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Objective To compare the regulating effect of electrically stimulating different parts of the auri-cle on the cardiac vagus nerve in rats, and to explore the basic neural mechanism. Methods The tragus, concha auriculae and helix of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were stimulated at different intensities ( 0-16 mA) and with differ-ent durations ( 0-15 min) and any changes in the heart rate were observed. One week later, the rats were randomized into a tragus injection group, a concha auriculae injection group, a helix injection group and a control group, each of 6. The rats of the first three groups were injected with 2 μL of cholera toxin subunit B conjugate AF555 ( CTB-AF555) at the right auricle, while the control group was injected with the same amount of aseptic phosphate-buffered saline at the right tragus. Five days later, all of the rats were sacrificed and their right superior and inferior ganglia and the whole bulbus medullae were resected to observe the fluorescent labeling sites. Results The rats'heart rate declined with longer and more intense stimulation of the tragus or concha auriculae, but not with stimulation of the he-lix. With stimulation of the same duration, a significant decrease was observed in the heart rate when the tragus and concha auriculae were stimulated at 10, 12, 14 or 16 mA compared with when the helix was stimulated at the same intensities. The heart rate when the concha auriculae was stimulated at 12 mA was significantly slower than when the tragus was stimulated at the same intensity. At identical stimulus intensities, the heart rate slowed significantly more when the tragus was stimulated for 6 to 15 minutes and the concha auriculae for 4 to 15 minutes compared with stimu-lating the helix for the same length of time. And compared with stimulating the tragus for 6 to 10 minutes, the heart rate decreased significantly more when the concha auriculae was stimulated for the same length of time. All of the rats in the tragus and concha auriculae injection groups displayed nerve tracer in their superior and inferior ganglia. In the tragus injection group, CTB-AF555 was observed in the nucleus tractus solitarius ( NTS) of 3 of the 6 rats. In the concha auriculae injection group it was observed in 4 of the 6. In the helix injection group, CTB-AF555 was observed in the nucleus of the spinal tract in 5 of the 6 rats, but no nerve tracer was found in their superior or inferior ganglia or in the NTS. Conclusion Electrical stimulation of the tragus and concha auriculae can regulate the functioning of the cardiac vagus nerve, but stimulating the helix cannot. This is partly because the nerve signals in tragus or concha auriculae stimulation and the cardiac sensory nerve signal are integrated in the inferior ganglion and then analyzed and processed in the bulbar center to monitor the heart.
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Objective To investigate the protective mechanisms of Atorvastatin against high glucose environment-induced injuries of myocardial microvascular endothelial cells. Methods Myocardial microvascular endothelial cells(MMECs)in SD rat were cultured and divided into groups of control group ,hyperglycemia group ,atorvastatin group ,and atorvastatin + high glucose group. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS)was assayed using Superoxide Assay Kit. Apoptosis of cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) . The expression levels of Akt1 and β1-Integrin were assayed by short-interfering RNA (siRNA ) technique ,and the levels of small GTP-binding protein dissociation stimulator (SmgGDS) expression were measured using Western blot. Results (1)The level of ROS was higher in the high glucose group than in the control group(t=4.154 ,P <0.01) ,and lower in both Atorvastatin group and the Atorvastatin + high glucose group than in the high glucose group (t= 4.233 and 2.893 ,both P <0.05). (2)The proportion of apoptotic cells was higher in the high glucose group than in the control group(t= 4.058 ,P < 0.01) ,and lower in both Atorvastatin group and the Atorvastatin + high glucose group than in the high glucose group(t=4.157 and 2.601 ,both P<0.05).(3)The expression level of Akt1 was lower in the high glucose group and the high glucose + Atorvastatin group than in the mock control group after transfection of Akt1-siRNA(t=4.058 and 4.167 ,both P<0.01).The expression level of β1-integrin was lower in the high glucose group and the high glucose + atorvastatin group than in the mock control group after transfection of β1-integrin-siRNA (t=4.073 and 4.215 , both P<0.01). (4)Western blot analysis showed the following results. First ,the relative expression levels of SmgGDS in both the low dose(1 μmol/L)and high dose(10 μmol/L)of atorvastatin group were higher than in the control group (t= 2.671 and 2.832 ,both P < 0.05).Second ,the relative expression level of SmgGDS in the high dose group were higher than in the low dose group (t=2.612 , P< 0.05 ). Third ,after transfection of Akt1-siRNA ,the expression level of SmgGDS in the high glucose + Atorvastatin group and the high glucose group was decreased ;and the level was higher in the high glucose + atorvastatin + mock group than in the high glucose + mock group(t=4.051 ,P<0.01).Fourth ,after transfection of β1-integrin-siRNA ,the expression level of SmgGDS was lower in high glucose + Atorvastatin group and the high glucose group than in the high glucose +Atorvastatin + mock group ;the level was higher in the high glucose + Atorvastatin + mock group than in the high glucose + mock group(t= 4.068 ,P < 0.01).Fifth ,the expression level of Akt phosphorylation in the high glucose group and the high glucose + Atorvastatin group was higher at 10 minutes than at five minutes(t=2.608 ,P<0.05) ,and higher at 15 minutes than at 10 minutes(t=3.127 ,P <0.05). After transfection of β1-integrin-siRNA ,the expression level of p-Akt /t-Akt was lower in the high glucose group than in the high glucose + mock group(t= 3.371 ,P < 0.05). Conclusions Atorvastatin treatment protects myocardial microvascular endothelial cells possibly by up-regulating SmgGDS through β1-integrin/Akt1 against high glucose environment-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis injuries.
