The circuit of a monitoring system for respiratory mechanical parameters is designed based on the detection of respiratory flow and pressure. Breaking through the restrictions of traditional methods that can only monitor respiratory rate, this design is able to monitor more than 10 respiratory parameters simultaneously and thus provides a good technical support for improving the properties of homemade monitors.
Airway Resistance ; Computer Simulation ; Computers ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; instrumentation ; methods ; Respiratory Mechanics ; Software Design ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Transducers

Objective To evaluate the effects of long?term glucocorticoid administration on cisatra?curium?induced neuromuscular blockade in the patients undergoing laparoscopic operation. Methods Six?ty?four patients of both sexes, aged 40-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-22 kg∕m2 , of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, scheduled for elective laparoscopic operation under general anesthesia, were assigned into 4 groups ( n=16 each) according to whether or not glucocorticoid was used for a long?term period: control ( non?hormone and non?laparoscopic operation ) group ( group C ) , hor?mone + laparoscopic operation group ( group HL ) , non?hormone + laparoscopic operation group ( group NHL) and hormone +non?laparoscopic operation group ( group HNL) . Midazolam 0.03 mg∕kg was injected intravenously, 8% sevoflurane was inhaled by mask, and the concentration of sevoflurane was decreased by 2% every 30 s until the concentration of 4% was reached. After loss of eyelash reflex, remifentanil 2μg∕kg was injected intravenously over 1 min, and 30 s later sevoflurane inhalation was stopped. The patients were tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol and remifentanil given by target?controlled infusion. Neuromuscular blockade was monitored with accelerograph TOF?watch
SX. At 20 min of pneumoperitoneum in NHL and HL groups or 20 min after intubation in C and HNL groups, cisatracurium 0. 15 mg∕kg was injected intravenously. The onset time, maximal degree of N?M block, clinical duration and recovery index of cisatracurium were recorded. Results Compared with group C, the onset time was significantly prolonged, the maximal degree of N?M block was decreased, the clini?cal duration was shortened, and the recovery index was decreased in HL and HNL groups ( P<0.05) , and the clinical duration was significantly prolonged, the recovery index was increased ( P<0.05) , and no sig?nificant change was found in the onset time in group NHL ( P>0.05) . Compared with group HNL, the clin?ical duration was significantly prolonged, the recovery index was increased (P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the onset time in group HL ( P>0.05) , and the onset time was significantly shortened, the clinical duration was prolonged, and the recovery index was increased in group NHL ( P<0.05) . Com?pared with group NHL, the onset time was significantly prolonged, the maximal degree of N?M block was decreased, the clinical duration was shortened, and the recovery index was decreased in group HL ( P<0.05) . Conclusion Long?term glucocorticoid administration can weaken cisatracurium?induced neuromus?cular blockade in the patients undergoing laparoscopic operation.

Objective To investigate the effects of long-term glucocorticoid administration on neuromuscular block of cisatracurium in elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods Forty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients,aged≥65 yr,with BMI of 18-24 kg/m2 ,scheduled for elec-tive operation were studied.According to the history of using or not long-term glucocorticoid,patients were assigned into two groups (n = 20 each):control group(group C),glucocorticoid group(group J).Midazolam 0.03 mg/kg was injected,mask inhalation of 8% sevoflurane and flow rate of oxygen 8L,every 30 s decline 2%,until the 4%.After the disappearance of eyelash reflex,cisatracurium 0.1 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously.After 1 min intravenous injection of remifentanil 2 g/kg and 30 s after stop of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia, endotracheal intubation for mechanical ventilation,target controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil anesthesia,using TOF-Watch SX acceleromyography monitoring of muscle relaxation,and onset time,clinical duration and recovery in-dex(for T1 to return from 25% to 75% of the control twitch)were recorded.Results Compared with group C,the onset time was significantly prolonged,clinical duration and recovery index were short-ened in group J (P <0.05 ).Conclusion Long-term glucocorticoid admininstration could reduce the neuromuscular blocking effect of cisatracurium in elderly patients.

Objective To study the expression of Ca-A/K channel-related molecules glutamate receptor 2 and 1(GluR2/1) in hippocampus tissues of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Methods A total of 60 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group and HIBD group. Hippocampal tissues were obtained at 0 h, 1 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after HIBD. The expression of GluR2, GluR1 and autophagy marker protein Beclin-1, LC3 were detected by Western blot assay. Results Edema and focal softening and necrosis were observed 6 h after HIBD in the brains of neonatal rats. Compared with Con group, at each time point, the expression levels of GluR2 were lower while the levels of GluR1, Beclin-1 and LC3 were higher significantly in HIBD group (P<0.05). The protein levels of LC3, Beclin-1, GluR1 and GluR2 in hippocampus tissues of HIBD group were significantly different among different time points after the estab-lishment of HIBD model (F=10.65~701.14, P<0.01). The protein level of GluR2 was decreased from 1 h to 24 h after HIBD and reached the lowest level at 24 h. The levels of GluR1, Beclin-1 and LC3 were increased at 6 h, plateaued at 24 h and remained there until 48 h. The levels of these proteins returned back to the initial level at 72 h. Conclusions Ca-A/K channel-related mol-ecules GluR2 and GluR1 play important roles in the autophagic cell death of hippocampus tissues in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Child ; Cysts ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelium ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; metabolism ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Keratin-6 ; metabolism ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Submandibular Gland ; surgery ; Submandibular Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To investigate and evaluate the clinical value of full endoscopic transnasal transphenoidal approach for the surgery of pituitary adenomas.Methods Seventy-two patients,who underwent full endoscopic transnasal transphenoidal approach for the surgery of pituitary adenomas,were selected from the Medical Center of Pituitary Adenomas of our hospital from January 2009 to March 2012.To retrospectively investigate pre- and post-operation symptoms,hormone levels,images information,operation information,complications,following-up information and so on.Results Among the 72 consecutive patients,there were 22 nonfunctioning adenomas,twenty-four prolactin secreting adenomas,seven somatotropin secreting adenomas,five adrenocorticotropic hormone secreting adenomas,one thyrotropin secreting adenomas,and 13 multi-secreting adenomas.The tumor removal was total in 56(77.8％),subtotal 13(18.0％),and partial 3(4.2％).Five cases had CSF leaks,and 6 diabetes insipidus.After 3-24 months of follow-up,the levels of increasing-hormone declined to normal levels in most patients.Conclusion Full endoscopic transnasal transphenoidal approach for the surgery of pituitary adenomas is a kind of technique which is safe,minimally invasive,having less complications and fast recovery.However,it is necessary for surgeons to accept systematic and specialized training,and own advanced equipments.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ability of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score combined with serum sodium measurements to effectively evaluate the prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

METHODSA total of 212 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed. Each patient's MELD scores, and sodium-based MELD scores (MELD-Na, MELDNa, and MESO) were calculated at three-month intervals. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to compare the predictive abilities of the four scores for 3-, 6- and 12-month mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created using the best cut-off values for each score identified by the ROC.

RESULTSAmong the 212 patients, 46 died within three months, 56 died within six months, and 87 died within 12 months. The MELD, MELD-Na, MELDNa and MESO scores were significantly different between patients who survived and those who died within three and 12 months (P less than 0.01). The AUCs for the four separate scores were all more than 0.8 at the 3- and 6-month time points; however, the AUCs of MELDNa (3-month: 0.846; 6-month: 0.869) and MESO (0.831; 0.850) were significantly better than those of MELD (0.812; 0.841) (P less than 0.05). At the 12-month time point, the AUCs of MELD, MELD-Na, MELDNa, and MESO were not significantly different (0.774, 0.775, 0.786, and 0.777, respectively). Survival curves showed that all the scores were able to clearly discriminate the patients who survived from those who died within 12 months (P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe MELD score and its sodium-based variants (MELD-Na, MELDNa, and MESO) can precisely predict mortality of patients with decompensated cirrhosis for short and intermediate periods. The MELDNa and MESO scores are superior for predicting 3- and 6-month survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; End Stage Liver Disease ; blood ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sodium ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare two methods for primary culture of the epithelial cells from human bioptic specimens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and preliminarily study the biological characteristics of the primarily cultured cells.

