Objective To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular block on the airway sealing pressure of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) i-gel in patients undergoing general anesthesia.Methods Sixty patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with LMA i-gel were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n =20 each):control group (group C),rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg group (group R1) and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg group (group R2).Anesthesia was induced with target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil.The target plasma concentration of propofol was 3.5 μg/ml,and the target effect-site concentration of remifentanil was 3.0 ng/ml.When the patients lost consciousness and after the target plasma and effect-site concentrations were balanced,LMA i-gel was inserted to perform mechanical ventilation.After insertion of LMA i-gel,rocuronium 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg were injected in R1 and R2 groups,respectively.The airway sealing pressure of LMA i-gel was detected immediately after insertion of LMA i-gel and at 1 min after administration of rocuronium.Results There was no significant difference in the airway sealing pressure of LMA i-gel between groups and within groups(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Neuromuscular block has no significant effect on the airway sealing pressure of LMA i-gel in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Objective To investigate the neuromuscular block effect of intravenous injection of cisatracurium in myasthenia gravis patients with different ages.Methods Fifteen geriatric patients defined as geriatric group(≥ 65 years old)with ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS)thymectomy with Ⅱ b MG and fifteen young-middle aged Ⅱ b MG patients defined as youngmiddle aged group (20-50 years) with paired sex,clinical symptoms,duration of symptoms,preoperative treatment regimen,anesthesia management and surgical time were included.Neuromuscular block was monitored with TOF Watch acceleration instrument.After induction of intravenous anesthesia,0.05mg/kg Cisatracurium was administrated intravenously,followed by increments of 0.015 mg/kg until T1/T0 was less than 5％ for each patient.A double-lumen bronchial tube was intubated when T1/T0 was less than5％.0.015 mg/kg cisatracurium was injected during the operation when T4/T1 was achieved to 25％.The dose of cisatracurium,the duration of blockade maintenance,duration of clinical action and neuromuscular block recovery index were obtained.Results There were no significant differences in tracheal doses of cisatracurium [(0.058 ± 0.013)mg/kg vs.(0.053±0.009)mg/kg]and the duration of blockade [(31.5±9.6)min vs.(40.0±19.8)min] between geriatric group and young-middle age group (P＞0.05).The duration of clinical action of cisatracurium [(21.6±6.7)min vs.(33.7±13.4)min]and the time to achieve a TOFr of 25％ were significantly shorter in geriatric MG group than those in young-middle aged MG group (P=0.045,0.037).The geriatric MG group were administrated more increments of ciastracurium than the young middle aged MG group during surgery (P=0.025).There was no significant difference in the time to achieve a TOFr of 70％ [(49.3±16.4)min vs.(57.4±34.7)min] and 90％ [(61.6± 19.2)min vs.(64.3±35.9)min] between geriatric MG group and young-middle aged MG group (P＞ 0.05).Conclusions The duration of clinical action of cisatracurium in geriatric MG patients was shorted than that in young-middle aged MG patients which was different with neuromuscular block effect in normal patients.It is suggested to do more studies to estimate the influence of age on cisatracurium and other muscle relaxants in MG patients.

Objective To determine the risk factors and clinical features of mild vascular cognitive impairment due to subcortical small vessel disease (mVCI-SSVD).Methods Detailed demographic data,vascular risk factors, past and present history were collected and carefully neurological examination, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), as well as Hachinski ischemic score (HIS) were performed on 56 mVCI-SSVD patients.Further, the demographic data and vascular risk factors of mVCI-SSVD patients were compared with those of 80 normal control subjects.Results Proportions of smoking (39.3% (22/56)), hypertension (67.9% (38/56)), and diabetes (25.0% (14/56)) were higher in the patient group than in the normal control group (21.3% (17/80) , 47.5% (39/80), 11.3% (9/80)).Odds ratio (2.32(95% CI 1.05-5.13),2.15 (95% CI 1.02-4.54),2.26(95% CI 0.86-5.92)) between the two groups was statistically significant (P value: 0.039, 0.045, 0.047).There was no difference in terms of hyperlipidemia and cardiac disease between groups.Fifty percent (28/56) mVCI-SSVD patients had a clear stroke history.Twenty-six point eight percent (15/56) patients developed the cognitive impairment with an acute onset.Neurological focal signs presented in 20 patients (35.7%).Twenty four (42.9%) patients with HIS ≤ 4 points.Thirty eight cases (67.9%) scored 0 on NIHSS.Conclusions Current study suggested that smoking, hypertension, and diabetes may be risk factors for mVCI-SSVD.While hyperlipidemia and cardiac disease do not increase the risk of mVCI-SSVD.Unlike mVCI caused by large vessel disease, about half mVCI-SSVD patients lack of stroke history.Most patients show a relatively insidious onset and free of significant neurological focal signs.

