Effect of synthetic peptide cSN50.1 on the malignant behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its mechanism / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of cSN50.1 on the proliferation， migration， invasion， and colony formation of HepG2 cells and its mechanism. MethodsHepG2 cells were divided into cSN50.1 0 μmol/L， cSN50.1 10 μmol/L， cSN50.1 30 μmol/L， cSN50.1 50 μmol/L， cSN50.1 70 μmol/L， and cSN50.1 90 μmol/L groups， and CCK－8 assay was used to investigate the effect of different concentrations of cSN50.1 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells and calculate half－maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50）. HepG2 cells were divided into cSN50.1 0 μmol/L， cSN50.1 10 μmol/L， cSN50.1 30 μmol/L， and cSN50.1 50 μmol/L groups， and wound healing assay， Transwell assay， and colony－forming assay were used to investigate the effect of different concentrations of cSN50.1 on the migration， invasion， and colony formation of HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were divided into Control group， SP600125 group （an inhibitor of the AP－1 signaling pathway）， and cSN50.1 group to investigate the influence of the AP－1 signaling pathway on the effect of cSN50.1 on hepatocellular carcinoma cells， and RT－PCR and Western Blot were used to measure the expression of CXCL5， TNF－α， and c－Jun protein in cytoplasm and nucleus. HepG2 cells were divided into Control group， PDTC group （an inhibitor of the NF－κB signaling pathway）， and cSN50.1 group to investigate the influence of the NF－κB signaling pathway on the effect of cSN50.1 on hepatocellular carcinoma cells， and RT－PCR and Western Blot were used to measure the expression of CXCL5， TNF－α， and NF－κB protein in cytoplasm and nucleus. A one－way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the SNK－q test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the 0 μmol/L group， the 10 μmol/L group had no significant changes in proliferation， migration， invasion， and colony formation abilities （P >0.05）； the 30 μmol/L group had no significant change in proliferation ability （P>0.05）， but with significant reductions in migration， invasion， and colony formation abilities （P<0.05）； the 50 μmol/L group had significant reductions in proliferation， migration， invasion， and colony formation abilities （all P<0.01）； the 70 μmol/L and 90 μmol/L groups had a significant reduction in cell proliferation ability （P<0.01）， but with a cell survival rate of below 50%. Compared with the Control group， the SP600125， PDTC， and cSN50.1 groups had significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of CXCL5 and TNF－α （all P<0.05）. Compared with the Control group， the SP600125 group， the PDTC group， and the cSN50.1 group had a significant reduction in nuclear protein of c－Jun and NF－κB expression （P<0.05）； the SP600125 group and the PDTC group had a significant reduction in cytoplasmic protein of c－Jun and NF－κB expression （P<0.05）； the cSN50.1 group had a significant increase in cytoplasmic protein of c－Jun and NF－κB expression （P<0.05）. ConclusionThis study shows that cSN50.1 can inhibit the malignant behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and reduce the expression of CXCL5 and TNF－α by inhibiting the nuclear import of c－Jun and NF－κB in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Impact of One Versus Two Consecutive Doses of Endothelial Cells (EPCs) and EPCs-Derived Condition Medium on Protecting Myocardium from Acute Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat.

This study tested the impact of single dose and two doses of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and EPCs-derived condition medium (CM) on protecting the left-ventricular myocardium (LVM) from acute ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. In vitro study showed EPCs and CM had comparably higher capacity for enhancement of angiogenesis as compared with the controls (all P < .001). Adult-male SD rats (n = 36) were equally categorized into groups 1 (sham-operated control), 2 (IR+vehicle), 3 [IR+EPCs/1.2 × 106/intravenous administration at 3 h after IR procedure), 4 (IR+EPCs/1.2 × 106/at 3 h/24 h after IR), 5 (IR+CM/3.0cc/intravenous administration at 3 h after IR), 6 (IR+EPCs/3.0cc/at 3h/24 h after IR), and euthanized by day 3 after IR. The left-ventricular-ejection-fraction, protein and cellular expressions of endothelial-cell markers (CD31/vWF), small vessel number and protein expression of mitochondrial (mitochondrial-cytochrome-C) integrity were highest in group 1, lowest in group 2, significantly higher in group 4 than in groups 3/5/6 and significantly higher in groups 3/6 than in group 5 but they showed no differences in groups3/6, whereas the protein expressions of apoptotic (cleaved-caspase 3/cleaved-PARP), fibrotic (Smad3/TGF-ß), mitochondrial-damaged (cytosolic-cytochrome-C), heart-failed/pressure-overload (BNP), oxidative-stress (p47phox/NOX-1/NOX-2/oxidized protein), and autophagic (LCB3-II/LCB3-I) biomarkers and fibrotic/collagen-deposition areas exhibited an opposite pattern to endothelial-cell markers (all P < .0001). The protein expressions of angiogenesis (VEGF/SDF-1α/CXCR4/HIF-1α) were lowest in group 1, highest in group 4, significantly higher in groups 3/6 than in groups 2/5, significantly higher in group 5 than in group 2, but they showed no difference between groups 3/6 (all P < .0001). These results demonstrate that two consecutive doses of EPC/CM were superior to just one at protecting LVM against IR injury.

