Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on lidocaine-induced apoptosis in rat cortical neurons.Methods The cortical neurons obtained from Sprague-Dawley fetal rats were seeded in 24 multiwell plates at a density of 1 × 105 cells/ml,and the cortical neurons of 80 wells were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =20 each):control group (group C),lidocaine group (group L),dexmedetomidine group (group D) and lidocaine + dexmedetomidine group (group L+ D).The cells were cultured routinely in group C.The cells were exposed to lidocaine with a final concentration of 1 mmol/L in group L.The cells were exposed to dexmedetomidine with a final concentration of 3 μmol/L in group D.The cells were exposed to lidocaine and dexmedetomidine with the final concentrations of 1 mmol/L and 3 μmol/L,respectively,in group L + D.After 4 h incubation,the neurons were subjected to DAPI staining for detection of apoptosis,and the apoptosis rate was calculated.Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt),Akt and caspase-3.Results Compared with group C,the apoptosis rate was significantly increased,the expression of p-Akt was down-regulated,and the expression of caspase-3 was up-regulated in L and L + D groups (P ＜ 0.05),while no significant changes were found in the indexes mentioned above in group D (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group L,the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased,the expression of p-Akt was up-regulated,and the expression of caspase-3 was down-regulated in L + D group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of Akt between the four groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can reduce lidocaine-induced apoptosis in rat cortical neurons,and activation of Akt may be involved in the underlying mechanism.

Objective To investigate the role of Akt signaling in the protective effect of dexmedetomidine preconditioning on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rat .Methods Twenty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:before LPS injection group(T0 group) ,1 h after LPS injection group(T1 group) ,3 h after LPS injection group(T2 group) and 6 h after LPS injection group(T3 group) ,the expression of Akt and p-Akt in the process of LPS-induced ALI was investigated . Another 54 rats were divided into 3 groups :control group(C group) ,6 hours of ALI group(ALI group) and Dexmedetomidine+ALI group(D+ ALI group) ,the expression of p-Akt in lung tissues ,the protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) ,apoptotic index and the pathological changes in the lung tissues were observed .Forty rats were divided into ALI group and ALI + D group to investigate the 48 h-survival ratio .Results Compared with T0 group ,the level of p-Akt expression in T1 ,T2 , T3 groups were deceased in a time-dependent manner(P<0 .05) .Compared with ALI group ,p-Akt in D + ALI group increased significantly(P<0 .05) but was still lower than that in C group(P<0 .05);the protein concentration in BALF and the apoptotic in-dex in D + ALI groups were significantly lower than those in ALI group(P<0 .05) ,but still higher than those in C group(P<0 .05) .The 48 h survival ratio was significantly decreased in D + ALI group comparing with ALI group(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Dexmedetomidine preconditioning might display protective effect via activating p-Akt signaling pathway in LPS-induced ALI .

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of different doses of dexmedetomidine mixed with ropivacaine for brachial plexus block.Methods One hundred and twenty ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 20-60 yr,weighing 40-70 kg,scheduled for upper extremity surgery under brachial plexus block,were randomly divided into 6 groups (n =20 each):ropivacaine group (group R) and different doses of dexmedetomidine groups (groups RD1-5).Brachial plexus block was performed using the interscalene approach.In group R,interscalene brachial plexus block was performed using 0.5 ％ ropivacaine 25 ml (single injection).In groups RD1.5,interscalene brachial plexus block was induced with a mixture (25 ml) of dexmedetomidine 0.25,0.50,0.75,1.00,1.25μg/kg and 0.5 ％ ropivacaine,respectively.The onset time and duration of sensory and motor block were recorded.The adverse effects such as adverse cardiovascular events,excessive sedation,and pneumothorax were also recorded.Results Compared with group R,the onset time was significantly shortened,and the duration of block was prolonged (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with groups RD1 and RD2,the onset time was significantly shortened,and the duration of block was prolonged in groups RD3 5 (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between groups RD1 and RD2 or among groups RD3,RD4 and RD5 (P ＞ 0.05).Some patients developed bradycardia,hypotension or excessive sedation in groups RD4 and RD5,while no adverse effects were observed in the other groups.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine 0.75 μg/kg mixed with 0.5 ％ ropivacaine 25 ml can be safely and effectively used for brachial plexus block in patients.

OBJECTIVE: There exists a close relationship between drying of a fresh herb and its preservation and extraction of efficient components. In order to investigate the influences of different drying methods on extraction and separation of ginsenosides, three drying processes, such as drying in the sun, drying in oven and microwave drying, were used to dry fresh ginsengs. METHODS: The ginsenosides of the dry ginsengs were extracted by poaching and microwave heating, and were separated by foam separation. The concentrations of ginsenosides were measured. RESULTS: Microwave drying saved both time and labor, and was favorable for release of ginsenosides. The ginsenosides could be extracted from the dry ginsengs in a shorter time by microwave heating than poaching. The ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rd could be observably concentrated by foam separation. CONCLUSION: Microwave drying and microwave assisted extraction are efficient and economic methods with a high recovery yield of ginsenosides.

