Research Progress on the Effect of Synthetic Cathinones on Animal Behavior / 法医学杂志

Synthetic cathinones are a class of new psychoactive substances with a structure similar to amphetamine drugs, which can produce excitatory effects similar to drugs such as amphetamine and cocaine after being taken. In recent years, the abuse of synthetic cathinones worldwide has become increasingly serious, posing a serious threat to social security and public health. This article focuses on several common synthetic cathinones, collects their research results in animal autonomous activity experiments and drug dependence model experiments and summarizes their relevant experimental conclusions in animal body temperature regulation, learning and memory, and anxiety, in order to provide data reference and method guidance for the domestic development of related drug research.

Long-term treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats with PD123319 and electrophysiological remodeling of left ventricular myocardium.

To investigate the effects of PD123319, an antagonist of angiotensin II subtype-2 receptor (AT2R), on the electrophysiological characteristics of the left ventricular hypertrophic myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A total of twenty-four 10-week-old male SHR were divided into two groups: PD123319 and non-PD123319 groups (n = 12 in each). Twelve 10-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats served as the control group. Systolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ventricular effective refractory period, and ventricular fibrillation threshold were also measured after 8 weeks. I Na, I CaL, I to, and membrane capacitance were measured in the left ventricular myocytes after 8 weeks by whole-cell patch clamp. PD123319 increased LVMI compared with the non-PD123319 group (PD123319 vs. non-PD123319, 3.83 ± 0.11 vs. 3.60 ± 0.19 mg/g; P < 0.01). PD123319 also decreased the ventricular fibrillation threshold compared with the non-PD123319 group (PD123319 vs. non-PD123319, 14.75 ± 0.65 vs. 16.0 ± 0.86 mA; P < 0.01). PD123319 enhanced membrane capacitance compared with the non-PD123319 group (PD123319 vs. non-PD123319, 283.63 ± 5.80 vs. 276.50 ± 4.28 pF; P < 0.05). PD123319 increased the density of I CaL compared with the non-PD123319 group (PD123319 vs. non-PD123319, -6.76 ± 0.48 vs. -6.13 ± 0.30 pA/pF; P < 0.05). PD123319 decreased the density of I to compared with the non-PD123319 group (PD123319 vs. non-PD123319, 11.49 ± 0.50 vs. 12.23 ± 0.36 pA/pF; P < 0.05). Long-term treatment with PD123319 worsened the development of myocyte hypertrophy and associated electrophysiological alterations in spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Risk factors and prognostic factors of acute kidney injury in children: A retrospective study between 2003 and 2013 / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Recent report on epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) is lacking for Chinese children. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for stage and prognostic factors for renal recovery in hospitalized children. Pediatric patients (≤18 years old) admitted during 2003 to 2013 were enrolled in this study. AKI was defined and staged using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors and prognostic factors. The morbidity of pediatric AKI was 0.31% (205/65 237). There were 45 (22.0%) cases in stage III, 30 (14.6%) cases in stage II and 130 (63.4%) cases in stage III. The majority of etiologies were intrinsic renal defects (85.4%). Age, weight, vomit, etiology, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) at admission and several blood gas measurements were associated with AKI stage III. Age (OR=0.894; 95% CI, 0.832-0.962; P=0.003), vomit (OR=2.375; 95% CI, 1.058-5.333; P=0.036) and BUN at admission (OR=1.135; 95% CI, 1.085-1.187; P<0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for AKI stage III. After treatment, 172 (83.9%) patients achieved complete or partial recovery. The mortality was 3.9%. Variables were found as prognostic factors for renal recovery, such as age, stage, hospital stay, BUN at discharge, white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets (PLTs), blood pH and urine blood. Among them, AKI stage (stage III vs. stage I; OR, 6.506; 95% CI, 1.640-25.816; P=0.008), BUN at discharge (OR, 0.918; 95% CI, 0.856-0.984; P=0.016) and PLTs (OR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.001-1.013; P=0.027) were identified as independent prognostic factors. AKI is still common in Chinese hospitalized children. Identified risk factors and prognostic factors provide guiding information for clinical management of AKI.

Valsartan improves the electrophysiological characteristics of left ventricular hypertrophic myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The objective was to investigate the effects of valsartan on the electrophysiological characteristics of left ventricular hypertrophic myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A total of 24 10-week-old male SHR were divided into two groups: valsartan and non-valsartan groups (n=12 in each). Twelve 10-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats were served as the control group. Kv4.2 expression was measured in left ventricular myocardium using western blots. In addition, the systolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ventricular effective refractory period and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were also measured after eight weeks. INa, ICaL, Ito and membrane capacitance were measured in left ventricular myocytes after 8 weeks by whole-cell patch clamp. Valsartan decreased LVMI compared with the non-Valsartan group (Valsartan vs. non-Valsartan: 3.2±0.03 mg g(-1) vs. 3.7±0.02 mg g(-1), P<0.01). Valsartan also enhanced the VFT compared with the non-Valsartan group (Valsartan vs. non-Valsartan: 18.6±0.3 mA vs. 15.4±0.4 mA, P<0.01). The expression of Kv4.2 was significantly lower in the non-Valsartan and Valsartan groups compared with the control group (P<0.01). The expression of Kv4.2 was significantly higher in the Valsartan group compared with the non-Valsartan group (P<0.01). Valsartan decreased the density of ICaL compared with non-Valsartan group (Valsartan vs. non-Valsartan: -5.5±0.6 pA/pF vs. -7.2±0.9 pA/pF, P<0.05). Valsartan improved the density of Ito compared with non-Valsartan group(Valsartan vs. non-Valsartan: 13.93±0.8 pA/pF vs. 11.22±1.0 pA/pF, P<0.05). Valsartan improves the electrophysiological characteristics of left ventricular hypertrophic myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Study of a new zebrafish mutant defective in primitive myelopoiesis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To perform phenotypic identification and characteristic analysis of a new zebrafish mutant 1276 defective in primitive myelopoiesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The AB strain male zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl N-nitrosourea (ENU) to induce mutations in the spermatogonial cells, and the mutations were transmitted to the offsprings. The F3 embryos were screened by neutral red staining for identifying the mutants defective in primitive myelopoiesis. One of the myeloid mutants 1276 was further studied by cytochemistry and whole mount in stiu hybridization (WISH) with different lineage markers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 2140 mutagenized genomes from the 1296 F2 families were analyzed, and 12 mutants were identified to show abnormal signal by neutral red staining. In the primitive hematopoiesis stage, the mutant 1276 showed the absence of neutral red staining-positive cells in the whole body. The expression of microglia marker apoe was totally lost in the head of the mutant, and the expression of the macrophage marker l-plastin was slightly decreased in the head and remained normal in the ventral dorsal aorta region, but the granulocytes and erythrocytes developed normally. in the definitive hematopoiesis stage, the mutant 1276 still showed abnormal macrophages as found in the primitive hematopoiesis stage, but the granulocytes, erythrocytes and lymphocytes appeared normal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The zebrafish mutant 1276 shows abnormalities in the function, development and migration of the macrophages in the primitive hematopoiesis stage, which can not be compensated in the definitive hematopoiesis stage.</p>

Forward genetic screening for zebrafish mutants defective in erythropoiesis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen and identify zebrafish mutants with erythropoiesis defects by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis and large-scale forward genetic screening using beta e 1 as the marker.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The chemical mutagen ENU was used to treat healthy wild-type male fish (AB strain, F0). The surviving ENU-treated fish were mated with wild-type female fish to generate F1, and further F2 family was generated by F1 family intercross. The adult F2 fish were intercrossed within each F2 family and the resulting F3 embryos from each crossing were subjected to whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) with the beta e 1 probe. Mutagenesis was performed by treating the male zebrafish with ENU to induce mutations in pre-meiotic germ cells to generate the founders, which were outcrossed to obtained the F1 fish. The F1 fish from different founders were mated to generate the F2 families. F3 embryos from the sibling cross in the F2 family were examined by whole mount in situ hybridization using beta e 1-globin probe. The putative mutants were then characterized with different hematopoiesis markers.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>We identified 4 beta e 1-deficient mutants with erythropoiesis defects, including two with specific erythiod lineage defects and two with concurrent lymphopoiesis defects.</p>

Alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease in Eastern Asian men: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and relative risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity, mortality and all-cause mortality among Eastern Asian men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Potential prospective cohort studies were retrieved by searching Pubmed (1966 - 2000), Biosis Previews (1980 - 2009), Embase (1980 - 2009) and ISI Web of Knowledge (1986 - 2009) using Medical Subject Headings alcohol drinking, ethanol, coronary heart (or artery) disease, myocardial infarction, mortality, etc; and Koreans, or Japanese or Chinese. From the 28 relevant retrieved reports, 15 prospective cohort studies met the criteria were included. Information on study design, participant characteristics, level of alcohol consumption, CHD outcome, control for potential confounding factors, and risk estimates were abstracted using a standardized protocol. For each study, relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extracted and pooled with either a fixed effect model or random effect model according to the result of the test of heterogeneity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Due to the limited available data for women, this study only comprised of 2406 cases of CHD among 177 723 male subjects. Findings were also pooled from 216 233 male subjects and 15 462 deaths from any cause. Compared with nondrinkers, the RRs on CHD morbidity for those who drank alcohol ≤ 20, 21 - 40, 41 - 60, > 60 g/d were 0.65 (0.34 - 1.23, P = 0.18), 0.48 (0.26 - 0.87, P = 0.02), 0.46 (0.32 - 0.67, P < 0.01), and 0.48 (0.29 - 0.78, P < 0.01) respectively; the RRs on CHD mortality were 0.98 (0.73 - 1.31, P = 0.87), 0.68 (0.58 - 0.79, P < 0.01), 0.64 (0.43 - 0.96, P = 0.03), 0.75 (0.54 - 1.03, P = 0.08); and on all-cause mortality were 0.83 (0.79 - 0.91, P < 0.01), 0.93 (0.87 - 0.99, P = 0.03), 1.01 (0.95 - 1.07, P = 0.86), 1.32 (1.29 - 1.36, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Light-to-moderate alcohol intake was associated with decreased risk of CHD morbidity and mortality, while heavy alcohol intake was associated with increased all-cause mortality among Eastern Asian men.</p>

Experimental study on the skeletal muscle reconstruction with autologous fascia as a scaffold / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of autologous fascia as a scaffold for the reconstruction of skeletal muscle in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-eight healthy New Zealand rabbits were employed in the study. The anterior tibial muscle in both legs were divided to create a gap of 10 mm in each muscle. One leg was used in the experiment (E, n = 28), while the contralateral as self-control (C). The legs in C group were further divided into 3 groups (C1, C2 and C3). While defects in the midportion of anterior tibial muscle in the hind legs were created in all rabbits. In E group, each defect was filled with a tubule made of autologous fascia lata, and the fascial tubule was filled with tiny muscular granules (< 1 mm x 1 mm x 1 mm). In C1 group (n = 10), the defect was also filled with fascial tubule but with no muscle filling. The defect in C2 group (n = 10) was only filled with muscle granules without fascial tubule. The defect in C3 group (n = 8) received no treatment. The survival rate of the transplantation was grossly observed, and the tissue samples were harvested for histological and ultra-structural examination and immunohistochemical identification of desmin at 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 post-operation weeks. The expression level of alpha-actin DNA in the tissue samples from the midportion of grafted fascia was assessed by RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) in E and C1 groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Survival rate of the transplantation: In E group, it was 93.33% with near normal tissue contour in the grafting area. The muscle defects were not completely repaired in C1, C2 and C3 groups. (2) Under light and electronic microscopy, marked proliferation of muscular cells surrounding fibrous tissue could be discerned at 2 and 3 post-operation weeks in E group, while only necrotic tissue and fibrosis were observed in C1 and C2 groups, and no definite tissue could be discernible in C3 group. (3) Immunohistochemical staining revealed that over 85% of the cells were positive for desmin in E group, while only less than 25% in C1 group. (4) The expression level of alpha-actin DNA was significantly higher in E group than that in C2 group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggested that autologous fascia as a scaffold is beneficial for skeletal muscle reconstruction in vivo.</p>