Influencing Mechanism of Justice Sensitivity on Knowledge Hiding in the Chinese Context.

Good knowledge management is important for enterprises to maintain competitive advantage; however, the knowledge hiding behavior may hinder this process. Based on the conservation of resources and psychological ownership theories, using a chain intermediary model, this study investigates the effect of justice sensitivity on knowledge hiding through perceived time pressure and territoriality, and further tests the moderating role of territoriality. For the study, we collected 436 questionnaires from China through the Wenjuanxing Sample Service, of which 391 were valid. We then conducted multiple regression analysis and employed the bootstrap method for our tests. The results show that victim sensitivity has a significant effect on perceived time pressure, territoriality, and knowledge hiding, and that a chain mediating effect of perceived time pressure and territoriality is established between justice sensitivity and knowledge hiding. Further, territoriality has a positive moderating effect on perceived time pressure and knowledge hiding, while the mediating effect of perceived time pressure on justice sensitivity and knowledge hiding is also moderated by territoriality. Further, the study offers important practical implications in that enterprises should not blindly pursue results by making employees work excessively overtime. And there should have rationalized regulations in organization to ensure justice. The management should pay close attention to the psychological problems of victim and perpetrator. Instead, enterprises should have a certain degree of control, offer rationales for overtime work, and give high wages to the employees to compensate for their time, thus making the employees feel the worthiness of their overtime work and reducing the probability of engaging in knowledge hiding behaviors.

Application of PCR technique in etiological diagnosis of children with enterovirus and herpesvirus encephalitis / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To examine the infection of the enterovirus and human herpes virus in children with suspected encephalitis.Methods:A total number of 365 suspected encephalitis cases were included in this study from August 2017 to December 2019 in Hunan Children′s Hospital. The clinical samples, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, sputum, stool and urine were collected and preserved at-80 ℃condition. The enterovirus (EV) and human herpesvirus (HHV) were examined by a one-step nested reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR) and a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), respectively. The positive rate of the two viruses in clinical specimens of children with suspected encephalitis was examined. Among all cases, 132 cases were diagnosed with EV encephalitis or HHV encephalitis.Results:the EV encephalitis were identified in 20.5% (75/365) children with suspected viral encephalitis; whereas HHV encephalitis infection was identified as 15.6% (57/365). Among the 75 cases of EV encephalitis, echo 6 was the main sub-type of these diseases 52.0% (39/75) and others were EV71 (30.7%, 23/75), echo11 (6.7%, 5/75), Coxsackie virus A group 6(CA6, 4.0%, 3/75), echo30 (1.3%, 1/75), echo9 (1.3%, 1/75), echo4 (1.3%, 1/75),Coxsackie virus B group 1(CB1, 1.3%, 1/75))and poliovirus(1.3%, 1/75).Human herpes virus type 6 (HHV6) was the most common pathogen in 57 cases of HHV encephalitis, accounting for 35.1% (20/57).The other pathogens were Cytomegalovirus (CMV, 31.6%, 18/57), Epstein-Barr virus (8.8%, 7/57), Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1, 10.5%, 6/57), HSV2 (8.8%, 5/57), and Varicella zoster virus (VZV, 1.8%, 1/57) .The virus in CSF detected significantly earlier than that in serum after onset. Virus could be detected in CSF 2-7 days after onset,but 7-26 days in serum. Conclusions:This study uses nested PCR and qPCR to detect pathogens in clinical specimens of children. This not only expands our understanding of the clinical examination and diagnosis of viral encephalitis in children, but also promotes the method of this study to benefit more children.

Comparison of detection rates of herpes virus and enterovirus in paired cerebrospinal fluid and serum specimens of patients with viral encephalitis / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To compare the detection rate of herpes virus and enterovirus (EV) in paired cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples of patients with viral encephalitis.@*Methods@#A total of 109 paired cerebrospinal fluid and serum specimens were collected from patients who were clinically diagnosed with suspected viral meningitis in Children′s Hospital of Hunan from December 2017 to February 2018. One-step nested real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to detect enterovirus and herpes virus respectively and the detection rates of different virus and sample types were analyzed. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis of the test result .@*Results@#Among the 109 pairs of specimens, the positive rates of human herpes virus type 6 (HHV6), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and enterovirus group A type 71(EV-A71) in serum were 7.34%, 4.59%, 7.34%, 9.17% and 10.09%, respectively, and in cerebrospinal fluid were 5.50%, 2.75%, 0, 5.50%, and 6.42%, respectively. The result showed that there were statistically significant differences between the two types of specimens for herpes virus and enterovirus (P<0.05). In cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples, the longest time for EV-A71 positive detection was 2 and 7 days after onset, respectively; the longest time for CMV positive detection was 3 and 26 days after onset, respectively; the longest time for HHV6 positive detection was 7 and 8 days after onset, respectively; the longest time for HSV1 positive detection was both 12 days after the onset; in serum samples, the longest time for EBV positive detection was10 days after onset, but in cerebrospinal fluid, no EBV was detected within 10 days of onset.@*Conclusions@#EV-A71 is the most prevalent pathogen causing viral encephalitis in hunan, the overall positive rate of virus in serum samples was higher than that in cerebrospinal fluid samples. Virus stays longer in serum than in cerebrospinal fluid. It is suggested that the time is of great significance for the pathogen detection of children with viral encephalitis, the specimen type can be selected reasonably according to the time of onset.

Clinical study of application minimally invasive expandable channel in lumbar discectomy and interbody fusion and internal fixation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the advantages of minimally invasive expandable in surgery of lumbar discectomy and interbody fusion and internal fixation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 48 patients who underwent lumbar discectomy and interbody fusion and internal fixation from January 2010 to March 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. According to the admission queue, the patients were randomly assigned into channel group (26 cases) or traditional group (22 cases). In channel group, surgical approach of minimally invasive expandable channel was applied, and in traditional group, open posterior operation approach (including posterior lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, etc.) was applied. In channel group, there were 20 males and 6 females, aged from 43 to 74 years with an average of(56.6±5.1) years; course of disease was ranged from 4 to 22 months with an average of (6.7±1.8) months; 1 case was complicated with diabetes, 6 cases were complicated with hypertensive disease, and 2 cases were complicated with arrhythmia. In traditional group, there were 15 males and 7 females, aged from 43 to 73 years with an average of(55.9±4.6) years; course of disease was ranged from 4 to 26 months with an average of (6.2±2.1) months; 2 cases were complicated with diabetes, 5 cases were complicated with hypertensive disease, and 1 case was complicated with arrhythmia. Operation time, bleeding volume, and hospitalization time were compared between two groups and visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), bone fusion information, and complications correlated with incision were observed in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 48 patients were followed up for more than 6 months. Postoperative VAS and ODI were significantly improved (<0.01), but 3 and 6 months after operation, there was no significant difference in VAS between two groups, and ODI score of channel group was lower than that of traditional group(<0.01). Operation time, bleeding volume, hospitalization time in channel group respectively were (167.3±30.2) min, (786.8±147.8) ml, (12.3±2.4) d, and in traditional group were (197.5±48.7) min, (786.8±147.8) ml, (16.5±3.8) d, there was significant differences between two groups. There was no significant difference in fusion rate and fusion time between two groups. There were 4 cases and 7 cases developed incision related complications in channel group and traditional group, respectively. The difference between two groups was significant(<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with conventional surgery minimally invasive lumbar discectomy and interbody fusion and internal fixation has advantages of less trauma, shorter operative time and better functional recovery.</p>

CLDN6-induced apoptosis via regulating ASK1-p38/JNK signaling in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

Claudin 6 (CLDN6), a member of tight junction protein claudin (CLDN) family, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, these molecular mechanisms of CLDN6-induced apoptosis remain largely elusive. We previously found that restoration of human CLDN6 gene expression was correlated with the expression level of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) using cDNA array and bioinformatics analysis. ASK1, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, is involved in environmental stress-activation of the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 pathways, which contribute to apoptosis-associated tumor cell death. In the present study, we show that the restoration of CLDN6 gene expression in MCF-7 cells marhedly decreased ASK1 phosphorylation at Ser967. Activated ASK1ser967 further induced the activation of downstream targets, JNK and p38 kinase. MCF-7/CLDN6 stable transfection cell clone treated with TRX1, an ASK1 inhibitor, showed suppressed JNK and p38 activation, and showed substantially increased survival and colony formation and reduced percent of apoptotic cells using TUNEL staining and DNA ladder. Furthermore, TRX1 treatment increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio and reduced caspase-3 cleavage in MCF-7/CLDN6 stable transfection cell clone. Therefore, these data show that CLDN6 mediates ASK1-p38/JNK apoptotic signaling in MCF-7 cells, and it is correlated with constitutive deregulation of the balance of Bcl-2 family proteins and activation of caspase-3.

Relationship between monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene polymorphism and susceptibility of epithelial ovarian cancer / 中国医师杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) A-2518G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and susceptibility of epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC) in Chinese Han population of Hunan region.Methods MCP-1 A-2518G SNPs of the EOC were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis in 92 patients with EOC and 38 healthy women as control.Results MCP-1 A-2518G SNPs had AA,AG,and GG genotypes in cancer and control groups.The frequencies of AA,AG,and GG genotypes were not significantly different between cancer and control groups (AA:17.40％ and 15.79％ ; AG:44.56％ and 52.63％ ; and GG:38.04％ and 31.58％ ; P ＞0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between MCP-1 A-2518G polymorphism and EOC (P ＞0.05).Conclusions This present study suggested that MCP-1 A-2518G polymorphism should not be related to susceptibility of EOC in the Chinese Han population of Hunan region.

Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and IDR-1 ameliorate MRSA pneumonia in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The only human cathelicidin, LL-37, and the innate defense regulator peptide IDR-1, which have been proven to have antimicrobial activity, represent essential elements of immunity. Our previous study showed that the peptide LL-37 was protective in vitro to attenuate LTA-induced inflammatory effects. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes a multitude of serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases around the globe. However, the effect of LL-37 and IDR-1 in MRSA-induced pneumonia is unknown. In the present study, we explored the potential of LL-37 and IDR-1 in ameliorating MRSA-induced pneumonia in vivo. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups and perfused intratracheally with PBS, peptide, MRSA and MRSA plus peptide, respectively. Pulmonary tissue pathology, ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR were employed. The relative signal pathways were further explored by western blot analysis. RESULTS: Pathological analysis of the lung tissue sections demonstrated that, when compared with the MRSA-treated group, both the LL-37 and IDR-1 could ameliorate the MRSA-induced pneumonia. The phosphorylation of JNK and Akt were markedly decreased in the peptide plus MRSA-treated group compared with the MRSA-treated group. Furthermore, both of them also reduced TNF-α and IL-6 production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum in vivo. CONCLUSION: We report the first evidence of peptides inhibiting inflammation, decreasing the release of inflammatory cytokines and restoring pulmonary function in vivo. The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and IDR-1 could ameliorate MRSA-induced pneumonia by exerting an anti-inflammatory property and attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokine release, thus providing support for the hypothesis that both innate and synthetic peptides could protect against MRSA in vivo.

Treatment of intertrochanteric fractures over age of 80 years old patients with proximal femur intramedullary nail / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effects of proximal femur intramedullary nail (PFNA) in treating intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January,2008 to December,2010,the data of 86 elderly patients (aged, 80 to 93 years) with intertrochanteric fracture who underwent internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 54 patients (22 males and 32 females) were treated with close reduction and PFNA internal fixation(PFNA group),and 32 patients (12 males and 20 females) were treated with open reduction and nail-plate internal fixation (control group). Operation time, volume of blood loss, postoperative complications, time of hospitalization and bone union, hip function were compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up more than 2 years. Operation time, volume of blood loss, postoperative complications,time of hospitalization in PFNA group were less than that of control group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in time of bone union between two groups (P>0.05). According to Harris score to evaluate the function of hip joint, PFNA group was better than that of control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures with PFNA internal fixations can obtain satisfactory results, the method is better than that of traditional method.</p>

