Objective To investigate the effects of sevoflurane on the systemic inflammatory response and cardiopulmonary function in septic shock rats. Methods Thirty-two SD rats, 8-10 months old, weighing 250-300 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8 each): sham operation group (group S), cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induced septic shock group (group CLP) , sevoflurane I group (group SEV, ) and sevoflurane II group (group SEV,). The abdomen was opened but CLP was not performed in group S. The septic shock was induced by CLP as described by Baker et al. Group SEV, and SEV, inhaled 2.4% sevoflurane for 30 min at 1 h and 3 h after the successful establishment of the model respectively. At 1, 3 and 5 h after septic shock, MAP and HR were recorded and arterial blood samples were taken for blood gas analysis and determination of plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1, MDA and NO. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and cardiac output (CO) were also detected 5 h after septic shock. The animals were killed after the detection of cardiac function. The lungs were removed for determination of W/D lung weight ratio and Evans blue (EB) content. The tissues from the heart, lung, liver and kidney were taken for detection of NF-kB activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) ResultsMAP was significantly lower, HR higher, LVEDD, LVESD, LVFS, CO, pH value, PaO2 and PaCO2 lower, and W/D lung weight ratio, EB content, plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1, MDA and NO, and NF-kB activity in the heart, lung, liver and kidney tissues higher in group CLP, SEV, and SEV2 than in group S (P < 0.05). NF-kB activity in the heart, lung, liver and kidney tissues and plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1, MDA and NO were significantly lower in group SEV, than in group CLP and SEV2 ( P < 0.05 ), but no significant differences were found in the other indices between group SEV, and CLP and between group SEV1 and SEV2 ( P > 0.05). Conclusion Inhalation of 2.4% sevoflurane for 30 min 1 h after septic shock can inhibit the systemic inflammatory response slightly, but can not improve the cardiopulmonary function in rats with CLP-induced septic shock.

A rapid method for directly determining tryptophan contents in foods and feedstuffs was described. l-5mg dry sample could be completely hydro-lyzed in a teflon tube containing 5N NaOH with 0.5% soluble starch under 145℃ for 4 hours in vacuum (760mmHg). The hydrolysate was then adjusted to neutral with 6N HCL in icebath and diluted by five times with 4M urea solution (pH = 11), and was measured at excitation wavelength 280nm and fluorescence wavelength 368nm. The sensitivity of the method was 5ng /10ml, and the recovery rate of 97-107% were obtained in the range of 1-5 ?g/10ml standard tryptophan. The value of a number of foods and feed-stuffs obtained were in agreement with the literatature values.

The application of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to the elimina tion of 50Hz noise in physiological signal, such as ECG signal, is discussed in this article. The high speed and flexibility are acquired because of FPGA's app lication, which give the system the ability to acquire and process multi bio-par ameters.

The striatum is involved in diverse behaviors which depend on intact dopaminergic innervation. Recent electrophysiological studies have revealed that dopamine alters both voltage dependent conductances and synaptic transmission, resulting in state dependent modulation of target cells. This review makes clear predictions about how dopamine should alter the responsiveness of striatal neurons to extrinsic excitatory synaptic activity.