Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on autophagy in the hippocampal neurons of rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 12-16 weeks,weighing 340-370 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=80 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),traumatic brain injury group (group TBI) and dexmedetomidine group (group Dex).The rats were subjected to a diffuse cortical impact injury caused by a modified weight-drop device to induce TBI.Dexmedetomidine 15 μg/kg was injected intravenously immediately after TBI in Dex group.At 24 and 48 h after TBI,neurological deficit score (NDS) was assessed,Morris water maze test was performed,and brains were removed for detection of brain water content in the brain tissue.At 6,12,24 and 48 h after TBI,the expression of hippocampal LC3]Ⅱ was determined using Western blot analysis.Results Compared with group S,brain water content and NDS were significantly increased at 24 and 48 h after TBI,the escape latency was prolonged,and the expression of hippocampal LC3 Ⅱ was upregulated at 6,12,24 and 48 h after TBI in TBI group.Compared with TBI group,brain water content and NDS were significantly decreased at 24 and 48 h after TBI,the escape latency was shortened,and the expression of hippocampal LC3 Ⅱ was down-regulated at 6,12,24 and 48 h after TBI in Dex group.Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine reduces TBI is related to inhibition of autophagy in the hippocampal neurons of rats.

Amifostine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Benzene ; toxicity ; Blood ; drug effects ; Blood Cell Count ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation

Catheter Ablation ; Child ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of ICBP90 expression in patients with chronic benzene poisoning and explore the correlation between the expression of ICBP90 and benzene-induced hematotoxicity.

METHODSThe bone marrow samples were from 13 chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic suppression, 11 chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic regeneration and 10 controls. Western-blot was applied to detect the ICBP90 expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNCs). The correlation between ICBP90 expression and hematopoietic suppression in patients with chronic benzene poisoning was analyzed.

RESULTSThe ICBP90 expression of BMNCs in 13 chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic suppression was significantly lower than that in controls (P < 0.01). The ICBP90 expression of BMNCs in 11 chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic regeneration was significantly higher than those in controls and 13 chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic suppression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), respectively. There were good correlations between the expression of ICBP90 and white blood cell and platelet counts in patients with chronic benzene poisoning (r(1) = 0.555,P = 0.006; r(2) = 0.854,P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe ICBP90 expression of BMNCs in the chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic suppression decreased significantly, and the ICBP90 expression of BMNCs in the chronic benzene poisoning cases with hematopoietic regeneration increased significantly. There was good correlation between hematopoietic suppression and ICBP90 expression in patients with chronic benzene poisoning.

Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Young Adult

Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; pathology ; Postoperative Complications ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery

Objective With double-labeling technique, the present study aims to observe the effects of nerve transection on the trigeminal motoneurons innervating masseter with regard to the expression of high-affinity neurotrophin receptors, viz. tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) receptors: TrkA, TrkB and TrkC. Methods 7 and 14 d following masseteric nerve transection in the rat, brain sections were processed immunohistochemically for the detection of the three Trk isoforms on the motor trigeminal nucleus ( Mo5 ) neurons, which were retrogradely identified with FluoroGold (FG). Results The results showed ( 1 ) no significant change in the percentage of TrkA-immunoreactive (IR) neurons to the total FG-la-beled neurons ( P ＞ 0.05 ), (2) up-regulation of TrkB at both 7 and 14 d after axotomy ( P ＜ 0.05 ) and ( 3 ) down-regu-lation of TrkC 14 d following nerve transection (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion The expression of the individual Trk receptors on the Mo5 neurons were differentially regulated post masseteric nerve transection.

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analysis the treatment characteristics of the systemic situation in patients with crush syndrome after Wenchuan earthquake happened in May 12th, 2008.

METHODSForty-nine patients with crush syndrome and subsequent acute renal failure (ARF) due to the earthquake were treated in West China Hospital. All of patients had been rescued from buildings that collapsed in Wenchuan earthquake. The major associated injuries were in the low extremities and upper extremities. 49 patients developed ARF with increased concentrations of serum creatinine (mean 64 022 U/L) had underwent haemodialysis. Hyperkalaemia was seen in 9 patients and four of them underwent haemodialysis. 49 patients were administered hemodialysis.

