Effect of sevoflurane on the ATPase activity of hippocampal neurons in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

We aim to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on the ATPase activity of the hippocampal neurons in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. Sixty rats were assigned into the normal, model and sevoflurane groups (n = 20, the latter two groups were established as focal cerebral IRI models). The ATPase activity was detected using an ultramicro Na (+)-K (+)-ATP enzyme kit. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the positive protein expression of cAMP and PKA. The hippocampal neurons were assigned to the normal, IRI, IRI + sevoflurane, IRI + forskolin, IRI + H89 and IRI + sevoflurane + H89 groups. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed for the expressions of cAMP, PKA, cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The normal and sevoflurane groups exhibited a greater positive protein expression of cAMP and PKA than the model group. Compared with the normal group, the expressions of cAMP, PKA, CREB and BDNF all reduced in the IRI, model and IRI + H89 groups. The sevoflurane group showed higher cAMP, PKA, CREB and BDNF expressions than the model group. Compared with the IRI group, ATPase activity and expressions of cAMP, PKA, CREB and BDNF all increased in the normal, IRI + sevoflurane and IRI + forskolin groups but decreased in the IRI + H89 group. It suggests that sevoflurane could enhance ATPase activity in hippocampal neurons of cerebral IRI rats through activating cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

Clinical research of goal-directed fluid therapy in elderly patients with radical resection of bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical effect of goal-directed fluid therapy in elderly patients with radical resection of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-six elderly patients with radical resection of bladder cancer were selected from October 2012 to October 2014 and randomly divided into two groups, in which 38 patients received routine treatment as the control group and 38 patients received goal-directed fluid therapy based on routine treatment as the observation group. The treatment effect was compared between two groups. RESULTS: The cardiac index, stroke volume variability, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, central venous oxygen saturation, oxygen supply index, oxygen consumption index, and oxygen uptake rate in observation group were distinctly higher than those in control group at T1, T2, T3, and T4 while the artery serum lactate and S100-ß were apparently lower than those in control group at T1, T2, T3, and T4. The urine volume and colloidal infusion were obviously elevated when compared with those in control group at T1, T2, T3, and T4 while the crystalloid infusion volume, total liquid infusion volume, hospitalization time, and expenses were significantly less than those in control group; further, similar tendency was also found regarding the complication incidences of nausea, vomiting, or hypotension in observation group. The postoperative flatus and postoperative food-taking times were visibly earlier than those in control group (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The goal-directed fluid therapy is beneficial for stabilization of hemodynamic status and maintenance of oxygen balance of supply and demand, and it is worthy of clinical expansion for good microcirculation perfusion, reduction in therapeutic time and expenses of patients, and less complications and superior security.

[Evaluation of combined percutaneous radio-frequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combined CT-guided percutaneous radio-frequency ablation (RFA) plus percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) on nonresectable priminary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: One hundred fifty patients diagnosed as HCC either by pathology or by AFP combined with typical CT and angiographic image findings were studied, 99 men and 51 women, with an average of 51 years. Each patient had at least 3 lesions, ranging from 3.1 to 7.9 cm in diameter, average 5.0 cm. All patients were randomly divided into group A (control group) and group B (combination group) according to their check-in date (odd or even). In group A, 74 patients were treated with RFA alone two weeks after TACE. In group B, 76 patients were treated with RFA plus PEI two weeks after TACE. RESULTS: The complete necrosis rate was 75.8% in group A and 89.5% in group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical therapeutic effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) is better than that of RFA alone after TACE in HCC.

[Evaluating efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization combined with radiofrequency ablation on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by 18FDG-PET/CT].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Judging tumor residue of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after treatment of transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by computed tomography (CT) scan is difficult; while 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/CT ((18)FDG-PET/CT) has some advantages in this aspect. This study was designed to compare the results of (18)FDG-PET/CT and CT scan in judging tumor residue of HCC after treatment of TACE combined with RFA, and to guide following treatment according to the result of (18)FDG-PET/CT. METHODS: Thirteen HCC patients with 18 lesions, 0.8-16.0 cm in diameter, were treated in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Nov. 2002 to Jun. 2003. Of the 13 patients, 12 were naive patients with 15 lesions; 1 was relapsed with 3 lesions 1 year after hepatectomy. The results of CT and (18)FDG-PET/CT of the 13 patients 2-3 weeks after treatment of TACE combined with RFA were compared. If tumor residue was dictated, a further RFA treatment would be applied within 2-3 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 13 HCC patients that received 1 course of TACE combined with RFA, 11 had tumor residues which were conformed by fine needle biopsy and digital substraction angiography (DSA). CT only detected 5 positive cases; however, (18)FDG-PET/CT detected 10 positive cases. Positive rate of CT was 45.4%, and that of (18)FDG-PET/CT was 90.9%. According to the results of (18)FDG-PET/CT of the 11 patients, after the second course of RFA, 10 patients had no tumor residue; 1 patient survived with uncontrolled lesion 6 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSION: (18)FDG-PET/CT is better than CT in judging tumor residue of HCC after treatment of TACE combined with RFA or surgery, and in guiding further treatment of HCC.