Objective To examine the psychometric characteristics of the Neonatal Oral-motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS) and the influence of evaluation time on assessment results of oral motor skills for preterm infants,and to provide advice for the application of oral-motor assessment in clinic practice.Methods Following Palmer's method,a video recording was made for the preterm infants at different age during the first 2 min of nutritive sucking(NS).We stored the recordings on a digital videodisc and two NOMAS assessors assessed each recording.Results The NOMAS had acceptable internal consistency for less than 35 weeks' PMA (postmenstrual age).Moderate correlation were found between scores on the NOMAS and feeding performance for less than 35 weeks' PMA (normal sucking r=0.58,sucking disorder r=-0.61).The NOMAS demonstrated low responsiveness to changes in oral-motor skill in a week period,ranging from 33 to 36 weeks' PMA (SRM=0.02～0.49).The NOMAS scores for evaluating 30 seconds and 2 minutes were not consistent,the former scores was higher.Conclusions The reliability and validity of NOMAS were acceptable in assessing the oral-motor function of preterm infants for less than 35 weeks' PMA.The evaluation time of NOMAS was suitable for 2 min.

Objective To investigate the changes in the phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in spinal dorsal horns in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion (CCD).Methods Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =32 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),sham operation group (group S) and group CCD.In CCD group,a small stainless steel needle (4 mm in length and 0.8 mm in diameter) was inserted into the L4,5 intervertebral foramen in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats,developing intervertebral foramen stenosis and hence producing a chronic steady compression of the dorsal root ganglion.In group S,the intervertebral foramen was only exposed without inserting the needle.The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was measured at 1 day before operation and 1,2 and 4 weeks after operation.The rats were then sacrificed after measurement of PWL and the lumbar enlargement segments of the spinal cord were removed for determination of the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and phosphorylation of NMDA receptor NR1 subunits at serine 896 (pNR1S896) on the injured side by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the PWL was significantly shortened at each time point after operation,and the expression of IL-1β and pNR1S896 was up-regulated in group CCD,and the PWL was shortened at 1 week after operation,the expression of IL-1β and pNR1S896 was up-regulated,and no significant change was found in PWL and expression of IL-1β and pNR1S896 at the other time points in group S.Compared with group S,the PWL was significantly shortened at each time point after operation,and the expression of IL-1β and pNR1S896 was up-regulated in group CCD,Compared with the baseline value at 1 day before operation,the PWL was slowly shortened starting from 1 week after operation,and decreased to the lowest level at 2 weeks after operation and maintained at this level for 2 weeks,the expression of IL-1β and pNR1S896 was slowly up-regulated starting from 1 week after operation,and increased to the highest level at 2 weeks after operation and maintained at this level for 2 weeks in group CCD,and the PWL was shortened at 1 week after operation,and the expression of IL-1β and pNR1 S896 was up-regulated in group S.Conclusion The development and maintenance of neuropathic pain induced by CCD are related to phosphorylation of NMDA receptors in spinal dorsal horns of rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of lineal polypeptide injection on immune function of severe sepsis patients in ICU.Methods 40 severe sepsis patients in ICU were randomly divided into two groups after signed the consent form:the treatment group (20 cases)and the control group (20 cases).On the 1st day of antibiotic therapy, the patients in the treatment group were simultaneously treated with lineal polypeptide intravenous injection,while the patients in the control group received the same routine treatment,but without lineal polypeptide injection,all with a 10 days treatment course.Blood bacteria culture and drug sensitivity test were completed after entering the hospital. The scores of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)before treatment and at day 3,7 and 10 of therapy were evaluated.The peripheral blood of patients was taken and send to the clinical laboratory.The WBC,NEU%,PCT, hs -CRP,IL -6,total T lymphocytes (CD +3 )and T lymphocyte