Objective To investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on brain injury in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods Forty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes aged 22-50 yr weighing 40-64 kg undergoing elective cardiac valve replacement were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 20 each): control group (group C) and SGB group. Radial artery and right internal jugular vein were cannulated for BP and CVP monitoring. A catheter was inserted into left internal jugular vein under local anesthesia and advanced cephalad until resistance was met for blood sampling. Right SGB was performed with 0.25% ropivacaine 10 ml. Successful block was confirmed by ipsilateral Homer's syndrome.ECG, BP, CVP and SpO2 were monitored. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.2 mg/kg, fentanyl 5-8 μg/kg and vecuronium 0.12 mg/kg and maintained with fentanyl infusion at 8-10 μg· kg- 1· h- 1 and intermittent iv boluses of midazolam and vecuronium. Blood samples were collected for determination of plasma NO, ET-1, S100β protein and NSE concentrations and NOS activity immediately after left internal jugular vein was retrogradely catheterized (T0 ), at 30 min of CPB (T1), 10 min after release of aortic cross clamp (T2 ), 6 and 24 h after operation (T3 ,T4 ). The patients' cognitive function was assessed by using mini-mental state examination (MMSE) the day before operation and on 1st and 7th day after operation. Results The plasma ET-1, S100β protein and NSE concentrations were significantly increased during and after operation at T1-3 as compared with baseline values at T0 in both groups and were significantly lower in group SGB than in group C. Plasma NO concentration was significantly increased during CPB at T1 as compared with the baseline at T0 in both groups but was significant higher after CPB at T2 but lower after operation at T3,4 in gToup SGB than in group C. The NOS activity was significantly higher during operation at T1,2 in group SGB than in group C. The cognitive function was significantly better at 1st postoperative day in group SGB than in group C. Compared with the baseline value,NO/ET-1 ratio was significantly decreased during and after operation in group C,but no significant change in NO/ET-1 ratio was found in group SGB. Conclusion SGB can attenuate brain injury induced by CPB by improving cerebral perfusion through maintenance of relative balance of NO/ET-1.

Collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite might recognize each other at the mesoscale by multiple cooperative interactions due to their intrinsically repetitive structured surfaces, and thus effectively directing the biomineralization, a biological process involving regulating the growth of bones, teeth and other organs. In this work, we developed a simple technique to prepare nanowire arrays of biological macromolecules by reversely using the biomineralization mechanism, with results similar to the hot wall epitaxy, a molecular beam deposition technique under vacuum. With this technique, we successfully cultured 5-10 μg/mL rat tail type I collagen monomer solutions into collagen nanowire arrays on the mica (001) lattice plane along one unique direction across the whole cleavage surface. The atomic force microscope experiments indicated that the nanowires in the arrays became more crowded with higher monomer concentration, but their width and height remained unchanged, about 60.0 nm and 1.5 nm, respectively. The collagen nanowire coating enhanced the hydrophilicity of the mica surface, reducing the contact angle from 25.8° to 9.5°. Based on the characterization results of electron back scattering diffraction and transmission electron microscope, the collagen nanowires were most likely to be oriented along the mica [110] direction, which validated the quasiepitaxial growth mechanism in more details.

Objective To evaluate the effects of inhaled aerosolized different doses of lidocaine on lung injury in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Thirty ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 18-58 yr,weighing 35-70 kg,undergoing elective cardiac valve replacement with CPB,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =10 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),lidocaine 100 mg group (group L1) and lidocaine 200 mg group (group L2).Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of midazolam,etomidate,fentanyl and vecuronium.The patients were endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.The aemsolized normal saline 10 ml,2％ lidocaine 5 ml + saline 5 ml and 2％ lidocaine 10 ml were inhaled in C,L1 and L2 groups,respectively,starting from 10 min after induction.At 10 min after induction (T0),1 and 10 min after opening of vena cava (T1,2),and the end of CPB (T3),blood samples were collected from the left radial artery (LRA) and right atrium (RA) for determination of plasma interleukin8 (IL-8),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (using ELISA) and the expression of CD11 b on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (by flow cytometry).Blood samples were collected from the left radial artery at T0,immediately after beginning of CPB,at T3 and at 2 and 6 h after termination of CPB for blood gas analysis.The oxygenation index (OI),respiratory index (RI) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) were calculated.Results Compared with group C,the ratio between IL-8 concentration in LRA and in RA (concentration of IL-8LRA/RA) was significantly decreased at T2,3,the concentration of MDALRA/RA was decreased at T3 (P ＜ 0.05),no significant change was found in the expression of CD11bLRA/RA at each time point (P ＞ 0.05),and RI was decreased at T3 in L1 and L2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in the concentration of IL-8LRA/RA,TNF-αLRA/RA and MDALRA/RA,expression of CD11bLR A/RA,RI,OI and Cdyn at each time point between group L2 and group L1 (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Aerosolized lidocaine inhalation can attenuate lung injury and improve lung function in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under CPB by reducing inflammatory responses and lipid peroxidation in lung tissues.

