AIM: To study the signal pathway involved in up-regulation of LPS-induced HO-1 expression by CCK-8. METHODS: Forty-two SD rats were divided into 7 groups (six rats each) randomly as follows: control group, LPS group, LPS+SP600125 (JNK-specific inhibitor) group, CCK-8+LPS group, CCK-8+LPS+SP600125 group, CCK-8 group and CCK-8 +SP600125 group. Lungs from the rats in these 7 groups were excised 6 h after the agents were administered. HO-1 mRNA expression was examined by RT-PCR. The protein expression of HO-1 was detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: There were significant positive expression of HO-1 mRNA in LPS group compared to control group. CCK-8 enhanced LPS-induced HO-1 mRNA expression and CCK-8 alone induced HO-1 mRNA expression as well. The mRNA expressions of HO-1 in LPS group, CCK-8+LPS group and CCK-8 group were 3.01 (P<0.01), 5.88 (P<0.01) and 3.45 (P<0.01) times as many as that in control group, respectively. SP600125 inhibited the mRNA expression of HO-1 induced by CCK-8 and (or) LPS. The change of HO-1 protein expression was in accordance with that of HO-1 mRNA expression by Western blotting and immunofluorescence FCM. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that JNK/c-Jun signal pathway plays an important role in the up-regulation of LPS-induced HO-1 expression by CCK-8.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of continuous stellate ganglion block (SGB) for prevention of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) following interventional treatment of intracranial aneurysms.Methods Forty patients of both sexes with ruptured intracranial aneurysm,aged 20-60 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,with Hunt-Hess grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective interventional treatment of intracranial aneurysms,were divided into 2 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table:control group (C group) and continuous SGB group (SGB group).After induction of anesthesia,patients received ipsilateral continuous SGB with 0.25％ ropivacaine 6-8 ml followed by continuous infusion of 0.2％ ropivacaine 2 ml/h for 3 days in group SGB.Transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the blood flow in bilateral middle cerebral arteries and internal carotid arteries within 3 days after operation,and the development of CVS was assessed.Before operation and at 2 and 6 h and 1 and 3 days after operation,blood samples were collected from the internal jugular vein for determination of plasma melatonin (MT) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with group C,the incidence of CVS (5％) was significantly decreased,and the plasma ET-1 concentration was decreased at 2 and 6 h and 1 and 3 days after operation (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in plasma MT concentrations at each time point in group SGB (P＞0.05).Conclusion Continuous SGB can effectively prevent the development of CVS following interventional treatment of intracranial aneurysms,and the mechanism may be related to inhibited release of ET-1 from vascular endothelial cells,but not related to MT.

AIM: To study the regulatory effect of curcumin on expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the lung of rat treated with LPS. METHODS: Eighteen rats were divided into three groups injected with different agents via lingua vein: control group (animals received equivalent saline) , LPS group (animals received a bolus dose of LPS 5 mg?0.5 mL-1?kg-1) and LPS+ curcumin group (animals received AP- 1 inhibitor curcumin 20 mg?0.5 mL-1?kg-120 min before the injection of LPS 5 mg ?0.5 mL-1?kg-1) . The expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein in the lung were examined 7 h after LPS administration by reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. Carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) formation within pulmonary tissue was measured to represent CO content. RESULTS: The results showed that HO- 1 mRNA and protein expression as well as CO content in the lung of rats in LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (P

Objective To evaluate the analgesic effect of curcumin on trigeminal neuralgia in rats. Methods Thirty healthy adult male Sprague?Dawley rats, weighing 200-250 g, aged 7-8 weeks, were divided into 3 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table: sham operation group ( group S) , tri?geminal neuralgia group (group TN) and trigeminal neuralgia + curcumin group (group Cur). Trigeminal neuralgia model was established by injecting cobra venom solution into the sheath of the infraorbital nerve ( ION) . Starting from 15 days after establishment of the model, curcumin 45 mg∕kg was intragastrically ad?ministered twice a day for 28 consecutive days in group Cur, while the equal volume of peanut oil was ad?ministered in group TN. Before establishment of the model (baseline), and on 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days after establishment of the model, the mechanical pain threshold was measured, the free behav?iors were observed, and the time and frequency of face?grooming and exploratory behaviors were recorded. After observation of the free behaviors, the ION and medulla oblongata on the affected side were removed for examination of the ultrastructure using transmission electron microscopy. Results Compared with group S, the mechanical pain threshold was significantly decreased, the time of face?grooming behaviors was signifi?cantly prolonged, the frequency of face?grooming behaviors was significantly increased, the time of explora?tory behaviors was significantly shortened, and the frequency of exploratory behaviors was significantly de?creased on 4-42 days after establishment of the model in group TN (P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group TN, the mechanical pain threshold was significantly increased, and the time of face?grooming behav?iors was significantly shortened on 28-42 days after establishment of the model, and the frequency of face?grooming behaviors was significantly decreased, the time of exploratory behaviors was significantly pro?longed, and the frequency of exploratory behaviors was significantly increased on 21-42 days after estab?lishment of the model in group Cur ( P<0.05 or 0.01) . Microscopic examination revealed that the changes in demyelination of the ION and medulla oblongata were significantly attenuated in group Cur as compared with group TN. Conclusion Intragastrically administered curcumin 45 mg∕kg ( twice a day for 28 consecutive days) can attenuate trigeminal neuralgia in rats, and the mechanism is related to the attenuated changes in demyelination of the ION and medulla oblongata.

