Effect of superior cervical ganglion block on cardiac function and NLRP3 signaling pathway in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of superior cervical ganglion block (SCGB) on cardiac function and nucleotide like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).Methods:Sixty healthy SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, aged 2-3 months, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (sham group), myocardial I/R group (IR group), myocardial I/R + normal saline group (IR+ NS group), and myocardial I/R + SCGB group (IR+ SCGB group). Myocardial I/R model was developed by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery for 45 min followed by restoration of blood flow in anesthetized aninals. IR+ SCGB group received SCGB (0.25% ropivacaine 0.1 ml) at 10 min before reperfusion once a day for 2 consecutive weeks, while 0.9% sodium chloride was given instead of ropivacaine in IR+ NS group. Blood samples were collected at 24 h and 14 days of reperfusion for determination of serum concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), troponin T (TnT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-1β by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Echocardiography was performed before ischemia and at 14 days of reperfusion, and left ventricular short axis shortening rate (FS), ejection fraction (EF), and cardiac output (CO) were measured. The rats were sacrificed at 14 days of reperfusion and the hearts were taken for determination of the contents of norepinephrine (NE) in myocardial tissues in the infarction area (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), percentage of myocardial fibrosis area (by Masson staining), M1 macrophage marker CD68 + cell count in the infarction area (by immunohistochemical method), and expression of NLRP3 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in myocardial tissues (by Western blot). Results:Compared with Sham group, the serum concentrations of TnT, TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β, percentage of myocardial fibrosis area, and NE levels in serum and myocardial tissues were significantly increased, the expression of NLRP3 and GSDMD in myocardial tissues was up-regulated, CD68 + cell count was increased, and EF, CO and FS were decreased in IR group ( P<0.05). Compared with IR group, the serum concentrations of TnT, TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-1β, percentage of myocardial fibrosis area, and NE levels in serum and myocardial tissues were significantly decreased, the expression of NLRP3 and GSDMD in myocardial tissues was down-regulated, CD68 + cell count was decreased, and EF, CO and FS were increased in IR+ SCGB group ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in IR+ NS group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:SCGB can improve the cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial I/R, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Analysis on accuracy and influencing factors of oral fluid-based rapid HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understood the accuracy of oral fluid-based rapid HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) and related factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Survey was conducted among MSM selected through non-probability sampling to evaluate the quality of their rapid HIV self-testing, and related information was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most MSM were aged 21-30 years (57.0%). Among them, 45.7% had educational level of college or above, 78.5% were unmarried, 59.3% were casual laborers. The overall accuracy rate of oral fluid based self-testing was 95.0%, the handling of"inserting test paper into tube as indicated by arrow on it"had the highest accuracy rate (98.0%), and the handling of"gently upsetting tube for 3 times"had lowest accuracy rate (65.0%); Chi-square analysis showed that educational level, no touch with middle part of test paper, whether reading the instruction carefully, whether understanding the instruction and inserting test paper into tube as indicated by the arrow on it were associated with the accuracy of oral fluid-based rapid HIV self-testing, (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that educational level, no touch with middle part of test paper and understanding instructions were associated with the accuracy of oral fluid-based rapid HIV self-testing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The accuracy of oral fluid-based rapid HIV self-testing was high among MSM, the accuracy varied with the educational level of the MSM. Touch with the middle part of test paper or not and understanding the instructions or not might influence the accuracy of the self-testing.</p>

Research on the digit ratio of fixed partner and the multi-partner men who have sex with men / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the digit ratio of men who have sex with men (MSM), and the relationship between digit ratio and the partner types of MSM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Participants were required from Yunnan Rainbow Sky, a community organization that specialized in HIV testing, intervention and counseling services for MSM between December 2014 and April 2015. Inclusion criteria of MSM as the following: more than 18 years old; men who have had sex with men; HIV test was negative. Exclusion criteria were as this: those who couldn't attend the research due to disability. Eventually, there were 115 MSM participated in the research. According to the nationality, we adopted 1:1 matched case-control study, and we selected 115 men as control group. According to the partner number of MSM, the MSM were divided into two groups. One group was fixed partner and another was multi-partner. We used a questionnaire to collect the demographic characteristics, knowledge about HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviors during nearly 6 months, sexual orientation, the places where looked for sex partners, sex roles, drug use, preventive services etc. Then, the physical measurements were used to measure the length from second to the fifth finger in MSM group and control group. The results were expressed as nD. The chi-square test was used to compare the demographic differences between MSM group and the control group, and the T-test was used to compare the digit ratio between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 115 MSM, there were 26% (30/115) MSM who had a fixed partner, and there were 74% (85/115) MSM who had multi-partner. The mean values of digit ratio of MSM presented a trend as 2D:3D < 2D:4D < 3D:4D < 2D:5D < 4D:5D < 3D:5D. The right 2D:4D and 2D:5D of MSM were 0.957 7 ± 0.048 1 and 1.229 8 ± 0.083 4, and the mean value was significasntly higher than control group (0.941 4 ± 0.038 0 and 1.204 1 ± 0.069 5, t values were 2.84, 2.54 and P values were 0.005, 0.012). The right 2D:4D of the fixed partner group and multi-partner group among MSM were 0.962 2 ± 0.051 0 and 0.956 1 ± 0.047 3, respectively, and the mean values were significantly higher than control group (t values were 2.98, 2.83; P values were 0.027, 0.015).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The proportion of multi-partner MSM was higher, so MSM at a high risk of being HIV infected. Right 2D:4D could be used as a biomarker of the MSM in Kunming, but couldn't reflect the features of MSM whether he has a fixed partner or has several partners.</p>