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Background: Coptis chinensis Franch. (CCF) is a Traditional Chinese medicine known for its good anti-cancer effects. However, the bioactive compounds and mechanisms underlying its anti-colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains unclear. Objectives: This study aims to reveal the bioactive compounds and mechanism of CCF against COAD by utilizing bioinformatics, molecular docking simulation and in vitro experiments. Materials and Methods: Bioactive compounds and candidate targets of CCF against COAD were collected using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database, Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Gene Cards, and SwissTargetPrediction databases, respectively. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID (v2022q3) database. The "Compounds-Targets-Pathways" (C-T-P) and "Protein-Protein Interaction" (PPI) networks were constructed using Cytoscape (v3.8.0) to identify the hub targets. AutoDock Vina (v1.2.0), UNLCAN, TCGA, MTT, plate cloning, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays were used to confirm the results. Results: The "C-T-P" and "PPI" networks revealed three hub targets: checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), polo like kinase 1 (PLK1), and aurora kinase B (AURKB). Molecular docking simulation results showed that berberine, a candidate bioactive compound of CCF, had high affinity with the hub targets, comparable to that of positive drugs. Both CCF ethanol extracts and berberine significantly down-regulated CHEK1, PLK1, and AURKB, inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HCT-116 cells. Conclusion: To summarize, CCF inhibits COAD by down-regulating CHEK1, PLK1, and AURKB, with berberine as its primary bioactive compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authenticity has long been held as a virtue. However, is it beneficial for employees to be true to themselves in coworker interactions? Drawing on social penetration theory, we argue that a focal employee's exhibited authenticity at work helps the employee penetrate the interpersonal boundaries of an interacting coworker and as a result, the employee is more likely to be included in this coworker's social circles and receive help from the coworker. Accordingly, we propose a dyadic-level model and test this model in two survey studies using a round-robin design. The results of both studies consistently demonstrated that the focal employee's exhibited authenticity is positively related to help received from the coworker via inclusion in the coworker's social circle. Further, this positive indirect relationship is moderated by the coworker's perception of organizational politics, such that the relationship is weaker when the coworker's perception of organizational politics is high. These findings help advance the understanding of when and how employees can gain relational benefits from displaying authenticity at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: It is reported that inflammation- and nutrition-related indicators have a prognostic impact on multiple cancers. Here we aimed to identify a prognostic nomogram model for prediction of overall survival (OS) in surgical patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Methods: The retrospective data of 172 TSCC patients were charted from the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College between 2008 and 2019. A Cox regression analysis was performed to determine prognostic factors to establish a nomogram and predict OS. The predictive accuracy of the model was analyzed by the calibration curves and the concordance index (C-index). The difference of OS was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: Multivariate analysis showed age, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, red blood cell, platelets, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were independent prognostic factors for OS, which were used to build the prognostic nomogram model. The C-index of the model for OS was 0.794 (95% CI = 0.729-0.860), which was higher than that of TNM stage 0.685 (95% CI = 0.605-0.765). In addition, decision curve analysis also showed the nomogram model had improved predictive accuracy and discriminatory performance for OS, compared to the TNM stage. According to the prognostic model risk score, patients in the high-risk subgroup had a lower 5-year OS rate than that in a low-risk subgroup (23% vs 49%, P <.0001). Conclusions: The nomogram model based on clinicopathological features inflammation- and nutrition-related indicators represents a promising tool that might complement the TNM stage in the prognosis of TSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed to investigate the role of long non-coding RNA 630 (LINC00630) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine LINC00630 expression in HCC cell lines and tissues. After LINC00630 was overexpressed or depleted in HCC cell lines, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, BrdU assay, and flow cytometry were conducted for detecting HCC cell multiplication, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. The catRAPID database was adopted to predict the binding relationship between LINC00630 and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), and RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were carried out to verify this binding relationship. The binding of E2F1 to the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) promoter region was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR) assay. Western blotting was conducted to detect the protein expression of E2F1 and CDK2 in HCC cells. We report that LINC00630 expression was up-regulated in HCC and was significantly correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. LINC00630 overexpression facilitated HCC cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and inhibited the cell apoptosis, while LINC00630 knockdown had the opposite effects. LINC00630 directly bounds with E2F1. LINC00630 overexpression enhanced the binding of E2F1 to the CDK2 promoter region, thereby promoting CDK2 transcription, whereas knocking down LINC00630 inhibited CDK2 transcription. Collectively, LINC00630 promoted CDK2 transcription by recruiting E2F1 to the promoter region of CDK2, thereby promoting the malignant progression of HCC. Our data suggest that LINC00630 is a promising molecular target for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yangzhou, once a capital city of China, has been transformed into a post-Socialist city. This narrative of its urban development explains its evolution from "a city for the royal family to build its temporary palace" in Imperial China, through "a city as a tool to develop manufacturing industries" during the Socialist regime, to "an ecological garden and a city with an attractive living environment" in Transitional China. Changing value systems interact with economic and political constraints to explain the course of its urban history. The explanation rests on the premise that urban development ultimately depends on the investment potential of the local economy and local power constraints impinging upon adopted plans. This case study explores how political and economic constraints shape the ambitions of local policy makers and planners, thereby reflecting the evolution of those Chinese cultural values that as development imperatives have shaped urban planning practice in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on depression, anxiety, response rates, and adverse events in patients with locoregional advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: A total of 269 patients with diagnosis of stage III-IVA NPC received either CBT plus chemoradiotherapy (CBT group, n = 136) or treatment as usual (TAU) plus chemoradiotherapy (TAU group, n = 133). Patients in the CBT group received a series of 6 CBT sessions for 6 weeks during concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score at baseline, the completion of radiotherapy, and 6, 12, and 24 months after radiotherapy. Response rates and adverse events were also evaluated. Results: Patients in the CBT group showed significantly less depression and anxiety than patients in the TAU group after the completion of radiotherapy (P <.05). Complete response rates were 99.3% (135/136) and 92.5% (123/133) in the CBT group and TAU group with a small effect size (Phi coefficient =.171), respectively (P =.005). Compared with the TAU group, the CBT group showed a significantly lower incidence of acute adverse events and late toxic effects. Conclusions: The addition of CBT to chemoradiotherapy significantly reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms. CBT combined with chemoradiotherapy is associated with improved response rates, with reduced incidence of toxic effects in patients with locoregional advanced NPC. Based on this study, we registered a randomized controlled clinical trials to better define the role of CBT in patients with locoregional advanced NPC (Registration number: ChiCTR2000034701). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative centrality of work (RCW) is defined as the psychological importance given by individuals regarding work relative to the importance they attach to other major domains of living. Prior evidence has been inconclusive in terms of how RCW might influence the life satisfaction (LS) of individuals. Hence, in this study, we hypothesize that this relationship is regulated by an individual's current job features (job complexity [JC]) and national culture concerning work (performance orientation [PO]) independently and jointly. On the basis of representative samples of 23,622 employees from 33 nations, we find that the RCW–LS relationship is negative when JC is low. By contrast, high JC eliminates but does not reverse this negative trend. This two-way interaction only exists when employees simultaneously live in a nation whose culture stresses performance improvements and achievement of rewards from work, that is, nations with high PO. Although an individual's national–cultural context does not moderate the RCW–LS linkage, it functions by making work relative to other life domains (RCW) and job characteristics (high JC) highly important in deriving satisfaction from one's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on psychological safety climate has primarily focused on its salutary effects on group risk-taking behaviors. We developed a group-level dual-pathway model in which psychological safety climate also exerts a simultaneous negative effect on risk-taking behaviors by diminishing group average work motivation. In a field survey, we found that psychological safety climate was positively related to group learning behavior and voice through a reduction in group average fear of failure but negatively related to them through a reduction in group average work motivation. This dual-pathway model and its mechanisms were conceptually replicated in a laboratory experiment with group creativity as a different risk-taking behavior. In this experiment, we examined the moderating effects of group individualism/collectivism and found that psychological safety climate increased the originality and flexibility dimensions of group creativity through a reduction in group average fear of failure only in groups with a collectivistic orientation and reduced the fluency dimension of and time spent on creativity through a reduction in group average work motivation only in individualistic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antipsychotic drugs (APDs), olanzapine and clozapine, do not effectively address the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia and can cause serious metabolic side-effects. Liraglutide is a synthetic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist with anti-obesity and neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study was to examine whether liraglutide prevents weight gain/hyperglycaemia side-effects and cognitive deficits when co-administered from the commencement of olanzapine and clozapine treatment.Methods: Rats were administered olanzapine (2 mg/kg, three times daily (t.i.d.)), clozapine (12 mg/kg, t.i.d.), liraglutide (0.2 mg/kg, twice daily (b.i.d.)), olanzapine + liraglutide co-treatment, clozapine + liraglutide co-treatment or vehicle (Control) ( n = 12/group, 6 weeks). Recognition and working memory were examined using Novel Object Recognition (NOR) and T-Maze tests. Body weight, food intake, adiposity, locomotor activity and glucose tolerance were examined.Results: Liraglutide co-treatment prevented olanzapine- and clozapine-induced reductions in the NOR test discrimination ratio ( p < 0.001). Olanzapine, but not clozapine, reduced correct entries in the T-Maze test ( p < 0.05 versus Control) while liraglutide prevented this deficit. Liraglutide reduced olanzapine-induced weight gain and adiposity. Olanzapine significantly decreased voluntary locomotor activity and liraglutide co-treatment partially reversed this effect. Liraglutide improved clozapine-induced glucose intolerance.Conclusion: Liraglutide co-treatment improved aspects of cognition, prevented obesity side-effects of olanzapine, and the hyperglycaemia caused by clozapine, when administered from the start of APD treatment. The results demonstrate a potential treatment for individuals at a high risk of experiencing adverse effects of APDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) exhibit circadian variation in their neuronal activities. Here, we show that their input synapses undergo daily regulation. We discovered daily variation in the frequencies, but not the peak amplitudes, of miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) for both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. In addition, the changes in the frequencies of mPSCs from glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses were antiphasic: An increase in the glutamatergic mPSC frequency and a decrease in the GABAergic mPSC frequency co-occurred during the dark phase of the light-dark cycle. Through optogenetic stimulation of presynaptic glutamatergic axonal terminals, we demonstrated that the elicited quantal size glutamatergic PSC could evoke action potentials in postsynaptic SCN neurons with higher probability during the light phase than during the dark phase. To investigate whether the intrinsic clock or the light-dark cycle mediates the daily rhythm of input synapses, we examined the mPSCs under light masking and skeleton photoperiod schemes. A prolonged light pulse (3 h) at the beginning of the subjective night suppressed the changes in mPSCs frequencies for both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses; under the skeleton photoperiod, no significant differences were observed in mPSCs frequencies between the subjective day and night. Furthermore, we discovered that the plasticity of these concurrent quantal events occurred primarily in vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons. This work provides evidence for light-dependent synaptic plasticity at glutamatergic and GABAergic input synapses of ventral SCN neurons. This concurrent synaptic plasticity could serve as one mechanism for regulating the responsiveness of SCN neurons to the wide range of light input over the day and night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes-induced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death of diabetic patients. Neuronal regulation plays a critical role in glucose metabolism and cardiovascular function under physiological and pathological conditions, among which, neurotransmitter neuropeptide Y has been shown to be closely involved in these two processes. Elevated central neuropeptide Y level promotes food intake and reduces energy expenditure, thereby increasing adiposity. Neuropeptide Y is co-localized with noradrenaline in central and sympathetic nervous systems. As a major peripheral vascular contractive neurotransmitter, through interactions with its receptors, neuropeptide Y has been implicated in the pathology and progression of diabetes, by promoting the proliferation of endothelial cells and vascular fibrosis, which may contribute to diabetes-induced cardiovascular disease. Neuropeptide Y also participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the major form of cardiovascular disease, via aggravating endothelial dysfunction, growth of vascular smooth muscle cells, formation of foam cells and platelets aggregation. This review highlights the causal role of neuropeptide Y and its receptor system in the development of diabetes mellitus and one of its complications: atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The information from this review provides both critical insights onto the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and evidence for the development of therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) polymer alloys with different mass ratios were prepared by solution casting method. The morphological, thermal, dielectric, mechanical, and rheological properties of the obtained polymer alloys were systematically studied. Scanning electron microscopic images showed that the polymer alloys exhibited two-phase system with PEN dispersed in PVDF matrix, which was consistent with the Cole–Cole plots obtained from rheological study. With the introduction of PEN, the crystallinity of the alloys decreased obviously, the dielectric properties of the alloys were stable before the melting temperature. When the content of PEN increased to 7 wt%, both the tensile strength and elastic modulus reached the maximum values (35.1 MPa and 1545.3 MPa), with an increment of 24% and 31% compared with those of PVDF, respectively. Rheological studies showed