Objective To investigate the current prevalence of depressive disorder and the associated factors in pa?tients with essential hypertensive from cardiovascular divisions of tertiary general hospitals. Methods A Chinese version of Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) Axis I Disor?ders was conducted by five mental health professionals on 876 essential hypertensive outpatients at cardiovascular divi?sions of tertiary general hospital. Data on the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of these hypertensive pa?tients were also collected. Results The current prevalence of depressive disorders among essential hypertensive outpa?tients of tertiary hospitals was 16.6%(145/876). Risk factors for depressive disorders in hypertensive patients included fe?male gender (OR=2.817, 95%CI:1.161~6.885), being 65-year-old and older (OR=1.747, 95%CI:1.118~2.688), non-marital status (OR=2.023, 95%CI:1.203~3.398), gradeⅢhypertension (OR=1.776, 95%CI:1.226~2.333) and car?diovascular diseases (OR=2.018, 95%CI:1.427~2.587). Conclusion Essential hypertensive outpatients, who receive med?ical services at cardiovascular divisions of tertiary general hospital, have high prevalence of depressive disorders. Clini?cians should pay more attention to the mental health of outpatients with essential hypertension.

AIM To investigate whether Aβ deposit in Alzheimer disease(AD) impairs signal transduction pathway responsible for neuronal survival.METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into six groups:control group and Aβ25-35 group,Aβ25-35+ibuprofen groups (7.5 and 15 mg·kg-1,respectively),Aβ25-35+ibuprofen+LY294002 group,and Aβ25-35+LY294002 group.Rats were given ibuprofen (7.5 and 15 mg·kg-1 daily,ig) for 3 weeks prior to and 1 week after icv single dose of Aβ25-35 (10 μL,1 mmol·L-1).LY294002 was injected icv 1 h before the injection of Aβ25-35.Seven days after Aβ25-35 injection,the hippocampal expressions of P53,Bax,Fas ligand (FasL),Bcl-2 proteins,phospho-Akt/PKB,and phosphorylated 70 ku ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and caspase 3 were determined in the brain tissue preparations from CA1 area with Western blot.The activity of caspase 3 was measured using a caspase 3 colorimetric activity assay kit.RT-PCR was used to show the change of p70s6k mRNA level.RESULTS Aβ25-35 icv injection significantly down-regulated phosphorylated Akt/PKB from 1.32±0.14 to 0.69±0.08 and p70S6K from 0.769±0.028 to 0.479±0.032 in hippocampal CA1 region.These changes were accompanied by increased expressions of the proapoptotic proteins P53,Bax,and FasL and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in rat hippocampus.In addition,caspase 3 activity was significantly enhanced in hippocampal CA1 region in Aβ25-35-treated rats compared with control rats.Ibuprofen can reverse these Aβ25-35-induced changes.CONCLUSION Down-regulated anti-apoptotic PI3K/Akt/p70S6K signaling pathway induced by Aβ25-35 in rat hippocampus may contribute to the neuronal damage in AD.Ibuprofen prevents Aβ25-35-induced down-regulation of PI3K/Akt/p70S6K signaling pathway.

AIM To observe the neuroprotective effect and protective mechanisms of ibuprofen on amyloid β-protein fragment 1-40 (Aβ1-40)-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus.METHODS Rats were given ibuprofen (15 mg·kg-1 daily,ig) for 3 weeks prior to icv single dose of Aβ1-40 (5 μL,1 mmol·L-1).Six hours after Aβ1-40 injection,Western blotting was used to determine the expressions of phospho-MAP kinase kinase (MKK)3/MKK6,phospho-p38 MAP kinase,phospho-MAP kinase activating protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2),heat-shock protein 27(Hsp27),procaspase 9,3,and 7 cleavage,and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in hippocampal CA1 region.RESULTS Intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ1-40 induced an increase in phosphorylated MKK3/MKK6 and p38 MAP kinase expressions in hippocampal CA1.These increases,in combination with reduced phospho-MAPKAPK2 and phospho-Hsp27 expressions,mediated Aβ1-40-induced the activation of caspases cascades.Ibuprofen (15 mg·kg-1·d-1,3 weeks) significantly prevented Aβ1-40-induced increases in phosphorylated MKK3/MKK6 and p38 MAP kinase expressions.In addition,Aβ1-40-induced decreases in phosphorylated MAPKAPK2 and Hsp27 expressions were abrogated by ibuprofen.Aβ1-40-induced changes in activation of caspases cascades were inhibited by ibuprofen.CONCLUSIONIbuprofen prevents Aβ1-40-induced neurotoxicity through suppression of phosphorylated MKK3/MKK6 and p38 MAP kinase expressions and the up-regulation of phospho-Hsp27 expression.

OBJECTIVETo study the localization and distribution of expressions of Smads (mother against dpp), the intracellular signal transduction molecules in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family, in the testis of male sterile rats with Shen-yang deficiency induced by adenine and to observe the effect of Wenyang Shengjing Decoction (WSD) on these expressions.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group and the WSD group. Localization and distribution of Smad 1, Smad 2 and Smad 4 expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry SABC and semi-quantitative RT-PCR and analyzed statistically by image analysis system; the contents of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected by radioimmunoassay; and the weights of body, testis and epididymis, as well as sperm number of rats were also measured.

RESULTSSmad 1 and Smad 2 were expressed in cytoplasm of all levels of spermatogenic cells in rats' testis with their positive immuno-responsive substance locating in the cytoplasm, and positive Smad 2 expression could also be found in cytoplasm of Sertoli's cell, but both of them showed negative response in Leydig's cell; Smad 4 was positively expressed in cytoplasm of Leydig's cell but showed negative response in spermatogenic cell and Sertoli's cell. Compared with the normal control, Smad 1 expression was lower (P < 0.05), but Smad 2 and Smad 4 were higher in the model group (both P < 0.05), these abnormal changes could be reversed by WSD treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the body weight, sperm number and serum T level were lower, and levels of FSH and LH were higher (all P < 0.05) in the model group, which could all be improved by WSD (P < 0.05); the weights of testis and epididymis were unchanged in all groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWSD could not only increase the sperm number through elevating serum T level and decreasing the levels of FSH and LH, but also by way of regulating Smads genes expression to adjust the levels of sex hormones, promote the production of sperm directly or indirectly, so as to treat male infertility.

Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smad Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore risk factors and infection characteristics of secondary pancreatic infection in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODSA clinical data of 49 patients with secondary pancreatic infection in severe acute pancreatitis (SPI group)were matched with 49 patients without infection in severe acute pancreatitis (NSPI group) between January 2003 and December 2005. The two groups were analyzed by a case-control study. Conditional Logistic regression model univariate and multivariate were used to screen out risk factors. The types of infection, the peak infection and the bacteria spectrum were analyzed in SPI group.

RESULTS(1) In univariate Logistic regression analysis, 7 factors including continuous hypoalbuminemia, prolonged time of central venous catheter, usage of hormone, high APACHE II scores, multi-antibiotics, intestine dysfunction and continuous hyperglycemia were selected out. Moreover, the first three were statistically significant in multivariate Logistic regression analysis. (2) Pancreatic abscess ranked first in SPI group. Of all the pancreatic infection, 22.5% occurred within two weeks and 71.4% occurred in the 4th week or later. (3) In SPI group, 81 strains of microorganisms were cultured, including 45 strains of gram-negative bacteria (55.6%), 22 strains of gram-positive bacteria (27.2%), and 14 strains of fungi (17.3%). The common gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli, and the common gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococci and Enterococci. The fungi included Monilia and Yeastoid fungus. Further study revealed that 35 strains of all the microorganisms were intestinal bacteria (43.2%).

CONCLUSIONSContinuous hypoalbuminemia, prolonged time of central venous catheter and usage of hormone were independent risk factors of SPI. The main type of infection was pancreatic abscess. Gram-negative bacteria, were the common bacteria causing secondary pancreatic infection.

Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; etiology ; microbiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; etiology ; microbiology ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To study the epidemiological characteristics on the clustering nature of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in China.Methods Time and place distribution of pandemic (H1N1) 2009on the nature of clustering through data from Public Health Emergency Management Information System were described.Results As of August 10,2010,2773 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 clusters,a total of 77363 cases (including 20 deaths) were reported in the mainland of China.The most reported number of clusters was from schools and kindergartens with the total number of 2498 (accounted for 90.08％ of the total number).Middle schools appeared the have the most clusters (1223,accounting for 48.96％ ).The number of clusters reported in the southern provinces (cities) accounted for 77.03％ of the total,and was more than that in the northern provinces (cities).Two reported peaks in the southern provinces (cities) were in June and November,2009,respectively.There was only one reported peakin the northern provinces in September,2009.Conclusion Time and place distribution characteristics on the clusters of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were similar to the seasonal influenza,but the beginning of winter peak was much earlier and intensity of reporting was much higher on the clusters of pandemic (H1N1 ) 2009 than that of seasonal influenza.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil compared with losartan potassium in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

METHODThis is a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, parallel, multi-center study. After a 2-week placebo run-in period, a total of 287 eligible subjects were randomized at 1:1 ratio to receive olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg or losartan potassium 50 mg, once daily for 8 weeks. The blood pressure was assessed after 4 weeks treatment. If the subject's seating diastolic blood pressure (SeDBP) was still >or=90 mm Hg, the dosage was doubled for another 4 weeks; for those subjects whose SeDBP was <90 mm Hg after 4-week treatment, the initial dosage remained unchanged and the treatment continued until completion of the study.

RESULTS(1) The mean trough reduction in SeDBP from baseline in olmesartan group was significantly greater than that in losartan group after 4 weeks (11.72 mm Hg vs 9.23 mm Hg, P=0.004) and 8 weeks treatment (12.94 mm Hg vs 11.01 mm Hg, P=0.035). (2) The number and percentage of responders in olmesartan group (81, 65.3%) were statistically higher than those (68, 52.7%) in losartan group (P=0.028) after 4 weeks treatment and were similar between the two groups after 8 weeks treatment (P>0.05). (3) Individual and overall trough/peak ratios of DBP and SBP in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were higher in olmesartan group than losartan group. The hypotensive effect of olmesartan was more durable than losartan at 24 hour interval. (4) The incidence of study drug-related adverse events (AEs) in olmesartan group (10.5%) was similar as that in losartan group (13.9%, P>0.05). Most of these AEs were mild and transient.

CONCLUSIONThis study shows that olmesartan medoxomil, at oral dose of 20 mg-40 mg once daily was effective and safe for hypertension treatment and the hypotensive effect was superior to losartan potassium (50 mg-100 mg once daily).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; China ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Imidazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Losartan ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olmesartan Medoxomil ; Tetrazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo identify zebrafish mutants with myelopoiesis defects by ENU mutagenesis and large-scale forward genetic screening.

METHODSMale zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl N-nitrosourea to induce mutations in the spermatogonial cells to generate the founders, which were outcrossed with AB to raise F1 fish. The F1 fish from different founders were mated to generate the F2 families. The F3 embryos from F2 sibling crosses were screened by Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining.

RESULTSA total of 350 F2 families from F1 sibling crosses were screened, and 1424 F2 crosses were analyzed. Six mutations were identified resulting in abnormal Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining, indicating the involvement of neutrophil deficiency or macrophage abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONIt is simple and cheap to induce and screen myelopoiesis deficiency in zebrafish by ENU chemical mutagenesis and Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining. These mutants shed light on the identification of the genes important to myelopoiesis in zebrafish.

Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Male ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Myeloid Progenitor Cells ; physiology ; Myelopoiesis ; genetics ; Zebrafish ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo screen and identify zebrafish mutants with erythropoiesis defects by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis and large-scale forward genetic screening using beta e 1 as the marker.

METHODSThe chemical mutagen ENU was used to treat healthy wild-type male fish (AB strain, F0). The surviving ENU-treated fish were mated with wild-type female fish to generate F1, and further F2 family was generated by F1 family intercross. The adult F2 fish were intercrossed within each F2 family and the resulting F3 embryos from each crossing were subjected to whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) with the beta e 1 probe. Mutagenesis was performed by treating the male zebrafish with ENU to induce mutations in pre-meiotic germ cells to generate the founders, which were outcrossed to obtained the F1 fish. The F1 fish from different founders were mated to generate the F2 families. F3 embryos from the sibling cross in the F2 family were examined by whole mount in situ hybridization using beta e 1-globin probe. The putative mutants were then characterized with different hematopoiesis markers.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONWe identified 4 beta e 1-deficient mutants with erythropoiesis defects, including two with specific erythiod lineage defects and two with concurrent lymphopoiesis defects.

Animals ; Erythropoiesis ; genetics ; Ethylnitrosourea ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; Zebrafish ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of sorafenib resistance in hepatoma cells and identify for new targets to reverse drug resistance. METHODS: THP-1 cells were induced into M2 tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs) in vitro and identified by immunofluorescence. SMMC-7721 cells were co-cultured with M2-TAMs with or without sorafenib treatment. CCK-8 assay was used to observe the inhibitory effect of sorafenib on the cell proliferation. Annexin V/PI double staining and protein immunoblotting were used to assess the effect of sorafenib on the proliferation, apoptosis and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins and autophagy-related protein in SMMC-7721 cells co-cultured with M2-TAMs in the presence or absence of the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). RESULTS: The IC of sorafenib at 48 h was 2.25 μmol/L in SMMC-7721 cells cultured alone, and increased to 4.72 μmol/L in the cells co-cultured with M2-TAMs. Compared with the cells cultured alone, the co-cultured SMMC-7721 cells showed significantly reduced apoptosis rate in response to sorafenib ( < 0.01) and significantly increased expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio ( < 0.05) with also increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio ( < 0.001) and lowered expression of p62 ( < 0.05), suggesting a significantly enhanced level of autophagy. CQ treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of the co-cultured SMMC-7721 cells ( < 0.05), increased the cell apoptosis ( < 0.05) and reduced the Bcl-2/Bax ratio ( < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS M2-TAMs can attenuate the inhibitory effect of sorafenib on the proliferation of hepatoma cells by increasing the level of autophagy, suggesting a new strategy for reversing sorafenib resistance induced by the tumor microenvironment by inhibiting autophagy.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Macrophages ; Sorafenib