Acute Disease ; Adult ; Ethylene Dichlorides ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; therapy

Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine-propofol-fentanyl combined anesthesia on somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. Methods Thirty-six patients undergoing cervical spine surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 18 each): propofol-fentanyl combined anesthesia group (group C) and dexmedetomidine-propofol-fentanyl combined anesthesia group (group D). Anesthesia was induced with TCI of propofol and iv injection of fentanyl.After the consciousness disappeared, a laryngeal mask airway was placed and the patients were ventilated. In group D, dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg was injected over 10 min after the consciousness disappeared, followed by an infusion at a rate of 0.5 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 until the end of surgery. In group C, the equal volume of normal saline was administered instead of dexmedetomidine. SEPs (P15-N20) amplitudes and latency were measured and recorded before dexmedetomidine administration and at 10 min of dexmedetomidine infusion. The no-elicitation of MEPs was recorded. Results Compared with group C, there was no significant difference in P15-N20 amplitudes and latency in group D. The no-elicitation rate of MEPs in two groups was 0. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine-propofol-fentanyl combined anesthesia does not affect SEPs and MEPs in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery.

Astragalus adsurgens seed is one of the most common adulterants of Astragali Complanati Semen in the market, whose morphological characteristics are very similar with A. complanatus seeds (Astragali Complanati Semen). Many identification methods have been reported, such as morphological identification, fluorescence method, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, TLC, HPLC, protein electrophoresis and so on, but there's no much about microscopic identification. In the present study, the morphological characteristics and microscopic characteristics of these two seeds were investigated, which could provide scientific evidence for the identification and classification of Astragali Complanati Semen. Our results showed that these two seeds were slightly different in the color and the appearance, but significantly different in the microstructure of the seed coat and the hilum, and the distribution of fat droplets in the cotyledon cells. So these microscopic characteristics can be applied for the identification of Astragali Complanati Semen.
Astragalus Plant ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Color ; Discriminant Analysis ; Microscopy ; methods ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibronectins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

BACKGROUND: Three kinds of donor meniscus are commonly used at present, namely cryopreserved, fresh and deep-frozen meniscus, which,however, almost invariably give rise to degenerative changes of various degrees after transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of transplantation of allograft deep-frozen meniscus and meniscal acellular matrix to determine the most preferable means of allograft meniscus preservation.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment with rabbits.SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University.MATERIALS: Sixty-four male Japanese white rabbits with body mass of 3.0 - 3.5 kg.METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the Animal Experimental Center, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University between September 2002 and September 2003. Totally 64 adult rabbits were assigned into 32 pairs according to the body weight to served as the donor and the recipient animals, respectively. The medial menisci was obtained from the bilateral knees of the donor animals with the right one cryopreserved at -80 ℃ and the left prepared into acellular matrix for deep-frozen preservation. The donor menisci were respectively transplanted into the corresponding knee joints of the recipient animal's hindlimbs, with the left side taken as the experimental side and right as control. Gross observation,X-ray examination, and histological examination of the tissues were carried out at postoperative 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings in X-ray, gross observation and histological observation of the grafted meniscus with meniscal measurement and findings in abdominal aorta perfusion.RFSULTS: All the 64 rabbits were observed for result analysis. X-ray examination of the grafted meniscus revealed no obvious changes in either the experimental and control side at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, but mild changes occurred on the control side at 12 weeks, which became obvious at 16 weeks, presented by joint space narrowing, hyperostosis and osteosclerosis below the cartilage of varied severities (with scores of 1.3 and 0.6, respectively, P ＜ 0.05). By gross observation, meniscal atrophy on the experimental side was milder and slower than the control side, with al so lower atrophy rate [(15.14±4.62) % vs (20.97±4.72) % at week 4, P ＜ 0.001, and (19.23±11.27) % vs (32.74±10.43) % at week 16, P ＜ 0.05].Perfusion of the abdominal aorta revealed no revascularization in the surrounding tissues of the meniscus by gross observation in either groups, but histologically, the experimental side showed more favorable structure than the control side at postoperative weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16.CONCLUSION: Meniscal acellular matrix may produce better outcome than deep-frozen meniscus after transplantation and can be a more practical means for preservation of the meniscus.

Objective To study MRI findings of pancreatic ducts of piglets with chronic pancreatitis (CP) induced by pancreatic duct ligation and analyze the relationship between pancreatic duct changes in piglets with CP and the pathological severity of CP. Methods Thirty healthy piglets were included in this study. Five piglets were randomly selected as normal control group, and the remaining 25 piglets were served as the experimental group. The duct ligation operations were performed on experimental group. After 2 to 18 weeks, pancreas and pancreatic ducts were observed on MRI. Then the pancreas was removed and graded into three types by histopathology. The relationship between the diameter of pancreatic duct or the pancreatic branch displaying rate and the severity of CP was analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficient. Results CP was found in 21 piglets( 84. 0% ) in the experimental group including mild ( n = 7 ), moderate ( n = 8 ) and severe( n = 6) pancreatitis. Pancreatic ducts were shown in mild CP and the edge of pancreatic ducts was irregular in three cases. The dilated RPD, LPD and MPD constituted the "person" form in moderate and severe CP. The diameter of pancreatic ducts was(0. 9 ±0. 3)mm, (2. 9 ± 1.4)mm and (4. 8 ± 1.2)mm in mild, moderate, and severe CP respectively. The expansion extent of pancreatic ducts was correlated with the severity of CP of piglets (r = 0. 837, P ＜ 0. 05). The pancreatic branch displaying rate increased with the increase of the severity of CP ( r = 0. 990, P ＜ 0. 05 ); the displaying rate was 0/7 for mild, 3/8 for moderate, and 5/6 for severe CP. Conclusions The dilated pancreatic ducts with "person" form in piglets with obstructive CP created by pancreatic duct ligation. The pancreatic duct changes on MRI reflect the severity of CP of piglets.

Objective To evaluate the effect and safety of combined therapy of paclitaxel and gemcitabine for anthracycine(ANT)-resistant advanced breast cancer(ABC).MethodsFrom May 2000 to Aug 2004,twenty six patients with ANT-resistant ABC were treated with this combined regime.The median chemotherapy cycles were 2.5(range from 2 to 3 cycles).ResultsOf 26 patients, there were 3 complete(11.5%) and 11 partial(42.3%) responses for an overall response rate of 53.8%. Eight cases remained stable (30.8%) and 4 progressive (15.4%). The median survival time was 18 months. The median time to progression was 7 months. The main toxic reaction included bone marrow depression, liver function damage, alopecia, mucositis and peripheral neurotoxicity. ConclusionsCombined medication of gemcitabine and paclitaxel is effective in therapy of ANT-resistant advanced breast cancer with acceptable toxicity.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate in vitro effect of abnormal savda munziq (ASMq) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs).

METHODSHSFs were divided into six groups to receive different treatments as group A (blank control group), group B-E (ASMq in different concentration), and group F(5-Fu). Each group contains six specimens. The HSFs were cultured in vitro. After culture for 48 hours, the CCK8 test and flow cytometry methods were used to detect the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSThe proliferation of HSFs in the B, C, D and E groups was inhibited at G2/M period, while it was inhibited at G0/S period in group F (P < 0.05). The inhibition effect of ASMq (0.1-1.0 mg/ml) on the fibroblasts enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis with annexin V-FITC and PI staining confirmed the apoptotic. When HSFs were exposed to ASMq at 1.0 mg/ml (group E) for 48 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to (43.7 +/- 2.58)%, which was significantly higher than that of blank control group (2.2 +/- 0.59)%. The induced apoptosis effect was also increased in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONASMq has a inhibitory effect on the proliferation and an enhancement effect on the apoptosis of fibroblast. ASMq could be used as an effective drug for treatment of hypertrophic scar.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations,diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia(ILVT)in infants and young children.Methods The clinical data,including manifestations,lab results and treatments of 37 cases of ILVT in infants and young children were analyzed retrospectively.Results ILVT were seen more in young children older than 1 year old and male infants.A total of 37 cases with ILVT showed diverse clinical manifestations,5 children had cardiac insufficiency with oliguria and edema,2 children had syncope.There were 8 children without any symptoms,and 22 children had some symptoms,which mainly included agitation and crying,weakness and sweaty,vomitting and pale com-plexion.Holter showed incessant ILVT in 20 cases(54.1%),and paroxysmal in 17 cases(45.9%).Of the 37 cases,9 cases presented tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy(TIC),8 of them were secondary to the in-cessant ILVT.Children with TIC compared with those without TIC,the ventricular rate were faster[(206.2 ± 38.7)beats/min vs.(171.8 ±38.7)beats/min,P<0.05],the duration were longer[(22.6 ± 15.3)days vs. (9.8 ±6.0)days,P<0.05].A total of 34 cases were given by antiarrhythmic drugs,verapamil was higher effective in reversion to sinus rhythm.Radiofrequency ablations were conducted in 8 cases,resulting in ven-tricular tachycardia elimination.All of children were fine during following up periods.After successful control of tachycardia,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with TIC gradually recovered[(35.4 ± 7.2 )mm vs.(28.9 ± 5.6 )mm,P <0.05;(46.7 ± 4.0 )% vs.(70.1 ± 1 .5 )%,P<0.0 1 ] .Conclusion ILVT in infants and young children are rare,and present different manifes-tions.An incessant ILVT with faster ventricular rate and longer duration are more frequently complicated by TIC.Radiofrequency ablation is the effective way of radical cure of the disease.The diagnosis and treatment for the tachycardia are particularly important in early time,and the prognosis are good.

Objective To explore the related risk factors of cerebral hemorrhage complicated with stress ulcer (SU). Methods The clinical data of 1 185 patients with cerebral hemorrhage admitted to Department of Emergency Medicine of Nanjing General Hospital from March 2006 to March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether patients complicated with SU or not. Data was collected within 8 hours after admission in two groups including gender,age,amount of bleeding,the bleeding site (basal ganglia,thalamus, brainstem,brain lobe,ventricle,subarachnoid,and cerebellum),disturbance of consciousness,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score,systolic blood pressure(SBP),history of hypertension,and history of cerebral hemorrhage. The statistically significant risk factors found using univariate analysis was selected and was analyzed to find independent risk factors with multivariate logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve)was plotted to analyze the independent risk factors and evaluate their power of test. Results 1 185 patients with cerebral hemorrhage were enrolled in the study,293 cases occurred SU,accounting for 24.7%,and 892 cases without SU,which accounted for 75.3%. As shown by univariate analysis,risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage complicated with SU included age,amount of bleeding,the bleeding site,disturbance of consciousness,APACHEⅡscore,SBP. As to the site of bleeding,brain,thalamus,brainstem hemorrhage complicated with SU were higher proportion,45.3%(43/95),39.1%(63/161),36.9%(48/130),which were significantly higher than those of the lobes of the brain 〔26.2% (33/126)〕,cerebellum 〔18.8% (15/80)〕,basal ganglia〔16.1%(78/485)〕,arachnoid the inferior vena cava 〔12.0% (13/108)〕. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that amount of bleeding 〔odds ratio (OR)=3.305,P=0.001,95%confidence interval (95%CI)2.213-48.634〕,the bleeding site (OR=1.762,P=0.008,95%CI 0.123-2.743),SBP (OR=1.223,P=0.034,95%CI 0.245-2.812) were independent risk factors of cerebral hemorrhage complicated with SU. The area under the ROC curve (AUC)of amount of bleeding and SBP were 0.846 and 0.597,suggesting that amount of bleeding has moderate diagnostic value and SBP has low diagnostic value. Conclusions Cerebral hemorrhage patients with large amount of bleeding,the bleeding site in the ventricle,thalamus or brainstem,high SBP are of great risk. We should lower blood pressure and give preventive treatment for SU as soon as possible.