The role of the spinal cord inducible nitric oxide synthase in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore if induced nitric oxide in the spinal cord mediates withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male SD rats weighing 200-250 g were employed in the present study. To set up morphine dependence model, rats were subcutaneously injected with morphine (twice a day, for 5 d). The dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg in the first day and was increased by 10 mg/kg each day. On day 6, 4 h after the injection of morphine (50 mg/kg), morphine withdrawal syndrome was precipitated by an injection of naloxone (4 mg/kg, ip). Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitors aminoguanidine (AG) was intrathecally injected 30 min before the administration of naloxone. All the rats were divided into four groups: control group, dependence group, withdrawal group, AG group. Morphine withdrawal score, touch evoked agitation scores (TEA scores), immunohistochemical and Western blot technique were used to evaluate morphine withdrawal response and the expression of iNOS in the spinal cord.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intrathecal injection of iNOS inhibitors AG could alleviate morphine withdrawal symptoms. Morphine withdrawal scores and touch evoked agitation scores in AG group were significantly lower than that of withdrawal group (P < 0.05). iNOS positive neurons in dorsal horn of AG group were significantly lower than that of withdrawal group (P < 0.05). Level of iNOS protein in spinal cord of AG group was significantly lower than that of withdrawal group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Induced nitric oxide in the spinal cord may mediate withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent rats.</p>

The different roles of the spinal protein nNOS and iNOS in morphine naloxone-precipitated withdrawal response / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of intrathecal injection of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitors 7-Nitroindazole (7-Ni) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) inhibitors aminoguanidine (AG) on the behavioral changes of morphine-induced dependent and withdrawal rats; the expression of Fos, nNOS and iNOS in spinal cord.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To set up morphine dependence model, rats were subcutaneously injected with morphine (twice a day, for 5 d). The dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg in the first day and was increased by 10 mg/ kg every day. On day 6, 4 h after the injection of morphine (50 mg/kg), morphine withdrawal syndrome was precipitated by an injection of naloxone (4 mg/kg ip). 7-Ni, an nNOS inhibitor or iNOS inhibitors AG were intrathecally injected 30 min before the administration of naloxone respectively. The scores of morphine withdrawal symptom and morphine withdrawal-induced allodynia were observed. One hour after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, Fos protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot was used to detect the expression of nNOS and iNOS in the rat spinal cord.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intrathecal administration of nNOS inhibitor 7-Ni and iNOS inhibitors AG decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal, attenuated morphine withdrawal-induced allodynia and also inhibited the increase of Fos protein expression in the spinal cord of morphine withdrawal rats. nNOS and iNOS positive neurons in dorsal horn in nNOS group and iNOS group were significantly lower than that in withdrawal group. Compared with withdrawal group, level of nNOS and iNOS protein in spinal cord in nNOS group and iNOS group were significantly lower.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is suggested that nNOS and iNOS in the spinal cord may contribute to naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in rats and may play different roles in the above-mentioned effect.</p>

MEK inhibitors suppressed expression of NOS in spinal cord of morphine-induced dependent and withdrawal rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of intrathecal injection of mitogen-activated protein kinases inhibitors U0126 on the behavioral changes of morphine-induced dependent and withdrawal rats and the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in spinal cord.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All the rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, dependent group, withdrawal group, U0126 group (5 microg). Global withdrawal score, Touch evoked agitation scores (TEA score), immunohistochemical and Western blot technique were undertaken to evaluate behavioral changes and expression of FOS, nNOS and iNOS in spinal cord respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that intrathecal administration of U0126 significantly alleviated withdrawal symptom, withdrawal scores of U0126 group (22.5 +/- 4.09) were significantly lower than than those of withdrawal group (28.6 +/- 4.89) (P < 0.05). TEA scores of withdrawal group were 13.5 +/- 2.55, which were significantly higher than those of U0126 group (10.0 +/- 2.76, P < 0.05). Fos-like positive neurons in dorsal horn of withdrawal group were 380 +/- 71, which were higher than those of U0126 group(287 +/- 54, P < 0.05). Also nNOS and iNOS positive neurons in dorsal horn of U0126 group were 180 +/- 32, 10.8 +/- 2.8 respectively, which were significantly lower than that of withdrawal group (239 +/- 45, 16.8 +/- 5.1, P < 0.05). Compared with withdrawal group, levels of nNOS and iNOS protein in spinal cord of U0126 group were significantly lower.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MEK inhibitors could alleviate withdrawal symptom of morphine-induced dependent rats and could suppress expression of NOS in spinal cord, and extracellular signal-regulate kinase (ERK) might involve the expression of NOS in spinal cord.</p>

