Objective To study the changes in the expression of GABA and its receptors in the dorsal horn of rat spinal cord induced by hind paw formalin injection. Methods Twelve healthy male SD rats weighing 300-325 g were randomly divided into two groups: (A) control group (n=6) and (B) peripheral inflammatory hyperalgesia group in which 5% formalin 50?l was injected subcutaneously into the plantar region of right hind paw to produce persistent pain(n=6). The animals were killed 24h after formalin injection. L_(4-6) segment of the spinal cord was removed. The number of GABA immuno-reactive cells was examined by immuno-cytochemistry technique and the exprpession of GABA_(A?3) and GABA_(B1) receptor mRNA in the spinal dorsal horn were determined by in situ hybridization. Results In control group(A), GABA immuno-reactive cells and GABA_(A?3) and GABA_(B1) receptor mRNA were observed throughout the lumbar spinal dorsal horn. The density of GABA immuno-reactive cells and GABA_(B1) receptor mRNA was highest in the superficial laminae Ⅰ-Ⅲ; while the GABA_(A?3) receptor mRNA was evenly distributed in the spinal dorsal horn. In group B, 24h after formalin injection there was a significant increase in the GABA immuno-reactive cells in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. The expression of GABA_(A?3) and GABA_(B1) receptor mRNA were significantly increased in bilateral dorsal horn compared to group A. The three parameters were positively correlated and their locations in the spinal dorsal horn were not significantly different from those in group A. Conchusion GABA and its receptors may play an important role in nociceptive modulation.

Objective To compare the effect of different methods of anesthesia on cerebral autoregulation in patients undergoing neurosurgery.Methods Sixty-nine ASA Ⅱ orⅢ patients with brain tumor, aged 23-62 yr, scheduled for neurosurgery under general anesthesia, were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 23 each) : propofol-remifentanil group (group PR), sevoflurane-remifentanil group (group SR) and propofol-sevoflurane-remifentanil group (group PSR) . Anesthesia was induced with target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol (target plasma concentration3 μg/ml, PR and PSR groups) or inhalation of 8% sevoflurane (group SR) and iv injection of remifentanil 1 mg/kg and atracurium 0.5 mg/kg. The patients were mechanically ventilated after tracheal intubation. PETCO2 was maintained at 32-35 mm Hg. Anesthesia was maintained with TCI of propofol (target plasma concentration 2.0-3.5 μg/ml) in group PR, with inhalation of 1.5%-2.5% sevoflurane in group SR, with TCI of propofol (target plasma concentration 1.5-3.0 μg/ml) and inhalation of 1% sevoflurane in group PSR, and with TCI of remifentanil (target plasma concentration 2.0-4.5 ng/ml) and iv infusion of atracurium at 6 μg · kg-1 · min-1 in all groups. Auditory evoked potential index was maintained between 40-45. The middle cerebral artery time-average peak flow velocity was recorded before induction (baseline) , immediately after intubation, immediately before craniotomy and at the beginning of skin suture. The unilateral carotid artery was compressed for 7 s at the corresponding time points mentioned above. The transient hyperemic response ratio (THRR) was calculated to reflect cerebral autoregulation. Results Compared with the baseline value at T0, THRR was significantly increased at T2in group PR and decreased at T2,3 in group SR (P <0.05) ,while no significant change was found in THRR at T1-3in group PSR (P >0.05). The THRR was significantly lower in SR and PSR groups than in group PR, and higher in group PSR than in group SR ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Propofol-remifentanil anesthesia can improve cerebral autoregulation, sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia can reduce cerebral autoregulation, and propofol-sevofluraneremifentanil anesthesia exerts no effect on cerebral autoregulation in patients undergoing neurosurgery.

Objective: To investigate the effect of different concentrations of dextrose transfusion on cerebral glucose metabolism in pediatric neurosurgical operations. Methods: Sixty anesthetized children undergoing selective cerebral tumor resection were randomly divided into three groups: Ringer lactate solution group (A, n = 20), 2.5% dextrose lactated Ringer's solution group(B, n = 20), 1% dextrose lactated Ringer's solution group (C, n = 20). All the hemodynamic data were recorded during anesthesia. The values of blood glucose and lactic acid were collected before intubation(T_a), 2 hours after opening cerebral dura mater (T_b) and the end of operation (T_c). The catheters for microdialysis were punctured into normal brain tissue. The contents of glucose and lactic acid were determined in the collected intercellular fluid by biochemical analysis instruments at T_A and T_B respectively. Results: There were no differences in heart rate(HR), mean arterial pressure(MAP) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO_2) among three groups(P > 0.05). There were no differences in blood glucose at T_a between three groups(P > 0.05). The values of blood glucose at T_b and T_c were B group＞C group＞A group(P < 0.05). The values of blood glucose were higher at T_b and T_c than that of T_a in three groups(P < 0.05). There were no differences in blood lactic acid among three groups(P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in values of glucose and lactic acid in the collected intercellular fluid among three groups(P > 0.05). Conclusion: Transfusion of Ringer lactate solution or low concentration dextrose solution will increase blood glucose in pediatric neurosurgical operations, but still in the normal range, which has a little influence on blood lactic acid, glucose and lactic acid in brain intercellular fluid. It is a safe choice during neurosurgical operation.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Health Services ; Physical Examination

OBJECTIVE: To review the progress on cell-penetrating peptides(CPPs). METHODS: Based on the original researches in recent years, the structure properties, classification, internalization mechanism, application and novel research orientation of CPPs were introduced in the present paper. RESULTS: Cell-penetrating peptides(CPPs) consisted of 30 or less amino acids. CPPs, generally categorized as amphipathic or cationic depending on their sequences, are increasingly drawing attention as a non-invasive delivery technology for macromolecules. Delivery of a diverse set of cargoes has been attempted using different types of CPPs in vitroand in vivo. Additionally, the relative lack of toxicity and cell specificity has enabled its widespread use in preclinical models. This paper reviewed the studies on the structure properties, classification, internalization mechanism, application and novel research orientation of CPPs. CONCLUSION: Although the internalization mechanism of CPPs will be studied deeply, CPPs, as a novel drug delivery tool, has promising application for the delivery of diverse drugs and cargoes.

