[Efficacy of selective bronchial occlusion in the treatment of intractable pneumothorax].

Objective: To analyze the effect of selective bronchial occlusion (SBO) in the treatment of intractable pneumothorax. Methods: A total of 86 patients with refractory pneumothorax treated with SBO in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 were included in this study. The basic information, diagnosis and treatment of the patients were collected and analyzed based on their inpatient records. Results: The age of the subjects was (62±11) years old, and 83 cases (96.5%) were male. The first time SBO cure rate was 30.2% (26/86). The effective rate of the first time SBO treatment was 38.4% (33/86), and the final cure rate of SBO was 59.3% (51/86). The total cure rate of SBO combined with other therapies was 73.3% (63/86). The median time [M (Q1, Q3)] from the first plugging to the complete cessation of air leakage in SBO cured patients was 6.5 (3, 7) days, which was shorter than that in the final extubation patients after SBO [11 (7, 19) days] (H=30.24, P<0.001). The median [M (Q1, Q3)] length of hospital stay of the first SBO cured patients was 19 (14, 25) days, which was shorter than that of all patients [28 (19, 37) days] (H=12.89, P=0.002). The median [M (Q1, Q3)] hospitalization expenses of patients with first SBO cure, effective SBO treatment and ineffective SBO treatment were 23 187 (18 906, 27 798), 41 580 (29 388, 50 762) and 38 462 (27 542, 51 720) yuan, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (H=18.58, P<0.001). The incidence of complications after SBO was 7.59% (11/145). Conclusion: SBO has good efficacy and relative high safety in the treatment of intractable pneumothorax.

A review on the Role of Oral Nutritional Supplements in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Due to the high smoking rate in developing countries and the rising aging population in high-income countries, the global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), estimated to be 11.7%, is increasing and is the third-leading cause of mortality. COPD is likely to be present in elderly individuals with impaired gastro-enteric functions. Gastrointestinal congestion, dyspnea, and anxiety are pathophysiological characteristics of COPD, contributing to poor appetite, reduced dietary intake, and high-energy expenditure. These factors are implicated in the progression of malnutrition in COPD patients. Malnutrition is detrimental to lung functions and is associated with an increased risk of infection, exacerbation and mortality, and a longer duration of hospitalization. Therefore, nutritional support to treat malnutrition in COPD patients is very vital. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) may hold the key to COPD treatment. To clarify this statement, we review current evidence for ONS in COPD patients to benefit from clinical outcomes.

[A comparison of clinical characteristics between patients with and without"recurrence"RNA positive with COVID-19].

Objective: To analysis the clinical characteristics of"recurrence"RNA positive patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） and compared with those without"recurrence". Methods: 98 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital and designated treatment hospitals in Quanzhou were included in this study from February 2020 to April 2020. There were 55 males and 43 females， aged from15 to 83 years， with a median age of 57.5 years， in which 20 cases were complicated with basic diseases. 15 of these patients had been diagnosed and hospitalized had been found as"recurrence"2019-nCoV RNA positive after discharge while the other 83 cases were all negative. The clinical classification of all patients was common type. Clinical data of the COVID-19 RNA"recurrence"patients were collected， and general situations， symptoms， laboratory examinations and CT images were also observed and analyzed. The patients were divided into 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group and 2019-nCoV"non-recurrent"group. There are 10 males and 5 females in 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group while 45 males and 38 females in"non-recurrent"group （χ²=0.800，P=0.371）. The age of 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group （57±21） was higher than that of"non-recurrent"group（53±17）. 8 of 15 the COVID-19"recurrent"group patients and 12 of 83"non-recurrent"patients have basic diseases. IgG and IgM of 2019-nCoV， IL-6， procalcitonin， ESR， CRP， BNP and other serum biochemical index levels were measured and compared between groups. Results: （1） The proportion of patients with common type of COVID-19 was 15.3% during 2-week medical observation after discharge. （2） All of the 2019-nCoV"recurrent"patients were hospitalized due to COVID-19 RNA positive， when they were quarantined after discharged from hospital. All the patients with mild symptoms which were clarified as common type， including 5 cases of fever， 6 cases of cough， 5 cases of expectoration， and 2 cases of slight shortness of breath. The time of symptoms appeared on （5.73±2.82） days after discharge. （3） The serum procalcitonin of all 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group patients were normal（all<0.05 ng/ml）. The BNP of"recurrent"group （151±171） ng/L， was higher than that of"non-recurrent"group （63±78） ng/L （t = 3.207， P = 0.000）. There was no significant difference in laboratory tests like leukocyte ［（6.17±2.4） and （6.04±2.41）×109/L］， lymphocyte［（1.59±0.52） and （1.32±0.64）×109/L］， CRP ［（12.54±28.20） and （21.74±25.63）mg/L］， ESR ［（31.07±28.72） and （34.10±22.16）mm/1 h］， AST ［（24.73±9.15） and （30.24±23.20）U/L］， ALT ［（22.60±12.82） and （36.47±34.12）U/L）， LDH ［（268±208） and （270±164）U/L］， D-dimer ［（0.60±0.50） and （0.84±0.98）µg/L］， ferritin ［（294±195） and （395±319）µg/L］， IL-6 ［（9.17±6.42） and （14.28±17.74）ng/Lï¼½ and BUN （5.77±2.66） and （4.74±2.81）U/Lï¼½ between"recurrent"and"non-recurrent"groups （all P>0.05）. （4） In"recurrent"group， ground glass， exudative or solid lesions could be found in most of the chest CT performed on re-admission. Meanwhile， fibrosis lesion was relatively rare. （5） There were no secondary transmissions were found to be caused by the 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group patients. Conclusions: Most of the 2019-nCoV patients had underlying diseases and active lesions were still found in CT images， so the possibility of virus replication may still exist. All"recurrent"patients had mild illness which may suggest that they were in recovery stage, and no evidence of transmission is found.

[The effects of different activators on the release curve of human platelet-rich plasma].

Objective: To compare and analyze the effects of different activators on the release curve of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB in platelet rich plasma(PRP). Methods: A total of 36 ml peripheral venous blood was obtained from 10 healthy adult volunteers, and the PRP was made by secondary centrifugation. The platelet activator was made by bovine thrombin 1 000 U in 1 ml 10% calcium chloride solution. The Thrombin-PRP group was made by PRP and the activator in a ratio of 10∶1.The Calcium chloride-PRP group was made in a ratio of 10∶1 by PRP and 10% calcium chloride solution instead. The fresh whole blood(whole blood group) and inactived PRP(PRP group) were used as the control groups. The 4 groups were incubated in warm water of 37 ℃ for 0, 1, 8, 24,72 and 168 h. A quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA) was used to examine the amount of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB in different time points of each group. The release curves of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB were based on afore-mentioned data, and then comparisons of the release curves of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB in different groups were performed by repeated measurement variance analysis. Results: (1)The levels of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB in the whole blood group and the PRP group continued to increase within 168 h. PRP immediately formed into a gel after mixture with thrombin combined and calcium chloride, and the concentrations of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB reached the peak in 1 h after activation; increased from (42±21)ng/ml and (77±18)ng/ml to (84±21)ng/ml and (124±35)ng/ml, respectively, and then decreased gradually. The release curve was direct and rapid. The PRP became a gel state in approximate 1 h after mixture with calcium chloride, and the concentrations of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB were slowly rising and remained high at 168 h. (2)The AUC(0-168h) of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB in the PRP group was higher than that in the whole blood group (all P<0.05) , and the AUC(0-168h) of TGF-ß(1) in the Calcium chloride-PRP group was higher than that in the Thrombin-PRP group(Z=-2.26, P<0.05).However, there was no significant difference in the AUC(0-168h) of PDGF-AB between the Calcium chloride-PRP group and the Thrombin-PRP group(Z=-1.512, P=0.131). Conclusion: Using calcium chloride as activator can get a higher release concentration of TGF-ß(1) and PDGF-AB and a longer release time, with the largest area under the curve.

[Assessment of sleep-disordered breathing using hypoxia index].

Objective: To analyze the clinical significance of hypoxia index (HI) in assessing the severity of hypoxemia in obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). Methods: A total of 127 patients with a complaint of snoring visiting our hospital were recruited from February 2014 to January 2016. All patients received polysomnography (PSG) test. The PSG results were analyzed by a technician and the SpO(2) data were analyzed by a pre-designed computer software. The patients were grouped according to apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSpO(2)) respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the best HI diagnostic value. Results: The HI (median) of the simple snoring, mild, moderate and severe OSAHS groups (according to AHI) were 0.027(0.004, 0.554), 0.281(0.045, 0.353), 0.429(0.099, 1.677), 21.714(2.737, 95.473), respectively. There were statistically significant correlation between HI and AHI, LSpO(2), ≥3% oxygen desaturation index(ODI(3)), the correlation coefficient being 0.78, -0.92, 0.87(U value were 8.76, -10.34, 9.72, all P<0.01). Grouped according to LSpO(2), the HI was significantly different between groups (H value were 7.62-14.39, all P<0.05). Conclusion: If the HI diagnostic value was set reasonably, it might be used as an effective index for evaluating the severity of OSAHS.

[Clinical application and evaluation of an early non-sedation protocol for critically ill respiratory patients].

Objective: To study the value of an early (mechanical ventilation after 24 h) non-sedation protocol for intubated, mechanically ventilated patients in the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Methods: Seventy intubated, mechanically ventilated patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to management with early non-sedation (intervention group; n=35) or with daily interruption of sedation (DIS) (control group; n=35). The duration of mechanical ventilation, length of the RICU and hospital stay, RICU and hospital mortality, drug consumption, RICU and hospitalization expenses, incidence of complications and adverse events and serum levels of vital organ damage and inflammatory markers after mechanical ventilation for 48 h were recorded and compared. Results: Patients in the intervention group had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation than those in the control group [(7±5) vs (11±9) d, P<0.05] and were discharged from the RICU [(9±7) vs (18±9) d, P<0.05] and hospital earlier [(17±14) vs (29±22) d, P<0.05] than those in the control group. The doses of midazolam were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group [(99±104) vs (482±337) mg, P<0.05]. The RICU and hospitalization expenses were both significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group [53(84) vs 88(173), 72(195) vs 154(234) thousand CHY, P<0.05]. In the intervention group, the occurrence rates of ventilator associated pneumonia (23% vs 46%), tracheotomy (14% vs 37%) and gastrointestinal adverse reactions (17% vs 40%) were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). No differences were recorded in RICU and hospital mortality (P>0.05). The occurrence rates of unplanned extubation and reintubation and the need for CT brain scans were similar in the 2 groups (P>0.05). The levels of cardiac, liver and renal damage markers, lactic acid and C-reactive protein were the same in both groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: The early non-sedation protocol decreased the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of stay in the RICU and hospital, and it did not increase the incidence of complications and adverse events.

[The effect of locally injected betamethasone on collagen deposition in benign central airway stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of locally injected betamethasone on cicatricial tissue hyperplasia in patients with benign central airway stenosis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted with 2 treatment modalities: conventional interventional(CI)therapy, and CI combined with local betamethasone injection(LBI). The average optical density value of TGF-ß1 and collagen density in the local airway tissues were compared before therapy and 7 d after the CI treatment and the LBI treatment, respectively. RESULTS: Six patients were recruited in this study from May 2013 to June 2015.The results showed significant statistical differences by paired t-test in TGF-ß1: 92±38 vs 164±47(t=-7.984, P=0.000)before and after the CI treatment, respectively; 128±45 vs 78±40 (t=10.055, P=0.000)before and after the LBI treatment, respectively. The collagen density was 91 932±59 520 vs 150 252±76 673(t=-8.105, P=0.000) before and after the CI treatment, respectively; 107 024±54 880 vs 114 038±50 772(t=-0.621, P=0.54) before and after the LBI treatment, respectively.Trend comparisons made before and after the treatments showed significant statistical differences in TGF-ß1(F=712.139, P=0.000) and in the collagen density (F=261.256, P=0.000)between the CI treatment and the LBI treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The CI treatment was shown to stimulate the production of TGF-ß1 and the deposition of collagen, while the LBI treatment was shown to reduce the production of TGF-ß1 and alleviate the deposition of collagen from the stimulation of the CI treatment.

[Evaluation of endobronchial ultrasound in the diagnosis of respiratory mucosal protrusions].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the white light bronchoscopic signs and ultrasound features of respiratory mucosal protrusions and to investigate the practical application value of endobronchial ultrasound. METHODS: This study was a prospective observation. Endobronchial ultrasound was performed in 30 patients with respiratory mucosal protrusions, which were discovered by white light bronchoscopic examination in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University on October 2013 to November 2014.The 43 lesions found in 30 patients were grouped into submucosal vascular lesions, mucosal thickening, and submucosal cysts based on the result of EBUS. Following white light bronchoscopy, signs such as respiratory mucosal protrusion location, shape, color and lustre, mucosal surface expansion and ultrasonic bronchoscopic image were recorded. We analyzed the results to explore the bronchoscopic signs and ultrasound features of different respiratory mucosal protrusions. RESULTS: Of the 43 respiratory mucosal protrusions by endobronchial ultrasound examination, 21 were submucosal vascular lesions, 19 showed mucosal thickening, and 3 were submucosal cysts. Morphologically, zoster protrusions, flat protrusions and semicircle protrusions were found in the submucosal vessel group, mucosal thickening group and cyst group. One nodular protrusion, 1 surface capillary expansion, and 2 mucosal surface pulsations were found in cases with submucosal vascular lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Submucosal vascular lesions were common causes of respiratory mucosal protrusions, for which biopsy should be cautious. White light bronchoscopy has limited value for diagnosing respiratory mucosal protrusions, while endobronchial ultrasound could be an important diagnostic tool for these lesions.

A mutation in the Kit gene leads to novel gonadal phenotypes in both heterozygous and homozygous mice.

The direct sequencing of the Kit cDNA obtained from mutant mice was used to reveal the molecular nature of the W(-3Bao) ENU-induced mutation. There was a T to A transversion at the 441st nucleotide in the W(-3Bao) open reading frame (ORF), which introduced a pre-mature termination codon at residue 147. The gross embryonic development, hematopoiesis and spermatogenesis were examined in the mutant mice. There was no visible difference among the W(-3Bao/+), W(-3Bao/3Bao) and wild type embryos before embryonic day 12.5. W(-3Bao/3Bao) embryos appeared pale after E14.5 and dwarf after E16.5. An extremely low level of hematochrome and large red blood cells were found in W(-3Bao/3Bao) 18.5 days old embryos, leading to the stillbirth of the homozygotes. In 18.5 days old embryos the spermatogonia of W(-3Bao/3Bao) embryos did not migrate to the contorted seminiferous tubules properly, but instead were found in the interstitial tissue. The spermatogonia of W(-3Bao/+) or W(+/+) mice were present in both the interstitial tissue and contorted seminiferous tubules. In the adult male hetereozygotes, there are contorted seminiferous tubules with no spermatogonia, suggesting that the migration defect was dominant. In female W(-3Bao/3Bao) ovaries, primordial follicles were absent while primordial follicles appeared clearly in the ovaries of W(-3Bao/+) or W(+/+) mice. With a nonsense mutation in the Kit gene, W(-3Bao/+) mice show white spotting and an abnormal development of the contorted seminiferous tubules and W(-3Bao/3Bao) mice are stillborn due to severe macrocytic anemia, and have abnormal genital glands in both the male and female.

NO mediated increase of Fos protein and NMDA1A R mRNA expression in rat spinal cord during morphine withdrawal.

AIM: To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on activation of the rat spinal cord neurons during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. METHODS: Fos immunocytochemistry, NADPH-d histochemistry, Fos/NADPH-d double-labeling, intrathecal injection, antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ONs) techniques, and RT-PCR were used. RESULTS: Acute administration of naloxone and chronic administration of morphine did not change the expression of Fos protein and NADPH-d positive neurons, and there was no expression of Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons in the spinal cord of rats. Morphine withdrawal increased the expression of Fos protein, NADPH-d positive, and Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons, and they were observed in all the laminae of the rat spinal cord. Intrathecal injection of nNOS antisense oligonucleotides (nNOS-AS) inhibited the increase of Fos protein and NMDA(1A)R mRNA expression in the rat spinal cord during morphine withdrawal and decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal symptoms. The effect of nNOS-AS was greater than that of eNOS-AS. There was no effect in nNOS sense oligonucleotides (nNOS-S) group. CONCLUSION: NO mediated the increase of Fos protein and NMDA1A R mRNA expression in the rat spinal cord during morphine withdrawal.

