Biomedical subjects

Hua Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Hua Jin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Atypical antipsychotics and glucose dysregulation: a systematic review.

Atypical antipsychotics (AAP) have been widely used for the management of patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders since they were introduced during the past decade. AAP, as a class, have demonstrated a significant advantage over conventional antipsychotics in clinical efficacy and lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia (TD). However, there have been numerous case reports, retrospective studies, epidemiological and clinical data suggesting that certain AAP may be associated with a greater risk of metabolic abnormalities than others, including weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In this article, we review and evaluate recent findings addressing the issue of glucose dysregulation associated with AAP therapy along with the recommendations with a recent consensus conference on this issue. Rational patient monitoring guidelines are also elucidated, particularly for high-risk populations that need more intensive scrutiny during treatment of AAP.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed2004

The Drosha-DGCR8 complex in primary microRNA processing.

RNase III proteins play key roles in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. The nuclear RNase III Drosha cleaves primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) to release hairpin-shaped pre-miRNAs that are subsequently cut by the cytoplasmic RNase III Dicer to generate mature miRNAs. While Dicer (class III) and other simple RNase III proteins (class I) have been studied intensively, the class II enzyme Drosha remains to be characterized. Here we dissected the action mechanism of human Drosha by generating mutants and by characterizing its new interacting partner, DGCR8. The basic action mechanism of Drosha was found to be similar to that of human Dicer; the RNase III domains A and B form an intramolecular dimer and cleave the 3' and 5' strands of the stem, respectively. Human Drosha fractionates at approximately 650 kDa, indicating that Drosha functions as a large complex. In this complex, Drosha interacts with DGCR8, which contains two double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding domains. By RNAi and biochemical reconstitution, we show that DGCR8 may be an essential component of the pri-miRNA processing complex, along with Drosha. Based on these results, we propose a model for the action mechanism of class II RNase III proteins.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed2004

X-ray studies of self-assembled organic monolayers grown on hydrogen-terminated Si(111).

The structure of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of undecylenic acid methyl ester (SAM-1) and undec-10-enoic acid 2-bromo-ethyl ester (SAM-2) grown on hydrogen-passivated Si(111) were studied by X-ray reflectivity (XRR), X-ray standing waves (XSW), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The two different SAMs were grown by immersion of H-Si(111) substrates into the two different concentrated esters. UV irradiation during immersion was used to create Si dangling bond sites that act as initiators of the surface free-radical addition process that leads to film growth. The XRR structural analysis reveals that the molecules of SAM-1 and SAM-2 respectively have area densities corresponding to 50% and 57% of the density of Si(111) surface dangling bonds and produce films with less than 4 angstroms root-mean-square roughness that have layer thicknesses of 12.2 and 13.2 angstroms. Considering the molecular lengths, these thicknesses correspond to a 38 degrees and 23 degrees tilt angle for the respective molecules. For SAM-2/Si(111) samples, XRF analysis reveals a 0.58 monolayer (ML) Br total coverage. Single-crystal Bragg diffraction XSW analysis reveals (unexpectedly) that 0.48 ML of these Br atoms are at a Si(111) lattice position height that is identical to the T1 site that was previously found by XSW analysis for Br adsorbed onto Si(111) from a methanol solution and from ultrahigh vacuum. From the combined XPS, XRR, XRF, and XSW evidence, it is concluded that Br abstraction by reactive surface dangling bonds competes with olefin addition to the surface.

Hydrogen↗

PubMed2004

T2 relaxation time of cartilage at MR imaging: comparison with severity of knee osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate differences in T2 values in femoral and tibial cartilage at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with varying degrees of osteoarthritis (OA) compared with healthy subjects and to develop a mapping and display method based on calculation of T2 z scores for visual grading and assessment of cartilage heterogeneity in patients with OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Knee cartilage was evaluated in 55 subjects who were categorized with radiography as healthy (n = 7) or as having mild OA (n = 20) or severe OA (n = 28). Cartilage regions were determined with manual segmentation of an MR image acquired with spoiled gradients and fat suppression. The segmentation was applied to a map of T2 relaxation time and was analyzed in four knee cartilage compartments (ie, the medial and lateral tibia and femur). Differences between cartilage compartment T2 values and subject groups were analyzed with analysis of covariance. Correlations of cartilage T2 values with clinically reported symptoms and cartilage thickness and volume were examined. Cartilage T2 values were converted to z scores per voxel on the basis of normal population values in the same cartilage compartment to better interpret cartilage heterogeneity and variation from normal. RESULTS: Healthy subjects had mean T2 values of 32.1-35.0 msec, while patients with mild and severe OA had mean T2 values of 34.4-41.0 msec. All cartilage compartments except the lateral tibia showed significant (P <.05) increases in T2 relaxation time between healthy and diseased knees; however, no significant difference was found between patients with mild and severe OA. Correlation of T2 values with clinical symptoms and cartilage morphology was found predominantly in medial compartments. CONCLUSION: Femoral and medial tibial cartilage T2 values increase with the severity of OA.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Identification of MRI and 1H MRSI parameters that may predict survival for patients with malignant gliomas.

