Objective: To investigate the fatigue status of military personnel stationed in plateau and high cold region, and to analyze the mediator effect of trait coping style on job stress and fatigue. Methods: In October 2010, with the method of cluster random sampling survey, 531 military personnel stationed in plateau and high cold region were chosen as subject. The fatigue status were evaluated by the Chinese version multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) , job stress were evaluated by the Job Stress Survey (JSS) , and trait coping style were evaluated by the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ) . Results: According to the information of different population characteristics, mean rank of physical fatigue about the urban (town) group were higher than that of rural group (Z=-2.200, P<0.05) ; mean rank of reduced motivation about the urban (town) group were higher than that of rural group (Z=-2.781, P<0.05) ; mean rank of general fatigue scores about the urban (town) group were higher than that of rural group (Z=-3.026, P<0.05) ; mean rank of physical fatigue about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-4.045, P<0.05) ; mean rank of reduced motivation about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-2.182, P<0.05) ; mean rank of mental fatigue about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-2.879, P<0.05) ; mean rank of general fatigue scores about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-3.647, P<0.05) ; mean rank of reduced motivation were significant statistical difference among the military officers, sergeancy and soldier group (F=18.965, P<0.05) ; mean rank of general fatigue scores were significant statistical difference among the military officers, sergeancy and soldier group (F=14.711, P<0.05) . The score of negative coping style were positively correlated with the score of physical fatigue (r_s=0.129) , reduced activity (r_s=0.123) , reduced motivation (r_s=0.149) and general fatigue (r_s=0.174) respectively, the score of organizational support lack strength were positively correlated with the score of physical fatigue (r_s=0.090) , reduced activity (r_s=0.098) , reduced motivation (r_s=0.099) and general fatigue (r_s=0.130) respectively. The mediator effect of negative coping style on the job stress and fatigue was 0.013 (P<0.01) . Conclusion The fatigue statuses of the urban (town) group and the up or equal 20-years old age group are poor, and the negative coping style plays mediator effect on the job stress and fatigue.

AIM:MicroRNAs ( miRNAs) were recognized to play significant roles in cardiac hypertrophy .But, it remains unknown whether cyclin/Rb pathway is modulated by miRNAs during cardiac hypertrophy .This study investigates the potential roles of microRNA-1 (miR-1) and microRNA-16 (miR-16) in modulating cyclin/Rb pathway during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy .METHODS:An animal model of hypertrophy was established in a rat with abdominal aortic constriction (AAC).In addition, a cell model of hypertrophy was also achieved based on PE-promoted neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte .RESULTS:miR-1 and-16 expression were markedly de-creased in hypertrophic myocardium and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes in rats .Overexpression of miR-1 and -16 suppressed rat cardiac hypertrophy and hypertrophic phenotype of cultured cardiomyocytes .Expression of cyclins D1, D2 and E1, CDK6 and phosphorylated pRb was increased in hypertrophic myocardium and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes , but could be reversed by enforced expression of miR-1 and -16.CDK6 was validated to be modulated post-transcriptionally by miR-1, and cyclins D1, D2 and E1 were further validated to be modulated post-transcriptionally by miR-16.CONCLUSION: Attenuations of miR-1 and -16 provoke cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via derepressing the cyclins D1, D2, E1 and CDK6, and activating cyclin/Rb pathway.

AIM:To investigate the effect of miR-214 on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the expression of the potential target genes . METHODS:A cell model of hypertrophy was established based on angiotensin-Ⅱ( Ang-Ⅱ)-induced neonatal mouse ventricular car-diomyocytes (NMVCs).Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miR-214 and the 3’ UTR of MEF2C.The expression of MEF2C and hypertrophy-related genes at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Wes-tern blotting, respectively.RESULTS:The expression of ANP, ACTA1,β-MHC and miR-214 was markedly increased in Ang-Ⅱ-in-duced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes .Dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-214 interacted with the 3’ UTR of MEF2C, and miR-214 was verified to inhibit MEF2C expression at the transcriptional level .The protein expression of MEF2C was markedly in-creased in the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes .Moreover, miR-214 mimic, in parallel to MEF2C siRNA, inhibited the expression of hy-pertrophy-related genes in Ang-Ⅱ-induced NMVCs.CONCLUSION:MEF2C is a target gene of miR-214, which mediates the effect of miR-214 on attenuating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy .

AIM:To determine circular RNA (circRNA) profiles in the diabetic mouse myocardium , and to investigate the effect of circRNA_000203 on fibrotic phenotypes in cardiac fibroblasts .METHODS:Masson trichrome stai-ning was performed on the myocardium of the diabetic db /db mice and the non diabetic db/m control mice .circRNA ex-pression profile in the diabetic myocardium was detected by circRNAs microarray .The expression of circRNA_000203 was determined by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR ( RT-qPCR ) .Recombinant circRNA_000203 adenovirus was pre-pared for enforced the expression of circRNA_000203 in mouse cardiac fibroblasts.The expression of Col1a2, Col3a1andα-SMA was determined in circRNA_000203-modified cardiac fibroblasts , respectively .RESULTS:Masson trichrome stai-ning showed that fibrosis was increased in the diabetic mouse myocardium .The results of circRNA array detection revealed that circRNAs were dysregulated in the diabetic myocardium .circRNA_000203 was up-regulated in the diabetic myocardi-um.Significant over-expression of circRNA_000203 was achieved in the cardiac fibroblasts after infection with the recombi-nant circRNA_000203 adenovirus.The mRNA and protein expression of Col1a2, Col3a1 and α-SMA was significantly in-creased in the cardiac fibroblasts with over-expression of circRNA_000203.CONCLUSION:circRNA_000203 is up-regu-lated in the diabetic mouse myocardium .It has pro-fibrotic effect on the cardiac fibroblasts .

AIM:To investigate the effect of microRNA-214 ( miR-214) on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the expression of the potential target genes .METHODS:A cell model of hypertrophy was established based on angiotensin-Ⅱ( Ang-Ⅱ)-induced neonatal mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes ( NMVCs) .Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miR-214 and the 3’ UTR of MEF2C.The expression of MEF2C and hypertrophy-related genes at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot , respectively .RESULTS:The expression of ANP, ACTA1,β-MHC and miR-214 was markedly increased in Ang-Ⅱ-induced hypertrophic cardiomyocytes .Dual lu-ciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-214 interacted with the 3’ UTR of MEF2C, and miR-214 was verified to inhibit MEF2C expression at the transcriptional level .The protein expression of MEF2C was markedly increased in the hypertro-phic cardiomyocytes .Moreover, miR-214 mimic, in parallel to MEF2C siRNA, inhibited the expression of hypertrophy-re-lated genes in Ang-Ⅱ-induced NMVCs.CONCLUSION:MEF2C is a target gene of miR-214, which mediates the effect of miR-214 on attenuating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy .

Background Laser assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) is one of surgical procedures for refractive correction.Dilute alcohol that is used for the removal of epithelium during LASEK induces the apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells.Researches showed that thymosin β4 (Tβ4) can arrest apoptosis, but whether Tβ4 plays inhibitory effect on ethanol-induced damage of corneal epithelial cells is still unelucidated.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Tβ4 on ethanol-induced rabbit corneal epithelial cell damage in vitro.Methods The corneal tissue of deendothelium was obtained from 10 New Zealand white rabbits.Corneal epithelial cells were cultured in vitro by using explant culture method.Cultured cells were identified by detecting the expression of keratin 12 and connexin 43 with reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).The cells of second generation were collected and divided into 4 groups.The cells were regularly cultured in the normal control group, and Tβ4 was added in the culture medium at the final concentration of 1 μg/ml in the Tβ4 treated group.Ethanol-induced rabbit corneal epithelial cell damage models were established by adding PBS containing 20％ alcohol in medium for 20 seconds in the model group,and Tβ4 was added in the medium of model cells at the final concentration of 1 μg/ml in the model+Tβ4 group.The survival rate of the cells was detected by MTT assay, and the apoptosis rate of the cells was examined by TUNEL method.The relative expression levels of cyclin D1 mRNA and cyclin-depensent protein kanase 4 (CDK4) mRNA in the cells were detected by real-time flurescenee quantitative PCR.The content of bcl-2 protein in the cells was detected by ELISA assay.Spectrophotometry was employed to measure the activity of caspase-3.The study complied with the Regulation for the Adminstration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The mean cell survival rate was (52.1 ± 14.07) ％ in the model group,which was significantly reduced in comparison with 100％ of the normal control group and (77.7± 19.60) ％ of the model+Tβ4 group (P=0.001 ,P=0.035).TUNEL staining revealed more positive cells in the model group and the model+Tβ4 group,and the percentage of TUNEL positive cells was (30.0±6.7)％ in the model+Tβ4 group, showing an evident decline in comparison with (42.4±4.0)％ of the model group (P=0.01).The relative expression levels of cyclin D1 mRNA and CDK4 mRNA were 0.93±0.17 and 0.88±0.09 in the model+Tβ4 group, which were significantly higher than 0.68±0.05 and 0.54±0.07 in the model group (P=0.027,0.002).ELISA assay exhibited that bcl-2 content in the cells was considerably lower,and caspase-3 activity was significantly higher in the model group than those in the model+Tβ4 group (P =0.030,0.021).Conclusions Tβ4 plays a protective effect on rabbit corneal epithelial cells from apoptosis by lowing the caspase 3 activity and increasing bcl-2 content in ethanoldamaged rabbit corneal epithelial cells.In addition, Tβ4 promotes the regrowth of corneal epithelial cells by upregulating the expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4.

