ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine and midazolam for premedication in children.MethodsNinety-two ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ children (46 cases aged 1-3 yr and 46 cases aged 4-6 yr) scheduled for elective general or urologic surgeries,were enrolled in this study.The children were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =46 each):midazolam group (group M) and dexmedetomidine group (group D).The children accompanied by their parents were admitted to the anesthesia preparation room at about 20 min before induction of anesthesia,and midazolam 0.1 mg/kg òr dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg was infused intravenously over 10 min.Anesthesia was induced with proporol-rocuroniume-remifentanil,and maintained with sevoflurane-remifentanil-rocuroniume.Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) score,sedation score,HR,mean arterial pressure (MAP),respiratory rate (RR) and SpO2 were recorded before premedication (T1),before separation from their parents (T2) and when entering the operating room (T3).The incidence of sleep (a sedation score of 4) was recorded at T2,3.The end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane,infusion rate of remifentanil,laryngeal air way removal time,emergence time,duration of stay at the recovery room,incidence of delirium during recovery period,the percentage of patients requiring rescue analgesic,and adverse effects were also retorded.ResultsCompared to that at T1,the mYPAS score was significantly decreased at T2,3,and the sedation score was significantly increased at T2,3 in both groups ( P ＜ 0.05),HR at T2 and MAP at T2,3 were significantly decreased in group D,and HR at T3 was significantly increased in group M ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared to group M,the sedation scores and the incidence of sleep were significantly increased at T2,3,and the HR was significantly decreased at T2 in group D ( P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the mYPAS score,RR,MAP,SpO2,end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane,infusion rate of remifentanil,laryngeal air way removal time,emergence time,duration of stay at the recovery room,incidence of delirium during recovery period,the percentage of patients requiting rescue analgesic,and incidence of adverse effects between D and M groups ( P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionThe sedative efficacy of iv dexmedetomidine is superior to that of iv midazolam when infused for premedication in children,but it exerts much influence on hemodynamics,and the changes in hemodynamics should be noted.

Objective To compare the efficacy of closed-loop infusion of propofol for surgery in pe-diatric patients of different ages. Methods Forty-five pediatric patients of both sexes, weighing 10-63 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective urologic sur-gery under general anesthesia, were divided into 3 groups(n=15 each)according to the age: infant group (1-3 yr), pre-school group(4-6 yr)and school-age group(7-12 yr). The bispectral index(BIS)moni-tor was connected to the closed-loop anesthesia delivery system, and the system automatically regulated the target plasma concentration of propofol to achieve a target BIS value of 45-55 during maintenance of anes-thesia. Remifentanil was given by target-controlled infusion at a target plasma concentration and rocuronium was intravenously injected when necessary during surgery. BIS40-60time percentage(percentage of time of BIS value maintaining at 40-60 in time of closed-loop infusion), median performance error(MDPE), me-dian absolute performance error(MDAPE), wobble and global score were recorded. The consumption of propofol, mean target plasma concentration and regulating frequency and consumption of remifentanil and rocuronium were recorded during surgery. Extubation time or laryngeal mask airway removal time, time to eye-opening and time of regaining consciousness were recorded. Results The BIS40-60time percentage was significantly higher, MDPE, MDAPE, wobble and global score were lower in pre-school and school-age groups than in infant group(P<005). Compared with pre-school group, the consumption of remifentanil was significantly decreased(P<005), and no significant change was found in BIS40-60time percentage, MDPE, MDAPE, wobble or global score in school-age group(P>005). There was no significant differ-ence in the consumption of propofol, mean target plasma concentration, regulating frequency, consumption of rocuronium, extubation time or laryngeal mask airway removal time, time to eye-opening or time of regai-ning consciousness among the 3 groups(P>005). Conclusion Closed-loop infusion of propofol produces better stability for surgery in pre-school and school-age children than in infants.

Objective We aimed to study the protective effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency in rats and determine whether it exerts these effects through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: (i) the blank group, (ii) the model group, (iii) the Yiguan Jian group, and (iv) the TGP group (10 rats per group). For 6 weeks, rats in all groups except for the blank group were injected intraperitoneally with 20％ carbon tetrachloride olive oil solution and were given thyroid tablets (30mg/kg) by gavage in order to establish the model of chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency. During the modeling period, rats in the blank and model groups were gavaged daily with distilled water, while rats in the Yiguan Jian group and the TGP group were gavaged with 635mg/kg of Yiguan Jian decoction and 50mg/kg of TGP suspension, respectively. During the administration period, the body weight and rectal temperature of rats were measured every 2 weeks. After the administration, 24-hour food intake, 24-hour water intake, and moisture capacity in tongue surface were recorded. Serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) contents were measured by ELISA and the cAMP/cGMP ratio was calculated. Changes in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and total bile acids (TBA) were detected using colorimetric method. Masson staining was performed to observe the degree of liver fibrosis and to calculate the relative collagen area. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were conducted to determine the PI3K, AKT, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression levels in rat liver.Results Compared with the blank group, rats in the model group had a lower body weight at weeks 2, 4, and 6, a higher rectal temperature at weeks 2, 4, and 6, and a higher 24-hour food intake; the cAMP level was elevated, the cGMP level was decreased, and the cAMP/cGMP ratio was elevated; the contents of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were elevated, and the contents of IL-10 and IL-1Ra were decreased; ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, TBIL, and TBA levels were elevated; the percentage of collagen area in the liver was increased; and the mRNA and protein phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were elevated ( P<0.05). Compared with the model group, rats in the TGP group showed a decrease in rectal temperature at weeks 2, 4, and 6, a decrease in 24-hour food intake and water intake, and an increase in the moisture capacity in tongue surface; rats in the Yiguan Jian and TGP groups showed a decrease in cAMP, an increase in cGMP, and a decrease in the cAMP/cGMP, the contents of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were decreased and the content of IL-10 was increased, the percentage of collagen area in the liver was decreased; ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, and TBIL levels were decreased in the TGP group, and PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were downregulated at the mRNA and protein levels(P<0.05).Conclusion TGP has a good protective effect on chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency in rats. TGP may regulate the balance of yin and yang by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Objective:To observe the ratio of helper T cells 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and the expression changes of related cytokines in serum, and to explore their role in the occurrence and development of HT.Methods:Using the case-control study method, 35 HT patients examined in the General Hospital of Heilongjiang Beidahuang Group from February to November 2019 were selected as HT group, and 39 healthy people in the same period were selected as control group. Early morning fasting venous blood samples of the two groups were collected to test the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT 4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). The expressions of serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the number of Th17, Treg in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. Results:The levels of TPOAb, TgAb and TSH in HT group [130.60 (43.37, 714.40), 368.10 (136.90, 1 103.00) U/ml, 9.05 (6.62, 15.23) μU/ml] were significantly higher than those in control group [2.66 (1.52, 4.69), 12.63 (11.43, 14.60) U/ml, 1.87 (1.36, 2.23) μU/ml, U = 6.87, 6.62, 4.85, P < 0.001], and the FT 4 level [0.76 (0.63, 1.04) ng/dl] was lower than that in control group [1.14 (1.02, 1.26) ng/dl, U = 7.39, P < 0.001]. The expressions of IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β in HT group were higher than those in control group ( t = 2.41, 9.04, 2.44, P < 0.05). The number of Th17 and the ratio of Th17/Treg in HT group were higher than those in control group ( t = 4.20, 3.50, P < 0.05), and the number of Treg was lower than that in control group ( t = 4.45, P = 0.001). Conclusion:In HT patients, Th17 are increased, Treg decreased, Th17/Treg ratio increased, and the expressions of IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β are increased.