Quemaduras severas asociadas a lesión por inhalación

La lesión por inhalación es uno de los factores de riesgo que más contribuye a la mortalidad de pacientes quemados. La mortalidad asociada a la inhalación de humo es de 48 al 76%, se ha determinado que la mortalidad asociada con las quemaduras aumenta aproximadamente en 20% al combinarse con lesión por inhalación. En Panamá, específicamente en el Hospital del Niño Doctor José Renán Esquivel (HDNJRE), en los últimos 20 años han ocurrido 181 lesiones por inhalación, con una mortalidad asociada del 1.1%. Por esto la importancia de la detección temprana y manejo agresivo de esta patología. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente de 9 años quien sufre quemadura térmica por gasolina de un 25.5% y lesión por inhalación referido a nuestra unidad. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Inhalation injury is one of the risk factors that most contributes to the mortality of burned patients. Mortality associated with smoke inhalation ranges from 48 to 76%, and it has been determined that the mortality associated with burns increases by approximately 20% when combined with inhalation injury. In Panama, specifically in Hospital del Niño, in the last 20 years, 181 inhalation injuries have occurred, with an associated mortality of 1.1%. Therefore, the importance of early detection and aggressive management of this pathology. We present the clinical case of a 9-year-old patient who suffered a 25.5% gasoline thermal burn and inhalation injury referred to our unit. (provided by Infomedic International)

Influência da mechanical power e de seus componentes na ventilação mecânica em SARS-CoV-2 / Influence of mechanical power and its components on mechanical ventilation in SARS-CoV-2

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a influência da mechanical power e de seus componentes na ventilação mecânica em SARS-CoV-2; identificar os valores dos componentes da ventilação mecânica e verificar suas correlações entre si e com a mechanical power e efeitos sobre o resultado das fórmulas de Gattinoni-S e Giosa. Métodos: Estudo observacional, longitudinal, analítico e quantitativo dos parâmetros do respirador e da mechanical power no SARS-CoV-2. Resultados: A mechanical power média foi de 26,9J/minuto (Gattinoni-S) e 30,3J/minuto (Giosa). A driving pressure foi de 14,4cmH2O, a pressão de platô de 26,5cmH2O, a pressão expiratória positiva final 12,1cmH2O, a elastância de 40,6cmH2O/L, o volume corrente foi de 0,36L e a frequência respiratória de 32/minuto. A correlação entre as fórmulas de Gattinoni e de Giosa foi de 0,98, com viés de -3,4J/minuto e diferença na correlação da pressão de resistência de 0,39 (Gattinoni-S) e 0,24 (Giosa). Entre os componentes, destacaram-se as correlações da elastância com a driving pressure (0,88), pressão expiratória positiva final (-0,54) e volume corrente (-0,44). Conclusão: Na análise da ventilação mecânica da SARS-CoV-2, constatou-se que as correlações de seus componentes com a mechanical power influenciaram em seus valores momentâneos elevados, e que as correlações de seus componentes entre si influenciaram em seu comportamento ao longo do tempo. Por possuírem efeitos específicos sobre as fórmulas de Gatinnoni-S e Giosa, os componentes da ventilação mecânica tiveram influência em seus cálculos e causaram divergências nos valores da mechanical power.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the influence of mechanical power and its components on mechanical ventilation for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2; identify the values of the mechanical ventilation components and verify their correlations with each other and with the mechanical power and effects on the result of the Gattinoni-S and Giosa formulas. Methods: This was an observational, longitudinal, analytical and quantitative study of respirator and mechanical power parameters in patients with SARS-CoV-2. Results: The mean mechanical power was 26.9J/minute (Gattinoni-S) and 30.3 J/minute (Giosa). The driving pressure was 14.4cmH2O, the plateau pressure was 26.5cmH2O, the positive end-expiratory pressure was 12.1cmH2O, the elastance was 40.6cmH2O/L, the tidal volume was 0.36L, and the respiratory rate was 32 breaths/minute. The correlation between the Gattinoni and Giosa formulas was 0.98, with a bias of -3.4J/minute and a difference in the correlation of the resistance pressure of 0.39 (Gattinoni) and 0.24 (Giosa). Among the components, the correlations between elastance and driving pressure (0.88), positive end-expiratory pressure (-0.54) and tidal volume (-0.44) stood out. Conclusion: In the analysis of mechanical ventilation for patients with SARS-CoV-2, it was found that the correlations of its components with mechanical power influenced its high momentary values and and that the correlations of its components with each other influenced their behavior throughout the study period. Because they have specific effects on the Gatinnoni-S and Giosa formulas, the mechanical ventilation components influenced their calculations and caused divergence in the mechanical power values.

