Heterogeneity of immune cells and their communications unveiled by transcriptome profiling in acute inflammatory lung injury.

Background: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or its earlier stage Acute lung injury (ALI), is a worldwide health concern that jeopardizes human well-being. Currently, the treatment strategies to mitigate the incidence and mortality of ARDS are severely restricted. This limitation can be attributed, at least in part, to the substantial variations in immunity observed in individuals with this syndrome.

Risk Factors of Enternal Nutrition Intolerance in Septic Patients: A Case-control Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of enteral nutrition intolerance (ENI) in patients with sepsis and explore potential risk factors.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in patients with sepsis who were receiving enteral nutrition (EN) at a tertiary hospital in China. The included patients were divided into the ENI group and the non-ENI group.

Clinical differences between small and large pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Background: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are neuroendocrine tumors, most of which are characterized by the release of catecholamine, and range in diameters from less than 1 cm to 10 cm or more. However, knowledge of the differences in clinical features between small and large PPGLs is insufficient.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with PPGLs treated at our institution between January 2018 and June 2020 was performed.

Microbiology and Outcomes of Institutionalized Patients With Stroke-Associated Pneumonia: An Observational Cohort Study.

The attributable mortality and microbial etiology of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) vary among different studies and were inconsistent. To determine the microbiology and outcomes of SAP in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) for patients with invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). In this observational study, included patients were divided into SAP and non-SAP based on a comprehensive analysis of symptom, imaging, and laboratory results.

Role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat in rats.

Background: This study aims to explore the characteristics of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and its underlying molecular mechanisms in the period of paraquat (PQ)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Methods: Picrosirius red staining and collagen volume fraction were utilized to evaluate the pathological changes of PQ-induced PF in rats. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure the protein and gene expression of EMT markers, EMT-associated transcription factors, and regulators of EMT-related pathways, respectively.

Multi-biomarker strategy for prediction of myocardial dysfunction and mortality in sepsis.

Objective: The present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the multi-biomarker strategy for the prediction of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) and mortality in septic patients.

Methods: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP) in 147 septic patients were assayed within 6 h after admission. We also determined the plasma levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A).

Angiotensinogen in hepatocytes contributes to Western diet-induced liver steatosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as a liver manifestation of metabolic disorders. Previous studies indicate that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a complex role in NAFLD. As the only precursor of the RAS, decreased angiotensinogen (AGT) profoundly impacts RAS bioactivity.

Melatonin Attenuates Pain Hypersensitivity and Decreases Astrocyte-Mediated Spinal Neuroinflammation in a Rat Model of Oxaliplatin-Induced Pain.

Neuroinflammatory response in spinal dorsal horn has been demonstrated to be a critical factor in oxaliplatin-induced pain. Melatonin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allodynia effects in both preclinical and clinical studies. In the present study, we investigated the role of systemic administration of melatonin on oxaliplatin-induced pain.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Systemic administration of dexmedetomidine provides cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, the direct effects of dexmedetomidine on cardiomyocytes have not been clarified. The present study investigated the effects of dexmedetomidine on primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes under hypoxic/reoxygenation (H/R) conditions. In order to simulate I/R injury, primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured under hypoxic conditions for 1 h and subsequently reoxygenated for 24 h.

Does Propofol Anesthesia Lead to Less Postoperative Pain Compared With Inhalational Anesthesia?: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Many studies have compared propofol-based anesthesia with inhalational anesthesia. Results from several studies have shown improved postoperative analgesia after propofol anesthesia, but other studies showed contradictory results. There are no large prospective studies that compare postoperative pain after propofol versus inhalational anesthesia.

[Relationship between endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cardiac fibrosis in acute viral myocarditis].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and myocardial fibrosis in acute viral myocarditis (VMC).

Methods: Twenty-eight Balb/c mice were randomized into 3 groups: control group (n=8), VMC group(n=10) and intervention group(n=10). Mice in VMC and intervention groups were injected intraperitoneally(i.

Usefulness of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in patients with severe sepsis.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the value of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (hFABP) as a novel clinical biomarker in patients with severe sepsis.

Methods: Serum concentrations of hFABP and traditional cardiac biomarkers including cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase-MB, and B-type natriuretic peptides levels were measured within 6 hours after admission in 93 severe septic patients. The value of hFABP for the diagnosis of sepsis-related myocardial dysfunction (SRMD) and for the prediction of 28-day mortality was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics curve analysis.

[An evaluation of stroke volume variation as a predictor of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated elderly patients with severe sepsis].

Objective: To evaluate stroke volume variation (SVV) as a predictor of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated (MV) elderly patients with severe sepsis.

Methods: A prospective observation of 31 fluid challenges during fluid resuscitation for treatment of hemodynamic instability in 17 elderly MV patients with severe sepsis was conducted. SVV was measured by pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) system.

[Effect of astragaloside on myocardial fibrosis in chronic myocarditis].

Objective: To investigate the effect of astragaloside (Astr), one of the active components of the Chinese medical herb Astragulus membranaceus, on cardiac fibrosis in chronic myocarditis and its relevant mechanisms.

Methods: Eighty mice were randomized into 3 groups, the control group (n=20), the model group (n=30) and the Astr group (n=30). Mice in the model group and the Astr group were monthly intraperitoneally inoculated with CVB3, but to the control group equal amount of culture fluid was given instead.

[Expression of integrin genes in heart of septic rat].

Objective: To investigate the expression profile of integrin genes in heart of septic rat and relevant mechanisms responsible for sepsis-induced heart injury.

Methods: Twelve 3-month-old male Wistar rats were randomized to 2 equal groups, sepsis model group (CLP group) undergoing ligation and perforation with needle of the distal caecum so as to establish sepsis model, and sham operation group (Sham group), undergoing sham operation only serve as controls. Twenty-four later the hearts of rats were rapidly excised.

[Influence of glutamine and growth hormone intensified nutrition support on immunomodulation in critically ill elderly patients].

Objective: To evaluate the impacts of glutamine (Gln) and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) intensified nutrition support on critically ill elderly patients.

Methods: Ninety critically ill aged patients were included in a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical study, and randomly divided into three groups: group A (standard nutrition support), group B (standard nutrition support+10% Gln 100 ml/d), group C (standard nutrition support+ Gln 100 ml/d+rhGH 10 U/d). Before treatment and then 7 and 14 days after treatment, blood samples were collected for analysis of serum proteins including albumin (ALB), pre-albumin (PAB), C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Microarray analysis of extracellular matrix genes expression in myocardium of mouse with Coxsackie virus B3 myocarditis.

Background: Extracellular matrix (ECM) orchestrates cell behaviour including growth, death, apoptosis, adhesion, migration, and invasion by activating several signalling pathways. Certain components of ECM, such as integrins, may act as receptors or co-receptors of enterovirus. ECM-activated gene expressions in myocardium of viral heart disease including myocarditis and partial cardiomyopathy remain elusive.