OBJECTIVETo assess the stiffness and thickness of the plantar fascia using shear wave elastography (SWE) in healthy volunteers of different ages and in patients with plantar fasciitis.

METHODSThe bilateral feet of 30 healthy volunteers and 23 patients with plantar fasciitis were examined with SWE. The plantar fascia thickness and elasticity modulus value were measured at the insertion of the calcaneus and at 1 cm from the insertion.

RESULTSThe elderly volunteers had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness measured using conventional ultrasound (P=0.005) and a significantly lower elasticity modulus value than the young volunteers (P=0.000). The patients with fasciitis had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness (P=0.001) and a lower elasticity modulus value than the elderly volunteers (P=0.000). The elasticity modulus value was significantly lower at the calcaneus insertion than at 1 cm from the insertion in patients with fasciitis (P=0.000) but showed no significantly difference between the two points in the elderly or young volunteers (P=0.172, P=0.126).

CONCLUSIONSWE allows quantitative assessment of the stiffness of the plantar fascia, which decreases with aging and in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Fascia ; diagnostic imaging ; Fasciitis, Plantar ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To assess the stiffness and thickness of the plantar fascia using shear wave elastography (SWE) in healthy volunteers of different ages and in patients with plantar fasciitis. Methods The bilateral feet of 30 healthy volunteers and 23 patients with plantar fasciitis were examined with SWE. The plantar fascia thickness and elasticity modulus value were measured at the insertion of the calcaneus and at 1 cm from the insertion. Results The elderly volunteers had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness measured using conventional ultrasound (P=0.005) and a significantly lower elasticity modulus value than the young volunteers (P=0.000). The patients with fasciitis had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness (P=0.001) and a lower elasticity modulus value than the elderly volunteers (P=0.000). The elasticity modulus value was significantly lower at the calcaneus insertion than at 1 cm from the insertion in patients with fasciitis (P=0.000) but showed no significantly difference between the two points in the elderly or young volunteers (P=0.172, P=0.126). Conclusion SWE allows quantitative assessment of the stiffness of the plantar fascia, which decreases with aging and in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Objective To assess the stiffness and thickness of the plantar fascia using shear wave elastography (SWE) in healthy volunteers of different ages and in patients with plantar fasciitis. Methods The bilateral feet of 30 healthy volunteers and 23 patients with plantar fasciitis were examined with SWE. The plantar fascia thickness and elasticity modulus value were measured at the insertion of the calcaneus and at 1 cm from the insertion. Results The elderly volunteers had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness measured using conventional ultrasound (P=0.005) and a significantly lower elasticity modulus value than the young volunteers (P=0.000). The patients with fasciitis had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness (P=0.001) and a lower elasticity modulus value than the elderly volunteers (P=0.000). The elasticity modulus value was significantly lower at the calcaneus insertion than at 1 cm from the insertion in patients with fasciitis (P=0.000) but showed no significantly difference between the two points in the elderly or young volunteers (P=0.172, P=0.126). Conclusion SWE allows quantitative assessment of the stiffness of the plantar fascia, which decreases with aging and in patients with plantar fasciitis.