OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of bitumen fume on neurotransmitter and ultrastructure of mice brain and to investigate the toxicity of bitumen fume on nerve system of mice brain.

METHODSThe experimental mice were forced to inhale the bitumen fume at different exposure level and in different time periods. The contents of the three transmitters dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in mice brain were measured by the fluorescence meanwhile ultrastructure of mice brain was observed by electronic microscope. The ultrastructure of mice brain was observed under transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe contents of DA, NE and 5-HT in all groups decreased with the increasing of dose and prolonging of time (after 8 week, with the increasing of exposure lever, the content of DA, NE, 5-HT was respectively 2.194, 2.190, 2.181, 2.178 microg/g and 1.148, 1.138, 1.135 and 1.407, 1.403, 1.395 microg), but the results did not show significant differences. The structure of the mitochondria changes included the swollen mitochondria, chromatin margination, pyknosis and apoptosis in neuro cells and the processes of swollen astrocyte cells.

CONCLUSIONThe bitumen fume could induce changes of the ultrastructure of mice brain and affect the contents of neurotransmitter of mice brain.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Hydrocarbons ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; analysis

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Extraction and Processing Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Petroleum

Objective To investigate the correlation of HCV-RNA with detection indexes HCV-Ab and HCV-cAg in its clini-cal application effect among patients with hepatitis C.Methods HCV-cAg and HCV-Ab in 140 cases of HCV-RNA were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in cases of PCR,which were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results 127 cases in 140 cases of HCV-RNA positive serum were HCV-cAg positive,in line with the rate of 90.71%,and the cases of 110 HCV-Ab positive,in line with the rate of 78.57%.The positive detection rate of HCV-cAg with different HCV-RNA concentration was increased with the increase of HCV virus content,and the serum of different HCV-RNA concentration had no significant changes in HCV-Ab detection results.Conclusion The detection results of HCV-cAg had a high coincidence rate with HCV-RNA.Therefore detection of HCV-cAg can be as a complementary detec-tion of HCV-Ab,as the window period of HCV infection and infection in immunocompromised persons screening provides a simple,inexpensive method.At the same time it provides rapid screening for HCV infection provide diagnostic basis for those basic medical units who do not have the conditions for detection of HCV-RNA.

Objective To evaluate prourodynamic study and somatosensory evoked potentials(SEPs)before and after operation of children with lipomyelomeningocele(LMMC)and its clinical significance.Methods Urodynamic study(UDS)and SEPs in 31 cases of LMMC who underwent microsurgical release within 1 week preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively were conducted.The 4 parameters used for UDS evaluation were bladder volume,compliance,detrusor activity and residual urine;parameters used for SEPs evaluation were latent period and amplitude.Results There was a statistics significant difference between operation and control group;the similar result was attented in the comparison of before and after operation,also in the comprison of the improved group and the group without improvement after operation.Conclusions UDS and SEPs investigation can provide guidance for the treatment of tethered cord syndrome(TCS)and evaluate clinical prognosis.These cases with the severity changing in UDS and somatosensory shall be avoided unnecessary action in operation.

Objectives To investigate the prevalence of animal plague in Horqin Right Front County and provide scientific bases for prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods Plague surveillance was carried out according to the requirements of National Plague Monitoring Programme at 3 monitoring points in Horqin Right Front County in 2012.Squirrel density,the number of small rats,rat fleas,pathogenic and serological surveillance of Yersinia pestis were included in the study.Results A total of 356 dauricus were captured,the average density was 0.88 rats/hm2; female and male ratio was 1 ∶ 1.31 and the female embryo rate was 96.46％.The captured 13 small nocturnal mice belonged to 2 species,which included 10 cricetulus barabensis and 3 cricetulus longicaudatus,and the capture rate of small nocturnal mouse was 4.33％ (13/300).A total of 98 rat fleas were collected from 25 rats; rat flea carrying rate was 100％(25/25) and flea index was 3.92.Eighty rat burrows were detected,and flea index was 0.188.Pathogen test results were negative.Indirect hemagglutination test was used to examine 356 rat sera and 1 serum was positive.Conclusions Detection of positive rat sera has proved the existence of plague epidemic in Horqin Right Front County.Therefore,the work on plague prevention and control has a long way to go.

The skin ulceration syndrome of sea cucumber is a kind of desease induced by bacterium.In order to investigate the bacterium of infected sea cucumber and detect the N-acyl-homoserine lactones(AHLs) se-cretion of the bacterium,7 bacterial strains were isolated from the infected sea cucumber.These strains were identified by physiological-biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence.Results show that strain C6 belongs to Tenacibaculum,strain 4 belongs to Shewanella putrefaciens group,strain TB belongs to Vibrio,strain BP2,BP3,BP4 and BP6 belong to Pseudoalteromonas,respectively.AHLs were detected with strain Agrobacterium tumefaciens KYC55.Among these bacterial strains,strain C6,4,TB,BP3 and BP4 can se-cret AHLs,while strain BP2 and BP6 can’t.And the AHLs activity differs,from the highest to the lowest are 4,TB,BP4,BP3 and C6.