Clinical observation of injection of dexmedetomidine in anaesthesia for esophageal cancer operation / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of administration of dexmedetomidine in anaesthesia for esophageal cancer operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>100 patients (ASAI-II) who were undergoing to esophageal cancer operation were randomly divided into control group (group A) and dexmedetomidine group (group B) (n = 50). The scheme of induction and maintenance of aesthesia of the two groups were identical. Patients in group B administered dexmedetomidine at a dose of 1 microg/kg over 10 min and patients in group A were given a placebo infusion of normal saline. Patients in group B administered dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.4 microg/(kg x h) was injected and stoped at 30 min by the end of operation. Mean artery pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were detected before induction (T0), induction (T1), 1 min after extubation (T2), 5 min after extubation (T3) and 10 min after extubation (T4) Propofol comsumption, fentanlyl comsumption, and side effects were recorded as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that MAP and HR (T0, T1, T2, T3, T4) in group B were significantly different from those in group A which fluctuated more markedly (P < 0.05). Propofol comsumption in group A was much more than that in group B (P < 0.05). Incidence of pharynx and larynx ache and restlessness were higher in group A than those in group B (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dexmedetomidine could effectively reduce the cardiovascular response to incubation and extubation in esophageal cancer operation patients. Propofol comsumption, fentanlyl comsumption and side effects were reduceed as well.</p>

Viral load test conducive to excluding negative subjects from suspects in HIV antibody detections / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study whether plasma viral load testing is helpful to exclude ones free from Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections from suspects in HIV antibody detections.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>19 Specimens, which showed disconcordant results of the two HIV EIA testing (S/CO < 6) and indeterminated results of Western blot (WB) test, were selected. Viral load of the specimens were detected. A six-month follow up survey in detecting HIV antibody was conducted in these subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>None of these 19 cases was observed to be positive HIV viral loads and there was no any progress in WB bands development during the follow-up period. The possibility of HIV infection could be excluded.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>When the specimens react with very low intensity in both EIA and WB, negative viral load result is conducive to exclude negative subjects from suspects in HIV antibody detections.</p>

Field evaluation of alternative testing strategies for the detection of HIV infection in Beijing / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify a cost-efficient alternative antibody testing strategy for screening and confirmation of HIV infection by rapid simple tests (RSTs) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four RSTs (RST1, RST2, RST3, and RST4) and five ELISAs (ELISA1, ELISA2, ELISA3, ELISA4, and ELISA5) were evaluated in two phases by using banked and serum specimens prospectively collected at regional hospitals and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers in Beijing. A total of 200 banked serum specimens were included in the first phase, including 62 HIV-positive, 127 HIV-negative and 11 indeterminate specimens. All specimens were tested by four RSTs and five ELISAs respectively. The second phase involved prospective testing of 389 routine specimens, including 92 HIV-positive, 287 HIV-negative, and 10 indeterminate specimens. All the specimens were tested by two RSTs (RST2 and RST4) and three ELISAs (ELISA1, ELISA3, and ELISA4), which were selected for their respective excellent sensitivity and/or specificity. Western blot (WB) was used as a gold standard for confirming the reactivity of all the specimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sensitivity, specificity, and efficacy were calculated for each assay in two phases. In the first phase, four assays (ELISA4, RST2, RST3, and RST4) had a specificity of 100%. For the determination of efficacy, ELISA4, RST2, and RST4 were selected in the second phase. ELISA1 and ELISA3 which have a sensitivity of 95.9% and 93.2% respectively also entered this phase. In the second phase, all the five assays (ELISA1, ELISA3, ELISA4, RST2, and RST4) had a sensitivity and specifity of over 90%. ELISA1 had a sensitivity of 99% and ELISA4 a specificity of 99%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sensitivity ELISA1 and the specificit of ELISA4 are comparable to ELISA/WB standard strategy. Application of this alternative testing strategy provides a cost-effective method for determining HIV prevalence in Beijing.</p>