that the addition of PEN could obviously broaden the linear viscoelastic region of PVDF. Furthermore, the complex viscosities and storage modulus of polymer alloys increased obviously with the addition of PEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity induces chronic, low-grade inflammation, which increases the risk of colon cancer. We investigated the preventive effects of Bardoxolone methyl (BARD) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced inflammation in a mouse colon. Male C57BL/6J mice (n =7) were fed a HFD (HFD group), HFD plus BARD (10 mg/kg) in drinking water (HFD/BARD group), or normal laboratory chow diet (LFD group) for 21 weeks. In HFD mice, BARD reduced colon thickness and decreased colon weight per length. This was associated with an increase in colon crypt depth and the number of goblet cells per crypt. BARD reduced the expression of F4/80 and CD11c but increased CD206 and IL-10, indicating an anti-inflammatory effect. BARD prevented an increase of the intracellular pro-inflammatory biomarkers (NF-қB, p NF-қB, IL-6, TNF-α) and cell proliferation markers (Cox2 and Ki67). BARD prevented fat deposition in the colon wall and prevented microbial population changes. Overall, we report the preventive effects of BARD on colon inflammation in HFD-fed mice through its regulation of macrophages, NF-қB, cytokines, Cox2 and Ki67, fat deposition and microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work centrality has been defined as individual beliefs regarding the importance of work in one’s life (Kostek, 2012). In previous research, however, the importance of work has rarely been contrasted with the importance of other life domains and never across sufficient cultural groups to enable cultural moderation of processes around work centrality to be unpackaged. Accordingly, the present study explores the relative centrality of work (RCW) in the lives of employed men and women around the world, examining its predictors by personal attitudes toward work and independence in the individual’s work context. Given that national cultures socialize their members differently regarding the goals of life, we explore the moderating influence of national Self-directedness versus Other-directedness and Civility versus Practicality (Bond & Lun, 2014) along with gender on these individual-level processes. Using 29,080 respondents to the World Values Survey from representative samples of employees in 45 countries, we found that RCW is predicted pan-nationally by the attitude complex, “work as good” (WAG). A nation’s Self-directedness and its Civility, however, amplify WAG effects. Independence at work only associates with RCW for males and for persons in nations socializing its members for Self-directedness and for Civility. These results show how gender and national cultures moderate the predictors of RCW for individual lives around the world, making many of these findings culture-bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood/adolescent antipsychotic drug (APD) use is exponentially increasing worldwide, despite limited knowledge of the long-term effects of early APD treatment. Whilst investigations have found that early treatment has resulted in some alterations to dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission systems (essential to APD efficacy), there have only been limited studies into potential long-term behavioural changes. This study, using an animal model for childhood/adolescent APD treatment, investigated the long-term effects of aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone on adult behaviours of male and female rats. Open-field/holeboard, elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction and forced swim (FS) tests were then conducted in adult rats. Our results indicated that in the male cohort, early risperidone and olanzapine treatment elicited long-term hyper-locomotor effects (open-field/holeboard and FS tests), whilst a decrease in depressive-like behaviour (in FS test) was observed in response to olanzapine treatment. Furthermore, anxiolytic-like behaviours were found following testing in the open-field/holeboard and EPM in response to all three drug treatments. Effects in the female cohort, however, were to a far lesser extent, with behavioural attributes indicative of an increased depressive-like behaviour and hypo-locomotor activity exhibited in the FS test following early risperidone and olanzapine treatment. These results suggest that various APDs have different long-term effects on the behaviours of adult rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) blends with different mass ratios of PEN bisphenol (BP) to PEN bisphenol A (BPA) were prepared by solution casting method. The morphological, rheological, thermal, dielectric, and mechanical properties of the resulted blends were systematically studied. Rheological studies show that the addition of PEN (BPA) could improve the flowability of blends except that of 90/10 (BP/BPA). Meanwhile, the crystallization degree of blends also decreases except that of 90/10 (BP/BPA). Mechanical measurement results indicate that the PEN blend (PEN (BP):PEN (BPA) of 90:10) possesses highest tensile strength of 119.7 MPa, increased by 28.6% than PEN blends (PEN(BP):PEN(BPA) of 50:50). Besides, the scanning electron microscopic images show that there exists phase separation in the PEN blends (PEN (BP):PEN (BPA) of 50:50), which is well consistent with the Cole–Cole plots obtained from rheological studies. Moreover, the phenomenon of phase separation will lead to interfacial polarization between the two different phases, which is a significant factor to induce the transformation of dielectric constant. Furthermore, all blends possess high thermal stability (initial decomposition temperature over 470°C) and high mechanical property (tensile strength over 93 MPa), suggesting that PEN blends (BP/BPA) have a good prospect of extension and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolic side-effects of olanzapine have undermined drug compliance and increased concern for this otherwise-effective treatment for schizophrenia. As obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with low-grade inflammation, and olanzapine-induced weight gain has three typical stages, the current study investigated the inflammatory effects of olanzapine in three treatment stages. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally with olanzapine (1 mg/kg three times daily) or vehicle for one week, two weeks, and five weeks. Olanzapine significantly increased body weight and white visceral fat deposition in all three treatment stages compared to control. Olanzapine enhanced average adipocyte size and level of macrophage infiltration in white adipose tissue (WAT) compared to control, with levels of macrophage infiltration increased over time. There was a high correlation between adipocyte size and macrophage infiltration rate. Olanzapine also caused increased macrophage infiltration in brown adipose tissue (BAT), but not liver. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were upregulated by olanzapine in the hypothalamus, WAT, and BAT compared to control, but not the liver. Finally, plasma triglycerides were elevated by olanzapine compared to control, but not total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) or low density lipoprotein (LDL). These findings indicate that olanzapine-induced inflammation and adiposity are closely related, and that peripheral low-grade inflammation develops during olanzapine treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a familiar complication following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The present study evaluated the predictive value of the De Ritis ratio for CA-AKI and its association with long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing emergency PCI. Overall, 546 patients were included in this study. The De Ritis ratio was calculated by aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase activity. The De Ritis ratios in the CA-AKI patients were significantly higher than the non-CA-AKI patients [3.74 (2.32, 4.90) vs 1.61 (1.02, 2.53); P < .001]. The De Ritis ratio was an independent risk factor for CA-AKI [odds ratio, 2.243; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.823–2.759; P < .001]. The area under the ROC curve was .813 (95% CI, .763–.862; P < .001), and the sensitivity and specificity were 67.0% and 82.4%, respectively, when the optimum cut-off value was 2.97. Furthermore, patients in the high De Ritis ratio group (≥1.76) had a significantly greater incidence of primary endpoints [26.7% (73/273) vs 13.2% (36/273); P < .001], and the high De Ritis ratio was an independent predictor for primary endpoints (hazard ratio, 1.888, 95% CI, 1.235–2.887; P = .003). In conclusion, the De Ritis Ratio is associated with CA-AKI prediction and long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing emergency PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We analyzed and compared the imaging characteristics of the vessel wall of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients using a 3.0-T high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) protocol, including a 3-dimensional T1-sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions sequence. Methods: Fifty-three patients with atherosclerotic stenosis of the MCA underwent 3.0-T HR-MRI examinations. The characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in 53 patients (28 symptomatic, 25 asymptomatic) were analyzed, including plaque distribution and signal intensity. Plaque burden (PB), stenosis degree, and the remodeling index were measured and compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Results: The PB of the symptomatic group was significantly higher than that of the asymptomatic group (P =.006), and moderate−severe stenosis was more common (P =.01). The remodeling index of the symptomatic group was also lower (P =.015) and negative remodeling (NR) was more common (P =.043). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that stenosis degree was a risk factor in symptomatic patients (odds ratio = 135, P =.023). Conclusion: There is a trend that some characteristics of plaques and vessels, including the moderate-severe stenosis, larger PB, and NR, were observed more frequently among patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of the MCA than among asymptomatic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dexmedetomidine can effectively decrease the incidences of emergence agitation (EA) in adult patients, but there are major side effects related to increased dose of dexmedetomidine. The purpose of this study was to determine the median effective dose of dexmedetomidine in the prevention of EA among geriatric patients undergoing major open surgery with general anesthesia. A total of 50 geriatric patients were enrolled in this study. Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg.kg-1 h-1 continuous intravenous infusion was administered to the first patient. The next dose was increased or decreased by .05 depending on the response of the previous patient, according to the Dixon up-and-down method. An "effective" or "ineffective" response was determined based on the Riker sedation-agitation score (RSAS), we defined "effective" as RSAS<5, and "ineffective" as RSAS≥5. The ED50 of dexmedetomidine in prevention of EA was .30 μg.kg-1.h-1 (95% CI, .27-.33) and the predicted ED95 was .42 μg.kg-1.h-1 (95% CI, .38-.51). The incidence of bradycardia was significantly increased in the group without EA compared to the group with EA (57.1% vs 13.6%, P = .002). The ED50 of dexmedetomidine in prevention of EA was .30 μg.kg-1.h-1 (95% CI, .27-.33) and the predicted ED95 was .42 μg.kg-1.h-1 (95% CI, .38-.51). Bradycardia was the main complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]