Objective To determine the relationship between neuronuscular block induced by cisatracurium for tracheal intubation during anesthesia induction and types of myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods Sixty-five patients of both sexes with MG,aged 20-75 yr,weighing 53-92 kg,with body height of 155-185 cm,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,undergoing elective videoassisted thoracoscopic thymectomy,were enrolled in the study.Among the 65 patients,there were 8 patients with ocular MG (type Ⅰ),19 patients with mild generalized MG (type]Ⅱ a),33 patients with subacute generalized MG (type Ⅱ b),2 patients with acute MG (type Ⅲ) and 3 patients with late severe MG (type Ⅳ).Neuromuscular monitoring was initiated when the patients lost consciousness after induction of anesthesia.Cisatracurium was administrated with the initial dose of 0.05 mg/kg,and if T1 depression was less than 95％ within 6 min,cisatracurium 0.015 mg/kg was intravenously injected until T1 depression was more than 95％.The patients were then tracheally intubated.The amount of cisatracurium consumed for intubation,onset time (from the beginning of cisatracurium injection to T1 depression ＞95％) and recovery time (recovery of T4/T1 to 25％ of control height) of neuromuscular block were recorded.T1 depression ＞ 95％ within 6 min after administration of 1-fold ED95 cistracuriun was defined as sensitivity to muscle relaxants.The requirement for cistracurium ＞ 1-fold ED95 when T1 depression ＞ 95％ was defined as insensitivity to muscle relaxants.The proportion of sensitivity/insensitivity was calculated.Results There was no significant difference in the amount of cisatracurium consumed for intubation and onset time and recovery time of neuromuscular block between patients with type Ⅰ and those with type Ⅱ a (P＞0.05).Compared with patients with type Ⅰ and type]Ⅱ a,the amount of cisatracurium consumed for intubation was significantly decreased,the proportion of sensitivity/insensitivity was increased,the onset time was shortened,and the recovery time was prolonged in patients with type Ⅱ b (P＜0.05).Conclusion With the severity of MG,the consumption of cisatracurium is gradually decreased when used for tracheal intubation during anesthesia induction,and the sensitivity is gradually increased in the patients with MG.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of decreasing insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) level by mutation V97L in the gene presenilin 1 (PS-1).Methods Transcription factor GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) activity was assessed by protein/DNA array and verified by Western blot in SH-SY5Y cells transfected by PS-1 mutation V97L.Results Protein/DNA array and Western blot revealed that there was increased transcript factor activity (5.5 times high) and protein level of GATA-3 in V97L-PS-1 transfected SH-SY5Y cells.Transcription factor GATA-3 can bind to the IDE promoter and negatively control the IDE transcription level.Conclusion PS-1 mutation V97L may regulate the transcription of IDE via GATA-3, and subsequently involve in deposition of Aβ42 and development of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective:To study the effect of metformin on proliferation,cell cycle and apoptosis of U937 cells.Methods: U937 cells were treated with different concentrations of metformin,collected cells in 24,48 and 72 hours.Subsequently,cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay,and the cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).The expression of Bcl-2,Bax,p-AMPK,p53 were determined by Western blot.Results: The proliferation of U937 cells was inhibited by metformin in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Metformin-treated cells were arrested at G0/G1 phase,the cell frequency at G0/G1 phase was increased in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Metformin also induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.It showed that 20 mmol/L metformin induced cell apoptosis in a time-dependent manner.The expression of p-AMPK,p53,Bax was up-regulated while Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated after metformin treatment.Conclusion: Metformin could inhibit the U937 cell proliferation,block the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase,and induce cell apoptosis,which may partially be attribute to the up-regulation of Bax,down-regulation of Bcl-2,activation of AMPK/p53 signaling.