Objective To conduct in‐depth job analysis and needs assessment on advanced midwifery practitioner (AMP) set up at a tertiary hospital .Methods The appraisal structure was designed by the needs assessment framework .Information on AMP′s job needs was collected via in‐depth interviews ,field notes and midwives′diaries .Colaizzi analysis method was used to sort out and analyze all the data .Results Seven themes through AMP′s job needs assessment were presented in the form of6W1H ,including :(1) who was AMP ;(2) whom did AMP serve;(3) what was AMP′s job content ;(4) what scope did AMP work in ;(5) how was the AMP′s practice model ;(6) where was the practical site;(7) why was the job post launched .Conclusions AMP practice at current stage is in its embryonic form of exploration but with huge potential demand ,which still needs to be improved using the needs assessment framework so that a scientific and standard job description can be formed to guide the AMP clinical practice .

Objective To evaluate the effect of curcumin on cognitive dysfunction in a rat model of trigeminal neuralgia.Methods Thirty healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (Sham group),trigeminal neuralgia group (TN group),and trigeminal neuralgia + curcumin group (TN + Cur group).Trigeminal neuralgia was produced by injecting cobra venom solution 4 μl into the sheath of the infraorbital nerve in TN and TN + Cur groups.Starting from 15 days after establishment of the model,1.5 ml peanut oil was injected through a gastric tube into stomach twice a day (in the morning and at night) for 28 consecutive days in TN group,and curcumin 45 mg/kg (dissolved in 1.5 ml peanut oil) was injected through a gastric tube into stomach twice a day (in the morning and at night) for 28 consecutive days in TN + Cur group.The cognitive function was assessed using Morris water maze test after the end of treatment.The escape latency,swimming speed,ratio of time of staying at the target quadrant,and the number of times the animals crossing the platform were recorded.The pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region were observed with an electron microscope.The ultrastructure of neurons,organelles and synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region was examined with a transmission electron microscope.Results There was no significant difference in the swimming speed between the three groups (P＞0.05).Compared with Sham group,the escape latency on 1st-4th days was significantly prolonged,the ratio of time of staying at the target quadrant was decreased,and the number of times the animals crossing the platform was decreased in TN group,and the escape latency was significantly prolonged on 3rd and 4th days in TN + Cur group (P＜0.01).Compared with TN group,the escape latency on 2nd-4th days was significantly shortened,the ratio of time of staying at the target quadrant was increased,the number of times the animals crossing the platform was increased (P＜0.01),and the pathological changes of hippocampal tissues were attenuated in TN + Cur group.Conclusion Curcumin can improve cognitive dysfunction in a rat model of trigeminal neuralgia.

Objective To investigate the effect of lipoxin A4 LXA4) on radicular pain caused by intervertebral disc herniation.Methods Non-compressive intervertebral disc herniation was induced into forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,and they were divided into a sham group (sham operation + 10 μl normal saline),a control group (modeled + 10 μl normal saline),an LXA4 10 ng group (modeled + 10 ng LXA4) and an LXA4 100 ng group (modeled + 100 ng LXA4),with 12 rats in each group.The normal saline (10 μl) or LXA4 (10 μl) was administered intrathecally right after the operation and on each of the three succeeding days.General behavior was observed and the 50％ paw withdrawal threshold (50％ PWT) was measured.On postoperative day 7 all the rats were killed and the ipsilateral lumbar (L4~) segments of their spinal dorsal horns were removed for determination of the expression of p-JNK,t-JNK,p-ERK and t-ERK proteins using western blotting.TNF-α,IL-1β and TGF-β1 expression were determined using ELISA.Results There was no significant difference in the 50％PWT of the sham group before and after surgery,but the 50％ PWTs of the control group and the LXA4 10 ng group were significantly decreased after the operation compared with their values beforehand and significantly lower than the value of the sham group at all time points.Moreover,the 50％ PWT of the LXA4 10 ng group on postoperative days 3 and 5 was significantly higher than the control group;as was the value of the LXA4 100 ng group on postoperative days 2,3,4,5,6 and 7.The p-JNK and p-ERK expression in the control group,the LXA4 10 ng group and the LXA4 100 ng group were all increased significantly more than in the sham group,but their expression in the LXA4 10 ng group and LXA4 100 ng group were decreased significantly more in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group,with the LXA4 100 ng group showing the greatest decrease.There were no significant differences in t-JNK or t-ERK expression within each group.Conclusion LXA4 can alleviate radicular pain caused by non-compressive lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.The underlying mechanism involves inhibiting the activation of the ERK and JNK pathways,reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Objective To develop a three-stage standardized and systematic training program framework and indicator systems for clinical midwives.Methods Based upon literature review,Delphi technique was used to formulate index system and indicators for midwives' training program through tworound expert consultation among 29 experts.Results After two-round expert consultation,the response rates were 96.7％ and 100.0％,respectively.Experts' authority coefficient was 0.874.The training program framework consisted of a three-level index system.Average importance scores of the three-level indexes were 4.10 to 4.97,4.07 to 4.97,and 4.00 to 5.00,respectively.And their variance coefficients were 0.037 to 0.119,0.037 to 0.130,and 0 to 0.141,respectively.Then a progressive and integrated three-year standardized training framework and index system for clinical midwives was finally formed,which totally contained 5 first-level indicators or training modules,including professional competence and safety awareness,specialized and basic knowledge,specialized practical skills,emergency management,and basic capacity for teaching and research.Conclusions The three-level framework and indicators for clinical midwives' training program has been proved to be acceptable,reliable and scientific,thus providing a theoretical and referential basis for training clinical midwives and improving teaching quality.

Objective To investigate the biomechanical and pathological changes in vivo in the taut bands (TB) of biceps femoris in rats after repeated low-frequency electrical stimulation.Methods Twenty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group,an electrical intensity-dependent fatigue group,which were subject to electric intensity-dependent fatigue test,and an electrical frequency-dependent fatigue group,which were subject to electrical frequency-dependent fatigue test.After fatigue tests,the taut band of the biceps femoris and the non-taut band of the contralateral biceps femoris were harvested for pathological observation.The maximum contraction force (MCF),electrical intensity-and frequency-dependent fatigue characteristics and any pathological changes in the TBs were assessed and compared to the non-taut band region of the other biceps femoris.Results The MCF at the 15th and 20th stimulation (1.42 ± 0.28 g and 0.93 ± 0.54 g respectively) were significantly lower than that at the 1 st and 5th stimulation of the TBs.High stimulation intensity (HSI) at the 15th and 20th stimulation (3.76 ± 0.71 V and 3.44 ± 0.97 V) were also significantly lower than at the 1st TB stimulation.At the 10th,15th and 20th stimulation of the TBs,MCF and HSI were both significantly lower than in the bands which were not tight.In the frequency-dependent fatigue stimulation tests,the frequency which generated the MCF of the TBs was significantly lower than in the bands which were not tight,while the MCF of the TBs was significantly higher than that of non-TBs.After either intensity or frequency fatigue testing,more severe edema,uneven cytoplasmic death and degeneration of muscle fibers were observed in sections from TBs than from the bands which were not tight.Conclusions Taut muscle bands are significantly less fatigue-resistant than normal muscle fibers.Taut bands may contribute to the fatigue of myofascial pain syndromes.

To explore the role of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 experimental system in dachengqitang (DD) ameliorating ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Seventy-five male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group (normal saline was instilled intratracheally(50 microL/per mouse), LPS group (LPS was instilled intratracheally to replicate ALI model), DD + LPS group, DD + LPS + ZnPP (ZnPP, HO-1 specific inhibitor) group and the DD group. Mice were killed at 6 h after administration. Lung indexes were tested; lung histomorphological changes were observed under microscope, and neutrophils (PMN) number and protein content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured; HO-1 mRNA and protein expression in lung tissue were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The results showed that intratracheal instillation of LPS in mice can cause significant morphological changes in lung tissue. Both PMN numbers and protein content in BALF were increased. meanwhile the expressions of HO-1 mRNA and protein in lung tissue were increased. Pretreated with DD and then intratracheally instillated LPS coulde ameliorat lung tissue injury, reduced PMN BALF number and protein content, but increase HO-1 mRNA and protein expression in the lung tissue when compared with LPS. HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP coulde inhibite the ameliorative effect of DD. The results suggest that the ameliorative effect of DD on ALI induced by LPS in mice were related with upregulation HO-1 mRNA and protein.
Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Protoporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Treatment Outcome