This article introduced the method and procedure of measuring the electrical skin resistance(ESR) by the digital electrical skin-resistance meter.And the factors affecting the ESR were discussed in the article.

AIMIn order to explore the mechanism of central motilin-induced feeding behavior, the effects of erythromycin, a motilin receptor agonist, on glucose responsive neurons in hypothalamus were observed.

METHODSExtracellular recordings were made from single neurons in region of lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) in anesthetized rats. On the basis of their responsiveness to intracarotid injection of 0.58 mol/L glucose solution 0.2 ml, glucose-sensitive neurons (GSNs) in LHA and glucoreceptor neurons (GRNs) in VMH were recognized. Effects of intracerebroventricularly (i. c. v.) administration of 4 microg erythromycin on neural activities of glucose responsive neurons and non-glucose responsive neurons were examined. The mixture of EM and GM-109 1 microl were used to GSNs and GRNs which were sensitive to i. c. v. administration of EM.

RESULTSIn LHA, EM increased activity of GSNs significantly (P < 0.05 vs non-glucose-sensitive neurons group). Whereas in VMH, EM significantly decreased the activities of GRNs (P < 0.01 vs non-glucoreceptor neurons group). The mixture of EM and GM-109 had no effect on GSNs and GRNs.

CONCLUSIONEM, a motilin receptor agonist, can stimulate GSNs in LHA and suppress GRNs in VMH and this may contribute to central motilin's effect on feeding behavior.

Animals ; Erythromycin ; pharmacology ; Hypothalamus ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Receptors, Neuropeptide ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective To evaluate the curative effects of portal vein tumor emboli(PVTE)of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI).Methods Absolute ethanol was injected into the tumor embolus of portal vein guided by CT in twenty patients with hepatocellular carcinomas.The procedure was carried out one or two times each week one to three times as a course and one to two courses for a patient.The interval between two courses was one month and the patients were followed up for 6 months-5 years.Results Among the twenty patients,17(85%)were improved in different degrees after the treatment,with disappearence of the tumor emboli in 2(10%)and size stability or even smaller in 15 (75%),and finally no response in 3(15%).Conclusions CT-guided PEI is an effective method for patient with PVTE and proper selection of patient for the procedure is the key to obtain better curative effects.

Objective To evaluate the effect of percutaneous transhepatic obliteration(PTO)of gastroesophageal varices in liver cirrhosis.Methods Fifty-six cirrhotic patients suffering from gastroesophageal varices were treated with PTO,including 35 during emergency bleeding,10 after stoppage of hemorrhage and 11 with severe gastroesophageal varices for prevention of bleeding.Results Catheterization and embolization of gastroesophageal varices were successfully performed in all 56 patients(100%).Bleeding stopped after PTO as an emergency treatment was achieved in 35 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Among them,PTO was performed in 11 patients for preventing variceal hemorrhage,gastroesophageal varices disappeared in 7 and alleviation was obtained evidently in 4.47 patients were followed up for 2-60 months with recurrent bleeding in 5,death in 4 on causes of rebleeding of alimentary tract(1 case),hepatic failure(1 case), hepatocellular carcinoma(2 cases).Conclusion PTO is a safe and effective treatment for gastroesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients and should be recommended extensively.

