Accidents, Occupational ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; poisoning

Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in neutrophil granulocytes during one-lung ventilation in the patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy.Methods Thirty-eight ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 40-64 yr,weighing 50-75 kg,scheduled for elective pulmonary lobectomy,were randomized into 2 groups (n =19 each) using a random number table:control group (group C) and dexmedetomidine group (group D).In group D,dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg/kg was infused intravenously over 15 min before induction of anesthesia,followed by infusion at a rate of 0.5 μg· kg-1 · h-1 until 30 min before the end of operation.The equal volume of normal saline was given in group C.At 5 min after intubation,0,30 and 60 min of one-lung ventilation,0 and 30 min of two-lung ventilation,and 30 min after operation,blood samples were taken from the radial artery for blood gas analysis and for measurement of plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).The oxygenation index and respiratory index were calculated.The nuclear protein of neutrophil granulocytes was extracted for measurement of NF-κB DNA-binding activity.Results Compared with group C,the respiratory index,plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 and NF-κB DNA-binding activity were significantly decreased,and no significant difference was found in the oxygenation index in group D.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can inhibit the activation of NF-κB in neutrophil granulocytes and is helpful in reducing the systemic inflammatory responses during one-lung ventilation in the patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency of Spanishneedles Herb eye drops in treating perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbits.

METHODTotally 36 rabbits (36 right eyes) were ovariectomized, and 2 months later divided into three groups: the experimental group (group A, n = 12) given Spanishneedles Herb eye drops, the control group (group B, n = 12) given PBS and the model group (group C, n = 12) given no drug. The Schirmer I test (SIT), fluorescent (FL), total tear protein, diastase activity, lactoferrin and lysozyme contents and confocal scanning microscopy were performed at before the treatment and at 1 w, 2 w, 1 mo, 2 mo after the treatment.

RESULTBefore the treatment, There was no significant difference in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity between two groups. Two months later after the treatment, both the group B and the group A showed differences degrees of changes in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity compared with that before the treatment, with statistical differences (P < 0.05); At each time point, both groups revealed statistical differences in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity (1 < 0.05). Two months later alter the treatment, densities of basal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells in the group A were (4 122 ±416) cells/mm2 and (339 ± 131) cells/mm2, while that in the group B were (3 343 ± 424) cells/mm2 and (49 ± 17) cells/mm2, with statistical differences between them (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSpanishneedles Herb eye drops could effectively treat perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbit caused by sex hormones decline.

Animals ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; administration & dosage ; Perimenopause ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tears ; secretion ; Xerophthalmia ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the role of PI_3 K/Akt signal pathway in Ephrin-Al gene mediated invasion,metastasis of Huh-7 cells.Methods Western blot was used to test the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI_3 K)and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)after Huh-7 cells were treated with Ephrin-A1/Fc fusion protein.According to the protein expression,LY294002 was used to block PI_3 K/Akt pathway specifically,then p-Akt protein expression,mobility and invasive ability of Huh-7 cells were examined.Results In Huh-7 cells actived by Ephrin-Al/Fc fusion protein,p-Akt expression was higher than that in control group(t=4.564,P＜0.05),but there was no difference of p-p38MAPK expression between Ephrin-Al/Fc fusion protein group and IgG/Fc fusion protein group(P＞0.05).PI_3 K/Akt pathway was specifically blocked by LY294002,the p-Akt protein expression decreased in Huh-7 cells,and the mobility and invasive ability mediated by Ephrin-Al in Huh-7 cells decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusions PI_3 K/Akt pathway effects an important role in mobility and invasive ability of Huh-7 cells mediated by Ephrin-A1.

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), inflammatory responses during the progression of renal tissue and tissue injury related causes its progression to end-state renal disease. Among them, nuclear factor (nuclear factor, NF)-kappaB signaling pathway by regulating the corresponding nuclear expression of target gene transcription, as well as affecting the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, induction of inflammation lead to kidney damage and renal fibrosis. Some single herbs and their extracts (such as Astragali Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Ginkgo Folium) and some traditional Chinese medicine (such as Danggui Buxue decoction, Qilian decoction) can reduce the inflammatory damage induced by renal tissue NF-kappaB signaling pathway and delay the progression of CKD.
Animals ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

ObjectiveTo assess the validity of virtual-reality simulator UroMentorTM in skill training of ureteroscopy. MethodsThirty urologists were included and divided into groups A (n =18) and B (n =12 ) based on former ureteroscopy experience ( ≥ 20 or ＜ 20).Participants were assessed on their ability to perform cystoscopy,gnidewire insertion,semirigid ureteroscope advancement and basket extraction of a distal ureteric stone on the simulator.A blinded examiner assessed the subjects' performance using global rating scale (GRS).In addition,computer-generated parameters including time to complete the task,endoscope and instrument trauma,and the number of attempts to insert a guidewire were recorded as pretest.After 2 days of simulator training,they were retested with the same task. ResultsAll participants had reduced time to completion (333 ± 32 s & 228 ± 18 s,P =0.001 ) and improved GRS (24.4 ± 2.1 & 28.1 ±1.2,P =0.010).Differences were significant between the two groups in the time to completion (before 405 ±40 s & 262 ±22 s,P =0.014; after 276 ± 12 s & 179 ±9 s,P =0.000),and GRS (before 19.6 ±2.5 & 29.2 ± 1.3,P =0.009 ; after 25.0 ± 1.1 & 31.2 ± 0.7,P =0.002).Previous ureteroscopy experience was correlated to GRS (before r=0.705,after r=0.756). ConclusionThe UroMentor virtual-reality simulator is an appropriate and useful tool in training and assessing the skills of ureteroscopy.

Objective To study the effects of light at different intensities and an enriched environment (EE) on rats' level of voluntary exercise,and to explore the resulting benefits.Methods Thirty male SpragueDawley rats were tested successively under 4 different experimental conditions:EE + strong light,EE + dim light,open-field environment (OFE)+ strong light and OFE + dim light.Each rat's path in the different conditions was recorded using an automated tracking system.Distance moved (m),velocity (m/s),mobile duration (s),mobile frequency,moving duration (s) and moving frequency were recorded over a one-hour period. ResultsThe EE rats were significantly more active than the OFE rats in both strong and dim light.All rats were more mobile under dim light than under strong light.Conclusion Environment and light intensity are independent factors affecting rats' voluntary exercise levels,and they can exert their influence in synergy.

Objective To assess the face and construct validity of a full procedural transurethral prostate resection simulator (TURPSimTM) in the training of transurethral resection of the prostate. Methods Ten experienced and thirteen inexperienced urologists (TURP experience ≥ 30 and ≤ 3 respectively) were included for TURP training on TURPSimTM. Each participant filled out a questionnaire regarding their previous experience and opinion of the usefulness of the simulator before and after performing six full procedures at level-2 difficulty. Performance was evaluated between the two groups and pre- /post-training, including GRS and objective parameters recorded on the simulator. Results The experienced group had higher GRS scores (16.3±2.6 vs 12.9±4.0, P=0.024) and prostate resection rate [(94.6±2.8)% vs (89.8±4.4)%, P=0.006]. Less blood loss [(78 ml vs 115 ml, P=0.208) and less capsule resection rate [(27.6±5.4)% vs (29.1±6.2)%, P=0.558] were detected in the experienced group than in the inexperienced group with no significant differences. After training, GRS and coagulation precision increased (14.4±3.8 vs 20.0±3.4, P<0.001; 93% vs 100%, P=0.001) ,while capsule resection rate [(28.4±5.8)% vs (20.8±3.9)%, P<0.001), blood loss (86 ml vs 76 ml, P=0.039) and injury of sphincter (5.5±2.2 vs 3.2±1.7, P<0.001) decreased in both groups. Conclusions Proof of face and construct validity is shown for this full procedural simulator to simulate the skills necessary to perform TURP. The surgical skills of urologists may be enhanced after training on the simulator.

Objective To study the anatomy basis and biomechanical stability of euthyphoria reduction and percutaneous cannulated screw fixation for sacroiliac dislocation,and to evaluate the primary clinical efficacy of this method.Methods The distances from the anterior branches of the nerve roots at L4,and L5 and obturator nerve on the superior border of sacral ala to the sacroiliac joint were measured on 12 adult cadavers (24 sides) fixed and preserved by formalin.Models of sacroiliac dislocation were made on six pelvic specimens of fresh cadavers.A comparison of stability was made on the six models between the fixation studied here and the traditional fixations by posterior percutaneous sacroiliac screws and by anterior sacroiliac joint plates.At the same time,17 patients with type C Tile fracture were treated with our method.The clinical efficacy was analyzed for the 17 patients.Results The distances from the anterior branches of the nerve roots at L4,and L5 and obturator nerve on the superior border of sacral ala to the sacroiliac joint were 20.24?1.20mm,23.80?1.43mm,and 16.26?2.07 mm respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in stability between our method and the traditional fixation by posterior percutaneous sacroiliac screws,though ours seemed better.Follow-ups for the 17 cases averaged 2.2 years,re- vealing fine functional recovery in all according to Matta scoring.Conclusions Euthyphoria reduction and per- cutaneous cannulated screw fixation can lead to sufficient biomechanical stability for the sacroiliac joint and effec- tively avoid nervous injuries.In addition,our method is simple and clinically effective,It is recommendable for small and middle-sized hospitals.

Objective To study the effects of preconditioning treadmill exercise on excitatory amino vacid changes in rats after the cerebral infarction and the protective effects against cerebral isehemia brain injury. Methods Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Twenty-five rats were subject to an operation to establish the animal model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and divided into a isehemia group, an 1-week ex- ercise group (trained in the 4th week) , a 2-week exercise group (trained in the 3rd and 4th weeks) and a 4- week exercise group (trained for 4 weeks) , while the remaining 5 rats were subject to sham operation, and served as the controls. After 4 weeks of experiment, all the the rats were fixed on stereotactie apparatus for the brain microdialysis of the striatum. Then the focal middle cerebral artery ischemia and reperfusion were made with thread oeclussion in rats and microdialysis technique was used to collect extraeellular fluid in each period of pre-ischemia, ischemia (40, 80 and 120 min), and reperfusion (40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 min) to detect the changes of the excitatory amino acid. At the same time the infarction volume was also measured at 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion of the brain. Results The difference between any two groups was significant with regard to the volume of cerebral infarction (P < 0.05). Two weeks and four weeks of the preconditioning treadmill exercise couled significantly reduce concentration of Glu excessively released due to the ischemia (P < 0.01). Conclusion At least two weeks of preconditioning treadmill exercise can inhibit the excessive release of the important excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate, to some extent, in the process of the subse- quent ischemic brain injury and during reperfusion, which might be one of the protective mechanisms of move- ment against the early isehemie brain injury.