Risk early warning and multimodal prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism for hip fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy and safety of multimodal prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism for hip fractures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2009 to July 2011, preoperatively, patients were assigned to two groups on the basis of an assessment of their risk factors. One hundred and twelve patients were considered to be low risk, involving 47 males and 65 females,with an average age of (72.40 +/- 13.29) years ranging from 42 to 88,and were managed with aspirin (100 mg once daily for 14 days) as well as intermittent gasing compression devices. Twenty-six patients were considered to be high risk, involving 12 males and 14 females with an average age of (78.50 +/- 12.76) years ranging from 65 to 84,and were managed with low-molecular-weight heparin (0.4 ml,subcutaneous injection once daily for 14 days) and intermittent gasing compression. All patients were underwent Doppler ultrasonography within 24 hours before hospital discharge. All patients were followed-up for 3 months postoperatively. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis of lower limb, pulmonary embolism, gastrointestinal hemorrhage were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall, there were no fatal pulmonary embolism, 1 case of symptomatic pulmonary emboli in low risk group, and none were detected in the high-risk group. Deep venous thrombosis was detected in association with 6 (6.25%) of the 112 procedures in the low-risk group and 2 (7.69%) of the 26 operations in the high-risk group. Paitents were selected in opened reduction and internal fixation, the quantity of bleeding, decrease of hemoglobin, hematoma rate, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage rate of low risk group were (538.10 +/- 390.20) ml, (30 +/- 19) g/L, 0, and 1 (1.03%) respectively; those of the high-risk group were (585.95 +/- 403.96) mL, (32 +/- 20) g/L,1 (4.76%), (4.76%), there were no significant different between the two groups, all P > 0.05.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were no statistic significances between the aspirin as well as intermittent gasing compression devices and the low-molecular-weight heparin and intermittent gasing compression in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in postoperative postoperative venous thromboembolism for hip fractures. However, there are potential advantages to reduce complications of bleeding and cardiovascular disease. Multimodal prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism can protect postoperative patients with hip fractures.</p>

Microsatellite alternation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in the pathogenic mechanism of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.@*METHOD@#Forty cases squamous cell carcinomas of larynx were analyzed by comparing tumorous tissues and normal tissues around with 3 microsatellite markers from chromosome 3, 5 and 11, using PCR and PGE-AgNO3 staining.@*RESULT@#Among the 40 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, 87.5% (35/40) of samples showed microsatellite instability or loss of heterozygosity in one to three microsatellite markers. High frequent microsatellite abnormal occurred at D5S592, it was 70% (28/40). Then the mutation rate of D3s1228 was 52.5% (21/40).@*CONCLUSION@#Our study revealed that tumor suppressor genes nearby chromosome 3p14 and 5q23 regions related to the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas of larynx. A correlation between microsatellite alternation and stage of the tumor were found in D3s1228 and D5s592 chromosome regions.

Protective effects of lidocaine against lung injury after hemorrhagic shock in rabbits / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of lidocaine against lung injury after hemorrhagic shock in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen healthy rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6), namely lidocaine group (group L), hemorrhagic shock group (group H) and control group (group C). Hemorrhagic shock model was established in rabbits in groups L and H, and the venous blood samples were collected for measurement of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxidedismutase (SOD) before phlebotomy (T0), 2 h after hemorrhagic shock (T1) and 2 h after resuscitation (T2). Blood samples were also taken for measurement of MDA and SOD at the same time points in group C. The wet to dry weight ratio of the lung (W/D) was measured at T2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MDA level was significantly lower while SOD level significantly higher in group L than in group H (P<0.05). The W/D ratio in group L was reduced significantly as compared with that in group H (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lidocaine can remarkably alleviate lung injury after hemorrhagic shock by inhibiting MDA production and increasing SOD content.</p>

Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with sufentanil and fentanyl after thoracotomy: a comparative study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of sufentanil and fentanyl at equivalent dose for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after thoracotomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty ASA I-II patients (20-60 years of age) undergoing radical operation for lung or esophageal cancer were randomly divided into sufentanil intravenous analgesia group (group S, with sufentanil 1 microg/ml) and fentanyl intravenous analgesia group (group F, fentanyl 10 microg/ml). PCIA was administered with background infusion of 2.5 ml/h, bolus injection of 2.5 ml and lockout time of 15 min. The pain intensity according to visual analogue scale (VAS), cumulative analgesic consumption (CAC), sedative scores and side effects at 24 and 48 h after administration were recorded. SpO(2), respiratory rate (RR), blood pressure (BP) and ECG were continuously monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in CAC between the two groups, but he VAS was lower in group S than in group F (P<0.05) and the sedative efficacy was superior in group S (P<0.05). The incidence of nausea and vomiting in group S was lower than that in group F (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in SpO(2), RR, heart rate and mean arterial pressure between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PCIA with sufentanil provides better efficacy of analgesia and sedation with lower incidence of nausea and vomiting than with fentanyl in postoperative patients with thoracotomy.</p>