Tetramethylpyrazine inhibited hypoxia-induced expression of calcium-sensing receptors in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in chickens.

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is a biologically active ingredient, which is isolated from a popularChinese medicinal plant. It has been used effectively to treat ischemic heart problems, cerebrovascular and thrombotic vascular diseases. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of TMP on calciumsensing receptors in pulmonary artery smooth muscle in chickens. For this purpose forty day-old chicks were distributed into five groups: the control group, the hypoxia group (kept under low Oxygen treatment), and TMP groups (kept under low Oxygen treatment along with treatment of different concentrations of TMP). The pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were also cultured on 6-well plates in high glucose culture medium and divided into the same five groups. We used in vivo and in vitro study models by applying immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR assay and Western blotting analysis. Our results showed that pre-incubation with hypoxia markedly stimulated the activation of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). The TMP decreased the mRNA and protein levels of CaSR. Treatment with TMP clearly inhibited the activation of all CaSR in a dose-dependent manner. Our data demonstrated that TMP can down-regulate the expression of CaSR. Therefore, these findings provide a new target to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) under hypoxic conditions.

A randomised trial of serratus anterior plane block for analgesia after thoracoscopic surgery.

We evaluated the effect of pre-operative serratus anterior plane block on postoperative pain and opioid consumption after thoracoscopic surgery. We randomly allocated 89 participants to block with 30 ml ropivacaine 0.375% (n = 44), or no block without placebo or sham procedure (n = 45). We analysed results from 42 participants in each group. Serratus anterior plane block reduced mean (SD) remifentanil dose during surgery, 0.12 (0.06) mg.h-1 vs. 0.16 (0.06) mg.h-1 , p = 0.016, and reduced mean (SD) fentanyl consumption in the first 24 postoperative hours, 3.8 (1.9) µg.kg-1 vs. 5.7 (1.6) µg.kg-1 , p = 0.000004. Block also reduced the worst median (IQR [range]) pain scores reported in the first 24 postoperative hours: 6 (5-7 [3-10]) vs. 7 (6-7 [3-10]), p = 0.027. Block decreased dissatisfaction with pain management, categorised as 'highly unsatisfactory', 'unsatisfactory', 'neutral', 'satisfactory' or 'highly satisfactory': 1/2/21/18/0 vs. 1/14/15/11/1, p = 0.0038. There were no differences in the rates of nausea, vomiting, dizziness or length of hospital stay. Serratus anterior plane block may be used to reduce pain and opioid use after thoracoscopic lung surgery.

[Diagnostic significance of serum free DNA human telomerase reverse transcriptase quantitative determination on spinal cord injury].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the content of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its clinical features in serum free DNA in patients with different degree of spinal cord injury. Methods: From December 2013 to December 2016, inpatients of the Central Hospital of Bazhong, Sichuan Province were enrolledand divided into the experimental group, the disease control group and the negative control group. For the experimental group: 46 patients with spinal cord injury were graded according to the criteria of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury (ASIA), including 12 cases of grade A, 10 cases of grade B, 10 cases of grade C, 7 cases of grade D and 7 cases of grade E; for the disease control group: 15 patients with spinal fractures (without spinal cord injury) at the same period were included; and for the negative control group: 20 healthy adult volunteers aged 18-50 years were selected.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunoblotting were performed to detect the content of hTERT in serum free DNA both in patients and healthy controls and to compare the difference between them. The results of the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) of all patients were compared and analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of hTERT content in serum free DNA in patients with spinal cord injury. Results: Comparison of serum free DNA hTERT content: in the experimental group, the serum free DNA hTERT content of grade A, B, C, D, E was (99.63±8.23), (76.24±4.37), (46.07±5.43), (16.30±0.95) and (15.74±1.12)µg/L, respectively.While it was (15.01±1.39)µg/L in the disease control group and (14.54±1.03)µg/L in the negative control group. The total difference was statistically significant between patients of each group and the control group (F=857.917, P<0.001). Comparison of the protein content of TERT: in the experimental group, the protein content of TERT of grade A, B, C, D, E was 0.736±0.214, 0.641±0.172, 0.606±0.184, 0.411±0.132 and 0.307±0.152, respectively.The protein content of TERT in the disease control group and the negative control group was about 0.312±0.098 and 0.322±0.177, the difference between patients of each group and the control group was statistically significant (F=62.461, P<0.001). Detection results of surface evoked potential (SEP) showed that in the experimental group, level A patients all had conduction block.Two cases of level B patients had conduction block and 8 cases had delayed conduction.Among level C patients, 1 case had conduction block, 9 cases had delayed conduction.Among level D patients and patients from the control group and the negative control group, SEP detection all had no conduction block. Conclusion: The detection of the hTERT content in serum free DNA in patients with spinal cord injury has a certain guiding significance for the diagnosis of spinal cord injury and the degree of injury.

