Search

Empathy is a high-order human emotional ability that helps suppress aggressive tendencies and stimulates prosocial behaviors. A strong sense of empathy facilitates interpersonal relationships and positively influences an individual’s social stability and sense of wellbeing. Empathy at a behavioral level could be measured by traditional questionnaire or scales, which has yielded increasingly accumulated findings in previous decades. With the advent of brain imaging technologies, researchers have shifted their focus to the exact neural correlates underlying the effect of empathy on our lives. This review revealed the principles of human empathy from a perspective of life span, demonstrated the current findings related to empathic neuroscience, and offered directions for future studies: (i) further investigation is warranted to explore the relationship between empathy and brain development with a developmental approach; (ii) measurements with high reliability and validity across all ages should be developed to characterize the growth curve of human empathy; (iii) research platforms with multi-modal dataset across cultures are encouraged to be established for collaborations among different research centers. It also highlighted the importance of basic research for future applications in education and health. There are two facets to be addressed when considering applications: firstly, it is promising to identify critical period(s) of empathic development and apply the findings to school education; secondly, it is of great significance to predict and diagnose the individuals with abnormal empathy based on the basic research in empathic neuroscience, to develop relevant techniques and products as well as conduct the brain-inspired empathy research with a focus on MNS, which will provide a new window for children education and public health.

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid borderline personality disorder (BPD) makes the clinical symptoms of patients more complex and more difficult to treat, so more attention should be paid to the recognition of their clinical features. This study investigated the differences between patients with MDD with and without BPD in clinical traits. Methods Propensity score matching was used to analyze the retrospective patients' data from August 2012 to September 2019. Altogether, 1381 patients with MDD were enrolled; 38 patients with MDD were matched to compare demographic data, and scores on the Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS), and the frequency of nonsuicidal self-harm (NSSH). Results Compared to patients with MDD without BPD, the age of onset of patients with MDD with comorbid BPD was significantly earlier (t = 3.25, p = .00). The scores of HAMA (t = -2.28, p = .03), SDS (t = 9.31, p = .00), MOAS (t = -13.67, p = .00), verbal aggression (t = -3.79, p = .00), aggression against objects (t = -2.84, p = .00), aggression against others (t = -6.70, p = .00), and aggression against self (t = -9.22, p = .00) were significantly higher in patients with MDD with comorbid BPD. Moreover, the frequency of NHSS in these patients was significantly higher (χ2 = 20.13, p = .00). MOAS was an independent influencing factor in these (odds ratio = 7.38, p = .00). Conclusions Patients with BPD showed early onset and increased complaints relative to symptoms, accompanied by obvious anxiety symptoms, impulsive behavior, and NSSH. Therefore, patients with MDD with impulsive behavior have comorbid BPD.

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with first‐episode psychosis. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the comorbid depression in schizophrenia are still unknown. The main purpose of this study was to characterize the structural abnormalities of first‐episodes drug‐naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia comorbid with depression by utilizing both volume‐based and surface‐based morphometric measurements. Forty‐two patients with FEDN schizophrenia and 29 healthy controls were recruited. The 24‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD‐24) was administrated to divide all patients into depressive patients (DP) and non‐depressive patients (NDP). Compared with NDP, DP had a significantly larger volume and surface area in the left isthmus cingulate cortex and also had a greater volume in the left posterior cingulate cortex. Correlation analysis showed that HAMD total score was positively correlated with the surface area of the left isthmus cingulate and gray matter volume of the left isthmus cingulate cortex. In addition, gray matter volume of the left isthmus cingulate was also correlated with the PANSS general psychopathology or total score. The findings suggest that prominent structural abnormalities of gray matter are mainly concentrated on the cingulate cortex in FEDN schizophrenia patients comorbid with depression, which may contribute to depressive symptoms and psychopathological symptoms., This study firstly explored morphometric abnormalities in first‐episode drug‐naïve schizophrenia comorbid with depressive symptoms. Structural abnormalities in the cingulate cortex might partly unravel the neural mechanism of depressive symptoms and psychopathological symptoms in first‐episode drug‐naïve schizophrenia comorbid with depressive symptoms. It might provide meaningful consideration for treatment of schizophrenia with depressive symptoms.

Objective To investigate the effect of long-term Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice on practitioners’ brain functional specialization compare with the TCC novices. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting A psychology Institute. Participants TCC practitioners (N=22) (52.4±6.8y; 7 men; educated years: 12.18±3.03y) and 18 healthy adults (54.8±6.8y; 8 men; education years: 11.78±2.90y) matched by age, sex, and education were enrolled. Main Outcome Measures Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and cognitive test to measure the differences in functional specialization and cognitive function. Functional specialization was evaluated by voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method. Results Lower middle frontal gyrus VMHC in TCC practitioners compared to controls. For TCC practitioners, the longer they practice, the lower their VMHC in precentral and precuneus. TCC practitioners showed better cognition performance. Conclusions Changed VMHC indicated that TCC practice could enhance functional specialization in the middle frontal cortex of practitioners, which may be associated with higher-order cognitive ability.

The purpose of the study was to systematically review the evidence on the effects of an acute bout of exercise on concurrent performance of core executive function (EF) during exercise in adults. Four electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and SportDiscus) were searched from inception dates to 30 December 2020. The literature searches were conducted using the combinations of two groups of relevant items related to exercise and executive function. Articles were limited to human studies in adults. The search process, study selection, data extraction, and study quality assessments were carried out independently by two researchers. A total of 4899 studies were identified. Twenty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. Of the 42 reported outcomes in the 22 studies, 13 (31%) of the 42 outcomes showed that core EF performance was enhanced during exercise and 14 (33%) found that core EF performance did not differ from control conditions. Fifteen (36%) found that core EF performance was impaired. Notably, improved EF performances tend to be observed during moderate-intensity exercise, whereas impaired EF performances were more likely to be observed at vigorous-high intensity. The review suggests mixed findings regarding the effects of an acute bout of exercise on concurrent performance of core EF. Exercise intensity seems to influence the effects. The underlying neural mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Objectives\ud Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a common mindfulness-based aerobic exercise. However, the evidence on the effects of TCC practice on mindfulness has been controversial. The aim of this study was to explore whether TCC practice with an emphasis on interoceptive awareness could improve mindfulness levels in a healthy adult population.\ud \ud Methods\ud Sixty-one healthy adults without mind-body practice experience were divided into the TCC and control groups. Participants in the TCC group received classic Yang-style supervised TCC practice for 8 weeks, whereas those in the control group did not receive any intervention. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness were administrated at baseline, the end of week 8, and the end of week 24.\ud \ud Results\ud In terms of mindfulness, significant interaction between group and time was found in describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity. For interoceptive awareness, there were marginally significant interaction effects of time and group in attention regulation, self-regulation, and trust. TCC practice significantly improved the above-mentioned dimensions of mindfulness and interoceptive awareness. Moreover, we still observed increased describing, acting with awareness, and nonjudging in mindfulness, and trusting in interoceptive awareness for the TCC group at the end of week 24.\ud \ud Conclusions\ud This study indicated that 8-week TCC practice with a component of interoceptive awareness could increase mindfulness levels, which could still be observed in the 24th week. These findings are of great significance for health practice and treating emotional disorders utilizing mind-body practice as an alternative and complementary medicine.

Long-term negative affect in adolescence is associated with impairment in quality of life, interpersonal function, and social adaptation. Although physical exercise could decrease negative emotion, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Acute exercise with controlled intensity might be a good experimental paradigm to unravel the potential neural mechanisms underlying the effects of physical exercise on negative affect. In this study, twenty-three males in late adolescence were randomly assigned to acute exercise group (AG) or control group. The experiment contained pre-test and post-test session interleaved with 30-min moderate-intensity exercise or seated rest. In each session, a resting-state fMRI scanning was conducted followed by completing Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Profile of Mood State. Bilateral amygdala was used as seed region to calculate t voxel-wised functional connectivity (FC) of amygdala to whole brain. The results demonstrated, for the first time, that AG exhibited increased FC between right amygdala and right orbital frontal cortex. Significantly decreased negative affect was also observed in AG. Moreover, the increased rOFC-amygdala FC was also associated with the decreased depression score. Our findings suggest that exercise-induced decreased negative affect might be modulated by functional interactions of amygdala with both cognitive control and limbic networks, which offers a meaningful insight for clinical treatment and prevention of emotional disorders in late adolescence.

Deep involvement in the negative mood over long periods of time likely results in emotional disturbances/disorders and poor mental health. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is regarded as a typical mind-body practice combining aerobic exercise and meditation to prevent and treat negative mood. Although there are an increasing number of TCC studies examining anxiety, depression, and mental stress, the mechanisms underlying these negative emotions are not fully understood. This review study examined TCC studies related to emotional health from both clinical patients and healthy individuals. Next, several potential mechanisms from physiological, psychological, and neurological perspectives were evaluated based on direct and indirect research evidence. We reviewed recent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies, which demonstrated changes in brain anatomy and function, mainly in the prefrontal cortex, following TCC practice. Finally, the effects of TCC on emotion/mental health is depicted with a prefrontal cortex hypothesis that proposed “an immune system of the mind” indicating the role of the prefrontal cortex as a flexible hub in regulating an individual’s mental health. The prefrontal cortex is likely a key biomarker among the multiple complex neural correlates to help an individual manage negative emotions/mental health. Future research is needed to examine TCC effects on mental health by examining the relationship between the executive control system (mainly prefrontal cortex) and limbic network (including amygdala, insula, and hippocampal gyrus).

Shu Zhang,1,* Yongjie Zhou,2,3,* Li-kun Ge,1,4 Lingyun Zeng,2 Zhengkui Liu,1 Wei Qian,1 Jiezhi Yang,5 Xin Zhou,6 Gao-Xia Wei,1,4 Xiangyang Zhang1 1CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 3Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China; 5Shenzhen Health Development Research Center, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China; 6Research Center for Psychological and Health Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Gao-Xia Wei; Xiangyang ZhangCAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, No. 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +8610-64850898; +8610-64879520Fax +8610-64850898Email weigx@psych.ac.cn; zhangxy@psych.ac.cnIntroduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has an adverse impact on the emotional health of prenatal maternal women and their offspring. During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, pregnant women are vulnerable to traumatic events and are prone to PTSD symptoms. The aim of the study was to explore the predictive effects of insomnia and somatization on PTSD in pregnant women by utilizing generalized additive model (GAM).Materials and Methods: A total of 1638 pregnant women from three local cities in China underwent online survey on sleep quality, somatization, and PTSD symptoms tested by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the subscale somatization of Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-S) and the Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), respectively.Results: Insomnia was positively correlated with PTSD symptoms in pregnant women (p = 1.79× 10− 5). Interestingly, insomnia and somatization showed a complex non-primary linear interaction in predicting PTSD (p = 2.00× 10− 16).Conclusion: Our results suggest that insomnia is a prominent predictor of PTSD symptoms in pregnant women in the context of public emergencies. In addition, the effects of insomnia and somatization on PTSD symptoms are characterized by complex non-primary linear relationships.Keywords: emotion, COVID-19, insomnia, somatization, pregnant

Background Mind-body exercises (MBEs) have been widely accepted as a complementary therapy for the patients with low exercise tolerance. Currently, the number of experimental studies investigating the effect of MBEs for improving symptoms in people with schizophrenia is increasing. However, results are inconsistent. Methods We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effects of mind-body exercises on schizophrenia. Seven electronic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL], CNKI and Wangfang) were screened through October 2019 and risks of bias of included studies were assessed in Review Manager 5.3. Results Meta-analysis on 13 studies with 1,159 patients showed moderately significant effects in favor of mind-body exercise intervention to improve positive symptoms (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.60; p = 0.04), negative symptoms (SMD = 0.37; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.60; p = 0.002), and depression (SMD = 0.88; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.13; p

International audience; Volition is described as a psychological construct with great emphasis on the sense of agency. During volitional behavior, an individual always presents a volitional quality, an intrapersonal trait for dealing with adverse circumstances, which determines the individual's persistence of action toward their intentions or goals. Elite athletes are a group of experts with superior volitional quality and, thereby, could be regarded as the natural subject pool to investigate this mental trait. The purpose of this study was to examine brain morphometric characteristics associated with volitional quality by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Scale of Volitional Quality. We recruited 16 national-level athletes engaged in short track speed skating and 18 healthy controls matched with age and gender. A comparison of a parcel-wise brain anatomical characteristics of the healthy controls with those of the elite athletes revealed three regions with significantly increased cortical thickness in the athlete group. These regions included the left precuneus, the left inferior parietal lobe, and the right superior frontal lobe, which are the core brain regions involved in the sense of agency. The mean cortical thickness of the left inferior parietal lobe was significantly correlated with the independence of volitional quality (a mental trait that characterizes one's intendency to control his/her own behavior and make decisions by applying internal standards and/or objective criteria). These findings suggest that sports training is an ideal model for better understanding the neural mechanisms of volitional behavior in the human brain.

In this paper we introduce a mechanistic model through which exercise may enhance episodic memory, specifically via attenuating proactive and retroactive memory interference. We discuss the various types of memory, different stages of memory function, review the mechanisms behind forgetting, and the mechanistic role of exercise in facilitating pattern separation (to attenuate memory interference).

A substantial number of studies have shown the beneficial effects of mind-body practice on physical fitness among both the healthy middle-aged and elderly adults and patients with chronic diseases. However, its positive effects on college students remain poorly understood. This study aimed to systematically investigate the potential efficiency of the Baduanjin exercise on the maintenance of the homeostasis of body composition and the improvement of the cardiovascular function of the college students. The study revealed a promising efficacy of the Baduanjin exercise in the prevention of the loss of water, inorganic salts, protein, and muscle contents and the accumulation of body fat. Furthermore, the present study also demonstrated the positive efficacy of Baduanjin exercise in decreasing of peripheral and central arterial blood pressure and carotid and femoral artery pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) of the college students. Moreover, the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was also performed using the assessment of time and frequency domain indices. The data showed that all of the time-domain indices and the high-frequency (HF) band of the HRV relatively increased, whereas the low-frequency (LF) band of the HRV relatively decreased after the long-term Baduanjin exercise. Collectively, the present study suggested that a 12-week Baduanjin exercise could maintain the body composition in a relatively healthy and stable range and improve blood pressure, central hemodynamics, and the arterial stiffness of the college students. The underlying mechanism might be due to the improvement of parasympathetic activity and the suppression of sympathetic activity of college students via Baduanjin exercise.

Objective This case-control study aims to investigate the relationship of polymorphisms of four gene loci (CGRP rs155209 and rs3781719, RAMP1 rs3754701 and rs7590387) with the prognosis of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Materials and methods A total of 317 CHB patients receiving interferon alone for the first time were recruited in northern China, and peripheral blood samples were obtained. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in rs155209, rs3781719, rs3754701, and rs7590387 were genotyped using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were employed to assess the correlation between CHB prognosis treated with interferon and polymorphisms of these gene loci. Results The study clearly demonstrated the relevance of polymorphisms of rs155209, rs3781719, rs3754701, and rs7590387 with DNA response and ALT response after interferon treatment. CHB patients with CGRP rs155209C had a lower risk of developing DNA response (CT vs. TT: OR = 0.159, 95% CI = 0.086–0.294, Padj Conclusion This study revealed that CGRP rs155209 and RAMP1 rs3754701 polymorphisms, but not CGRP rs3781719 and RAMP1 rs7590387, were correlated with interferon therapy prognosis for CHB in Han Chinese population, and RAMP1 rs3754701T was a protective factor for ALT response and DNA response, but CGRP rs155209C carriers were less prone to DNA and ALT responses.

// Ying-Chen Xu 1 , Chao-Jie Liang 1 , Dong-Xin Zhang 1 , Guan-Qun Li 1 , Xia Gao 1 , Jian-Zhu Fu 1 , Feng Xia 1 , Jia-Jun Ji 1 , Li-Jun Zhang 1 , Guang-Ming Li 1 and Ji-Xiang Wu 1 1 Department of General Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China Correspondence to: Ji-Xiang Wu, email: sflian2001@163.com Guang-Ming Li, email: cya_wl556@163.com Keywords: HCC, lncSHRG, SATB1, HES6, proliferation Received: March 21, 2017 Accepted: July 12, 2017 Published: August 03, 2017 ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most common cancers, leads to mass mortality worldwide currently. However, the underlying mechanism of its oncogenesis remains to be elucidated. Here we identified that a long noncoding RNA, lncSHRG , was greatly upregulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma samples. We found that lncSHRG was essential for liver cancer cell proliferation and tumor propagation in mice. In mechanism, lncSHRG recruits SATB1 to bind to HES6 promoter and initiates HES6 expression. HES6, which is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, promotes tumor cell proliferation. High expression level of HES6 is positively correlated with clinical severity and poor prognosis of people with hepatocellular carcinoma. Altogether, our research provides a new insight on the mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Objective: This study investigated whether acute exercise duration affects inhibition in late middle-aged adults. Methods: Over four separate days, 40 late middle-aged adults completed, in a counterbalanced order, three exercise sessions consisting of single bouts of moderate-to-vigorous intensity cycling, with the main acute exercise durations being 10, 20, and 45 min, and a control session consisting of 30 min of reading. Their inhibition performance was then evaluated by administration of the Stroop test following each session. Results: The participants had shorter mean response times for both the congruent and neutral conditions of the Stroop following the acute exercise lasting 20 min than they did after the control session. The acute exercise lasting 20 min also resulted in shorter response times for both conditions of the Stroop than the acute exercise lasting only 10 min. Meanwhile, the acute exercise lasting 45 min resulted in a shorter mean response time for the neutral Stroop condition than did the control session. Finally, the acute exercise lasting 20 min resulted in the shortest mean response time of all four sessions for the Stroop incongruent condition. Conclusion: The above findings suggest that the moderate-to-vigorous intensity acute exercise lasting 20 min facilitated multiple cognitive function domains in general, whereas the exercise sessions of shorter and longer duration had negligible effects on executive function in the late middle-aged adults. These results highlight the need to consider the duration of any moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise when developing acute exercise programs to facilitate executive function in aged populations.

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) as a typical mind-body practice has been investigated for its preventive role on negative emotions and has demonstrated its efficacy in healthy populations. However, the results are not consistent. We performed a meta-analysis and systematically evaluated the effect of TCC on selected negative emotions (i.e., anxiety and depression). Fourteen experimental studies from three English-and two Chinese-language databases were evaluated. The results showed that the positive effects of TCC on negative emotions were moderately to largely significant. In addition, although TCC significantly improved negative emotions in both the young adults and the older adults, old adults benefited more from TCC than young adults. These findings suggest that TCC is a worthy complementary non-pharmacological resource towards depression and anxiety and, thus, has great implications for the public health domain.

Cognitive gains are reported to be induced by acute aerobic exercise, but the role of fitness in the effect of acute aerobic exercise on executive function remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effect of fitness on acute exercise-induced changes in executive function from neural mechanism approach. Twenty-four female college students were assigned to high-fitness or low-fitness groups based on their cardiovascular fitness level, and then underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing N-back tasks before and after 30 min of acute exercise. The behavioral results revealed significant interaction effects of group by time in the 0-back and 1-back tasks, but not in the 2-back task. The accuracy was significantly higher in the high-fitness group than in the low-fitness group before exercise in the 1-back and 2-back tasks. At the neural level, significant interaction effects of group by time were observed in all tasks. The 0-back and 1-back tasks activated the right cerebellum while the 2-back task activated subcortical regions. Our findings suggest that fitness moderates the effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive function, and provide the first neural evidence to support the influence of fitness on exercise-induced cognitive performance.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) as an accurate, noninvasive measure of the Autonomous Nervous System (ANS) can reflect mental health (e.g., stress, depression, or anxiety). Tai Chi and Yoga (Tai Chi/Yoga), as the most widely practiced mind⁻body exercises, have shown positive outcomes of mental health. To date, no systematic review regarding the long-lasting effects of Tai Chi/Yoga on HRV parameters and perceived stress has been conducted. Objective: To critically evaluate the existing literature on this topic. Methods: Five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus and Cochrane Library) were searched from the start of the research project to July 2018. Study selection, data extraction, and study quality assessment were independently carried out by two reviewers. The potentially identified randomized controlled trials (RCT) reported the useful quantitative data that were included only for meta-analysis. Results: meta-analysis of 17 medium-to-high quality RCTs showed significantly beneficial effects on HRV parameters (normalized low-frequency, Hedge’s g = −0.39, 95% CI −0.39 to −0.56, p < 0.001, I2 = 11.62%; normalized high-frequency, Hedge’s g = 0.37, 95% CI 0.22 to −0.52, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%; low-frequency to high-frequency ratio, Hedge’s g = −0.58, 95% CI −0.81 to −0.35, p < 0.001, I2 = 53.78%) and stress level (Hedge’s g = −0.80, 95% CI −1.17 to −0.44, p < 0.001, I2 = 68.54%). Conclusions: Stress reduction may be attributed to sympathetic-vagal balance modulated by mind⁻body exercises. Tai Chi/Yoga could be an alternative method for stress reduction for people who live under high stress or negative emotions.

Background: Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga are recognized as the most popular complementary approaches for alleviating musculoskeletal pain, improving sleep quality, and reducing blood pressure. The therapeutic effects of these meditative movements for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) is yet to be determined. Therefore, we examined whether meditative movements (Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga) are effective for treating MDD. Seven electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang) were used to search relevant articles. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) using Tai Chi, Qigong or Yoga as intervention for MDD were considered for the meta-analysis (standardized mean difference: SMD). Results: Meta-analysis on 15 fair-to-high quality RCTs showed a significant benefit in favor of meditative movement on depression severity (SMD = −0.56, 95% CI −0.76 to −0.37, p < 0.001, I2 = 35.76%) and on anxiety severity (SMD = −0.46, 95% CI −0.71 to −0.21, p < 0.001, I2 = 1.17%). Meditative movement interventions showed significantly improved treatment remission rate (OR = 6.7, 95% CI 2.38 to 18.86, p < 0.001) and response rate (OR = 5.2, 95% CI 1.73 to 15.59, p < 0.001) over passive controls. Conclusions: Emphasizing the therapeutic effects of meditative movements for treating MDD is critical because it may provide a useful alternative to existing mainstream treatments (drug therapy and psychotherapy) for MDD. Given the fact that meditative movements are safe and easily accessible, clinicians may consider recommending meditative movements for symptomatic management in this population.

Baduanjin exercise is a traditional Chinese health Qigong routine created by an ancient physician for health promotion. Its mild-to-moderate exercise intensity is suitable for individuals with medical conditions. Recently, a large number of trials have been conducted to investigate the effects of Baduanjin exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It remains to be determined whether Baduanjin exercise prescription is beneficial for the management of COPD patients. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to objectively evaluate the existing literature on this topic. We searched six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang) from inception until early May 2018. The adapted Physical Therapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used for study quality assessment of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Based on 95% confidence interval (CI), the pooled effect size (Hedge’s g) of exercise capability (6-Minute Walking Test, 6-MWT), lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV1; forced volume vital capacity, FVC; FEV1/FVC ratio), and quality of life were calculated based on the random-effects model. Twenty RCTs (n = 1975 COPD patients) were included in this review, with sum scores of the adapted PEDro scale between 5 and 9. Study results of the meta-analysis indicate that Baduanjin is effective in improving exercise capability (Hedge’s g = 0.69, CI 0.44 to 0.94, p < 0.001, I2 = 66%), FEV1 (Hedge’s g = 0.47, CI 0.22 to 0.73, p < 0.001, I2 = 68.01%), FEV1% (Hedge’s g = 0.38, CI 0.21 to 0.56, p < 0.001, I2 = 54.74%), FVC (Hedge’s g = 0.39, CI 0.22 to 0.56, p < 0.001, I2 = 14.57%), FEV1/FVC (Hedge’s g = 0.5, CI 0.33 to 0.68, p < 0.001, I2 = 53.49%), and the quality of life of COPD patients (Hedge’s g = −0.45, CI −0.77 to −0.12, p < 0.05, I2 = 77.02%), as compared to control groups. Baduanjin exercise as an adjunctive treatment may potentially improve exercise capability and pulmonary function of COPD patients as well as quality of life. Baduanjin exercise could be tentatively prescribed for COPD in combination with the conventional rehabilitation program to quicken the process of recovery. To confirm the positive effects of Baduanjin exercise for COPD patients, future researchers need to consider our suggestions mentioned in this article.

Baduanjin exercise is a traditional Chinese health-Qigong routine, created by an ancient physician for health promotion. Its mild-to-moderate exercise intensity is suitable for individuals with medical conditions. Recently, a large number of trials were conducted to investigate the effects of Baduanjin exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It needs to be determined whether Baduanjin exercise prescription is beneficial for the management of COPD patients. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to objectively evaluate the existing literature on this topic. We searched six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CNKI, and Wanfang) from its inception till early May, 2018. The adapted PEDro scale was used for study quality assessment of all randomized controlled trials (RCT). The pooled effect size (Hedge’s g) of exercise capability (6-Minute Walking Test, 6-MWT), lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in first second, FEV1; forced volume vital capacity, FVC; FEV1/FVC ratio), and quality of life were calculated based on the random-effects model. Twenty RCTs (n = 1975 COPD patients) were included in this review, with sum scores of the adapted PEDro scale between 5 and 9. Study results of meta-analysis indicate that Baduanjin is effective in improving exercise capability (Hedge’s g = 0.69, CI 0.44 to 0.94, p < 0.001, I2 = 66%), FEV1 (Hedge’s g = 0.47, CI 0.22 to 0.73, p < 0.001, I2 = 68.01%), FEV1% (Hedge’s g = 0.38, CI 0.21 to 0.56, p < 0.001, I2 = 54.74%), FVC (Hedge’s g = 0.39, CI 0.22 to 0.56, p < 0.001, I2 = 14.57%), FEV1/FVC (Hedge’s g = 0.5, CI 0.33 to 0.68, p < 0.001, I2 = 53.49%), and the quality of life of COPD patients (Hedge’ s g = - 0.45, CI -0.77 to - 0.12, p < 0.05, I2 = 77.02%), as compared to control groups. Baduanjin exercise as an adjunctive treatment may potentially improve exercise capability and pulmonary function of COPD patients as well as quality of life. Baduanjin exercise could be tentatively prescribed for COPD in combination with the conventional rehabilitation program to quicken the process of recovery. To confirm the positive effects of Baduanjin exercise for COPD patients, future researchers need to consider our suggestions mentioned in this article.

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice is currently intentionally applied in clinical populations, especially those with cardiovascular diseases because of its potential benefits on the autonomic nervous system. The long-term effect of TCC practice on heart rate variability (HRV) remains largely unknown. In this study, we recruited 23 TCC practitioners whose experience averaged approximately 21 years and 19 controls matched by age, sex and education to examine the effect of TCC practice on the autonomic nervous system during a resting state and during an abdominal breathing state. HRV was measured by traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. The results showed that the low frequency, total power frequency, and normalized low frequency components and the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio were significantly higher, whereas the normalized high frequency was significantly lower in the TCC practitioners relative to controls during the abdominal breathing state. However, we did not detect any significant difference in the HRV measures during the resting state between the two groups. Additionally, TCC experience did not correlate with HRV components either in the abdominal state or the resting state in the TCC group. Considering all of these findings, we suggest that TCC improves vagal activity and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity during the relaxation state. This study also provides direct physiological evidence for the role of TCC practice in relaxation.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute exercise on motor response inhibition using both behavioral and electrophysiological approaches. Methods The P3 and N1 event-related potential (ERP) components were recorded while performing a stop-signal task in 21 college students following a moderately intense acute exercise bout for 30 min and a sedentary control session that involved reading. Results Acute exercise induced a shorter stop signal response time (SSRT) as compared to control; however, the go response time (Go RT) remained unchanged. In examining the ERP data, acute exercise increased both P3 amplitude and latency but did not affect the N1 component. Conclusion Acute exercise has a selective and beneficial effect on cognitive function, specifically affecting the motor response inhibition aspect of executive function. Furthermore, acute exercise predominately impacts later stages of information processing during motor response inhibition, which may lead to an increase in attentional resource allocation and confer the ability to successfully withhold a response to achieve motor response inhibition.

Cognitive control impairment is a typical symptom largely reported in populations with neurological disorders. Previous studies have provided evidence about the changes in cognitive control induced by mind-body training. However, the neural correlates underlying the effect of extensive mind-body practice on cognitive control remain largely unknown. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI), we characterized dynamic fluctuations in large-scale intrinsic connectivity networks associated with mind-body practice, and examined their differences between healthy controls and Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practitioners. Compared with a control group, the TCC group revealed significantly decreased fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) in the bilateral frontoparietal network, default mode network and dorsal prefrontal-angular gyri network. Furthermore, we detected a significant association between mind-body practice experience and fALFF in the default mode network, as well as an association between cognitive control performance and fALFF of the frontoparietal network. This provides the first evidence of large-scale functional connectivity in brain networks associated with mind-body practice, shedding light on the neural network changes that accompany intensive mind-body training. It also highlights the functionally plastic role of the frontoparietal network in the context of the “immune system” of mental health recently developed in relation to flexible hub theory.

A growing number of empirical studies have revealed that diaphragmatic breathing may trigger body relaxation responses and benefit both physical and mental health. However, the specific benefits of diaphragmatic breathing on mental health remain largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of diaphragmatic breathing on cognition, affect, and cortisol responses to stress. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a breathing intervention group or a control group. The breathing intervention group received intensive training for 20 sessions, implemented over 8 weeks, employing a real-time feedback device, and an average respiratory rate of 4 breaths/minute, while the control group did not receive this treatment. All participants completed pre- and post-tests of sustained attention and affect. Additionally, pre-test and post-test salivary cortisol concentrations were determined in both groups. The findings suggested that the breathing intervention group showed a significant decrease in negative affect after intervention, compared to baseline. In the diaphragmatic breathing condition, there was a significant interaction effect of group by time on sustained attention, whereby the breathing intervention group showed significantly increased sustained attention after training, compared to baseline. There was a significant interaction effect of group and time in the diaphragmatic breathing condition on cortisol levels, whereby the breathing intervention group had a significantly lower cortisol level after training, while the control group showed no significant change in cortisol levels. In conclusion, diaphragmatic breathing could improve sustained attention, affect, and cortisol levels. This study provided evidence demonstrating the effect of diaphragmatic breathing, a mindbody practice, on mental function, from a health psychology approach, which has important implications for health promotion in healthy individuals.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of acute exercise and cardiovascular fitness on cognitive function using the Stroop test and event-related desynchronization (ERD) in an aged population. Old adults (63.10 ± 2.89 years) were first assigned to either a high-fitness or a low-fitness group, and they were then subjected to an acute exercise treatment and a reading control treatment in a counterbalanced order. Alpha ERD was recorded during the Stroop test, which was administered after both treatments.Acute exercise improved cognitive performance regardless of the level of cognition, and old adults with higher fitness levels received greater benefits from acute exercise. Additionally, acute exercise, rather than overall fitness, elicited greater lower and upper alpha ERDs relative to the control condition. These findings indirectly suggest that the beneficial effects of acute exercise on cognitive performance may result from exercise-induced attentional control observed during frontal neural excitation. Descriptors: Electroencephalography (EEG), Event-related synchronization (ERS), Executive function, Stroop test

As one of the measures to improve the durability of concrete, silane penetrating hydrophobic agents can preserve the properties of respiratory function of concrete and can prevent the penetration from harmful medium such as chloride ions. Because of low molecular weight of the silane penetrating hydrophobic agent such as isobutyl triethoxysilane, high volatilization rate of silane can result in waste of material in construction process. The silane oligomer was obtained by radical polymerization reaction with suitable monomers, initiators and reaction conditions. Furthermore, we verified the structure of the silane oligomer by FT-IR spectroscopy and got its molecular weight by GPC(Gel Permeation Chromatography). The silane oligomer with lower volatilization rate has excellent properties of hydrophobicity, higher penetration depth and resistance to chloride ions penetration.

During human brain development, cortical gyrification, which is believed to facilitate compact wiring of neural circuits, has been shown to follow an inverted U-shaped curve, coinciding with the two-stage neurodevelopmental process of initial synaptic overproduction with subsequent pruning. This trajectory allows postnatal experiences to refine the wiring, which may manifest as endophenotypic changes in cortical gyrification. Diving experts, typical elite athletes who commence intensive motor training at a very young age in their early childhood, serve ideal models for examining the gyrification changes related to long-term intensive diving training. Using local gyrification index (LGI), we compared the cortical gyrification between 12 diving experts and 12 controls. Compared with controls, diving experts showed widespread LGI reductions in regions relevant to diving performance. Negative correlations between LGIs and years of diving training were also observed in diving experts. Further exploratory network efficiency analysis of structural cortical networks, inferred from interregional correlation of LGIs, revealed comparable global and local efficiency in diving experts relative to controls. These findings suggest that gyrification reductions in diving experts may be the result of long-term diving training which could refine the neural circuitry (via synaptic pruning) and might be the anatomical substrate underlying their extraordinary diving performance.

Objective To establish a lymphocyte line capable of long survival and expressing human NT–3 to lay a foundation for future animal and human cochlear gene transfection research. Methods We collected lymphocytes from normal human blood via Ficoll fluid and added IL–2 into the serum culture medium to promote lymphocyte growth. The NT3 cDNA was obtained by RT–PCR and ligated with the eukaryon vector which is pIRES–DsRed2 using T4DNA enzyme. The NT3 cDNA gene was transfected into the lymphocyte line using cationic liposome (LP2000). The lymphocytes transfected with NT3–cDNA were examined by RT–PCR and Western–blot methods. Results We established a new method to extend in vitro lymphocytes survival time and to transfect NT3 into lymphocytes. The genetically engineered lymphocytes were capable of surviving over relatively long time. Positive protein signals were obtained by Western blot. Conclusions Using lymphocytes as the intermediary, recombined plasmid pIRES–DsRed2– NT3 is used to establish a lymphocyte line that expresses and secretes NT3. This cell line can be used in future animal gene cochlear transfection research and may help find an intermediary cell line for gene therapy for human deafness.

Numerous studies provide evidence that motor skill acquisition is associated with dynamic changes in cortical and subcortical regions. Athletes are a professional population who are engaged in extensive motor training for long periods. However, the neural substrates of extreme level motor performance have not been clarified. We used kinesthetic imagery task to induce the mental representation of sport expert's extraordinary performance in view of the shared substrates of executing movement and motor imagery. For the first time, we compared, through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the pattern of cerebral activations in 12 professional divers and 12 normal people without extensive training, during imagery of professional skills and imagery of simple motor skills. The sport experts showed significant activation in the parahippocampus during imagery of professional skills relative to the novices, which might reflect the representation adapted to experience-related motor tasks. No significant difference was found between experts and novices when they imagined simple motor skills. These results indicated the experts might utilize their kinesthetic imagery more efficiently than novices, but only for the activity in which they had expertise. The sport experts also demonstrated more focused activation patterns in prefrontal areas in both of imagery tasks, which may be relevant to higher order of motor control during motor imagery. Moreover, this study suggested that the brains of sport experts could be regarded as the ideal subjects to explore the relationship between cerebral plasticity and learning of complex motor skills.

Although many authors recently have reported good results with subfascial breast augmentation, it still is controversial whether the integrity of the pectoral fascia can be preserved. Some authors think the pectoral fascia will be broken during the operation because it is thin and weak. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the integrity of the pectoral fascia can be preserved during subfascial breast augmentation through an axillary incision without endoscopic assistance. For this study, 10 patients underwent subfascial augmentation mammaplasty through the axillary approach. The technique was used for patients with small or moderate breasts. The pockets were made with the fingers. The area beyond the reach of the fingers was dissected using a breast dissector. Then the pocket and major pectoral fascias were examined with an endoscope. The endoscope was used only to inspect the fascia and major pectoral muscle after the subfascial dissection was completed. The fascia and surgical effects were evaluated. The integrity of 11 (55%) of 20 pectoral fascias in 10 patients was preserved during the surgery. Four fascias (20%) were broken at about the fourth intercostal space or at the fifth costa. In five breasts (25%), the superficial layer of the pectoral muscle was split, but the integrity of the fascia was maintained. All the patients except one with asymmetric breasts achieved satisfactory results. There was no active bleeding, hematoma, infection, or fibrous capsule contracture during the follow-up period. The integrity of most pectoral fascias (11 + 5 fascias) could be preserved through the axillary approach during subfascial breast augmentation without endoscopic assistance. Even if the lower portion of the pectoral fascia was broken, this did not interfere with the aesthetic outcome or the normal postoperative recovery.

We adopted professional diving players as a typical subject pool to explore whether structural brain differences relative to motor skill acquisition exist between highly skilled athletes and non-athletes. Based on the voxel-based morphometric (VBM) technique, structural MRIs of the brains of 12 elite diving players with professional training were analyzed and compared with those of control subjects without any professional physical training. Diving players showed significantly increased gray matter density in the thalamus and left precentral gyrus than control subjects. However, future researches are needed to prove the contribution of preposition and practice. It also suggests that athletes as the subject pool could form a new subject pool to explore plastic change induced by motor skill acquisition.

Although many authors recently have reported good results with subfascial breast augmentation, it is still under controversy whether the integrity of pectoral fascia can be preserved. Some authors think that the pectoral fascia will be avulsed during the operation because it is thin and weak. Ten patients underwent subfascial augmentation mammaplasty. In 11 pectoral fascias (55 %) among 20 pectoral fascias in ten patients, the integrity could be preserved during the surgery. Four fascias (20 %) were avulsed at about the fourth intercostal space or the fifth intercostal space. In five breasts (25 %), the superficial layer of the pectoral muscle was split, but the integrity of the fascia was maintained. All patients achieved satisfactory effects except one patient with asymmetric breasts. There were no active bleeding, hematoma, infection, and fibrous capsule contracture during the follow-up period. Most of pectoral fascia integrity can be preserved through axillary approach during subfascial breast augmentation without endoscopic assistance. Even if the lower part of the pectoral fascia is avulsed, it does not interfere with the aesthetic outcome or the normal postoperative recovery.

Whether Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) can influence the intrinsic functional architecture of the human brain remains unclear. To examine TCC-associated changes in functional connectomes, resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were acquired from 40 older individuals including 22 experienced TCC practitioners (experts) and 18 demographically matched TCC-naive healthy controls, and their local functional homogeneities across the cortical mantle were compared. Compared to the controls, the TCC experts had significantly greater and more experience-dependent functional homogeneity in the right postcentral gyrus (PosCG) and less functional homogeneity in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Increased functional homogeneity in the PosCG was correlated with TCC experience. Intriguingly, decreases in functional homogeneity (improved functional specialization) in the left ACC and increases in functional homogeneity (improved functional integration) in the right PosCG both predicted performance gains on attention network behavior tests. These findings provide evidence for the functional plasticity of the brain’s intrinsic architecture toward optimizing locally functional organization, with great implications for understanding the effects of TCC on cognition, behavior and health in aging population.

A novel 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid surface imprinted solid-phase sorbent was synthesized. The as-prepared material was characterized by SEM, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis and Fourier Transform IR measurements. Then its adsorption properties for alkyl imidazolium ionic liquids, including adsorption capacities, adsorption kinetics, and properties of selective separation and enrichment were studied in detail. It was shown that the ionic liquid surface imprinted polymer exhibited high selective recognition characteristics for the imidazolium chloride ionic liquids with short alkyl chains (C(n)mimCl, n = 2, 4, 6, 8) and the adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 25 min. Various parameters were optimized for the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid surface imprinted polymer SPE column, such as flow rate, eluent solvent, selectivity, and reusability of the column. Then, the SPE column coupled with HPLC was used for the determination of alkyl imidazolium ionic liquids. Experimental results showed that the existence of their structural analogs and common concomitants in environmental matrices did not affect the enrichment of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ionic liquid. The average recoveries of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid in spiked water samples were in the range of 92.0-102.0% with the RSD lower than 5.8%.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV), particularly HPV16, are associated with most cervical cancers. Currently, although prophylactic vaccines have been developed, there is still an urgent need to develop therapeutic HPV vaccines. In this study, a novel fusion protein, HPV 16 E7-HBcAg-Hsp65 (VR111), with the goal of increasing anti-HPV16 cellular immunity was developed. VR111 was analyzed using SDS-PAGE, western-blotting, capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion assay was performed by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) and ELISA to test their ability to induce cellular immune response. Significant correlation between ELISPOT and ELISA was observed (r=0.8680, p

Purpose: Several recent studies have identified structural changes in the cerebral cortex that occur with extensive motor training. However, limited studies have been conducted to explore the structural changes of subcortical structures, which are thought to play important roles in motor functioning. This study aims to localize the shape differences of the subcortical structures between the diving players and the nonathlete group. Methods: Twelve professional players with top-level diving skills and 12 age- and education-matched healthy controls without any training experience were scanned with a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging. Data were processed using FSL-FIRST, a model-based segmentation and registration tool. Results: Compared with the nonathlete group, we found significant regional inflation in the bilateral thalamus and the left globus pallidus in diving players. Conclusion: Although we cannot rule out the effect of predispositions, the regional inflation of the thalamus and globus pallidus might reflect the experience-dependent plasticity because of extensive diving training.

To evaluate value of endoscopic endonasal approach in surgery of disease involving skull base.Clinical data of 189 cases with skull base lesions treated by endoscopic endonasal surgery were analyzed retrospectively from May 2002 to Dec. 2010.There were 47 cerebrospinal fluid eaks 5 meningoencephalocele,26[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 83. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie

Introduction: Up to date, the effect of topical anesthesia of nasal cavity and pharynx before videostroboscopy on vocal cord movement and voice profile. The present study aims to explore the relationship between topical anesthesia and voice profile using retrospective analysis of clinical data. Method:[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 83. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie

Sports experts represent a population of people who have acquired expertise in sports training and competition. Recently, the number of studies on sports experts has increased; however, neuroanatomical changes following extensive training are not fully understood. In this study, we used cortical thickness measurement to investigate the brain anatomical characteristics of professional divers with extensive training experience. A comparison of the brain anatomical characteristics of the non-athlete group with those of the athlete group revealed three regions with significantly increased cortical thickness in the athlete group. These regions included the left superior temporal sulcus, the right orbitofrontal cortex and the right parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between the mean cortical thickness of the right parahippocampal gyrus and the training experience was detected, which might indicate the effect of extensive training on diving players' brain structure.

ProblemThe dendritic cell-derived BTB/POZ zinc finger (DPZF) protein belongs to the C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor family. It is localized on chromosome 3 and widely expressed in hematopoietic tissues, including human dendritic cells (DC), monocytes, B cells and T cells. DPZF null mice (DPZF-/-) exhibit a circling phenotype, suggestive of an inner ear defect. Here, we present our work on the role of DPZF in hearing defects.MethodsWe used auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and distortion production otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) to test the hearing function of DPZF-/- mice, then gross observation and histopathology analysis including serial sections and scanning electron microscopy were performed to exam the cochlea of DPZF-/- mice.ResultsAuditory brainstem responses (ABR) and distortion production otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) showed that DPZF-/-mice were completely deaf. Disorganized and fewer hair cells of the Corti organ in DPZF-/- mice were identified by scanning electron microscopy. B...

Objective To evaluate the transfection efficiency of recombinant adeno- associated virus serotype 9 carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (rAAV9- eGFP) to mouse heart in vivo and the effects on cardiac function. Methods 1. 16 C57BL/6 mice were transfected rAAV9-eGFP by tail injection. EGFP expression in the heart, liver, lung, kidney and brain cryosections was observed under inverted fluorescence microscope 7, 14, 21, 28 days after the injection of rAAV9-eGFP and eGFP was quantitated by Western Blot. 2. 20 C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group and rAAV9-eGFP group randomly, and were received with saline or rAAV9-eGFP. The echocardiography and haemodynamics were performed 28 days after the injection of saline or rAAV9-EGFP. Results 1. EGFP expression in the heart reached the maximum at day 21, at the point of which the transduction efficiency of rAAV9-eGFP in myocardium was 32%. The other tissues had a little or no eGFP expression. 2. The cardiac function did not reveal significant difference between rAAV9-eGFP group and the control group after transfection (p>0.05). Conclusion rAAV9-eGFP gene can be stably and efficiently expressed in mouse heart, and has no toxic effect on cardiac function.

Objective To evaluate del transfection efficiency using recombinant adeno-associated virus Serotype 9 mediated enhanced green fluorescent protein (rAAV9- EGFP) to rats H9C2 cells and the impact on growth of H9C2 cells. Methods rAAV9-EGFP was transfected into H9C2 cells at different multiplicities of infection (MOI=1×105, 1×106, 1×107). EGFP expression in the cells was observed under inverted fluorescence microscope and the EGFP-positive cell percentage determined by flow cytometry. Alamar Blue assay was used to assess the proliferation of the transfected cells. Results The cells with rAAV9-EGFP transfection at MOI of 1×106 and 1×107 began to exhibit EGFP expression 1 days del after transfection and the cells transfection at MOI of 1×105 began to exhibit EGFP expression 2 days after transfection. The fluorescence intensity increased with the MOI used for transfection. EGFP expression reached the maximum on day 4, at the point of which the transduction efficiency of rAAV9-EGFP in H9C2 cells was (14.1±0.2)%, (35.1±4.8)% and (56.8±0.1)%. Corresponding to MOIs of 1×105, 1×106 and 1×107, respectively. Alamar Blue assay did not reveal significant difference in the absorbance between the transfected cells and the control cells after transfection. Conclusions rAAV9-EGFP gene can be del transfected in a stable manner and efficiently expressed in H9C2 cells without causing cell growth inhibition. This del The results of this study played foundation (del) (provides a platform) for further research.