Corrosion casts as a method for investigation of the insect tracheal system

Summary The tracheal systems of five insect species (two species of ants, worker bee, housefly and the cabbage butterfly) have been studied by scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts. This technique, which is commonly used for the investigation of vertebrate vasculature, is adapted to demonstrate the ultrastructure of the insect respiratory organ. The problem of filling a blind ending system was solved by injecting the resin Mercox into the evacuated tracheae through a thoracal spiracle. After polymerization of the resin, the tissue was digested enzymatically and chemically. The three-dimensional structure of the tracheal system was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The technique used here displays for the first time the complex morphology of the entire tracheal system in fine detail, especially the structure of spiracles, airsacs, tracheae and tracheoles. Smooth-walled terminal tracheoles show up in flight muscles. The finest tracheoles that could be identified have diameters of approximately 70 nm. This approaches the finest tracheoles portrayed by transmission electron micrographs.     

Calcium mobilization and muscle contraction induced by acetylcholine in swine trachealis

The roles of Ca²⁺ mobilization in development of tension induced by acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1–100 µM) in swine tracheal smooth muscle strips were studied. Under control conditions, ACh induced a transient increase in free cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) that declined to a steady-state level. The peak increase in [Ca²⁺]_i correlated with the magnitude of tension at each [ACh] after a single exposure to ACh, while the steady-state [Ca²⁺]_i did not. Removal of extracellular Ca²⁺ had little effect on peak [Ca²⁺]_i but greatly reduced steady-state increases in [Ca²⁺]_i and tension. Verapamil inhibited steady-state [Ca²⁺]_i only at [ACh]<1 µM. After depletion of internal Ca²⁺ stores by 10 min exposure to ACh in Ca²⁺-free solution and then washout of ACh for 5 min in Ca²⁺-free solution, simultaneous re-exposure to ACh in the presence of 2.5 mM Ca²⁺ increased [Ca²⁺]_i to the control steady-state level without overshoot. The tension attained was the same as control for each [ACh] used. Continuous exposure to successively increasing [ACh] (0.1–100 µM) also reduced the overshoot of [Ca²⁺]_i at 10 and 100 µM ACh, yet tension reached control levels at each [ACh] used. We conclude that the steady-state increase in [Ca²⁺]_i is necessary for tension maintenance and is dependent on Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels at 0.1 µM ACh and through a verapamil-insensitive pathway at 10 and 100 µM. The initial transient increase in calcium arises from intracellular stores and is correlated with the magnitude of tension only in muscles that have completely recovered from previous exposure to agonists.     

可视软性喉镜与光棒在颈椎损伤手术患者全身麻醉气管插管中的应用效果比较

目的:比较可视软性喉镜与光棒用于颈椎损伤手术患者全身麻醉气管插管的有效性与安全性。方法:选择2017年1月至2019年2月本院60例高位颈椎骨折需行气管插管全身麻醉的患者,随机分为可视软性喉镜组(U组)和光棒组(G组)各30例。术前所有患者颈托固定,U组使用UE可视软性喉镜行气管插管,G组使用光棒行气管插管,确认气管插管成功后接呼吸机机械通气。比较两组气管插管时间、一次性插管成功率、拔管后口咽部并发症、插管前后的皮层体感诱发电位(CSEP)及运动诱发电位(MMEP)的变化。记录两组患者麻醉前、麻醉诱导后、气管插管后即刻、气管插管后1 min、气管插管后3 min的平均动脉压(MAP)和心率(HR)。结果:U组气管插管时间较G组插管时间长(P0.05);U组和G组气管插管一次性成功率分别为95%和100%;插管后即刻G组患者MAP升高较U明显(P0.05);与U组比较,G组插管后即刻及插管后1 min、3 min的HR升高较明显(P0.05);U组患者口咽部并发症较G组少;两组患者插管后SSEP及MMEP与插管前相比无阳性改变。结论:可视软性喉镜较光棒需要更长的气管插管时间,两者的气管插管一次性成功率均较高,但可视软性喉镜插管期间循环波动较小、术后口咽部并发症较轻,值得临床推广应用。     

超声引导下QLB复合气管插管全麻对于老年患者TEP腹股沟疝无张力修补术影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨与分析超声引导下腰方肌阻滞(quadratus lumborum block,QLB)复合气管插管全麻对于老年患者腹腔镜下全腹膜外（totally extraperitoneal prosthetic,TEP）腹股沟疝无张力修补术的影响,以促进该方法的临床使用。方法：2014年9月到2020年6月选择在本院诊治的腹股沟疝老年患者180例,根据随机数字表法分为QLB组与对照组各90例。所有患者都给予腹腔镜下全腹膜外腹股沟疝无张力修补术,对照组给予气管插管全麻,QLB组在对照组麻醉的基础上给予超声引导下QLB,记录两组镇痛与麻醉效果。结果：两组的术中出血量、手术时间等对比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),QLB组的术后住院时间、术后胃肠功能恢复时间、术后下床活动时间显著短于对照组(P<0.05)。与术后12 h对比,两组术后24 h与36 h的疼痛VAS评分均降低(P<0.05),且QLB组术后12 h、24 h与36 h的疼痛VAS评分都显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。QLB组术后7 d的血肿、呼吸抑制、脏器损伤、腹股沟区包块等并发症发生率为8.9 %,显著低于对照组的21.1 %(P<0.05)。QLB组的瑞芬太尼用量、术后48 h内有效按压自控静脉镇痛泵次数、自控静脉镇痛泵累计用量都显著少于对照组(P<0.05)。结论：超声引导下QLB复合气管插管全麻在老年患者腹腔镜下全腹膜外腹股沟疝无张力修补术中的应用能提高镇痛与麻醉效果,减少术后并发症的发生,有利于促进患者康复。     

Coupling of M3 Acetylcholine Receptor to Gq16 Activates a Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Guanylyl Cyclase

Muscarinic activation of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) involves a M₃AChR/heterotrimeric-G protein/NPR-GC coupling mechanism. G protein activators Mastoparan (MAS) and Mastoparan-7 stimulated 4- and 10-fold the NPR-GC respectively, being insensitive to PTX and antibodies against Gα_i/o subfamily. Muscarinic and MAS stimulation of NPR-GC was blocked by antibodies against C-terminal of Gα_q16, whose expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. However, synthetic peptides from C-terminal of Gα_q15/16 stimulated the NPR-GC. Coupling of α_q16 to M₃AChR is supported by MAS decreased [³H]QNB binding, being abolished after M₃AChR-4-DAMP-alkylation. Anti-i₃M₃AChR antibodies blocked the muscarinic activation of NPR-GC, and synthetic peptide from i₃M₃AChR (M₃P) was more potent than MAS increasing GTPγ [³⁵S] and decreasing the [³H]QNB activities. Coupling between NPR-GC and Gα_q16 was evaluated by using trypsin-solubilized-fraction from TSM membranes, which displayed a MAS-sensitive-NPR-GC activity, being immunoprecipitated with anti-Gα_q16, also showing an immunoreactive heterotrimeric-G-β -subunit. These data support the existence of a novel transducing cascade, involving Gα_q16β γ coupling M₃AChR to NPR-GC.     

全凭静脉麻醉期间右美托咪定对靶控输注丙泊酚用量及血流动力学的影响

目的：探讨右关托咪定（dexmedetomidine,DEX）对行全凭静脉麻醉患者靶控输注（target controlled infusion,TCI）丙泊酚用量及拔管期间血流动力学的影响。方法：选择拟于全麻下行经鼻蝶窦垂体瘤切除术的患者30例（ASA I～II级）,随机分为两组,每组15例。试验组（D组）给予DEX负荷剂量0．5μg·kg-1,注药时间15rain,继以0．3μg·kg-1·h-1持续输注至修补硬膜时;对照纽（N组）在相同时间给予等容量生理盐水。两组麻醉诱导方法相同,术中以脑电双频指数（bispectral index,BIS）为麻醉深度监测指标,根据BIS值调节丙泊酚血浆靶浓度维持麻醉。记录拔管期间收缩压（SBP）、舒张压（DBP）和心率（HR）,并计算心肌氧耗指数（RPP）;记录丙泊酚平均用量、用药前后BIS值、呼吸恢复时间、睁眼时间、拔管时间及术中不良反应。结果：①D组给予负荷剂量后,BIS值由（95±3）降至（77±11）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。②与N组相比,D组丙泊酚用量减少28％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。⑧拔管期间SBP、DBP和HR与入室时比较,D组无明显变化,N组HR显著升高（P〈0．05）;D组拔管期间SBP、DBP、HR和RPP明显低于N组（P〈0．05）;④两组患者呼吸恢复时间、睁眼时间及拔管时间差异均无统计学意义;⑤两组不良反应（心动过缓、高血压、低血压）的发生率无显著性差异。结论：术中持续静脉输注DEX可减少TCI丙泊酚用量,能使BIS值进一步降低,产生良好镇静效应;同时可有效减轻拔管期间循环变化,降低RPP,减少心肌耗氧量,提高拔管质量。     

An Improved Method for Rapid Intubation of the Trachea in Mice

Despite some anatomical and physiological differences, mouse models continue to be an essential tool for studying human lung disease. Bleomycin toxicity is a commonly used model to study both acute lung injury and fibrosis, and multiple methods have been developed for administering bleomycin (and other toxic agents) into the lungs. However, many of these approaches, such as transtracheal instillation, have inherent drawbacks, including the need for strong anesthetics and survival surgery. This paper reports a quick, reproducible method of intratracheal intubation that involves mild inhaled anesthesia, visualization of the trachea, and the use of a surrogate spirometer to confirm exposure. As a proof of concept, 8-12 week old C57BL/6 mice were administered either 2.0 U/kg of bleomycin or an equivalent volume of PBS, and both damage and fibrotic endpoints were measured post-exposure. This procedure allows researchers to treat a large cohort of mice in a relatively short period with little expense and minimal post-procedure care.     

动脉插管化疗配合膀胱灌注治疗复发性、多发性、表浅性膀胱癌

目的:探讨腹壁下动脉插管化疗(inferior-epigastric artery chemotherapy,IAC)配合吡柔比星(THP)膀胱灌注治疗复发性、多发性和表浅性膀胱癌的疗效。方法:对12例复发性、多发性和表浅性膀胱移行细胞癌患者术后行腹壁下动脉插管化疗3个疗程后,开始行吡柔比星膀胱灌注,每次30 mg,每周1次共12次,以后每2周1次共6次,以后每月1次共6次,第二年重复,第三年每月一次。定期膀胱镜检查,进行随访。结果:12例复发性、多发性、浅表性膀胱移行细胞癌患者,术后随访时间24-48个月,肿瘤复发1例,复发率8.3%。不良反应主要为术后小膀胱,尿路刺激症状和尿常规异常。结论:腹壁下动脉插管化疗配合吡柔比星膀胱灌注治疗复发性、多发性和表浅性膀胱癌的效果明确,疗效满意,患者耐受性好,值得临床推广应用。     

Extraction and reconstitution of calponin and consequent contractile ability in permeabilized smooth muscle fibers

We demonstrate reduction and restoration of contractile ability in response to protein extraction and reconstitution in Triton X-100/glycerol-permeabilized smooth muscle fibers. Through significant reduction in the content of caldesmon (CaD), calponin (CaP), and the 20-kDa regulatory light chain (RLC) of myosin, but not other contractile proteins in "chemically skinned" fibers, we substantially reduced the contractile ability of these fibers, as measured by their ability to generate isometric force and to hydrolyze ATP by actomyosin Mg2+ ATPase. When the protein-depleted fibers were then reconstituted (either with a mixture of purified protein standards of CaD, CaP, and myosin RLC or with a protein extract from the demembranized muscle fibers containing CaD, CaP, and myosin RLC plus several low-molecular-mass proteins), all proteins used for reincorporation returned nearly to control levels, as did isometric force generation and rate of ATP hydrolysis. The fact that the low-molecular-mass proteins do not affect contractility in this model system indicates that our methods for reversible modulation of the content of CaP and CaD may provide a valuable tool for studying the thin-filament-based regulation of contractility.     

Protease-activated receptor-2-mediated Ca2+ signaling in guinea pig tracheal epithelial cells

The protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), a G protein-coupled receptor activated by trypsin, contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease including asthma. Here, we examined the mechanisms by which stimulation of PAR-2 induces an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in guinea pig tracheal epithelial cells. Trypsin (0.01-3 units/ml) dose-dependently induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i, the increase being blocked by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI 1 microM). An increase in [Ca2+]i was also induced by an agonist peptide for PAR-2 (SLIGRL-NH2, 0.001-10 microM) but not by thrombin (3 units/ml, an activator for PAR-1, PAR-3 or PAR-4). Repeated or cross stimulation of trypsin or SLIGRL-NH2 caused marked desensitization of the [Ca2+]i response. These responses of [Ca2+]i to trypsin and SLIGRL-NH2 were attenuated by a phospholipase C inhibitor, U-73122, and a Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin (100 nM), while removal of Ca2+ and a L-type Ca2+-channel blocker, verapamil, were without significant effects. Further, trypsin was without effect on the rate of fura 2 quenching by Mn2+ entry as an indicator of Ca2+ influx. Thus, stimulation of PAR-2 appears to increase [Ca2+]i through the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores probably via phospholipase Cbeta-linked generation of a second messenger.