[Overexpression of endothelin-1 induces hypertrophy of rat pulmonary arterial microvascular smooth muscle cells via Akt/mTOR pathway].

Objective: To investigate the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) overexpression on hypertrophy of the rat pulmonary arterial microvascular smooth muscle cells (RPMCs) in vitro.

Methods: Lung tissue perfusion method was used to obtain the primary RPMCs, and then the cells were transiently transfected with ET-1 plasmids or empty vectors via Lipofectamine. Flow cytometry was used to determine the distributions of the cell cycle and cell size of RPMCs.

[Endothelin-1 overexpression inhibits rat pulmonary arterial microvascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis via Akt/PKB pathway].

Objective: To investigate the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) overexpression on apoptosis of the rat pulmonary arterial microvascular smooth muscle cells (RPMC) in vitro.

Methods: Primary RPMC obtained from the pulmonary artery and lung microvasculature were identified by immunofluorescence staining and electron microscope technique. The RPMC was transient transfected with the pMEXneo-ET1 and pCDNA5-FRT-TO-ET1-3'UTR plasmids as well as the empty vector respectively via lipofectamine.

[Security evaluation of bupivacaine, ropivacaine combined with fentanyl in postoperative continuous epidural analgesia].

Objective: To investigate the effects, side-effects and security of bupivacaine, ropivacaine combined with fentanyl in postoperative continuous epidural analgesia.

Methods: A total of 1 600 postoperative continuous epidural analgesia patients receiving different agents in SICU were divided into two groups: 0.1% bupivacaine +5 microg/ml fentanyl group (group B, n = 920) and 0.