RESULTSNo patient died. All patients who suffered from the ARF were weaned from hemodialysis after admitted 7 to 35 days. Forty-five extremities underwent amputations and 52 extremities had fasciotomy.

CONCLUSIONSCrush syndrome requires urgent recognition and prompt surgical treatment with simultaneous measures to control hyperkalemia and ARF. The authors believe that immediate intensive care therapy and multi-subjective coordination would have improved the survival rate.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; surgery ; therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amputation ; Child ; Crush Syndrome ; etiology ; surgery ; therapy ; Decompression, Surgical ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications

OBJECTIVE To investigate the surgical methods for the lesions involved the common carotid artery.METHODS The clinical data of 11 cases with lesions involved the common carotid artery who underwent operations were retrospectively studied.The lesions were 1 case with recurrence tumor after 3/4 partial laryngectomy,1 case with bleeding of the carotid aneurysm caused by tuberculosis,1 case with iatrogenic carotid aneurysm,3 cases with carotid body tumor,1 case with thyroid gland cancer,2 cases with neck tumor,1 case with injury of the carotid artery and 1 case with gas gangrene.RESULTS Common carotid artery was reconstructed in 2 cases after removal of the tumors.The tumors were resected using the carotid shunt in 2 cases.Common carotid artery was sutured in 1 case with neck injury.The common carotid artery was repaired in 1 case with iatrogenic carotid aneurysm after removal of the tumor.The carotid artery was dissected out from the thyroid gland cancer in 1 case.The common carotid artery was reserved in 2 cases after resection of the neck tumors. Neck drainage was performed in the case with gas gangrene.CONCLUSION The surgical methods for lesions involved the carotid artery after removal of the tumors include the reconstruction of the carotid artery, resection and suture the carotid artery,and free of the carotid artery from the tumors.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Biopsy ; Chlamydia Infections ; complications ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphogranuloma Venereum ; etiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUNDPain has a substantial impact on patients' activities and overall quality of life, but current conventional drugs have debilitating side effects, including gastrointestinal disorders. Thus there is a pressing need for new therapies with fewer side effects to alleviate cancer pain. We recently developed a topical herbal formula Xiaotan Tongluo analgesic gel (XTTL gel) based on the principles of traditional Chinese herbalism, and we have received positive feedback from bone cancer pain patients. The aim of this study was to determine the analgesic effects and explore the mechanisms of XTTL gel in a rat model of bone cancer pain.

METHODSThe rat model of bone cancer pain was established by inoculating Walker-256 rat carcinoma cells directly into the right tibial medullary cavity of Wistar rats. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10 per group): (1) sham bone cancer control (sham group): vehicle (PBS) inoculation without carcinoma cells plus topical administration of blank gel; (2) Sham treatment control (vehicle group): Walker-256 cell inoculation plus topical administration of blank gel; (3) XTTL gel treatment (treatment group): Walker-256 cell inoculation plus topical administration of XTTL gel. XTTL gel treatments were applied daily for 7 days starting on day 14 following inoculation. Outcomes were assessed 21 days after inoculation by mechanical allodynia, histological staining, and by measuring concentrations of type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in serum.

RESULTSFourteen days after cancer cell incubation, significant mechanical allodynia in the ipsilateral hind paw and tumor growth in proximal end of the tibia were observed in the vehicle and treatment groups but not in the sham group. At day 21, mechanical withdrawal thresholds in treatment group rats were significantly higher ((4.8557 +/- 0.8336) g) compared with those of the vehicle group ((1.8630 +/- 1.4369) g, P < 0.05). ICTP and BAP levels increased significantly in vehicle group rats ((101.5176+/- 11.0694) U/L and (370.7838 +/- 12.8273) U/L, respectively) compared with those of the sham group ((11.7553 +/- 1.1885) U/L and (185.7338 +/- 3.6761) U/L, respectively; P < 0.05). XTTL gel decreased the level of blood serum ICTP ((41.8998 +/- 6.4970) U/L, P < 0.05) but had little effect on blood serum BAP ((365.5338 +/- 18.5361) U/L, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTopical use of XTTL gel may have an analgesic effect on bone cancer pain, an effect mediated by lowering of ICTP levels and inhibiting bone resorption.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Collagen Type I ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Pain ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Peptides ; Procollagen ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar