Activation of α2 adrenoceptor attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury.

Sepsis induces hepatic injury but whether alpha-2 adrenoceptor (α2-AR) modulates the severity of sepsis-induced liver damage remains unclear. The present study used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce hepatic injury and applied α2-AR agonist dexmedetomidine (DEX) and/or antagonist yohimbine to investigate the contribution of α2-AR in LPS-induced liver injury. Our results showed that LPS resulted in histological and functional abnormality of liver tissue (ALT and AST transaminases, lactate), higher mortality, an increase in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 & TNF-α), as well as a change in oxidative stress (MDA, SOD).

The effect of a telephone follow-up intervention on illness perception and lifestyle after myocardial infarction in China: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Lifestyle modification is an integral component of cardiac secondary prevention, while it has been confirmed that myocardial infarction (MI) patients' health-related behaviors are heavily influenced by their illness perception.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a telephone follow-up intervention for improving MI patients' illness perception and lifestyle.

Design: A randomized controlled trial, longitudinal research design was employed.

Illness perception among Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: To explore illness perception (IP) and its predictors among Chinese patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) was used in the present study. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was employed.