METHODSThirty-three bioptic specimens were collected from patients with pathologically confirmed NPC who received no previous radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Seventeen samples were cultured using tissue culture method, and tissue predigestion culture was used for the other 16 samples. The cells were cultured in Keratinocyte-SFM medium containing 2% fetal bovine serum. The two culture methods were compared for successful rate, attachment time and average time of cell growth. The biological features of the cultured cells were observed by reverse microscope, cytokeratin immunocytochemistry, growth curve and survival analysis.

RESULTSThe successful rate, attachment time and days for cell growth of the tissue culture method and tissue predigestion culture method were 23.5% (4/17) vs 62.5% (10/16), 4.47±0.48 h vs 7.88±1.01 h, and 13.75±1.5 days vs 8.3±4.55 days, respectively, showing significant differences between the two methods (P<0.05). The cells resulting from tissue predigestion method, with a average survival of 62.72 days, were characterized by a fusiform morphology with large nuclei, multiple nucleoli, and cytokeratins positivity. In contrast, the cells obtained by tissue culture method showed multilayer alignment without distinct cell structures and failed to grow consistently.

CONCLUSIONCompared with tissue culture method, tissue predigestion cell culture results in high successful rate and requires shorter cell growth time with longer attachment time. Keratinocyte-SFM medium supplemented with low concentrations of FBS is suitable for the growth of primarily cultured epithelial cells from NPC biopsy samples in vitro.

Carcinoma ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology

BACKGROUNDMalignant hyperthermia (MH), manifesting as MH crisis during and/or after general anesthesia, is a potentially fatal disorder in response to volatile anesthetics and depolarizing muscle relaxants. Though typical features of MH episode can provide clues for clinical diagnosis, MH susceptibility is confirmed by in vitro caffeine-halothane contracture test (CHCT) in western countries. It is traditionally thought that MH has less incidence and fewer typical characteristics in Chinese population than their western counterparts because of the different genetic background. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of MH in Chinese cases and applied the clinical grading scale and CHCT for diagnosis of MH.

METHODSA cluster of three patients with MH, from January 2005 to December 2007, were included in the study. Common clinical presentations and the results of some lab examinations were reported in detail. The method of the clinical grading scale of diagnosis of MH was applied to estimate the qualitative likelihood of MH and predict MH susceptibility. Muscle fibers of femoral quadriceps of the patients were collected and CHCT was performed to confirm the diagnosis of MH.

RESULTSThe clinical grading scales of diagnosis of the disease for these cases were all ranked grade D6, suggesting almost diagnosed ones. And the results of caffeine test were positive correspondingly, indicating that the patients should be diagnosed as MH susceptibility (MHS) according to diagnostic criteria of the North America MH group, which were already confirmed by clinical presentations and biochemical results.

CONCLUSIONSThese Chinese cases manifest as MH crisis. The clinical grading scale of diagnosis of MH may provide clues for clinical diagnosis. CHCT can also be used in confirming diagnosis of MH in Chinese cases though they have different genetic background from their western counterparts.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Caffeine ; Child ; China ; Female ; Halothane ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Malignant Hyperthermia ; diagnosis ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Objective To introduce an efficient method for culturing and purifying Schwann cells (SCs) in vitro. Methods Sciatic nerves were harvested from neonatal SD rats and the epineuria were removed. Single enzyme digestion combined with explans and double enzyme digestion were employed, respectively, to digest the nerve tissues following trituration. The proliferation of SCs and degree of purification were evaluated by viable count method and the combination of S-100 labeled monoclonal antibody and SCs. Results Proximally 3.5 × 106 cells were harvested with 96% survival rate and a purity of Schwann cells over 94% by single enzyme digestion combined with explans, however only 3.0×106 cells were gained with the purity being 90% and survival rate being 92% by double enzyme digestion. Conclusion This method yields large amount of viable Schwann cells with high purity and survival rate.