Objective: To test the reliability of 3 dimentional (3D) laser surface scanner for nasal anthropometry.Methods:11 plaster nasal models were measured by 3D laser surface scanner and manual measurement. The data were statistically analyzed. Results:In 9 out of the 10 parameters of nasal anthropometry,the correlation coefficient of the distances and angels measured by the 2 means was 0.856-1.000(P

Objective To establish drug resistant models of temporal lobe epilepsy induced by amygdala kindling,and to investigate the changes of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB) expression in the hippocampus tissues in order to explore their roles in drug resistant epileptogenesis.Methods Eighty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n =10) and model group (n =70).The 70 rats were used to prepare the amygdaloid kindled model of epilepsy by chronic stimulation of amygaloid basal lateral nucleus.The successful kindled models were randomly selected as drug resistant epileptic group (n =10) and drug sensitive epileptic group (n =10) according to their response to the phenytoin and phenobarbital.On the basis of behavioral observation,electrophysiology,pathological HE staining,CREB and p-CREB expression changes,we verified the reliability of the models and explored the differences among the three groups above.The changes of CREB and p-CREB expression were detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blotting assay.Results In control group,the electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency was (8.700 ±1.494) Hz;in drug sensitive epileptic group,the EEG frequency was (14.700 ± 1.159) Hz;in drug resistant epileptic group,the EEG frequency was (19.800 ± 1.686) Hz.The frequency differences among the three groups were statistically significant (F =144.202,P =0.000).By immunohistochemical staining,a large number of CREB and p-CREB positive cells were observed in drug resistant epileptic group.As compared with the control group (CREB 0.197 ±0.058,p-CREB 0.260 ±0.176),the expression levels of CREB and p-CREB were increased in drug sensitive epileptic group (CREB 0.361 ±0.151,p-CREB 0.656 ±0.234) and in drug resistant epileptic group (CREB 0.591 ± 0.150,p-CREB 1.077 ± 0.400).The difference among the three groups had statistical significance (F =24.206,20.376,both P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The expressions of CREB and p-CREB were significantly increased in drug resistant epileptic rats.These findings indicate that the expressions of CREB and p-CREB may play certain roles in the drugresistant epileptogenesis.

Objective To compare the analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine and propofol on patients with coronary heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery.Methods 86 patients in our hospital from Sep 2009 to Sep 2011 aged 55-76 years weighing 42-60 kg,who were scheduled for epidural anesthesia in routine,were randomly assigned to 2 groups:dexmedtomidine (Dex) group and propofol group (n=43,each).Visual analogue scale/score (VAS) analgesia score and ramsay sedation score were used to observe the analgesic effect after surgery.Serum concentration of cortisol,insulin and glucose were observed and compared between Dex and propofol group before and 4,24,48h after surgery.Patient satisfaction was surveyed.Results The analgesic effect evaluated by VAS and Ramsay scores was better in Dex group than in propofol group at different time after surgery (t=5.368,2.262,7.147,5.881,7.861,4.810,all P＜0.05).Serum concentrations of cortisol,insulin and glucose were lower in Dex group than in propofol group before and 4,24,48 h after surgery (t=3.076,2.042,4.090,all P＜0.05).The satisfaction rate was 93.0％ (40/43) in Dex group.Conclusions Dexmedetomidine has a better analgesic effect than propofol,and it is safe and feasible for patients with coronary heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery.

To investigate the estrogen receptor (ER) expression in cartilage cell in the development of osteoarthritis induced by bilateral ovariectomy in guinea pig and to find their relationship. 30 two-month-old female guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups (n = 15 each): sham operation (control) group and ovariectomized group (OVX); Scanning electorne microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were obtained to analysis the cartilage degeneration of the hind limb knee joint after 6 and 12 weeks of ovariectomy. Dextran-Coated-Charcoal (DCC) was taken to quantitively detect the expression of ER. The serum levels of estrogen and gestone were detected by immune contest assay. The results showed that ER do exist in the cartilages of the guinea pigs, with higher expression in the control group than in OVX group at the same time point (P < 0.05). It was increased also at 12 th week after operation than that of preoperation. The blood serum levels of estrogen and gestone showed a similar tendency to the expression of ER. Joint cartilage degeneration detected by SEM and TEM could be found at 6 th week, but severe degenerative lesions at 12 th week in the OVX group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The data suggested that bilateral ovariectomy in guinea pig lead to severe osteoarthritis which mighgt be related to the lower serum level of estrogen and the downregulation of the expression of ER in the cartilage also.
Cartilage, Articular/cytology ; Cartilage, Articular/*metabolism ; Chondrocytes/metabolism ; Estrogens/*blood ; Osteoarthritis/*etiology ; Osteoarthritis/metabolism ; Ovariectomy ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Estrogen/*biosynthesis ; Receptors, Estrogen/genetics

To evaluate the validity of osteoarthritis model induced by bilateral ovariectomy in guinea pig, 32-month-old female guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups: a sham operation group (control group) and an ovariectomized group (OVX group). The animals were killed 6 or 12 weeks after the operation and the degeneration of the knees were assessed microscopically and histologically by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and light microscope. The serum levels of estrogen and gestone were detected by immune contest assay. The scoring of articular cartilage histopathology of tibial plateau was performed by histopathological examination. The blood serum levels of estrogen and gestone were decreased significantly in the OVX group as compared with the control group 6 or 12 weeks after the operation. Joint cartilage degeneration as detected by SEM and TEM could be found at the 6th week, but severe degenerative lesions were observed at the 12th week in the OVX group as compared with the control group (P<0.01). The histopathological score of articular cartilage in tibial plateau in OVX group was higher than that of control group, which was coincident with the changes of estrogen and the ultrastructure (P<0.01). The findings suggested that bilateral ovariectomy in guinea pig can induce the severe osteoarthritis that is similar to the aging-induced OA in human. Therefore, the model of the osteoarthritis by bilateral ovariectomy in guinea pig in this study is valid.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of anti-nuclear protein B23 antibody in systemic sclerosis. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to detect the serum antinuclear B23 autoantibody. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the clinical and autoantibody profiles between SSc patients with B23 antibody and those without B23 antibody. Logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the correlation between B23 antibody and clinical manifestations and autoantibody profiles. Results Mann-Whitney U test showed that, forced vital capacity (FVC) diffusion capacity of CO (DLco) in B23 positive SSc was significantly lower than that in B23 negative counterparts, pulmonary artery hypertension was more prevalent in B23 positive SSc patients. While anti-fibrillarin, anti-U1RNP, and antic entromere antibodies were more prevalent in B23 positive SSc. Multivariate logistic regression showed that anti-B23 antibody positivity was an independent risk factor for pulmonary artery hypertension in SSc (OR=123.92, 95％CI 26.67～575.66, P＜0.01), and a protective factor for severe gastrointestinal involvement (OR=0.08, 95％CI 0.01 ～0.70, P＜O.05). Logistic analysis showed that anti-B23 antibody was correlated with antifibrillarin (OR=11.50, 95％CI3.85～34.37, P＜0.01) and anti-U1RNP antibodies (OR=3.43, 95％CI 1.01～11.63, P＜0.05), and correlated with different degree of pulmonary artery hypertension. Conclusion The pulmonary artery pressure should be monitored closely in those SSc patients with a positive B23 antibody.

Objective To study the relationship between the washout speed in the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and the differentiation grading in pathology in patients with hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Totally 271 patients who underwent complete resection for hypervascular HCC from April 2009 to December 2014 at Nanchong Central Hospital were included in this study.CEUS examinations were perfomred in all patients 2-3 days before liver resection.A timer on the ultrasound screen displayed the time elapsed since the saline flush was used to determine time to washout.The washout rate were categorized into four levels based on enhancement in portal venous phase and delayed phase.The differentiation grade and the washout speed were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test.Results All 271 (100％) lesions were arterially enhanced with different washout rate.Washout speed 1 was found in 19 patients (7.0％),while speed 2 in 157 patients (57.9％),speed 3 in 65 (24.0％),and speed 4 in 30,respectively.The washout speed had a significant correlation with the differentiation (x2=179.8238,P ＜ 0.001).The faster washout speed,the higher differentiated.Washout speed 1 could distinghuish well-differentiated from the poor and moderately differentiated tumor.The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative washout speed 1 to identify well histologic grade were 98.0％ and 77.8％,the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 96.0％ and 48.8％,and the positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratiowere were 1.9 and 0.01.Washout speed 4 could distinghuish poor differentiated from well and moderately differentiated tumor The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative washout speed 4 to identify poor histologic grade were 24.3％ and 97.0％,the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 65.3％ and 61.3％,and the positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratiowere were 3.2 and 0.7.Conculsions Washout speed can reflect the degree of differentiation roughly.Washout speed can effectively diagnose the well-differentiated HCC,but it is difficult for moderate and poor differentiated HCC.

Neutrophils play a critical role in ventilation-induced lung injury. This study was aimed to investigate the characteristics of neutrophils influx in lungs induced by high tidal volume ventilation. Anaesthetized rats were randomly divided into low tidal volume ventilation group (Vt: 7 mL/kg, LV group) or high tidal volume ventilation group (Vt: 42 mL/kg, HV group) (n=40 in each). Rats in each group were ventilated for 0, 60, 90, 120 and 240 min. The wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D) was measured. The levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was counted after Wright's staining, and the percentage of netrophils in lung tissues calculated. Histopatholgical examination was used to observe the changes of lung tissues after different ventilations. The results showed that the W/D weight ratio was increased, and the levels of MIP-2 and TNF-α significantly enhanced in HV group at 90, 120 and 240 min. Neutrophils in BALF and the neutrophil percentage in lung tissues were also elevated at 120 and 240 min, which coincided with the enhanced activity of MPO in HV group. The lung injury was significantly related with the ventilation time and the infiltration of neutrophils in lungs in HV group. In conclusion, in ventilation-induced lung injury, neutrophil infiltration is present in a time-dependent manner and associated with the aggravated lung injury. Pulmonary structural damage may be the main reason for ventilation-induced lung injury.

Objective To observe the effect of epidural injection with different dose of butorphanol on the rats' neurological function.Methods A PE-530 catheter was inserted into the epidural space of all the SpragueDawley rats (male, weighting 180 ～210 g) at L1-2 level.After three days, a total of 32 rats without any motor dysfunction were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows saline(NS) group (group C, n= 8 )and butorphanol injection (B) group( B1∶ n=8;B2∶ n=8;B3∶ n=8).Rats in group C were epidurally injected NS 30 μl each ,and rats in group B1, B2 and B3 were respectively epidurally injected Butorphanol 60 μg/30μl, 120 μg/30 μl,240 μg/30 μl (all diluted with NS) ,and 1 time per day for5 days.The neurological function of rats was recorded before injection (T0) and 6h after injection on day 1 ～4(T1 ～T 4) and 6h,24h and 72h after injection on day 5 (T5 ～T7) by BBB (BASSO,BEATTIE and BRESNAHAN ) Score and the inclined plane test .Results Compared with group C ,the BBB score and the inclined plane test of group B1 showed no significant difference throughout the experimental period(P＞ 0.05 ).There was also no significant difference at T0 ～ T3 of group B2 and group B3 compared with group C (P ＞ 0.05 ), while at T4, the BBB score ( ( 18.50 ± 2.00 ) points, ( 16.38 ± 2.33 ) points) and the inclined plane test( (58.75 ± 5.17 )°, (59.38 ± 3.20) ° ) of the two groups were both obviously decreased when compared with group C( (21.00 ±0.00) points, (65.00 ±3.78)°, P＜0.05) ,and the same significant differences appeared at T5,T6 and T7 (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Repeated epidural injection of butorphanol 60 μg have no effect on neurological function of rats,while repeated epidural injection of butorphanol 120 μg and 240 μg could impaire the neurological function.

Objective To investigate the effect of cerebral ischemic preconditioning (IP) on the expressions of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and its receptor Tie-2 mRNA in cerebral ischemia in rats.Methods Ninety-nine Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups:sham operation (n =9),non-ischemic preconditioning (NIP) (n =45),and IP (n =45).The latter two groups were redivided into 5 subgroups:ischemia-reperfusion 1,3,7,14,and 21 days (n =9 in each group).A model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced by the intraluminal suture method for focal IP (ischemia for 10 minutes and restoring perfusion).Infarct volume was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium staining.The expression levels of Ang-1/Tie-2 mRNA were detected by in situ hybridization.Results The infarct volumes in the 1 -,3-,and 7-day subgroups of the IP group were significantly smaller than those in the relative subgroups of the NIP group (all P＜ 0.05).The expression of Ang-1 mRNA in the 3- and 7-day subgroups of the IP group and the expression of Tie-2 mRNA in the 1-,3-,and 7-day subgroups of the NIP group were upregulated significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).The infarct volume in the 3-day subgroup of the IP group was reduced most significantly (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of Ang-1 mRNA in the 7-day subgroup was upregulated significantly,and the peak expression of its receptor Tie-2 mRNA appeared at day 3 after IP and continued to day 7.Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of Ang-1/Tie-2 mRNA were significantly negatively correlated with infarct volume (P ＜0.01).Conclusions The expression of Ang-1/Tie-2 mRNA in the IP group was upregulated within the time window of ischemic tolerance (1 - 7 days after preconditioning),in which Ang-1 may mainly act on the later stage of the cerebral ischemic tolerance.