Objective To examine the changes in the expression of voltage-gated sodium channel?subunit mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion(DRG)and the role it plays in the neuropathie pain.Methods Thirty- two male SD rats weighing 250-400g were randomly divided into 2 groups:groupⅠneuropathic pain(SNL,n= 20)and groupⅡsham operation(n=12).Neuropathic pain was produced by ligation of right sciatic nerve according to Seltzer.Paw withdrawal latency to noxious thermal(PWHL)and mechanical(PWML)stimulation were measured before(baseline)and 1,2,3,5,8,11,14,28 day after sciatic nerve ligation(SNL).DRG at L_(4,5) was isolated on the 14th day after SNL in 8 SNL and 4 sham-operated animals for determination of sodium channel?subunit mRNA expression(by in-situ hybridization).Results PWHL and PWML were significantly decreased on the 2nd-28th day after SNL as compared to the baseline in SNL group.There was no significant difference in?_1 subunit mRNA expression between the 2 groups.The?_2 subunit mRNA expression in DRG was hardly detectable.The?_3 subunit mRNA expression in DRG on the operated side was significantly higher in SNL group than in sham-operation group.Conclusion The up-regulation of sodium channel?_3 subunit mRNA expression in DRG may play an important role in neuropathic pain.

Objective To explore the high risk factors of brain injury in preterm infants,and to reduce its morbidity and improve the developmental outcome.Methods One hundred and thirty preterm infants,who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)between Aug.2005 and Aug.2007,were scanned by echo in 1,3,4,7,15 days,and 1,3 and 6 months after birth,respectively.Those who had intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH)of grade Ⅰor Ⅱ were regarded as mild brain injury,whereas those who had IVH of grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ or periventricular leukomalacia(PVL)were regarded as severe brain injury.Logistic regression was adopted to analyze 17 factors:gestational age,birth weight,hypertension syndrome during pregnancy,premature rupture of membranes,modalities of delivery,fetal distress,asphy-xiate,resuscitation,surfactant,apnea,seizures,hypoxia,hypercarbia,hypocarbia,acidosis,use of oxygen,nasal constant positive airway pressure or mechanical ventilation.Results Among 130 preterm infants,88 cases(66.7%)were detected with brain injury,which included 29 cases(33%)with mild brain injury(5 cases with IVH of grade Ⅰ,24 cases with IVH of grade Ⅱ)and 59 cases(67%)with severe brain injury(53 cases with IVH of grade Ⅲ,1 case with IVH of grade Ⅳ and 5 cases with PVL).Gestational age and birth weight were the fundamental factors of brain injury in premature infants.The smaller the gestational age and the lower the birth weight,the highter the brain injury rate.Resuscitation,hypoxia,the use of auxiliary ventilation were also important high risk factors of brain injury in preterm infants.All these high risk factors could influence the autoregulation of cerebral blood and trigger or aggravate brain injury of preterm infants.Conclusions Smaller gestational age,lower birth weight,resuscitation,hypoxia,the use of auxiliary ventilation were all the high risk factors of brain injury in premature infants,which could influence the parameters of cerebral blood dynamics by influencing cerebral blood autoregulation of preterm infants and lead to the occurrence of brain injury in premature.

Objective To investigate the effects of different degrees of hemodilution with the artificial plasma substitutes most commonly used in clinical practice on coagulation in vitro. Methods Ten male ASA physical status I volunteers aged (28.8?1.6) yr and weighing (66?8) kg were enrolled. Venous blood samples obtained from each volunteer were diluted with 10% HES (200 000/0.4-0.55), 4 % succinylated gelatin (gelofusine GEL), 3.5 % polygeline (Haemaccel HAE) and lactated Ringer's solution (RL) by 33% [blood: diluent(B:D) =2:1], 50% (B:D=1:1) and 66% (B:D=1:2). Coagulation of the undiluted blood (control) and diluted blood was measured with sonoclot coagulation and platelet function analyzer (SCT) and by routine coagulation tests. The parameters measured included activated clotting time (ACT), clot rate, platelet function (PF), Hct, platelet count (Pit), plasma fibrinogen concentration (Fig) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) . Results (1) At 33 % dilution ACT was significantly shortened in all the four groups as compared with control value; at 50 % dilution ACT was significantly shorter than the control in RL, HES and HAE groups; at 66 % dilution ACT was significantly prolonged in HES group. (2) Clot rate was significantly decreased at 33 % dilution only in HES group but was significantly decreased in all the four groups at 50 % and 66 % dilution. (3) PF decreased significantly only in GEL group at 33 % dilution but was significantly decreased in GEL and HES groups at 50 % and 66 % dilution. (4) With increasing dilution Hct, Pit and Fig gradually decreased and APTT was prolonged. Conclusion Coagulation changes are closely related to the degrees of dilution. At 33 % dilution, the three artificial plasma substitutes tested do not significantly affect hemostasis. At 50 % and 66 % dilution coagulation is badly impaired, but there are differences among the substitutes used for dilution. HAE impairs oagulation least as it contains higher calcium

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of Truview~(TM)EVO_2 optic laryngoscope by comparing it with the Macintosh laryngoscope in patients receiving cervical vertebral surgery.Methods:One hundred patients scheduled for elective cervical vertebral surgery were enrolled in this randomized crossover study.After induction,the patients'glottis in group A (n=50)was displayed by Macintosh laryngoscope and the Cormack-Lehane(C/L)grade was recorded,and then optic laryngoscope was employed to display the laryngeal structure.The order of laryngoscopy attempts was reversed in group B(n= 50).Parameters recorded included demographics,airway assessment feat ures(BMI,thyromental distance,mandibular size,mouth opening,mallampati oropharyngeal scale,and neck movement),C/L grade,laryngoscopic force applied,duration of intubation, difficulties of laryngeal view and injury of upper airway.Results:There were no significant difference in demographics,airway assessment features,C/L grade and duration of intubation between the 2 groups,whereas the laryngoscopic force in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(P

Objective:To examine the feasibility of using cerebral state index(CSI)for monitoring the sedation depth during target-controlled infusion(TCI)with propofol and remifentanil.Methods:Forty-four consenting ASAⅠorⅡpatients(aged 18-60 years)undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=11 each)according to the target effect-site concentrations of remifentanil administered by TCI during induction of anesthesia.The target effect-site concentrations of remifentanil of R_0,R_2,R_4,and R_6 groups were 0,2 ng?ml~(-1),4 ng?ml~(-1),and 6 ng?ml~(-1),respectively. Anesthesia was induced by TCI with remifentanil and propofol.CSI and bispectral index(BIS)were used to measure the sedation depth.The initial effect-site propofol concentration(PCe)was 1.5?g?ml~(-1),which was increased by 0.5?g?ml~(-1) every 4 min.The modified OAA/S score(5=alert,1=does not respond to prodding),loss of eyelash reflex(LOR eyelash)and loss of response to electric tetanie stimulation(LOR tetanic)were compared against CSI,BIS and PCe(calculated effect-site propofol concentration).Correlation coefficients were calculated between CSI and other parameters.Results:The 4 groups were comparable with respect to the ages and bodyweights.CSI and BIS values were higher but PCe value were lower at LOR eyelash and LOR tetanic in R_2,R_4,and R_6 than those in the R_0 group(P

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.
Animals ; Half-Life ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; pharmacokinetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acupuncture on the immune function of sepsis patients.

METHODSNinety sepsis patients were assigned to the control group, the thymosin a1 group, and the acupuncture treatment group according to random digit table, 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated according to the guideline of Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC). Patients in the control group received routine treatment. Those in the thymosin alpha1 group additionally received subdermal injection of thymosin alpha1 (1.6 mg), once per day for 6 successive days. Needling at related points such as Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Neiguan (PC6), Guanyuan (RN4), and so on, was performed in patients of the acupuncture treatment group, once per day for 6 successive days. T cell subgroups (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ /CD8+) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) were detected. The length of ICU hospital stay, hospital readmission rate, and 28-day mortality were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSAfter six days of treatment, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, IgM, and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio of three groups were all significantly increased (P < 0.01). Of them, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, and IgM increased more significantly in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the ICU hospitalization length was significantly shortened, the hospital readmission rate and the 28-day mortality were lower in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in each index between the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could adjust the immune function of sepsis patients, improve their immunological indicators and prognoses.

Acupuncture Therapy ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prognosis ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives

Objective To analyze the relationship between the radiation doses to mediastinal lymph nodes regions and the regional failure patterns when involved field radiation therapy (IFRT) was used for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC).Methods The mediastinal lymph node regions (group 1 to 10) of the iimited-stage SCLC patients received definitive radiotherapy were contoured in treatment planning system.The intentional or incidental radiation doses to each lymph node regions were recorded.In-field recurrence,marginal recurrence and out-of-field recurrence were respectively defined as the volume of failed lymph nodes located within the 80％ iso-dose lines,in the 80％-20％ iso-dose lines and beyond the 20％ iso-dose lines of prescribed doses.Results A total of 1 216 lymph node regions in 76 patients were contoured.The median follow-up time was 17.4 months.At diagnosis,lymph node regions with metastatic rates ＞50％ were 4R (68.7％),4L (57.9％),10R (57.9％),2R (56.6％) and 7 (51.3％).The positive lymph node regions were all subjected to prescribed doses.The lymph node regions that received incidental radiation doses of more than 3 000 cGy were:3P,4L,7,6,4R,5,2L.The median lymph node failure-free time was 9.8 months.In this study,only 1 patient developed out-of-field mediastinal lymph nodes failure.The rest of out-of-field recurrences and marginal recurrences were developed in the supraclavicular regions or contralateral hila.Conclusions When IFRT is used to treat mediastinal lymph node regions for patients with SCLC,negative mediastinal regions can be subjected to considerable incidental radiation doses.Out-of-field recurrences of the mediastinal lymph node regions are rare.This is contributed by the incidental radiation dose to these regions.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on acute heart failure (AHF) patients.

METHODSTotally 60 patients who were diagnosed as AHF were assigned to the acupuncture group and the control group, 30 in each group. Those in the control group received inotropic agents, preload and afterload reducing therapy, anti-infection and so on. Besides, those in the acupuncture group received needling at relative points, once daily for 5 consecutive days. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SI), left ventricle working index (LCWI) were monitored by thermodilution pulse-indicated continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) technique. Changes of the aforesaid data were compared between before and after treatment. The ICU length of stay, readmission rate,and the 28-day mortality were also compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter 5 days of the treatment, CI, SI, and LCWI increased more obviously (P < 0.01), HR and MAP decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Of them, CI, SI, and LCWI increased more obviously in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05).There was no obvious difference in HR or MAP between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the first day of admission in the same group, CI, SI, and LCWI obviously increased in the acupuncture group from the second day (P < 0.05). HR started to decrease since the fourth day (P < 0.05), and MAP began to decrease until the fifth day (P < 0.05). CI, SI, and LCWI started to increase in the control group from the third day (P < 0.05); HR and MAP both began to decrease since the fifth day (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the ICU length of stay was obviously shortened in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The readmission rate and the 28-day mortality rate were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of acupuncture and Western medical therapy might strengthen acute heart failure patients' heart functions, elevate the therapeutic effect, and improve the prognosis.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke Volume

The rice gall dwarf disease, caused by the Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) is a serious disease occurring in rice in many regions of Guangdong province. As a basis to control the disease we have studied the genomic diversity of a variety of isolates from different locations. Genome segment 8(S8), encoding a main outer capsid protein (Pns8) of RGDV five isolates (BL, CH, DQ, GZ, XY) from Guangdong province was cloned and sequenced. The results revealed that all the S8 segments of the five isolates consisted of 1 578 nucleotides and had a single open reading frame (ORF) extending for 1 301 nucleotides from nucleotide 21 which encoded a polypeptide of 426 amino acids with an estimated molecular weight of 47.4 kDa. The S8 full-length sequence and the ORF sequence shared 97.3%-98.8% and 97.3%-99.1% nucleotide sequence identities within the five Chinese isolates, and shared 94.8%-95.6% and 95.0%-96.0% identities with those of the Thailand isolate respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pns8 in GZ isolate was identical to that in the Thailand isolate, while the amino acid sequence variability of Pns8 within five Chinese isolates ranged from 0.5% to 2.1%. These results indicate that the S8 segment of RGDV is highly conserved in different isolates from different locations. The S8 cDNA from the XY isolate was cloned into the plasmid vector pET-28b(+) and a fused expression protein with an apparent molecular mass of 51kDa was specifically detected in an analysis of Escherichia coli Rossetta(DE3)Ⅱcells. To our knowledge, this is the first report on analysis of the RGDV segment 8 sequence and genetic comparison of different RGDV isolates and their protein expression.