OBJECTIVETo observe and assess the immunosuppressive effect of applying bailing capsule (BLC, a dry powder preparation of Cordyceps sinensis mycelia), after renal transplantation, its influence on other systems of organism, and to explore the possible therapeutic mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-one recipients of renal homo-allograft were randomly divided into two groups. The 64 cases in Group A was treated with cyclosporin A (Cs A) + prednisone (pred) + azathioprine (Aza), the 57 in Group B treated with Cs A + pred + BLC. They were followed-up for 1-2 year by checking up blood routine, urine routine, liver and renal function, blood electrolytes, glucose and lipids, and uric acid for 2 times every week in the first month after transplantation, followed by proper re-examination of these items according to various condition.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups in aspects of graft survival rate, occurrence of reject reaction, renal function recovery, blood electrolytes and blood glucose levels. However, as compared with Group A, in Group B, levels of urinary erythrocytes and leucocytes, blood alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol, uric acid as well as the incidence of infection were significantly lower, and blood high density lipoprotein, serum total protein, albumin, RBC and WBC count were significantly higher.

CONCLUSIONBLC could effectively prevent the reject response after renal transplantation, protect renal and liver function, stimulate hemopoietic function, improve hypoproteinemia and hyperlipidemia, reduce the infection, etc., therefore, it is an ideal immunosuppressor after organ transplantation.

Adult ; Capsules ; Cordyceps ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Period ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use

Objective To observe in vitro the effect of mechanical stress at different intensities on the pro-liferation, apoptosis and extracellular matrix of degenerative human nucleus pulposus cells. Methods The cells were isolated and cultured in vitro, and divided into a control group, a low-intensity group, a medium-intensity group and a high-intensity group. The low-, medium- and high-intensity groups were stretched mechanically by 1000 μ, 2000μor 4000μrespectively for 6 hours using a four-point bending system, while the control group was not stressed. Flow cytometry was used to explore any changes in the cell cycle and the proliferation index ( PI) . The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA) , B-cell lymphoma-2 ( BCL-2)/Bax, collagen II and aggrecan were meas-ured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Results The mechanical stretching significantly influ-enced proliferation, apoptosis and the extracellular matrices compared with the control group. The PI and PCNA ex-pression increased at first and then decreased gradually with the exercise intensity. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression level of Bcl-2/Bax increased significantly to 1.53 times that of the control group after 1000 μstretching, but to only 0.71 times that of the control group at 2000μand 0.43 times at 4000μ. The gene expression of collagen II increased significantly by 1. 1 times and that of aggrecan by 1. 3 times after 1000 μ stress stimulation compared with the control group ( P≤0.05) . However, the expression of collagen II and aggrecan was inhibited sig-nificantly at 2000 and 4000 μ , with the lowest levels at 4000 μ (P≤0.05). Conclusion Stretching at different intensities has different effects on the proliferation, apoptosis and extracellular matrix of human pulposus cells with degenerate nuclei.

