Nuclear Factor κB and Anesthetic Preconditioning during Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion

Background: Volatile anesthetic preconditioning (APC) protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, but the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain undefined. To investigate the molecular mechanism of APC in myocardial protection, the activation of nuclear factor (NF) [kappa]B and its regulated inflammatory mediators expression were examined in the current study.

Methods: Hearts from male rats were isolated, Langendorff perfused, and randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) the control group: hearts were continuously perfused for 130 min; (2) the IR group: 30 min of equilibration, 15 min of baseline, 25 min of ischemia, 60 min of reperfusion; and (3) the APC + IR group: 30 min of equilibration, 10 min of sevoflurane exposure and a 5-min washout, 25 min of global ischemia, 60 min of reperfusion. Tissue samples were acquired at the end of reperfusion. NF-[kappa]B activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The NF-[kappa]B inhibitor, I[kappa]B-[alpha], was determined by Western blot analysis. Myocardial inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor [alpha], interleukin 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase, were also assessed by Western blot analysis.

Results: Nuclear factor [kappa]B-DNA binding activity was significantly increased at the end of reperfusion in rat myocardium, and cytosolic I[kappa]B-[alpha] was decreased. Supershift assay revealed the involvement of NF-[kappa]B p65 and p50 subunits. APC with sevoflurane attenuated NF-[kappa]B activation and reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor [alpha], interleukin 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. APC also reduced infarct size and creatine kinase release and improved myocardial left ventricular developed pressure during IR.     

Morphine Enhances Pharmacological Preconditioning by Isoflurane: Role of Mitochondrial KATP Channels and Opioid Receptors

Background: Adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium channels mediate protection against myocardial infarction produced by volatile anesthetics and opioids. We tested the hypothesis that morphine enhances the protective effect of isoflurane by activating mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium channels and opioid receptors.

Methods: Barbiturate-anesthetized rats (n = 131) were instrumented for measurement of hemodynamics and subjected to a 30 min coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size was determined using triphenyltetrazolium staining. Rats were randomly assigned to receive 0.9% saline, isoflurane (0.5 and 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]), morphine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg), or morphine (0.3 mg/kg) plus isoflurane (1.0 MAC). Isoflurane was administered for 30 min and discontinued 15 min before coronary occlusion. In eight additional groups of experiments, rats received 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD; 10 mg/kg) or naloxone (6 mg/kg) in the presence or absence of isoflurane, morphine, and morphine plus isoflurane.

Results: Isoflurane (1.0 MAC) and morphine (0.3 mg/kg) reduced infarct size (41 +/- 3%; n = 13 and 38 +/- 2% of the area at risk; n = 10, respectively) as compared to control experiments (59 +/- 2%; n = 10). Morphine plus isoflurane further decreased infarct size to 26 +/- 3% (n = 11). 5-HD and naloxone alone did not affect infarct size, but abolished cardioprotection produced by isoflurane, morphine, and morphine plus isoflurane.     

SOME ANATOMICAL DATA RELATED TO THE TRANSNASO- SPHENOIDAL RESECTION OF PITUITARY FOSSA TUMORS

Since the beginning of this century, trans- naso-sphenoidal resection of the pituitary fossa tumors has been widely used clinically. It has more merits than other operative approaches used before. In China it has been adopted by both ENT doctors and neurosurgeons since 1959.1 In order to afford some relevant anatomical data, we measured 137 adult sagittal plane skulls with distinct landmarks.     

Effect of Ligustrazine on Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Signal Transducti on Path in Irradiation Injured Mice

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EXTERNAL MALLEOLUS ACTION ON ANKLE STABILITY IN FIBULAR RESECTION

In the management of ankle joint fractures, re- duction and fixation of the lateral malleolus should be emphasized. The lateral maUeolus should have anatomical reduction and fixation should be reliable. Fibular integrity is essential in stabilizing the ankle joint. Routine section of the fibula may result in separation of the inferior tibiofibular joint, ankle instability and talus displacement. Eventually this leads to traumatic arthritis. So special attention should be paid to fibular resection, even partial removal of the fibula for transplantation should be carried out carefully.     

ROLE OF f3-RECEPTOR IN THE RADIX ANGELICAE SINENSIS ATTENUATED HYPOXIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSJON IN RATS

Acute pulmonary hypertension was caused by inhalation of 5% 02 in rats. Pulmonary vascujar re- sistance (PVR) increased, but heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO) and carotid arterial pressure (CAP) were not obviously changed. After an intravenous admini- stration of Radix Angelicae sinensis, the acute pulmonary hypertension induced by inhalation of 5% O2 could be attenuated, but this effect disappeared if propranolol was given before Radix Angelicae sinensis. In chronic experiments, the same results were obtained, but the protective effect of Radix Angelicae sinensis on heart function was not influenced by propranolol. It is suggested that Radix Angelicae sinensis rmght play a role by stimulating the βz-receptor in the prevention of acute and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. However, prevention of hypertrophy of the right ventricle and enhancement of heart function in chronic hypoxic rats might not be attributed to the β1 receptor in the heart.     

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AMINO ACID CONTENTS AND LDH ISOZYME BY ELECTROPHORESIS AND SLAB-PAGE IN ADULT WORMS OF ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES, ASCARIS SUUM AND TOXOCARA CANIS^

Comparative studies are made on the relative percentages of amino acid content and LDH isozyme by electrophoresis and Slab-PAGE in adult worms of Ascaris lumbricoides, Ascaris suum and Toxocara canis. The results show that there are remarkable differences of Arg and His of 17 amino acids bet. ween Toxocara canis and human intestinal ascaris, human biliary ascaris and pig ascaris; there are also obvious differences of band positions of LDH isozyme electrophoretic patterns and band position and amount of slab-PAGE patterns among them, whereas no marked differences are found in these three indices in human intestinal ascaris, human biliary ascaris and pig ascaris.     

Influence of Chemical Oxygen Demand Concentrations on Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation by Granular Sludge From EGSB Reactor

INTRODUCTION The phenomenon of anaerobic ammonium oxidation was originally discovered in a denitrifying fluidized-bed reactor treating effluent from a methanogenic reactor in the 1990s[1]. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) process is a strictly anaerobic denitrification process, in which ANAMMOX autotrophic bacteria directly oxidize ammonium to dinitrogen gas using nitrite as electron acceptor. In recent years, the anammox process has received great attention and lots of researc…     

Proteasome Inhibitors Sensitize Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to TRAIL

A poptosis, an evolutionarily conserved form of cell suicide, oc- curs in two physiological stages: commitment and execution.[1] It has been found that several Bcl-2 family proteins are located in the outer mitochondrial membrane, where they control relea…     

Clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei （PM） infection. Methods A total of 12 patients with AIDS complicated with disseminated PM infection were collected and the symptoms, signs, laboratory examination results and image manifestations of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results （1） The diagnosis of PM infection in all the 12 cases were confirmed by peripheral blood culture. All the 12 cases （100%） had irregular fever （38-41℃） and enlarged lymph nodes, 8 cases （66%） had skin rashes; 8 cases （66%） had hepatomegaly; 9 cases （75%） had splenomegaly while 8 cases （66%） had anemia. （2） Imaging manifestation： Five cases manifested bilateral pulmonary disseminated miliary nodular shadows or lattice signs; 1 case showed enlarged hilar lymph node and 2 cases showed patchy shadow with pleuritis. One case presented sub-pleural curve line shadow at the posterior part of the right lower lung, and adhesion between the intestinal wall and intestinal mesentery in mass form in the abdomen by CT examination. Conclusion Patients suffering from AIDS （CD4 T lymphocytes 〈50/μ L） with impaired immunity might be susceptible to complication of disseminated PM infection, which presents mainly damage of multiple organs and symptoms such as fever; enlargement of liver, spleen and lymph nodes, as well as specific skin maculopapular rashes. Imaging manifestations in the lungs were revealed as miliary nodular shadows and lattice-like shadows. Intensified abdominal CT might reveal presence of several enlarged postperitoneal lymph nodes and intestinal adhesion in shape of ＂cakes＂.