Objective To investigate the changes of extravaacular lung water during the perioperative period of orthotopic liver trans-plantation. Methods 24 consecutive patients with end-stage fiver disease undergoing orthotopie liver transplantation (OLT) were studied. In all patients a 5 French fiberoptic catheter with a thermistor was placed in the brachial artery and connected to the PiCCO system. Extravascular lung water (EVLW) and intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) were monitored. After induction of anesthesia and achievement of stable hemodynamic and respiratory conditions, the baseline values of hemedynamic data, ITBV and EVLW were recorded. The patients were studied during the anhepatic stage, the Ist hour and 2nd hours after reperfusion of the graft. Final measurements of all the values were immediately determined after operation. Results EVLW remained statistically unchanged during the whole study period in all patients though all of them were increased, compared to normal values. EVWL was positively correlated with ITBV (r = 0. 822, P < 0. 05). Conclusion The changes of EVLW during perioperative period of orthotopic fiver transplantation were very little. Circulative volume overload may be perhaps the most important cause of the increase of EVLW.

Objective To observe the effects of estradiol-17? (E 2-17?) on the induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT). Methods Ten-week old female Wistar rats were ovariectomized (OVX). EAT of Wistar rats was induced by immunization with thyroglobulin (Tg) from SD rats in the presence of complete Freund′s adjuvant. Thyroiditis was pathologically evaluated by HE staining. E 2-17? and PRL levels were measured by RIA, anti-Tg antibody (TgAb) was detected by ELISA, and interferon (IFN)-?, interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA in thyroid were assayed by RT-PCR. Results The serum level of E 2-17? (17.60?1.02)pmol/L and PRL (2.45?0.15)?g/L were much lower in OVX rats than intact rats 〔(58.56?6.99)pmol/L and (3.22?0.17)?g/L, respectively〕 (both P

Objective To investigate the effects of estrogen on extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2(ERK1/2) phosphorylation levels in hippocampal CA4 region of ovariectomized rats. Methods Experimental female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: intact (INT) group, ovariectomized (OVX) group, and OVX+estrogen (1 mg/kg, weekly) group. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure the estrogen content in plasma, and the levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation were measured with immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the control animals, the plasma estrogen level was significantly lower in OVX group (P＜0.001). However, the plasma estrogen level was higher in the OVX+estrogen group than that of the OVX group (P＜0.001). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) substances were present in the nucleus and cytosol of neurons. Compared with the control group, immunostaining positive cells markedly decreased in OVX group, with light nucleus and cytosol staining in the hippocampal CA4 region (P＜0.001). The phospho-ERK1/2 positive neurons increased more obviously in OVX+estrogen group than in the OVX group (P＜0.001). Conclusion Estrogen can increase ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in hippocampi of aging female rats, which suggests that the ERK signal transduction pathway may be regulated by estrogen during the process of aging.

Objective To study the protection effect of acupuncture at acupoint ST 36 in rat with cold-restrainted stress-induced ulcer,and to observe the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal. Methods Ulcer Index in rats was used to study the protection effect of acupuncture, and and RT-PCR was employed to study the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal. Images were analyzed with semi-quantitative method. Results The ulcer Index was significantly decreased in rats with stress-induced ulcer by acupuncture as indicated by a comparison with those without acupuncture. The expression of NOS1 in hypothalamus was increased by acupuncture protect stress-induced ulcer. The increased expression of NOS2 was involved in stress-induced ulcer, and acupuncture decreased its expression. The expression of NOS3 in hypothalamus had the similar reaction to NOS2, but the decreased effect of acupuncture was limited. The expression of NOS1 and NOS3 in adrenal were increased by cold stress, only the expression of NOS1 could be repressed with acupuncture. There was no NOS2 expression in adrenal in stress-induced ulcer rats. Conclusion The protection effect in stress-induced ulcer exerted by acupuncture at acupoint ST 36 were mediated by increase of the physiological expression of NOS1 in hypothalamus as well as decrease of the expression of NOS2,NOS3 in hypothalamus and repress of the expression of NOS1 in adsenal.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of two materials used as scaffolds in periodontal tissue engineering. Methods: Dog periodontal ligament cells cultured in vitro were collected and seeded on three-dimensional framework of cancellous bone matrix (CBM) or nano-HAp/collagen (nHAC) . The cell growth in the scaffolds was observed by cell counting and scanning electronic microscope. Results: Porous structure of the two materials and adhesion and eugonic growth of cells in the scaffolds were observed by scanning electronic microscope.The cell number was doubled in both scaffolds in 72 h culture. Conclusion: It may be feasible to use CBM or nHAC as the scaffolds for periodontal tissue engineering.

Objective To determine the regulation of electroacupuncture(EA)at Zusanli acupoint for the expression of estrogen receptors mRNA in the brain of ovariectomized rats.MethodsFemale Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:intact group(INT),ovariectomized group(OVX),and ovariectomy and acupuncture group(OVX+EA).Radioimmunoassay(RIA)was used to measure the estradiol(E2)and testosterone(T)levels in plasma.The mRNA levels of estrogen receptor(ER)α and ERβ in the brain of rats were measured with RT-PCR.ResultsThe levels of endogenous estrogen increased significantly in OVX+EA rats compared with OVX rats(P<0.01),while the plasma T levels were lower in the OVX+EA group than those of the OVX group(P<0.01).Eelectroacupuncture can up-regulate ERα expression in the brain of ovariectomized rats(P<0.01).However,it was shown to have a down-regulatory effect on the levels of ERβ expression(P<0.01).ConclusionThere is an intimate relationship between the expressions of estrogen receptors mRNA and the endogenous hormone levels,such as E2 and T.Electroacupuncture can regulate the expression of estrogen receptors mRNA in the brain and the E2 and T levels in plasma of ovariectomized rats,which might,at least in part,explain the mechanisms of acupuncture adjusting the neuroendocrine system.

Estrogen is an important active endogenous substance which is needed by female to sustain normal psychological and physiological function.Studies have demonstrated that estrogen has an extensive effect on the central nervous system.This review explained the relation between estrogen and learning on a few aspects such as neurobiochemistry,neurophysiology,neuroanatomy,signal transduction and so on.

Objective To investigate whether cold or heat stress affected signal transduction of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the spinal cords and ganglia.Methods The rat models of acute cold and heat stresses were established, and the immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis were used.Results The phospho-p38 (p-p38) immuno-positive cells were observed in the Rexed Ⅱ layer of normal thoracic spinal cord, with low cell density and brown nucleus staining, and without staining in Rexed Ⅲ～Ⅹ layers. In the spinal ganglia, the p-p38 immunoreaction was mainly located in the nuclei of a few small-sized neurons. Acute heat stress (10 min & 20 min) reduced the number of positive cells in Rexed Ⅱ layer, with body-temperature (38℃) stress (20 min) having no effect. No immunostaining was changed in the spinal ganglia. Acute cold stress (10 min & 20 min) slightly reduced the positive cells in the Rexed Ⅱ layer, with unchanged immunostaining in spinal ganglia. Western immunoblot analysis showed that activation level of p-p38 was differently downregulated by heat and cold stresses compared to the normal groups and body temperature (38℃)-bathed groups.Conclusion Constitutive activation of p38 can be observed in the normal spinal cord and ganglia; heat stress and cold stress significantly and gentlely inhibite the phosphorylation level of p38, respectively.

Objective By studying the variation of individual urinary iodine concentration due to different ways of urine sample collection to optimize it for standard clinical evaluation.Methods Totally 20 healthy adults were recruited and their urine samples were collected as a random urine sample within 1 day,the 24 hour urine and morning urine samples within 5 successive days,respectively.The coefficient of variation in each group was calculated.Paired t test was used to compare the results of 24 hour urine with the results of random urine and that of morning urine samples,respectively.Results The range of individual coefficient of variation for random urine sample within one day was 12.5％-57.4％,while most of the coefficients of variation were around 30.39％.In contrast,the individual coefficients of variation of morning urine sample and 24 hour urine results within 5 days were 5.4％-26.0％ and 3.4％-16.6％ and most of them were at about 11.74％ and 7.91％.The paired t test showed that the results of random urine sample were significantly different compared with that of 24 hour urine (t =-4.231,P ＜ 0.05).On the other hand,there was also significant difference for the results of morning urine compared with that of 24 hour urine (t =3.884,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion This study suggests that 24 hour urine is the most appropriate way of sample collection for individualized detection of urinary iodine.

AIM: To investigate the changes of the L-type calcium channel subunit expression and calcium currents (I_~Ca -L) in cultured rat ventricular myocytes infected by coxsackie virus B_3 (CVB_3). METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were infected with CVB_3. The changes of L-type calcium channel subunits mRNA in normal and infected myocytes were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. I_~Ca -L was recorded in two groups respectively using whole cell patch-clamp techniques. RESULTS: The expression of ?_1 and ? subunits of L-type calcium channel mRNA increased in the infected group compared with the normal one (4.00?0.07 vs 2.21?0.41, P0.05). The average current density of I_~Ca -L significantly increased by CVB_3 infection [(-8.66?0.99) pA/pF vs (-6.97?1.75) pA/pF, P