Risk factors for death in elderly patients admitted to intensive care unit after elective abdominal surgery: a consecutive 5-year retrospective study / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate the risk factors that were associated with the death of elderly patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after elective abdominal surgery, and to find reliable and sensitive predictive indicators for early interventions and reducing the mortality.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinical data of elderly (age≥65 years old) patients after elective abdominal surgery admitted to the ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January 1st 2016 to December 31st 2020 were collected, including the patient's gender, age, body mass index (BMI), medical history, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades, surgical classification, intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, interval time between end of operation and admission to the ICU, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score and the worst laboratory examination results within 24 hours of ICU admission, the first blood gas analysis in ICU, the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, and the length of ICU stay. Postoperative abdominal infection was evaluated by the pathogenic culture of peritoneal drainage fluid and clinical symptoms and signs. The patients were divided into death group and survival group based on clinical outcomes, and clinical data were compared between the two groups. Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of death, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to analyze the predictive values of these risk factors.Results:A total of 226 elderly patients with elective abdominal surgery were admitted to the ICU of our hospital during the past 5 years, of whom, two patients who did not undergo laboratory examinations within 24 hours of admission to the ICU were excluded. Finally, 224 patients met the criteria, with 158 survivors and 66 deaths. Univariate analysis showed that: compared with survival group, APACHEⅡscore, blood lactate acid (Lac) and the proportion of postoperative abdominal infection were higher in death group [APACHEⅡ score: 27.5 (25.0, 31.3) vs. 23.0 (18.0, 27.0), Lac (mmol/L): 2.9 (1.8, 6.6) vs. 1.8 (1.1, 2.8), the proportion of postoperative abdominal infection: 65.2% (43/66) vs. 35.4% (56/158), all P < 0.01], prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and interval time between end of surgery and admission to ICU were longer [PT (s): 17.20 (14.50, 18.63) vs. 14.65 (13.90, 16.23), APTT (s): 45.15 (38.68, 55.15) vs. 39.45 (36.40, 45.70), interval time between end of surgery and admission to ICU (hours): 39.2 (0.7, 128.9) vs. 0.7 (0.3, 2.0), all P <0.01], postoperative hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PLT), prealbumin (PA), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) were lower in death group [Hb (g/L): 95.79±23.64 vs. 105.58±19.82, PLT (×10 9/L): 138.5 (101.0, 177.5) vs. 160.5 (118.5, 232.3), PA (g/L): 80.88±43.63 vs. 116.54±50.80, MAP (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 76.8±19.1 vs. 91.6±19.8, PaO 2/FiO 2 (mmHg): 180.0 (123.5, 242.5) vs. 223.5 (174.8, 310.0), all P < 0.05]. Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHEⅡscore [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.187, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) =1.008-1.294, P < 0.001], interval time between end of operation and admission to ICU ( OR = 1.005, 95% CI = 1.001-1.009, P = 0.016) and postoperative abdominal infection ( OR = 2.630, 95% CI = 1.148-6.024, P = 0.022) were independent risk factors for prognosis in these patients. MAP ( OR = 0.978, 95% CI = 0.957-0.999, P = 0.041) and PaO 2/FiO 2 ( OR = 0.994, 95% CI = 0.990-0.998, P = 0.003) were protective factors for the patients' prognosis. Lac, Hb, PLT, PA, PT and APTT had no predictive value for the prognosis of elderly patients admitted to ICU after elective abdominal surgery [ OR value and 95% CI were 1.075 (0.945-1.223), 1.011 (0.99-1.032), 1.000 (0.995-1.005), 0.998 (0.989-1.007), 1.051 (0.927-1.192) and 1.003 (0.991-1.016), respectively, all P > 0.05. ROC curve analysis showed that APACHEⅡscore, interval time between end of operation and admission to the ICU and the postoperative abdominal infection had certain predictive values for the prognosis of elderly patients, the area under ROC curve (AUC) were 0.755, 0.732 and 0.649 respectively, all P < 0.001; When the cut-off of APACHEⅡscore and interval time between end of operation and admission to the ICU were 24.5 scores and 2.15 hours, the sensitivity were 78.8% and 66.7%, respectively, and the specificity were 62.0% and 76.6%, respectively. The combined predictive value of the three variables was the highest, which AUC was 0.846, the joint prediction probability was 0.27, the sensitivity was 83.3%, and the specificity was 75.3%. Conclusion:APACHEⅡscore, interval time between end of surgery and admission to ICU, and postoperative abdominal infection may be independent risk factors for the death of elderly patients who were admitted to the ICU after elective abdominal surgery, there would be far greater predictive values when the three variables were combined.

