Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and c-fos in the lcuos cruleus (LC) in a rat model of endotoxic shock.Methods Twentyeight male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =7 each):control group (group C),endotoxic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (group L),lowdose dexmedetomidine group (groupLD) and high-dose dexmedetomidine group (group HD).Normal saline 0.5 ml/kg was injected via the tail vein in C and L groups.Dexmedetomidine 0.5 and 4.5μg/kg were injected via the tail vein in group LD and group HD,respectively.Normal saline 0.5 ml/kg was injected via the tail vein 10 min later in C,while LPS 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously 10 min later in the other groups.The rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed for determination of brain water content,the number of nNOS and c-fos positive cells and expression of nNOS and c-fos in the LC by immuno-histochemistry.Results Compared with group C,the brain water content was significantly increased,the number of nNOS and c-fos positive cells in the LC was enlarged,and the expression of nNOS and c-fos in the LC was up-regulated in group L (P ＜ 0.05).The brain water content was significantly lower,the number of nNOS and c-fos positive cells in the LC was smaller,and the expression of nNOS and c-fos in the LC was lower in LD and HD groups than in group L (P ＜ 0.05).The number of nNOS and c-fos positive cells in the LC was significantly smaller,and the expression of nNOS and c-fos in the LC was lower in HD group than in group LD (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can down-regulate the expression of nNOS and c-fos in the LC,which may be one of brain-protective mechanisms of dexmedetomidine in a rat model of endotoxic shock.

AIM:To observe the efficacy and safety of ropivacaine supplemented with midazolam for sacral block in pediatric operation.METHODS:40 cases of patients aged 1-6 years old,who were going to be operated in hypogastrium,perineum and lower limb,were randomly and double-blindly divided into four groups with ten cases each:control group(bupivacaine 2.5 mg/kg),low dosage group(ropivacaine 2.5 mg/kg),middle dosage group(ropivacaine 3.5 mg/kg)and high dosage group(ropivacaine 5.0 mg/kg).Sacral block was performed after induction of inhalation anaesthesia with sevoflurane.Sedation was induced by midazolam(0.2 mg/kg)administered through mainline 5 min before the surgical procedure.RESULTS:In a certain dosage range,ropivacaine supplemented with midazolam anesthesia for sacral block showed a slight influence on diastolic blood pressure,mean arterial pressure,heart rate and pulse oxygen saturation.Those parameters remained in the physiological normal range,though they dropped slightly during the operative period.Compared with bupivacaine group,the postoperative analgesic period was similar in the high and middle ropivacaine groups,while it was shorter in low ropivacaine group.There was no significant adverse effect in all groups except for operative stretch reflex and postoperative vomiting in individual patients.CONCLUSION:Ropivacaine supplemented with midazolam anesthesia for sacral block has a slight influence on hemodynamics,prolongs the postoperative analgesic period,and shows less adverse effect.

0.05) except during the 24 th hour postoperative period.During the 0.5 h postoperative period,the average total amount of injections of morphine was statistically lower in the ropivacaine group(control 15.8?23.9 ?g/kg versus ropivacaine 2.4?10.9 ?g/kg;P

Objective To study the effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) on the proliferation and gene expression profiles of rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro after different time periods of stimulation.Methods The chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro,and the 3rd generation cells were harvested.Cells were divided into three groups.In the group 1 (FGF2 short-time action group),chondrocytes were cultured in medium with FGF2 for one day,and then transferred to fresh culture medium without FGF2 and cultured for another 6 days.In the group 2 (FGF2 long-time action group),chondrocytes were cultured in medium with FGF2 for 7 days.In the Group 3 (control group),chondrocytes were cultured in culture medium without FGF2 for 7 days.After culture for 1,3,and 7 days,the proliferation of chondrocytes in the all groups was detected respectively.Following extraction of mRNA,the gene expressions of BMP2,BMP4,SOX9 and COL2A1 of the chondrocytes in the all groups were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).The content of type Ⅱ collagen was measured via immunofluorescence staining.Results Compared with the control group,FGF2 promoted the proliferation of chondrocytes in the short-and long-time action groups and there was no significant difference between the two FGF2-treated groups.The results of qRT-PCR indicated that different treatment induced different gene expression profile.Particularly,compared with the control group and the FGF2 long-time action group,the expression of BMP2,BMP4,SOX9 and COL2A1 in the short-time action group were significantly upregulated at the 7th day.Immunofluorescence intensity of type Ⅱ collagen in the group 1 was stronger than that in the control group and group 2.Conclusions Different administration of FGF2 for different time periods induced different responses of chondrocytes.Short-term FGF2 stimulation was more beneficial to maintain the phenotype of chondrocytes and the synthesis of extracellular matrix.

Objective:To evaluate the biocompatibility of collagen suture (CS) and collagen biofilm (CB) preliminarily.Methods:The pyrogenic contaminants test was used to analyze the pyrogen in CS and CB. The skin stimulation and intradermal stimulation tests were used to evaluate the stimulation effects of CS and CB to the skin. The hemolytic test was used to evaluate the hemolytic effect of CS and CB. The muscle implantation experiment was used to evaluate the stimulation and toxicity of CS and CB.Results:The results of pyrogenic contaminants test show that the temperature increment of rabbits in each group is lower than 0.6 ℃, and the total temperature increment is lower than 1.4 ℃ indicating that the two materials meet the requirements of pyrogenic examination and the pyrogenic contaminants test is qualified. The results of skin stimulation test and intradermal stimulation test of collagen suture and collagen biofilms were negative indicating that the two materials have no skin irritation. The hemolysis rates of collagen suture and collagen biofilm were 2.943% and 4.127% respectively (all P<0.05) indicating that the two materials will not cause hemolysis. The muscle was tolerated well and the tissue response was not serious after two biomaterials were embedded, which was reduced over time gradually. Conclusions:Both the collagen suture and collagen biofilm have good biocompatibility.

External treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a common treatment for lumbar disc herniation, which mainly includes fumigation and washing of TCM, and hot ironing therapy. It can cooperate with oral administration of TCM, Tuina, acupuncture and other therapies to play a synergistic effect and enhance the efficacy. External application of TCM in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation is effective with long duration, easy-operated and safe It has showed curative effect in alleviating clinical symptoms and improving lumbar function. Its mechanism mainly includes regulating nerve inflammatory reaction, improving hemorheology and exerting analgesic effect.