Objective To evaluate the efficacy of plasma radiofrequency ablation at low temperature in disc combined with collagenase injection out of disc in patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation.Methods Fifty-six patients suffering from cervical intervertebral disc herniation with headache,dizziness,and pain in the neck and in the shoulder were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =28 each):collagenase injection out of disc group (group C) and plasma radiofrequency ablation at low temperature in disc combined with collagenase injection out of disc group (group R).All operations were carried out under CT guidance.Results At the sixth month of follow up after treatment,the remission rates of headache,dizziness and pain in the neck and in the shoulder were 86％,79％,and 93％ in group C and 96％,93％,and 100％ in group R,.respectively,with significant difference between the two groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ) Conclusion The efficacy of plasma radiofrequency ablation at low temperature in disc combined with collagenase injection out of disc is much better than collagenase single in patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

Objective To investigate the effect of creatine phosphate on perioperative myocardial injury caused by living donor liver transplantation(LDLT)in adult patients.Methods Forty ASA Ⅱ -Ⅳ patients(liver function Child-Pugh grade B or C)aged 45-62 yr weighing 47-91 kg undergoing LDLT were randomly divided into 2 groups(n = 20 each): control group(group C)and creatine phosphate group(group CP).In group CP,creatine phosphate 30 mg/kg was injected intravenously at skin incision followed by creatine phosphate infusion at 4 mg· kg- 1 · h- 1 until the end of surgery.In group C,equal volume of normal saline was infused instead of creatine phosphate.HR,MAP,CVP,PCWP,CO and SvO2 were recorded immediately before skin incision,at 5 and 30 min of anhepatic phase,at 5 and 30 min of neohepatic phase and at the end of operation.Blood samples were taken from central vein immediately before skin incision(baseline,T0),at 30 min of anhepatic phase(T1),at 30min of neohepatic phase(T2),at the end of operation(T3)and at 4 and 24 h after operation(T4,5)for determination of serum cardiac troponin I(cTnI)and creatine kinase MB(CK-MB)concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)activity.Postoperative adverse events were recorded.Results The serum cTnI and CK-MB concentrations and LDH activity were significantly increased at T2-5 as compared with the baseline value at T0 in both groups(P ＜0.05 or 0.01).MAP and CO were significantly higher from 5 min of neohepatic phase to the end of operation,the serum cTnI and CK-MB concentrations and LDH activity were significantly lower at T2-5,and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia was significantly lower in group CP than in group C(P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Creatine phosphate can attenuate perioperative myocardial injury caused by LDLT in adult patients.

Objective To compare the severity of kidney injury following liver transplantation performed under sevoflurane versus propofol combined anesthesia in patients.Methods Fifty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 40-64 yr,weighing 47-85 kg,scheduled for elective orthotopic liver transplantation,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =25 each) ∶ propofol combined anesthesia group (group P) and sevoflurane combined anesthesia group (group Se).During maintenance of anesthesia,propofol was given by target-controlled infusion and the target plasma concentration was 2-4 μg/ml in group P,and sevoflurane was continuously inhaled and the endtidal concentration was maintained at 1.0％-3.0％ in group Se.Venous blood samples and urine specimens were taken immediately before skin incision (T0),at 30 min after occlusion of the inferior vena cava (T1),at 30 min of neohepatic phase (T2),at the end of surgery (T3),and at 1,3 and 5 days after operation (T4-6) for determination of serum concentrations of creatinine (Cr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and urinary β2-MG concentrations.Results Compared with group P,the serum concentrations of Cr,BUN and β2-MG and urinary β2-MG concentrations were significantly lower at T3,4 in group Se (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion The severity of kidney injury is reduced in patients undergoing liver transplantation performed under sevoflurane combined anesthesia compared with that under propofol combined anesthesia.

