Objective To evaluate the effect of CYP3A4*1G genetic polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of levobupivacaine after epidural administration.Methods One hundred and eleven American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 30-60 yr,weighing 56-79 kg,scheduled for elective lower extremity surgery under epidural anesthesia,were enrolled in the study.Blood sampies were collected from the central vein before anesthesia for detection of CYP3A4*1G genotypes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the CYP3A4*1G genotypes:wild hemozygote (CYP3A4*1/*1) group (w/w group),mutation heterozygote (CYP3A4*1/*1G) group (m/w group) and mutation hemozygote (CYP3A4*1G/*1G) group (m/m group).An epidural catheter was placed at the L1,2 interspace,and 0.75％ levobupivacaine 1.8 mg/kg was injected.Thirty-four patients were randomly selected,and blood samples from the central vein were collected at0,10,20,30,45,60,90,120,180,240,360,480,840 and 1 440 min after administration for determination of plasma concentrations of levobupivacaine by high-performance liquid chromatography.The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.Results There were 42 cases in group w/w,59 cases in group m/w,and 10 cases in group m/m.The frequency of CYP3A4*1G variant allele was 35.6％ in the 111 patients underwent lower extremity surgery.There were no significant differences between the three groups in the plasma concentrations of levobupivacaine at different time points,elimination halflife,clearance,distribution volume,elimination rate constant,peak plasma concentration,time to peak plasma concentration or area under the concentration-time curve (P＞0.05).Conclusion CYP3A4*1G genetic polymorphism is not one of the genetic factors contributing to the individual variation in the pharmacokinetics of levobupivacaine after epidural administration.

Objective To explore the value of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) gray scale median (GSM) in quantitative evaluation of the drug treatment of carotid plaques.Methods Eighty-one patients with 93 carotid plaques were enrolled from May 2015 to October 2015.Patients were received 3D-US,3.0T MRI and blood lipid examination including total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) before drug treatment.After atorvastatin therapy with a daily dose of 20mg for 6-12 months,3D-US and blood lipid examination were repeated,and 55 patients were followed successfully with a total of 62 plaques obtained.According to data acquired by MRI and 3D-US before treatment,the patients were divided into low-risk group,medium risk group,and high-risk group.The differences of GSM value and blood lipid levels were compared among groups and the changes of these parameters before and after the treatment in each group were compared.Results There was no significantly difference in serum TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C levels among the groups before treatment.After treatment,the serum TC and LDL-C levels were significantly lower than those before(P ＜0.05),the differences of TG and HDL-C levels were not significant,and the LDL-C level in high-risk group was significantly lower than those in other groups(P ＜0.05).The GSM values in of high-risk and medium-risk group were significantly increased after drug treatment than those of before (33.87 ± 6.53 vs 27.50 ± 7.82,47.35 ± 5.42 vs 44.56 ± 4.36,P ＜0.05),and had no significantly change in low risk group(62.01 ± 10.68 vs 63.13 ± 10.41,P ＞0.05).The difference of GSM between before and after treatment in each group was negatively correlated with the difference of LDL-C (r =-0.28,P =0.03).Conclusions Three-Dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) gray scale median (GSM) can be a reliable parameter in clinic quantitative evaluation drug treatment of carotid plaques,and has a better value especially for high-risk and medium-risk plaques.

Objective To investigate the vessel structure changes of carotid artery with age in normal adults with a newly-developed 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging modality.Methods One hundred and twenty-five normal adult volunteers were divided into five groups:group A,20-29 years old,25 cases;group B,30-39 years old,27 cases;group C,40-49 years old,28 cases;group D,50-59 years old,23 cases;group E,older than 60 years old,22 cases.The straight sections of common carotid arteries were scanned by full-volume three-dimensional ultrasound probe.With a vessel plaque quantification software (VPQ),the following parameters were obtained:intima-media thickness (IMT),vessel total area (VTA),vessel lumen area (VLA),vessel wall area (VWA),and normalized wall index (NWI).Results IMT,VTA,VWA,VLA and NWI were all positively correlated with age (r =0.79,0.48,0.77,0.27 and 0.67 respectively,P =0.00),and there was significant difference among age groups (P ＜0.01).IMT,VTA,VWA increased with age gradually whereas VLA increased only in group E and NWI showed no significant difference between group E and D.VWA and VTA of males were significantly greater than those of females in group A,B and C,and VLA of males was significantly greater than females in group A and B.There was no significant difference in IMT and NWI between gender groups.Conclusions Age is an important factor to carotid remodeling,and IMT,VTA and VWA increase with age,but VLA keeps constant in people under 60-year-old while NWI becomes stable in people over 50-year-old.It is essential to consider the physiological changes of carotid with age when pathophysiological process of atherosclerosis is involved.

