Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the expression of c-fos protein in the dorsal root ganglion neurons in a rat model of neuropathic pain (NP).Methods Seventy-two adult male SpragueDawley rats,weighing 180-240 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),group NP,and dexmedetomidine group (group Dex).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10％ chloral hydrate 350 mg/kg.The right sciatic nerve was exposed and 4 loose ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals with 4-0 silk thread in NP and Dex groups.In group Dex,dexmedetomidine 50μg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once a day starting from the end of operation until the animals were sacrificed.The equal volume of normal saline was given instead of dexmedetomidine in S and NP groups.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured at 1 day before ligation (T0,baseline) and 3,7 and 14 days after ligation (T1-3).Eight animals were sacrificed after measurement of pain threshold at T13 and the dorsal root ganglions of the lumbar segments (L44) were removed for detection of c-fos expression (by immuno-histochemistry).Results Compared with group S,MWT was significantly decreased,TWL was shortened,and the expression of c-fos protein was up-regulated at T1-3 in NP and Dex groups.Compared with NP group,MWT was significantly increased,TWL was prolonged,and the expression of c-fos protein was down-regulated at T1-3 in Dex group.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can inhibit upregulation of c-fos protein expression,thus attenuating NP in rats.

Neuroglobin is a newly discovered member of globulin family.It has neuronprotec- tive effect under the hypoxic and ischemic conditions.In order to make the acting mechanism of globulin clear,many theories have been raised,and corresponding experiments have been done. This article reviews the latest advances systematically in this field,and puts forward possible research directions in the future.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Xinyi capsule pretreatment on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rabbits and its possible mechanism. Methods Ninety-four rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: model group (n=16), tirofiban group (n=16), high-, medium- and low-dose Xinyi capsule groups (4.0, 2.0, 1.0 g/kg;n=16 in each group), and sham operation group (n=14). Five days after intragastric administration with drug, myocardial ischemia reperfusion was induced by ligation of the proximal left circumflex artery. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was continuously recorded. The serum levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were measured. Myocardial histopathological damage was evaluated. Results The changes of J-point amplitude on ECG in high-, medium-and low-dose Xinyi capsule groups (0.064 ± 0.049 mV, 0.069 ± 0.061 mV, 0.079 ± 0.060 mV) were significantly lower than that in the model group (0.158 ± 0.105 mV, P<0.01 or P<0.05), the serum levels of LDH (399.7 ± 202.3 U/L, 369.6 ± 229.0 U/L, 435.5 ± 152.4 U/L), CK-MB (900.8 ± 231.2 U/L, 1 268.3 ± 899.8 U/L, 1 386.7 ± 621.6 U/L), MPO (69.81 ± 5.51 U/L, 85.44 ± 10.31 U/L, 81.33 ± 16.87 U/L) were significantly lower than those in the model group (LDH:817.1 ± 401.9 U/L, CK-MB:2 071.3 ± 693.5 U/L, MPO:149.9 ± 20.11 U/L;P<0.01 or P<0.05). Histopathological examination showed that myocardial damage in high-, medium- and low-dose Xinyi capsule groups reduced compared with the model group. Conclusions Xinyi capsule pretreatment can protect against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rabbits, and its mechanism may be related to inflammation inhibition.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( PCNL) in modified supine Valdivia and traditional prone positions for the treatment of renal stones.Methods Clinical data of 80 consecutive patients with renal calculi who accepted PCNL from December 2012 to September 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.They were divided into modified supine Valdivia group ( n=44) and prone position group (n=36) according to the position during surgery.There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in age, sex, ASA class, stone location and size (P>0.05).Total operative time, ratio of multi-access, blood loss, perioperative complications and stone-free rate were compared between the 2 groups.Results All punctures were performed successfully.No case was converted to open surgery.No severe complications such as colon injury, pleura or peritoneum perforation, or death occurred intra-and post-operatively.In prone position, 1 patient was found to develop high intra-trachea pressure because of large stone burden and prolonged operative time (130 min).This procedure was stopped and the patient received the second session of PCNL 1 week later.The mean total operative time was significantly shorter in the modified supine than in the prone position ( 67.7 ±24.5 min versus 91.5 ±29.8 min, P<0.05).There were no significant differences in ratio of multi-access (14% versus 22%), mean blood loss (1.3 ±0.2 g/L versus 1.4 ±0.7 g/L), incidence of complications (18% versus 19%), and stone clearance rate ( 80% versus 86%) between the 2 groups ( P >0.05 ) .Conclusion PCNL in modified supine Valdivia is as safe and effective as that of prone position for the treatment of renal stones, but the former is more time-saving than the latter.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Objective To explore the effects of removing-stasis and resuscitating methods on patients with severe cerebral injury. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed with clinical data of 47 patients. All 47 patients were recruited into a control group(n=21) and a treatment group(n=26). The control group was treated with conventional western medicines; while the treatment group was additional treated with traditional Chinese medicine on the basis of the control group. Results The rate for resuscitation after one week's treatment was 73.08% and 57.14% in the treatment group and the control group respectively, showing significant differences (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 76.92% and 61.90% in the treatment group and the control group respectively, also showing significant difference (P<0.05) . Conclusion The method of removing-stasis and resuscitating can promote severe cerebral injury patients regain their consciousness, and improve their prognosis.