Dexmedetomidine Leads to the Mitigation of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Diabetic Rats Via Modulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α

ABSTRACT Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the protective mechanism of dexmedetomidine (Dex) in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MIR)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) of diabetic rats by inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Methods: Initially, healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with streptozocin to induce diabetes. Then, three weeks after the induction, Dex or lentiviral vector (LV)-HIF-1α was injected into the rats 30 minutes prior to the MIR modeling. After four weeks, lung tissues were harvested for pathological changes observation and the wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio determination. Afterwards, oxidative stress indicators and pro-inflammatory factors were measured. In addition, HIF-1α expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Results: Dex could suppress inflammatory cell infiltration, improve lung tissue structure, reduce pathological score and the W/D ratio, and block oxidative stress and inflammatory response in MIR-induced ALI of diabetic rats. Besides, Dex could also inhibit HIF-1α expression. Moreover, Dex + LV-HIF-1α reversed the protective role of Dex on diabetic MIR-induced ALI. Conclusion: Our study has made it clear that Dex inhibited the upregulation of HIF-1α in diabetic MIR-induced ALI, and thus protect lung functions by quenching the accumulation of oxygen radical and reducing lung inflammatory response.

Cigarros eletrônicos e suas consequências histopatológicas relacionadas à doenças pulmonares / E-cigarettes and histopathological consequences related to lung diseases

O cigarro eletrônico surgiu como uma tentativa para minimizar a dependência ao uso de tabaco, entretanto, engloba controvérsias e dúvidas acerca das reais implicações para o organismo humano. Diante disso, o presente estudo tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão da literatura a fim de relacionar o uso de cigarro eletrônico com suas consequências para os humanos. Os estudos analisados relatam experimentos in vitro e in vivo em camundongos, demonstrando menor concentração de poluentes e nocividades no cigarro eletrônico comparado ao convencional, porém, seu potencial efeito maléfico está relacionado à composição do e-líquido, à maneira do uso e à variedade de aromas presentes nos produtos. Além disso, foram verificadas lesões celulares, hiperreatividade das vias aéreas, liberação de citocinas ­ IL-8, IL-10 e TNF, redução da ação antimicrobiana de queratinócitos e potencial apoptose nas células alveolares. Foi observado também um aumento em até cinco vezes da concentração de carboxihemoglobina em comparação ao cigarro comum e um aumento na auto renovação de células de adenocarcinoma pulmonar de células não pequenas, devido à expressão de SOX2. Observa-se também que em casos de DPOC, o cigarro eletrônico não apresenta agravamentos na fisiologia respiratória, contrapondo outras ocorrências como asma, pneumonia, câncer de pulmão e doenças infecciosas que podem ser ocasionadas ou exacerbadas pelo seu uso. Contudo, pelo curto prazo de observação de seus efeitos, não é possível determinar com precisão a segurança dos cigarros eletrônicos, dessa forma, faz-se necessário que mais pesquisas longitudinais sejam desenvolvidas, auxiliando, assim, na construção de evidências sobre a segurança dos cigarros eletrônicos e na regulamentação futura do produto.

Electronic cigarettes emerged as an attempt to minimize tobacco dependence. However, its use is surrounded by controversies and doubts about the real implications for the human organism. Therefore, this study aims at performing a review of the most recent literature to corelate the use of e-cigarettes with their consequences for the human body. The analyzed studies relate in vitro and in vivo experiments on mice, demonstrating lower concentration of pollutants and harmfulness in the electronic cigarette than in conventional cigarettes. However, its potential harmful effect is related to the composition of the e-liquid, in its use and in the variety of aromas in the products. In addition, cellular lesions, airway hyperreactivity, release of IL-8, IL-10 and TNF cytokines could be observed, as well as reduced keratinocyte antimicrobial action and potential apoptosis in alveolar cells. An increase of up to five-fold the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in comparison to ordinary cigarettes and an increase in self-renewal of non-small pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells due to the expression of SOX2 have also been related. It could also be observed that in COPD cases, e-cigarettes do not present worsening in respiratory physiology, which contrasts with other occurrences such as asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, and infectious diseases that can be caused or exacerbated by its use. However, due to the short term of observation of the effects, the safety of e-cigarettes could not be accurately determined, thus, the need for further longitudinal research is necessary, which could be used to help build evidence about the safety of e-cigarettes and also to create future regulation of the product.

Can 1st and 6th month pulmonary function test follow-ups give an idea about the long-term respiratory effects of COVID-19 pneumonia?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to ascertain the long-term respiratory effects of COVID-19 pneumonia through pulmonary function tests in follow-ups at 1 and 6 months. METHODS: Our study was conducted between August 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. At 1 month after discharge, follow-up evaluations, PFTs, and lung imaging were performed on patients aged above 18 years who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. In the 6th month, the PFTs were repeated for those with pulmonary dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients (mean age, 49±11.9 years) were included. Pathological PFT results were noted in the 1st month for 80 patients and in the 6th month for 46 (7 had obstructive disorder, 15 had restrictive disorder, and 28 had small airway obstruction) patients. A significant difference was found between abnormal PFT results and patient-described dyspnea in the 1st month of follow-up. The 6-month PFT values (especially those for forced vital capacity) were statistically significantly lower in the patients for whom imaging did not indicate complete radiological improvement at the 1-month follow-up. No statistically significant difference was found between the severity of the first computed tomography findings or clinical condition on emergency admission and pulmonary dysfunction (Pearson's chi-square test, P=0.904; Fisher's exact test, P=0.727). CONCLUSION: It is important that patients with COVID-19 pneumonia be followed up for at least 1 month after discharge to be monitored for potential long-term lung damage. PFTs should be administered to those in whom ongoing dyspnea, which started with COVID-19, and/or full recovery were not identified in pulmonary imaging.

Injuria pulmonar por vapeo / Vaping-induced lung injury

Resumen Se considera vapeo a la inhalación de aerosoles generados por el calentamiento de líquidos. Existen dispositivos que se comercializan libremente para realizar vapeo, siendo los cigarrillos electrónicos los más frecuentes. Estos productos están asociados a la aparición de injuria pulmonar, ya sea injuria pulmonar inducida por vapeo (VAPI), o injuria pulmonar asociada a vapeo y cigarrillos electrónicos (EVALI). Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 54 años con antecedentes de vapeo en los últimos 9 meses. Consultó por disnea clase funcional IV asociada a náuseas y vómitos de 18 h de evolución. Al ingreso presentó insuficiencia respiratoria. Se realizó intubación orotraqueal con asistencia ventilatoria mecánica; la tomografía de tórax evidenció infiltrados alveolares difusos bilaterales. Se interpretó el cuadro clínico como VAPI/EVALI. Aún se desconoce la fisiopato genia exacta de la injuria pulmonar inducida por vapeo; la disnea y tos son los síntomas más frecuentes. Todos los pacientes tienen imágenes radiológicas patológicas. El soporte respiratorio y los corticoides sistémicos son el tratamiento de elección.

Abstract Vaping is considered to be the inhalation of aerosols generated by heating liquids. There are devices freely marketed for vaping, with electronic cigarettes being the most common. These products are associated with the appearance of lung injury, either vaping-induced lung injury (VAPI), or lung injury associated with vaping and electronic cigarettes (EVALI). We presented the case of a 54-year-old woman with a history of vaping in the last 9 months. She consulted for acute dyspnea (class IV) associated with nausea and vomiting of 18 hours of evolution. Upon admission, she presented respiratory failure. Orotracheal intubation was performed with mechanical ventilatory assistance. A chest tomography revealed bi lateral diffuse alveolar infiltrates. The clinical picture was interpreted as VAPI/EVALI. The exact pathophysiology of vaping-induced lung injury is still unknown; dyspnea and cough are the most frequent symptoms. All patients have pathological radiological images. Respiratory support and systemic corticosteroids are the treatment of choice.

Research progress on antioxidant mechanism of melatonin in reducing neonatal lung injury / 中华危重病急救医学

The etiology of neonatal lung injury is complicated. Because neonatal lungs are immature in the vesicles and alveolar period, they are easy to be injured by various factors. Clinically, the main manifestations of neonatal lung injury are refractory hypoxemia, respiratory distress, and decreased lung compliance, etc. In recent years, newborn treatment technology has been rapidly developed, but the incidence of neonatal lung injury is still very high, so more attention has been paid by the medical community. Oxidative stress refers to a state of imbalance between oxidation and antioxidant in the body. After newborns transition from amniotic fluid to the air, oxidative stress is relatively higher in the first few weeks of life, and oxidative stress injury will be further aggravated under the stimulation of adverse factors. Melatonin, as an important antioxidant factor in the human body, participates in many vital physiological and pathological processes, and can directly scavenge oxygen free radicals, enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes, inhibit cell apoptosis. Researches have showed that the antioxidant properties of melatonin played an important role in neonatal lung injury, however, the specific mechanism has not yet been fully clarified. The aim of this article is to review the antioxidant effects of melatonin in neonatal lung injury and provide new ideas for the treatment of neonatal lung injury.