Objective To investigate the effect of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on contractile function of rat thoracic aorta.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 250-300 g,were sacrificed to obtain the thoracic aortic rings.The experiment was performed in 2 parts.Part Ⅰ The thoracic aortic rings were divided into 2 segments and randomly divided into 2 groups (n =20 each):control group and IL-1 group.In IL-1 group,the thoracic aortic rings were incubated with Kreb solution containing 20 ng/ml IL-1 for 2 h,and contracted with cumulative concentrations of phenylephrine,ranging from 10-9 to 10-5mol/L.In control group,the thoracic aortic rings were incubated with Kreb solution for 2 h,and contracted with cumulative concentrations of phenylephrine,ranging from 10 9 to 10-5mol/L.Part Ⅱ The thoracic aortic rings were divided into 3 segments and randomly divided into 3 groups (n=20 each):IL-1 group,IL-1+ L-NAME (the NOS inhibitor) group and IL-1 +cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin group (IL-1 +Ⅰgroup).The thoracic aortic rings were incubated with Kreb solution containing 20 ng/ml IL-1 for 1.5 h in the three groups.In addition,in IL-1 +L-NAME and IL-1 +Ⅰ groups,the thoracic aortic rings were incubated for 30 min with Kreb solution containing 100 μmol/L L-NAME and 2.5 mmol/L indomethacin,respectively.Contraction of the thoracic aorta was then induced with cumulative concentrations of phenylephrine,ranging from 10 9 to 10-5 mol/L.In group IL-1,the thoracic aortic rings were incubated with Kreb solution.The maximum contractile tension of the thoracic aortic rings was recorded at each concentration of phenylephrine,and the percentage of the maximum contractile tension at the concentration of 10-6 mol/L in group C was obtained.Results Part Ⅰ The percentage of contractile tension at phenylephrine 10-s,10-7,l0 6 and 10-5mol/L was significantly decreased in IL-1 group as compared with C group.Part Ⅱ The percentage of contractile tension at phenylephrine 10-7,10-6 and 10-5mol/L was significantly increased in IL-1+L-NAME and IL-1+I groups as compared with IL-1 group.Conclusion IL-1 can inhibit the contraction of rat thoracic aorta,and promoted production of NO and prostacyclin may be involved in the mechanism.

Objective To investigate the blood conservation techniques during orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT). Methods Thirty-eight patients undergoing OLT without veno-venous bypass under general anesthesia were studied. During operation, the blood conservation measures such as controlled blood loss and blood coagulation, etc. were implemented. The input and output of liquid, blood component transfusion in preanhepatic, anhepatic and reperfusion phases was analyzed. The blood samples from central vein were collected, plasma creatinine, hemoglobin and albumin were determined after anesthesia, 1 h after preanhepatic phase, 20 min after anhepatic phase and 1 h after reperfusion phase, and the central venous pressure and Sonoclot data were measured.Results The total volume of whole blood transfusion was about ( 816? 86.3) ml and that of red blood cells ( 962? 55.3) ml during operation. Two patients had no blood transfusion. The normal urinary output was maintained during preanhepatic, anhepatic and reperfusion phases. The central venous pressure at three phases was significantly decreased compared to that after anesthesia (P 0.05). The plasma creatinine was significantly increased at reperfusion phase (P

Objective To evaluate the effects of teriipressin on perioperative renal function in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Methods Forty ASA Ⅲ or Ⅳ patients (31 males and 9 females) aged 35-55 yr and weighing 46-81 kg were randomly divided into2 groups (n=20 each): terlipressin group and control group. The patients were premedicated with intramuscular midazolam 2- 3 mg and atropine 0.5 mg. Swan-ganz catheter was placed via the right internal jugular vein and the radial artery was cannulated. Electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary arterypressure (PAP) were monitored during general anesthesia. General anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1-0.2 mg/kg), fentanyl (5-10 μg/kg), propofol(1-2 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) and maintained with 0.5%-1.5% isoflurane, propofol infusion at 2-5 mg·kg-1·h-1 and intermittent i.v. boluses of fentanyl and vecuronium. The patients were mechanically ventilated after tracheal intubation. In the terlipressin group, 2 mg of terlipressin was added to 50 ml of normal saline (NS) and was continuously infused at 10 ml/L from beginning of operation until the end of anhepatic phase, while in the control group, NS was infused only. Blood and urine samples were taken before operation(T0), at the end of anhepatic phase (T1), at the end of operation (T2), and on the 1st and 2nd day after operation (T3, T4)for determination of plasma angiotensin Ⅱ (AT- Ⅱ ), serumβ2-microglobulin (MG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) concentrations and N-acetyl-βd-glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations in the urine. Urine output was measured during pre-anhepatic, anhepatic and neo-hepatic phase and on the 1 st and2nd day after operation. Results The urinary NAG and serum β2-MG concentrations were significantly increased at T1 as compared with the baseline at T0in both groups. The urinary NAG, plasma AT-Ⅱ, serum β2-MG, BUN and Cr concentrations were significantly lower and theurinary output was significantly higher during T2-4 in the terlipressin group than in the control group. Conclusion Terlipressin has protective effects on renal function in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different methods of administration on clinical pharmacodynamics of cisatracurium during liver transplantation.Methods Twenty-four ASA physical status Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 18-63 yr,weighing 60-88 kg,with body mass index of 20-30 kg/m2,scheduled for elective liver transplantation,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =12 each):continuous infusion group (group C) and intermittent bolus injection group (group Ⅰ).The total intravenous anesthesia was used during surgery.When T1 recovered to 10％ of control height after induction of anesthesia,continuous infusion of cisatracurium was started with an initial rate of 1.5 μg· kg-1 · min-1,and the infusion rate was manually adjusted to maintain T1 at about 10％ in group C,and intermittent iv boluses of cisatracurium 0.03 mg/kg were given to maintain T1 ≤ 10％ in group Ⅰ.The use of muscle relaxants was stopped immediately after peritoneum closure.The consumption of cisatracurium per minute,time for T1 to recover from 10％ to 25％,recovery index and time for recovery of spontaneous breathing after surgery were recorded.Results Compared with group Ⅰ,the consumption of cisatracurium per minute was significantly reduced and the time for recovery of spontaneous breathing after surgery was shortened (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the time for T1 to recover from 10％ to 25％ and recovery index in group C (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with intermittent bolus injection,continuous infusion of cisatracurium during liver transplantation is helpful in improving the clinical potency of the muscle relaxant and in reducing the occurrence of complications during anesthesia recovery period.

Objective To confirm the protective effect of berberine (BBR) on cold ischemia reperfusion (I/R)-induced liver injury and to show whether the hepatic protection conferred by BBR involves the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signal pathway.Method Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to four groups:BBR group (BBR was intragastrically administered at a dose of 100 mg·kg-1 · d-1 2 weeks before hepatic cold I/R treatment),dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group (BBR was replaced by DMSO,and others were the same as BBR group),I/R group (BBR was replaced by normal saline,and others were the same as BBR group) and sham group (normal saline was administered 2 weeks before opening and closing abdomen treatment).Then the rats were sacrificed at 3,6,and 24 h after reperfusion.The liver function,oxidative stress level,apoptosis rate,and the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR related pathway proteins were assayed.Result As compared with sham group,the I/R-induced liver tissue displayed severe lobular distortion with widespread necrosis,high level of oxidative stress and apoptosis rate.As compared with I/R group,BBR dramatically attenuated the histopathologic damage,restored the liver function and decreased the oxidative stress level.Simultaneously,BBR significantly ameliorated the apoptosis by decreasing the apoptosis rate,increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting caspase-3 activity in rats subjected to hepatic I/R.The expression of p-Akt was effectively upregulated with the inhibited expression of p-mTOR.Conclusion Our result provides robust in vivo evidence that BBR can prevent I/R-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis.The mechanisms involved can be attributed to the activation of P]3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway.