Objective To investigate the role of heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1 ) and carbon monoxide ( CO) in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Methods A total of 198 cases with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection under 3 years were enrolled in this study. According to whether with wheezing,all cases were divided into wheezing group( n=58 ) and no wheezing group ( n=140 ) . According to having hypox-emia,wheezing group was divided into mild wheezing group(n=34) and severe wheezing group(n=24). And no wheezing group was set as control group. The serum COHb levels were measured by dual-wavelength spectrophotometry. The serum HO-1 were measured by ELISA. Results The levels of serum HO-1 and COHb% in severe wheezing group were ( 2 734. 10 ± 707. 59 ) ng/L, ( 3. 88 ± 0. 83 )%, and ( 1 130. 03 ± 671. 02) ng/L,(1. 16 ± 0. 63)% in mild wheezing group,and(931. 32 ± 451. 67) ng/L,(1. 04 ± 0. 37)% in no wheezing group,respectively. There were significant differences in serum HO-1 and COHb% between se-vere wheezing group and mild wheezing group(P<0. 01,respectively),and there were no significan differ-ences in serum HO-1 and COHb% between mild wheezing group and no wheezing group( P>0. 05,respec-tively). There was significant positive correlation between serum HO-1 and COHb%(r=0. 875,P<0. 01). Conclusion With mycoplasma pneumoniae infection,the expression of HO-1 and COHb% increase by the wheezing disease progression. HO-1 and CO may participate in the development process of infantile wheezing diseases.

Objective:To investigate the difference of accuracy between magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound in measuring the volume of thyroid model.Methods:Forty thyroid models were established using porcine liver, and the Archimedes procedure was set as gold standard in the measurement of the volume of each model. The accuracy of measurement of the porcine thyroid model volume between two-dimensional ultrasound and magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound were compared.Results:There were no significant differences in the accuracy of measurements of thyroid model volume among two-dimensional ultrasound, magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound and Archimedes procedure (all P>0.05). Compared with the Archimedes procedure, magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasonic method showed higher correlation coefficient of the measurement of thyroid model volume ( r=0.998). Bland-Altman analysis showed the lower measure error with a relative error of 3.42% and range of -9.57% to 12.07%. And the limits of agreement were (-1.253, 0.999) in the magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasonic measurement. Conclusions:Compared with two-dimensional ultrasound, the magnetic induction Freehand-3D ultrasound show higher accuracy in the measurement of the volume of the thyroid model.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression pattern of caspase-3 and HCLS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) at different time after cerebral contusion in rat, and explore the new method for estimating the injury interval. METHODS: The cerebral contusion model was established using adult SD male rats. Then the rats were randomly allocated into 8 groups: 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after cerebral contusion, sham-operation and normal control. Expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 protein after cerebral contusion in rat was detected by Western blotting. Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe the number of HAX-1 positive cells and TUNEL-stained cells after cerebral contusion. RESULTS: The expression of caspase-3 increased parallelly with the time after cerebral contusion and reached the peak value on 3 d. The expression of caspase-3 decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). The expression of HAX-1 positive cell went up after injury, and reached the peak value at 6 h (P < 0.05), then turned down gradually after 12 h and went out of detection after 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained cells increased obviously at 2 h and reached the peak value on 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 after cerebral contusion has time sequential regularity, which may provide new evidence for forensic diagnosis of cerebral contusion interval.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cerebellum/pathology* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Amifostine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Benzene ; toxicity ; Blood ; drug effects ; Blood Cell Count ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation