Background/Aims: To assess the effectiveness and feasibility of a brief session of hypnosis to reduce distress in children with functional constipationundergoing anorectal manometry (ARM). Methods: A partially-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted in children 4-18 years old scheduled for ARM. Children were randomized to receive a brief session of hypnosis prior to ARM or standard care. Non-blinded and blinded observers rated the child’s level of distress using the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress and a 4-point-Likert scale, respectively. Differences between groupswere analyzed using Fisher’s exact test or Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Results: Data from 32 children (15 hypnosis and 17 standard care) were analyzed. Prior to insertion of the catheter, the observed mean levels of distress were lower in the hypnosis group according to both the non-blinded observer (median 0.0 [interquartile range {IQR} 0.0-0.3] vs 1.4 [IQR 0.3-2.4]; P = 0.009) and the blinded observer (median 0.0 [IQR 0.0-0.0] vs 0.5 [IQR 0.0-1.0]; P = 0.044). During ARM, observed and reported levels of distress did not differ significantly. In the hypnosis group, 92.9% of parents and childrenreported that hypnosis helped the child to relax. There were no significant differences in resting pressure, squeeze pressure, or duration of the procedure between both groups. Conclusion A brief session of hypnosis for children before ARM is an easily incorporable intervention that lowers distress levels prior to theprocedure and is positively perceived by children and parents.

Objetive To investigate the effect of Qingkailing injection on the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), gp91^phox and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in cerebrovascular endothelial cells induced by hypoxia activation of microglias. Methods:BV2 microglia cells were divided into six groups. They were cultured in serum-free DMEM, while the Qingkailing groups of low, middle and high dosages were cultured with 0.0625%, 0.125% and 0.25% Qingkailing injection, respectively, and minocycline group with minocycline of 200 nmol/L. The groups other than control group underwent hypoxia for 24 hours and reoxygenation for 24 hours. Then, the medium of microglia was put into the medium of Balb/c endothelial cells for 24 hours. The cell viability of endothelial cells was measured with CCK-8, the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was detected with colorimetry, and the experission of TLR4, gp91^phox and ZO-1 was detected with Western blotting. Results:Compared with the control group, the cell viability and the expression of ZO-1 decreased in the model group (P < 0.01), while the concentration of NO and the expression of TLR4 and gp91^phox increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the cell viability and the expression of ZO-1 increased in the Qingkailing groups and the minocycline group (P < 0.05), while the concentration of NO and the expression of TLR4 and gp91^phox decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Qingkailing injection may enhance the survival and function of cerebrovascular endothelial cells by inhibiting the hypoxia activation of microglias, reducing the expression of TLR4 and gp91^phox, and increasing the expression of ZO-1.