Meta-analysis and trials sequential analysis for the efficacy and safety of low- and medium-dose glucocorticoids in adult acute respiratory distress syndrome patients / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of low- and medium-dose of glucocorticoids in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) through Meta-analysis and trials sequential analysis (TSA).Methods:Databases associated with adult ARDS treatment with low- and medium-dose glucocorticoids both in English and in Chinese were searched from PubMed, Medline, China Biology Medicine (CBM), Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP, of which the search duration was from the establishment of the database to December 2020. Low-dose glucocorticoids were defined as methylprednisolone ≤ 1 mg·kg -1·d -1, and medium dose glucocorticoids were defined as methylprednisolone ≤ 2 mg·kg -1·d -1. According to the Cochrane Collaboration bias risk assessment tool, the quality of the included literature was evaluated, and the data were extracted. Meta-analysis and TSA were used to evaluate the effects of low- and medium-dose glucocorticoids on the hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, and mechanical ventilation free time in ICU for 28 days, PaO 2/FiO 2, and the occurrence of nosocomial infections and hyperglycemia. Results:A total of 996 patients in 7 literatures were finally included, including 515 patients in the low- and medium-dose glucocorticoid group (hormone group) and 481 patients in the conventional treatment group (control group). The research quality of 7 literatures was relatively high. The results of Meta-analysis and TSA showed that, compared with the control group, the hospital mortality in the hormone group was significantly decreased [relative risk ( RR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.66-0.89, P = 0.000 6], and mechanical ventilation free time in ICU for 28 days was significantly prolonged [standardized mean difference ( SMD) = 0.50, 95% CI was 0.36-0.65, P < 0.000 1]. Although Meta-analysis showed that the ICU mortality of the hormone group was significantly lower than that of the control group ( RR = 0.61, 95% CI was 0.38-0.99, P = 0.04), the TSA results showed that the cumulative Z value crossed the traditional threshold, but did not cross the TSA cut-off value, and the sample size did not reach required information size (RIS, n = 3 252), needed more research to confirm. Although Meta-analysis showed that PaO 2/FiO 2 in the hormone group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( SMD = 0.78, 95% CI was 0.13-1.43, P = 0.02), TSA showed that the cumulative Z value did not pass the traditional and TSA cut-off values. More research was needed for verification. Meta-analysis also showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence of new infection ( RR = 0.93, 95% CI was 0.74-1.17, P = 0.54) and the incidence of hyperglycemia ( RR = 1.11, 95% CI was 1.00-1.23, P = 0.05) between the hormone group and the control group. Conclusion:low- and medium-dose of glucocorticoids therapy can reduce the hospital mortality of adult ARDS patients and shorten the mechanical ventilation duration in ICU for 28 days, and low- and medium-dose of glucocorticoids therapy does not increase the risk of infection and hyperglycemia.

Evaluation of hepatoprotective effects of different extracts in root of Gardenia jasminoides based on partial least squares method and multi-attribute comprehensive index method / 中草药

Objective To compare the hepatoprotective effects of different extracts in root of Gardenia jasminoides including ethanol extract, petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate, chloroform extract, n-butanol extract, and surplus water extract on the jaundice hepatitis mice by the partial least squares (PLS) method and multi index comprehensive evaluation method. Methods Setting up two groups of high and low doses (9 and 3 g/kg) in different extraction sites in root of G. jasminoides respectively, and administered to the stomach for 7 d. Copying a icteric hepatitis model of mice by alpha naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) in 5th d. Then, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartic transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) activity were determinated in serum and liver, and pathological changes were observed in mouse liver by HE stain, total hepatoprotective effect of the different extracts in root of G. jasminoides was compared by PLS and multi index comprehensive evaluation method. Results In addition to the high dose group of petroleum ether and low dose group of chloroform, the different extracts in root of G. jasminoides were improved on some indexes or multiple indicators to an extent and compared with the model group, the pathological damage of liver tissue was alleviated obviously, multi index comprehensive evaluation showed that the high dose group of ethyl acetatein root of G. jasminoides had the best hepatoprotective effect. Conclusion The ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract in root of G. jasminoides have better inhibitory effect on icteric hepatitis, and the high dose group of ethyl acetate has the best effect, which may be the active site of liver protection, and mechanism may be related to improving the ability of eliminating oxygen free radical, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing bile bilirubin metabolism and secretion.

