BACKGROUND: Agmatine can enhance the analgesic effect of morphine,and antagonize the tolerant and dependent effect of morphine.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of injecting agmatine on the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in hippocampus of morphine withdrawal rats.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experimental study.SETTING: Department of Anesthesiology, the General Hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: All the experiments were carried out in the Department of anesthesiology, the General Hospital of Chinese PLA between April and July 2004. Eighteen healthy SD rats were randomly divided into saline control group (n=6), morphine group (n=6) and agmatine-treated group (n=6).METHODS: The rats in the saline control group were treated with subcutaneous injection of physiological saline (10 mg/kg), those in the morphine group were treated with 5-day preconditioning, subcutaneous injection of morphine of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg respectively, twice a day, and those in the agmatine-treated group were treated with subcutaneous injection of agmatine (10 mg/kg) at 30 minutes before morphine was given, but at 6 hours later, before morphine was given for the last time, the rats in the morphine group and agmatine treated group were also given intraperitoneal injection of naloxone (5 mg/kg) to induce morphine withdrawal symptoms.The number of times of the morphine withdrawal symptoms (including physical signs of trembling like a wet dog, chewing, irrigating, drooling, diarrhoea, etc.) were recorded within 1 hour, and the reduction of body mass was calculated according to the different value of body mass before and after the withdrawal symptoms induced by naloxone. The rats were killed under anesthesia after praxiological detection, and then hippocampus was taken out and made into frozen sections, and the nNOS was detected with immunohistochemical staining. The CMIAS systemwas applied for imaging analysis, and the average value of the integral absorbance (A) values in 5visual sights for each section was taken as the integral A value of positive neuron.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The detected results of morphine withdrawal symptoms in each group; ② The changes of the nNOS expressions in hippocampus of rats in each group.RESULTS: All the 18 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① The detected results of morphine withdrawal symptoms in each group: The withdrawal symptoms of trembling like a wet dog, chewing, irrigating, drooling,diarrhoea and reduction of body mass in the agmatine treated group were all obviously lower than those in the morphine group [(2.0±1.3), (5.0±1.1);(0.3±0.4), (1.8±0.7); (3.2±1.2), (6.8±3.1); (0.2±0.4), (1.2±0.9); (2.7±2.1),(6.7±2.1); (6.0±3.0), (12.8±2.7) times, P ＜ 0.01], and close to those in the saline control group (P ＞ 0.05). ② The changes of the nNOS expressions in hippocampus of rats in each group: The positive neurons of nNOS in hippocampus mainly distributed in CA1 region, the cytoplasm was stained buffy, and the round nuclei were stained pale purple by haematine. The immunofluorescent A value of positive neuron in the agmatine-treated group was significantly decreased as compared with that in the morphine group (24.32±8.31, 50.82±15.13, P＜ 0.01), and almost the same as that in the saline control group (24.32±8.31, 15.24±1.88, P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Agmatine can inhibit the morphine withdrawal syndrome and decrease the expression of nNOS in hippocampus CA1 region of morphine-withdrawal rats. Hippocampal nitric oxide pathway takes part in the inhibitory effect of agmatine on morphine withdrawal syndrome.

Objective To investigate the biological effect of transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1) on inducing myofibroblast formation in hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were exposed to hypoxia for 0,3,7,14 or 21 days.Mean pulmonary arterial pressure(mPAP),vessel morphometry,right ventricle hypertrophy index(RVHI) were measured.Immunocytochemistry was used to measure the expression of ?-Smooth-muscle actin(?-SMA) and TGF-?1 in pulmonary artery walls and in situ hybridization was used to measure the expression of TGF-?1 mRNA in pulmonary artery walls.Ultrastructure alveolar wall vessels were observed by electron microscopy.Human embryonic lung fibroblasts(KMB17) phenotype after induction of hypoxiaand TGF-?1 were recorded through cell culture.Results(1) mPAP increased significantly after 7-day of hypoxia(P

Objective To observe the effect of PDK ( phosphoinositol -3-kinase, PI3K)/Akt-Nrf2 (Nuclear factor -E2 related factor) signal pathway on γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) in the bronchial epithelial cells of rats treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Methods The bronchial epithelial cells were dealt with 10% concentration of CSE for different time and pretreated with PI3k inhibitor (LY294002). The expressions of Nrf2,p-Akt and γ-GCS proteins were examined by immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and western blot. The expressions of γ-GCS mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Reduced glutathione(GSH) content and the lev-el of γ-CCS activi-ty were examined. Results GSH content in CSElh group was significantly decreased, but still higher in CSE3 and 6 groups compared to the control. Nrf2 protein mainly located in the cytoplasm. Nrf2 plasmosin mainly increased in the nucleus in control group, and Nrf2 nucleic protein significantly enhanced in CSE1, 3 and 6 groups. P-Akt protein was up-regulated at lh, reached its peak at 3h, declined slightly at 6h after exposure to CSE. The tendency of the percentage of p-Akt positive cells was as same as p-Akt protein. γ-GCS mRNA, protein and activity, gradually increased in CSE lh, CSE 3h,CSE 6h groups. Pretreated with LY294002, the expression of p-Akt protein was markedly decreases, while Nrf2 plasmosin expressed strongly, and γ-GCS mRNA, protein, activity and GSH content were significantly decreased compared to CSE3h group. Linear correlation analysis demonstrated that there were a positive correlation among Nrf2 and γ-GCS,γ-GCS activity, and among p-Akt and Nrf2,GSH,γ-GCS,γ-GCS activity. Conclusion P13K/Akt signal path might participate in Nrf2 nuclear translocation via regulating the expression of γ-GCS.

Objective To study the clinical significance of neuron specific enolase (NSE),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and carcinoma associated antigen(CA125) in diagnosis,evaluation of therapy and monitoring metastasis and recurrence of lung cancer.Methods The levels of NSE,CEA and CA125 were detected in the sera from 30 healthy controls,48 patients with benign diseases,50 patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and 14 patients with small cell lung cancer(SCLC) by using microparticle enzyme linked immunoassay and bioantibodies sandwich one step assay by using streptavidin technique,respectively.Results The levels of NSE and CEA in the sera of patients with NSCLC and SCLC were significantly higher than those of healthy controls and patients with benign diseases (both P0 05).The levels of NSE CEA and CA125 decreased after the treatment and increased greatly with the metastasis and recurrence of the cancer.After the combination of NSE and CEA and CA125,the sensitivity significantly increased,but no difference was found in the specifity.Conclusion Measuring serum levels of NSE,CEA and CA125 are very useful in diagnosis,evaluation of therapy and monitoring of metastasis and recurrence of lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the factors affecting non-neoplasma touch technology operation by operation room nurses for malignant tumor patients.Methods The qualitative methods was used in the study to interview 15 operation room nurses phenomenologically using semi-structured interviews.Colaizzi principles were used for data analysis and summarization of themes.Result The themes brought out from the data included lack of knowledge of no-neoplasma touch technology operation,huge workload,less importance attached to the management,over-consideration of medical costs.Conclusions It is a need to improve the level of knowledge of operating room nurses on non-neoplasma technology operations.The importance should be attached to management of the technology operation.The training on the operation should be strengthened so as to improve their operation of the technology.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of MR in the diagnosis of tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma.Methods 22patients with renal cell carcinoma proved pathologically were recruited in this study.All the patients underwent MR examination beforesurgery.The results of the MR were correlated with that of the operation.Results 8 renal veins could be found tumor thrombus during the surgery,and the other 14 renal veins and 22 inferior vena cava were absent of tumor thrombus.MR could found all of the 8 tumor thrombithat detected by the surgeons.In the other 14 cases,13 of them could be excluded of tumor thrombus by MR.Only in 1 patient,the MRresult was equivocal.CT was performed in 9 patients,the diagnosis was accurate in 7 cases,and was inaccurate in 2.Ultrasound wasperformed in 16 patients,the diagnosis was accurate in 13 cases,and was inaccurate in 3.Digital subtraction angiography was performed in 4 cases,the diagnosis was correct in all of them.Conclusion MR is perfect in the diagnosis of tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma oncondition that the renal vein is clearly defined by MR.It can be considered as the method of choice in the evaluation of tumor thrombus inrenal cell carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy subtraction chest digital radiography(DR) for detecting coronary artery calcification as compared with multi-detector row CT(MDCT).Methods 35 patients underwent dual-energy subtraction chest DR and ECG-gated MDCT for detection of coronary artery calcifications.The radiation dose of both DR and CT were noted respectively.Two senior and two junior radiologists reviewed the radiogram and assessed the calcifications in LAD,LCX and RCA totaling 105 vessels.ROC curve plotting were used for evaluation with CAC calculated from MDCT as the gold standard.Paired t test was calculated to compare the different radiation dose between DR and CT.Results 27.6% vessels(29/105) showed calcification on DR.The positive incidence in LAD was 48.5%(17/35),LCX 22.8%(8/35),and RCA 11.4%(4/35).The ROC area was 0.866,0.854,0.725,0.642 respectively,with a CAC score of more than 300.The average radiation dose was 0.469?0.22 mGy for DR,and 12.29?1.40 mGy for MDCT,showing significant differences.Conclusion Chest DR with dual energy subtraction can be used for screening of coronary artery calcification with relatively higher sensitivity for LAD.

