OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) on post-operative cognitive function and the change in serum S-100beta protein under the compound anesthesia of acupuncture and drugs.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-four patients of abdominal operation at selective time were randomized into a routine drug anesthesia group (group A, 24 cases), a meridian point 2 Hz group (group B, 26 cases), a me ridian point 2 Hz/100 Hz group (group C, 25 cases), a meridian point 100 Hz group (group D, 24 cases) and a transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation 2 Hz/100 Hz group (group E, 25 cases). In group A, the endotrachea-lgeneral anesthesia was applied. In the rest groups, the acupuncture anesthesia was induced for 30 min before the endotracheal general anesthesia, at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29) and Neiguan (PC 6), with G6805-2 electric acupuncture apparatus used. In group B, the continuous wave and 2Hz in frequency were selected. In group C, the disperse-dense wave and 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency were selected. In group D, the continuous wave and 100 Hz in frequency were selected. In group E, the disperse-dense wave and 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency were selected, and the electrode pads were stick on the acupoints and connected with the electric stimulation till the end of operation. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was adopted to evaluate and record the changes in cognitive function 1 day before operation and on the 3rd day after operation. The conditions of post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in the patients and the changes in serum S-100beta protein were monitored before and at the end of operation.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of POCD on the 3rd day after operation was 41.7% (10/24) in group A. The incidence rates of POCD were 26.9% (7/26), 16.0% (4/25), 33.3% (8/24) and 16.0% (4/25) in group B, C, D and E separately. Compared with group A, the incidence rate of PCOD in group B, C, D and E were reduced (all P<0.05), the incidence rate in group C and E were lower than that in groups B and D (all P<0.05). At the end of operation, the level of serumS-100beta protein was (0.186 +/- 0.027) microg/L in group A, the levels were (0.165 +/- 0. 028) microg/L, (0.166 +/- 0.027) microg/L, (0.163 +/- 0.025) microg/L and (0.164 +/- 0.025) microg/L in group B, C, D and E separately. The levels of serum S-100beta protein in group B, C, D and E were lower than that in group A separately (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe general anesthesia assisted with EA at different frequencies reduces the incidence of cognitive dysfunctionand, decreases the level of serum S-100beta protein after intestinal cancer resection. The effects of the meridian point electric stimulation at 2 Hz/100 Hz and the transcutaneous electric stimulation at 2 Hz/100 Hz are the best. Hence, these two approaches of anesthesia deserve to be recommended practically.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Acupuncture Analgesia ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia, General ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of acupuncture-anesthetic composite anesthesia (AACA) on the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and changes of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in elderly patients.

METHODSTotally 83 patients undergoing surgical resection of gastrointestinal tumor were randomly assigned to the simple anesthesia group (A group, 41 cases) and the AACA group (B group, 42 cases). Patients in Group A received endotracheal general anesthesia. Those in Group B were induced by acupuncture anesthesia for 30 min by needling at Baihui (DU20), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36). The electro-acupuncture (EA) apparatus was connected after arrival of qi, with the wave pattern of density 2/100 Hz. The stimulus intensity was set by patients' tolerance, with the peak current of 5 mA. Then the endotracheal general anesthesia was performed and the EA lasted till the end of the surgery. The cognitive function of all patients was assessed before operation and at day 3 after operation using mini-mental state examination (MMSE). POCD was confirmed if with one or more decreased stand- ard. The peripheral venous blood was collected before anesthesia induction (TO), immediately at the end of surgery (T1), 24 h after operation (T2), and 48 h after operation (T3), and serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were correspondingly measured using ELISA.

RESULTSThe postoperative anesthesia awakening time was shorter in Group B than in Group A [(20.37 +/- 6.09) min vs (29.24 +/- 7.48) min, P < 0.05]. The remifentanil dose used during the operation was less in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05). The incidence of POCD at day 3 was lower in Group B than in Group A [10/41 (23.8%) vs 15/42 (36.5%), P < 0.05]. The concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha at T1-T3 were higher than those at TO in the two groups (P < 0.05). The increment of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta was less in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION AACA could reduce the incidence of POCD and inhibit postoperative release of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in elderly patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Aged ; Cognition Disorders ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in China. With increasing of the incidence and mortality, the harm to women is becoming much serious. Estrogen positive patients need to take 5-10 years′ endocrine drugs to prolong survival and prevent recurrence. Endocrine therapy has become one of the most common and effective methods in the treatment of breast cancer. In order to achieve the desired effect of cancer treatment, reduce cancer metastasis and recurrence rate, good compliance is essential. In conclusion, this review summarizes the evaluation of compliance, various evaluation tools and their use.