Objective The biological effects of BMP3 on osteosarcoma were investigated by treating human osteosarcoma cell lines MG63,and U2OS with human BMP3(hBMP3).Methods Osteosarcoma cells in experimental groups were respectively treated with AdBMP-3 and rhBMP3-CM,control groups with AdGFP and rGFP-CM,the blank group with neither.Their ability of proliferation,apoptosis,transmigration and differentiation were respectively detected by trypan blue exclusion test,terminal deoynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) and acridine orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent stain(AO/EB),transwell-room and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity reagent kit.Results(1) All the indexes detected were not significantly different between two control groups.(2) Compared with control groups,the cell survival rate showed a significant decrease in experimental groups.(3) The apoptosis indexes increased.(4)The number of trans-membrane cell decreased.(5)The activity of alkaline phosphatase increased after treatment with AdBMP3 and rhBMP-3 for 3 days in MG63,5 days in U2OS.Conclusion hBMP3 inhibit osteosarcoma cells growth and promote bone formation.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided percutaneous endomyocardial septal cryoablation of in vitro porcine hearts and to compare its effect with the percutaneous endomyocardial radiofrequency ablation.Methods:Experiment 1: Six in vitro porcine hearts were divided into 1 min ( n=2), 3 min ( n=2) and 5 min ( n=2) groups according to the cryoablation time, and all were subjected to ultrasound-guided percutaneous intra-myocardial septal cryoablation at 100% power respectively. After cryoablation, ultrasound images, the size of the solid dissection of the ice ball, and the size of the necrotic area after melting of the frozen ice ball were measured. Experiment 2: The in vitro porcine hearts were divided into cryoablation group ( n=3) and radiofrequency ablation group ( n=3), and ultrasound-guided percutaneous endomyocardial septal cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation were performed with 100% cryo power and 40 W radiofrequency power, and the extent of complete necrotic area and incomplete necrotic area were compared between the two ablation methods after 1 min. Results:Experiment 1: In the 1 min cryoablation time group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured by ultrasound was (8.00±0.84)mm, the short diameter of the puck measured by solid was (8.38±1.19)mm, and the short diameter of the necrotic zone measured by solid was (8.35±0.83)mm; in the 3 min group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured by ultrasound was (19.4±0.28)mm, and the short diameter of the puck measured by solid was (19.03±0.33)mm, solid measurement of the short diameter of the necrotic zone was (19.16±0.25)mm; in the 5 min group ( n=2), the short diameter of the puck measured under ultrasound was (26.4±2.54)mm, solid measurement of the short diameter of the puck was (26.01±0.24)mm, and solid measurement of the short diameter of the necrotic zone was (24.82±0.25)mm. Randomized blocks analysis of variance was performed on this data and the difference of block Factor b (freezing time: 1 min, 3 min, 5 min) among the three groups was statistically significant( F=505.884, P<0.001). The SNK- q test showed that all three groups differed from each other(all P<0.05). The analysis results for the treatment factors K (measurement modality-ultrasound image measurements, solid anatomical measurements of the puck, and measurements of the necrotic area after melting of the frozen puck) was not statistically significant ( F=0.470, P=0.635). Experiment 2: In the RF ablation group ( n=3), the ratio of incomplete necrotic zone to the radius of the RF ablation area was 0.64±0.01; in the cryoablation group ( n=3), the ratio of incomplete necrotic zone to the radius of the ablation area was 0.26±0.02. The difference was statistically significant( P=0.002) and it can be considered that the incomplete necrotic zone of cryoablation was smaller than that of RF ablation. Conclusions:Percutameous intramyocardial septal cryoablation is controllable in scope, ultrasound image evaluation of ablation area is more accurate and incomplete necrosis area is small, which may have potential applications in cardiac ablation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of carbonic anhydrase II (CA2) in human testes and spermatozoa, and to compare the expressions of CA2 in ejaculated spermatozoa between normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men.

METHODSThe localization of CA2 in human testes was observed by immunohistochemistry, and that in human sperm by immunofluorescence. Western blot was used to detect the expression of CA2 in the semen samples obtained from 16 normozoospermic and 16 asthenozoospermic volunteers.

RESULTSThe CA2 protein was shown to be localized in the tail of elongating spermatids by immunohistochemistry and in the flagellum of human sperm by immunofluorescence. Western blot revealed an obviously increased expression of CA2 in the spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic patients, with statistically significant difference from the normozoospermic group (1.84 +/- 0.32 vs 1.41 +/- 0.26, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe CA2 protein is expressed in the spermatogenic stage of elongating spermatids in human testes and localized in the sperm tail. The expression of CA2 is significantly increased in the spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men, which might be responsible for low sperm motility.

Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase II ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism

AIMTo study polyethylenimine (PEI)-mediated in vivo gene transfection into testis cells and preliminary functional research of spermatogenic cell-specific gene NYD-SP12 using this method.

METHODSPEI/DNA complexes were introduced into the seminiferous tubules of mouse testes using intratesticular injection. Transfection efficiency and speciality were analyzed on the third day of transfection with fluorescent microscopy and hematoxylin staining. The long-lasting expression of the GFP-NYD-SP12 fusion protein and its subcellular localization in spermatogenic cells at different stages were analyzed with fluorescent microscopy and propidium iodide staining.

RESULTSWith the mediation of PEI, the GFP-NYD-SP12 fusion gene was efficiently transferred and expressed in the germ cells (especially in primary spermatocytes). Transfection into Sertoli cells was not observed. The subcellular localization of the GFP-NYD-SP2 fusion protein showed dynamic shifts in spermatogenic cells at different stages during spermatogenesis.

CONCLUSIONPEI can efficiently mediate gene transfer into spermatocytes. Thus, it might be useful for the functional research of spermatogenic-cell specific genes such as the NYD-SP12 gene. In our study, the NYD-SP12 protein was visualized and was involved in the formation of acrosome during spermatogenesis. Our research will continue into the detailed function of NYD-SP12 in spermatocytes.

Animals ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Polyethyleneimine ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Transfection ; methods