Objective To investigate the role of ERK signaling pathway in spinal cord in reduction of neuropathic pain (NP) by electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli and Yanglingquan.Methods Fifty male SpragueDawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,in which the intrathecal catheter was successfully placed without complications,were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =10 each):sham operation group (S group),chronic constrictive injury (CCI) group,acupuncture at acupoint group (EA group),acupuncture at non-acupoint group (NA-EA group),and ERK inhibitor U0126 group (U0126 group).NP was induced by CCI in groups CCI,EA,NA-EA and U0126.The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal chloral hydrate 300 mg/kg.The right sciatic nerve was exposed and 4 ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals.EA (intensity ＜ 1.5 mA,frequency 2Hz) of Zusanli and Yanglingquan lasting 30 min was performed once a day for 6 days starting from 4th day after induction of NP in group EA.EA was performed at the points 5 mm lateral to the acupoints of Zusanli and Yanglingquan on the operated side in group NA-EA.Intrathecal U0126 5 μg was started on 4th day after induction of NP twice a day for 6 consecutive days.The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured at 1 day before CCI (T0,baseline) and at days 3,5,7 and 9 after CCI (T1-4).The rats were sacrificed on 10th day after induction of NP and the right lumbar segment (L4-6) of the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of P2X3 receptor protein and mRNA,ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the spinal cord dorsal horn.Results Compared with group S,MWT was significantly decreased,TWL was significantly shortened,the expression of P2X3 receptor protein and mRNA,and p-ERK1/2 was up-regulated in the other 4 groups (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with CCI group,MWT was significantly increased,TWL was significantly prolenged,the expression of P2X3 receptor protein and mRNA,and p-ERK1/2 was downregulated in EA and U0126 groups (P ＜ 0.01),and no significant change in the parameters mentioned above was found in NA-EA group (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with EA group,MWT was significantly increased,TWL was significantly prolonged,the expression of P2X3 receptor protein and mRNA,and p-ERK1/2 was down-regulated in U0126 group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion ERK signaling pathway in spinal cord is involved in reduction of NP by EA at Zusanli and Yanglingquan.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of hyperthermia of different degrees in killing tumor cells and its influence on Na+ -K+ -ATPase activities in erythrocytes. Methods Cultured low differentiated stomach gland tumor cells (SGC-170) and large intestine gland tumor cells (LOVO) (1?106?ml-1 each) were mixed with concentrated RBCs respectively and incubated in warm bath of 37℃ , 42℃, 43℃ , 45℃ or 47℃ for 40 min respectively. After hyperthermic treatment tumor cells were isolated from RBCs using density gradient centrifugation and the live tumor cells were counted by typan staining. The isolated tumor cells were then cultured and the clone formation of tumor cells was checked. The cultured tumor cells were marked with 5-bromo deoxyuridine and DNA metabolism was examined. The Na+ -K+ -ATPase activities in RBC after hyperthermic treatment were also determined. Results The amount of tumor cells was significantly decreased by 40 min hyperthermic treatment in a temperature-dependent manner from 42-471 as compared with the control group (37℃) (P

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) by using LABS 100 liver access and biopsy set (Cook Inc, bloomington, IN, USA). Methods During the period from June 2014 to Sep. 2014, a total of twelve patients received TJLB at authors’ hospital. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, and the indications, number of puncturing times, technical success rate, complications, sufficient amount of specimen, etc. were summarized. Results Technical success of TJLB was achieved in all patients, and no procedure- related complications occurred. The mean number of puncturing was 2.8 times, and sufficient amount of specimen for histological examination was obtained in all cases. Conclusion This preliminary result indicates that transjugular liver biopsy with the use of LABS 100 liver access and biopsy set is clinically safe and feasible.

Objective To analyze the factors that might affect the therapeutic results of pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion intra-arterial sclerosing embolization (PLE-IASE) in treating symptomatic cavernous hemangioma of liver (SCHL). Methods PLE-IASE was performed in 89 patients with SCHL (32 males and 57 females). Before treatment the mean diameter of the hemangioma was (8.3±3.8) cm. Of 89 patients, 53 experienced anxiety, 35 suffered from right upper abdominal pain and the remaining one developed Kasabach-Merrit syndrome. Before PLE-IASE, the arteriographic classification was conducted based on hepatic arteriographic findings. Then pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion (PLE) was injected through the feeding artery. The dosage of pingyangmycin (PYM) was (9.8±4.4) mg and the dosage of lipiodol (LP) was (5.9±2.9) ml. The lipiodol deposition status was judged by the follow-up spot film taken immediately after PLE-IASE. The observations of the occurrence of complications, the relief of symptoms and the minification of SCHL were followed for 6-72 months after PLE-IASE. The linear regression analysis statistics was conducted by taking the minification as dependent variable and taking the arteriographic classification, lipiodol deposition status, the dosage of PYM, the dosage of lipiodol and the preoperative SCHL diameter as independent variable. Results Of all 89 cases of SCHL, hypervascular type was seen in 51, hypovascular type in 26 and arteriovenous shunt (AVS) type in 12. Good lipiodol deposition status was found in 64 patients and poor deposition in 25 patients after PLE-IASE. After PLE-IASE, the symptom of anxiety in 53 patients was relieved and the right upper abdominal pain was reduced in 33 cases although intermittent pain still remained in 2 patients. The blood platelet count of the patient with Kasabach-Merrit syndrome returned to normal after the treatment. The symptomatic relieve rate was 98.7%. No serious complications occurred in the follow-up period. The linear regression analysis showed that arteriographic classification, lipiodol deposition status and PYM dosage used in treatment had statistically significant impact on tumor minification, while the preoperative diameter of SCHL and lipiodol dosage used in treatment had no statistically significant impact on it. Conclusion PLE-IASE is an effective and safe interventional treatment for SCHL. Arteriographic classification, lipiodol deposition status and PYM dosage used in treatment have a significant correlation with the minification of SCHL, while the preoperative diameter of SCHL and lipiodol dosage used in treatment bear no relationship to the minification of SCHL.

Objective To explore the relationship between the stress during pregnancy and the NMDA-induced spasm. MethodsThe pregnant rats were divided into two groups: pregnant control group(PC group)and pregnatal stress group(PS group). The rats in PS group were forced to swim in cold water of 4℃ for five minutes. Pups of the two groups were injected NMDA 7mg/kg intraperitoneally on postnatal day 13 to induced infantile spasm-like attacks. Then the clinical behavior of pups of the two groups were observed and recorded. The ultrastructure of mitochondria was detected with scanning electron and appearance of neurons was observed with HE staining. NMDA receptor and its subuniforms (NR2A, NR2B) in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and raphe nucleus of brainstem were estimated by immunohistochemistry. Results The average score of pups in PS group is higher than in PC group(7.84 ±1.01 vs 5.90 ± 1.12). There were swelling neurons and no cytonecrosis in hippocampuss of both two groups. The uhrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampuss and raphe nucleus of brainstem showed great changes in pups of PS group as membrane in mitochondria of pups in PS group. NR1, NR2A and NR2B distributed mainly on the membrane and also in cytoplasm and cellular nucleus. The NR1 expressions in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and raphe nucleus in pups of PS group were elevated than those of PC group and the P value is 0.001, 0.009, 0.015, 0.001 respectively. The NR2B expressions in hippocampus, cerebral cortex hypothalamus and raphe nucleus in pups of PS group were elevated than those of PC group and the P value is 0.004, 0.002, 0.003, 0.002 separately. NR2A expressed more in hippocampus in pups of PS group than that in PC group,but there was no difference in cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and raphe nucleus between two groups and the P value is separately 0.006,0.067, 0.7, 0.5. Conclusions The mitochondria of neurons in rat pup were hurt by maternal severe stress daring pregnancy, which made the energy metabolism of neurons changed. Maternal stress can also elevate the expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B in cerebral cortex, brainstem and hippocampus and increase the morbidity of infantile spasm-like attacks.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of shenduqing Granules on chronic renal insufficiency in rats. Methods: The rat model of chronic renal insufficiency was made by feeding 0.75% adenine forage. The blood biochemical indexes, ion concentration in serum of rat was measured and the pathological changes of rat kidney were observed. Results: Shenduqing Granules obviously increased thymus index (TI). The weight of rat kidney in the treatment group was lighter than that of the model group. The kidney histomorphological study showed that Shenduqing Granules obvionsly reduce the pathological changes. The drug crystals were also reduced. Conclusion: Shenduqing Granules has the potential protection against chronic renal insufficiency in rats.

Purpose Liver fibrosis is the common pathological process of cirrhosis developed by chronic liver disease.This study aims to explore the application of microvascular change in assessing the liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation based on X-ray phasecontrast computed tomography (PCCT).Materials and Methods Ten rats were equally divided into the group of bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis and the control group at random.Then ten excised liver tissues were imaged at beamline BL13W1 of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility in China.After the imaging studies,the liver samples were stained with Sirius red and immunostained with antibodies against cytokeratin 19 (CK19).The microvasculature in livers was reconstructed via PCCT,and the correlation analysis on microvascular density and the proportion of fibrosis area was performed.Results The microvasculature including blood vessels,dilated bile ducts and ductular proliferation were clearly revealed by PCCT technology.Moreover,the 3D microvascular density and proportion of fibrosis area in the liver fibrosis group increased significantly compared with those in the control group (P＜0.01),and the correlation between them was obvious (r=0.812,P＜0.01).Conclusion Microvascular 3D characteristics of liver fibrosis are well demonstrated by PCCT,and 3D microvascular density is significantly correlated with the proportion of fibrosis area.Those findings indicate that microvascular change is closely related to the degree of liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation,and thus it provides a novel means to assess the severity of liver fibrosis through microvascular change.

Objective To study the clinical course and clinicopathological features of para-aortic lymph node metastases in patients with gallbladder cancer.Methods Forty-two patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent radical resection combined with para-aortic lymphadenectomy at the Mianyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2001 to December 2013 were retrospectively studied.The survival rates of the para-aortic lymph node metastasis group were compared with the negative para-aortic lymph node group of patients.Para-aortic lymph node metastasis as well as clinical features were correlated with survival.Results No one died within the perioperative period.The total complication rate was 24.0％,and there was no significant difference between the positive para-aortic lymph node group and the negative group (P ＞0.05).The rate of para-aortic lymph node metastasis on histopathology was 21.4％ (9/42),which was positively correlated with tumor depth of invasion and negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation (P ＜ 0.01).The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates of the positive para-aortic lymph node group were significantly inferior to the negative group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Dissection of para-aortic lymph nodes in patients with gallbladder cancer was safe and feasible.Lymphadenectomy did not improve the longterm survival rates of patients with para-aortic lymph node involvement metastases.The extent of lymph node dissection for gallbladder cancer should be decided by intraoperative biopsy.

Objective To investigate the effect of psychological stress on serum iron concentration of SD rats and its mechanism. Method SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (CG), psychological stress 1w group (PG 1w) and 2w group (PG-2w), and psychological stress 2w with 1w free group (PG 2w-1w). The animal model of stress was tested for 1w, 2w, and 2w with 1w free from stress. The iron concentration of serum, liver, spleen and the expression of liver hepcidin were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry and Western blot respectively. Result (1) Compared with control group, serum iron concentration of rats under stress decreased. (2) Free of psychological stress 1w later, serum iron concentration was not significantly changed. (3) Iron concentration of liver and spleen was increased significantly compared with control group, and the expression of liver hepcidin was also increased. Conclusion Psychological stress may cause serum iron of rats to decrease obviously, and it was restored after 1w free from psychological stress. The mechanism is supposed to be increase of iron storage in liver and spleen by hepcidin in rats under psychological stress.