Effects of intrathecal injection of U0126 on the expression of phospho-CREB in spinal cord of morphine-induced withdrawal rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To explore effects of intrathecal injection of U0126 on morphine withdrawal response and the spinal Phospho-CREB expression in morphine-induced withdrawal rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All the rats were divided into 5 groups: control group, dependence group, withdrawal group, U0126 group (5 microg, it) and DMSO group. Morphine withdrawal score, touch evoked agitation scores(TEA score), immunohistochemical and Western-blotting technique were used to evaluate morphine withdrawal response and the expression of Phospho-CREB in the spinal cord.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intrathecal injection of MEK inhibitor U0126 significantly alleviated morphine withdrawal symptoms. Morphine withdrawal scores in U0126 group (22.5 +/- 4.09) were significantly lower than that of withdrawal group (28.6 +/- 4.89, P < 0.05). TEA score of withdrawal group was 13.5 +/- 2.55, which was significantly higher than that of U0126 group (10.0 +/- 2.76, P < 0.05). Phospho-CREB positive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn of withdrawal group were 380 +/- 71, which is higher than that of U0126 group (293 +/- 47, P < 0.05). Compared with withdrawal group, level of Phospho-CREB protein detected by Western blot in spinal cord of U0126 group was significantly lower.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MEK inhibitors U0126 could suppress expression of Phospho-CREB in the spinal cord.</p>

Subtype and sequence analysis of gag and env genes among HIV-1 strains circulating in Beijing residents during 2006 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the subtype distribution and the prevalence of sequence characteristics of HIV-1 strains in Beijing residents during 2006 and to analyze the relationship between distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and transmission routines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples from 32 new confirmed HIV-1 infected individuals from Beijing residents in 2006 and separated plasma specimens were collected. RNAs were extracted and the gag and env gene were amplified by RT-PCR and nest-PCR. PCR products were sequenced directly and phylogenetic analyses of gag and env gene were performed using the MEGA2 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 32 HIV-1 plasma samples, 22 gag and 4 env gene fragments were amplified and analyzed. Five HIV-1 subtypes or circulating recombinant forms(CRFs) of HIV-1 including Thai B (2 strains), B (9 strains), C (2 strains), CRF07_BC (5 strains), CRF01 AE (4 strains) were identified being circulated in Beijing. The gene divergences of gag gene inside the subtypes were 6.6%, 4.3%, 6.8%, 4.9% and 3.0% in subtype B, Thai B, C, CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC respectively. Subtypes B were predominant in Beijing, accounted for 40.9% among 22 samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Five HIV-1 subtypes were identified in Beijing and the surveillance of HIV-1 gene variation should be paid more attention to.</p>

Study on the changes of demography and behavioral characteristics of drug users in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the demography changes and behaviors in drug users.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Self-reported questionnaires was used and longitudinal investigation was conducted in one of the detoxication centers in Beijing in 1998 and 2000. Drug users were randomly chosen.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results showed that age of drug users tend to become younger with the numbers of drug users aged below 25, increased from 18.7% in 1998 to 28.2% in 2000. Majority of drug users remained males, but the proportion of females seemed to increase. Distribution of occupation showed that the largest increase fell among individual enterprisers, from 15.2% in 1998 to 25.9% in 2000. With educational back-ground, the proportion of lower than elementary education level, including illiterate, increased. Fifty percent of drug users were unmarried which increased from 40.8% in 1998 to 53.2% in 2000. Needle sharing was quite common, 16.5% in 1998 and 11.9% in 2000, but the decrease was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Fifty-seven point three percent of the injecting drug users did not have constant partners to share equipments. Proportion of extra-marriage sexual practice increased from 12.5% in 1998 to 27.5% in 2000, and significant difference (Chi-square = 12.50, P < 0.001). Multiple partners in extra-married drug users was also found (mean = 2). Compared to 1998, condom use during every sexual practice increased in 2000, but 47.7% drug users still never used condom.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In summary, as the quick increase of drug users, sharing of injecting equipment and high-risk sexual behavior, including multiple partners and unprotected sex, were quite common, with the possibility of HIV epidemic in drug users.</p>