Objective To explore the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine for continuous lumbar plexus block on the quality of early recovery in patients undergoing total hip ar-throplasty.Methods Sixty patients (35 males and 25 females)with ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, aged 65-84 years,undergoing total hip replacement were randomly assigned to dexmedetomidine com-bined with ropivacaine group (group D)or ropivacaine group (group C).All patients received ropiva-caine which was administered via continuous lumbar plexus block as patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)after surgery.The PCA were programmed with a background infusion 8 ml/h of ropivacaine, bolus dose was 4 m1 and the block time was 30 min;the patients in group C received 0.2% ropiva-caine,and the patients in group D received 0.1% ropivaciane combined with 1 μg/ml of dexmedeto-midine by the way of intravenous infusion.In addition,all patients received another patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA)with 1 mg/ml of morphine for relieving the explosive pain.The PCIA was programmed with a lobus dose of morphine 1 mg without background dose,the block time was 5 min.Consumption of morphine and visual analog scale (VAS)score,muscle strength and maximum flexion and abduction of hip joint were recorded at the time points of 6,12,24 and 48 h after opera-tion.The side-effect reactions such as nausea,vomiting,drowsiness and itching were recorded.The sleep quality was assessed with Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)on day 1 before operation,day 1 and day 7 after operation.Results The consumption of morphine in group D was significantly fewer than group C (P <0.05).Compared with group C,muscle strength and maximum flexion and abduc-tion of hip joint in group D were increased at 6,12,24 and 48 h after operation (P <0.05 ).PSQI scores were decreased on the day 1 and day 7 after operation.The incidence of delirium,nausea and vomiting,drowsiness and itching in group D were decreased (P <0.05).Conclusion 0.1% ropiva-ciane continuous lumbar plexus block combined with 1 μg/ml of dexmedetomidine by the way of in-travenous infusion could provide satisfied analgesia for the operation of total hip arthroplasty;the sleep quality is improved,the functional exercise of hip joint is promoted.

Objective To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative outcome in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Forty-four patients of both sexes,aged 18-55 yr,with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅲ,with New York Heart Association Ⅱ[or Ⅲ,scheduled for elective cardiac valve replacement with CPB,were divided into 2 groups (n =22 each) using a random number table:control group (group C) and group EA.In group EA,patients received EA stimulation with needles at bilateral Neiguan,Ximen,Shenmen and Baihui acupoints (disperse-dense waves,frequency 2 Hz,intensity 1.0-1.2 mA) from 20 min before anesthesia induction to the end of surgery.After induction of general anesthesia,the patients were endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated,and combined intravenous-inhalational anesthesia was used to maintain anesthesia.Quality of Recovery 9 and Minimum Mental State Examination scores were assessed on the day before surgery and 1 and 3 days after surgery.The development of nausea and vomiting,postoperative cognitive dysfunction,requirement for rescue analgesics and ventricular arrhythmia was recorded within 3 days after surgery.The consumption of sufentanil in surgery,extubation time,the first flatus time,the first postoperative off-bed time,duration of stay in the intensive care unit and length of hospital stay after sugery were recorded.Results Compared with group C,the consumption of sufentanil in surgery was significantly decreased,Quality of Recovery 9 scores were increased at 1 and 3 days after surgery,the incidence of nausea and vomiting,postoperative cognitive dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmia was decreased within 3 days after surgery,and the extubation time,the first flatus time,the first postoperative off-bed time and length of hospital stay after surgery were significantly shortened in group EA (P＜0.05).Conclusion EA can promote postoperative outcome in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with CPB.

Objective To compare the efficacy of continuous lumbar plexus block (LPB) with different concentrations of dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.Methods Sixty elderly patients of both sexes,aged 65-85 yr,weighing 50-71 kg,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,scheduled for elective total hip replacement,were divided into 2 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:0.5 μg/ml dexmedetomidine+0.1％ ropivacaine group (group D1) and 1.0 μg/ml dexmedetomidine + 0.1％ ropivacaine group (group D2).Lumbar-sacral plexus block combined with general anesthesia was used.At the end of operation,LPB pump was started and set up to deliver a 4 ml bolus dose with a 30 min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 8 ml/h.The analgesia solution contained 0.5 μg/ml dexmedetomidine and 0.1％ ropivacaine in group D1 and 1.0 μg/ml dexmedetomidine and 0.1％ ropivacaine in group D2.Postoperative analgesia lasted for 48 h,and the visual analogue scale score was maintained ≤ 3.Patientcontrolled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) pump was connected when break-through pain happened.PCIA solution contained morphine 50 mg diluted to 50 ml in 0.9％ sodium chloride.PCIA pump was set up to deliver a 1 ml bolus dose with a 5 min lockout interval and no background infusion.When the visual analogue scale score ＞3,the patient-controlled LPB pump was used first,and 15 min later if analgesia was still ineffective,PCIA pump was applied.The number of patients in whom analgesia was effective and occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded.Results Compared with group D1,the rate of effective analgesia was significantly increased,and the incidence of nausea,vomiting and pruritus was decreased in group D2 (P＜ 0.05).No bradycardia,hypotension,over-sedation,respiratory depression,urinary retention or local skin infection was found in the two groups.Conclusion Continuous LPB with 1.0 μg/ml dexmedetomidine added to 0.1％ ropivacaine provides better efficacy for postoperative analgesia in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.