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

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.

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 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.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a very effective way to make tissue engineer bone vascularization.However, because of expensive and short half-life, VEGF cannot maintain effective concentration in blood after injection. To resolve the problem effectively, gene transfection technique is used in this experiment to transfer human VEGF into seed cells-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of tissue engineer bone and to make it secrete VEGF which could vascularize bone.OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of human vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) to transfect rabbit MSCs, and establish the experimental foundation of angiogenesis tissue engineering organization and the treatment of ischemic disorders.DESIGN: Observation control trail.SETTING: First Hospital of Jilin University and Institute of Frontier Medical Sciences of Jilin University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Key Laboratory (BSL-2) of Frontier Medical Sciences of Jilin University between June 2003 and August 2004. Health New Zealand white rabbits, 4.0-5.0 months old, weighing 2.5-3.5 kg, half male and half female, were provided by Animal Center of Jilin University. The rabbits were handled under asepsis and anesthetized condition,corresponding to the animal ethical standard. Medicine and reagents: Ham F12 culture media (Gibco, U.S), MTT (Sigma, U.S)PLXSNKDRp-VEGF165 and pcDNA 3.0 vectors were prepared in the present laboratory. ELISA detection kit (Jingmei company,Shenzhen), DH5 α, restriction endonucleases Barn H I, Xhol Ⅰ, Hind Ⅲ, EcoR Ⅰ and standard DNA molecule (Promega,U.S) were also used in this study.METHODS: Rabbits' MSCs were separated and cultivated. The pcDNA 3.0-hVEGF165 expression vector was constructed and identified, pcDNA3.0-VEGF165 eukaryotic expression vector was constructed, the vector was used directly to transfect MSCs. The cultural supernatant then was collected and the soluble protein of human VEGF gene expression was analyzed with ELISA method.The proliferation capability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated by the supernatant was measured with MTT methods, untreated MSCs and pcDNA3.0 transfected MSCs were used as control groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Result of restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing of the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0-VEGF165;② the secretion of human VEGF165 proteins of the transfected MSCs analyzed by ABC-ELISA; ③ MTT method was used to detect the effects of MSCs culture supematant transfected with VEGF165 on HUVEC cells proliferation ability.RESULTS: ①Result of restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing of the recombinant plasmid: The constructed plasmid was digested with Hind Ⅲ and XHol Ⅰ, and then two pieces fragments were isolated with agarose gel electrophoresis, which was accordance with expected results. And sequencing results showed that PeDNA3.0-VEGF165 eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed. ② ABC-ELISA method: Compared with the control group, concentration of human VEGF protein in the supernatant of the cultured cells increased significantly after the MSCs were transfected with pcDNA3.0-VEGF165 for 24, 48, 72 hours (P＜0.05).③ MTT method was used to detect the effects of MSCs culture supernatant transfected with VEGF165 on HUVEC cells proliferation ability. The results showed MSCs supematant transfected with VEGF165 (2%, 4%,8%, 16%, and 32%) had statistical significance in promoting HUVEC cells proliferation rate compared with the normal control (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Human VEGF gene can be successfully transfected into MSCs and expressed effectively.

Objective To use functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) to observe the efficacy of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with speech training in treating those with lateral fissure aphasia.Methods Forty-eight persons with lateral fissure aphasia were divided randomly into a control group and a treatment group,each of 24.The treatment group was treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with speech training,while the control group was given only speech training.Before the treatment and 2 weeks and 8 weeks after the treatment,BOLD-fMRI images were collected to observe any changes in the language areas of the brain activated.A Chinese aphasia examination (CRRCAE) was used to assess speech function before and after treatment for both groups.Results The average CRRCAE scores of the two groups were not significantly different right before the treatment and at the end of 2 weeks of treatment,but at the end of 8 weeks of treatment the average score of the treatment group was significantly better.The biggest improvement was among those with Broca's aphasia,followed by those with Wernicke aphasia and conduction aphasia.No such differences were observed in the control group.After the 8 weeks of treatment,the average CRRCAE score of the treatment group patients had improved significantly,but in the control group only those with Broca's aphasia had improved significantly.In the treatment group,after 2 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment the activated language areas of the right hemisphere were significantly smaller than before treatment and significantly smaller than the activated areas in the left hemisphere at the same time points.Conclusions Low-frequency,repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with speech therapy is an early intervention which may promote recovery from lateral fissure aphasia through restoring lingual function after stroke.