Trapidil determines the fate of RHF rats through inhibition of ER stress.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a fatal disease, especially when it causes right heart failure (RHF). However, it is difficult to treat. It has been reported that trapidil (Tra) can improve the redox balance and cardiac conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of Tra on RHF induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with MCT or Tra. Treatment lasted 28 days, then rats were euthanized after echocardiography and catheterization. Subsequently, lungs and right ventricular myocardia were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin, Masson, and TUNEL staining. Protein expression was detected by western blotting. We found remarkably expanded right ventricle end-diastolic volume, decreased partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), increased partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), right ventricular systolic pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, lung/body weight, and liver/body weight in the RHF rat group, as well as increases in the apoptosis rate and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins. However, these changes were significantly inhibited by Tra. Our data suggested that inhibition of ERS is essential for improving RHF, and that therapeutic intervention of Tra in RHF rats works by reducing ERS.

EQUITY AND SATISFACTION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES IN TONGLIAO CITY, INNER MONGOLIA.

We aimed to describe the human resources and apparatuses of community health service (CHS) in Tongliao City of China and investigate the differences between CHS centers and stations. Field investigations and questionnaire-based surveys were conducted in 120 CHS organizations of Tongliao City, which were selected by a stratified multistage random cluster sampling method. Data were collected on the human resources, medical apparatuses, and satisfaction of covered residents. We found that the total number, educational background, and professional titles of staff were lower at stations than at centers. Although the categories of providing health services were comparable between centers and stations, stations provided fewer health services than centers did. In addition, stations owned fewer apparatuses compared with centers. The percentages of satisfaction on many items were lower among residents covered by stations than among those covered by centers. Desired health services provided by CHS organizations have been partially accomplished in Tongliao City. Attracting more highly educated professionals and purchasing more valuable apparatuses may be helpful to improve the unbalanced distribution in human resources and apparatuses between centers and stations. Appropriate modifications of corresponding policies should be taken into consideration by the local government in the future.