Super-high-dose methylprednisolone does not improve efficacy or induce glucocorticoid resistance in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a super-high dose (SHD) of methylprednisolone (MP) improves its efficacy or induces glucocorticoid (GC) resistance, and to explore the potential mechanisms of GC resistance in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). METHODS: The therapeutic effects of SHD and low-dose MP were evaluated in EAE by analyzing clinical scores, pathological changes and cytokine production. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to investigate the expression of GC receptor (GR) isoforms and splicing factor SRp30c. RESULTS: Both MP doses had similar therapeutic effects. The ratio of GRα to GRß was positively correlated with clinical score changes. However, there was no difference in the GRα/GRß ratio between SHD and low-dose MP groups. SRp30c mRNA was correlated with GRß expression. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the GRα/GRß ratio is associated with GC sensitivity, and SRp30c may play an important role in promoting alternative splicing of GR pre-mRNA to generate GRß in EAE rats. Compared with low-dose MP, SHD MP does not improve efficacy or induce GC resistance.

Research of postoperative epidural analgesia for sufentanil combined with ropivacaine under lower limb surgery in elderly / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the safty and proper concentration of using the sufentanil combined with ropivacaine in patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) under lower limb surgery in elderly. Methods Eighty patients scheduled for lower limb surgery were divided into 4 groups by random digits table with 20 cases in each. The concentration of the sufentanil were 0.1,0.2,0.3 and 0.4 μ g/ml in group A, B, C, D respectively. The concentration of the ropivacaine were 0.125% in each group for the PCEA.R-VAS, C-VAS , Bromage score, Ramsay score, press times ,dosage and side effects were monitored and recorded at 4,10,24 and 48 h after operation. Results Compared with those in group C, D, C-VAS,dosage of the analgesia,press times of PCEA were higher in group A,B (P＜0.01 or ＜ 0.05),the efficacy of press was lower in group A, B(P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference between group C and group D(P＞0.05 ).The Ramsay score 10,24 h after operation in group D[(4.5 ± 0.5 ), (4.6 ± 0.6) scores] was higher than that in group A,B,C [(2.7 ±0.8), (2.7 ±0.8) scores vs.(2.9 ± 0.9), (2.7 ± 0.9) scores vs. (3.0 ±0.7), (2.9 ±0.5) scores] (P ＜0.05). There were no case with hypotension and respiratory depression.Conclusion PCEA of four methods are safe and effective in elderly which 0.3 μ g/ml sufentanil combined with 0.125% ropivacaine have good analgesic effect and less side effect.

Correlation between ultrastructural changes of glomerular basement membrane and abnormal distribution of laminins in patients with Alport' s syndrome / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To analyse the relationship of ultrastructural changes of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and glomerular distributions of laminin α1 and laminin α5 in patients with Alport' s syndrome. Methods: Twenty patients with Alport' s syndrome were recruited. The thickness of GBM and the extension of thickening and splitting GBM were measured under transmission electron microscope. Normal renal tissues from 6 nephrectomies of renal carcinoma were taken as controls. Paraffin embedded sections of formalin-fixed renal tissue were processed for immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to laminin α1 and laminin α5. Their distributions in GBM were evaluated by a semiquantitative scale of positive extension; absent, 0≤25% , 1; 25%-50% , 2; 50%-75% , 3;≥75% , 4. Results: There were a variety of degrees of thickening or splitting GBM in patients with Alport' s syndrome. Laminin al was positive in glomerular mesangial area and absolutely negative in GBM and laminin α5 was evenly positive in GBM in normal tissue. In Alport' s syndrome, laminin α1 was much weaker in glomerular mesangial area, but strongly positive in GBM; laminin α5 in GBM was prominently reduced. There was a high negative correlation of semiquantitative scores between laminin al and laminin α5 (r =-0. 83, P＜0. 001). The extension of thickening or splitting GBM was positively correlated with scores of laminin al in GBM ( r = 0. 76, P＜0.001; r = 0. 56, P=0. 015 ) , and was negatively correlated with scores of laminin α5 in GBM ( r =-0. 59, P =0. 010; r=-0. 53, P =0.025). Conclusion: Abnormal distribution of laminin al and laminin α5 in GBM is correlated with GBM thickening and splitting in human Alport' s syndrome.

The effects of combined general-epidural anaesthesia on perioperative myocardial enzymogram and troponin T of the myocardium in old patients undergoing thoracic surgery / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To observe the effects of combined generalepidural anesthesia on perioperative myocardial enzymogram and troponin T of the myocardium(cTnT)in old patients undergoing thoracic surgery.Methods Thirty-eight ASAⅠ-Ⅱ patients aged 60～80 years old were randomly divided into two groups.General anesthesia group(group G): anesthesia was induced with fentanly,propofol and vecuronium and maintained with isoflurane,propofol and vecuronium.Combined anesthesia group(group C):general anesthesia was performed as in group G and continuous epidural block with(1.6%) lidocaine was added during operation.Peripheral blood CK,CK-MB,AST,LDH and cTnT were measured before anesthesia,at the end of operation and at 6,24,48 hours after operation.Results Two groups could provide same postoperative analgesia.There was no change for HR,RR and MAP in two groups.Serum CK,AST,LDH and cTnT concentration in group G after operation were significantly higher than those before anesthesia(P