Objective To evaluate the role of silent information regulator fac tor 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1)/Forkhead Box O3 (FoxO3a) signaling pathway in berberine pretreatment-induced reduction of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-caused injury to hepatic parenchymnal cells.Methods Hepatic parenchymal cells obtained from AML12 mice were cultured and seeded in 6-well plates (2 ml/well) and in 96-well plates (200 μl/well) at the density of l×l06 cells/ml.The cells were divided into 4 groups (n=36 each)using a randomn number table:control group (group C),group H/R,berberine pretreatment group (group BP) and SIRT1-siRNA group (group SS).The cells were cultured in normal culture atmosphere (5％ CO2-21％ O2-74％ N2) in group C.In H/R,BP and SS groups,the cells were exposed to hypoxic air (5％ CO2-1％ O2-94％ N2) for 12 h,followed by 6 h reoxygenation in normal culture atmosphere (5％ CO2-21％ O2-74％ N2).In group SS,small interference RNA targeting SIRT1 (SIRT1-siRNA) was added to the culture medium at 24 h prior to hypoxia.Berberine (final concentration 5 μmol/L) was added at 2 h prior to hypoxia in BP and SS groups.At the end of reoxygenation,the cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay,the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,the expression of SIRT1 and FoxO3α was detected by Western blot,and the acetylation of FoxO3α was measnred by using immunoprecipitation.Apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the cell viability was significantly decreased,the MDA content was increased,the SOD activity was decreased,apoptotic rate was increased,the expression of SIRT1 and ratio of FoxO3α expression in nucleus/in cytoplasma were increased,and the acetylation of FoxO3α in the nucleus was increased in H/ R,BP and SS groups (P＜ 0.05).Compared with group H/R,the cell viability was significantly increased,the MDA content was decreased,the SOD activity was increased,apoptotic rate was decreased,the expression of SIRT1 and ratio of FoxO3α expression in nucleus/in cytoplasma were increased,and the acetylation of FoxO3α in the nucleus was increased in group BP (P＜0.05).Compared with group BP,the cell viability was significantly decreased,the MDA content was increased,the SOD activity was decreased,apoptotic rate was increased,the expression of SIRT1 and ratio of FoxO3α expression in nucleus/in cytoplasma were decreased,and the acetylation of FoxO3α in the nucleus was decreased in group SS (P＜O.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which berberine pretreatment attenuates H/R-caused injury to hepatic parenchymal cells is related to promotion of SIRT1 expression in cells and inhibition of FoxO3α acetylation in the nucleus.

Objective To evaluate the role of autophagy on acute kidney injury after liver transplantation.Method Fifty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups:sham group,orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) group,sirolimus pretreated (SRL) group and 3-methyladenine pretreated(3-MA) group.OLT model was established.Then the rats were sacrificed at 6 h after reperfusion.The renal function and the extent of oxidative stress relative proteins malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed.The levels of apoptosis relative genes caspase-3 and cyt c and the expression of autophagy relative proteins were detected.The pathological changes were microscopically examined in renal tissues.TUNEL staining was used to observe the apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells.Transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the ultrastructure changes of tubular epithelial cells.Result As compared with sham group,OLT and 3-MA groups showed a serious renal injury including cellular vacuolization,loss of brush borders,and a significant rise in BUN,Cr and MDA,while a decrease in SOD activity.The levels of caspase-3 mRNA and cyt c rnRNA were increased significantly.Whereas compared to OLT and 3-MA groups,renal function and oxidative stress levels in SRL group ameliorated,and histopathologic damage and apoptosis alleviated after OLT.Simultaneously,the levels of caspase-3 mRNA and cyt c mRNA were decreased.The expression of beclin-1 and LC3-]Ⅱ was effectively upregulated.Conclusion Autophagy could alleviate acute kidney injury after liver transplantation through inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis.