OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of propofol on brain regions at different sedation levels and the association between changes in brain region activity and loss of consciousness using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) and bispectral index (BIS) monitoring.

METHODSForty-eight participants were enrolled at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2011 to March 2012 and randomly assigned to a mild or a deep sedation group using computer- generated random numbers. Preliminary tests were performed a week prior to scanning to determine target effect site concentrations based on BIS and concomitant Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scores while under propofol. Within one week of the preliminary tests where propofol dose-response was established, BOLD-fMRI was conducted to examine brain activation with the subject awake, and with propofol infusion at the sedation level.

RESULTSMild propofol sedation inhibited left inferior parietal lobe activation. Deep sedation inhibited activation of the left insula, left superior temporal gyrus, and right middle temporal gyrus. Compared with mild sedation, deep propofol sedation inhibited activation of the left thalamus, precentral gyrus, anterior cingulate, and right basal nuclei.

CONCLUSIONMild and deep propofol sedation are associated with inhibition of different brain regions, possibly explaining differences in the respective loss of consciousness processes.

Adult ; Brain ; drug effects ; Consciousness Monitors ; Deep Sedation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Propofol ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 on liver metastasis of human colon cancer.

METHODSExpression of CXCR4 in different colon cancer cell lines and SDF-1 in different tissues were detected by using Western-blot technique. Effect of SDF-1 and anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (McAb) on proliferation and migration of HT-29 cells were measured using MTT methods. Model mimicking liver metastasis of human colon cancer was established by injecting HT-29 cells intrasplenically into BALB/C nude mice. Mice were randomly divided into AMD3100 treated group and control group. Liver metastatic rate and tumor foci were measured 7 weeks after.

RESULTSHT-29 cells expressed higher level of CXCR4 protein, and liver tissue expressed higher level of SDF-1 protein. Compared with the control, SDF-1 could significantly induced the proliferation and migration of the HT-29 cells, and anti-CXCR4 McAb could inhibited both functions of SDF-1. The liver metastasis rate in the control group was 100%, and it was 40% in the AMD3100 treating group (P < 0.05). The mean liver metastasis number also significantly decreased by AMD3100 (7.8 +/- 2.6 vs 22.4 +/- 8.6, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSDF-1/CXCR4 biological axis play an important role in liver metastasis of human colon cancer. Arrest of CXCR4 can inhibit liver metastasis of colon cancer through blocking cell proliferation and migration induced by SDF-1.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; secondary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To investigate the difference in absorptive of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) and l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) in rat intestine as well as the mechanism of the absorption of THP, in situ single pass perfusion model was used and the concentration of THP in perfusate was determined by HPLC. The absorption rate constant (k(a)) and effective permeability values (P(eff)) of THP had no significant difference (P > 0.05) at concentration of 8, 16 and 32 microg x mL(-1) in perfusion or in four different regions of intestine of rat (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon). The absorption of l-THP and THP in jejunum had significant difference (P < 0.05). The k(a) and P(eff) of THP increased obviously when verapamil was co-perfused with THP, while those of l-THP were not influenced by verapamil. The absorption of THP in intestine showed the passive diffusion process, and without a special absorption region. The stereoselective absorption difference may result from stereoselective combination of P-glycoprotein with d-THP.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Berberine Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Colon ; metabolism ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Female ; Ileum ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Perfusion ; Permeability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sex Factors ; Stereoisomerism ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the accuracies of cerebral state index (CSI) and bispectral index (BIS) in sedation monitoring during target control infusion of midazolam.

METHODSTwenty informed adult male volunteers were intravenously administered with midazolam through plasma target control infusion from 30ng/ml (in increments of 10ng/ml every time) until they became unresponsive to tactile stimulation (i. e., mild prodding or shaking). The BIS and CSI were continuously recorded simultaneously. Sedation was assessed using the Observers' Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) scale at each time when Ct equaled to Ce. The electroencephalogram (EEG) parameters were correlated with the OAA/S scores using nonparametric Spearman's correlation analysis. The prediction probabilities were calculated at the points of lost of verbal contact (LVC) and lost of responses to stimulus (LOR). BIS05, BIS50, BIS95, and CSI05, CSI50, CSI95 were also calculated for LVC and LOR.

RESULTSBIS and CSI were well correlation with OAA/S scales during both the onset and recovery phases. When the sedation level increased, BIS and CSI progressively decreased. The prediction probabilities of BIS and CSI were 84%, 74% for LVC and 79%, 68% for LOR, while the BIS05, BIS50, and BIS95 as well as CSI05, CSI50, and CSI95 were 85.5, 60.6, and 35.7 (for BISs) and 82.2, 65.2, and 30.3 (for CSIs) at the point of LVC and 79.7, 47.6, and 15.6 (for BISs) and 75.9, 43.4, and 11 (for CSIs) at the point of LOR.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CSI and BIS seem to be useful parameters for assessing midazolam-induced sedation. BIS is superior in the prediction of LVC and LOR.

Adult ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Brain ; drug effects ; physiology ; Conscious Sedation ; methods ; Consciousness ; drug effects ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Midazolam ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the intervening effect of low-frequency electroacupuncture on rat neuralgia and its regulating effect on substance P (SP) in the spinal dorsal horn. Method SD rats were randomized to normal, sham operation (sham SNI), operation (SNI) and electroacupuncture (SNI+EA) groups, 8 rats each. A rat model of neuralgia was made by spared sciatic nerve injury (SNI). Points Zusanli(ST36) and Kunlun(BL60) on the operation side were given 2 Hz electroacupuncture once daily for 14 days. The rat hind paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured on the operation side to observe its pain hypersensitivity. SP-positive expression in the spinal dorsal horn on the operation side was determined by immunofluorescence. Result Operative side PWT decreased significantly in the SNI group of rats (P<0.01). Electroacupuncture increased operative side PWT in the SNI neuralgia rats (P<0.01). Pain threshold onthe healthy side had no marked change in the SNI group of rats (P>0.05). SP-positive expression in the spinal dorsal horn increased on the operation side (P<0.01) and also on the healthy side (P<0.05) in the SNI group of rats. Electroacupuncture decreased SP-positive expression in the spinal dorsal horn on the operation side in the SNI rats (P<0.01). Electroacupuncture did not significantly change SP-positive expression in the spinal dorsal horn on the healthy side (P>0.05). PWT on the operation and healthy sides and SP-positive cell expression in the spinal dorsal horn on the operation and healthy sides had no marked changes in the SNI group of rats (P>0.05). Conclusion Low-frequency electroacupuncture can relieve rat neuralgia. Its mechanism may be related to it inhibiting SP-positive expression in the spinal dorsal horn on the operation side.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intervention effect of Danggui Shaoyao San on rats with cirrhotic ascites, and discuss the effect of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on cirrhotic ascites.

METHODMale SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, Danggui Shaoyao San low, middle and high dose groups. The cirrhotic ascites rat model was established by CCl4 combined with phenobarbital. Their urines were collected at 24 h to observe urine excretion of each group. Filter papers were used to determine the amount of ascites. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferasa (ALT) , aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected by the automatic biochemistry analyzer. Plasma prothrombin time (PT) was evaluated by the blood coagulation analyzer. The concentration of AVP in plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological changes in livers were observed by HE staining.

RESULTCompared with the model group, the Danggui Shaoyao San group showed significant improvement in live indexes, with notable decrease in serum ALT and AST and the time of PT, improvement in liver pathological changes. Simultaneously, the amount of ascites decreased to varying degrees, with notable increase in urine in 24 h and decrease in AVP concentration in plasma.

CONCLUSIONDanggui Shaoyao San can notably improve liver functions of rats with cirrhotic ascites, reduce the generation of ascites and delay the progress of liver pathological changes. Its mechanism may be related to AVP.

Animals ; Arginine Vasopressin ; blood ; Ascites ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic aberrations of ocular extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type occurring in patients from southern China.

METHODSFifty seven paraffin-embedded ocular MALT lymphoma specimens from patients in southern China were studied by interphase fluorescence-in-situ hybridization (FISH) for genetic aberrations including t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1, t(1;14)(p22;q32)/IgH-bcl-10, t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1 and bcl-6/FOXP1 gene translocations.

RESULTSAmongst the 57 cases studied, 9 cases (15.8%) showed chromosome translocations, including 4 cases (7.0%) of t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1, 1 case (1.8%) of t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1, 1 case (1.8%) of bcl-6 gene-related chromosome translocation and 3 cases (5.3%) of IgH-unknown translocation partner. FISH revealed 17 cases (29.8%) with 3 copies of bcl-6 gene, 21 cases (36.8%) with 3 copies of MALT1 gene and 12 cases (21.1%) with 3 copies of both genes.

CONCLUSIONSThe MALT lymphoma-associated chromosome translocations t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1 and t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1 are demonstrated in ocular MALT lymphomas of southern Chinese patients. The prevalence is significantly different from that reported in northern Chinese and northern American patients, indicating a geographic heterogeneity in the MALT lymphoma-associated genetic aberrations. The presence of 3 copies of bcl-6 and MALT1 genes is the commonest genetic abnormalities observed in ocular MALT lymphomas, suggesting a possible role in MALT lymphomagenesis.