Objective To assess CT diagnostic value of gastric stromal tumor (GST). Methods Clinical data and spiral CT findings of 20 patients with pathologically proven GST were analyzed retrospectively. Results Twenty lesions were solitary in plain CT scan image. The malignant lesions (n=9) were larger than 5.0 cm in diameter and cystic degenerations as well as necrosis were detected within the tumors, while the underlying malignant lesions (n=11) were smaller than 5.0 cm in diameter and most of them showed homogeneous density. Calcification was detected in 2 patients. On enhanced CT scan, the substantial part of the lesions was obviously strengthened. Multiplanar reformation displayed the relationship of tumor and stomach clearly. Conclusion The CT imaging features of gastric stromal tumor are characteristic. Plain CT scan and multiplanar reformation are helpful to determine the location and nature of gastric stromal tumors.

Objective:To observe the differences in clinical efficacy of Jieyu Anshen Decoction combined with auricular points and oral tibolone in the treatment of patients with perimenopausal sleep disorders, and provide effective treatment for patients with contraindications to hormone supplement therapy in clinicalMethods:Using a randomized trial design, from July 2018 to August 2020,102 perimenopausal insomnia patients in International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institutewith kidney deficiency and liver depression who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group with 51 cases each. The treatment group took Jieyu Anshen Recipe. At the same time, unilateral auricular point pressing treatment was given, and the opposite ear was changed in 5 d. The control group was treated with tiburon for a period of 3 months. The changes in the scores of each scale were observed in the two groups after 1 month and 3 months treatment. The scale included Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), modified Kupperman score (KMI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Screening Scale (PHQ-9). Its effectiveness and differences were evaluated and analyzed comprehensively through the above scale.Results:PSQI, KMI, GAD-7, PHQ-9 scores decreased significantly in the control and treatment groups after 1 month and 3 months of treatment, and the difference were statistically significant: PSQI: (8.58 ± 1.94) and (5.81 ± 1.93) scores vs. (13.10 ± 2.53), (9.15 ± 2.59) and (6.33 ± 1.98) scores vs.(13.52 ± 2.27) scores; KMI: (19.92 ± 2.16) and (14.67 ± 4.11) scores vs. (28.54 ± 7.65) scores, (19.02 ± 5.92) and(14.10 ± 4.37) scores vs. (27.42 ± 7.34) scores; GAD-7: (4.54 ± 2.03) and (3.81 ± 1.63) scores vs. (5.69 ± 2.95) scores, (3.71 ± 2.48) and (3.32 ± 1.73) scores vs. (4.90 ± 3.17) scores; PHQ-9:(6.90 ± 2.52) and (4.98 ± 1.96) scores vs. (9.83 ± 3.71) scores, (6.15 ± 2.62) and (4.44 ± 1.81) scores vs. (9.02 ± 3.73) scores ( P<0.01). PSQI, KMI, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 scores declined between the two groups, but there were no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). After 1 month and 3 months of treatment, using PSQI scale and KMI score, the total efficiency of patients in the control group was slightly higher than that of the treatment group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05); after 1 month and 3 months of treatment, using PHQ-9 score and GAD-7 score, the total efficiency of patients in the treatment group was slightly higher than that of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Traditional Chinese medicine combined with ear acupoint pressing has similar effects to tibolone in treating perimenopausal insomnia with kidney deficiency and liver depression. It can significantly improve the quality of sleep and quality of life of patients, and has good safety. For patients who are not suitable for hormone, Chinese medicine can be used as an alternative. The therapies are worthy of clinical application.

Necrosis is a form of cell death, which is related to various serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Necrosis-avid agents (NAAs) selectively accumulated in the necrotic tissues can be used for imaging and/or therapy of related diseases. The aim of this study was to preliminarily investigate necrosis avidity of I-evans blue (I-EB) and its mechanism. The biodistribution of I-EB at 24 h after intravenous administration showed that the radioactivity ratio of necrotic to viable tissue was 3.41 in the liver and 11.82 in the muscle as determined by counting in model rats. Autoradiography and histological staining displayed preferential uptake of I-EB in necrotic tissues. nuclear extracts from necrotic cells exhibited 82.3% of the uptake in nuclei at 15 min, as well as 79.2% of the uptake at 2 h after I-EB incubation. The DNA binding study demonstrated that evans blue (EB) has strong binding affinity with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) (=5.08×10 L/(mol/L)). Furthermore, the accumulation of I-EB in necrotic muscle was efficiently blocked by an excess amount of unlabeled EB. In conclusion, I-EB can not only detect necrosis by binding the DNA released from necrotic cells, but also image necrotic tissues generated from the disease clinically.