Objective To establish a stable primary culture of rat cerebellar granule neurons in vitro for further study the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.Methods Cerebellar cortices were taken from brain of Wistar rat 5-7 day old after born under stereoscopic microscope.Single cell suspension was acquired after digestion and washing with trypsin (0.25％) and DNase Ⅰ solution,respectively.Granule cells were purified from other cells by differential velocity adherence method for two times.Rat cerebellar granule neurons were seeded in culture plate pre-coated with poly-L-lysine.Neurons growth,development and synaptic connections were observed daily.The neurons were identified by neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunofluorescence technique.Results The neurons were affixed to the culture plate in 24 hours,in reticular arrangement observed under contrast microscope.Granule cells gradually turned round from oval and outlines became clearer in 2-3 days.In 4-6 days,there were a wide range of synaptic connections among the neurons and a mature nerve cell network formed.A large quantity of cerebellar granule neurons was seen by NSE identification.Few bigger cells such as purkinjes cells and glial cell outlines were also seen in the same visual field.Conclusions This is a successful primary culture method for acquirement of rat cerebellar granule neurons.The method can provide experimental basis for future studies the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.

Background: Dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A member 5 (SMARCA5) is a key regulator of chromatin structure and DNA repair, but its role in ECs remains surprisingly unexplored. The current study was designed to elucidate the regulated expression and function of SMARCA5 in diabetic ECs. Methods: SMARCA5 expression was evaluated in ECs from diabetic mouse and human circulating CD34+ cells using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Effects of SMARCA5 manipulation on ECs function were evaluated using cell migration, in vitro tube formation and in vivo wound healing assays. Interaction among oxidative stress, SMARCA5 and transcriptional reprogramming was elucidated using luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results: Endothelial SMARCA5 expression was significantly decreased in diabetic rodents and humans. Hyperglycemia-suppressed SMARCA5 impaired EC migration and tube formation in vitro, and blunted vasculogenesis in vivo. Contrarily, overexpression of SMARCA5 in situ by a SMARCA5 adenovirus-incorporated hydrogel effectively promoted the rate of wound healing in a dorsal skin punch injury model of diabetic mice. Mechanistically, hyperglycemia-elicited oxidative stress suppressed SMARCA5 transactivation in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent manner. Moreover, SMARCA5 maintained transcriptional homeostasis of several pro-angiogenic factors through both direct and indirect chromatin-remodeling mechanisms. In contrast, depletion of SMARCA5 disrupted transcriptional homeostasis to render ECs unresponsive to established angiogenic factors, which ultimately resulted in endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Conclusion Suppression of endothelial SMARCA5 contributes to, at least in part, multiple aspects of endothelial dysfunction, which may thereby exacerbate cardiovascular complications in diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo access the feasibility of employing metabonomics method in clinical studies. This pilot study intends to introduce nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics method to elucidate the metabolism of non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCLP) patients.

METHODSHigh-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy was performed on blood plasma obtained from NSCLP and non-malformed children. All signal of 1H NMR spectra were recognized within MESTRE-v4.7, and the 1H NMR spectra integration into bins (or buckets) across the spectral regions of bin 0.04 was performed automatically in MESTRE-v4.7. The resulting data matrix was further analyzed, which was performed by SIMCA-P 11.0. The principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the centered data to explore any clustering behavior of the samples.

RESULTSThe results demonstrated the metabonomic difference in plasma between NSCLP and non-malformed children at least lies in 3-Hydroxybutyrate gamma-CH3, arginine and valine. Arginine excretion appeared to be higher in the non-malformed children population, while NSCLP population excreted higher concentrations of 3-Hydroxybutyrate gamma-CH3 and valine.

CONCLUSIONThe present study clearly demonstrated the great potential of the NMR-based metabonomics approach in elucidating the NSCLP plasma metabolism and the possibility of application in clinic diagnosis and screening.

Child ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Pilot Projects

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features and to evaluate outcomes and to assess therapeutic effects in 34 children and adolescents with Hodgkin lymphoma treated with risk-adapted combination chemotherapy and low-dose, involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) in China.

METHODFrom January 2003 to April 2009, 34 hospitalized children with Hodgkin lymphoma were enrolled into the BCH-HL 2003 protocol (revised CCG 5942) in our hospital. Pathological samples were reviewed centrally and classified based on the World Health Organization guidelines. Staging was based on clinical evaluation and was defined by the Ann Arbor staging system. The 34 patients were treated according to the different risk factors in three treatment groups (standard, intermediate, and high risk), and received risk-adapted combination chemotherapy and IFRT. All analyses were calculated by the statistical program SPSS.

RESULTOf the 34 Hodgkin lymphoma patients, 28 were male and 6 were female. The median age was 8.7 years (range from 4 years to 15 years) at the time of diagnosis. In terms of clinical presentation, 53% had bulky lymph nodes, 47.1% had more than 4 node regions involved and 44% had "B" symptoms at presentation. The distribution for stage of disease was 0% for Stage I, 21% for Stage II, 35% for Stage III and 44% for Stage IV disease. All patients had classical histology consisting of three different sub-discipline: 22 cases of mixed cellularity (64.7%). In pathological samples of 25 cases there was EBV encoded RNA (EBER) or latent membrane protein (LMP) staining. The overall survival (OS) was 100% and the 5-year event-free survival was 94.1% with a median follow-up of (26.1 ± 16.3) months. Two patients had early relapse after treatment was finished. Organ toxicity was limited to hematological grades III and IV at rates of 40% and 71% respectively.

CONCLUSIONChildhood Hodgkin lymphoma in our study was more frequently seen in male school aged children. Combined-modality therapy using risk-adapted chemotherapy with radiation is effective and well tolerated. The overall prognosis was good.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hodgkin Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo summarize the histological and clinical characteristics of 40 cases with Burkitt's and Burkitt-like lymphoma in children, to evaluate the effects of treatment with international regimen, and to explore the treatment-related complications and prognostic factors.

METHODSForty patients with Burkitt's and Burkitt-like lymphoma were registered in Beijing Children Hospital from Feb 2003 to Apr 2006. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry of biopsy, and clinical staging by the examination of imaging, cerebrospinal fluid and bone marrow based on St. Jude system. Intensive, short-term chemotherapy witch was modified from LMB89 protocol was given to the patients.

RESULTSOf the 40 patients, 30 were diagnosed as Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) and 10 as Burkitt-like lymphoma (BLL). Antibody against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-Ab) was positive in 19 cases at diagnosis, only 7 of the patients were positive for EBER. Thirty-three of the cases were male and 7 female (M:F = 4.7:1); the median age was 6 years 9 months. The most frequently seen clinical characteristics were abdominal masses and surgical abdomen. Nine cases were at stage I - II and 31 cases at stage III - IV at diagnosis; CNS was involved in 4 cases and bone marrow in 2 cases. The courses of treatment were approximately 2 - 8 months. All the patients were followed up, the median follow-up period was 22.6 months. After chemotherapy, 35 patients (88.7%) were still alive during the one-year follow-up. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 81.8%. Major toxicity was myelosuppression and mucositis. Stage III to IV of myelosuppression occurred in the most patients with unresected tumor and CNS-involvement. Of 5 patients who died, 2 died of infection, 2 died of lymphoma progression during chemotherapy, and 1 died of relapse.

CONCLUSIONBurkitt's and Burkitt-like lymphoma are the most common NHL in children with rapid clinical process. Outcome was greatly improved by current intensive, short-term chemotherapy regimen, the 3-year EFS was 81.8% including the patients who were in advanced stage. Childhood lymphoma with short clinical history, stage IV and residual disease after 3 months of therapy are associated with poor prognosis.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; growth & development

BACKGROUNDThe mechanisms of action of volatile anesthetics are still unknown. Recently, the use of genetics as a means to investigate anesthetic action has increased in scale. However, only limited forward genetic approach studies were performed in mammals, especially with volatile anesthetics as the selection agent. In the present study, a selective breeding process was designed to produce strains of mice with different sensitivity to isoflurane.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty male and female virgin outbred ICR/CD-1 mice at 65 - 70 days of age were selected as original generation, and the median effective dose (ED(50)) of inhaled isoflurane were measured by probit analysis with the loss of righting reflex as the endpoint of anesthesia. The most sensitive males and females were selected and mated one another randomly, as with the most resistant males and females. Thus two branches of mice (sensitive and resistant to isoflurane) were created and allowed to produce the next generation. At 65 - 70 days of age, screening experiment was performed in offspring, by selecting the most sensitive mice in sensitive branch and the most resistant mice in resistant branch. Selected males and females within each branch were mated one another randomly to produce the following generation. The same procedure was performed in the offspring. The process of screening and breeding was repeated for 8 generations, and then strains were conserved by mating the offspring one another randomly within each branch for 3 generations. Each pair of mice was allowed to produce the second litters as a backup, and isoflurane ED(50) was measured in mice from the second litters.

RESULTSIsoflurane righting reflex ED(50)s (95% confidence limit (CL)) in original mice were 0.65% (0.58% - 0.72%) in females and 0.63% (0.56% - 0.69%) in males. After the 4th generation, isoflurane ED(50)s in resistant branch were significantly higher than those in sensitive branch (P < 0.05), for both in females and males. In the 11th generation, isoflurane ED(50) in the two branches differed by 32% in females and 36% in males.

CONCLUSIONSAfter 8 generations of selective breeding and 3 generations of strain conservation, two strains of mice with high and low sensitivity to isoflurane were developed. The separation of inhaled anesthetic requirement in parents could be transferred to the offspring in mice.

Anesthetics, Inhalation ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Breeding ; methods ; Female ; Isoflurane ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Reflex ; drug effects ; Selection, Genetic ; genetics