Objective To evaluate the effect of ventilation with different positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEPs) on intracranial pressure in the patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery.Methods Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 25-55 yr,with body mass index of 18-27 kg/m2,scheduled for elective gynecological endoscopic surgery,were divided into 3 groups (n=20 each) using a random number table method:routine ventilation group (group A),4 cmH2O PEEP group (group B) and 8 cmH2O PEEP group (group C).The patients were mechanically ventilated with PEEP 4 or 8 cmH2O at 5 min of head-down tilt after start of pneumoperitoneum in group B and group C.The patients were mechanically ventilated in volume-controlled mode,with tidal volume 7 ml/kg,inspired oxygen concentration 50％ and inspiratory/expiratory ratio 1 ∶ 2.Blood samples were collected from the radial artery for measurement of PaCO2 and PaO2 at 5 min after tracheal intubation (T0),5,15 and 30 min of head-down tilt (T1-3),and 5 min of the supine position after the end of pneumoperitoneum (T4).The peak airway pressure (Ppeak) was recorded,dynamic pulmonary compliance (Cdyn)was calculated,and optic nerve sheath diameter was measured using an ultrasonic apparatus at T0-4.Cognitive function was assessed at 1 day before surgery and 7 days after surgery using Mini-Mental State Examination.Results Compared with group A,Ppeak was significantly increased at T1-4,and PaO2 was increased at T2 in group B,and Ppeak and PaO2 were increased at T1-4,and Cdyn was increased at T1,2 in group C (P＜0.05).Compared with group B,Ppeak was significantly increased at T4,and Cdyn was increased at T2 in group C (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in optic nerve sheath diameter or Mini-Mental State Examination score at each time point among three groups (P＞0.05).No patients developed cognitive dysfunction at 7 days after surgery in three groups.Conclusion Ventilation with different PEEPs causes no increase in intracranial pressure of the patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and ferroptosis during curcumin-induced reduction of acute lung injury in a mouse model of sepsis.Methods:One hundred and fifty-two SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 23-27 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=38 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (C group), sepsis group (S group), curcumin group (Cur group) and curcumin plus SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 group (CE group). Curcumin 200 mg/kg was administered by intragastric gavage every day in Cur group. Curcumin 200 mg/kg was administered by intragastric gavage every day and EX527 5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in CE group. The equal volume of solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was given in C group and S group. Sepsis model was developed by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) after 5 days of consecutive administration in anesthetized animals. Twenty mice in each group were randomly selected to observe the survival condition within 7 days after CLP. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected at 24 h after developing the model to determine the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and IL-18 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and the lung tissues were obtained for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored and for determination of wet-to-dry lung weight (W/D) ratio, contents of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and iron (by colorimetry), and expression of SIRT1, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) (by Western blot). Results:Compared with C group, the 7-day survival rate after CLP was significantly decreased, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 in BALF, W/D ratio and lung injury score were increased, the content of GSH in lung tissues was decreased, the contents of MDA and iron were increased, the expression of SIRT1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was up-regulated in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the 7-day survival rate after CLP was significantly increased, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 in BALF, W/D ratio and lung injury score were decreased, the content of GSH was increased, the contents of MDA and iron were decreased, the expression of SIRT1 and GPX4 was up-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was down-regulated in Cur group ( P<0.05). Compared with Cur group, the 7-day survival rate after CLP was significantly decreased, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 in BALF, W/D ratio and lung injury score were increased, the content of GSH was decreased, the contents of MDA and iron were increased, the expression of SIRT1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was up-regulated in CE group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which curcumin attenuates acute lung injury may be related to activation of SIRT1 and further inhibition of ferroptosis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the maximum dose of continuously infused mivacurium for intraoperative neuromonitoring and observe its adverse effects in thyroid surgery. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients undergoing thyroid surgery with intraoperative neuromonitoring received continuous infusion of mivacurium at the initial rate of 5.43 μg?kg?min, and the infusion rate for the next patient was adjusted based on the response of the previous patient according to the results of neurological monitoring. The depth of anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil during the surgery. The LD50 and 95% of mivacurium were calculated using Brownlee's up-and-down sequential method. RESULTS: The LD50 of continuously infused mivacurium was 8.94 μg?kg?min (95% : 8.89- 8.99 μg?kg?min) during thyroid surgery, which did not affect neurological function monitoring. Transient chest skin redness occurred after induction in 9 patients (32.1%). None of the patients experienced intubation difficulties or showed intraoperative body motions during the surgery. CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing thyroid surgery under anesthesia maintained by inhalation and intravenous infusion, the LD50 of mivacurium was 8.94 μg?kg?min (95% : 8.89-8.99 μg?kg?min) for continuous infusion, which does not cause serious adverse effects during the operation.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Humans ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring ; methods ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mivacurium ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Remifentanil ; Sevoflurane ; Thyroid Gland ; surgery