BACKGROUND: Stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) currently has a high incidence in older adults, and the theories regarding its causes include "catecholamine myocardial toxicity" and "sympathetic hyperactivation". However, the role of the central nervous system in the pathogenesis of SCM remains unknown. We investigated the role of microglia activation in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) in the development of SCM. METHODS: An SCM model was created using male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, immobilized for 6 h every day for a week. Electrocardiogram, cardiac electrophysiology, and echocardiography examinations were performed to verify the changes in cardiac structure and function in rats with SCM. RNA sequencing was used to explore the changes in the hypothalamus during SCM. In addition, brain and heart tissues were collected to detect microglial activation and sympathetic activity. RESULTS: The main findings were as follows: (1) immobilization stress successfully induced SCM in SD rats; (2) microglia were significantly activated in the hypothalamus, as evidenced by cytosol thickening, increases in the number of microglial branches, and microglia enriched in the PVN; (3) in SCM, the microglia in the PVN exhibited increased central and peripheral cardiac sympathetic activity and increased the expression of neuroinflammatory factors; and (4) it is possible that inhibiting microglial activation could suppress the sympathetic activity of the central nervous system and heart and increase cardiac electrical stability in SCM rats. CONCLUSIONS SCM was induced in SD rats by immobilization stress, acting through the activation of the hypothalamic microglia. The activated microglia were specifically enriched in the PVN, increasing the activity of the central and peripheral sympathetic nervous systems by regulating the expression of neuro-inflammatory factors, mediating dysfunction of the left ventricle, and increasing the susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of dietary behaviors on the risk of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A total of 12 208 subjects aged 18-60 years old were investigated by questionnaires to collect demographic data, dietary behaviors and lifestyle information, when they did health examination in a tertiary hospital in Beijing from 2014 to 2019. During the observation period of five year, the incidence of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases were collected through health examination files every year. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associations of dietary behaviors with hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Results: The study included 6 218 ( 50.93% ) males and 5 990 ( 49.07% ) females. The cumulative incidence rates of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases were 7.75%, 2.72% and 3.49%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the high-sodium diet ( OR=1.422, 95%CI: 1.191-1.697 ) , eating fast ( OR=1.457, 95%CI: 1.102-1.974 ), eating more refined grain ( OR=1.251, 95%CI: 1.050-1.490 ) and drinking milk less than once a week ( OR=1.316, 95%CI: 1.022-1.697 ) were risk factors for hypertension. The high-sodium diet ( OR=1.344, 95%CI: 1.048-1.725 ), eating fast ( OR=1.733, 95%CI: 1.046-2.871 ), eating more meat ( OR=1.651,95%CI: 1.263-2.158 ) were risk factors for diabetes. High-sodium diet ( OR=1.501, 95%CI: 1.192-1.889 ) was risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Conclusion The diet with high sodium, more meat and refined grain as well as eating fast can increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

BACKGROUNDAtherosclerotic plaque rupture is the primary mechanism of thrombosis which plays a key role in the onset of acute coronary syndromes. Detection of these plaques prone to rupture (vulnerable plaque) could be clinically significant for prevention of cardiac events. It has been shown that high metabolism cells have a high uptake of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG). The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of FDG uptake and the immuno-histochemistry parameters of plaques, and the effect of atorvastatin on vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in a rabbit model.

METHODSTen male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups as follows: (1) normal control group (n = 2, C group): the animals were fed a standard diet at 120 g/d and were given water ad labium; (2) atherosclerosis group (n = 4, As group): animals were fed with high fat diet for 5 months after aortic endothelia damage; (3) treatment group (atherosclerosis + atorvastatin, n = 4, Statin group): animals were fed with high fat diet for 5 months and then changed into normal chow plus atorvastatin (2.5 mg·d(-1)·kg(-1)) treatment for another 4 months. Then these four rabbits were imaged with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and sacrificed for pathohistologic studies. FDG uptake by the aorta was expressed as target-to-background ratio (TBR). Maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) was measured over the thoracic and abdominal aortas. The aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) number, CD-14 antibody positive cell (macrophage) number and the ratio of the thickness of fibrous cap to the thickness of lipid core (cap-to-core ratio) in atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed.

