was induced at 32℃in the sciatic nerve,which exerted a significant protective effect on the viability of the nerves during cryopreservation,and promoted nerve regeneration and functional recovery after transplanta-tion.

To investigate the effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor simvastatin (SV) on proliferation, apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human acute monocytic leukemia cell line SHI-1. SHI-1 cells were incubated with different concentrations of SV (5, 10, 15 µmol/L). Otherwise, SHI-1 cells without any treatment were used as control. Cells in different groups were collected at 24, 48 and 72 h after incubation for further detection. MTT method was used to assay the growth inhibition rate and flow cytometry was used to detect the early stage apoptosis ratio. The human PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway RT(2) Profiler(TM) PCR Array was used to detect the expression of 84 genes involved in PI3K-AKT signaling. The results indicated that the SV inhibited the proliferation and inducted the apoptosis of SHI-1 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners significantly. The growth inhibition rates of SHI-1 cells treated with 15 µmol/L SV for 24, 48 and 72 h were 26.82, 47.09 and 63.92, respectively; and their early stage apoptosis ratios were 5.75, 13.25 and 15.59, respectively. Compared with the control group, expression levels of 39 genes were changed in the group of 15 µmol/L SV at 48 h, among them 26 genes were down-regulated and 13 genes were up-regulated. It is concluded that the SV can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SHI-1 cells, and the mechanism may be associated with the changes of gene expression level in PI3K-AKT signaling pathway regulated by SV.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

It has been reported that the frequency modulation (FM) or FM direction sensitivity and forward masking of central auditory neurons are related with the neural inhibition, but there are some arguments, because no direct evidence of inhibitory synaptic input was obtained in previous studies using extracellular recording. In the present study, we studied the relation between FM direction sensitivity and forward masking of the inferior collicular (IC) neurons using in vivo intracellular recordings in 20 Mus musculus Km mice. Thirty seven with complete data among 93 neurons were analyzed and discussed. There was an inhibitory area which consisted of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP) at high frequency side of frequency tuning of up-sweep FM (FMU) sensitive neurons (n = 12) and at low frequency side of frequency tuning of down-sweep FM (FMD) selective neurons (n = 8), while there was no any inhibitory area at both sides of frequency tuning of non-FM sweep direction (FMN) sensitive neurons (n = 17). Therefore, these results show that the inhibitory area at low or high frequency side of frequency tuning is one of the mechanisms for forming FM sweep direction sensitivity of IC neurons. By comparison of forward masking produced by FMU and FMD sound stimuli in FMU, FMD and FMN neurons, the selective FM sounds could produce stronger forward masking than the non-selective in FMU and FMD neurons, while there was no forward masking difference between FMU and FMD stimuli in the FMN neurons. We suggest that the post-action potential IPSP is a potential mechanism for producing stronger forward masking in FMU and FMD neurons.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Inferior Colliculi ; cytology ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Mice ; Neurons ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore an approach to rapidly and accurately identify the compounds as biomarkers of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes.

METHODThe Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was applied to investigate the characteristic components of a mice model of Kidney (Shen)-yang deficiency syndrome (KDS), and the remedial effect of a typical CM formula Shenqi Pill (). Thirty-six females and 18 males of Balb/c mice were randomly divided into KDS, Shenqi or control group. The females and males of the same group freely were mated for 96 h, and the males were taken out and only the female mice were raised. Females of the KDS group were threatened by a ferocious cat every other day for 14 d. After delivery, the KDS, or gestational threatened, offspring were raised at standard condition for 11 weeks. Then 10 male offspring were randomly selected, anaesthetized and their representative organs, i.e. testes, kidneys, lungs and feet were collected, for the FT-IR scan. Mice of the Shenqi group were intragastric administered Shenqi Pill; while mice in the KDS and control groups were given the same volume of saline.

RESULTSThe attenuated birth outcomes of the KDS group were displayed. The remarkable FT-IR differences of all organs between KDS mice and healthy control were mainly at 1,735-1,745 cm(-1) (indicating the increased levels of lipids) and at 1,640-1,647 cm(-1) and 1,539-1,544 cm(-1) (displaying the decreased proteins). No statistic FT-IR difference between Shenqi and control mice was observed.

CONCLUSIONIn accordance with major traits of KDS, prenatal stress extensively impaired the building up of proteins and resulting in the excessive lipid storage, and FT-IR could effectively identify the biomarkers of KDS.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; methods ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo obtain the recombinant rv1837c and rv3803c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using gene engineering technology and explore their prokaryotic expression, purification, and immunogenicity.

METHODSThe Mycobacterium tuberculosis rv1837c and rv3803c genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and then cloned into the vector pTA2, followed by the subclone into the expression vector pET30a (+). The resulting plasmids, named pET30a (+): rv1837c and pET30a (+): rv3803c, encode recombinant protein containing a hexa-histidine tag on its N-terminus. pET30a (+): rv1837c and pET30a (+): rv3803c were introduced into E. coli BL21 (DE3) by transformation respectively, and the recombinant gene was induced with 0.4 mmol/L isopropyl-D-thiogalactopyranoside. The expressed products were identified by Western blot with hexa-histidine tag antibody and serum from tuberculotic patients. The histidine tagged protein was purified by nickel nitrilotriacetic acid His-Bind resin. Rabbits were immunized with purified recombinant Rv1837c and Rv3803c proteins. Then the purified recombinant Rv1837c and Rv3803c proteins were used to detect antibody in rabbit serum, which had been immunized by Western blot.

RESULTSAfter transformation of the E. coli and induction with 0.4 mmol/L of isopropyl-D-thiogalactopyranoside, recombinant target proteins Rv1837c (relative molecular mass: 92000) and Rv3803c (relative molecular mass: 38 000) were expressed in pET30a (+): rv1837c and pET30a (+): rv3803c system. The expressed protein existed in cytoplasm in an unsoluble form and amounted to 30% and 50% of the total proteins of E. coli. The purity of the purified protein reached 90%. The immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins Rv1837c and Rv3803c was strong, as identified by Western blot.

CONCLUSIONThe prokaryotic expression recombinant plasmids pET30a (+): rv1837c and pET30a (+): rv3803c was successfully constructed and the recombinant proteins Rv1837c and Rv3803c were obtained, which laid a basis for the optimized diagnosis of active tuberculosis.

Antibodies ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore a suitable model regarding community-based case management of hypertension in the urban areas.

METHODSBased on the guidelines set by the Chinese Hypertension League (CHL), the goal of case management of hypertension was set as: to maintain blood pressure at the normal range. Family doctors were guided to take care of case management. Hypertension patients who had been contracted to the family doctors were followed by a team of family doctors for half a year.

RESULTSAfter the 6-month intervention, the rate of hypertension under control had increased from 50.44% to 69.84% (P < 0.0001) while the means of systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.72 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 2.67 mm Hg (P < 0.0001) respectively. The means of SBP decreased by 8.59 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 5.26 mm Hg in patients whose baseline blood pressure were not under control. The rates of smoking, higher salt intake and no physical exercise had significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The mean number of hospital visits in the six-month follow-up period was 7.69 +/- 2.37. The "rate of control" among those who had followed schedule was higher than that of those who were not on schedule (P < 0.0001). The rate among those who had followed the schedule tended to have increased with aging and the level of education (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe community-based case management program on hypertension played an important and effective role in the control of hypertension in urban areas. Patients received great benefit when following the guidance from their doctors.

Aged ; Case Management ; organization & administration ; China ; epidemiology ; Community Health Services ; organization & administration ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urban Health

Aim To investigate the mechanism by which ginsenoside Rgl regulates autophagy anrl delays brain aging in mice through AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.Methods C57BL/6J male mice were ran¬domly divided into four groups, namely brain aging model group ,control group, Rgl anti-aging group,auto¬phagy activator Rapamycin anti-aging group.After the modeling was completed, the test of each experimental index would be carried out on the next day.Morris wa¬ter maze experiment was used to detect the learning and memory ability of mice.Paraffin sections of the hippocampus were prepared, HE , Nissl and immunohis- tochemical staining were used to observe the morpholo¬gy of hippocampal neurons, the number of neurons and Nissl bodies was counted, and autophagy-related proteins p62 , ATG5 , ULK1 were detected.Brain tissue homogenates were prepared to detect the aetivity of brain tissue acetylcholinesterase ( AChE ).Western blot was userl to detect brain tissue autophagy-related proteins LC3II, P62, beclinl, P-AMPK/AMPK, P- mTOR/mTOR and apoptosis protein P53.Results Water maze test showed that Rgl and Hap significantly improved the learning and memory abilities of brain-ag¬ing mice.HE and Nissl staining showed that Rgl and Rap decreased necrotic cells and increased the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of brain-aging mice.Immunohistochemistry staining showed that Rgl and Rap decreased the expression of neuronal autoph- agv protein P62 in hippocampus and increased the ex-pression of ATG5 and ULK1.Rgl and Rap decreased the activity of AhcE in brain-aging mice.Western blot showed that Rgl and Rap increased autophagy-related proteins LC3II, Beclinl , P-AMPK/AMPK, but de¬creased the expression of P-mTOR/mTOR, P62, P53.Conclusions Ginsenoside Rgl can effectively antago¬nize the aging effect of D-gal on mouse brain.The pos¬sible mechanism is related to the regulation of autoph- agv by Rgl through AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.