Bioinformatics analysis of ventilator-induced lung injury genome microarray based on gene expression omnibus database and key gene verification / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate differential expression gene (DEG) in mice with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) by bioinformatics analysis, and to verify the key genes by reproducing the VILI mouse model.Methods:① Experiment 1 (bioinformatics analysis): the microarray dataset of GSE9368 and GSE11662 regarding VILI mice and those in the spontaneous breathing control group were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. DEG obtained by R and Venn map was further used to obtain common DEG. DAVID online database was used to obtain gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis of common DEG was carried out by using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes Database (STRING) and the key genes were screened out by using CytoScape software, molecular complex detection (MCODE) analysis plug-in and CytoHubba plug-in with maximum cluster centrality (MCC), maximum neighbor connectivity (MNC) and degree. ② Experiment 2 (related protein verification): VILI mouse model was reproduced by high tidal volume (20 mL/kg) ventilator. Spontaneous breathing control group was set up. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to assess lung injury and the key genes screened in experiment 1 were verified by immunohistochemical staining.Results:① Experiment 1 results: a total of 114 DEG were screened from GSE9368 dataset, including 99 up-regulated genes and 15 down-regulated genes. A total of 258 DEG were screened from GSE11662 dataset, including 188 up-regulated genes and 70 down-regulated genes. Furthermore, 66 common DEG were obtained, including 61 up-regulated genes and 5 down-regulated genes. GO analysis showed that the common DEG were mainly involved in inflammatory response, immune response, leukocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis. KEGG analysis showed that the common DEG were involved cell adhesion, cytokine receptor interaction and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway. STRING and CytoScape analysis were used to construct gene PPI network diagram and important sub modules. And the CytoHubba plug-in with MCC, MNC and degree algorithms was used to perform topology analysis and then taken an intersection to obtain eight genes including suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), integrin Itgam, CXC chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2), CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), Sell and CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1). ② Experiment 2 results: a mouse model of high tidal volume VILI was reproduced. Compared with the spontaneous breathing control group, the lung tissue was injured slightly at 0 hour after the end of ventilation, and the lung tissue structure was significantly damaged at 6 hours after the end of ventilation, showing bleeding in alveolar cavity, significant increase and collapse of alveolar wall thickness, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The top three genes from intersection and topological analysis including IL-1β, SOCS3 and MMP-9 were verified by immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that the expressions of IL-1β, SOCS3 and MMP-9 were gradually increased with time of ventilation, the differences were found at 6 hours as compared with those in the spontaneous breathing control group [IL-1β (integral A value): 8.40±2.67 vs. 5.10±0.94, SOCS3 (integral A value): 9.74±1.80 vs. 5.95±1.31, MMP-9 (integral A value): 11.45±6.20 vs. 5.36±1.28, all P < 0.05]. Conclusion:Bioinformatics analysis based on GSE9368 and GSE11662 data sets found that VILI is mainly related to inflammatory injury, cytokines and immune cell infiltration; IL-1β, SOCS3 and MMP-9 might be biomarkers of VILI.

HucMSC-cm protects lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by activating AMP-activated protein kinase / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (HucMSC-cm) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and relevant mechanism of action.Methods:Forty 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were selected and randomized (random number) into the sham group, LPS group, LPS + HucMSC-cm (LPS+cm) group, and LPS+HucMSC-cm+Compound C (LPS+cm+cc) group, with 10 mice in each group. Mice were intratracheally injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) to establish ALI model, and intratracheally injected with hucMSC-CM (50 μL) 4 h after LPS treatment. Mice in the LPS+cm+cc group were intraperitoneally treated with Compound C (15 mg/kg) prior to LPS treatment. Neutrophils in peripheral blood were counted with the automated hematology analyzer 72 h after LPS administration. After that, mice were sacrificed, and the lung tissue pathology was observed using hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. Besides, the expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and P-AMP-activated protein kinase (P-AMPK) in the lung tissues were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemical assay. In vitro, human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HuLEC-5a) were cultured and divided into three groups: control group, LPS group (10 μg/ mL), and LPS + HucMSC-cm group. After 24 h of treatment, the expressions of p-AMPK and AMPK were detected by Western blot, and the expressions of IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Oneway analysis of variance was used to compare the mean values of normally distributed measurement data between groups. Comparisons between two groups were performed using the Tukey’s multiple comparison test. Results:Compared with the sham group, the LPS group showed lungs with congestion and swelling, thickened pulmonary septum, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Moreover, in the LPS group, the protein expressions of IL-6 ( P=0.003), ICAM-1 ( P<0.001) and VCAM-1 ( P=0.001) were increased significantly, while the expression of p-AMPK was decreased ( P=0.013), accompanied by an increase in the proportion of neutrophils in peripheral blood ( P<0.001). Compared with the LPS group, the LPS+HucMSC-cm group demonstrated eased congestion, edema and pathological injury of lung tissue, reversed protein expressions of IL-6 ( P=0.003), ICAM-1 ( P=0.002), VCAM-1 ( P=0.006) and P-AMPK ( P=0.002), as well as decreased proportion of neutrophils in peripheral blood ( P<0.005). Compared with the LPS+HucMSC-cm group, the LPS+cm+cc group exhibited more severe lung histopathological injury, significantly increased protein expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in lung tissues, as well as decreased expression of P-AMPK protein. The results of immunohistochemistry were consistent with those of protein. In vitro experiment, after LPS treatment, the mRNA expressions of IL-6 ( P<0.001) and IL-8 ( P=0.027) were increased and p-AMPK protein expression ( P=0.005) was decreased as compared with the control group. In comparison with the LPS group, the LPS+HucMSC-cm group showed decreased mRNA expression levels of IL-6 ( P=0.003) and IL-8 ( P=0.002), but increased protein level of p-AMPK ( P=0.003). Conclusions:HucMSC-cm has a protective effect against LPS-induced acute lung injury, which is mainly attributed to the inhibited expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory factors under the activation of AMPK.

The effect of extracellular vesicles derived from lung tissue on intrapulmonary inflammation and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in sepsis rats / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of extracellular vesicles derived from lung tissue on intrapulmonary inflammation and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in sepsis rats.Methods:Sepsis rat model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Collagenase D and DNase I were used to dissociate the lung tissue, the impurities were removed by centrifugation, and finally, the extracellular vesicles (Ti-EVs) derived from lung tissue were separated and extracted by differential ultracentrifugation. Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, sepsis group and Ti-EVs group: in the Ti-sEV group, a sepsis model was established by CLP, and Ti-EVs suspension was instilled through the airway; rats in the CLP group received CLP, and an equal volume of PBS was instilled through the airway; and rats in the sham group was treated with sham operation. The pathological changes of lung tissue were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining after 24 h. The content of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence was used to detect the NETs content in lung tissue.Results:The isolated extracellular vesicles derived from rat lung tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy as double-layer circular cystic vesicles with particle diameter mainly distributed at 150 nm. Western blot showed positive expression of EVs markers CD9, CD63, and Tsg101. HE staining of lung tissue showed alveolar integrity damage and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the lung of sepsis rats. Compared with the CLP group, the degree of lung tissue damage was more serious in the Ti-EVs group and the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the BALF of rats were significantly increased ( P<0.01). The formation of NETs in the lungs of the rats in the sepsis group and the Ti-EVs group was observed under the laser confocal microscope. Compared with the sepsis group, the fluorescence intensity of NETs in the lung tissues of the Ti-EVs group increased significantly. Conclusions:After enzymatic digestion, differential ultracentrifugation and other treatments, the extracellular vesicles derived from rat lung tissue with high purity can be successfully isolated and extracted. In the process of septic lung injury, extracellular vesicles in lung tissue can aggravate the inflammatory response in the lung and promote the formation of NETs.

Metabonomics research of gabex mesylate on septic-induced acute lung injury in rats / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objectve:To study the effect of gabexate mesylate (GM) on acute lung injury (ALI) in septic rats based on metabonomics.Methods:Fifty-seven SD rats were randomly(random number) divided into three groups: sham operation group (SC group), cecal ligation puncture induced septic ALI group (CLP group), and intraperitoneal administration of GM at 1 h after CLP (CLP-GM group). Twenty-four h after the experiment, the survival of rats in the SC, CLP and CLP-GM groups was observed, the lung tissue was collected for HE staining to observe the pathological changes, and the plasma was collected for metabonomics detection to analyze the characteristics of metabolites.Results:Compared with the SC group, the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue of rats in the CLP groupincreased significantly, and the metabolic profile of plasma changed significantly. However, the pathological and metabonomic characteristics of the CLP-GM group showed that the above changes were reversed after the application of GM. Twelve major differential metabolites were found in plasma. The metabolic pathways involved in the disorder included biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan, phenylalanine metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism.Conclusions:GM may improve septic ALI by regulating amino acid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism and other metabolic pathways.