[Intrathecal injection of NOS antisense oligonucleotides inhibits the increase of NMDA1AR mRNA expression in the spinal cord and brainstem of morphine-withdrawal rats].

Methods of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), intrathecal injection and antisense drugs were used to study the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the scores of morphine-withdrawal syndrome and the expression of NMDA1AR mRNA in rat spinal cord and brainstem. Intrathecal injection of NOS antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ONs) significantly decreased the scores of morphine-withdrawal symptoms. The effect of nNOS AS-ONs was greater than that of eNOS AS-ONs. The expression of NMDA1AR mRNA in the spinal cord and brainstem increased in morphine-dependent rats and increased to a greater extent in morphine-withdrawal rats. Intrathecal injection of nNOS AS-ONs significantly inhibited the increased expression of NMDA1AR mRNA in the spinal cord and brainstem of morphine-withdrawal rats. Intrathecal injection of eNOS antisense oligonucleotides inhibited the expression of NMDA1AR mRNA in the spinal cord of morphine-withdrawal rats, but did not in the brainstem. It is suggested that NO mediates morphine-withdrawal reaction and participates in modulating the expression of NMDA1AR mRNA in morphine-withdrawal rats.

[NO involvement in mediation of spinal neuron sensitization in morphine-withdrawal rats].

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the activation of spinal cord neurons were studied using immunocytochemistry, intrathecal injection and antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ONs) techniques in morphine-withdrawal rats. Acute administration of naloxone and chronic administration of morphine changed neither the expression of Fos-LI and NADPH-d positive neurons nor the expression of Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons in the spinal cord of rats. Fos-LI, NADPH-d positive and Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons were increased significantly in number in morphine-withdrawal rats and they were observed in all the laminae of the spinal cord. Intrathecal injection of L-NA, nNOS antisense oligonucleotides significantly inhibited the expression of Fos-LI in the spinal cord and decreased the scores for morphine-withdrawal symptoms in morphine-withdrawal rats, but not in nNOS-S group. The results suggest that NO mediates the spinal neurons sensitization in morphine-withdrawal rats.

[The effect of nociception on expression of NADPH-d and fos protein at supraspinal level].

AIM: To study the distribution of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in periaqueductal gray matter(PAG) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), and the correlation between nitric oxide and peripheral nociception at supraspinal level. METHODS: 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. In experimental group (n = 10), formalin (5%, 0.1 ml) was injected subcutaneously into the plantar surface of the unilateral hindpaw, and in control group (n = 10), normal saline solution was used alike. The rats were perfused after 2 hours, and the midbrain were removed. Frozen seriate transverse sections were divided into three sets, all of which were processed for NADPH-d histochemistry. Subsequently, the first set that contained NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons were stained with neutral red, and the other two sets were processed for c-fos immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons were densely distributed in CGLD, CGLV and DR. NADPH-d, Fos and NADPH/Fos double-labeled neurons appeared in CGLD, CGLV and DR after injection of formalin in the rat hindpaw. CONCLUSION: At supraspinal level NO may play an important role in the modulation of nociception in PAG and DR.

[Effect of hypothermia on activities of tubule motor protein and constructure protein after cerebral ischemia in gerbils].

AIM: To study the effect of hypothermia on kinesin and MAP2 activities after cerebral ischemia in gerbils, and investigate the relationship between changes of their activities and DND. METHODS: Immunoreactivity of kinesin and MAP2 were determined by immunohistochemical study in combination with computer image analysis system, and DND were assayed by histological examination. RESULTS: Hypothermia significantly reduced DND after cerebral ischemia. Immunoreactivities of MAP2 and kinesin progressively decreased during forebrain ischemia-reperfusion, and the decreasing of kinesin activity was greater than that of MAP2 in the same reperfusion time. Hypothermia obviously mitigate the decreasing degree of MAP2 and kinesin activity after cerebral ischemia. The decreasing degree of kinesin activity was consistent with that of DND during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in gerbils. CONCLUSION: Hypothermia significantly reduced DND after cerebral ischemia, which might be related to the improvement of kinesin activity after cerebral ischemia reperfusion in gerbils.

Influence of batroxobin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils.

AIM: To study the effects of batroxobin (Bat) on neurons survival, neurobehavioral test, ATP levels and hydroxyl radical outputs in hippocampus during forebrain ischemia-reperfusion in gerbils. METHODS: The forebrain ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries for 10 min in gerbils, and ATP levels and 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) outputs were assayed by HPLC. The neurons survival were assessed by histology, and behavioral tests of gerbils were assessed by open field test. RESULTS: The number of neurons survival in Ir at d 7 postischemic insult were (7 +/- 4)% of sham-operated gerbils, much less than that in Bat (45 +/- 16)%. The levels of explore activities of ischemic gerbils was 175% and 159% of sham-operated gerbils at d 3 and d 6 postischemic insult, much more than that in Bat (120% d 3 and 140% d 6). Hippocampal ATP levels in Ir were 64% of sham-operated gerbils at reperfusion 60 min, much less than that in Bat I and II (82% and 89% respectively). The hippocampal 2,3-DHBA outputs in Ir increased by 4.5 folds of sham-operated gerbils at reperfusion 60 min, but the 2,3-DHBA outputs in Bat I and Bat II were only 2.6 and 2.4 folds respectively. CONCLUSION: Bat possesses the inhibitory effects on DND and OH. production following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in gerbils.

[The study of mechanism by which mild hypothermia reduced delayed neuronal death after cerebral ischemia in gerbils].

AIM: To study the effect of mild hypothermia on delayed neuronal death as well as the relationship between hydroxyl radicals generation in hippocampus and the change of dopamine and ATP content in striatum following ischemia/reperfusion in gerbils. METHODS: The ischemia was induced by occlusion the both carotid common arteries for 10 minutes in gerbils. Animals were divided into four groups: sham-operated group, ischemic group, ischemia/reperfusion group and mild hypothermic ischemia/reperfusin group. The numbers of delayed neuronal death were assessed by histological examination. OH. outputs in hippocampus and dopamine content in striatum were specifically identified and quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrochemical detection (ECD). ATP content in striatum was also determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Mild hypothermia significantly reduced the numbers of damaged neurons in hippocampus CA1 subfield after ischemia in gerbils. In MH group, 2,3-DHBA outputs were much less than that in IR group (P < 0.01). Dopamine and ATP content in striatum were higher than those in IR group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Mild hypothermia could decrease the delayed neuronal death in gerbils by reducing hydroxyl radicals production in hippocampus and inhibiting dopamine release as well as prompting the recovery of ATP content in striatum following ischemia/reperfusion in gerbils.

[Increased expression of formalin-induced Fos and NADPH-d positive neurons in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats].

Fos immunocytochemistry, NADPH-d histochemistry and Fos/NADPH-d double-labeling method were used to study the changes in formalin-induced Fos, NADPH-d positive and Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats. Formalin-induced Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) was located in the superficial laminae and neck of ipsilateral spinal cord. Acute administration of morphine decreased the expression of Fos-LI in non-tolerant rats, while the expression of Fos-LI was significantly increased in morphine-tolerant rats. Fos-LI was distributed not only in the whole laminae of the ipsilateral spinal cord but also in the contralateral spinal cord. Acute administration of morphine was ineffective in decreasing the expression of Fos-LI in morphine-tolerant rats. Morphine tolerance increased the expression of formalin-induced NADPH-d positive neurons in the superficial laminae of spinal dorsal horn. A few formalin-induced Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons were detected in the superficial laminae of spinal dorsal horn of non-tolerant rats. In morphine-tolerant rats, on the other hand, formalin-induced Fos/NADPH-d double-labeled neurons were increased and distributed in the whole laminae of the ipsilateral spinal cord and the contralateral superficial spinal cord. It is suggested that NO is involved in the increase of formalin-induced Fos-LI in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats and may play an important role in the development of morphine tolerance.

[A simple method of isolation and identification of P cells in rat sinoatrial node].

A method of isolating P cells of rat sinoatrial node by collagenase is described. The method is feasible for morphological and electrophysiological investigation, with the advantages of taking a relatively easy procedure and consuming a small amount of collagenase. The main features of action potentials of these isolated cells including clear diastolic automatic depolarization, mean maximal diastolic potential of -55 mV, mean peak potential value of 58 mV, and mean APD50 of 18 ms, were similar to those of P cells in situ.