Comparison of chemical constituents in different parts of Gardenia jasminoides based on multiple wavelength HPLC-DAD / 中国中药杂志

Seven compounds(deacetylasperulasidic acid methyl ester, gardenoside, chlorogenic acid, geniposide, crocin-Ⅰ, crocin-Ⅱ, chikusetsu saponin Ⅳa)were determined simultaneously by multiple wavelength HPLC with diode array detector(DAD) in different parts of Gardenia jasminoides. The results showed that these components in different parts of G. jasminoides had a different distribution, and there was a large difference in content of each component. Geniposide was mainly distributed in fruits and leaves; chikusetsu saponin Ⅳa was mainly distributed in roots and stems; crocus glycosides existed mainly in fruits; chlorogenic acid had a higher distribution in leaves and stems; gardenoside had a higher distribution in leaves and roots, while ceacetylasperulasidic acid methyl ester had a higher distribution in roots and stems. Based on the analysis of the chemical composition and content difference in different parts of G. jasminoides, the basis for the comprehensive utilization and quality evaluation of resources of G. jasminoides was provided.

Abbreviated MRI Protocols for Detecting Breast Cancer in Women with Dense Breasts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of two abbreviated protocols (AP) of MRI in breast cancer screening of dense breast tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study in 356 participants with dense breast tissue and negative mammography results. The study was approved by the Nanjing Medical University Ethics Committee. Patients were imaged with a full diagnostic protocol (FDP) of MRI. Two APs (AP-1 consisting of the first post-contrast subtracted [FAST] and maximum-intensity projection [MIP] images, and AP-2 consisting of AP-1 combined with diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI]) and FDP images were analyzed separately, and the sensitivities and specificities of breast cancer detection were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 356 women, 67 lesions were detected in 67 women (18.8%) by standard MR protocol, and histological examination revealed 14 malignant lesions and 53 benign lesions. The average interpretation time of AP-1 and AP-2 were 37 seconds and 54 seconds, respectively, while the average interpretation time of the FDP was 3 minutes and 25 seconds. The sensitivities of the AP-1, AP-2, and FDP were 92.9, 100, and 100%, respectively, and the specificities of the three MR protocols were 86.5, 95.0, and 96.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference among the three MR protocols in the diagnosis of breast cancer (p > 0.05). However, the specificity of AP-1 was significantly lower than that of AP-2 (p = 0.031) and FDP (p = 0.035), while there was no difference between AP-2 and FDP (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The AP may be efficient in the breast cancer screening of dense breast tissue. FAST and MIP images combined with DWI of MRI are helpful to improve the specificity of breast cancer detection.

Study on commercial specification of Gardenia jasminoides / 中国中药杂志

Collecting different commodity grade Gardenia jasminoides of wild and cultivated varieties all over the country, obtaining color information from each batch of G. jasminoides by the standard D65 light source and image acquisition system, quantifing the gardenia plumpness information by the digital display vernier caliper, determinating 6 kinds of effective components of G. jasminoides by HPLC, classifing from ten indicators by two step clustering analysis and correspondence analysis method of statistics, clearing the importance of the traditional identification indexes, establishing multiple corresponding relation between the skin color and commercial specification of G. jasminoides,exploring the correlation of the skin color and chemical composition, to provide the reference for the reasonable division of commercial specifications and grades of G. jasminoides. Medicine is divided into two classes and has obvious distinguish meaning, The importance of the skin color is greater than the plumpness in traditional identification characteristics, it can accurately distinguish the specifications of G. jasminoides. We improve and rebuild the standard of commodity specifications and grades of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and establish the rapid evaluation method by the study, it provide a new way and idea for the comprehensive evaluation of G. jasminoides quality.

Adrenomedullin promotes cell-cell contact formation of podocytes through regulating Rho GTPases / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of adrenomedullin (AM) on the cell-cell contact formation of podocytes and the possible mechanism.Methods Podocytes were treated with AM (10-7 mol/L),AM combined with a PKA inhibitor H89 (10-4 mol/L),and forskolin (10-5 mol/L) as positive control respectively for 12 hours.Immunofluorescent staining was applied to observe the distribution of cell adhesion molecules and actin-associated proteins.Western blotting assay was used to assess their protein levels.Rho GTPases activity was analyzed by GST-pull down assay and their protein levels were tested by Western blotting.Results AM induced the redistribution of adhesion molecules,actin-associated proteins as well as the F-actin at cell-cell contacts between podocytes.This effect was similar to that of forskolin and could be blocked by H89.The levels of those proteins did not change significantly (P ＞ 0.05).AM up-regulated the activities of RhoA,Rac1 and Cdc42 (P ＜ 0.05),which were partially blocked by H89.The protein levels of Rho GTPases showed no difference compared with the control (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions AM may promote cell-cell contact formation of podocytes,probably through enhancing the activity of Rho GTPases and then resulting in the redistribution of adhesion molecules,actin-associated proteins and F-actin,which is partially mediated through cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

