THBru attenuates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting RAGE-dependent inflammation.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by heart failure and cardiac remodeling. Previous studies show that tetrahydroberberrubine (THBru) retrogrades cardiac aging by promoting PHB2-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and prevents peritoneal adhesion by suppressing inflammation. In this study we investigated whether THBru exerted protective effect against DCM in db/db mice and potential mechanisms. Eight-week-old male db/db mice were administered THBru (25, 50 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) for 12 weeks. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography. We showed that THBru administration significantly improved both cardiac systolic and diastolic function, as well as attenuated cardiac remodeling in db/db mice. In primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCMs), THBru (20, 40 µM) dose-dependently ameliorated high glucose (HG)-induced cell damage, hypertrophy, inflammatory cytokines release, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Using Autodock, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and DARTS analyses, we revealed that THBru bound to the domain of the receptor for advanced glycosylation end products (RAGE), subsequently leading to inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. Importantly, overexpression of RAGE in NMCMs reversed HG-induced inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway and subsequently counteracted the beneficial effects mediated by THBru. We conclude that THBru acts as an inhibitor of RAGE, leading to inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. This action effectively alleviates the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes, ultimately leading to ameliorated DCM.

The human health burden of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica and Vibrio parahaemolyticus foodborne gastroenteritis in Shanghai, east China.

Information on the burden of disease due to foodborne pathogens in China is quite limited. To understand the incidence of foodborne gastroenteritis due to non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, population survey and sentinel hospital surveillance were conducted during July 2010 to June 2011 in Shanghai, east China, and a model for calculating disease burden was established. The multiplier for gastroenteritis caused by these pathogens was estimated at 59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 30-102]. Annual incidence per 100,000 population in Shanghai was estimated as 48 (95% CI 24-83) and 183 (95% CI 93-317) cases for foodborne non-typhoidal salmonellosis and V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis, respectively, illustrating that bacterial gastroenteritis due to these two pathogens poses a substantial health burden. There is a significant difference between our simulated incidence and the data actually reported for foodborne diseases, indicating significant underreporting and underdiagnosis of non-typhoidal S. enterica and V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis in the surveillance area. The present research demonstrates basic situation of the health burden caused by major foodborne pathogens in the surveillance area. Enhanced laboratory-based sentinel hospital surveillance is one of the effective ways to monitor food safety in east China.

[Effect of Organic Fertilizer and Inorganic Fertilizer Application on N2O Emissions from Fluvo-aquic Soil in the North China Plain].

The North China Plain is an important grain production area in China. Due to the low content of soil organic carbon, increasing the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer would not lead to a continuous increase of maize yield at present. The combined application of organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer is widely regarded as a measure to simultaneously increase grain yield and soil organic carbon; however, the effect of organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer application on N2O emissions from farmland in the North China Plain is unclear. Here, N2O emissions and crop yields in cropland under the combined application of different types and rates of organic fertilizers plus inorganic N fertilizer were measured in the North China Plain. The field experiment included eight treatments:no N fertilizer (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), 40% cow manure N plus 60% inorganic fertilizer N (CM), 40% chicken manure N plus 60% inorganic fertilizer N (FC), 40% pig manure N plus 60% inorganic fertilizer N (FP), 20% cow manure N plus 80% inorganic fertilizer N (1/2CM), 20% chicken manure N plus 80% inorganic fertilizer N (1/2FC), and 20% pig manure N plus 80% inorganic fertilizer N (1/2FP). The N2O fluxes were significantly correlated with soil water-filled pore space during the maize season (P<0.05). There was a significant linear relationship between N2O fluxes and soil dissolved organic carbon content during the maize season in all treatments except the NPK treatment. In the maize season, N2O emission was 0.50 kg·hm-2 under CK treatment, and increased to 2.28 kg·hm-2 under NPK treatment. However, when the proportion of manure N to total N applied was reduced from 40% to 20%, N2O emissions were significantly reduced by 33.6%, 43.7%, and 12.1% under 1/2CM, 1/2FC, and 1/2FP treatments, respectively. The difference in application rate of organic manure N did not significantly affect maize yield. The reduction of N2O emission at the low manure application rate compared with the high manure application rate was likely due to the decrease in dissolved organic carbon in soils.

Sleep disorders in multiple sclerosis in China: clinical, polysomnography study, and review of the literature.

Sleep disorders are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to assess the subjective and objective sleep disturbances in patients with MS and to investigate their relationships with fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. All participants completed standardized questionnaires and underwent nocturnal polysomnography. English literature regarding MS and sleep disorders was systematically reviewed through PubMed searches. Eleven patients with MS with fatigue, 10 patients with MS without fatigue, and 11 controls were included in the study. According to the Pittsburg sleep quality index, 61.9% of the patients with MS were poor sleepers and based on the Epworth sleepiness scale, 38.1% of the patients with MS met the criteria of excessive daytime sleepiness. Additionally, patients with MS had more disturbed sleep with higher total arousal index (P < 0.01) and periodic limb movement arousal index (P < 0.001) than controls. None of the patients or controls had an apnea/hypopnea index greater than five. One patient had restless legs syndrome and four had rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Our study shows that sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness are frequent in MS.

[Prevalence of REM sleep behavior disorder in patients with brainstem lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and define the brainstem structures likely to be involved in its pathogenesis in patients with brainstem lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Sixty-two patients with definite brainstems lesions on brain MRI were recruited from Neurology Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. And 66 gender-and-age-matched healthy subjects were included as controls. RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ) was provided. All patients fulfilling clinical criteria for RBD underwent a two-night polysomnography (PSG) with synchronized audio-visual recording and the evaluations of Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). RESULTS: The brainstem group had a mean age of 43±16 years (range, 18-65) while the controls a mean age of 41±13 years (range, 18-65). In brainstem group, SDS scores were 38±4 (range, 35-44); SAS scores 43.0±5.8 (range, 36-49). In controls, SDS scores were 64±6 (range, 59-68); SAS scores 69.5±2.1 (range, 68-71). Five patients in the brainstem group and two in the control group fulfilling the clinical criteria for RBD were confirmed after PSG. All five patients had focal lesion on pontine tegmentum. Treatment with clonazepam at bedtime completely resolved the RBD symptoms. CONCLUSION: RBD is common in patients with brainstem lesions. And its definite diagnosis is based upon clinical symptoms and PSG examination.

[The correlation between the electroencephalogram findings and clinical manifestations of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the EEG findings and the clinical signs of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). METHODS: Serial standard recording during different stage of disease was conducted among 13 patients with CJD, 10 males and 3 females, with the year of onset of 58.2 (49 approximately 65). The EEG findings were analyzed in combination of the clinical symptoms and signs. RESULTS: 12 of the 13 patients showed typical periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWCs), occurring after the onset of myoclonus and akinetic mutism in 8 patients, both after myoconus and before akinetic mutism in 2 cases, and just at the onset of akinetic mutism before or after the onset of myoclonus respectively in 2 cases. Different EEG features were observed in different stages of disease. Frontal intermittent rhythmic delta activity (FIRDA) and frontal intermittent rhythmic triphasic slow wave, which was replaced by PSWC later, were seen in 4 cases. CONCLUSION: PSWC has a close association with myoclonus and akinetic mutism. The best time of EEG recording is when myoclonus and/or akinetic mutism happen. FIRDA and frontal intermittent rhythmic triphasic slow wave may be hint of the onset of PSWC.