EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA ON PLASMA CATECHOLAMINE CONTENT IN CHOLECYSTECTOMY PATIENTS

Objective: To observe changes of plasma catecholamine (CA) level in patients experiencing cholecystectomy under acupuncture anesthesia combined with epidural administration of small dose of anesthetics. Methods: 33 cholecystectomy patients were randomly divided into acupuncture combined with epidural anesthesia (A) group (n=11), acupoint skin electrical stimulation combined with epidural anesthesia (B) group (n=11) and simple epidural anesthesia (C) group (n=11). Acupoints used were bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) and stimulated with parameters of frequency 2/15 Hz, intermittent waves, electric current 2～3 mA for group A and 13mA for group B. Extradural anesthetic administered was 1.5% Lidocaine 5 mL. Venous blood samples were collected one day before, during and 3 days after operation for detecting plasma NE, E and DA contents. Results: ① During operation, plasma NE of group A and B lowered in comparison with pre operation, particularly group A (P<0.01), while in group C, plasma NE level increased slightly; plasma E of group A and B increased significantly compared with pre operation (P< 0.01). Plasma DA in the 3 groups all raised during operation. ② Three days after operation, plasma NE, E and DA levels recovered basically in comparison with those of one day before operation. It indicates that acupuncture or acupoint skin electrical stimulation is capable of regulating sympathetic activity during epidural anesthesia. The anesthetic effect has a closer relation with changes of plasma NE level rather than changes of plasma E or DA levels. Conclusion: Acupuncture or acupoint surface electrical stimulation combined with epidural anesthesia may be of reducing or releasing surgical operation generated stress response during cholecystectomy.

Design and implementation of the galvanometer scanning system for reflectance confocal and stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

We report on two strategies to design and implement the galvanometer-based laser-scanning mechanisms for the realization of reflectance confocal microscopy(RCM) and stimulated Raman scattering(SRS) microscopy systems. The RCM system uses a resonant galvanometer scanner driven by a home-built field-programmable gate array circuit with a novel dual-trigger mode and a home-built high-speed data acquisition card. The SRS system uses linear galvanometers with commercially available modules. We demonstrate video-rate high-resolution imaging at 11 frames per second of in vivo human skin with the RCM system and label-free biomolecular imaging of cancer cells with the SRS system. A comparison of the two strategies for controlling galvanometer scanners provides scientific and technical reference for future design and commercialization of various laser-scanning microscopes using galvanometers.