The papers regarding moxibustion published in science citation index (SCI) journals for the recent 5 years were searched to explore the international tendency of moxibustion researches, which provided references for moxibustion to have a better internationalization. With methods of internet search and database search, a total of 116 papers regarding moxibustion were included. These papers were published in 40 kinds of journals, mostly in Britain and the United States. The journal with the highest impact factor was Stroke, which had 5729 points. The number and impact factor of these journals were inferior to those of acupuncture journal. Compared among these journals, the depth and width of moxibustion research were increasing year by year. The category of diseases related with moxibustion is mainly digestive system diseases, motor system diseases and urinary-genital system diseases. The type of papers was characterized with clinical observation and mechanism research. Researches related with moxibustion included moxibustion dose and safety. It was believed that the international recognition of moxibustion effectiveness, standardization of moxibustion manipulation, standardization research, etc. were needed to be solved in the further.
Bibliometrics ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Journal Impact Factor ; Moxibustion ; Publications ; statistics & numerical data

With the success of the human genomic project, the amount of experimental data is increasing rapidly. In the post-genomic era, the focus is now shifting to the so called "from the sequence to the function", i.e., in addition to completing genome sequences, it is possible to learn about gene expression patterns and protein interactions on the genomic scale. Description and analysis of complex Genetic Regulatory Networks (GRN) is a critical problem for biologists to understand genetic regulatory mechanism. Most of existing methods ignore the synergistic effects observed widely in biologic systems. Thus there should be some errors between the predictions of the model and the actual biologic behaviors. To address this problem, a new quantitative analysis approach for genetic regulatory networks was proposed in the context of Hybrid Functional Petri Net (HFPN). Firstly, basic theory of GRN and HFPN was presented briefly. Petri-net-based models have been widely adopted for studying biological systems since Petri net has graphical modeling representation and strict mathematic background. In GRN, the combined effect of transcription factors to induce or repress gene transcription is usually different from the simple sum of their individual effects. This is so called Synergistic effect. Two kinds of new elements, logic places and logic transitions were introduced to describe the logic rules in GRN and the synergy between transcription factors. It was decided to extend existing tools instead of writing new software in order to have more time for the experimental part of this project. A Petri Net Workbench was developed based on the Open Source project the Petri Net Kernel (PNK) and the Systems Biology Workbench (SBW) during this project. The Petri Net Workbench was extended by the following features: the extended definition of Hybrid Functional Petri Net, the Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) solver, Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) support and time course simulation. Finally, a Petri net model for the genetic regulatory network of the sea urchin endo16 gene was developed base on the GRN model published in literature and a list of quantitative outputs for different mutations was predicted. The analysis result corresponded to the experimental data published in literature properly and demonstrated the correctness of the Petri net model. It demonstrated how Hybrid Functional Petri net analysis techniques can be applied to Genetic Regulatory Networks. The new concepts of logic places and logic transitions had been proven to be useful for describe the logic rules in GRN and the synergy between transcription factors.

Objective: The application of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib changed the treatment style and the prognosis foreground of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The prognosis of advanced GIST was improved significantly. However, the number of patients with imatinib resistance increased continuously with enlongation of treatment period. Imatinib resistance became a hot point recently. This study aimed to explore the mechanism responsible for the acquired resistance to imatinib. Methods: With the bidirectional DNA sequencing and the analysis of an ABI PRISM 310 capillary electrophoresis system, this work sequenced the extrons 9, 11, 13, and 17 of KIT gene and the extron 12 and 18 in platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) α gene in the 9 GIST patients who were resistant to imatinib or obtained stable disease (SD) during imatinib treatment. Results: Activating mutations of KIT gene existed in 7 of 9 cases of GIST patients. Six cases had the KIT gene mutation in exon 11 encoding the juxtamembrane domain and 1 case had mutation in exon 13. Secondary KIT mutations were identified in the 4 imatinib-resistant patients. This work found an identical novel missense mutation in exon 17, T2467T-→T2467G, which caused a substitution of Tyr by Asp at codon 823 (Y823 D) in tyrosine kinase domain of KIT. Conclusion: The imatinib resistance may be related with missense mutation in exon 17, T2467T→T2467G, in tyrosine kinase domain of KIT.

Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is still a great challenge in clinical practice.Tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),liver enzymes,cytokines,and some special glycoproteins,though helpful,are not sensitive and specific enough for early diagnosis of HCC.The establishment of several interesting predictive diagnostic models on liver fi- brosis/cirrhosis suggests that mathematic predictive model,which is developed based on large sample size and follow-up study, might be of higher sensitivity,specificity and feasibility in clinical application.Here we suggest that more attention should be paid to this kind of multi-parameter predictive diagnostic models clinically,so as to improve the early diagnosis of HCC in a more economical and feasible way.

Complement system is an important constituent in immune system.Membrane attack complex (C5b-9)is the final ingredient in the complement activation.Recently,a few studies showed that C5b-9 deposition was found in the diabetics with chronic complications,indicating that complement activation might be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.Our aim is to summarize some newly published works and show a prelimimary work we did in this area.We hope that more attention should be paid to the role of autoimmune mechanism in diabetic complications.