subgroup (CD +4 ,CD +8 ,CD +4 /CD +8 )were detected in both the treatment group and the control group.Adverse drug events were also detected in the process of therapy. Results Compared with before treatment[(5.56 ±2.03)points],after 7 days of lineal polypeptide therapy,the SOFA score of the treatment group[(3.48 ±1.83)points]decreased significantly(t =2.793,P <0.05),and after 10 days therapy,the descending degree in the treatment group was more significantly and declined earlier than the control group (t =4.401,P <0.01 ).In the aspect of improving the inflammatory markers,two groups were all improved after therapy,but the degree of improvement in the treatment group was better than the control group.After 7 days therapy,IL -6 level was (37.61 ±7.51)mg/L in the treatment group,while (50.49 ±7.68)mg/L in the control group (t =1.969,P <0.01),and the improvement of NEU% was not found in control group.In the aspect of improving the immune function,the CD +3 ,CD +4 ,CD +4 /CD +8 ratios were increased significantly [before therapy:(41.27 ±6.91)%,(19.65 ±5.29)% and (0.96 ±0.42);after 3 days therapy:(46.57 ±7.11 )%,(24.99 ± 7.70)%,(1.27 ±0.39)],and CD +8 [before therapy:(25.62 ±5.18)%,after 3 days therapy:(23.51 ±3.19)%] was decreased dramatically after 3 days of lineal polypeptide injection treatment,there was significant improvement in time and degree in the treatment group compared with the control group (t =1.390,t =1.407,t =3.974,t =2.081, all P <0.05).No severe adverse drug events were found.Conclusion As an immune modulator,lineal polypeptide injection could effectively improve the immune function of severe sepsis patients in ICU.

Objective To investigate the relationship between glycoprotein synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β) and mitochondrial cleavage protein (Drp-1) during diabetes mellitus-caused antagonization of cardioprotection induced by sevoflurane postconditioning in rats.Methods Clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 250-300 g,were used in this study.Diabetes mellitus was induced by high-fat and high-sucrose diet and intraperitoneal streptozotocin 30 g/kg.Forty rats with diabetes mellitus were divided into 5 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table method:ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group,sevoflurane postconditioning group (SP group),sevoflurane postconditioning plus Drp1 inhibitor Mivi-1 group (SM group),sevoflurane postconditioning plus GSK-3β inhibitor SB216763 group (SB group) and sevoflurane postconditioning plus Mivi-1 plus SB216763 group (SMB group).Myocardial I/R was induced by 30 min occlusion of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery followed by 120 min reperfusion.The rats inhaled 2.5％ sevoflurane for 10 min starting from 5 min before reperfusion in SP,SM,SB and SBM groups.Mivi-1 1.2 mg/kg was injected via the caudal vein at 15 min before reperfusion in group SM.SB216763 0.2 mg/kg was injected via the caudal vein at 5 min before reperfusion in group SB.Mivi-1 1.2 mg/kg and SB216763 0.2 mg/kg were injected via the caudal vein at 15 and 5 min before reperfusion,respectively,in group SMB.Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta at 120 min of reperfusion for determination of serum cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTnⅠ) concentrations.The rats were sacrificed and myocardial specimens were obtained from the apex for determination of the cell apoptosis (by TUNEL) and expression of caspase-3 (by Western blot),and apoptotic index (AI) was calculated.Results Compared with group I/R,no significant change was found in caspase-3 expression,AI or serum cTnⅠ concentrations (P＞0.05),and the pathological changes of myocardium were comparable in group SP,and the expression of caspase-3 was significantly down-regulated,and AI and serum cTnⅠ concentration were decreased (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of myocardium were significantly attenuated in SM,SB and SMB groups.Compared with group SP,the expression of caspase-3 was significantly down-regulated,AI and serum cTnⅠ concentrations were decreased (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of myocardium were significantly attenuated in SM,SB and SMB groups.Compared with group SMB or group SB,the expression of caspase-3 was significantly down-regulated,AI and serum cTnI concentrations were decreased (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes of myocardium were significantly attenuated in group SMB.Conclusion It is not a single regulatory relationship between GSK-3β and Drp-1 in the pathophysiological process of diabetes mellitus-caused antagonization of cardioprotection induced by sevoflurane postconditioning in rats.