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Objective To investigate the efficacy of Madopar on vascular parkinsonism with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(VPD+ PAF)in elderly patients and its effect on the autonomic nervous system. Methods We recruited 50 patients aged over 60 with VPD + PAF into this randomized controlled trial.Based on sinus rhythm recorded by 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiogram ,individuals with an average heart rate below 60 times per minute were assigned into a sinus bradycardia group (n＝15)and those with a normal average heart rate were randomly assigned into a normal rate group (n＝20)or a control group (n＝ 15)by drawing lots.The control group was given routine care for 12 weeks ,while the other two groups were treated with Madopar plus routine care for 12 weeks. The three groups were examined using UPDRS-3 ,dynamic electrocardiogram ,heart rate variability , echocardiography ,and plasma acetylcholine(ACH)levels 1 day before treatment ,4 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment ,and atrial fibrillation frequency 2 weeks after treatment. Results UPDRS-3 scores decreased significantly in the sinus bradycardia group and the normal rate group after treatment for 4 weeks and 12 weeks ,compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05) ;UPDRS-3 scores in the control group did not show statistically significant changes at week 4 after treatment but decreased significantly at week 12(P＜0.05).UPDRS-3 scores in the sinus bradycardia group and the normal rate group were lower than those in the control group after treatment for 4 weeks and 12 weeks(P＜0.05). The total effectiveness rates in the sinus bradycardia group (86.7%,n＝13)and the normal rate group(85.0%,n＝17)were higher than the rate in the control group(53.3%,n＝8)(P＜0.05).Ach levels in the sinus bradycardia group and the normal rate group significantly decreased after treatment for 4 weeks and 12 weeks ,compared with before-treatment levels ,but no significant difference was observed between before-and after-treatment levels in the control group. Frequencies of AF in the sinus bradycardia group(5.6 ± 3.5)and the normal rate group(5.2 ± 4.1)were significantly lower than in the control group(8.4 ± 5.2)(P＜0.05). Conclusions Madopar can depress vagus nerve activity ,relieve VPD+ PAF symptoms ,and reduce the frequency of AF ;Heart rate variability and ACH level are potential predictors of clinical efficacy of Madopar in VPD patients.
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Objective:To investigate the protective effect of glucagon-like peptid-1(GLP-1) against cardiac microvascular endothelial cell(CMECs) injured by high glucose.Methods:CMECs were isolated and cultured.Superoxide assay kit and dihydroethidine(DHE) staining were used to assess oxidative stress.TUNEL staining and caspase3 expression were used to assess the apoptosis ofCMECs.H89 was used to inhibit cAMP/PKA pathway; fasudil was used to inhibitRho/ROCK pathway.The protein expressions ofRho,ROCK were examined byWestern blot analysis. Results:High glucose increased the production ofROS, the activity ofNADPH, the apoptosis rate and the expression level ofRho/ROCK inCMECs, whileGLP-1 decreased high glucose-induced ROS production, theNADPH activity and the apoptosis rate and the expression level ofRho/ROCK inCMECs, the difference were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusions:GLP-1 could protect the cardiac microvessels against oxidative stress and apoptosis.The protective effects of GLP-1 are dependent on downstream inhibition ofRho through a cAMP/PKA-dependent manner, resulting in a subsequent decrease in the expression ofNADPH oxidase.
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Objective To explore the correlation between the psychological resilience levelwith the emotional regulation modeand personality characteristicin the patientwith gastricarcinomto provide the theoretical reference fothe intervention measure.MethodOne hundred and forty-seven patientwith gastricancewere selected athe research subject(gastricancegroup) and contemporaneou150 individualwith healthy physical examination in the outpatiendepartmenwere selected athe control group .The Connoand Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC) ,Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ) and Emotion Regu-lation Scale were adopted to perform the investigation .The correlation between the psychological resilience levelwith the emotional regulation modeand personality characteristicwaanalyzed .ResultThe overall CD-RISscore in the gastricancegroup wa(59 .12 ± 9 .19) point,which belonged to the poorescope ;the personality characteristic,emotional regulation modeand psycho-logical resilience had statistical differencebetween the gastricancegroup and the control group (P＜0 .05);the multivariate Lo-gistiregression analysiresultshowed thathe introversion ,extroversion ,neuroticism ,catharsiregulation and depression regula-tion had largeinfluence on the lowepsychological resilience level in the patientwith gastricance(P＜0 .05);the psychological resilience in the patientwith gastricancewapositively correlated with the catharsiregulation and the depression regulation (r=0 .287 ,0 .136 ,P＜0 .05) and negatively correlated with the introversion ,extroversion and neuroticism (r= -0 .232 ,-0 .789 , P＜0 .05) .Conclusion The introversion ,extroversion ,neuroticism ,catharsiregulation and depression regulation are the importanfactorinfluencing the psychological resilience level .The multi-angle interventional measureshould be taken to improve the psy-chological resilience level in the patientwith gastricance.
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To investigate the effect of sea anemone toxin anthopleurin-Q (AP-Q) on potassium currents in isolated rats and guinea pig ventricular myocytes.Methods The ventricular cells of guinea pigs and SD rats were obtained by enzymatic dissociation method.Whole cell patch clamp technique was used to record potassium currents (Ito,IK,and IK1).Results AP-Q 3-100 nmol/L increased Ito in a concentration-dependent manner,with an EC50 value of 12.7 nmol/L.At a potential of +50mV,AP-Q 10nmol/L increased Ito from (13.3±3.4) pA pF-1 to (19.46±4.3) pA pF-1.AP-Q 0.1-100 nmol/L increased IK and IK tail in a concentration-dependent manner with EC50 values of 4.7 nmol/L and 5.0 nmol/L,respectively.AP-Q 1 pmol/L-100 nmol/L increased IK1 in dose-dependent manner,with an EC50 of 0.2 nmol/L.Conclusions The effect of AP-Q on Ito,IK and IK1 may partly explain its mechanism in shortening APD and increasing RP.(J Geriatr Cardiol 2008;5:243-247)
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Objective:To study the e ects of anthopleurin-Q(AP-Q) on potassium currents of ventricular myocytes in rats and guinea pig.Methods:The ventricular cells of guinea pigs and S.D.rats were obtained by enzymatic method.Whole cell patch clamp technique was used to record potassium currents,including transient outward potassium currents(Ito),delayed recti er potassium current(IK) and inward recti er potassium current(IK1).Results:AP-Q 3-100 nmol/L blocked Ito in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 10.5 nmol/L.With +50 mV depolarized pulse and 10nmol/LAP-Q,the Ito increased from(13.3?3.4)pA/pFto(19.46?4.3)pA/pF.AP-Q 0.1-100 nmol/Lincreased IK and tail current(IK tail) in a concentration-dependent manner with EC50 value of 4.7 nmol/Land 5.0 nmol/L,respectively.AP-Q 1 pmol/L-100 nmol/Lincrease IK1 in a concentration-dependent manner with EC50 value of 0.2 nmol/L.Conclusion:Augmented e ect of AP-Q on Ito,IK and IK1 may partly explain its e ects of shortening APD and increasing absolute value of RP.
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This paper describes the role,method and experience,and working model of medical ethics in large-scale hospitals,and holds that the modern hospital management mode has transformed from scientific management to humanism-based management,whose essence is the transformation of managing concept,and the embody of management ethics and management culture.Important connotations and primary task including employing virtue in hospital management,obeying legal regulations in medical practice,and conducting humanistic medicine should be emphasized and concerned in hospital management.
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In this paper,a unique case of organ transplantation was inspected by organ transplant ethics committee,through which we try to investigate the mode of current operation,problems and confusion of organ transplant ethics committee in China by the constitutive principles,inspection scope,process,content,especially the functional authority and other relevant contents of hospital ethics committee.