Objective To explore the experience of self-perceived burden in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and provide evidence for clinical nursing interventions.Methods Indepth interviews were conducted among 17 patients with COPD using phenomenological method of qualitative research.Data were analyzed with the Colaizzi's method.Results 3 themes was identified:self-accusation and guilt,loss of dignity and powerlessness,concern and insecurity.Conclusions Nurses should take the experience of SPB in patients with COPD seriously and take the influence of SPB into account during the process of nursing interventions and evaluation.

Objective To investigate the effects of age on the pharmacokineties and pharmacodynamics of levobupivacaine after epidural administrstion.Methods Forty-five ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes (26 male, 19 female) aged 30-72 yr, weighing 52-83 kg scheduled for elective lower extremity surgery under epidural anesthesia, were divided into 3 age groups ( n = 15 each) : group Ⅰ≤45 yr; group Ⅱ 46-64 yr and group Ⅲ > 64 yr. Epidural anesthesia was performed at the L1,2 interspace. All of the patients received levobupivacaine 1.8 mg/kg with epinephrine 5 μg/ml given epidurally over 1.5 min. Assessment of sensory block (onset time, peak effect time, upper spread of sensory block, duration of anesthesia) and degree of motor block (using modified Bromage scale) were made. Blood samples were taken from central vein at 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 90, 120, 240, 360, 480, 840 and 1 440 min after epidural administration for determination of plasma concentration of levobupivacaine by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLG) in nine patients in each group. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from plasma concentration-time data with 3P97 software package. Results The cephalad spread of sensory block was significantly higher in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ . The duration of sensory and motor block was significantly longer in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ . The plasma concentration-time curves of levobupivacaine were fitted to a two-compartment open model in the 3 groups. The plasma concentrations of levobupivacaine were significantly higher at 1 440 min after epidural administration in group Ⅲ and Ⅱ than in group Ⅰ. The t1/2β was significantly different among the 3 groups. Conclusion 0.75% levobupivacaine is safe and effective for epidural anesthesia. Age affects the pharmacokinetics (t1/2β in particular) and pharmacodynamics of levobupivacaine administered epidurally.

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetics of different concentrations of levobupivacaine for lumbar epidural anesthesia.Methods Twenty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes, aged 35-59 years and scheduled for elective radical resection of rectal or colon carcinoma under general anesthesia combined with epidural block, were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10 each):group Ⅰ (receiving 0.75% levobupivacaine) and group Ⅱ (receiving 0.5% levobupivacaine). Epidural block was performed at L1-2 interspace. Group Ⅰ and Ⅱ received epidural 0.75% and 0.5% levobupivacaine 2 mg/kg (containing adrenaline 5 μg/kg)injected slowly over 2 min, respectively. And 30 min later, general anesthesia was induced with y-hydroxybutyrate 60-80 mg/kg and remifentanil 1-2μg/kg. Tracheal intubation was facilitated with succinylcholine 1-1.5 mg/kg and the patients were mechanically ventilated. Anesthesia was maintained with inhalation of nitrous oxide (N2 O) and O2 (1:1) and continuous infusion of remifentanil 0.01-0.1μg·kg-1·min-1 and intermittent intravenous boluses of atracurium. Sensory and motor blocks were assessed after epidural levobupivacaine. Blood samples were taken from the central vein at 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 210, 300, 420,540, 660 and 840 min, respectively, after epidural administration for determination of plasma concentrations of levobupivacaine by high performance liquid chromatography.Results The plasma concentration-time curves of levobupivacaine were fitted to a two-compartment open model in the two groups and there were no significant differences in the pharmacokinetic profiles between the two groups. The onset time of sensory and motor blocks was shorter and the duration of the two blocks was longer with 0.75% levobupivacaine as compared with 0.5%levobupivacaine. The incidences of nausea and vomiting and hypotension were low and no severe cardiovascular and neurological side-effects developed.Conclusion The pharmacokinetic parameters do not differ significantly between epidural 0.75% and 0.5% levobupivacaine when the total doses are the same. And epidural anesthesia with either 0.75% or 0.5% levobupivacaine is safe.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of postoperative complications and related risk factors in neurosurgery patients. Methods A retrospective study was carried out in neurosurgery patients during anesthesia recovery period from March, 2009 to November, 2013. The recorded complications included respiratory and circulatory system complications, pain, shivering, nausea and vomiting, agitation and delaying recovery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to screen the risk factors for these complications. Results Da-ta of 13,495 patients were available for analysis. The general incidence was 48.8%. Post-operative complications included post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (14.5%), agitation (13.5%), hypertension (13.4%), arrhythmia (9.3%), shivering (8.9%), pain (5.9%), hypox-emia (2.5%), delayed recovery (1.9%), airway obstruction (1.7%) and hypotension (0.3%). Regression analysis showed that the risk factors for hypoxemia included male,<59 years old and infratentorial tumor (P<0.05);the risk factors for PONV included male, supratentorial tu-mor, infratentorial tumor, cerebrovascular disease, inhalation anesthesia, the use of muscle relaxants antagonism and tramadol (P<0.05);and the risk factors for postoperative restlessness included male, infratentorial tumor and cerebrovascular disease, inhalation anesthesia, the use of muscle relaxants antagonism and no use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump (P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with different neuro-logical diseases showed different post-operative complications and exhibited different risk factors for these complications. Anesthesiologists should closely monitor patients receiving various neurosurgery and provide timely treatment.

