Objective To compare the hypnotic effects of propofol administered by target-controlled infusion (TCI in daytime and nighttime,in order to explore the effect of circadian rhythm on the sedative effect of propofol.Methods Sixty-five male ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 18-55 years,with the body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2,undergoing emergency minor hand surgery were divided into two groups according to the time of the day when they received TCI of propofol:daytime group (from 07:01 to 19:00) and nighttime group (from 19:01 to 07:00).The pharmacokinetic parameters proposed by Schnider et al.which suggested the effect-site concentration (Ce) was used.Four Ces of propofol were set at 0.8,1.2,2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml,respectively.Ce was increased step by step and each Ce was maintained for 5 minutes.The level of sedation at each Ce was assessed by bispectral index (BIS) and observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scores.BIS values and Ces of propofol were recorded and compared between the two groups when the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S score =2).Results There were 28 and 30 patients in daytime and nighttime groups,respectively.When Ces were 1.2 and 2.0 μg/ml,the BIS values were significantly lower in the nighttime group than in the daytime group.There was no significant difference in BIS values between the two groups when Ces were 0.8 and 4.0 μg/ml.When the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S =2),the BIS value was comparable between the two groups,but Ce was significantly lower in the nighttime group than in the daytime group.Conclusion The hypnotic effect of propofol is greater during night time than during day time.

Objective To compare the hypnotic effect of propofol administered by target-controlled infusion (TCI) during day-time and night-time,in order to explore the effect of circadian rhythms on the sedative effect of propofol.Methods Sixty-five male ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 18-55 yr undergoing emergency minor hand surgery were divided into 2 gorups according to the time of the day when they received propofol TCI:day-time group (from 7:01 to 19:00) and night-time group (from 19:01 to 7:00).The pharmacokinetic parameters proposed by Schnider which predict effect-site concentration (Ce) were used.Four effect-site concentrations of propofol were set:0.8,1.2,2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml.Ce was increased step by step and each Ce was maintained for 5 min.The level of sedation at each Ce was assessed by BIS and OAA/S scores.BIS value and Ce of propofol were recorded and compared between the 2 groups when the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S score =2).Results There was 28 and 30 patients in day-time and nighet-time groups respectively.When Ce =1.2 and 2.0 μg/ml,the BIS values were significantly lower in night-time group than in day-time group.There was no significant difference in BIS value between the 2 groups when Ce =0.8 and 4.0 μg/ml.When the patients lost consciousness (OAA/S =2),the BIS value was comparable between the 2 groups,but Ce was significantly lower in night-time group than that in daytime group.Conclusion The hypnotic effect of propofol is greater during night-time than during day-time.

Humans ; Lipodystrophy ; congenital

Biomedical Research ; trends ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Aged ; Coal Mining ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo labele MESPU35, a embryonic stem (ES) cell line derived from C57BL/6j mouse, with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for further application.

METHODSThe EGFP gene was controlled by the hybrid CA promoter/enhancer (CMV enhancer/chicken beta-actin promoter/beta-actin intron) to construct the vector of the transgene, pCA-EGFP. The vector was transfected into MESPU35 by electroporation.

RESULTSWe generated EGFP expressing ES cells demonstrating normal properties. The green fluorescence of EGFP expressing cells was maintained in propagation of the ES cells for more than 30 passages as well as in differentiated cells. Cultured in suspension, the "green" ES cells aggregated, and formed embryoid bodies maintaining the green fluorescence at varying developmental stages. The "green" embryoid bodies could expand and differentiate into various types of cells, exhibiting ubiquitous green fluorescence.

CONCLUSIONSThe hybrid CA promoter/enhancer used to control the EGFP expressing ES cells, resulted in more intense and ubiquitous activity. The EGFP transfected cells yield bright green fluorescence, which can be visualized in real time and in situ. In addition, the ES cells, MESPU35, are derived from C57BL/6j mice, which are the most widely used in oncology, physiology and genetics. Compared to 129 substrains, C57BL/6j mice avoid a number of potential problems apparent in the other strains.

Animals ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDValproic acid (VPA) improves early survival and organ function in a highly lethal poly-trauma and hemorrhagic shock model or other severe insults. We assessed whether VPA could improve organ function in a rat model of septic shock and illustrated the possible mechanisms.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): control group, VPA group, LPS group, and LPS + VPA group. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to replicate the experimental model of septic shock. Rats were treated with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.v.) or saline. Six hours after LPS injection, blood was sampled for gas analysis, measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Lung, liver and kidney were collected for histopathological assessment. In addition, myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-a in pulmonary tissue were measured. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung was also evaluated by Western blotting.