Objective To study the correlation between cognitive dysfunction and cholinergic neuron changes in basal forebrain(BFB)and brainstem reticular formation(BSRF)areas after brain con- cussion(BC)in rats.Methods Eighty-four Spragne-Dawley rats weighing 250-310g were used.The BC rat models were reproduced by a self-made simple pendulum impact device,then the rats were ran- domized into one control group and six experimental groups(1 day,2 day,4 day,8 day,16 day,and 24 day groups;n=12 in each group).A Morris Water Maze(MWM)test was used to assess learning and memory function of the rats.Cholinergic neurons in the BFB and BSRF were identified with choline acetyltransferase(CHAT)antibody and quantitated.Results Compared with the control group,the la- tency to find the platform in MWM was much longer on days 1-3 after BC,but there was no statistical difference on days 4-21 after BC.The cell number and the ChAT expression activity of cholinergic neu- rons in the BFB were obviously decreased after BC,and reached the lowest level at 8 days after BC,then increased gradually and nearly reached the normal level at 24 days.The ChAT expression activity in BSRF declined on the first 2 days after BC,then went up gradually,and reached the peak at the 24th day.Conclusion The spatial cognition deficit of BC rats can be detected by MWM in the early period (1-3 days after BC).There are significant changes in the number and ChAT expression activity in BFB and BSRF after BC.The change of cholinergic neurons may be correlated with cognitive deficits in BC rats.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of particulate matter (PM) less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) and ozone (O3) on daily mortality in Shanghai, China.

METHODSA generalized additive model with penalized spline function was used to observe the acute effect of PM10 and O3 on daily mortality.

RESULTSHigher PM10 significantly increased the effect of O3 on total mortality, and O3 also increased the effect of PM10 although the estimated increment was statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSIONOur findings provide further evidence for the effect of PM10 and O3 on daily mortality.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Mortality ; Ozone ; toxicity ; Urban Population

Activation of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) plays an important role in neuroinflammation.Macrophage recruitment to the sites of inflammation is an essential step in host defense.ASIC 1 and ASIC3 have been reported to mediate the endocytosis and maturation of bone marrow derived macrophages.However,the expression and inflammation-related functions of ASICs in RAW 264.7 cells,another common macrophage,are still elusive.In the present study,we first demonstrated the presence of ASIC 1,ASIC2a and ASIC3 in RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),Western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments.The non-specific ASICs inhibitor amiloride and specific homomeric ASIC 1 a blocker PcTx 1 reduced the production of iNOS and COX-2 by LPS-induced activating RAW 264.7 cells.Furthermore,not only amiloride but also PcTx 1 inhibited the migration and LPS-induced apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells.Taken together,our findings suggest that ASICs promote the inflammatory response and apoptosis of RAW 264.7 cells,and ASICs may serve as a potential novel target for immunological disease therapy.

Objective To study the effect of platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)and lysosomes on lung injury in macaque with early-phase endotoxie shock.Method Eleven macaques were randomly divided into two groups,namely,control group(Co group,n=5)iand endotoxic group(En group,n=6).The macaque of the Co group injected with 1 ml/kg normal saline and the macque of the En group received a dose of 2.8 mg/kg Lipopolysaccharides(LPS)i.v.The blood gas was detected at 120 minutes after LPS challenging. Uhrastructure,cytochemistry of acid phosphatase(ACPase)detection by electronic microscopy and immunohistochemical assay of PDGF were completed in hmgs of all the macaque .Results Administration of LPS did not change the parameters of gas exchange,namely,PaO_2,PaO_2/Fi and PaCO_2.In the early phase,of endotoxic shock,ACPase activity products increased and lysosome destroyed in the alveolar cells.The pathologic changes of alveolus,such as degeneration of vessel endothelium,injury of alveolar epithelium and damage of basement membrane,and transudation of blood component were observed by electron microscopy in the En group. However,no pathological changes were found in the control group.By immunohistochemical staining,PDGF on alveolar wall in the En animals was observed,whereas no PDGF protein in the Co macaques was noticed. Conclusions Administration of LPS induced the expression of PDGF in the alveolar wall and lysosome injury in the alveolar cells,as a result of alveolar damage in early-phase endotoxin shock.In the meantime,the parameters of gas exchanges did not change.The PDGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lung during the early-phase of endotoxin shock.