Although MR imaging (MRI) and MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) have been applied in the diagnosis and treatment planning for brain tumors, their prognostic significance has not yet been determined. The goal of this study was to identify pre-treatment MRI and MRSI parameters for patients with malignant glioma that may be useful in predicting survival. Two populations of patients with newly-diagnosed malignant glioma were examined with MRI and three-dimensional proton ((1)H) MRSI. Thirty-nine patients (22 grade 3 and 17 glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) were studied prior to surgery, and 33 GBM patients were studied after surgery but prior to treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. Signal intensities of choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), and lactate/lipid (LL) were estimated from the spectra. Recursive partitioning methods were applied to parameters that included age, histological grade, MRI and MRSI variables to generate survival trees. Patients were grouped into high and low risk categories and the corresponding Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted for comparison between groups. The parameters that were selected by recursive partitioning as being predictive of poor outcome were older age, larger contrast enhancement, higher Cho-to-Cr, higher Cho-to-NAA, higher LL and lower Cr-to-NAA abnormalities. The survival functions were significantly different between the sub-groups of patients obtained from the survival tree for both pre-surgery and post-surgery data. The results of this study suggest that pre-treatment MRI and three-dimensional (1)H-MRSI provide information that predicts outcome for patients with malignant gliomas and have drawn attention to variables that should be examined prospectively in future studies using these techniques.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Magnetic resonance evaluation of the interrelationship between articular cartilage and trabecular bone of the osteoarthritic knee.

OBJECTIVE: To use high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the relationship between articular cartilage degeneration and trabecular bone changes of the femur, condyles and tibia in human knees with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Subjects were divided into three groups: without OA (OA0), mild OA (OA1) and severe OA (OA2). Sagittal images of the knee (0.234 x 0.234mm2, 2-mm slice thickness) were obtained at 1.5T and used for calculating the volume and thickness of the femoral and tibial cartilage. Axial images (0.195 x 0.195mm2, 1-mm slice thickness) were used for calculating the trabecular bone structure parameters: apparent bone volume fraction, trabecular number, trabecular separation and trabecular thickness. RESULTS: Cartilage volume and thickness were less in patients with OA compared to normal controls (P<0.1). Articular cartilage thinning is associated with bone structure loss in the opposite femoral condyle (P<0.05). In varus OA, there were extensive correlations between medial tibia and medial femoral cartilage degeneration, and loss of bone structure in the lateral tibia and lateral condyle. Additional correlations existed between the compartmental differences (lateral minus medial) of cartilage thickness and bone structure. CONCLUSION: Degradation of articular cartilage within a compartment correlates with a loss of bone structure in the opposite compartment. The correlation between the (L-M) differences corroborates this relationship. Malalignment of the knee due to cartilage degeneration is associated with bone formation in the diseased condyle and bone resorption in the opposite compartment.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

A pilot, two-year longitudinal study of the interrelationship between trabecular bone and articular cartilage in the osteoarthritic knee.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between structural changes of trabecular bone and cartilage, in patients with varying degrees of osteoarthritis (OA) over 2 years, using magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: High-resolution, axial images were acquired for assessing trabecular bone structure, using a 3-D fast gradient-echo sequence. High-resolution, fat-suppressed, sagittal images were acquired for assessing cartilage structure, using a 3-D spoiled gradient-echo sequence. In a subset of the patients, sagittal images were acquired for measuring T(2) relaxation time, using a 2-D dual-echo spin echo sequence. RESULTS: A large variation in bone and cartilage parameters is evident among individual subjects in each group, however, group-specific means demonstrate decreasing trends (in bone and cartilage parameters) in osteoarthritic subjects (especially in mild OA subjects). The mean T(2) increased significantly (P<0.05) between the baseline and follow-up exams for all cartilage compartments except the lateral tibia. A positive relationship was established between cartilage changes and localized bone changes closest to the joint line, while a negative relationship was established between cartilage changes and global bone changes farthest from the joint line. CONCLUSION: This study quantifies the changes in bone and cartilage structural parameters over time, and demonstrates a longitudinal relationship between the morphological changes in bone and cartilage structure in patients with varying degrees of OA. Although a large variation of bone and cartilage changes is apparent among subjects, significant trends are evident in a relatively small sample size, with a short follow-up duration.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Diffusion tensor imaging: serial quantitation of white matter tract maturity in premature newborns.

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables the discrimination of white matter pathways before myelination is evident histologically or on conventional MRI. In this investigation, 14 premature neonates with no evidence of white matter abnormalities by conventional MRI were studied with DTI. A custom MR-compatible incubator with a novel high sensitivity neonatal head coil and improved acquisition and processing techniques were employed to increase image quality and spatial resolution. The technical improvements enabled tract-specific quantitative characterization of maturing white matter, including several association tracts and subcortical projection tracts not previously investigated in neonates by MR. Significant differences were identified between white matter pathways, with earlier maturing commissural tracts of the corpus callosum, and deep projection tracts of the cerebral peduncle and internal capsule exhibiting lower mean diffusivity (Dav) and higher fractional anisotropy (FA) than later maturing subcortical projection and association pathways. Maturational changes in white matter tracts included reductions in Dav and increases in FA with age due primarily to decreases in the two minor diffusion eigenvalues (lambda2 and lambda3). This work contributes to the understanding of normal white matter development in the preterm neonatal brain, an important step toward the use of DTI for the improved evaluation and treatment of white matter injury of prematurity.

Anisotropy↗

PubMed2004

Bipolar disorder in middle-aged and elderly adults: is age of onset important?

The literature is mixed about whether age of onset is a useful variable in explaining the heterogeneity of late-life bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of age of onset with clinical, family history, and neuropsychological functioning in middle-aged and older patients with bipolar disorder. A total of 87 outpatients with bipolar disorder with a mean age of 59 (range, 42-89) were included in this study. Age of onset was analyzed as a continuous variable and was split at age 40 years into early-onset and late-onset groups. Participants were administered measures of psychopathology, cognitive functioning, and medication usage. Few meaningful differences emerged between early-onset and late-onset groups, except that overall psychopathology was significantly lower in the late-onset group. Age of onset did not relate to differences in family history, depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning, or medication use whether used as a categorical or continuous variable. Thus, the validity of late-onset bipolar disorder as a distinct syndrome was not corroborated by this study. Interpretation of these findings is limited by the sample size, cross-sectional design, and a lack of brain imaging data. Further research on the clinical features and neurobiological aspects of late-life bipolar disorder is needed.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Defensin-5 and Matrilysin mRNA expression in the intestine of scalded rats and its relation to bacterial translocation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of burn injury on the expression of rat defensin-5 (RD-5) and Matrilysin mRNA in the intestine of scalded rats and to determine its relation to bacterial translocation. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided randomly into sham injury group (n=8) and burn group (n=24). Rats of the burn group were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald injury. At 8, 24 and 72 hours after the injury, the animals (n=8 at each time point) were sacrificed and ileum was sampled for the determination of the expression of RD-5 mRNA and Matrilysin mRNA with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Cultures of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, spleen and lung were carried out at 24 hours after the injury to assess the rate of bacterial translocation to visceral organs,and the morphological changes in ileal Paneth cells were observed. RESULTS: The expression of RD-5 mRNA was significantly up-regulated at 8 hours when compared with control group. It was down-regulated sharply at 24 hours but was still higher than control group, and at 72 hours it was down-regulated to a level lower than control. On the contrary, the expression of Matrilysin mRNA was up-regulated continuously to 72 hours, and it was significantly higher than control. Bacterial translocation rate was significantly higher in rats of the burn group at 24 hours (58.3%) than in control group (8.3%, P<0.01), but there were no obvious morphological changes in ileal Paneth cells at the same time point. CONCLUSION: The expressions of both RD-5 mRNA and Matrilysin Mrna are up-regulated in the early stage after the injury, but their time phases are different. The phenomenon might imply that there is a host protective response against bacterial translocation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Change in intestinal function in sepsis in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the barrier function, absorption, permeability and peristalsis of intestine in sepsis in rats. METHODS: A Wistar rat model of sepsis was reproduced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of the intestine combined with endotoxin challenge. Animal were randomly divided into normal, I/R 1 hours (I/R 1), I/R 2 hours (I/R 2), I/R 4 hours (I/R 4) and I/RL groups. The following parameters were measured in the experiments: (1) diamin oxidase activity (DAO), D-lactate and D-xylose levels in blood using spectrophotometry; (2) transit function of small intestine; (3) pathological examination of small intestine by light microscope. RESULTS: The results showed that plasma DAO activity was increased in I/R 1, I/R 4 and I/RL (all P<0.05), and small intestinal tissue DAO was decreased in I/R 2 and I/RL (both P<0.05). Negative correlations were found between plasma and intestinal DAO (r=-0.909, P<0.001). Plasma D-lactate was elevated significantly in I/R 1, I/R 2, and I/RL (all P<0.05). D-xylose content was increased at I/R1 and I/RL groups (both P<0.05), and it was significantly higher than controls at 3 hours. Similarly, a positive correlation was found between plasma DAO activity and plasma D-lactate level (r=0.559, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The intestinal barrier function, absorption function, permeability, and transit are impaired after gut ischemia/reperfusion combined with endotoxin challenge.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2003

On the non-inferiority of a diagnostic test based on paired observations.

Non-inferiority of a diagnostic test to the standard or the optimum test is a common issue in medical research. Often we want to determine if a new diagnostic test is as good as the standard reference test. Sometimes we are interested in an inexpensive test that may have an acceptably inferior sensitivity or specificity. While hypothesis testing procedures and sample size formulae for the equivalence of sensitivity or specificity alone have been proposed, very few studies have discussed simultaneous comparisons of both parameters. In this paper, we present three different testing procedures and sample size formulae for simultaneous comparison of sensitivity and specificity based on paired observations and with known disease status. These statistical procedures are then used to compare two classification rules that identify women for future osteoporotic fracture. Simulation experiments demonstrate that the new tests and sample size formulae give the appropriate type I and II error rates. Differences between our approach and the approach of Lui and Cumberland are discussed.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed2003

Histamine inhibits atrial myocytic ANP release via H2 receptor-cAMP-protein kinase signaling.

Changes in cyclic nucleotide production and atrial dynamics have been known to modulate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release. Although cardiac atrium expresses histamine receptors and contains histamine, the role of histamine in the regulation of ANP release has to be defined. The purpose of the present study was to define the effect of histamine on the regulation of ANP release in perfused beating rabbit atria. Histamine decreased ANP release concomitantly with increases in cAMP efflux and atrial dynamics in a concentration-dependent manner. Histamine-induced decrease in ANP release was a function of an increase in cAMP production. Blockade of histamine H2 receptor with cimetidine but not of H1 receptor with triprolidine abolished the responses of histamine. Cell-permeable cAMP analog, 8-Br-cAMP, mimicked the effects of histamine, and the responses were dose-dependent and blocked by a protein kinase A (PKA)-selective inhibitor, KT5720. Nifedipine failed to modulate histamine-induced decrease in ANP release. Protein kinase nonselective inhibitor staurosporine blocked histamine-induced changes in a concentration-dependent manner. KT5720 and RP-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, another PKA-selective inhibitor, attenuated histamine-induced changes. These results suggest that histamine decreases atrial ANP release by H2 receptor-cAMP signaling via PKA-dependent and -independent pathways.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

The radish Rfo restorer gene of Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility encodes a protein with multiple pentatricopeptide repeats.

A single radish nuclear gene, Rfo, restores Ogura (ogu) cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in Brassica napus. A map-based cloning approach relying on synteny between radish and Arabidopsis was used to clone Rfo. A radish gene encoding a 687-amino-acid protein with a predicted mitochondrial targeting pre-sequence was found to confer male fertility upon transformation into ogu CMS B. napus. This gene, like the recently described Petunia Rf gene, codes for a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR)-containing protein with multiple, in this case 16, PPR domains. Two similar genes that do not appear to function as Rfo flank this gene. Comparison of the Rfo region with the syntenic Arabidopsis region indicates that a PPR gene is not present at the Rfo-equivalent site in Arabidopsis, although a smaller and related PPR gene is found about 40 kb from this site. The implications of these findings for the evolution of restorer genes and other PPR encoding genes are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

[Translocation of intestinal endotoxin and bacteria induced by the apoptosis of enterocytes in scald rats after delayed resuscitation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of enterocyte apoptosis in translocation of intestinal endotoxin and bacteria after delayed resuscitation in scalded rats. METHODS: One hundred and ten male Wistar rats were divided randomly into two groups: group A, early resuscitation, n=60; group B, delayed resuscitation, n=50. All animals were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald. In group A, saline resuscitation was begun immediately after the injury. Saline resuscitation later than 6 hours after scalding was referred as delayed resuscitation. Apoptosis of enterocytes was identified by DNA fragmentation (ap%), DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and electron microscope (EM). The levels of endotoxin in portal vein and systemic circulation were determined by limulus amebocyte lysate technique. The amount of bacteria in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) was detected by a quantitative bacteria culture of biopsy. RESULTS: The ap% of enterocytes was increased significantly in groups A and B, peaking at 12 hours postburn. The increased ap% in the group B occurred much earlier and higher than in group A from 3 hours to 48 hours postburn (P<0.05 or P<0.01). This was corroborated by the results observed in electrophoresis, TUNEL method and EM. The portal endotoxin was much higher in group B than in group A at the same postburn timepoints. So were the endotoxin levels in systemic circulation. A significant positive relationship existed between the portal endotoxin levels and the ap% of intestinal epithelial cells in groups A and B (group A: r=0.936, P<0.01; group B: r=0.899, P<0.05). The frequency of bacteria translocation of MLN in group B was higher than that in group A. CONCLUSION: Significant pathologic apoptosis of enterocytes is induced by delayed resuscitation after thermal injury in rats. This may lead to a compromise of intestinal barrier. It may be one of the major causes of translocation of endotoxin and bacteria postburn.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Effects of carbachol on plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 in rats during gut ischemia-reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of carbachol on the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and cortisol in plasma of rats during gut ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Wistar rats were anaesthetized with soluble pentobarbitone, and subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) for 60 minutes, followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes. Animals were divided into three groups, pretreated group (intramuscular injection carbachol at 30 minutes after SMAO, 0.1 mg/kg), treated group (intramuscular injection of carbachol at 30 minutes after reperfusion), and control group (saline injected). The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10 and cortisol in plasma were determined at 0 hour, 1 hour, 2.5 hours and 6 hours after SMAO. RESULTS: The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10 and cortisol significantly increased after SMAO (P<0.01 ). The levels of TNF-alpha significantly decreased in pretreated and treated groups than that in control after the intramuscular injection of carbachol (all P<0.01). However, the levels of IL-10 and cortisol did not show significant differences among three groups. It was also found that lower content of TNF-alpha in pretreated group than that in treated group, especially at 1 hour and 6 hours. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that carbachol reduce the proinflammatory cytokine releasing and has a less inhibiting effect on the anti-inflammatory cytokine. It is indicated that carbachol play a potential role in alleviating systemic inflammatory response during splanchnic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[A small dose of intraperitoneal injection of zymosan induces systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction following gut ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a small dose of intraperitoneal injection of zymosan following gut ischemia-reperfusion injury on systemic inflammatory response and distant organ function. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: gut ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-R) alone, intraperitoneal injection of zymosan (Z) alone, and gut ischemia-reperfusion followed by intraperitoneal injection of zymosan (M). Gut (I-R) was produced by occluding superior mesenteric artery for 60 minutes followed by gut reperfusion. A small dose(125 mg/kg) of zymosan was given intraperitoneally at 12 hours after recovery of gut blood flow. RESULTS: Systemic inflammatory responses were found in all rats of three groups. The plasma level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and activities of myeloperoxidase in lungs and intestines were significantly higher in animals in M group compared with those in I-R and Z groups. The incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and mortality rate at 72 hours postinjury in two-hits group were significantly higher than those in I-R and Z group. CONCLUSION: A small dose of intraperitoneal injection of zymosan could induce systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction more readily when there is a precedent gut ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Effects of efferent vagus nerve excitation on inflammatory response in heart tissue in rats with endotoxemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of electrical stimulation of efferent vagus nerve on the inflammatory response in heart tissue in rats with endotoxemia. METHODS: Two hundred and ten Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups. Animals were subjected to bilateral cervical vagotomy, or a comparable sham surgical procedure in which the vagus nerves were isolated but not transected. The distal end of a vagus nerve trunk was placed across bipolar electrodes connected to a stimulation module and controlled by an acquisition system. Stimuli with constant voltage (5 V, 2 ms, 1 Hz) were applied to the nerve for 20 minutes immediately after administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg, E coli O111: B4, Sigma), and then were repeated 2 times after each of 10 minutes interval. Blood and tissue samples of these rats were collected at 1, 1.5 and 2 hours after LPS administration in all groups. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in heart tissue and serum MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase(CK-MB) were determined. RESULTS: The electrical stimulation of the efferent vagus nerve significantly decreased the contents of TNF-alpha and MPO in heart tissue and CK-MB in serum, and alleviated myocardial inflammation in heart tissue at all time points, especially at 1.5 hours after endotoxin challenge. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that excitation of the efferent vagus nerve can significantly alleviate the inflammatory response in the heart tissue, thus it might produce a potential protective effect on the heart during endotoxemia in rats.

Animals↗