RESULTSLPS resulted in a significant decrease in PaO2, which was increased by VPA administration followed LPS injection. In addition, LPS also induced an increase in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urine nitrogen, creatinine, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, these increases were attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. The lungs, liver and kidneys from the LPS group were significantly damaged compared with the control group. However, the damage was attenuated in the LPS + VPA group. Myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in pulmonary tissue increased significantly in the LPS group compared with the control group. These increases were significantly inhibited in the LPS + VPA group. Acetylation of histone H3 in lung tissue in the LPS group was inhibited compared with the control. However, the level of acetylation of histone H3 in the LPS + VPA group was markedly elevated in contrast to the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with VPA can attenuate multiple organ damage caused by LPS induced septic shock. Our data also suggest that the beneficial effects are in part due to the decrease in inflammatory cytokines and restoration of normal acetylation homeostasis.

Acute Kidney Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Septic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Valproic Acid ; therapeutic use

AIMTo investigate the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on growth and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by arginine vasopressin (AVP).

METHODSCFs of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated by trypsinization and cultured; growth-arrested CFs were stimulated with 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) AVP in the presence or absence of CsA (0.05, 0.5 and 5 micromol x L(-1)). MTT and flow cytometry techniques were adopted to measure cell number and analyze cell cycle respectively. Collagen synthesis was determined by measurement of hydroxyproline content in culture supernatant with colorimetry. Calcineurin activity was estimated by chemiluminescence. Trypan blue staining to test the viability of CFs.

RESULTS0.05, 0.5 and 5 micromol x L(-1) CsA inhibited the increase of CFs number induced by 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) AVP in a dose-dependent manner, with the inhibitory rates by 12%, 24% and 29%, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, cell cycle analysis showed 0.5 micromol x L(-1) CsA decreased the S stage percentage and proliferation index of CFs stimulated by AVP (P < 0.05). In culture medium, the hydroxyproline content induced by AVP decreased by 0.5 and 5 micromol x L(-1) CsA (P < 0.05), with the inhibitory rates of 29% and 33%, respectively. CsA completely inhibited the increment of calcineurin activity induced by AVP (P < 0.01), but CsA itself had no effect on the baseline of calcineurin activity and CFs viability.

CONCLUSIONCsA inhibits proliferation and collagen synthesis of CFs by virtue of blocking calcineurin signaling pathway and might provide a novel target for prevention and treatment to cardiac fibrosis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Arginine Vasopressin ; pharmacology ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the current staffing of nurses and need of hospital nursing human resources in China.Methods Data were collected from 181 secondary and tertiary hospitals and 9774 nurses in mainland China by questionnaires.Results The average doctor-nurse ratio was 1 ∶ 1.39 in tertiary hospitals and 1 ∶ 1.31 in secondary hospitals.The doctor-nurse ratios in 164 hospitals (97.6％) and the proportion of nurses in health care staff in 105 hospitals (61.8％) had not reached the standard set by the Ministry of Health of China.62.3％ nurses held secondary diploma for their initial nursing education.The constituent ratio of nurses held secondary diploma decreased,while the ratio of nurses held advanced diploma and bachelor degree increased in the last 5 years from 2003 to 2007.Sixty percent of newly employed nurses were contract nurses in 2003.The proportion increased to 78％ in 2007,and in some regions it accounted for more than 90％ of new nurses.The needs and constituent ratio of nurses with.secondary diploma and advanced diploma would decrease while nurses with bachelor degree and master degree would increase in the next 5 years (from 2009 to 2013).Conclusions The nursing shortage is still severe in China,and nursing staff mainly held secondary diploma for their initial nursing education.Most of new nurses were employed as conwact nurses.The need of hospitals for nurses has increased,especially for nurses with higher educational level such as bachelor degree and master degree,while the need for secondary diploma hold ers have decreased.The need for advanced diploma holders has increased in the last 5 years and would decrease in the next 5 years,but they would still be the majority of employed nurses.The authors suggested that the staffing of nursing manpower,the work environments and career development of contract nurses should be improved,and the initial nursing education should be upgraded to meet the needs of hospitals.

OBJECTIVETo study the value of apolipoprotein H (apoH) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and urinary N-Acetyl-beta-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG) and retinal-binding protein (RBP) in the early diagnosis of renal function damage in neonates.

METHODSSixty sick neonates who renal function damage probably occurred were enrolled. The blood and urinary samples were collected twice within 48 hrs following admission, with an interval of 12-24 hrs. Expression of apoH gene in PBMC was determined with RT-PCR. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, and urinary activities of NAG and RBP were measured with enzymatic reaction.

RESULTSThe abnormal rates of blood apoH and urinary NAG and RBP were 73.3%, 83.3% and 76.7%, respectively in the first detection. The second detection for blood apoH and urinary NAG and RBP showed abnormal rates of 70.0%, 66.7% and 76.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the abnormal rates between the three markers either in the first or the second detection (P>0.05). Beside there were no significant significances in the abnormal rates between urinary NAG and blood BUN in the second detection, the abnormal rates of blood apoH and urinary NAG and RBP in both detections were significantly higher than those of BUN or creatinine (P<0.01 or 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are identical values of blood apoH gene expression and urinary NAG and RBP in the early diagnosis of renal function damage in neonates. The above three markers are more sensitive to early renal function damage than blood BUN and creatinine.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Male ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I ; blood ; genetics