RESULTSAs group showed significantly higher uptake of FDG than C group (SUVs: 0.746 ± 0.172 vs. 0.286 ± 0.073, P < 0.001). After 4 months of atorvastatin treatment and the modification of diet, SUVs decreased significantly (Statin group: 0.550 ± 0.134, compared to As group, P < 0.001). However, no marked difference was found in TBR, the number of macrophages, the number of SMC and the cap-to-core ratio in the aortic segments between Statin group and As group. The correlation of aortic FDG uptake with SMC assessed by histopathology was negatively significant (r = -0.57, P < 0.001). When aortic FDG uptake was expressed as TBR, it correlated significantly (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) with the macrophage number, and also correlated significantly (r = -0.78, P < 0.001) with the cap-to-core ratio.

CONCLUSION(18)F-FDG PET/CT might serve as a useful non-invasive imaging technique for detection of atherosclerotic plaque and potentially permit monitoring of relative changes in inflammation within the atherosclerotic lesion.

Animals ; Aorta ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnostic imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Rabbits

BACKGROUNDAcinetobacter baumanii (A. baumanii ) remains an important microbial pathogen resulting in nosocomial acquired infections with significant morbidity and mortality. The mechanism by which nosocomial bacteria, like A. baumanii, attain multidrug resistance to antibiotics is of considerable interest. The aim in this study was to investigate the spread status of antibiotic resistance genes, such as multiple β-lactamase genes and aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme genes, from A. baumanii strains isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs).

METHODSTwo thousand six hundred and ninety-eight sputum or the bronchoalveolar lavage samples from inpatients with LRTIs were collected in 21 hospitals in the mainland of China from November 2007 to February 2009. All samples were routinely inoculated. The isolated bacterial strains and their susceptibility were analyzed via VITEK-2 expert system. Several kinds of antibiotic resistant genes were further differentiated via polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods.

RESULTSTotally, 39 A. baumanii strains were isolated from 2698 sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples. There was not only a high resistant rate of the isolated A. baumanii strains to ampicillin and first- and second-generation cephalosporins (94.87%, 100% and 97.44%, respectively), but also to the third-generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone at 92.31%, ceftazidine at 51.28%) and imipenem (43.59%) as well. The lowest antibiotic resistance rate of 20.51% was found to amikacin. The OXA-23 gene was identified in 17 strains of A. baumanii, and the AmpC gene in 23 strains. The TEM-1 gene was carried in 15 strains. PER-1 and SHV-2 genes were detected in two different strains. Aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme gene aac-3-Ia was found in 23 strains, and the aac-6'-Ib gene in 19 strains. aac-3-Ia and aac-6'-Ib genes hibernated in three A. baumanii strains that showed no drug-resistant phenotype.

CONCLUSIONSA. baumanii can carry multiple drug-resistant genes at the same time and result in multi-drug resistance. Aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme genes could be hibernating in aminoglycoside sensitive strains without expressing their phenotype.

Acinetobacter ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Acinetobacter Infections ; microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; microbiology ; Sputum ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chromosomal aberration in sporadic colorectal carcinoma and its association with clinicopathological features.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization(CGH) was used to screen the changes in the number of DNA sequence copies in 40 sporadic colorectal cancer patients in order to identify regions that contain genes important for the development and progression of colorectal cancer.

RESULTSIn 40 sporadic colorectal cancer, frequent gain at 20 q, 12 q, 13 q, 7 p, 7 q and 16 q were found, while loss was also found at 18 q, 5 q, 4 q, 8 pand 17 p. The number of chromosomal aberration was closely associated with tumor stage(P<0.05). No significant association was found between the number of chromosomal aberration and tumor site, histopathologic type and histologic grade.

CONCLUSIONSChromosomal aberration exists generally in sporadic colorectal carcinoma. The number of chromosomal aberration and gain of 20q are closely associated with tumor stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Mapping ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; DNA Probes ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVETo determine the pulmonary pathological changes in hematological malignancy patients with pulmonary complications.

METHODS17 hematological malignancy patients underwent surgical treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The pathological changes of all the surgical specimens were examined postoperatively by standard hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.

RESULTSPathological examination confirmed: aspergillus infection in 9 patients, sub-acute inflammation (fibrosis and hematoma formation) in 3, and each in 1 of pulmonary infarction with granulomatous tissue in the periphery; granulomatous inflammation with calcified tubercle; alveolar dilation and hemorrhage, interstitial fibrosis and focal vasculitis; intercostal neurilemmoma; and moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis. And several operative complications (1 case of fungal implantation, 3 pleural effusion and adhesions and 2 pulmonary hematoma) were occurred. The coincidence rate of pre- and post-operative diagnosis was 9/14 (64.3%). After surgery, 8 patients were received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT, allo-gene or autologous), with 7 succeeded. On effective secondary antifungal prophylaxis, 4 of 5 patients of aspergillosis succeeded in transplantation with free from mycotic relapse, one patient died from fungal relapse.

CONCLUSIONHematological malignancies with persistent and/or resistant pulmonary infection, hemoptysis, or unexplained lung diseases, should be treated in time by surgery operation to effectively eliminate residual disease and obtain a definitive diagnosis, so as to create a prerequisite condition for the following treatments. Moreover, the secondary antifungal prophylaxis can provide active roles for patients scheduled for chemotherapy and/or HSCT.

Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether Hantavirus (HV) and Orientia tsutsugamushi ( OT) can naturally infect and coexist in their host and role.

METHODSBy field epidemiological study, Leptotrombidium scutellare (3829) was collected and separated from mice(166) in epidemic areas. The cells of mites separated from their host and role were cultured. PCR was used to detect HV-RNA and OT-DNA in the cell culture.

RESULTSIn 105 Apodemus agrarius, 3 HV-RNA positive, 2 OT-DNA positive and 2 coinfection with HV and OT were detected;in 41 Brown rattus, 2 HV-RNA positive, 1 OT-DNA positive and 1 co-infection with HV and OT were detected. From 15 mites co-infected with HV and OT, 2 strains of HV pathogen, 2 strains of OT pathogen were separated and 1 HV and OT pathogen in the same mite were separate.

CONCLUSIONThe study demonstrates that co-infection of HV and OT did simultaneously exist in wild Leptotrombidium scutellare. This theory has some significance to the epidemic and precaution of HV and OT.

Animals ; Disease Vectors ; Hantavirus ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Rats ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology ; Trombiculidae ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of preoperative radiochemotherapy and investigate the influencing factors in rectal cancer.

METHODSFifty-three patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were treated with radiochemotherapy before surgery. Three-field technique of radiation therapy was administered with 46 Gy, 2 Gy per fraction, five times a week. Two cycles of chemotherapy were carried out at day 1, 2 and day 21, 22 during the radiation course. Surgery was performed 4-6 weeks after the radiochemotherapy. Response of preoperative radiochemotherapy was evaluated in all the patients by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), spiral computed tomography (SCT) and pathology. Influencing factors of the efficacy of radiochemotherapy were evaluated by univariate and Logistic analysis.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis revealed that tumor size and histological grading were associated with the efficacy of preoperative radiochemotherapy. Logistic regression analysis showed that only tumor size was the significant predictive factor for response to preoperative radiochemotherapy. All patients underwent surgical resection after preoperative radiochemotherapy. The tumor was reduced by an average of 32.1%. T-level down-staging was 64.2%. Nodal negativity was 58.1%. Complete pathologic remission occurred in 11 patients.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative radiochemotherapy can shrink the primary tumor and decrease lymph node metastasis rate. Patient with small tumor may have better response to preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Rectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening