The present study is an attempt to further asertain the histological location and afferent connections of the "Groaning Center" of cat.In 1952, by electrical stimulation of the lateral tegmental area of cats, a restricted region was found to give rise to the groaning response and it was designated as the "Groaning Center", which on excitation would also produce various viseral and motor reactions.According to our microscopic study of the position of the "Groaning Center", we found that the nucleus subcuneiformis in the lateral tegmental region is the focal point of the center. It lies ventralateral to the nucleus trochlear, medial to the lateral lemniscus and the nucleus paralemniscalis (Jasper atlas, 1954), dorsal to the nucleus cuneiformis. This center extends about 1.0 mm. anteroposteriorly, 1.0 mm. mediolaterally and about 1.5 mm. dorsoventrally. This area cheifly consists of fibers and scattered cells of medium and small size. A cluster of larger cells has been observed in the ventral region of the center.By HRP retrograde transport study, we found that after injection of HRP into the center, the reactive cells were found in extensive brain areas. The labelled cells were mainly found in the ipsilateral side of the hypothalamus, especially in the lateral and posterior nucleus of hypothalamus as well as the dorsomedial nucleus of hypothalamus. The reactive cells were also found in the forebrain regions, such as the cingulate gyrus, globus pallidus, zona incerta, nucleus parafa-sicularis, etc.The relation between the center with vocalization and emotional responses is discussed.

The effects of foot-shock (FS) on ir-?-EP and ir-NT in the brain and pituitary of unanaesthetized rats were studied by means of radioimmunoassay (RIA). It was found that the content of ir-?-EP decreased significantly in pituitary and increased in hypothalamus, and the content of ir-NT increased both in pituitary and hypothalamus 2 min after FS. However, ir-?-EP increased in pituitary and decreased in hypothalamus, and ir-NT decreased both in pituitary and hypothalamus 20 min after FS. These results indicate that at the early period of FS induced stress, the release of ir-?-EP may be increased from pituitary, and ir-NT may be decreased from both pituitary and hypothalamus.

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common peripheral neuropathy,and it is important to enhance both nerve regeneration and prevent nerve degeneration in its treatment. Disturbed nerve regeneration in diabetes has been ascribed,at least in part,to decreases of some neurotrophic factors or the decreases of their receptor expressions.This paper reviewed the effect of some major neurotrophic factors on diabetic neuropathy and their application in clinical treatment.

In this study, acute cardiac ischemia was induced by ligation of the anterior descending branch of the coronary artery in rats. Radioimmunoassay was conducted to measure the contents of immunoreactive beta - en-dorphin (ir-?-EP)after ischemia and fructose -1,6 - diphosphate (FDP) treatment. Results showed that the contents of ir-?-EP were in-cereased in the plasma, some brain areas, pituitary and myocardium after ligation of the left coronary artery of the rats which resulted in the deterioration of the cardiac function includingdp/dtmax, Lvsp, total areas of force loop and blood pressure. Intravenous administration of FDP improved cardiac function and reduced the contents of ir - ? - EP in the above mentioned tissues suggesting that ir-?-EP correlate closely with cardiac function after ischemia,the reduction of which was possibly involved in the improve ment of cardiac function by FDP.

Objective To investigate the effect of the spleen on the function of intestinal barrier during the course of acute pancreatitis in rats.Methods Rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group; actue pancreatitis group; splenectomy group;splenectomy plus acute pancreatitis group.The serum levels of TNF-?,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-10 in each group were examined 24 hours after operation.Two days after operation ,the rate of bacterial translocation(BT) was determined and the terminal ileum was excised and examined by transmission electron microscopy to detect the injury of intestinal mucosa.Results The serum levels of TNF-?,IL-1?,IL-6 and IL-10 in splenectomy plus acute pancreatitis group were 3.06?3.61,16.46?5.52,19.90?6.89,6.94?3.93,and in acute pancreatitis group were 19.93?2.38, 42.79?4.31, 20.19?3.35, 39.28?12.69 respectively. The values of TNF-?, IL-1? and IL-10 were significantly lower in splenectomy plus acute pancreatitis group than those in acute pancreatitis group(P

Objective To investigate the effects of Ganmaidazao Decoction (GMDZD), Sinisan(SNS) and Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) recipe on endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) of rat with chronic stress.Methods In order to establish the rat models with chronic stress, the feet of animals were stimulated with a pat-tern of electrical impulses (long term, high voltage and constant current). The alterations of behavior of animals were observed and quantified by open-field and tail-suspension test. Levels of NGF in pitttitary,hypetholamus and blood plasma were quantified using radio-immunoassay (RIA) method. Results 1) In comparision with the wild-type (WT) control rats, locomotor activity decreased significantly in the models and groups treated by Chinese medicinal herbs (P<0.01). In addition,the Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups exhibited increased locomotor activity than the model groups (P<0.01). 2) The cross time of the model groups decreased significantly compared with the WT controls (P < 0. 01). Meanwhile, three Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups displayed longer cross time than the model groups (P< 0. 01). 3)The vertical movement times of the model groups decreased significantly compared with the WT controls (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, three Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups displayed in-creased vertical movement times than the model groups (P <0.05). 4)In the tail-suspension test, the duration of immobility increased significantly in the model groups compared with the WT controls (P < 0. 01). However, the duration of immobility of three Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups were less than the model groups (P < 0.01). 5) Compared to the model groups,the level of NGF in pituitary of animals treated by GMDZD and SNS in-creased significantly (P<0.01). In the hypothalamus,the level of NGF in SJZD treated groups decreased in com-parision with the WT control and model groups (P<0.05). Whereas, GMDZD and SNS treated groups decreased significantly than WT control and model groups (P<0.01). In the blood plasma,the level of NGF showed a signif-icant reduction in the model groups compared with the WT control. Conclusion The results suggest that the GM-DZD,SNS and SJZD recipe have positive effects on rat with chronic stress through regulating the level of endogenous NGF.

Objective To investigate the serum level of free fatty acid (FFA) and explore its relationship with cytokines and atherosclerosis (AS) in chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods The serum level of FFA was determined with enzymatic colorimetry.IL-1 β, IL-6 and TNFα were determined with ELISA.High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured with immunoturbidimetry.Prevalence of atherosclerosis was detected with carotid ultrasonography.We evaluated the relationship between serum levels of FFA and IL-1β,IL-6, TNFα, hsCRP as well as the renal function in 130 adult patients with CKD, stratified according to the GFR ( based on the National Kidney Foundation/Kidney Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiatives) and in 58 hemodialytic (HD) patients.The relationship between FFA level and cardiac geometry incidence in CKD patients was analyzed with logistic regression model.Results The serum level of FFA was significantly higher in CKD patients as compared with that in the healthy controls [(492.63 ± 143.59)vs (302.65 ± 142.18) μ mol/L, P ＜ 0.01], even in the early stage of CKD.The level of FFA increased with the progression of renal dysfunction.In the non-dialytic CKD group, the level of FFA was negatively related to GFR and positively related to the proteinuria (P ＜ 0.05), while in the HD group, it was positively correlated with dialysis duration ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The serum levels of FFA were higher in CKD patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis than those in patients without ( P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ).However, in both groups with impairment of renal function, the levels of FFA were positively correlated with hsCRP, IL-1 β, IL-6,TNFα and TG( all P ＜ 0.05 ).A positive correlation between the level of FFA and the clinical manifestations such as carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and AS was also found.A negative correlation was found between the level of FFA and the serum level of albumin and GFR( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of FFA are significantly higher either in non-dialytic CKD or in HD patients and it is related with hsCRP, IL-1 β, IL-6, TNFα as well as carotid artery atherosclerosis, indicating that FFA is an independent risk factor of AS in CKD.

Objective To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on pathological changes of myocardium and the underlying mechanism in chronic renal failure rats (CRF). Methods A total of 55 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=10),model group (n=15),low dose (300 mg/kg),medium dose (600 mg/kg) and high dose (900 mg/kg) L-carnitine group(n=10,each).5/6 subtotal nephrectomy was performed in these rats without sham group.One week after the operation,normal saline or corresponding dose L-carnitine were intragastrically administrated to sham and model group or L-carnitine groups for 17 weeks.Transthoracic echocardiography,mean arterial pressure (MAP),heart rate (HR) and heart weight/body weight were assessed.Moreover,24h urine protein,renal function,SOD,MDA,IL-6,ATP,ADP were measured at the end of the study.Additionally,pathological changes in myocardium were detected by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results (1) ATP (μmol/g·wt)in L-carnitine groups (2.35±0.24,3.59±0.28,3.78±0.25) was significantly higher than that in model group (1.61±0.12) (all P＜0.01).(2) Thickness of posterior wall of left ventricle (mm) in high dose L-carnitine group was thinner than that in model group (3.74±0.23 vs 4.18±0.48,P＜0.05). (3) The ratios of heart weight to body weight in both medium dose and high dose L-carnitine groups (3.92±0.27,3.65±0.2) were significantly lower compared to model group (3.99±0.27) (all P＜0.01). (4) Under light microscopy,disarrangement and hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes,increased myocardial fibrosis were observed in model group, while these changes and the pathological scores were significantly improved in both medium dose and high dose L-carnitine groups (7.14±1.07,6.13±0.99),as compared with model group (9.88±1.13) (all P＜0.01).Under electron microscopy,typical changes in cardiac hypertrophy were observed,including dissolution of myocardial fibers,increasing and swelling of mitochondria,membrane rupture as well as matrix increase in model group,while these changes were ameliorated by L-carnitine in a dose-dependent manner. (5) Seventeen weeks after the treatment,both IL-6 and MDA were decreased in all L-carnitine-treated groups than those in model group [IL-6 (ng/L):261.86±13.18,240.12±18.7,233.34±36.88 vs 596.64±81.41; MDA (nmol/L):15.23±2.01,12.41±0.6.10.97±1.9 vs 21.84±2.71).Whereas,SOD (U/ml) were increased in L-carnitine-treated groups (51.2±6.11,58.51±5.52,60.63±6.94) than that in model group(32.01 ±5.69 )(all P＜0.05).(6) No significant differences of systolic,diastolic blood pressure or MAP were found among groups. Conclusion L-carnitine can improve energy metabolism,micro-inflammation and oxidative stress in myocardium of CRF rats,which may be associated with the amelioration of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

High fidelity human patient simulator has become more and more important in clinical medical practice education.Medical circle has more and more realized that non-technical skill (NTS) is closely associated with the improvement of medical quality.This paper attempted to carry out a preliminary discussion on theory and practice of applying NTS in simulation training of critical care medicine based on their own teaching experiences.

[ABSTRACT]AIM:Toinvestigatetheeffectofsilencingisocitratedehydrogenase2(IDH-2)genebysmallinter-fering RNA (siRNA) on the biological characteristics of human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI -H446.METHODS:IDH-2 expression was knocked down in human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI -H446 by siRNA-IDH-2.The expression level of IDH-2 was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting .The cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 as-say , the protein expression of MAPK p 42 was detected by Western blotting , and the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytome-try.The migration was observed using Transwell cell migration system .BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected on the back with NCI-H446 cells transfected with siRNA-IDH-2/negative control siRNA or non-transfected cells to study the tumor growth .RESULTS:siRNA-IDH-2 remarkably down-regulated the expression of IDH-2 and MAPK p42 in the NCI-H446 cells.siRNA-IDH-2 inhibited both the proliferation and migration abilities of NCI-H446 cells, and the cell cycle was arrested in S phase as compared with negative control group .Additionally, the volume of xenograft tumors in siRNA-IDH-2 group was significantly decreased as compared with control group .CONCLUSION:siRNA-IDH-2 down-regulates the expres-sion of IDH-2 in NCI-H446 cells, reduces the cell migration efficiency and inhibits the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.