OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Ziwuliuzhu acupuncture in a rat model of insomnia and its regulatory effect on the glutamic acid (Glu)/γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-glutamine (Gln) metabolic loop. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly assigned to control group, model group, Najia group and Nazi group (n=10). In the latter 3 groups, rat models of insomnia were established by intraperitoneal injections of p-chlorophenylalanine and verified using a sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep test. After modeling, the rats in Najia and Nazi groups received acupuncture for 7 days at specifically chosen sets of acupoints based on the Ziwuliuzhu rationale in traditional Chinese medicine. Pathological changes in the hypothalamic tissue of the rats were examined with HE staining, and the levels of Glu and GABA in the hypothalamus were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in the hypothalamus, and the expression levels of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65/67) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were determined with Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the rats in Najia and Nazi groups exhibited decreased Glu levels and GABAA receptor expression and increased GABA levels with a decreased Glu/GABA ratio in the hypothalamus. Ziwuliuzhu acupuncture significantly increased the protein expressions of GAD65 and GAD67 and lowered the expression of GS in the hypothalamus in the rat models of insomnia. CONCLUSIONS Ziwuliuzhu acupuncture produces sedative and hypnotic effects in rat models of insomnia possibly by regulating Glu and GABA-Gln metabolism to restore the excitatory/inhibitory balance between Glu and GABA.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Glutamine/metabolism* ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points

Objective To explore the effects of prucalopride(PRUC)on the intestinal function during the perioperative period of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy(RARC)and urinary diversion.Methods A total of 75 patients undertaking RARC with urinary diversion(orthotopic neobladder or ileal bladder)in Nanjing Drum Hospital during Jan.and Dec.2021 were divided into PRUC group(n=28)and control group(n=47)according to whether they took PRUC or not.Postoperative intestinal ventilation time and defecation time,drainage tube retention time,tolerance time for first intake of semi-flow food,postoperative hospital stay,and incidence of complications were observed and recorded in the two groups.Postoperative C-reactive protein(CRP)and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)were compared.Results The PRUC group had shorter intestinal ventilation time and defecation time[(47.14±16.31)h vs.(74.04±35.33)h,P＜0.01;(86.14±30.47)h vs.(123.57±79.12)h,P=0.02],smaller change of ΔCRP and ΔNLR[(79.99±29.71)mg/L vs.(127.75±56.98)mg/L;(9.24±6.43)vs.(16.11±9.90),P＜0.01].All complications were minor,the incidence of intestinal obstruction in PRUC group tended to decrease within 90 days after operation(P=0.38),and there was no significant difference in other complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The perioperative use of PRUC in RARC with urinary diversion is safe and effective,which can promote the recovery of intestinal function after operation.

Objective To study the effects of aneurysmal neck angle on stent displacement after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods The CT images of 28 patients were selected to establish preoperative AAA model, postoperative AAA model and covered stent model respectively, and the models were divided into non-severe angulation group ( n = 14) and severe angulation group ( n = 14) according to the preoperative angle of tumor neck. The geometric shape of each model was measured, and the changes of AAA geometric parameters and postoperative stent displacements before and after surgery were analyzed. The displacement force of the model during the first follow-up was calculated by hemodynamic simulation. Results Significant differences were found in tumor length, maximum diameter, displacement force, tumor neck length and tumor volume between two groups of patients (P<0. 05), while there was no significant difference between COG (the center of gravity) displacement and proximal displacement (P> 0. 05). For the incidence of internal leakage, there were 2 cases in non-severe angulation group and 4 cases in severe angulation group (P>0. 05).Conclusions Severe neck angulation can lead to a significant increase in support displacement force and decrease in proximal anchorage zone, and thus increase the possibility of support displacement. It is suggested that doctors should strengthen postoperative follow-up for patients with severe neck angulation and be vigilant of the occurrence of long-term internal leakage in clinic.

Objective Based on hemodynamic analysis, to investigate the cause of distal re-entry tear in Stanford type B aortic dissection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).Methods A patient with type B aortic dissection was reexamined regularly with computed tomography angiography (CTA) at 1st month, 6th month, 12th month and 24th month after TEVAR. Based on the CTA images in each period, three-dimensional (3D) aorta models were reconstructed to perform morphological analysis and hemodynamic simulation.Results Compared with the diameter at 1st month after TEVAR, the diameter of true lumen at 12 months after TEVAR increased by 1.8 times and the global distortion of aorta increased by 16.67%. At postoperative 1st, 6th and 12th month, the maximum blood velocities at the new entry tear in systole were 69.6%, 33.7% and 92.1% higher than the average ones at distal landing zone, and the maximum wall shear stresses (WSSs) were 2.52, 2.32 and 3.52 times of the average WSSs respectively. In addition, the maximum time-averaged WSS (TAWSS) at 1st, 6th and 12th month after TEVAR were 1.88, 2.53 and 3.62 times of the mean TAWSS respectively.ConclusionsThe morphology of the aorta remodeled after TEVAR, and a sudden change in the diameter of true lumen occurred at distal anchoring zone and continued to increase. As a result, the blood flow velocity in this area accelerated, and the intima was continuously exposed to high WSS, leading to the redissection.

Objective To study the intestinal absorption characteristics of apixaban in rats with renal failure, and the effect of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors on its absorption behavior. Methods The in vivo absorption experiment was performed in CRF rats by one-way perfusion method and the absorption factors was investigated by establishing the HPLC analysis method. Results The absorption rate constant (K_a) of apixaban in each intestinal segment was significantly different (P<0.05) with no significant difference in apparent absorption coefficient (P_app) (P>0.05). The K_a and P_app values in the rat ileum decreased with the increasing of drug concentration. After addition of P-gp inhibitor verapamil hydrochloride (0.1 mmol/L), the K_a and P_app values of apixaban in the jejunum and ileum were significantly increased. Conclusion Apixaban is absorbed in all intestinal segments. P-gp inhibitors can significantly promote the absorption of apixaban in jejunum and ileum, suggesting that apixaban is P-gp substrate and its absorption mechanism is supposed to be active transport.

Objective To investigate the development status quo of fund-sponsored papers on traditional Chinese nursing ( TCN) from 2010 to 2013 and infer the development trend of it. Methods By taking the databases of CNKI, the Chinese biomedical and Wangfang as the data source and using the method of bibliometrics, this paper analyzed the quantity, the research funds status, the distribution of authors′ regions and organizations as well as the research topics of the fund-sponsored papers on TCN. Results A total of 841 papers were retrieved. The quantity had obviously increased compared with time from 2000 to 2009. The provincial funding occupied the most part from 2010 to 2013, and the proportion of state funding had increased apparently. The distribution of the authors′ regions is uneven, and the cooperation between schools and hospitals had greatly enhanced. The main topics were still clinical research. Conclusions The research of TCN develops speedily, but it still exits some problems such as low level fund-sponsor, unbalanced region development and simplex research area, so as it requires a further improve and perfect.