Objective To compare the pharmacokinetic profile of propofol administered by target-controlled infusion (TCI) during anesthesia in patients with and without obstructive jaundice. Methods Twenty-four ASAⅠorⅡpatients aged 40-65 yrs weighing 50-75 kg undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were divided into 3 groups (n = 8 each) : group A control (serum total bilirubin 171.1?mol?L-1) . Each group received propofol by TCI using Graseby 3500 infusion pump, based on pharmacokinetic parameter set published by Marsh. The target plasma concentration of propofol was set at 3?g?ml-1 . TCI of propofol was started from the induction of anesthesia and maintained until the end of the surgery. Arterial blood samples were taken at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 min after TCI of propofol was started and every 15 min during maintenance of anesthesia and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300 min after TCI was terminated. Plasma concentrations of propofol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector. NONMEM was used to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters. Results The 3 groups were comparable with respect to sex ratio, age and body weight. The pharmacokinetic profile of propofol given by TCI was best described by three-compartment open pharmacokinetic model in the majority of patients and by two-compartment open pharmacokinetic model in a few patients. There were no significant differences in the pharmacokinetic profile of propofol among the 3 groups. Conclusion Obstructive jaundice does not affect the pharmacokinetics of propofol.

Objective To investigate the role of activation of Akt/mTOR pathway in denfense against UVB-induced apoptosis in cultured human skin keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Methods HaCaT cells were irradiated with UVB at different doses for various durations. Western blotting was performed to detect dynamic changes of Akt/mTOR pathway-related signaling molecule, such as phosphorylated-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), -Akt, -4EBP1, etc; apoptosis was estimated by staining with DNA dye Hoechst 33342. To evaluate the role of signaling molecules in defense against UVB-induced apoptosis, HaCaT cells were pretreated before irradiation with EGFR inhibitor (PD153035), PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) followed by the detection of expressions of signaling molecule and apoptosis. Results UVB could activate Akt/mTOR pathway in a dose- (5 ～ 30 mJ/cm2) and time- (5 ～ 30 min) dependent manner. PD153035,LY 294002 and rapamycin could inhibit UVB-induced activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. The apoptosis rate in HaCaT cells was upregulated by pretreatment with rapamycin and LY294002. Conclusion The activation of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway could inhibit the UVB-induced apoptosis in cultured HaCaT cells.

Objective To investigate whether rat grimace scale (RGS)could be used to assess pain in chronic pancreatitis,so as to provide evidence for pain research and clinical assessment of rat pain.Methods Twenty-eight adult male wister rats were evenly randomized into two groups (n =14):an experimental group and a control group.The experimental group was intravenously given 8 mg/kg body weight dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC)to induce chronic pancreatitis,and the control group was injected with ethanol and glycerin solution.Abdominal hypersensitivity,RGS scores and weight at different time points was detected.HE staining was used to detect the histological changes of pancre-atic tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the rats in the experimental group showed chro-nic inflammation in pancreatic tissue in two weeks.There was a significant increase in the number of abdominal withdrawals (P < 0.001 )and RGS in the experimental group.Conclusion Rat grimace scale might lead to a successful transition of basic science findings into clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the long-term efficacy of cervical artificial disc replacement for patients with degenerative cervical canal stenosis.Methods All of 43 patienta underwent single level Bryan cervical artificial disc replacement for degenerative cervical canal stenosis were retrospectively analyzed with a minimum 10 years follow-up in our hospital between December 2003 and December 2007.There were 28 males and 15 females with an average age of 56.7 ± 8.0 years which ranged from 37 to 76 including 1 case of C3.4 level,11 xases of ~ level,26 cases of C~ level and 5 cases of C6,7 level.According to the symptoms and location of compression on radiograph,the patients were divided into 3 groups:15 patients in radiculopathy group,10 patients in myelopathy group and 18 patients in myeloradiculo p~hy group.Radidogical evaluation indexes include global range of motion (ROM),segmental ROM,segmental Cobb angle.Clinical evaluation indexes including Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score,neck disability index (NDI) and Odom's criteria.The variable data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA,the grading data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis H test.The preoperative and postoperative data were analyzed by paired t test.Results At the last follow-up,the Cobb angle of the operative segment was 1.29°±1.34°in myelopathy group(t=4.606,P=0.001),0.71°±2.20°in radiculopathy group (t=2.355,P=0.034),and 0.69°±2.12° in myeloradiculopathy group (t=3.312,P=0.004),which was significantly lower than that before operation.At the last follow-up,ROM of the operative segment in myelopathy group was 6.41 o ±4.87°,which was significantly lower than that before operation (11.46° ±5.19°,t=3.589,P＜ 0.05),and there was no significant difference in the other two groups.There was no significant difference in other imaging parameters among the three groups.JOA scores at the last follow-up were 16.33±0.75 in radiculopathy group (t=5.857,P＜ 0.001),16.00±1.05 in myelopathy group(t=8.337,P＜ 0.001) and 14.78±1.69 in radiculopathy group (t=4.045,P＜ 0.001);NDI were 13.07％±5.90％ in radiculopathy group (t=7.097,P＜ 0.001),12.60％±4.22％ in myelopathy group (t=7.319,P＜ 0.001) and 23.11％±14.18％ in radiculopathy group (t=4.229,P＜ 0.001),which were all significantly improved than those before operation.The excellent and good rate of Odom's criteria (H=2.719,2.411,P＜ 0.05),JOA (LAD-t=3.770,4.080,P＜0,05) and NDI(LAD-t=2.850,2.643,P＜ 0.05) at the last follow-up of the patients in radiculopathy group and myelopathy group were better than those of patients in myeloradiculopathy group (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Cervical artificial disc replacement has a satisfied long-term clinical efficacy with degenerative cervical canal stenosis.The efficacy of myelopathy and radiculopathy were better than myeloradiculopathy.

Objective To investigate if anesthetic sensitivity to propofol will be restored after biliary decompression.Methods Twenty-four adult male SD rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups:sham group (group S),irreversible obstructive jaundice group (group Ⅰ) and reversible obstructive jaundice group (group R).The serum total bilirubin (TBL) and total bile acid (TBA) concentratins were detected in the rat blood samples collected from the caudal vein before and after the operation,3,7,14,21 d respectively.Propofol was administered to measure the time of loss of righting reflex and recovery pre or 7th and 21th day post ligation.Results Serum TBL and TBA in group Ⅰ and serum TBA in group R were significantly higher than that in group S on 3rd,7th,14th,21th day post surgery(P＜0.05).Compared with group S,seum TBL in group R were significantly high on 3rd,7th,14th day post-surgery.Serm TBL and TBA in group R were significantly lower than group Ⅰ on 14th,21th day post-surgery (P＜0.05).Compared with group S,the time to loss of righting reflex in group I and group R were significantly shortened and the time to recovery were significantly increased on 7th day post-surgery (P＜0.05).Conclusion Obstructive jaundice could significantly potentiate the ability of propofol to induce a loss of righting reflex,and the increased anesthesia sensitivity will be restored after biliary decompression.