Activation of P2X4 receptors in midbrain cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus leads to mechanical hyperalgesia in chronic constriction injury rats.

Neuropathic pain is a refractory pain state, and its mechanism is still not clear. Previous studies have shown that the purine receptor P2X4R expressed on hyperactive microglia in the spinal cord is essential for the occurrence and development of neuropathic pain. The cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus (CSF-contacting nucleus) in the midbrain has been found to play an important role in the descending inhibition system of modulation. However, there have been no studies on P2X4R in the CSF-contacting nucleus involved in neuropathic pain. To investigate whether P2X4R is expressed in the CSF-contacting nucleus and whether its expression in the CSF-contacting nucleus is involved in the regulation of neuropathic pain, we used a model of chronic sciatic nerve ligation injury (CCI) to simulate neuropathic pain conditions. Immunohistochemistry experiments were conducted to identify the expression of P2X4R in the CSF-contacting nuclei in CCI rats, and western blot analysis showed a significant increase in P2X4R levels 7 days after modeling. Then, we packaged a P2rx4 gene-targeting shRNA in scAAV9 to knock down the P2X4R level in the CSF-contacting nucleus, and we found that CCI-induced mechanical hyperalgesia was reversed. In conclusion, P2X4R expressed in the CSF-contacting nucleus is involved in the process of neuropathic pain, and downregulating P2X4R protein in the CSF-contacting nucleus can reverse the occurrence and development of hyperalgesia, which could represent a potent therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain.

Microscopic Interface and Multiscale Failure Analysis of Proposed Molecular Chain Polymers Based on Aifantis Strain Gradient Theory.

A study on the microscopic morphology of real-world polymer blends and its mechanism of change showed that the microscopic morphology of equiproportional mixtures gradually changed from a dense body structure to a network structure with the addition of the total polymer concentration up to 20%; the microscopic morphology of mixtures with different proportions was characterized by the most uniform network structure of equiproportional mixtures when the total polymer concentration was 20%. The polymer acts as a defoamer in the mixed system. In this paper, the relationship between the microscopic morphology of each mixture and the physicochemical behavior of the two polymer chains in the mixed system was investigated on the basis of the Aifantis strain gradient theory. Molecular polymer microscopic interface and multiscale failure analysis are proposed. It is shown that for the dihedral angle distribution of four consecutive coarse-grained particles, the peaks obtained from all atomic-scale simulation data are reproduced in the coarse-grained model simulations. The deviation is within 2.5% in most places, except for the local area where the deviation exceeds 5%. Therefore, we have achieved good results for large-scale failures.

[Medicated plaster at Dazhui (GV 14) for preventing perioperative hypothermia in patients undergoing PKRP and ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the preventive effect of medicated plaster at Dazhui (GV 14) on preventing perioperative hypothermia in patients undergoing plasmakinetic resection of prostate (PKRP) and ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. METHODS: A total of 300 patients with ASA gradeⅠorⅡreceiving ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy or PKRP under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 150 cases in each group. The patients in the control group received routine heat preservation measures, while on the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with medicated plaster at Dazhui (GV 14) 30 min before operation. The temperature (ear temperature), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) at each time point (resting state before operation, 5, 10 min into operation, at the end of operation, 5 and 10 min after operation) were recorded; the number of hypothermia, the classification of postoperative shivering degree, operation time, propofol dosage, intraoperative infusion volume and intraoperative flushing fluid volume were recorded. RESULTS: The temperature at 5 and 10 min into operation as well as at the end of operation in the two groups was all lower than that before operation and at previous time point (P<0.01). The temperature at 5 and 10 min after operation in the two groups was all higher than that at previous time point (P<0.01), but still lower than that before operation (P<0.01). The temperature at 10 min into operation, at the end of operation, 5 and 10 min after operation in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The total incidence rate of hypothermia in the observation group was 2.0% (3/150), which was significantly lower than 13.3% (20/150) in the control group (P<0.01). The total incidence rate of shivering was 18.0% (27/150) in the observation group and 28.7% (43/150) in the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The medicated plaster at Dazhui (GV 14) can effectively prevent perioperative hypothermia and improve comfort in patients undergoing PKRP and ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.

