Objective To evaluate the reliability of serum catecholamine concentrations in reflecting the depth of dexmedetomidine-based general anesthesia.Methods Forty patients,aged 30-45 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅱ,undergoing elective laparoscopic hysterectomy under general anesthesia,were divided into 2 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table:dexmedetomidine-based general anesthesia group (group Ⅰ) and general anesthesia group (group Ⅱ).Dexmedetomidine was intravenously infused as a loading bolus of 1 μg/kg over 10 min before induction of anesthesia,followed by an infusion of 0.5 μg · kg-1 · h-1 until 30 min before the end of operation in group Ⅰ.The equal volume of normal saline was given instead of dexmedetomidine in group Ⅱ.Anesthesia was induced with iv midazolam 0.05 mg/kg,propofol 1 mg/kg,cisatracurium 0.15 mg/kg and sufentanil 0.4 μg/kg.Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of remifentanil 0.1-0.3 μg · kg-1 · min 1,1％-2％ sevoflurane inhalation and intermittent iv boluses of cisatracurium.Before administration of dexmedetomidine,at the end of administration of the loading dose,at the end of intubation,at the end of skin incision,after establishment of pneumoperitoneum and at the end of operation (T0-5),venous blood samples were taken from the peripheral vein for determination of concentrations of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) in serum (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).Results Compared with group Ⅱ],the serum NE and E concentrations were significantly decreased at T1-4 in group Ⅰ (P＜0.05).Compared with the baseline at T0,the serum NE and E concentrations were significantly decreased at T1 in group Ⅰ,and increased at T2-4 in group Ⅱ (P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum catecholamine concentration produces poor reliability in reflecting the depth of dexmedetomidine-based general anesthesia,and thus it is not a suitable monitoring index.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on the life quality and the effect mechanism in the patients of allergic rhinitis (AR) treated with warm acupuncture in winter and summer.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty patients of AR were randomized into a summer and winter acupuncture group, a non-summer and winter acupuncture group and a western medication group, 80 cases in each one. In the two acupuncture groups, Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected. In the summer and winter acupuncture group, the warm acupuncture started at the first day of the three periods of hot season and the first day of the third nine-day period after the winter solstice. The treatment was given once every two days, continuously for 15 times. Totally, 30 treatments were required a year. In the non-summer and winter acupuncture group, the warm acupuncture was applied out of the three periods of the hot season and the third nine-day period after the winter solstice. The treatment was given once every two days and 30 treatments for a year. In the western medication group, cetirizine was taken orally, continuously for 30 days as one session. In the three groups, the treatment for 1 year was taken as one session. The second session started in the next year. Totally, 2 sessions were required. The score of rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) were compared in the patients' of each group before treatment and in 1 and 2 sessions of treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of 7 domains, named activities, common complaints, practical problems, sleep, ocular symptoms, nasal symptoms and emotions were all improved as compared with those before treatment, in the patients of the three groups (all P < 0.05). After 2 sessions treatment, the results in the summer and winter acupuncture group were better than those in the other two groups (all P < 0.05), and the results in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group were better than those in the western medication group (all P < 0.05). After treatment, serum IgE level was lower averagely than that before treatment in the three groups (all P < 0.05). After 2 sessions treatment, the result in the summer and winter acupuncture group was lower than that in the other two groups (both P < 0.05), and the result in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 92.3% (72/78) in the summer and winter acupuncture group, better than 80.5% (62/77) in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group and 69.7% (53/76) in the western medication group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe warm acupuncture in both summer and winter achieves the definite efficacy on AR and the effect mechanism is relevant with reducing serum IgE level.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Seasons ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Brexanolone, also known as 3a, 5a-tetrahydroprogesterone, is a metabolite of progesterone and an important neuroactive steroid with a wide range of biological activities.Recently, the most exciting thing is that 2019 year the FDA has approved its treatment of postpartum depression, which is also the only drug to obtain indications for postpartum depression.It is expected to officially enter the market by the end of June 2019 year.This article reviews the research progress of its pharmacological action.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a novel transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) puncture set for transjugular intrahepatic portal puncture in swine.Methods:Thirteen domestic swine were randomly divided into experimental group ( n=7) and control group ( n=6) and received transjugular intrahepatic portal puncture with the novel puncture set and the R?sch-Uchida Transjugular Liver Access Set (RUPS-100), respectively. Three swines in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed immediately after the procedure and the rest were sacrificed 1 week later. The intraoperative technical success rate, puncture attempts, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, vital signs and occurrence of complications related to the procedure as well as the changes of liver and kidney function before, immediately after and 1 week after the procedure were compared between two groups. Independent sample t test, paired t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test were performed to compare the differences between groups. Results:The technical success rate was 100% for both groups. No significant difference in portal puncture attempts [2.0 (1.0, 5.0) vs. 2.0(1.0, 5.5), P>0.999], procedure time [(47.7±20.6) vs. (52.5±28.0)min, P=0.729] and fluoroscopy time [(725.1±489.2) vs. (763.7±562.4)s, P=0.897] was observed between two groups. In addition, no significant difference of the major liver and kidney function between two groups before, immediately after and 1 week after procedure ( P>0.05 at all time points). No significant difference of the major liver and kidney function change in two groups during perioperative period was identified (all P>0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference of non-target puncture occurrence was observed between two groups ( P>0.999). In the meantime, no significant difference of occurrence of small hematomas around hepatic hilar was discovered among swine sacrificed immediately after procedure between two groups ( P>0.999). No other major complications were identified in either group. Conclusion:The novel TIPS puncture set is feasible and safe to perform transjugular intrahepatic portal puncture in swine.

The R (replicase) protein is the uniquely defined non-structural protein (NSP) responsible for RNA replication, mutation rate or fidelity, regulation of transcription in coronaviruses and many other ssRNA viruses. Based on our complete genome sequences of four isolates (BJ01-BJ04) of SARS-CoV from Beijing, China, we analyzed the structure and predicted functions of the R protein in comparison with 13 other isolates of SARS-CoV and 6 other coronaviruses. The entire ORF (open-reading frame) encodes for two major enzyme activities, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and proteinase activities. The R polyprotein undergoes a complex proteolytic process to produce 15 function-related peptides. A hydrophobic domain (HOD) and a hydrophilic domain (HID) are newly identified within NSP1. The substitution rate of the R protein is close to the average of the SARS-CoV genome. The functional domains in all NSPs of the R protein give different phylogenetic results that suggest their different mutation rate under selective pressure. Eleven highly conserved regions in RdRp and twelve cleavage sites by 3CLP (chymotrypsin-like protein) have been identified as potential drug targets. Findings suggest that it is possible to obtain information about the phylogeny of SARS-CoV, as well as potential tools for drug design, genotyping and diagnostics of SARS.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; Conserved Sequence ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Components ; Genome, Viral ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA Replicase ; genetics ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic effect of percutaneous intranodal lymphography in patient with chylous leakage.Methods:The clinical data of percutaneous intranodal lymphography in patients with chylous leakage from January 2019 to November 2019 in Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 8 patients (5 males and 3 females, median age 64 years old) were enrolled. Four patients were iatrogenic chylothorax, 3 patients iatrogenic chyloperitoneum, and 1 patient chyloperitoneum with unknown cause. All 8 patients were received inguinal lymph nodes puncture under ultrasound guidance, and contrast agent iodinated oil was injected for lymphography. The procedure complications were recorded and the follow-up data were collected for efficacy assessment.Results:The percutaneous intranodal lymphography was successfully performed in all patients (8/8). The median amount of iodinated oil used was 17.5 ml; the median operation time was 88 min, without complications found during the procedure. The results of percutaneous intranodal lymphography was positive in 5/8 cases, of which chylothorax and chyloperitoneum was 4/4 and 1/4, respectively. Four cases with chylothorax showed contrast extravasation at different level of thoracic duct, and 1 case after pancreatic cancer resection showed contrast extravasation at L3-4 level. The chylous leakage was treated in 5 patients (5/8) during and resolved after percutaneous intranodal lymphography, with 3 chylothorax and 2 chyloperitoneum cases, respectively.Conclusion:Percutaneous intranodal lymphography is a safe and effective lymphography method for the diagnosis of chylous leakage, and also has application values in the treatment of chylous leakage.

Objective:To evaluate early weight-bearing walking with inflatable boots after repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture based on the concept of rapid rehabilitation.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 69 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Fuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from April 2020 to July 2021. There were 56 males and 13 females with a mean age of 37.0(31.0, 47.0) years and a body mass index of (23.7±2.6) kg/m 2. There were 55 cases of closed injury and 14 cases of open injury; 62 cases had simple Achilles tendon injury and 7 cases were complicated with neurovascular tendon injury. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their rehabilitation methods. The treatment group of 23 cases was subjected to weight-bearing walking with inflatable boots early after repair while the control group of 46 cases to traditional plaster bracket fixation for 4 weeks before weight-bearing walking with inflatable boots. The 2 groups were compared in terms of hospitalization time, wound infection rate, return to sports time, single heel lifting time, Achilles tendon re-rupture rate, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment (VISA-A), Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score (AOFAS-AH). Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for 11 (10, 11) months after surgery. In the treatment group, the hospitalization time [4 (3, 5) days] and single heel lifting time [(12.5±1.4) weeks] were significantly shorter than those in the control group [6 (5, 9) days and (17.0±1.5) weeks], the return to sports time [21 (20, 22) months] was significantly earlier than that in the control group [23 (22, 24) months], and the VISA-A score [(89.4±1.3) points] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(78.5±1.7) points] ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the wound infection rate between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). At 3 and 6 months after surgery, respectively, the treatment group had significantly higher ATRS scores [(85.5±1.4) and (89.0±1.6) points] and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores [(89.0±1.7) and (92.0±1.5) points] than the control group [(79.3±1.8) and (87.0±1.3) points; (80.2±1.9) and (88.4±1.9) points] (all P<0.05). In all patients, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score at 6 months postoperatively was significantly higher than that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05). Achilles tendon re-rupture occurred in none of the patients. Conclusion:After repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture, compared with traditional plaster bracket fixation, early weight-bearing walking with inflatable boots can lead to better short-term clinical outcomes to enhance recovery after surgery without increasing the rate of open wound infection or re-rupture.

Beijing has been one of the epicenters attacked most severely by the SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus) since the first patient was diagnosed in one of the city's hospitals. We now report complete genome sequences of the BJ Group, including four isolates (Isolates BJ01, BJ02, BJ03, and BJ04) of the SARS-CoV. It is remarkable that all members of the BJ Group share a common haplotype, consisting of seven loci that differentiate the group from other isolates published to date. Among 42 substitutions uniquely identified from the BJ group, 32 are non-synonymous changes at the amino acid level. Rooted phylogenetic trees, proposed on the basis of haplotypes and other sequence variations of SARS-CoV isolates from Canada, USA, Singapore, and China, gave rise to different paradigms but positioned the BJ Group, together with the newly discovered GD01 (GD-Ins29) in the same clade, followed by the H-U Group (from Hong Kong to USA) and the H-T Group (from Hong Kong to Toronto), leaving the SP Group (Singapore) more distant. This result appears to suggest a possible transmission path from Guangdong to Beijing/Hong Kong, then to other countries and regions.
Genome, Viral ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mutation ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; SARS Virus ; genetics