Objective To investigate the effect of pseudolaric acid B(PLAB) on growth of human gastric carcinoma cells in vitro.Methods The expression of PPAR? was detected by RT-PCR;the effect of PLAB on cell growth was tested by MTT;Hoechst33342/PI and DNA gel electrolysis were employed to examine apoptosis;cell cycle was checked by flow cytometry.Results When treated with 0.1～10 ?mmol/L PLAB for 72,the proliferation of MGC803 cells was significantly inhibited.The proportion of MGC803 cells at G2 phase was significantly increased when treated with 10 ?mmol/L PLAB after 48 h,and showed an apparent G2 phase arrest.After treatement with PLAB for 72,typical apoptotic changes were observed.The expression of PPAR? was at a low level in MGC803 cells and up-regulated when treated with 10 ?mmol/L PLAB for 48 h(P

Objective To compare pediatric patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) with normal children by using diffusion tensor MR imaging. Methods Diffusion tensor images were obtained in 15 pediatric patients with PVL and 15 age-matched normal children. Regions of interest were drawn to measure the fractional anisotropy (FA) in bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule, bilateral optic radiation, genu of corpus callosum, and splenium of corpus callosum. The values of PVL patients and normal children were compared using non-dependent samples T-test. Results The FA values of regions of interest prescribed were significantly lower in PVL patients than in normal children(P

Objective To investigate the relationship among the concentration of plasma interleukin (IL)-10 and plasma IL-13 and the clinical therapeutic effect in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).Methods Thirty-six AECOPD inpatients were enrolled in this study.Blood samples of the subjects were collected as soon as hospitalization, and plasma IL-10 and IL-13concentrations were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The clinical manifestations of subjects were quantified by a special designed score standard, and were evaluated at the time points of hospitalization, 48 hours treatment and 96 hours treatment.The therapeutic effect was evaluated by clinical manifestations score combined with pulmonary ventilation functional parameter.Eventually, the correlation among the concentration of IL-10 concentration and IL-13 and the clinical therapeutic effect were analyzed.Results The correlation coefficients between clinical manifestations score decrease and pulmonary ventilation function improvement with plasma IL-10 concentration after 48 hours treatment were 0.85 and 0.48 respectively,then, 0.64 and 0.52 after 96 hours treatment.The correlation coefficients between clinical manifestations score decrease and pulmonary ventilation function improvement with plasma IL-13 concentration after 48hours treatment were -0.41 and -0.34, after 96 hours treatment , correlation coefficients between clinical manifestations score decrease with plasma IL-13 concentration was -0.36.All of the above correlation coefficients were statistically significant.Conclusion Plasma IL-10 concentration was positively, whereas, IL-13 concentration was negatively correlated with the therapeutic effect in AECOPD patients.