Objective To investigate the effects of rocuronium on the neuromuscular junction of rat diaphragm. Methods One hundred and sixty rats were used in the study which was approved by the Animal Care Committee of the General Hospital of PLA. In isolated non-uniformly stretched muscle preparation (INSMP) of rat diaphragm, micro-endplate potentials (MEPP) and endplate potentials (EPP) were recorded simultaneously with one microelectrode of one endplate. The effects of rocuronium in dosages of 2.5, 5, 10, 20?g/ml on the amplitude and frequency of MEPP and the amplitude of EPP were observed. Results Rocuronium could decrease both the amplitude and frequency of MEPP obviously and the onset time was 1min after drug administration. The amplitude of EPP was depressed by rocuronium in a dose of 5?g/ml at 3min. Neither 2.5?g/ml nor 0.5?g/ml of rocuronium produced any effect on the amplitude of EPP. Conclusion The results indicated that rocuronium might produce a rapid and early presynaptic effect on neuromuscular junction in INSMP in rats.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; blood ; enzymology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To study the clinical feature and original diseases of bone marrow granulomas. Methods A total of 5217 bone marrow biopsies were retrospecitively analyzed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2001 to December 2007. Results Bone marrow granulomas were present in 20 cases, representing an incidence of 0.38% in the series and an annual incidence of 2. 9 cases per year. Finally, 13 of these cases (65%) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. Hematological neoplasms and viral hepatitis were found in 4 and 2 cases respectively. Acute interstitial nephritis was diagnosed in one case. Conclusions The finding of a granuloma in a bone marrow biopsy is not common and unspecific.Tuberculosis, hematological neoplasms and viral hepatitis are the most common underlying diseases. Bone marrow biopsy is an important method for the diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis.

Objective To analyze the impact of tripterygium glycosides (TG) on the expression of CXCR3 and CCR4 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism for regulation of Th1/Th2 balance by TG. Methods EAT was induced in 20 rats, which were randomly divided into two groups, i.e., control group and TG group, to receive intragastric physiological saline and TG suspension (5.5 mg/kg) daily, respectively. The rats were killed 4weeks later, and total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats and used for cRNA synthesis. The gene expressions of CXCR3 and CCR4 were detected with a Th1-Th2-Th3 microarray gene chip and realtime RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of CXCR3 (0.52 ± 0.10 vs. 1.05 ± 0.17, P < 0.01 ) and CXCR3/CCR4 ratio (0.39 ± 0.22 vs. 1.04 ± 0.12, P< 0.01) in the TG group, together with an increase in the mRNA expression of CCR4 (1.56 ±0.13 vs. 1.02 ± 0.09, P < 0.01 ). Conclusions TG could regulate the number of Th1 and Th2 cells as well as their cytokine expression ratio likely by reducing CXCR3 and enhancing CCR4 expression, so as to modulate the Th1/Th2 balance in EAT rats.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Liangxue Huayu therapy (LXHYT), a traditional Chinese herbal therapy for cooling blood and dissipating blood stasis, on rat model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) and its impact on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated EAT group, cyclosporine A (CyA)-treated group, Tripterygium glycosides-treated group and Liangxue Huayu Recipe (LXHYR)-treated group. The interventions were given by gavage to the rats in different groups once a day. All rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment, and the level of serum thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and the changes of histological grade of thyroid specimen were assessed by blind evaluation. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the serum TgAb level and severe inflammatory infiltration in the untreated group. Expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased, while the expression of IL-10 mRNA was decreased in the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, CyA, Tripterygium glycosides and LXHYF could decrease the serum TgAb level (P<0.05), but the three interventions showed no significant improvement in thyroid inflammation (P>0.05). TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased, while IL-10 mRNA expression was increased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: LXHYT can decrease the serum TgAb level and recover the balance of Th1/Th2. This may provide an experimental basis for further research of assessing the antipsoriatic effect of Chinese herbal drugs with a rat model of EAT as an alternative model of psoriasis in vivo.

0.05).Propofol produced greater relaxation in endothelium denuded rings pretreated with TEA( P 0.05).Propofol produced concentration dependent relaxation in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle. The effects may be due to the actions on voltage dependent calcium ion channels.

To evaluate the effects of calcium on the time course and potency of depolarizing and non depolarizing relaxants, 12 ASA grade Ⅰ Ⅱ patients were randomly divided into two groups. After anesthesia, succinycholine was administered intravenous in a dose of 1mg/kg in group S and vecuronium was administered in a dose of 0 05mg/kg in group V, respectively. 5% calcium chloride 20ml dissolved in 100ml saline were intravenously injected at the same time. The concentration of blood calcium and neuromuscular function (TOF) were monitored. The results showed: (1) Both blood pressure and heart rate were increased in patients of two groups at 2 to 5min after calcium administration, and recovered to normal level 10min later. (2) The concentrations of blood total calcium and dissociated calcium were increased at 5min after calcium chloride administration and maintained to 10min. (3) The time of onset of effect of succinylcholine showed no changes, but the clinical action time and the recovery time were shortened after calcium administration. The recovery time of vecuronium was also obviously shortened by calcium chloride. It suggested that calcium can affect the time course and potency of both depolarizing and non depolarizing relaxants.

Objective To observe the effect of vitamin D on angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in Wister rat models of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods The rat models of ALI induced by LPS were established by intravenous injection of LPS via tail vein.Thirty Wistar rats were randomly (random number) divided into 6 groups:normal control group,LPS group,calcitriol (25 μg/kg) group,LPS + calcitriol 1 μg/kg group,LPS + calcitriol 5 μg/kg group and LPS + calcitriol 25 μg/kg group.The changes of general condition,lung pathology,lung wet/dry weight ratio and changes of VDR mRNA and ACE2 mRNA expressions and protein levels of VDR and ACE2 in rats were observed.Results The clinical manifestations (rapid shallow breathing;listlessness;the oral and nose hemorrhage) in LPS group were obvious,and the clinical manifestations and pathological changes of lung tissues in the LPS + calcitriol groups were significantly milder than those in LPS group.The expressions of VDR mRNA and ACE2 mRNA in LPS group was significantly lower than those in normal control group and calcitriol group (P ＜ 0.05).The expressions of VDR mRNA and ACE2 mRNA in LPS + calcitriol groups were significantly higher than those in LPS group (P ＜ 0.05),and lower than those in normal control group significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,among LPS + calcitriol groups,there was no significant difference in expression of VDR mRNA (P ＞ 0.05) and there was significant difference in ACE2 mRNA expression (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Calcitriol can increase the expressions of VDR mRNA and ACE2 mRNA and protein levels of VDR and ACE2 in rat models of LPS-induced ALI,thus suggesting the increased expressions of ACE2 mRNA and VDR mRNA playing a role in protection against the development of ALI.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of chronic urticaria and the change in the content of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), and to discuss the effect of acupuncture on the imbalance of T helper (Th)1/Th2 cell function via observing the changes in the contents of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Methods: Ninety patients meeting the inclusion criteria of chronic urticaria were randomized into an acupuncture- medication group, an acupuncture group and a Western medication group by the random number table method. The acupuncture-medication group was intervened by acupuncture, cupping, collateral-pricking bloodletting and oral administration of cetirizine hydrochloride tablets; the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture, cupping and collateral-pricking bloodletting; the Western medication group only received oral administration of cetirizine hydrochloride tablets. Before treatment and after 6-week treatment, the changes in the symptom scores and the contents of serum IgE, IFN-γ and IL-4 in the three groups were observed. Results: There were no significant differences in the total effective rate among the three groups (all P>0.05), but the cured and markedly effective rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture-medication group than that in the Western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the total symptom score decreased in the three groups (P<0.05), and the improvement of total symptom score in the acupuncture-medication group was more significant than that in the Western medication group (P<0.05). The component symptom scores all decreased after treatment in the three groups (all P<0.05); the improvements of the scores of itch intensity, and skin lesion size and number were more significant in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05); the improvement of the skin lesion size score was more significant in the acupuncture group than in the Western medication group (P<0.01). The contents of IgE and IL-4 dropped (all P<0.05) and the content of IFN-γ increased (P<0.05) after treatment in the three groups; the post-treatment changes in the serum contents of IgE and IFN-γ were more significant in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (both P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group and acupuncture group than in the Western medication group (both P<0.05), and the relapse rate was significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Combined acupuncture and medication can enhance the cured and markedly effective rate in treating chronic urticaria. Acupuncture is equivalent to cetirizine hydrochloride tablets comparing the clinical efficacy in treatment of chronic urticaria. Acupuncture plus medication and acupuncture alone both can effectively mitigate the clinical symptoms, with low incidence of adverse reactions. The relapse rate is low when using acupuncture together with medication. Acupuncture plus medication can work better in regulating the contents of IgE and IFN-γ and improving the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cell function.