Pretreatment with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to prevent postoperative ileus in patients undergoing laparoscopic colon surgery: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative ileus (POI), a common complication after surgery, severely affects postoperative recovery. It is unclear whether pretreatment with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) can improve recovery from POI. This trial will evaluate the effects of pretreatment with TEAS on POI. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This will be a prospective, randomised controlled trial. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-III level patients, aged 18-75 years and scheduled for laparoscopic colon surgery, will be included in the study. It is planned that 146 subjects will be randomised to the TEAS and sham TEAS (STEAS) groups. The groups will undergo two sessions of TEAS/STEAS daily for 3 days before surgery, with a final TEAS/STEAS treatment 30 min before anaesthesia. The primary endpoint of the study will be time to first defaecation. Secondary endpoints will include time to first flatus, time to tolerance of oral diet, GI-2 (composite outcome of time to first defaecation and time to tolerance of oral diet), time to independent walking, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain Visual Analogue Scale score on the first 3 days after surgery, analgesic requirements, complications and plasma concentrations of interferon-ß (IFN-ß), IFN-γ, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1ß. Multiple linear regression will be used to identify independent predictors of outcome measures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Chinese Registered Clinical Trial Ethics Review Committee (No. ChiECRCT-20170084). The results of the trial will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR-INR-17013184). TRIAL STATUS: The study was in the recruitment phase at the time of manuscript submission.

A comparison of the transillumination-assisted technique versus midline approach technique in novices: a prospective randomized controlled trial about the Bonfils intubation fiberscope.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy for novices to conduct intubation with the Bonfils intubation fiberscope (BIF) using the transillumination-assisted or midline approach technique in patients with normal airways. METHODS: In this prospective randomized control study, 10 trainees were assigned to the transillumination-assisted technique group (T group) or the midline approach technique group (R group). Each trainee was required to conduct intubation in 50 patients. The primary outcome was intubation time. The secondary outcomes were success rate (%), number of attempts, and complications. RESULTS: Among the cases of successful intubation, the intubation time was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The overall success rate of intubation was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The intubation success rates at the first, second, and third attempts as well as the average intubation times were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05), but in patients receiving successful intubation at the second attempt, the intubation time was longer in the T group (P = 0.0006). The incidences of dry throat, sore throat, and hoarseness were higher in the T group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with a normal airway, the transillumination-assisted technique was unlikely to increase the success rate of intubation with the BIF compared with the midline approach technique, but led to more complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-INR-16009967 , retrospectively registered on November 22, 2016.

[Efficacy on analgesia with electric stimulation of long-term retaining needle after laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of electric stimulation of long-term retaining needle on analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and the impacts on the post-surgical flatus time. METHODS: Under static absorptive composite general anesthesia, 90 cases of LC were randomized into three groups, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, the analgesia was not applied after LC. In the analgesia-pumper group, the patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was used. In the needle-retaining group, the electric acupuncture stimulator was used. The needles were inserted transversely at Riyue (GB 24), Qichong (ST 30) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) and fixed with sterile sticker. Separately, in 8 h and 24 h after surgery, the electric acupuncture stimulation with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz frequency was applied continuously for 30 min. Visual analogue scale (VAS), adverse reactions such as vomiting and nausea and the postoperative flatus time in 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 36 h after surgery were observed and recorded in the three groups. RESULTS: In 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after surgery, VAS scores in the needle-retaining group and the analgesia-pumper group were all lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The analgesia effect at the above time points in the needle-retaining group was better than that in the analgesia-pumper group (all P < 0.05). There was not adverse reaction in the needle-retaining group. But there were 3 cases of somnolence, 6 cases of nausea and 3 cases of vomiting in the analgesia-pumper group, and 2 cases of nausea and 1 case of vomiting in the control group. The flatus time was quite earlier in the needle-retaining group as compared with the other two groups [(14.77 +/- 4.99) h vs (18.50 +/- 4.22) h, P < 0.01; (14.77 +/- 4.99) h vs (18.17 +/- 4.69) h, P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: The electric stimulation of long-term retaining needle is safe and effective in analgesia after LC. It avoids the adverse reactions of analgesics and promotes postoperative flatus.