Objective To investigate the effects of Dihuangyinzi(DHYZ) on behaviors and RAGE/p38 pathway in APP/PS1 mice.MethodTwenty APP/PS1 dementia mice were randomly divided into model group(n=10) and Chinese medicine group(n=10).The blank group was C57 BL/6 J normal mouse(n=10).The mice in Chinese medicine group were intragastric administration with DHYZ (9.75 g·kg-1·d-1).The mice in model group and blank group were treated with distilled water.After 30 days,the abilities of learning and memory of mice were detected by Morris water maze.The expression of amyloid-beta1-42(Aβ1-42) in the hippocampus and cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry.Reactive oxygen species of brain tissue were detected by DCFH-DA Methods in the brain of APP/PS1 mice.Gene expression level of receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE) was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice.The expression of phospho-mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38) was analyzed with Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice.Results Behavioral Results showed that DHYZ significantly increased the distance((23.088±7.083)cm) and residence time((1.961±1.230)s)of effective area in Morris water maze on the fifth day(P<0.05,P<0.01)and remarkably increased the number of effective area crossings((1.607±0.405) times) and plats((0.893±0.283) times) in Morris water maze on the fifth day(P<0.01,P<0.05).DHYZ also significantly reduced the intracelluar ROS level(122.611±7.630) in the brain(P<0.01),and DHYZ could depress the expression of RAGE(1.467±0.081,7.983±0.136) and phosphorylation of p38 (0.376±0.026,0.538±0.016)in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusions The Results demonstrate that DHYZ can partly improve memory impairment of APP/PS1 mice by the inhibition of RAGE/p38 pathway.

To design teaching course of problem-based learning (PBL) combined with case-based learning (CBL) for standardized training of clinicians based on clinical decision thinking mode (CDTM) of diagnosis and treatment process for primary liver cancer. The CDTM of treatment choice for primary liver cancer is multi-scheme selection model. The general decision rule includes decision condition, action plan and decision tree. For the theoretical study of clinical decision rules, it is suitable to design PBL teaching, but it is suitable to design CBL teaching course for clinical decision-making practice. The teaching course of PBL combined with CBL is conducive to improving the ability of clinicians' clinical decision thinking step by step.

The effects of administration of motilin into the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on gastric antrum motility in conscious rats and on gastric distention (GD) sensitive neurons in dorsal vagal complex (DVC) in anesthetized rats were studied. Microinjection of motilin (0.37 nmol/0.5 microl) into the LHA increased the gastric antrum motility index by 76.29 +/- 4.09% (P<0.01). In 60 GD sensitive neurons, firing rate increased in 39 neurons (65%) and decreased in 21 neurons (35%), which were classified as GD-excitatory and GD-inhibitory neurons, respectively. Firing rate by 7.17 +/- 7.89% within 1.5 min in 15 of 24 GD-excitatory neurons, and firing rate increased by 44.35 +/- 7.89% in 12 of 14 GD-inhibitory neurons after motilin microinjection into the LHA. The results suggest that exogenous motilin in LHA plays a role in the regulation of gastric antrum motility possibly via the vagal pathway from LHA-DVC to the stomach.
Animals ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; drug effects ; Microinjections ; Motilin ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pyloric Antrum ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vagus Nerve ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective To establish standard parameters of cervical alignment and cervical range of motion(ROM) in asymptomatic population,and to explore the influential factors such as age,sex and cervical disc degeneration.Methods The cervical standard lateral,flexion and extension plain radiographs of 212 asymptomatic volunteers were analyzed retrospectively.The volunteers,including 128 females and 84 males with ages ranging from 20 to 79 years,were divided into 6 groups from 3rd to 8th decade of life and were divided into 4 groups based on the scoring system of cervical disc degeneration.These plain films were blindly measured by 3 spine surgeons with Mimics software,and each spine surgeon mcasured them for 3 times.Several parameters,including C2-C7 cervical alignment,total ROM,flexion ROM,extension ROM and segmental ROM were measured.The score of disc degeneration were assessed from C2-C3 to C6-C7.Pearson correlation analyses was used to quantify the relation between cervical alignment and total ROM.Multiple linear regression analyses were required to account for influential factors.Inter-and intrarater correlation coefficient was analyzed.Results The C2-C7 cervical alignment was 21.40°± 12.15°,and the total ROM was 63.59°± 15.37°.Sex had a significant impact on the cervical alignment (regression coefficient was-2.472,P ＜ 0.05).Both sex and age had significant impacts on the total ROM (regression coefficient was 3.863 and-6.463 respectively,P ＜ 0.05).Sex had a significant impact on C2,3 and C5,6 segmental ROM; age had a significant impact on all of the five segmental ROM from C2,3 to C6,7; cervical disc degeneration had a significant impact on the C4-5,C5-6 and C6-7 segmental ROM.The cervical alignment had no significant association with both of the extension and total ROM (r=-0.106 and 0.215,respectively,P ＞ 0.05),but had a significantly negative association with flexion angle (r=-0.401,P＜ 0.05).The measurement of cervical alignment,total ROM and segmental ROM showed excellent intra-rater agreement and excellent inter-rater agreement.Conclusion Sex is an influential factor of the cervical alignment.Sex and age are two influential factors of the total ROM.Sex,age and cervical disc degeneration are influential factors of the segmental ROM.The cervical alignments do not have an impact on total ROM.

Objective To investigate the glucolipid metabolism in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene knockout mice, and to explore the possible mechanisms of insulin resistance. Methods 16- and 40-week old LPL gene knockout heterozygous mice( LPL + / -) and wild type ( WT) C57 mice were selected and divided into 4 groups:16-week LPL+ / -(n=6), 16-week WT(n = 6), 40-week LPL+ / -(n = 6), and 40-week WT(n = 6) group. LPL activity of post-heparin serum was examined. Serum triglyceride( TG) and free fatty acid( FFA) were measuzed. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT) in 4 groups of mice were performed. The glucose area under the curve (AUCG) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index and β-cell function index ( HOMA-IR, HOMA-β) were calculated to evaluate insulin sensitivity and the function of islet β-cells. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity ( TAOC) levels were determined by means of colorimetric method. Using dihydroethidium( DHE) fluorescent staining method, reactive oxygen species ( ROS) levels in liver and skeletal muscle were determined. Results LPL activity levels of both 16- and 40-week LPL+ / - mice were significantly lower than that in WT mice of the same age. Serum TG and FFA of 40-week old LPL+ / - mice were significantly higher than those in WT mice of the same age(P<0. 05), and they were also higher than those of 16-week old LPL+ / - mice(P<0. 05). IPGTT showed that compared with WT mice, blood glucose level in LPL+ / - mice was significantly higher than that in WT group at 30 and 120 minute(P<0. 05), and fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were increased significantly(P<0. 05). Serum MDA of 40-week old LPL+ / - mice was evidently higher than that in WT mice by the same week(P<0. 05), while TAOC level was lower than that of WT mice (P<0. 05). ROS in skeletal muscle of 16-week old LPL+ /- mice was significantly increased. Meanwhile, ROS in both liver and skeletal muscle of 40-week old LPL+ / - mice was significantly higher than that in WT mice of the same age. Conclusion As time goes by, lipid and glucose disorders of LPL+ / - mice are aggravating, and insulin resistance develops evidently. Insulin resistance in LPL+ / -mice with dyslipidemia may be related to oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the best pathway of laparoscopic surgery for choledocholithiasis. Methods According to MRCP,the cystic duct was divided into four types.The thick-straight type (n =89)and the thin-crooked type (n =65)patients randomly received the laparoscopic operations via the cystic duct or com-mon bile duct.The operation time,transit operation rate,complication rate and length of hospital stay after opera-tion were analysed.Results There were 46 cases of the thick-straight type via cystic duct,43 cases via common bile duct.The former had shorter operation time and hospital stay after operation (P <0.05),but there was no significant difference in transit operation rate and complication rate.There were 32 cases of the thin-crooked type via cystic duct and 33 cases via common bile duct and there were significant differences in the operation time, transit operation rate,complication rate and length of hospital stay after operation(P <0.05).Conclusion Ac-cording to different types,LCTBDE is suitable for the patients with thick-straight type,and LCHTD can be per-formed in thin-crooked type.Therefore,it can maximize the advantage of minimally invasive surgery.