The ultrasound-guided selective nerve block in the upper arm: an approach of retaining the motor function in elbow.

BACKGROUND: Proximal brachial plexus blocks can lead to an extended period of motor paralysis and delay the return of motor function. This could influence patient satisfaction, and extend hospitalizations. The aim of the study is to compare a selective distal nerve block of the arm to a proximal axillary block, both ultrasound-guided, in terms of their motor block intensity of the elbow. Our hypothesis is that a selective nerve block of the arm would result in a different motor block of the elbow, compared to the axillary block. METHODS: A sample size of 24 patients who were undergoing elective surgery (ASA I-III) of the wrist, hand or forearm was randomly divided into two groups: Arm Group (n = 12) and Axillary Group (n = 12). The Arm Group received ultrasound-guided block of the median, ulnar, and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerves at the level of upper-median 1/3 of the arm, and a block of the radial and musculocutaneous nerves at the level of low-median 1/3 of the arm, while the Axillary Group received ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus blocks. Both blocks used in combination with general anesthesia. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the incidence of motor block at the elbow in the Arm Group was lower than in the Axillary Group. Compared with the Axillary Group, the duration of motor block at the elbow and the onset time of sensory block in the Arm Group were shortened. The patient satisfaction was increased in the Arm Group. There were no differences in the duration of the sensory block, the effect on postoperative analgesia, or in the duration of the motor block at the shoulder between both groups. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that ultrasound-guided selective nerve block in the upper arm allowed improved retention of motor function at the elbow compared to axillary block. Secondarily, the ultrasound-guided selective nerve block seemed to provide similar analgesia after surgery of the hand or forearm with an enhanced patient satisfaction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-16008769 . Registered 3 July 2016.

Cholesterol of lipid rafts is a key determinant for entry and post-entry control of porcine rotavirus infection.

BACKGROUND: Lipid rafts are major structural components in plasma membranes that play critical roles in many biological processes including virus infection. However, few reports have described the relationship between lipid rafts and porcine rotavirus (PRV) infection. In this study, we investigated whether or not the locally high concentrations (3-5 fold) of cholesterol present in lipid rafts are required for PRV infection, and further examined which stages of the infection process are most affected. RESULTS: When cellular cholesterol was depleted by methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD), PRV infectivity significantly declined in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition was partially reversed upon reintroduction of cholesterol into the system. This was corroborated by the co-localization of PRV with a recombinant, GPI-anchored green fluorescent protein, which functioned as a marker for membranous regions high in cholesterol and indicative of lipid rafts. Changes in virus titer and western blot analyses indicated that depletion of cellular cholesterol with MßCD had no apparent effect on PRV adsorption; however, depletion of cholesterol significantly restricted entry and post-entry of PRV into the cell. Both points of inhibition were restored to near normal levels by the addition of exogenous cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude from these studies that membrane-based cholesterol and in particular that localized to lipid rafts, is an indispensable biomolecule for PRV infection, and that cholesterol-based control of the infection process takes place during entry and immediately post-entry into the cell.

Lipid emulsion mitigates impaired pulmonary function induced by limb I/R in rats through attenuation of local cellular injury and the subsequent systemic inflammatory response/inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Limb ischemia/reperfusion causes inflammation and elicits oxidative stress that may lead to local tissue damage and remote organ such as lung injury. This study investigates pulmonary function after limb ischemia/reperfusion and the protective effect of a lipid emulsion (Intralipid). METHODS: Twenty-four rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group (group S), ischemia/reperfusion group (group IR), and lipid emulsion treatment group (group LE). limb ischemia/reperfusion was induced through occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta for 3 h. The microvascular clamp was removed carefully and reperfusion was provided for 3 h. RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure in group LE was higher than group IR during the reperfusion period (P = 0.024). The heart rate of both group LE and IR are significantly higher than group S during the ischemia period(P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). The arterial oxygen pressure of group LE was significantly higher than group IR (P = 0.003), the arterial carbon dioxide pressure of group LE were lower than that of group IR (P = 0.005). The concentration of plasma interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde in group LE were significantly lower than group IR (P < 0.001, P = 0.009 and 0.029, respectively). The plasma superoxide dismutase activity in group LE was significantly higher than group IR (P = 0.029). The myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissues of group LE was significantly less than group IR (P = 0.046). Both muscle and lung in group IR were damaged seriously, whereas lipid emulsion (Intralipid) effectively reversed the damage. In summary, Intralipid administration resulted in several beneficial effects as compared to group IR, such as the pulmonary gas exchange and inflammatory. CONCLUSIONS: The ischemic/reperfusion injury of limb muscles with resultant inflammatory damage to lung tissue can be mitigated by administration of a lipid emulsion (Intralipid, 20%, 5 ml/kg). The mechanisms attenuating such a physiological may be attributed to reduction of the degree of limb injury through a decrease in the release of local inflammatory mediators, a reduction of lipid peroxidation, and a blunting of the subsequent remote inflammatory response.

Immune responses of mice immunized by DNA plasmids encoding PCV2 ORF 2 gene, porcine IL-15 or the both.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is associated with many kinds of diseases including postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). It affects the immune system of swine and causes huge epidemic losses every year. In our previous study, we provided evidence that DNA plasmid bearing porcine IL-15 (pVAX-pIL-15) might serve as an immune enhancer for DNA plasmid encoding porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus GP5 gene. In this study, PCV2 open reading frame (ORF)2 gene was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX, resulting in the plasmid pVAX-PCV2-ORF2. Transient expression of the plasmid in BHK-21 cells could be detected using immunofluorescence assay. Experimental mice were divided into 5 groups and immunized with PBS, pVAX, pVAX-pIL-15, pVAX-PCV2-ORF2 or pVAX-pIL-15 plus pVAX-PCV2-ORF2. The results showed that the mice co-inoculated with pVAX-PCV2-ORF2 plus pVAX-pIL-15 had higher humoral and cellular immune responses than the others. In addition, DNA plasmid bearing PCV2 ORF2 gene had a protective effect against challenge with PCV2 in mice which could be promoted with the utilization of pIL-15.

Monoclonal antibody against membrane protein of transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is a porcine coronavirus that can cause piglet diarrhea with high mortality rates. TGEV membrane (M) protein not only plays a vital role in the process of virus assembly and budding, but also induces the production of interferon-α during infection. In this study, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) designated 7G7, against the TGEV M protein was generated by inoculating BALB/c mice with TGEV followed by hybridoma technique. Immunofluorescence assays indicated that MAb 7G7 was capable of detecting cell infection by TGEV. Virus-based ELISA demonstrated that MAb 7G7 can be used as a highly specific diagnostic reagent for TGEV.

A monoclonal antibody against transmissible gastroenteritis virus generated via immunization of a DNA plasmid bearing TGEV S1 gene.

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is a member of the coronaviruses. The viral spike (S) protein of TGEV mediates interaction between TGEV and its susceptible cells. Herein, DNA plasmid bearing TGEV S1 gene (the N terminal half of TGEV S gene) was used to immunize BALB/c mice followed by generation of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) using the hybridoma technique. The generated MAb (1H4) was identified by ELISA. Immunofluorescence assays showed that MAb 1H4 was able to detect infection of cells with TGEV. The MAb 1H4 distinguished TGEV from other control viruses. Additionally, although the type of MAb 1H4 was IgM, it could reduce cell infection by TGEV in a dose-dependent manner.

Development of porcine rotavirus vp6 protein based ELISA for differentiation of this virus and other viruses.

BACKGROUND: The context and purpose of the study included 1) bacterial expression of viral protein 6 (VP6) of porcine rotavirus (PRV) and generation of rabbit polyclonal antiserum to the VP6 protein; 3) establishment of a discrimination ELISA to distinguish PRV from a panel of other porcine viruses. RESULTS: The VP6 gene of PRV isolate DN30209 amplified by reverse transcription-PCR was 1356 bp containing a complete open reading frame (ORF) encoding 397 amino acids. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis indicated that PRV DN30209 may belong to group A of rotavirus. Bacterially expressed VP6 was expressed in E.coli and anti-VP6 antibody was capable of distinguishing PRV from Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus, Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, Porcine circovirus type II, Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Porcine pseudorabies virus and Porcine parvovirus. CONCLUSIONS: PRV VP6 expressed in E. coli can be used to generate antibodies in rabbit; anti-VP6 serum antibody can be used as good diagnostic reagents for detection of PRV.

Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 12-(aryloxyacyloxyimino)-1,15-pentadecanlactone derivatives.

A series of novel 12-(aryloxyacyloxyimino)-1,15-pentadecanlactone derivatives (3) were synthesized, and their structures including configuration of C=N bond were confirmed by (1)H NMR, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. The bioassay showed that some of them exhibited excellent herbicidal activity against Amaranthus tricolor L. The activity of compounds 3 except compounds 3A1-2 was much higher than the commercial herbicide 2,4-D and the activity of about half of compounds 3 was comparable to the commercial herbicide tribenuron-methyl. The further bioassay showed that the representative of compounds 3, 3A1-12, exhibited excellent herbicidal activity not only against dicotyledon, such as Amaranthus tricolor L., Cucumis sativus L., Glycine max L., and Phaseolus radiatus L., but also against monocotyledon, such as Zea mays L. and Oryza sativa L.

Design, synthesis, and fungicidal activity of macrolactones and macrolactams with a sulfonamide side chain.

Four series of novel macrolactones and macrolactams12-alkylsulfonamido-1,15-pentadecanlactones ( 5), 12-alkylsulfonamido-15-methyl-1,15-pentadecanlactones ( 6), 12-alkylsulfonamido-1,15-pentadecanlactams ( 7), and N-(alkylsulfonamidoethyl)-1,12-dodecanlactams ( 8)were designed and synthesized from readily available 2-nitrocyclododecanone or cyclododecanone. Their structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. The bioassay showed that these compounds displayed fair to excellent fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and have a gradual increase of fungicidal activity in the order of 6, 7, 8, and 5. Among them, compounds 5a, 5b, and 5c displayed excellent fungicidal activity against R. solani comparable with the commercial fungicide carbendazim. Above results illustrated that the rule on the relationship between the activity and hydrogen-bonding, namely the macrocyclic compounds with a hydrogen-bonding acceptor and a hydrogen-bonding donor on the ring and having a three methylenes distance between two polarizable groups have the best fungicidal activity against R. solani, has a general suitability to the macrocyclic compounds, and pesticide molecules may combine with a target enzyme by hydrogen-bonding. The facts, which compound 6 has a much lower fungicidal activity against R. solani than compound 5 but their difference in chemical structure is only that there is a methyl group on the C15 for compound 6 and none but hydrogen atom on the C15 for compound 5, indicated that a methyl group plays an inhibitory role to the fungicidal activity. It suggests that the existence of a methyl group with a great volume between two polarizable groups would interfere in the interaction of pesticide molecules and the target enzyme.

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of macrolactams and macrolactones with an oxime ether side chain.

Three series of novel macrolactams and macrolactones--12-alkoxyimino-tetradecanlactam, 12-alkoxyiminopentadecanlactam, and 12-alkoxyiminodecanlactone derivatives (7A, 7B, and 7C)--were synthesized from corresponding 12-oxomacrolactams and 12-oxomacrolactone. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The Z and E isomers of 7A and 7B were separated, and their configurations were determined by 1H NMR. These compounds showed fair to excellent fungicidal activities against Rhizoctonia solani Kühn. It is interesting that the Z and E isomers of most of the compounds have quite different fungicidal activities. The fact that the compounds have a gradual increase of fungicidal activity in the order of 7A, 7C, and 7B indicated that the macrocyclic derivatives with a hydrogen-bonding acceptor (=N-O-) and a hydrogen-bonding donor (-CONH-) on the ring, and a three methylenes distance (CH2CH2CH2) between these two functional groups, exhibited the best fungicidal activity. The bioassay also showed that 7B not only has good fungicidal activity but also may have a broad spectrum of fungicidal activities.