Effect of propofol on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase receptor B in the hippocampus of aged rats with chronic cerebral ischemia

We intraperitoneally injected 10 and 50 mg/kg of propofol for 7 consecutive days to treat a rat model of chronic cerebral ischemia. A low-dose of propofol promoted the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine kinase receptor B, phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein, and cAMP in the hippocampus of aged rats with chronic cerebral ischemia, but a high-dose of propofol inhibited their expression. Results indicated that the protective effect of propofol against cerebral ischemia in aged rats is related to changes in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase receptor B in the hippocampus, and that the cAMP-cAMP responsive element binding protein pathway is involved in the regulatory effect of propofol on brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.

Effect of propofol on the reactivity of acetylcholinesterase,N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors,and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors in the hippocampus of aged rats after chronic cerebral ischemia

We induced ischemic brain injury in aging rats to examine the effects of varying doses of propofol on hippocampal activities of acetylcholinesterase, N-methyI-D-aspartate receptors, and y-aminobutyric acid receptors. Propofol exhibited no obvious impact on acetylcholinesterase activity, but directly activated the y-aminobutyric acid receptor. The neuroprotective function of propofol on the hippocampus of aging rats following cerebral ischemic injury may be related to altered activities of y-aminobutyric acid receptors and N-methyI-D-aspartate receptors.

Translocator protein ligand, YL-IPA08, attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior by promoting neural regeneration

Translocator protein has received attention for its involvement in the pathogenesis of depression. This study assessed the effects of the new translocator protein ligand, YL-IPA08, on alleviating inflammation-induced depression-like behavior in mice and investigated its mechanism of action. Mice were intracerebroventricularly injected with 1, 10, 100 or 1000 ng lipopolysaccharide. The tail-suspension test and the forced swimming test confirmed that 100 ng lipopolysaccharide induced depression-like behavior. A mouse model was then established by intraventricular injection of 100 ng lipopolysaccharide. On days 16-24 after model establishment, mice were intragastrically administered 3 mg/kg YL-IPA08 daily. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine BrdU and NeuN expression in the hippocampus. YL-IPA08 effectively reversed the depression-like behavior of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice, restored body mass, increased the number of BrdU-positive cells, and the number and proportion of BrdU and NeuN double-positive cells. These findings indicate that YL-IPA08 can attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior in mice by promoting the formation of hippocampal neurons.

Anterior bone loss after cervical disc replacement: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Anterior bone loss(ABL)is a relatively easily neglected condition after cervical disc replacement(CDR).Whether this phenomenon is a radiological anomaly or a complication remains controversial.Several studies have reported the clinical characteristics of ABL and speculated on the pathogenic mechanism based on a certain type of artificial disc,while the overall understanding of ABL is lacking.AIM To describe the prevalence,impacts,and risk factors of ABL after CDR.METHODS We searched the PubMed,Cochrane Library,and Excerpta Medica databases using the terms“bone loss”or“bone remodeling”or“bone absorption”or“osteolysis”or“implant loosening”or“implant migration”or“hypersensitivity”or“hyperreactivity”,“cervical disc replacement”or“cervical disc arthroplasty”or“total disc replacement”.Eligible manuscripts on the prevalence and impacts of ABL were reviewed by the authors.Data extraction was performed using an established extraction form.The results of the included studies were described narratively.RESULTS Six studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.One was a prospective study and the others were retrospective studies.A total of 440 patients with 536 segments were included.The artificial cervical discs included Bryan,Baguera-C,Discocerv,and Mobi-C.The prevalence of ABL ranged from 3.13%to 91.89%,with a combined overall prevalence of 41.84%.ABL occurred within 6 mo and stopped 12 mo after surgery.Several cases were noted to have a self-healing process.Severe ABL resulted in segmental kyphosis,implant subsidence,and persistent neck pain.ABL may be related to heterotopic ossification.Multilevel surgery may be one of the risk factors for ABL.CONCLUSION ABL is a common condition after CDR.The underlying mechanisms of ABL may include stress concentration and injury to nutrient vessels.ABL should be considered a complication after CDR as it was associated with neck pain,implant subsidence,and heterotopic ossification.

Propofol increases in vitro proliferation of cultured rat hippocampal precursor cells inhibited by corticosterone

BACKGROUND： Previous studies have shown that propofol enhances proliferation of cultured hippocampal precursor cells in vitro and increases proliferation of cultured hippocampal precursor cells inhibited by corticosterone. Because gamma-aminobutyric acid A （GABA-A） receptor is the functional target for propofol, the proliferative effects of propofol are thought to take place through GABA-A receptor. OBJECTIVE： To determine whether propofol enhances proliferation of rat hippocampal precursor cells inhibited by corticosterone by upregulating expression of GABA-A receptor. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A comparative, observational, in vitro experiment was performed at the Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology from April 2005 to April 2006. MATERIALS： Propofol was purchased from AstraZeneca, italy; corticosterone was purchased from Sigma, USA; bicuculline was purchased from Alexis, Switzerland. METHODS： Hippocampal precursor cells were isolated from newborn Wistar rats and cultured in vitro. The second passage of precursor cells was grouped according to the various drugs added to the culture medium： 0.5 μmol/L propofol; 2.5 pmol/L propofol; 100 μmol/L corticosterone; 10 μmol/L bicuculline; 100 μmol/L corticosterone and 0.5 μmol/L propofol; 100 μmol/L corticosterone and 2.5 μmol/L propofol; 100 μmol/L corticosterone, 10 μmol/L bicuculline, and 0.5 μmol/L propofol; 100 μmol/L corticosterone, 10 μmol/L bicuculline, and 2.5 μmol/L propofol; 100 μmol/L corticosterone and 10 pmol/L bicuculline. The cells were cultured for 24 hours with medium containing the respective concentration of drug. The control group consisted of precursor cells absent of drug treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The MTT and ^3H-TdR incorporation assays were used to detect proliferative effects of propofol and bicuculline on cultured rat hippocampal precursor cells inhibited by corticosterone. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect GABA-A receptor expression. Enzyme-linked irnmunosorbent assay was used to quantify GABA-A receptor expression. RESULTS： Propofol, at a concentration of 0.5 and 2.5 μmol/L, increased proliferation of cultured rat hippocampal precursor cells inhibited by corticosterone, while bicuculline antagonized the effects of propofol （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01 ）. Corticosterone （100μmol/L） decreased expression of GABA-A receptor in the hippocampal precursor cells （P〈 0.05）, and GABA-A receptor expression was upregulated when propofol （2.5μmol/L） was added to the culture medium （P〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Low concentrations of propofol increased expression of GABA-A receptor. These results suggest that GABA-A receptor is involved in increased proliferation of cortisone-inhibited rat hippocampal precursor cells in vitro.

Anatomic relationship of the internal jugular vein and the common carotid artery in Chinese people

Background Variations in position and relationship between the internal jugular vein （IJV） and the common carotid artery （CCA） may lead to inadvertent artery puncture which could be disastrous during central venous access. We demonstrated the anatomic relationship of the IJV with CCA in order to find the optimal site and avoid damage of CCA. Methods Two hundred and twenty surgical patients were enrolled. We analyzed the distance and relationship between the IJV and CCA at three cross sections （upper border of the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and second tracheal ring） by ultrasonography and then measured the diameters of the IJV and CCA and the distances from the IJV and CCA to the skin. Results Twenty patients were excluded on the basis of exclusion criteria. From up to down at bilateral neck, the IJV became gradually more superficial while the CCA became deeper. The diameter of the IJV became gradually larger while that of the CCA gradually smaller. The IJV from lateral to the CCA gradually moved to the front of the CCA, so the percent overlap of the IJV and CCA was gradually increased. Compared with the left side at the same transverse scan level, the distance between the CCA and IJV was wider at the right side and the right IJV was wider. The IJV location in 11 patients was medial to the CCA at one or more transverse scan levels. The angle between the IJV and CCA was significantly small in elderly patients. The CCA had already furcated at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage in seven patients at the right side and in 12 patients at the left side. Conclusions There are variations in the position and relationship between the IJV and CCA. It is relatively more difficult to puncture at the left side of the neck, at a lower position or in elderly patients. On the contrary, it is relatively easier to puncture at the right side, at the level of the cricoid cartilage or in younger patients.

Dopaminergic Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental–Prelimbic Pathway Promote the Emergence of Rats from Sevoflurane Anesthesia

Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area(VTA)play an important role in cognition,emergence from anesthesia,reward,and aversion,and their projection to the cortex is a crucial part of the"bottom-up"ascending activating system.The prelimbic cortex(PrL)is one of the important projection regions of the VTA.However,the roles of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA and the VTADA–PrL pathway under sevoflurane anesthesia in rats remain unclear.In this study,we found that intraperitoneal injection and local microinjection of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist(Chloro-APB)into the PrL had an emergence-promoting effect on sevoflurane anesthesia in rats,while injection of a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist(SCH23390)deepened anesthesia.The results of chemogenetics combined with microinjection and optogenetics showed that activating the VTADA–PrL pathway prolonged the induction time and shortened the emergence time of anesthesia.These results demonstrate that the dopaminergic system in the VTA has an emergence-promoting effect and that the bottom-up VTADA–PrL pathway facilitates emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia.

Space between the titanium plate of zero-profile cage and endplate of the vertebral body might affect the fusion process in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

To the Editor:Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion(ACDF)is a"gold standard"for patients with spondylotic myelopathy when conservative treatments fail.[1]A zeroprofile,standalone device(Zero P;Synthes GmbH,Zuchwil,Switzerland)is more popular than the traditional plate and cage for ACDF.[2]Yun et al[3]showed that the insertion point of Zero-P in the intervertebral disc space might be an important factor for maintenance of anterior disc height.However,no consensus exists regarding the position related to better clinical and radiological results.

Incidence and outcomes of anterior bone loss in single-level Prestige LP cervical disc replacement

To the Editor:Total cervical disc replacement(TDR)has been widely used to treat cervical degenerative disc diseases(CDDD).However,implant-related complications,including implant migration,implant subsidence,heterotopic ossification(HO),and anterior bone loss(ABL),have been reported by many studies.ABL has received more attention in recent years;however,this phenomenon has been recognized only in cervical artificial discs without keels,including Bryan,Baguera-C,Discocerv,and Mobi-C.[1,2,3,4,5,6]Therefore,the first aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of ABL in a keeled artificial disc,the Prestige-LP cervical disc system(Medtronic Sofamor Danek Inc.,Memphis,TN,USA).

Modified one-cut circumcision technique by clamp： reports of 2000 cases

In the western countries, circumcision has been .performed for a long time. However, because of religious and cultural differences, circumcision was rare in China before the 20th century. As a result, penile cancer, accounting for 17% of all cancers, was more common.With the introduction of western medicine in the 1920s, especially after the establishment of urology as a separate department, gradually more circumcisions were carried out.

Routinely placing drainage tube in patients with anterior cervical surgery:is it really necessary?

With the acceleration of the aging and change of work and living habits across the world,cervical spondylopathy has become more prevalent,bringing enormous economic burden and medical cost pressure to both societies and governments.1 At present,conservative treatment is usually used in the early stages of the condition whilst surgical intervention is employed to treat patients with severe radicular symptoms and spinal cord compression.