Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine used to supplement analgesia with sufentanil on the stress response and inflammatory response after cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Forty-four patients of both sexes,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ (New York Heart Association Ⅱ or Ⅲ),scheduled for elective cardiac valve replacement with CPB,were randomly divided into sufentanil analgesia group (group S,n =20) and dexmedetomidine supplementing sufentanil analgesia group (group DS,n=24) using a random number table.After induction of general anesthesia,the patients were endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.Combined intravenous-inhalational anesthesia was used to maintain anesthesia.Dexmedetomidine was infused at 0.3 μg · kg-1 · h-1 from closure of the chest to the end of surgery in group DS,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group S.The patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was used for postoperative analgesia.PCIA solution contained sufentanil 2 μg/kg in 100 ml of normal saline in group S,or sufentanil 2 μg/kg plus dexmedetomidine 3 μg/kg in 100 ml of normal saline in group DS.The PCIA pump was set up with a 0.5 ml bolus dose,a 5 min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 1.5 ml/h.Visual analogue scale score was maintained ≤ 3.When visual analogue scale score ≥ 4,morphine 0.1 mg/kg was injected intravenously.The occurrence of analgesics-related respiratory depression,bradycardia and hypotension was recorded.At the end of surgery (T0),and 12,24,48 and 72 h after surgery (T1-4),blood samples were collected from the central vein for determination of serum cortisol,β-endorphin,C-reactive protein,interleukin-2 (IL-2),and IL-6 concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results No analgesics-related adverse events were detected in the two groups.Compared with group S,the requirement for morphine was significantly decreased,the serum cortisol concentration was decreased at T2-4 and the serum β-endorphin,C-reactive protein concentrations were decreased at T1-4,the serum IL-2 concentrations were increased at T1-4,and the serum IL-6 concentrations were increased at T3 in group DS (P＜0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine used to supplement analgesia with sufentanil can alleviate the stress response and inflammatory response after cardiac valve replacement with CPB.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Liuweidihuang Pills in relieving cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality, oxidative injury, and cell apoptosis in the rat testis.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were equally randomized into a normal, a radiated, and a Liuweidihuang group, the animals in the latter two groups exposed to electromagnetic radiation of 900 MHz cellphone frequency 4 hours a day for 18 days. Meanwhile, the rats in the Liuweidihuang group were treated with the suspension of Liuweidihuang Pills at 1 ml/100 g body weight and the other rats intragastrically with the equal volume of purified water. Then all the rats were killed for observation of testicular histomorphology by routine HE staining, measurement of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels by colorimetry, and determination of the expressions of bax and bcl-2 proteins in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the radiated rats showed obviously loose structure, reduced layers of spermatocytes, and cavitation in the seminiferous tubules. Significant increases were observed in the MDA level (P < 0.01) and bax expression (P < 0.01) but decreases in the GSH level (P < 0.01) and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01) in the testis issue of the radiated rats. In comparison with the radiated rats, those of the Liuweidihuang group exhibited nearly normal testicular structure, significantly lower MDA level (P < 0.05), bax expression (P < 0.01), and bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiuweidihuang Pills can improve cellphone electromagnetic radiation-induced histomorphological abnormality of the testis tissue and reduce its oxidative damage and cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Phone ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Staining and Labeling ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects

To investigate the mechanism of agarwood formation in Aquilaria sinensis induced by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the fermentation liquor of L. theobromae was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). JAs were detected in the fermentation liquor. The effect of the fermentation liquor on the abundance of sesquiterpenes in the callus of A. sinensis was analyzed by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). And the fermentation liquor stimulated alpha-guaiene, alpha-humulene and delta-guaiene biosynthesis in calli. It was inferred that L. theobromae produced JAs, which resulted in a significant increase of sesquiterpenes in A. sinensis.
Ascomycota ; physiology ; Fermentation ; Sesquiterpenes ; metabolism ; Thymelaeaceae ; metabolism ; microbiology

ObjectiveTo study the risk factors of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in patients with ≤3 cm peripheral non-small cell lung cancer.MethodsFrom January 2000 to December 2010,a total of 281 patients with NSCLC[152 men and 129 women,aged ( 60.31±12.13) years;≤ 3 cm in diameter]underwent lobectomy or partial resection with systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy in hospital .Clinical data included age,gender,symptoms,history and quantity of smoking history,history of tumor,family history of tumor,site,diameter,calcification,speculation,border,lobulation,traction of pleural,vascular convergence sign,cavity were collected compaired and analyzed.Single and multi-variate analysis was performed to determine the independent risk of occult N2 nodal involvement.ResultsLogistic regression analysis show seven clinical characteristics (fleshless( OR:22.262),history of tumor(OR:5.485),diameter( 0R:3.788),density( OR;5.850),traction of pleural (OR:1.371),border ( OR:8.259) and cavity (OR:7.124) were risk factors.ConclusionFleshless,history of tumor,diameter,density,traction of pleural and the border and cavity were independent predictors of malignancy in patients with ≤3 cm peripheral non-small cell lung cancer.

Birth Weight ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; Male ; Risk Factors

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the breast cancer MRI schedule of reinforcement and the shrinkage pattern of tumor after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and its clinical significance in the guidance of formulating operation plan. Methods:Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan was performed before chemotherapy and before surgery after a whole-range N-Acety-L-Cysteine (NAC) treatment in 55 patients with loco-regionally advanced breast cancer who received the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. MRI sched-ule of reinforcement and the shrinkage pattern of tumor after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were obtained in the treatment, and the corre-lation between the two was analyzed. Results:Of the 55 patients, the unilateral breast mass was found in 54 and the bilateral lesion in 1. There were 56 neo-plastic foci in these patients. The mass-like enhanced image was seen in 24 of the total cases (43%), of which 23 presented with a centripetal shrinkage, 1 with an annular decline, (P<0.01). Multifocal mass-like enhancement image was found in 13 of the total cases, (23%), of which 2 centripetal shrinkages were the singular mass, 11 remained a multifocal lesion after the tumor shrinkage (P<0.01). The mass with peripheral non-tumor-like enhancement image was seen in 8 of the total cases (14%), of which 4 showed a centripetal shrinkage and another 4 a honeycombed multifocal decline (P>0.05). There were 11 of the total cases with non-tu-mor-like enhancement (20%), in which 4 assumed a centripetal shrinkage and 7 a honeycombed multifocal shrinkage (P<0.01). Conclu-sion:The tumor shrinking pattern and its accurate radiological image evaluation are the keys to the selection of breast-conserving sur-gery and the control of local recurrence after treatment of NAC regimen. We can predict the shrinking pattern through the type of the le-sion on baseline before NAC, which is important for the patients and surgeon to get a reasonable expectation in the subsequent treat-ments.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral lung hyperinflation develops in lungs with asymmetric compliance, which can lead to vital instability. The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory dynamics and the effect of airway diameter on the distribution of tidal volume during mechanical ventilation in a lung model with asymmetric compliance. METHODS: Three groups of lung models were designed to simulate lungs with a symmetric and asymmetric compliance. The lung model was composed of two test lungs, lung1 and lung2. The static compliance of lung1 in C15, C60, and C120 groups was manipulated to be 15, 60, and 120 ml/cmH₂O, respectively. Meanwhile, the static compliance of lung2 was fixed at 60 ml/cmH₂O. Respiratory variables were measured above (proximal measurement) and below (distal measurement) the model trachea. The lung model was mechanically ventilated, and the airway internal diameter (ID) was changed from 3 to 8 mm in 1-mm increments. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation ratio of volumes distributed to each lung (VL1/VL2) in airway ID 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were in order, 0.10 ± 0.05, 0.11 ± 0.03, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, and 0.12 ± 0.02 in the C15 group; 1.05 ± 0.16, 1.01 ± 0.09, 1.00 ± 0.07, 0.97 ± 0.09, 0.96 ± 0.06, and 0.97 ± 0.08 in the C60 group; and 1.46 ± 0.18, 3.06 ± 0.41, 3.72 ± 0.37, 3.78 ± 0.47, 3.77 ± 0.45, and 3.78 ± 0.60 in the C120 group. The positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of lung1 was significantly increased at airway ID 3 mm (1.65 cmH₂O) in the C15 group; at ID 3, 4, and 5 mm (2.21, 1.06, and 0.95 cmH₂O) in the C60 group; and ID 3, 4, and 5 mm (2.92, 1.84, and 1.41 cmH₂O) in the C120 group, compared to ID 8 mm (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the C15 and C120 groups, the tidal volume was unevenly distributed to both lungs in a positive relationship with lung compliance. In the C120 group, the uneven distribution of tidal volume was improved when the airway ID was equal to or less than 4 mm, but a significant increase of PEEP was observed.
Airway Obstruction ; Compliance ; Lung Compliance* ; Lung* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Positive-Pressure Respiration, Intrinsic ; Respiration, Artificial ; Tidal Volume ; Trachea ; Ventilation

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze research trends and find whether Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of refugees could affect structural or functional changes of brains of those under MRI, focusing on volumes, functional connectivities, and metabolites. Methods: A literature search was done using PubMed, Embase, RISS, and KMBase to identify studies that matched our research purpose. A total of eight studies were identified using Prisma flow diagram by two reviewers independently. Results: Eight studies were identified. Three studies were on North Korean defectors as subjects. The number of studies that observed structural changes, functional changes, and metabolite changes in brains was 2, 5, and 2, respectively. Although each study observed various parts of the brain, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was observed commonly in three studies. The PTSD group showed reduction of ACC volume and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) metabolite in ACC compared to the non- PTSD group. When exposed to negative stimuli, the PTSD group showed higher neural activity than the non-PTSD group, but not vice versa. Conclusion ACC showed significant difference in volume, neural activity, and NAA metabolite between the PTSD and the non-PTSD group, resulting in significant differences in structural changes, functional changes, metabolite changes, respectively. This study showed the need for conducting more research using various biomarkers to clarify the relationship between PTSD of refugees and their brain changes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze research trends and find whether Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of refugees could affect structural or functional changes of brains of those under MRI, focusing on volumes, functional connectivities, and metabolites. Methods: A literature search was done using PubMed, Embase, RISS, and KMBase to identify studies that matched our research purpose. A total of eight studies were identified using Prisma flow diagram by two reviewers independently. Results: Eight studies were identified. Three studies were on North Korean defectors as subjects. The number of studies that observed structural changes, functional changes, and metabolite changes in brains was 2, 5, and 2, respectively. Although each study observed various parts of the brain, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was observed commonly in three studies. The PTSD group showed reduction of ACC volume and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) metabolite in ACC compared to the non- PTSD group. When exposed to negative stimuli, the PTSD group showed higher neural activity than the non-PTSD group, but not vice versa. Conclusion ACC showed significant difference in volume, neural activity, and NAA metabolite between the PTSD and the non-PTSD group, resulting in significant differences in structural changes, functional changes, metabolite changes, respectively. This study showed the need for conducting more research using various biomarkers to clarify the relationship between PTSD of refugees and their brain changes.

Objective To study the effect of simvastatin on the radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma .Methods Interrupted radiation was used to induce the radioresistance EC 9706 ,named R‐resistant cell . The effect of simvastatin on the proliferation and radiosensitivity of EC 9706 and R‐resistant cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay and colony formation assay ,respectively .Results The radioresistance EC9706 ,named R‐resistant ,was induced successfully .The results of Counting Kit‐8 assay and colony formation assay indicated that simvastatin could sensitize EC9706 and the radioresistance of R‐resistant to irradiation .Conclusion Simvastatin can sensitize esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to irradiation .