ObjectiveTo investigate the role of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha （TNFα） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in rostral ventromedial medulla （RVM） in chronic postsurgical pain （CPSP） induced by skin/muscle incision and retraction （SMIR）. MethodsSD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups： ① Sham group； ② SMIR group； ③ SMIR+TNFα/IL-1β neutralizing antibody group； ④ SMIR+TNFα/IL-1β group and ⑤ SMIR+vehicle group. 50% paw mechanical withdrawal threshold （MWT） was measured by the up-down method， immunofluroscence was used to detect the TNFα and IL-1β expression and ELISA for the 5-Hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） level. ResultsSMIR elicited persistent nociceptive sensitization， upregulated TNFα and IL-1β expression in RVM neurons and astrocytes. Microinjection of TNFα or IL-1β neutralizing antibody into RVM inhibited the development of nociceptive sensitization and decreased the level of 5-HT in both RVM and spinal dorsal horn. While microinjection of recombinant TNFα or IL-1β into RVM enhanced the development of nociceptive sensitization and increased the level of 5-HT in both RVM and spinal dorsal horn. ConclusionUp-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines in RVM may contribute to SMIR induced CPSP by promoting 5-HT release.

Myxomas are the most frequent, cardiac benign cardiac tumors which often present with stroke caused by tumorous orthrombotic emboli. The treatment of embolic stroke due to cardiac myxoma is still a clinical and technical challenge. A 61-year-old man who had an embolic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery was admitted to the Third Poeple′s Hospital of Huizhou. The initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 16. He received endovascular thrombectomy after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) one hour after stroke onset. No intracranial hemorrhage developed. Pathological study of embolus showed a myxoma. A cardiac mass was found in the left atrium and removed surgically three weeks after stroke. Pathological study of the tumor showed a myxoma. At the one-month follow-up after excision of myxoma, the NIHSS score was 1 and the modified Rankin scale score was 0. No recurrence of embolism occurred after surgical resection. Endovascular thrombectomy after intravenous rt-PA (bridging therapy) for embolic stroke due to cardiac myxoma is safe and effective, and early resection of atrial myxoma can effectively avoid recurrence of cerebral infarction.