Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on gastric mucosal injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 4-5 months,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =9 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),intestinal I/R group (group I/R),low-dose dexmedetomidine group (group LD),and high-dose dexmedetomidine group (group HD).Intestinal I/R was produced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h followed by 2 h reperfusion in anesthetized rats.Dexmedetomidine 2.5 and 5.0 μg · kg-1 · h-1 were infused via the caudal vein for 1 h starting from 1 h before ischemia in LD and HD groups,respectively.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h of reperfusion,and the gastric mucosa was obtained for examination of the pathological changes (with light microscope) and for determination of the expression of serine/threonine kinase (Akt),phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt),activated caspase-3 and caspase-3 (by Western blot).The ratio of p-Akt to Akt (p-Akt/Akt)was calculated to reflect the phosphorylation of Akt.The ratio of activated caspase-3 to easpase-3 (activated caspase-3/caspase-3) was calculated to reflect the activation of caspase-3.Results Compared with group S,the expression of Akt was significantly up-regulated,the expression of p-Akt was significantly downregulated,the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly decreased,and the activation of caspase-3 was significantly increased in group I/R,and the expression of p-Akt was significantly up-regulated,and the phosphorylation of Akt and activation of caspase-3 were significantly increased in LD and HD groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group I/R,the expression of Akt was significantly down-regulated,the expression of p-Akt was significantly up-regulated,the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly increased,and the activation of caspase-3 was significantly decreased in LD and HD groups (P＜0.05).The degree of gastric mucosal injury was significantly lower in LD and HD groups than in group I/R,and there was no significant difference in the degree of gastric mucosal injury between group LD and group HD.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can attenuate gastric mucosal injury induced by intestinal I/R,and the mechanism may be related to activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and inhibition of cell apoptosis in rats.

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the molecular expression of carbonic anhydrase IV (CA IV) in rabbit corneal endothelium.

METHODSReverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using cultured and fresh rabbit corneal endothelial total RNA and specific primers for CA IV. The RT-PCR product was subcloned and sequenced. Immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect protein expression and distribution of CA IV using fresh and cultured rabbit corneal endothelium and rat anti-CA IV polyclonal antibody.

RESULTSRT-PCR screening gave positive bands at the predicted size for CA IV from fresh and cultured rabbit corneal endothelium. Sequencing further confirmed the identity of CA IV in corneal endothelium. Immunoblotting analysis showed a single band at 52 kDa for freshly isolated and cultured endothelial cells. Indirect immunofluorescence staining revealed an apparent positive staining in cultured endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONCarbonic anhydrase IV is expressed in rabbit corneal endothelium, which could contribute to the transendothelial HCO(3)(-) flux that is necessary to maintain corneal hydration and transparency.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bicarbonates ; metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase IV ; analysis ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Corneal ; cytology ; enzymology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits

Objective To investigate the effects of different depths of anesthesia on incidence of postopera-tive cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Methods We systematically retrievedPubmed,OVID,CNKI,CBM and Wanfang database and VIP database for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)from inceptionto December 312016, comparing different depths of anesthesia for their impacts on incidence of early POCD. After data extraction and quality evaluation,Revman 5.3 software was used for statistical data analysis. Results A total of 714 patients in 8 eligible RCTs were identified. Results of meta-analysis were as follows.(1)Incidence of POCD of depth anesthesia (NTS=E0-E1)was lower than general anesthesia(NTS=D0-D1)1 d after surgery(OR=0.21,95%CI 0.13~0.35,P < 0.00001).(2)Incidence of POCD of depth anesthesia(NTS = E1)was lower than general anesthesia (NTS=D0)7 d after surgery(OR=0.45,95%CI 0.23~0.91,P=0.03).(3)Incidence of POCD of NTS=E1 was lower than NTS=D07d after surgery(OR=0.42,95%CI 0.24~0.71,P=0.001). Conclusion Comparedwith general anesthesia,depth anesthesia is associated with a lower incidence of early POCD.

Objective: To study serum zinc level in pregnancy and umbilical cord blood and their association with newborn birth weight. Methods: Pregnant women accepting obstetric examination in Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Care Center were recruited from May 2013 to September 2014. The follow up was conducted during their first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy and the self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information of social and demographic characteristics. Blood samples in the first, second pregnancy period and umbilical cord blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of zinc were assayed. 3 239 mother-infant entered the final analysis. We divided serum zinc level into low (<P₂₅), medium (P₂₅-P₇₅) and high (>P₇₅) groups according to their exposure concentrations at each trimesters. Non-conditional multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the association between serum zinc level in first, second trimesters of pregnancy and umbilical cord blood with small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). Results: Serum zinc level in P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₇₅) during the first, second trimesters and cord blood were 1 016.18 (907.09-1 145.60), 813.36 (732.47-897.89) and 903.44 (808.71-1 015.64) μg/L, respectively. The prevalence of zinc deficiency during the first, second trimesters and cord blood were 1.5% (44/2 957), 15.9% (492/3 087) and 6.5% (176/2 707), respectively. The prevalence of total SGA and LGA were 9.7% (313/3 239) and 16.5% (536/3 239), respectively. Compared to high-level serum zinc group, the risk of SGA (OR (95%CI) in low-level serum zinc group during first trimesters was 1.51 (1.05-2.19)). Serum zinc level among second pregnancy period and umbilical cord blood had no statistically significant effect on SGA and LGA (both P values >0.05). Conclusion Zinc nutritional status of pregnant women in Ma'anshan city was at a good level. The low serum zinc level in first trimester increased the risk of SGA.