Limb Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Applied During Sevoflurane Anesthesia Does Not Protect the Lungs in Patients Undergoing Adult Heart Valve Surgery.

Background: Two consistent overall cell protective preconditioning treatments should provide more protection. We hypothesized that limb remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC, second preconditioning stimulus) applied during sevoflurane inhalation (first preconditioning stimulus) would provide more protection to the lungs of patients undergoing adult heart valve surgery.

Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 50 patients were assigned to the RIPC group or the placebo group (1:1).

Serratus Anterior Plane Block Combined with General Analgesia and Patient-Controlled Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Control Trial.

Introduction: Anterior serratus muscle plane block is a novel regional block technique for blockade of the sensory plane of the lateral cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve (T2-T9), which effectively relieves the pain of patients and improves the quality of recovery. This study aimed to observe the early effectiveness and safety of serratus anterior plane block combined with general anesthesia and patient-controlled serratus anterior plane block in early postoperative recovery in breast cancer.

Methods: The study involved a total of 84 patients undergoing radical mastectomy in our hospital.

Effects of intrathecal injection of rapamycin on pain threshold and spinal cord glial activation in rats with neuropathic pain.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of intrathecal injection of rapamycin on pain threshold and spinal cord glial activation in rats with neuropathic pain.

Methods: Healthy 30 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 5 in each group): (1) control group without any treatments; (2) chronic constriction injury (CCI) group; (3) Early-rapamycin group with intrathecal injection of rapamycin 4 hours after CCI days; (4) Early-vehicle group with intrathecal injection of DMSO; (5) Late-rapamycin group with intrathecal injection of rapamycin 7 days after CCI; (6) Late-vehicle group with intrathecal injection of DMSO 7 days after CCI. Rapamycin or DMSO was injected for 3 consecutive days.

Low-dose intramuscular dexmedetomidine as premedication: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia or hypotension has recently attracted considerable attention because of potentially grave consequences, including sinus arrest and refractory cardiogenic shock. A route other than intravenous injection or a low dose may help minimize cardiovascular risks associated with dexmedetomidine. However, few studies have addressed the clinical effects of low-dose intramuscular dexmedetomidine as premedication.

Over-expression of P2X7 receptors in spinal glial cells contributes to the development of chronic postsurgical pain induced by skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) in rats.

Many patients suffer from chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) following surgery, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present work, with use of the skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) model, the role of P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) in spinal glial cells in the development of CPSP was evaluated. Consistent with previous reports, we found that SMIR decreased the ipsilateral 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT), lasting for at least 2weeks.

Mechanical ventilation enhances HMGB1 expression in an LPS-induced lung injury model.

Background: Mechanical ventilation (MV) can augment inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged lungs. High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a pro-inflammatory mediator in ventilator-induced lung injury, but its mechanisms are not well defined. This study investigated the role of HMGB1 in lung inflammation in response to the combination of MV and LPS treatment.

Medical versus surgical abortion methods for pregnancy in China: a cost-minimization analysis.

Background: Both medical and surgical abortions are popular in developing countries. However, the monetary costs of these two methods have not been compared.

Methods: 430 women seeking abortions were recruited in 2008.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 mediates mechanical stretch-induced high-mobility group box 1 protein expression in pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) plays an important role in the development of ventilator-induced lung injury. However, the molecular mechanisms that are involved in this process are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6) in the HMGB1 expression in pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells induced by mechanical stretch.

[Effects of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride on ERK1/2 activation in a rat model of ventilator-induced lung injury].

Objective: To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride on inflammatory lung injury and phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein (ERK1/2) in a rat model of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

Methods: Thirty-six adult male SD rats were randomized into 3 groups (n=12) to receive a 4-h standard ventilation (group C, with tidal volume of 8 ml/kg and respiratory rate of 90/min), high-tidal volume ventilation (group H, with tidal volume of 20 ml/kg and respiratory rate of 50 /min), and high-tidal volume ventilation plus 0.5 µg·kg(-1)·h(-1) dexmedetomidine infusion (group D), with the maintenance of a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 0 cmH(2)O.

[Effect of dexmedetomidine on patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with fentanyl in elderly patients after total hip replacement].

Objective: To investigate the effect of a continuous infusion of low-dose dexmedetomidine on patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with fentanyl in elderly patients after total hip replacement.

Methods: Forty patients (ASA I-II) aged 66-81 years after total hip replacement were randomized equally into the control and test groups. The patients in the test group received continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine at the rate of 0.

[Effects of morphine and pethidine on the expression of P-glycoprotein in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells].

Objective: To observe the effects of morphine and pethidine on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells and investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway in morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp.

Methods: The mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line (b.END3) was subjected to pre-incubation with NF-kappaB inhibitor PDTC (5 micromol/L) for 1 h followed by stimulation with morphine (1 microg/ml) or pethidine (1 microg/ml) for 24 h.

A FQHPSFI peptide selectively binds to LPS-activated alveolar macrophages and inhibits LPS-induced MIP-2 production.

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify peptides selectively binding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated alveolar macrophages (AMs) and to characterize their effects on the production of LPS-induced cytokines.

Methods: A phage display library was sequentially screened by binding phages to unmanipulated AMs and then to LPS-activated AMs. Individual phage clones were identified by cell-based ELISA.

[Effect of dexmedetomidine on bispectral index and auditory evoked potential index during anesthesia with target controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanyl].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on bispectral index (BIS) and auditory evoked potential index (AAI) during anesthesia with target controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and remifentanyl.

Methods: Thirty adult patients (ASA I approximate, equalsII) who were scheduled for elective thyroidectomy were monitored with BIS, AAI, ECG, blood pressure, end-tidal CO(2), and pulse oximeter before and during anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced by TCI with propofol 4 mg/L and remifentanyl 1 mu g/kg.

[Effect of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6-p38 alpha signal pathway on receptor for advanced glycation end-product expression in alveolar epithelial cells induced by mechanical stretch].

Objective: To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6) p38 alpha in mechanical stretch induced receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) expression in alveolar epithelial cells (A549).

Methods: Recombinant plasmids were transfected into A549 cells with liposome DOTAP. A549 cells transfected with p38 alpha (AF)/pGFP and MKK6b (E)/pGFP plasmids were taken as treated groups, while the groups that transfected with pcDNA3 plasmid and pGFP plasmid served as blank transfection group and control group, respectively.

[Regulation of P38 and MKK6 on HMGB1 expression in alveolar macrophages induced by cyclic mechanical stretch.].

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6)-P38 signaling pathway in cyclic mechanical stretch-induced high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) expression in alveolar macrophages. In the study, Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and then sacrificed by bloodletting. The lungs were lavaged six times with prechilled PBS.

[Effect of intrathecal administration of sufentanil at different doses on bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy].

Objective: To investigate the effect of sufentanil administered intrathecally at different doses on the clinical effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy.

Methods: Sixty patients with ectopic pregnancy undergoing elective laparoscopy (ASA class I-II) were randomized into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D), and received spinal anesthesia with 15 mg bupivacaine and sufentanil at 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.

[Effects of epidural clonidine pretreatment in epidural patient-controlled analgesia using sufentanil combined with levobupivacaine].

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of epidural clonidine pretreatment in epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) using sufentanil combined with levobupivacaine.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy of ASA status I-II were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: C2 group was pretreated with epidural clonidine 2 microg/kg at the L2-3 interspace, 15 min later, epidural anesthesia was performed with 0.5% levobupivacaine, and then 0.