Caspases ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Eye Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Translocation, Genetic ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of exercise stress on chronic cigarette smoking induced downregulation of large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKca) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel (Kv1.5) expression in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells of rats.

METHODSRats were divided into three groups: the normal control group, the smoking control group and the smoking + exercise group. The plasma cortisol level, the potassium channel expression and the pathological changes in lung tissue were determined with HE staining, the immunohistochemistry and the in-situ hybridization.

RESULTS(1) In the smoking + exercise group, the plasma cortisol level was determined immediately after exercise [(1528.7 +/- 469.7) ng/L] and was higher than that determined before exercise [(672.4 +/- 235.7) ng/L] (P < 0.01); (2) The HE staining showed that the chronic pulmonary inflammatory response in the smoking control group was severe while it was mild in the smoking + exercise group; (3) The mRNA and protein expression (OD value) of BKca in the smoking control group (mRNA: 0.2206 +/- 0.0415 for big artery and 0.3935 +/- 0.1378 for small artery; protein: 0.2634 +/- 0.1219 for big artery and 0.0995 +/- 0.0851 for small artery) were less than those in the normal control group. The mRNA expression of BKca in the smoking + exercise group (OD value) (0.5022 +/- 0.1134 for big artery and 0.6408 +/- 0.2135 for small artery) was higher than that in the smoking control group; (4) The mRNA and protein expression of Kv1.5 in the smoking control group (OD value) (mRNA: 0.9354 +/- 0.3290 for big artery and 0.5012 +/- 0.1170 for small artery; protein: 1.1112 +/- 0.3310 for big artery and 0.4736 +/- 0.1250 for small artery) were less than those in the normal control group. The protein expression of Kv1.5 in the smoking + exercise group (0.7445 +/- 0.2690) in small artery was higher than that in the smoking control group.

CONCLUSIONProper exercise stress can decrease inhibition effect of the chronic smoking on the expression of potassium channel BKca and Kv1.5, which perhaps partly results from exercise induced increase of cortisol secretion.

Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Kv1.5 Potassium Channel ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits ; Male ; Movement ; physiology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoking ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical outcomes after transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.

METHODSPatients undergoing transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer at the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University were included.

RESULTSThree patients underwent transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic radical resection for sigmoid colon cancer and 1 for rectal cancer between August 2010 and September 2010. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. No conversion was required. The mean operative time was 206 min and the mean estimated blood loss was 75 ml. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 21. Patients were ambulatory in the same day of surgery or postoperative day 1. Length of hospital stay ranged from 7 to 10 days.

CONCLUSIONSTransumbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery is safe for colorectal cancer. Long-term outcomes warrant further investigation.

Adult ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Umbilicus ; surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEIn Guangxi province, from 1970s to 1990s, the mortality of primary liver cancer (PLC) ranked the first among a variety of malignant tumors. Investigating the epidemiological characteristics of PLC is very important for developing reasonable and effective treatment strategy, allocating health resources rationally, and evaluating the quality of PLC prevention and control. This study was to analyze the mortality and epidemiological characteristics of PLC in Guangxi province between 2004 and 2005.

METHODSMulti stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 9 counties (cities or urban areas) as sample points. The residents' death causes between 2004 and 2005 were analyzed, and the epidemiological characteristics of PLC were investigated.

RESULTSIn the period of 2004-2005, the crude mortality of PLC was 34.39/100,000 in Guangxi province population (55.30/100,000 in men and 13.21/100,000 in women). The national population standardized mortality in 1964 was 22.17/100,000. The man to woman ratio of mortality was 4.19:1. PLC ranked as the first death cause among a variety of malignant tumors, and PLC related death accounted for 30.70% of all tumor related death cases. Age specific mortality of PLC was increased with age, rising significantly from 30 year old (from 25 year old in men and from 40 year old in women), and reached a peak at 75 year old.

CONCLUSIONSThe mortality of PLC shows a decreasing trend in Guangxi province in the early 21st century, and the starting age of PLC death peak postpones about 10 years than that in 1990s. It shows that the comprehensive prevention and control measures of PLC implemented in Guangxi province are fruitful. However, the PLC mortality in Guangxi province is still significantly higher than the national average level, and it still ranks as the first death cause in a variety of malignant tumors in Guangxi province. PLC mainly occurs in middle aged and elderly people. The prevention and treatment research of PLC still has a long way to go.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; trends ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult