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Bupivacaine is a common local anesthetic that causes neurotoxicity when used at clinical concentrations. Melatonin (MT), is a potent neuroprotective molecule. The study aimed to characterize the neuroprotective effects of MT on spinal neurotoxicity induced by bupivacaine in rats. It showed that bupivacaine, by intrathecal injection, induced spinal injury, and that the protein levels of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cleaved caspase-1, and the N-terminal region of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N) were significantly increased. NLRP3 was expressed mainly in neurons and microglia. MT treatment ameliorated bupivacaine-induced spinal cord injury in rats by suppressing activation of neuronal NLRP3 inflammasomes.

Background: This case-control study, conducted in 2012, was performed to determine if MMWT, a non invasive therapeutic treatment modality, could reduce postoperative pain and infection in patients who had abdominal sections. Methods: The study group (30 patients) incision sites were exposed to MMWT within 24 hour of cesarean and the control group (90 patients) was not exposed to MMWT. Millimeter wave apparatus with intensity of 38 GHz and power flux output density of 40 mW/cm 2 was used for subjecting the cesarean incision site to MMWT. The first exposure to MMWT was done for 30 minutes within 24 hour of cesarean section. In total, they were exposed for 30 minutes daily for 3 days. Wound healing was assessed every day. Results: Pain intensity score in the exposure group reduced significantly compared to the control group. The mean pain intensity score of the study group on the 3rd postoperative day was 3.3±1.8 (95% CI 2.6-3.9) compared to 4.2±1.6 (95% CI 3.8-4.5) of the control group (P< 0.01). Pain reduction rate on day 3 was significantly higher than day 1 in the study group compared to the control group (P = 0.0024). Routine white blood cell (WBC) count was significantly lower in the MMWT treated patients (11.3±1.8×10 9 ; 95% CI 10.6-12) compared to the control group (12.3±2.9×10 9 ; 95% CI 11.7-12.9)(P

Based on a new process-based model, TRIPLEX-GHG, this paper analyzed the spatio-temporal variations of natural wetland CH4 emissions over China under different future climate change scenarios. When natural wetland distributions were fixed, the amount of CH4 emissions from natural wetland ecosystem over China would increase by 32.0%, 55.3% and 90.8% by the end of 21st century under three representative concentration pathways (RCPs) scenarios, RCP2. 6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively, compared with the current level. Southern China would have higher CH4 emissions compared to that from central and northern China. Besides, there would be relatively low emission fluxes in western China while relatively high emission fluxes in eastern China. Spatially, the areas with relatively high CH4 emission fluxes would be concentrated in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Northeast and the coasts of the Pearl River. In the future, most natural wetlands would emit more CH4 for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 than that of 2005. However, under RCP2.6 scenario, the increasing trend would be curbed and CH4 emissions (especially from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau) begin to decrease in the late 21st century.

To investigate the inhibitory effect of artesunate on human endometrial carcinoma RL95-2 cell line proliferation in vitro and the possible mechanisms.The inhibitory effect of artesunate on the cell proliferation was assessed with MTT assay. Transmission electron miscrosopy was used to observe the morphological change of the cells after the treatment. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the changes in the cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (with DCFH-DA labeling) and mitochondrial membrane potential (rhodamine123 staining), and caspase-3 activity was detected by immunohistochemistry.Artesunate inhibited the proliferation of RL95-2 cells with an IC(50) of 26.29 microg/ml. Transmission electron microscopy revealed early apoptotic changes of the cells with obvious chromatin fragmentation. The cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1) phase was observed by flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated caspase-3 positivity in cytoplasm. ROS generation in the cells increased obviously after treatment with artesunate for 72 h, which also resulted in lowered mitochondrial membrane potential.Artesunate suppressed the proliferation of RL95-2 cells in vitro possibly by inducing cell apoptosis.

To investigate the changes in heme oxygenase (HO) system expression in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and the influence to the pulmonary artery blood pressure as a result of the changes.In 23 healthy adult male dogs, autologous thrombus was injected through the jugular vein to reproduce the PTE model. They were divided randomly into 4 groups: A (pulmonary embolism 3 hours group), B (pulmonary embolism 8 hours group), C (pulmonary embolism 24 hours group) and D (control group). Swan-Ganz catheter was placed via the femoral vein to observe the changes in hemodynamics. Pulmonary artery was obtained to detect the expression of HO-1 using semi-quantity reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical method.The pulmonary artery mean pressure (PAMP), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) of the experimental groups were increased obviously after the pulmonary embolism as compared with those of before the embolism (all P0.05), and were decreased obviously 1 hour after the embolism (all P0.05). The decrease was gradual and stopped after 4-5 hours, but the pressure 8 hours after embolism was still higher than that of before embolism. HO-1 was not expressed in pulmonary artery in control group, but expressed after embolism in each experimental group. The expression was increased gradually after pulmonary embolism, and it was remarkable 24 hours after embolism (all P0.05).The expression of HO-1 increased in PTE, and the increased pulmonary artery blood pressure decreased at the same time. The results suggest that HO-1 is related with dilatation of pulmonary artery after PTE.

AIM: To evaluate the killing effects of CDDP, 5-Fu and VCR on human hepaoma cell line (7721). METHODS: The median-effect principle was used. RESULTS: Killing effects of the individual drug were enhanced as the median concentration increased. Antagonism was produced when two drugs were used at a higher concentration (CI > 1), and synergism was achiened when CI < 1. Finally, the effect was influenced by both the ratios of drug concentration and the sequence of administration. CONCLUSION: The drug administration order and drug concentrations are significant factors that need to be considered in clinical practice.