Effect of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis alterations on glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic rats.

This study investigated the relationship between alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic rats. To accomplish this a diabetes model was established by jointly administering a long-term high-fat diet plus Streptozotocin (STZ; 50 mg/kg ip). The rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1) a normal control group, 2) a model group, 3) astragalus polysaccharide (APS) group, and 4) a metformin group. APS and metformin hydrochloride were administered intragastrically (100 mg∙kg(-1)d(-1)). Rat blood glucose and body weight were measured once per week, and urine was collected for 24 h after 30 days of administration of APS. The levels of blood lipids, insulin, and corticosterone (CORT), as well as hypothalamic CRH, pituitary ACTH, urine sugar and CORT were measured. Compared with the normal control group, the levels of blood sugar, urine sugar, TC, and TG significantly increased in the model group, and the levels of hepatic glycogen and HDL-C decreased. Administration of APS was shown to reverse these changes. Furthermore, as compared with the normal control group, the levels of insulin and hypothalamic CRH in the model group decreased significantly, while the levels of plasma ACTH and CORT, pituitary ACTH, and urine CORT were elevated. Again, APS administration improves these outcomes and returns their levels to normal. Thus, the glucose and lipid metabolic disorder in the high-fat diet and STZ-induced diabetes model may be related to increased HPA axis activity. The hypoglycemic effect of the traditional Chinese medicine, ASP, may improve HPA axis functioning and aid in the treatment of diabetes.

The effects of prolonged inspiratory time during one-lung ventilation: a randomised controlled trial.

We evaluated the effects of a prolonged inspiratory time on gas exchange in subjects undergoing one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to Group I:E = 1:2 or Group I:E = 1:1. Arterial blood gas analysis and respiratory mechanics measurements were performed 10 min after anaesthesia induction, 30 and 60 min after initiation of one-lung ventilation, and 15 min after restoration of conventional two-lung ventilation. The mean (SD) ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen after 60 min of one-lung ventilation was significantly lower in Group I:E = 1:2 compared with Group I:E = 1:1 (27.7 (13.2) kPa vs 35.2 (22.1) kPa, respectively, p = 0.043). Mean (SD) physiological dead space-to-tidal volume ratio after 60 min of one-lung ventilation was significantly higher in Group I:E = 1:2 compared with Group I:E = 1:1 (0.46 (0.04) vs 0.43 (0.04), respectively, p = 0.008). Median (IQR [range]) peak inspiratory pressure was higher in Group I:E = 1:2 compared with Group I:E = 1:1 after 60 min of one-lung ventilation (23 (22-25 [18-29]) cmH2O vs 20 (18-21 [16-27]) cmH2O, respectively, p < 0.001) and median (IQR [range]) mean airway pressure was lower in Group I:E = 1:2 compared with Group I:E = 1:1 (10 (8-11 [5-15]) cmH2O vs 11 (10-13 [5-16]) cmH2O, respectively, p < 0.001). We conclude that, compared with an I:E ratio of 1:2, an I:E ratio of 1:1 resulted in a modest improvement in oxygenation and decreased shunt fraction during one-lung ventilation.

Comparison of tracheal intubation with the Airway Scope or Clarus Video System in patients with cervical collars.

Tracheal intubations with the Airway Scope or the Clarus Video System, a new rigid fibrescope, were compared in 140 patients whose necks were immobilised by cervical collars. The time for intubation, success rate, number of attempts and number of optimisation manoeuvres were assessed. Mean (SD) intubation time was longer with the Airway Scope (30.4 (16.5) s) than with the Clarus Video System (18.9 (15.2) s; p = 0.003) and the median (IQR [range]) number of optimisation manoeuvres was also marginally different; 0 (0-1 [0-2]) with the Airway Scope, 0 (0-0 [0-2]) with the Clarus Video System; p = 0.004. The tracheas of 67 (95.7%) and 66 (94.3%) patients were successfully intubated with the Airway Scope and the Clarus Video System, respectively (p = 1.0). The number of attempts, vital signs and complications were not different between devices. The Clarus Video System was comparable to the Airway Scope in the success rate for tracheal intubation, but provided faster and easier intubations than the Airway Scope in patients with cervical collars.

Comparison of desaturation and resaturation response times between transmission and reflectance pulse oximeters.

BACKGROUND: In general, there is a response time between actual arterial hypoxemia and its detection by pulse oximeters. We compared the desaturation and resaturation response times between two types of pulse oximeters, transmission and reflectance pulse oximeters, to find out which oximeter has a more rapid response time. METHODS: Thirty-three ASA 1 or 2 patients were enrolled in this study. A transmission pulse oximeter was placed on the index finger and a reflectance pulse oximeter was placed on the forehead and monitored simultaneously. After the induction of general anesthesia without pre-oxygenation, we waited until the oxygen saturation value of any of two pulse oximeters declined to 90%, and then mask ventilation was started with 100% oxygen. Oxygen saturation was recorded at an interval of 2 s during this time. RESULTS: The desaturation response time of SpO(2) to 95% after apnea was 82.0 s (interquartile range: 67.0-98.5 s) vs. 94.0 s (interquartile range: 84.0-106.5 s) (P<0.001) and SpO(2) to 90% was 94.0 s (interquartile range: 75.5-109.5 s) vs. 100.0 s (interquartile range: 84.5-114.5 s) (P<0.001) in the reflectance and transmission oximeters, respectively. The resaturation response time from mask ventilation to 100% SpO(2) was 23.2+/-5.6 vs. 28.9+/-7.6 s (P<0.001) in the reflectance and transmission oximeters, respectively. CONCLUSION: In clinical situations in which rapid changes in oxygen saturation are expected, we recommend the forehead reflectance pulse oximeter because it responds more quickly in detecting oxygen desaturation and resaturation compared with the transmission pulse oximeter.

Absence of progestin receptors alters distribution of vasopressin fibers but not sexual differentiation of vasopressin system in mice.

Perinatal estrogens increase the number of vasopressin-expressing cells and the density of vasopressin-immunoreactive fibers observed in adult male rodents. The mechanism of action of estrogens on sexual differentiation of the extra-hypothalamic vasopressin system is unknown. We hypothesized that the sexually dimorphic expression of progestin receptors (PRs) during development would masculinize vasopressin expression in mice. We compared the number of vasopressin-expressing cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and medial amygdala and the density of vasopressin-immunoreactive fibers in several brain regions of male and female wild type and PRKO mice using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. As expected, sex differences in vasopressin cell number were observed in the BNST and medial amygdaloid nucleus. Vasopressin-immunoreactive fiber density was sexually dimorphic in the lateral septum, lateral habenular nucleus, medial amygdaloid nucleus, and mediodorsal thalamus. Sex differences were also observed in the principal nucleus of the BNST and medial preoptic area but not in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, which are thought to receive vasopressin innervation from the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Deletion of PRs did not alter the sex difference in vasopressin mRNA expression and vasopressin fiber immunoreactivity in any area examined. However, deletion of PRs increased the density of vasopressin fiber immunoreactivity in the lateral habenular nucleus. Our data suggest that PRs modulate vasopressin levels, but not sexual differentiation of vasopressin innervation in mice.

Long-term outcome of conjunctival fixation sutures to the sclera for prolapsed subconjunctival orbital fat.

PurposeTo report long-term outcome of new surgical technique for prolapsed subconjunctival orbital fat.Patients and methodsRetrospective study was conducted on 48 eyes of 37 patients who underwent excision of prolapsed subconjunctival orbital fat with conjunctival fixation to the sclera. Complications and recurrence were evaluated.ResultsThe mean follow-up period was 39 months (range, 8-101 months). Two eyes (4.4%) developed recurrence at 4 and 8 years after surgery. No long-term complication was found.ConclusionsThe new surgical technique to manage prolapsed subconjunctival orbital fat using conjunctival fixation to the sclera was very useful and effective, with few recurrence and no long-term complication.

Stimulation of Bacillus subtilis membrane adenosine triphosphatase by cationic bactericidal agents.

The environmental Mg2+ used in preparation of Bacillus subtilis membranes was found to influence the responses of the associated ATPase to cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Membranes prepared using fluids containing higher Mg2+ levels exhibited lower control activity than was seen with low Mg2+ membranes. Increased environmental Mg2+ resulted in higher stimulations with lower doses of the agent. ATPase of all three membrane types was stimulated in two concentration ranges, but in the doses tested, CTAB inhibited the ATPase of only those membranes obtained using fluids containing high Mg2+ for every stage of the isolation. Sonication of membranes for 25 s at half maximum output yielded three fractions, consisting of a soluble form which was sensitive to CTAB stimulation at 25 microg/ml of assay mixture; small, 95-110 nm, vesicles, which were resistant to CTAB at 25, 75, and 150 microg/ml, and large vesicles, similar to untreated membranes both in morphology and responses to detergent. Combinations of detergent and protein (beta-lysin or arginine-rich histone) produced activity appearing to be additive when the protein level was present in a high concentration and the detergent was present at levels corresponding to the minimum influence. Mixtures of a maximally stimulating dose (75 or 100 microg/ ml) of detergent and a small amount of protein produced activities that were at least 92% or more of the expected sums of individual stimulations. Interference occurred with the following mixtures: high amounts of detergent and protein; high protein and 10 or 15 microg/ml CTAB; and beta-lysin and arginine-rich histone, both at high levels. These data are consistent with a hypothesis that the two peaks in CTAB stimulation reflect two adjacent ATPase sites, one of which is also susceptible to stimulation by cationic protein.

Characterization of the terminal sequences flanking the transposon that carries the Escherichia coli enterotoxin STII gene.

The Escherichia coli enterotoxin STII gene is flanked by two repeat sequences, approx. 600 bp each and 8 kb apart. This 9-kb DNA fragment has been shown to transpose as a unit and is thus considered a transposon. It is presently designated as Tn4521. In this study, the two terminal sequences of Tn4521 cloned in pPS1 were localized, isolated, and characterized. The two terminal sequences were found to be composed of IS2 sequences and were in an inverted repeat orientation. However, neither repeat contained a complete IS2. The LTR contained bp 1-722, whereas the RTR contained bp 17-536 and 969-1327, all three of the IS2 sequence.

Identification of the promoter region of the Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri recA gene responsible for induction by DNA-damaging agents.

The abundance of the RecA protein and of recA transcripts was markedly increased on exposure of Xanthomonas campestris pathovar citri to various DNA-damaging agents, including mitomycin C. The promoter sequence responsible for mediating the sensitivity of recA expression to DNA damage was investigated by subcloning a 426-bp restriction fragment of the 5' untranslated and coding region of the gene into a promoterless vector containing the luxAB genes of Vibrio fischeri. Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri cells transformed with this vector responded to DNA-damaging agents with a marked increase in luciferase activity. Deletion of nucleotides from the 5' end of the recA fragment inserted into the reporter plasmid revealed that the 58 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site are sufficient to mediate induction of recA expression by mitomycin C.

Superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation in the liver of guinea pig infected with Leptospira interrogans.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the degree of lipid peroxidation were studied over a two week period in guinea pigs infected with Leptospira interrogans derived from wild mice. The total SOD activity in infected host liver increased by four-fold two days after infection; this was followed by a 20% decrease resulting in levels comparable to normal, uninfected liver. During the period of decreasing SOD activity after day two, the levels of TBA-reactive material (TBARS) are increased by three-fold in infected guinea pig, liver, compared to uninfected liver. The results indicate that SOD attenuates intracellular superoxide-mediated toxic effects in guinea pigs infected with L. interrogans. In addition, electron microscopy structure demonstrates correlated pathogenic shrinkage of mitochondrial and Kupffer cell structures.