Distribution of both HBsAg and HBsAb negative adults in Mianyang, Sichuan province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the distribution of both HBsAg and HBsAb negative adults in Mianyang, Sichuan province, and provide evidences for the development of adult immunization policy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2013 to April 2014, a total of 200 929 people aged ≥15 years were selected in Mianyang through stratified cluster random sampling to conduct an interview with standard questionnaire. The blood samples were collected from them for the detection of HBsAg and HBsAb with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the people surveyed, 13 903 were HBsAg positive (7.0%), 93 763 were HBsAb positive (46.6%), and 93 122 were both HBsAg and HBsAb negative (46.3%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb in females (47.1%) was higher than that in males (45.4%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb increased with age. The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was highest in people aged ≥65 years (50.3%) and lowest in people aged 15-24 years (42.9%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was highest in farmers (51.1%) and lowest in medical workers (24.1%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was highest in the widowed (51.1%) and lowest in the unmarried (41.6%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was lower in people with family history of hepatitis B (36.5%) than in people without family history of hepatitis B (46.6%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb in Han ethnic group was lower (46.3%) than that in Qiang ethnic group (53.1%), but higher than that in other ethnic groups (43.9%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was higher in rural area (48.9%) than in urban area (43.0%). The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was lower in people who had received hepatitis B immunization (43.7%) than in people who had received no hepatitis B immunization (47.3%). The differences were all statistical significant (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The negative rate of both HBsAg and HBsAb was 46.3% in people aged ≥15 years in Mianyang. General population are susceptible to hepatitis B virus infection. It is necessary to develop and implement appropriate hepatitis B immunization strategy for local adult population.</p>

Risk factors for schizophrenia patients with type 2 diabetes: a metaanalysis / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate risk factors for schizophrenia patients with complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and management of this disease.@*METHODS@#Relevant studies on schizophrenia with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China were searched through PubMed, Medline, CBM, CNKI and VIP from 1997 to 2014. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 soft ware.@*RESULTS@#A total of 26 studies involving 6 373 participants (including 957 cases and 5 416 controls) were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the risk factors for schizophrenic patients with complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus were: gender (female) (OR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.09-1.50), age (≥ 40 year) (OR=6.02, 95%CI: 4.48-8.09), overweight (OR=2.32, 95%CI: 1.52-2.88), family history of diabetes (OR=6.12, 95%CI: 3.16-11.86), duration of schizophrenia (>10 years) (OR=3.60, 95%CI: 2.39-5.41), triglycerides (MD=0.38, 95%CI: 0.05-0.71).@*CONCLUSION@#Male, old age, overweight, family history of diabetes, longer duration and high level of triglycerides are risk factors for schizophrenic patients with complication of diabetes mellitus.

Studies on chemical constituents from fresh pineneedles of Pinus massoniana / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the fresh pineneedles of Pinus massoniana. Methods: Certain chromatography means were used in the isolation and purification, and the structures of all the compounds were identified by means of spectroscopic analysis and physicochemical properties. Results: Fourteen compounds were elucidated respectively as (+)-catechin (1), (+)-gallcatechin (2), phlorin (3), tachioside (4), 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-1- O-(3-O-methyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-1→2-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), citrusin D (7), (6S,7E,9R)-roseoside (8), raspberry ketone- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), (-)-oplopan-4-one-10-α-O-β-D-glucose (10), massonianoside D (11), massonianoside B (12), isolariciresinol-9'-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (13), and (2R,3R)-taxifolin-3'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14). Conclusion: Compounds 2-6, and 10 are isolated from the plants of Pinus L. for the first time, and compounds 7-9 are obtained from P. massoniana for the first time.

Effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia (VaD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three VaD patients were divided into three groups. Those willing to be randomized were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture (random acupuncture group, 24 cases) or rehabilitation training (guided rehabilitation group, 24 cases) for 6 weeks. Those unwilling to be randomized also received acupuncture for 6 weeks (non-random acupuncture group, 19 cases). Patient syndromes and their severity were evaluated before treatment (baseline), at the end of treatment, and at 4-week follow-up after the completion of treatment using a CM scoring system (scale of differentiation of syndromes of vascular dementia, SDSVD). The SDSVD scores of the random and non-random acupuncture groups, and of all patients who received acupuncture (combined acupuncture group, 43 cases), were compared with those in the guided rehabilitation group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the random, non-random, and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment and at follow-up than at baseline. In the guided rehabilitation group, SDSVD scores were similar to baseline scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up. However, there were no significant differences in SDSVD scores among the three groups or between the combined acupuncture group and the guided rehabilitation group at any time points. In the non-random and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment than at baseline in patients with hyperactivity of Liver (Gan)-yang or phlegm obstruction of the orifices.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acupuncture reduced the severity of VaD. The improvement was the greatest in patients undergoing their treatment of choice. Treatments in this study were more effective for excess syndromes, such as Liver-yang hyperactivity or phlegm obstruction of the orifices than deficiency syndromes, such as Kidney (Shen)-essence deficiency.</p>

Effects of qingyi II granules on intestinal bacterial translocation in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects and mechanism of Qingyi II Granules (QYG) on the bacterial translocation in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized equally into 3 groups, the sham-operated group (A), the ANP model group (B) and the treated group (C). Rats in Group B and C were established into ANP model by retrograde injection of 30 g/L sodium taurocholate into pancreatobiliary duct. QYG was administered, beginning from 1 h after modeling, for three times (every 6 h) per day via intragastric infusion to Group C in dose of 10 mL/kg (250 g/L), while to the other two groups, equal volume of saline was infused instead. All animals were sacrificed 24 h after modeling. The contents in mesenteric lymph nodes and distant sites (liver, spleen, pancreas) were taken for bacterial culture and strain identification, the expression of high mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1) mRNA in ileal tissue was assayed by real-time PCR; the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were determined by ELISA; the wet/ dry ratio of ileum was measured; and the pathologic features of pancreas and ileum were examined respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Group B, evident pathological injury in pancreas and ileum was shown, expression of Hmgb1 mRNA up-regulated, levels of NO and ET-1 in ileum tissues increased to 1.67 +/- 0.21 micromol/L and 102.18 +/- 9.19 ng/L respectively, and the bacterial counts in the mesenteric lymph nodes and distant sites increased significantly. Compared with Group B, the level of NO and ET-1 reduced to 1.39 +/- 0.23 micromol/L and 83.15 +/- 5.39 ng/L, respectively in Group C, with all the above-mentioned abnormal changes alleviated significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Levels of Hmgb1, NO and ET-1 might play important roles in the ANP model rats with intestinal bacterial translocation. QYG shows effects on preventing the intestinal bacterial translocation by way of down-regulate the Hmgb1 mRNA expression, lowering the concentration of NO and ET, and ameliorating the injury of pancreatic and ileum tissues.</p>

Influence of Electroacupuncture at Acupoints Zusanli(ST 36)and Taichong(LR3) with Different Frequencies on Rats Swimming Endurance / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the influence of electroacupuncture with different frequencies on rats swimming endurance and sift out the optimal frequency parameter.Methods: Wistar rats were randomly allocated to control group, non-acupoint group and electroacupuncture with low frequency group (EA with 2 Hz group), electroacupuncture with medium frequency group (EA with 15 Hz group), and electroacupuncture with high frequency group (EA with 100 Hz group), acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3) were punctured and rats load swimming time was used as an index, and the change of swimming endurance time before and after acupuncture was observed. Results: After electro-acupuncture, swimming time was increased in 15 Hz and 100 Hz groups respectively, with the significant differences between before and after acupuncture (P＜0.05). There was also a significant difference in the percentage of increase in swimming time between 15 Hz group and other groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion: It is suggested that electroacupuncture at acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3) with a frequency of 15 Hz could enhance rats's swimming endurance, and 15 Hz might be an optimal frequency parameter during the electrical stimulation.

Comparison of base substitutions in response to nitrogen ion implantation and 60Co-gamma ray irradiation in Escherichia coli

To identify the specificity of base substitutions, a novel experimental system was established based on rifampicin-resistant (Rif r) mutant screening and sequencing of the defined region of the rpoB gene in E. coli. We focused on comparing mutational spectra of base substitutions induced by either low energy nitrogen ion beam implantation or 60Co-gamma rays. The most significant difference in the frequency of specific kinds of mutations induced by low energy nitrogen ion beam was that CG -> TA transitions were significantly increased from 32 to 46, AT -> TA transversions were doubled from 7 to 15 in 50 mutants, respectively. The preferential base substitutions induced by nitrogen ion beam implantation were CG -> TA transitions, AT -> GC transitions, AT -> TA transversions, which account for 92.13 percent (82/89) of the total. The mutations induced by 60Co-gamma rays were preferentially GC -> AT and AT -> GC transitions, which totaled 84.31 percent (43/51).