Objective To evaluate the effect of resolvin D1 on focal cerebral ischemia?reperfusion ( I∕R) injury in rats. Methods One hundred and twenty adult male Sprague?Dawley rats, aged 7 weeks, weighing 260-280 g, were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S), group I∕R, low?dose resolvin D1 group (group LRD), medium?dose resolvin D1 group ( group MRD) , and high?dose resolvin D1 group ( group HRD) . Focal cerebral I∕R was induced by right middle cerebral artery occlusion using a nylon thread inserted into internal carotid artery and advanced cranially until resistance was met. The occlusion was maintained for 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. In LRD, MRD and HRD groups, 0.03, 0.10, 0.30 nmol resolvin D1 5 μl was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle at the beginning of reperfusion, respectively. Neurological deficits were evaluated at 24 h of reperfusion and scored. The rats were then sacrificed, and their brains were removed for determination of infarct volume (by TTC staining), cerebral water content, Evans blue content and expression of matrix metalloproteinase?9 ( MMP?9) in the ischemic cortex. Results Compared with group S, the neurological deficit scores, cerebral infarct volume, and cerebral water and Evans blue content were significantly increased, and the expression of MMP?9 was up?regulated in the other 4 groups. Compared with group I∕R, the neurological deficit scores, cerebral infarct volume, and cerebral water and Evans blue content were significantly decreased, and the expression of MMP?9 was down?regulated in group MRD and group HRD, and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group LRD. Conclusion Resolvin D1 can attenuate focal cerebral I∕R injury in rats, and down?regulation of MMP?9 expression and decrease in permeability of blood?brain barrier may be involved in the mechanism.

Objective To observe features of twist of the left ventricle (LV) in patients of essential hypertension (EH) with LV normal geometry (LVN) by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI).Methods Thirty EH patients with LVN and 32 healthy control subjects were included.From the dynamic images of LV apical two-and four-chamber-views and three-dimensional full volume dataset acquired,the following parameters were obtained:peak of LV basal,middle and apical segment rotation (Prot-B,Prot-M and Prot-A),peak of LV global segment twist (LV-tw) and rotation (LV-rot),the global radial and longitudinal displacement (Dr,Dl) and the global 3D displacement (D3d).The difference of these parameters was compared between EH and control groups,and the correlation between LV-tw and the displacements in EH group was studied.Results Compared with the normal control group,Prot-B,Prot-M,Prot-A,LV-tw,LV-rot,Dr,Dl and D3d of EH group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05),and LV-tw showed significant correlation with Dr,Dl and D3d (P ＜0.01 or 0.05).Conclusions The evaluation of LV twist with 3DSTI in EH patients can reflect the changes of LV systolic function in early stage,3D-STI may provide a new modality for quantitative evaluation of early abnormality of LV function in clinical practice.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the vulnerability of carotid plaques in patients with acute ischemic cerebral infarction by using Gray-scale median (GSM) based on Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US).Methods Totally 207 patients were examined with carotid plaques in the PLA Army General Hospital from December 2015 to August 2016,including 102 patients with acute cerebralischemic stroke (cerebral infarction group) and 105 patients without cerebral infarction (control group).The Vascular plaque quantification (VPQ) software was applied to acquire GSM value of carotid plaques automatically.Results The GSM value of carotid plaques in cerebral infarction group was significantly lower than that in control group (44.78± 11.58 vs 54.36± 11.99,t=7.70,P ＜ 0.01),and the low density lipoprotein in the cerebral infarction group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(3.51 ± 1.20) mmol/L vs (3.10± 1.07) mmol/L,t=1.58,P ＜ 0.05].There was no significant difference between the two groups in age,gender,body mass index,smoking,drinking,history of diabetes,history of hypertension,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,triglyceride,total cholesterol,high density lipoprotein,plaque thickness,plaque area stenosis rate and plaque volume (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The GSM value of carotid plaques based on 3D-US-VPQ technology can effectively reflect the vulnerability of carotid plaques,and may be valuable in the risk assessment of carotid plaques.