It is well documented that vascular tone is the key determinant of blood vessel resistance and blood flow. But vascular tone could be regulated by modulating the activity of potassium channel directly. Potassium channel openers promote vasodilation by inhibiting the activity of voltage dependent calcium channels and reducing Ca 2+ influx. In this case, inhibition results from membrane hyperpolarisation, which arises due to the stimulation of K + efflux through smooth muscle K + channels. While K + channels are blocked, vasoconstriction could be observed as a result of membrane depolarization, which opens voltage dependent calcium channels. The influx of Ca 2+ can promote smooth muscle contraction by making myosin light chain phosphorylation and arising thick myofilament and thin myofilament relative movements. In this article, the gene structure, current character, Pharmacological and physiological effects of the four subtypes potassium channels are reviewed.

BACKGROUND:To evaluate the accuracy of National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in predicting clinical outcomes (28-day mortality, intensive care unit [ICU] admission, and mechanical ventilation use) for septic patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) compared with other commonly used severity scores (CURB65, Pneumonia Severity Index [PSI], Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA], quick SOFA [qSOFA], and Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis [MEDS]) and admission lactate level. METHODS: Adult patients diagnosed with CAP admitted between January 2017 and May 2019 with admission SOFA ≥2 from baseline were enrolled. Demographic characteristics were collected. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality after admission, and the secondary outcome included ICU admission and mechanical ventilation use. Outcome prediction value of parameters above was compared using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Cox regression analyses were carried out to determine the risk factors for the 28-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted and compared using optimal cut-off values of qSOFA and NEWS. RESULTS: Among the 340 enrolled patients, 90 patients were dead after a 28-day follow-up, 62 patients were admitted to ICU, and 84 patients underwent mechanical ventilation. Among single predictors, NEWS achieved the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve in predicting the 28-day mortality (0.861), ICU admission (0.895), and use of mechanical ventilation (0.873). NEWS+lactate, similar to MEDS+lactate, outperformed other combinations of severity score and admission lactate in predicting the 28-day mortality (AUROC 0.866) and ICU admission (AUROC 0.905), while NEWS+lactate did not outperform other combinations in predicting mechanical ventilation (AUROC 0.886). Admission lactate only improved the predicting performance of CURB65 and qSOFA in predicting the 28-day mortality and ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: NEWS could be a valuable predictor in septic patients with CAP in emergency departments. Admission lactate did not predict well the outcomes or improve the severity scores. A qSOFA ≥2 and a NEWS ≥9 were strongly associated with the 28-day mortality, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation of septic patients with CAP in the emergency departments.

AIM: To observe the effect of curcumin on the retinal structure and the expressions of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and interleukin-17(IL-17) in the rat retina after retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI).METHODS:A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group(NCG),model group(MG),low-dose curcumin group (LDCG) and high-dose curcumin group (HDCG) (n=15 per group).RIRI was generated by anterior chamber perfusion of normal saline to the right eye.Rats in LDCG and HDCG received an intraperitoneal injection of 20mg/kg/d and 100mg/kg/d curcumin respectively,at 30min before RIRI and once daily after RIRI.Retinal structure and inflammation were evaluated after hematoxylin and eosin-stained (HE) staining.Western-blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the level of IL-23 and IL-17 expressions after RIRI.RESULTS: The retinal structure of NCG was normal.Retinal edema,empty spaces or loosely packed cells and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in MG and LDCG groups,whereas the morphological changes in HDCG group were improved as compared to MG and LDCG groups.Western-blot assay and ELISA showed that IL-23 and IL-17 expressions increased significantly after RIRI (vs NCG,P<0.01).Moreover,curcumin reduced IL-23 and IL-17 expressions significantly (vs MG,P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Curcumin can inhibit leukocytes infiltration and improve the retinal pathologic changes.Furthermore,curcumin can reduce retinal IL-23 and IL-17 expressions significantly in a dose-dependent manner.

Abstract?AIM: To characterize the effects of sodium iodate on mouse retinal morphology and function.?METHODS: Sodium iodate at 35mg/kg ( body weight) was administered by tail vein injection into adult 6-8wk C57BL/6J mice. Morphological and functional changes of the retina were assessed at 6h, 1, 3, 5 and 8d after injections by fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), ERG and histology. Mice in control group were give tail vein injection of equivalent dose of normal saline. All the eyeballs were removed for paraffin section and H-E staining.?RESULTS: The fundus photographs images at 6h after injection showed obvious changes, which were light red in retina and showed retinal blood vessels radial arranged. At 6h after injection, off-white drusen-like change was found at fundus. While there were no observable changes in OCT image and ERG. At 1d after injection, the fundus lesion aggravated and the drusen increased gradually. There were retinal pigment epithelial ( RPE) disorders, photoreceptors and outer nuclear layer (ONL) damage through OCT. At 3d after injection, the retina lesion aggravated further and the retina became edema. At 5d after injection, the retina edema cleared away, the optic nerve became white and the fundus lesions increased. At 8d after injection, the RPE layer, photoreceptors and ONL were destroyed obviously. In the process, ERG showed the amplitudes of a- and b-wave decreased in a time-dependent manner. H-E staining showed that cells in retina of mice in control group were neatly arranged and well- distributed. The outer layer retina of sodium iodate injection group was wave-like, the normal structure of RPE disappeared and black round sediment could be seen which increased with time. At 8d after injection, there were any normal RPE.?CONCLUSION: The tail vein injection of sodium iodate can well simulate the pathogenesis of age - related macular degeneration which can provide a good animal model for AMD.

Humans ; Spleen ; injuries ; physiology ; surgery ; Splenectomy

Adolescent ; Alopecia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Bone and Bones ; abnormalities ; Denture, Complete, Upper ; Diarrhea ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Spasm ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To investigate the interaction between NMDA receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats. Methods Sixteen male SD rats weighing 220-280 g were randomly divided into 2 groups with 8 rats in each group: control group (C) and morphine group (M). In group M morphine 10μg was administered intrathecally (IT) twice a day for 7 consecutive days. In group C equal volume of normal saline was given instead of morphine. Tail flick latency (TFL) (a segment of tail 4-5 cm long was immersed in 52-53℃ hot water) was used to measure the antinocicepitve effect of morphine before and 30 min after morphine administration every morning. MPE (percentage of maximal possible effect) was calculated (pain threshold after drug administration - baseline pain threshold)/(10- baseline pain threshold)× 100% . The animals were killed at the next day after last IT administration and the dorsal half of L4-5 spinal cord was isolated and homogenized for determination of NR2B and mGluR5 protein expression by Western blot and CO-IP. Results MPE was significantly increased at 1-5 d of drug administration and returned to baseline at 7 d in group M as compared with group C. The mGluR5 protein expression was significantly up-regulated in group M as compared with group C but there was no significant difference in NR2B protein expression between the 2 groups. Conclusion There is interaction between NK2B and mGluR5 in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats.

Objective To describe CT and MR apearance of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma .Methods CT and MR findings ofretroperitoneal tumor in a patient with ganglioneuroma biopsy-proved were retrospectively analyzed,and a literature review was conducted. Results The mass was well-circumscribed,non-enhanced CT showed homogeneous low atenuation, and a punctate calcification was seeninside tumor.Contrast uptake was delayed.Progressive but incomplete enhancement was observed.On MRI,T_2WI showed a high signalintensity and T_1WI show a low signal intensity.Enhanced MR depicted the mild enhancment.Conclusion Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma is a rare tumor which should nevertheless be included in differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal masses when presenting as a well-delimitedtumor with possible tendency to surroud or displace major blood vessels.Low density on non-enhanced CT,and delayed progressiveenhancement on CT and MRI.

azumolene. Conclusion The muscle- relaxing effects of azumolene on diaphragm appeared to be approximately similar to those of dantrolene. The characteristics of action of azumolene and dantrolene were significantly different from those of pancuronium.

ObjectiveTo study the rationale of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. MethodsFrom March 1994 to March 1995, 25 cases of early-stage breast cancer were treated with BCT. The indication was (1) tumor size 3.0 cm; (3) preoperative mammograms were performed in order to exclude multifocal cancer and the tumor with extensive calcification. Tumors were removed with at least 2 cm normal breast tissue margin (evaluated by frozen biopsy), and the axillary nodes were dissected in levels 1 and 2. Two weeks postoperatively patients were treated with radio-therapy to control possible microscopic residual foci. The breast cosmetic results and quality of life (QOL) were analyzed. ResultsAll cases were followed-up for an average of 64.1 months. No differences at 5 year′s survival and local recurrence were found between patients undergoing BCT and those with radical mastectomy.ConclusionThe result of early-stage breast cancer treated with breast-conserving therapy is satisfactory, this therapy is superior to radical mastectomy in terms of improving QOL under condition of strict patient selection and plan design.