Protective role of germanium-132 against paraquat-induced oxidative stress in the livers of senescence-accelerated mice.

The effects of the synthetic antioxidant germanium (Ge-132) were studied on liver oxidant damage induced by paraquat (PQ) in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM). PQ administered intravenously to SAM-P/8 (susceptible) or SAM-R/1 (resistant) mice increased liver DNA strand breakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicators of oxidant damage. Ge-132 effectively blocked the PQ-induced effects on liver DNA strand breaks and MDA levels. In addition, Ge-132 significantly elevated the activities of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase following PQ pretreatment. Histopathologically, Ge-132 inhibited PQ-induced hepatic mitochondrial injury in both strains, but more effectively in the susceptible strain. Data suggest that Ge-132 may be useful as an antioxidant in view of its ability to prevent PQ-induced hepatic oxidant injury.

Surgical resection of mucoepidermoid carcinoma at the carina in a 9-year-old boy.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of trachea and bronchi is a rare tumor, especially in children. The authors report a case of 9-year-old boy with mucoepidermoid carcinoma at the carina. His presenting symptoms were hemoptysis of recent onset and intermittent cough of 2 years' duration. Preoperative assessment of the tumor was an intraluminal polypoid mass arising from the carina extending into the trachea and right main stem bronchus. A complete resection with reconstruction of carina was successful. The tumor was 12 mm in size, polypoid with a broad base. It had characteristic features of a low-grade mucoepidermoid tumor, namely, admixture of islands of intermediate cells and glandular components with invasion of submucosa. The patient is now 15 months postsurgery free of disease.

Cells behaviors and genotoxicity on topological surface.

To investigate different cells behaviors and genotoxicity, which were driven by specific microenvironments, three patterned surfaces (pillars, wide grooves and narrow grooves) and one smooth surface were prepared by template-based technique. Vinculin is a membrane-cytoskeletal protein in focal adhesion plaques and associates with cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions, which can promote cell adhesion and spreading. The immunofluorescence staining of vinculin revealed that the narrow grooves patterned substrate was favorable for L929 cell adhesion. For cell multiplication, the narrow grooves surface was fitted for the proliferation of L929, L02 and MSC cells, the pillars surface was only in favor of L929 cells to proliferate during 7 days of cell cultivation. Cell genetic toxicity was evaluated by cellular micronuclei test (MNT). The results indicated that topological surfaces were more suitable for L929 cells to proliferate and maintain the stability of genome. On the contrary, the narrow grooves surface induced higher micronuclei ratio of L02 and MSC cells than other surfaces. With the comprehensive results of cell multiplication and MNT, it was concluded that the wide grooves surface was best fitted for L02 cells to proliferate and have less DNA damages, and the smooth surface was optimum for the research of MSC cells in vitro.

Influence of the baricity of a local anaesthetic agent on sedation with propofol during spinal anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effect of different levels of spinal anaesthesia, induced by solutions of different baricity but containing the same amount of local anaesthetic agent, on the requirement for sedation with propofol. METHODS: Thirty-six patients undergoing varicose vein surgery under spinal anaesthesia were randomly allocated to receive tetracaine 15 mg in 3 ml of either glucose 5% (hyperbaric) or CSF (isobaric). I.V. propofol was started 5 min after the intrathecal injection and was titrated to maintain a bispectral index (BIS) score of 65-75. The propofol requirements to maintain this range in the two groups were compared every 5 min. RESULTS: The propofol requirement was always lower in the hyperbaric group, with the differences becoming statistically significant 20 min after the intrathecal injection. Total consumption of propofol over the 55 min of the study was also less in the hyperbaric group. CONCLUSION: The known difference in level of spinal anaesthetic block induced by solutions of different baricity, but the same dose of local anaesthetic, was associated with different requirements for propofol sedation as determined by BIS assessment.