Correlation analysis between the expression of cannabinoid 2 receptor and the related indicators of pyroptosis in sepsis / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To explore the correlation between cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) and pyroptosis-related indicators in mice with septic lung injury.Methods:Mice were randomly (ramdon number) divided into four groups ( n=6 per group): sham operation group (sham), mild sepsis group (ALIMi), moderate sepsis group (ALIMo) and severe sepsis group (ALIS). The model of septic lung injury was established by cecal ligation and puncture. The wet-dry weight ratio of lung tissues and lung injury scores were measured 12 hours after operation. The expression of CB2R protein was measured by western blot, and the expression of mRNA of CB2R, NLRP3, caspase-1/11, GSDMD were detected by RT-PCR. Meanwhile ELISA was used to measure the level of inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α. SPSS 22.0 software was used for data analysis. Multiple comparison was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) and comparison between two groups was performed by LSD test or Games-Howell test. Then, the correlation between the expression of CB2R mRNA and the level of inflammatory cytokines as well as the expression of the pyroptosis-related indicators mRNA was analyzed by pearson correlation analysis, respectively. Results:The statistical value F was obtained by one-way ANOVA and comparison between two groups was performed. Compared to sham group, all above indicators increased with the aggravation of inflammation in the sepsis groups ( P<0.05). Compared to ALIMi group, the concentrations of IL-6 [(277.31±41.07) vs.(140.09±27.56), P<0.05] and TNF-α [(501.09±73.91) vs. (261.36±40.73), P<0.05] in lung tissue homogenate increased in ALIMo group. And the level of CB2mRNA [(2.99±0.28) vs. (2.02±0.19), P<0.05], the expression of CB2 protein [(0.44±0.08) vs.(0.23±0.05), P<0.05] and the level of NLRP3 [(2.53±0.26) vs.(1.61±0.15), P<0.05], caspase-1 [(6.02±0.35) vs.(3.60±0.38), P<0.05], caspase-11 [(11.43±0.83) vs.(6.30±0.65), P<0.05] and GSDMD [(10.46±0.62) vs. (5.67±0.54), P<0.05] mRNA also increased. Compared to ALIMo group, the concentrations of IL-6 [(475.90±67.65) vs. (277.31±41.07), P<0.05] and TNF-α [(713.93±58.85) vs. (501.09±73.91), P<0.05] in lung tissue homogenate increased in ALIS group. And the level of CB2mRNA [(4.00±0.19) vs.(2.99±0.28), P<0.05], the expression of CB2 protein [(0.61±0.05) vs.(0.44±0.08), P<0.05] and the level of NLRP3 [(4.75±0.40) vs.(2.53±0.26), P<0.05], caspase-1 [(8.76±0.72) vs.(6.02±0.35), P<0.05], caspase-11 [(16.31±1.13) vs.(11.43±0.83), P<0.05] and GSDMD [(16.46±1.22) vs. (10.46±0.62), P<0.05] mRNA also increased. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that there was a highly positive correlation between the expression of CB2R mRNA and the expression of mRNA of NLRP3, caspase-1/11, and GSDMD respectively ( r>0.9, P<0.01). Conclusion:The correlation between the aggravation of inflammation, the indicators of pyroptosis and CB2R mRNA was highly positive in different degrees of septic lung injury. Consequently, CB2R may play a role in the regulatory process of inflammation.

The repair effect and mechanism of amphiregulin on injured lung tissue in mice / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the repair effect of amphiregulin (Areg) on injured lung tissue in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its underlying mechanism.Methods:The ARDS mouse model was made by tracheal infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was extracted for 7 consecutive days. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly (random number) divided into 5 groups ( n=4 per group): (1) Control group; (2) Areg group: mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with recombinant Areg; (3) LPS+PBS group; (4) LPS+Areg group; and (5) LPS+Anti-Areg group; mice were instilled with LPS, then were injected i.p. with PBS, Areg or Areg neutralization antibody (Anti-Areg) 30 min later. Lung tissue and BALF were extracted at day 1, 3, 5 and 7 after ARDS. HE staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes of lung tissues. The total protein content in BALF was detected by BCA method, and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were determined by ELISA method. The phosphorylated levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and surface proteins-C (SP-C) were tested by Western blot. The immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-expression of PCNA and SP-C in lung tissues. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the mean values of normally distributed measurement data between groups. Comparisons between groups were performed using the least significant difference t-test. Results:Compared with that at before modeling [(51.05±2.47) pg/mL], Areg concentrations were increased significantly at day 1 [(71.97±6.51) pg/mL; P<0.01] and day 3 [(147.58±7.56) pg/mL, P<0.01] in the BALF after ARDS. At day 1 after ARDS, there were significant interstitial edema, neutrophil infiltration and alveolar collapse in the LPS+PBS group and LPS+Areg group. Compared with the LPS+PBS group at day 3, 5 and 7, the pathological changes of lung tissues were notably improved in the LPS+Areg group, while were more serious in the LPS+Anti-Areg group. Compared with the control group, the LPS+PBS group had higher levels of neutrophil number, total protein, IgM, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. However, Areg treatment significantly reduced the levels of these indicators. Moreover, the expressions of PCNA (1.34±0.10), SP-C (1.48±0.10) and p-EGFR (0.92±0.032) in the LPS+Areg group were significantly up-regulated compared with those in the LPS+PBS group (0.88±0.03, 1.06±0.15, and 0.68±0.03, all P<0.01). And compared with the LPS+PBS group, PCNA and SP-C double positive cells were significantly increased in the LPS+Areg group, but decreased in the LPS+Anti-Areg group. Conclusions:Areg enhances the proliferation of alveolar typeⅡ epithelial cells by activating EGFR pathway, therefore promotes the repair of lung tissues during ARDS development.

Protective Effect of Shenlian Prescription on Acute Lung Injury Induced by Particulate Matter Exposure in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of Shenlian prescription on acute lung injury induced by particulate matter （PM） exposure in rats and explore the mechanism. MethodFifty male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group， model group， Shenlian low-dose group （4.32 g·kg-1）， Shenlian high-dose group （8.64 g·kg-1）， and roflumilast group （3.46 mg·kg-1）， with 10 in each group. Pre-administration with drugs by gavage was performed for one week. On the 8th and 11th days， the control group was instilled with normal saline in the trachea and the other groups with PM suspension to establish a rat model of acute lung injury induced by PM exposure. After modeling， drugs were given continuously until the end of the experiment. Forty-eight hours after the last exposure， the lung function of rats was detected. Then the rats were sacrificed and the lung morphological changes and pathological changes by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining were observed. CD68 expression in lung was detected by immunohistochemistry， and the levels of lung injury markers surfactant protein A （SP-A） and Clara cell protein16 （CC16） in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression of interleukin-1α （IL-1α）， IL-6， IL-18， and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） in lung tissue was measured by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with those in the control group， the rats in the model group had decreased lung function and obvious structural damage of lung tissue， PM deposition， and infiltration of CD68 positive cells. The expressions of IL-1α， IL-6， IL-18， and MCP-1 in lung tissue were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Shenlian prescription low and high doses restored the rats' lung function injury（P<0.05，P<0.01）， improved lung morphological and pathological structure， and reduced PM deposition. Infiltration of CD68 positive cells in lung was not significantly decreased. The levels of inflammatory factors IL-1α， IL -6， IL-18， and MCP-1 in lung were lowered （P<0.01）. ConclusionShenlian prescription could protect the rats' lung injury caused by PM exposure， improve lung morphology， and reduce PM deposition and inflammatory factor expression.

Baicalin Alleviates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats Through p38 MAPK/NLRP3 Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and mechanism of baicalin （BA） on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced acute lung injury in rats. MethodEighty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group， model group， low-dose BA （BA-L） group， medium-dose BA （BA-M） group， high-dose BA （BA-H） group， dexamethasone （DEX） group， SB203580 group， and BA + SB203580 group， with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the BA-L， BA-M， and BA-H groups were injected intraperitoneally with different doses （10， 50， 100 mg·kg-1） of BA solution， the ones in the DEX group with 5 mg·kg-1 DEX solution， the ones in the SB203580 group with 0.5 mg·kg-1 SB203580 solution， the ones in the BA + SB203580 group with 100 mg·kg-1 BA solution and 0.5 mg·kg-1 SB203580， and those in both the control group and model group with the same volume of normal saline， once per day， for seven successive days. One hour after the last administration， rats in all groups except for the control group were given 5 mg·kg-1 LPS via intratracheal instillation for inducing the acute lung injury， whereas those in the control group received the same volume of normal saline solution. Twelve hours later， the lung tissues were sampled and stained with htoxylin-eosin （HE） for observing the pathological changes， followed by the counting of the total number of cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF）. The wet/dry weight ratio of the lung tissue and the contents of serum superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were measured. The activity of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in the lung tissue was detected by immunofluorescence and the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in BALF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was conducted to determine the relative expression of p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） and Western blotting was carried out to detect the protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK， thioredoxin interacting protein （TXNIP）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-1 （Caspase-1） in the lung tissue. ResultCompared with the control group， the model group displayed inflammatory pathological changes in lung tissue， elevated wet/dry weight ratio， total number of cells and neutrophils in BALF， and ROS and MDA levels （P<0.01）， decreased SOD activity （P<0.01）， and up-regulated IL-1， IL-18， IL-6， TNF-α， p-p38 MAPK， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， BA at different doses， SB203580， and BA + SB203580 all effectively alleviated the pathological changes in lung tissue induced by LPS， reduce the lung wet/dry weight ratio， the total number of cells and neutrophils in BALF， and ROS and MDA levels （P<0.05，P<0.01）， enhanced the activity of SOD （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and down-regulated the expression of IL-1β， IL-18， IL-6，TNF-α， p-p38 MAPK， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 in lung tissue （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBA has a protective effect against LPS-induced acute lung injury， which may be related to its inhibition of p38MAPK/NLRP3 signaling pathway and the improvement of inflammatory response.

Roles of Active Ingredients in Chinese Medicinals in Treatment of Acute Lung Injury by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Acute lung injury is a common critical respiratory disease， which can further develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS） with a high fatality rate， but there is no effective drug at present. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway is involved in cell proliferation， metabolism， survival， and motility through phosphorylation of numerous downstream effector molecules. It plays an important role in the development of acute lung injury by regulating mitochondrial function， apoptosis， autophagy， oxidative stress， and inflammatory response. The active ingredients in Chinese medicinals alleviate acute lung injury by targeting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. There has been an explosion of research on the treatment of acute lung injury by active ingredients in Chinese medicinals via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， which is of great clinical research value. The article presented the first summary of studies exploring the correlation between PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and acute lung injury in recent years and summed up the protective effect of the active ingredients in Chinese medicinals against acute lung injury via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， providing innovative mindsets and strategies for clinical application of active ingredients in Chinese medicinals in the treatment of acute lung injury.

Mechanism of Combined Therapy of Lung and Intestine in Alleviating Pulmonary Edema in Treatment of Acute Lung Injury Based on VIP/cAMP/PKA/AQPs Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of the combined therapy of lung and intestine （Mahuangtang + Da Chengqitang） in alleviating pulmonary edema in rats with acute lung injury （ALI） induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. MethodWistar rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups with combined therapy of lung and intestine， and positive control group. LPS （10 mg·kg-1） was given （ip） to induce ALI in rats. After modeling， the blank group was given normal saline （25 mL·kg-1）， the combined therapy of lung and intestine treatment groups were given （ig） low- （5 g·kg-1）， medium- （7.5 g·kg-1）， and high-dose （10 g·kg-1） Mahuangtang and Da Chengqitang， and the positive control group was given dexamethasone （5 mg·kg-1）. Medications were administered 0， 8， and 16 h after LPS injection for 3 times. Then lung tissue and serum were collected after administration. The lung tissues were stained with haematoxylin-eosin （HE）， and the pulmonary edema score was evaluated. The dry/wet （D/W） weight ratio of lung tissues in each group was measured， and the content of serum vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP） in rats was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of aquaporin-1 （AQP1）， AQP5， VIP， cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）， phosphorylated protein kinase A （p-PKA）， and PKA in lung tissues of rats in each group. The level of VIP mRNA in lung tissues of rats was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited obvious lung injury， increased edema score， decreased D/W ratio （P<0.01）， declined AQP1， AQP5， cAMP， and p-PKA/PKA in lung tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated VIP content （P<0.01）， and up-regulated levels of VIP protein and mRNA in lung tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， combined therapy of lung and intestine treatment groups showed alleviated lung injury， increased D/W ratio （P<0.01）， elevated AQP1， AQP5， VIP， cAMP， and p-PKA/PKA in lung tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated VIP levels in lung tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe combined therapy of lung and intestine can alleviate ALI-induced lung tissue edema， and the mechanism may be related to the activation of the VIP/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway， which further promotes the expression of AQP1 and AQP5 and enhances the water metabolism of lung tissue.

Effect of Combined Therapy of Lung and Intestine on NF-κB Inflammatory Pathway and Macrophage Polarization in LPS-induced Acute Lung Injury Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of combined therapy of lung and intestine （Mahuangtang + Da Chengqitang） on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced acute lung injury （ALI） in rats and its protective mechanism. MethodWistar rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups with combined therapy of lung and intestine ， and dexamethasone group. LPS （10 mg·kg-1） was given （ip） to induce ALI in rats. The general state of rats in each group was observed and recorded. The body temperature of rats in each group was recorded 0-8 h after modeling by means of anal temperature measurement. Serum and lung tissues were collected 24 h after modeling. Serum levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and arginase-1 （Arg-1） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of nuclear factor kappa B p65 （NF-κB p65）， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， NF-κB inhibitor α （IκBα）， and phosphorylated IκBα （p-IκBα） in lung tissues of rats. The levels of classically activated （M1） macrophage marker CD80 and IL-1β and macrophage markers F4/80 and IL-10 were detected by double immunofluorescence. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed increased body temperature and thermal response index （TRI）， elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α and IL-1β and anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein levels of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα in lung tissues （P<0.01）， and increased levels of F4/80， CD80， and IL-1β in lung tissues （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the lung-intestine combined treatment groups and the dexamethasone group exhibited decreased body temperature and TRI in rats （P<0.01）， declined serum levels of inflammatory factor TNF-α and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated serum levels of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 and Arg-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated protein levels of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα in lung tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased levels of CD80 and IL-1β， and increased levels of IL-10 in lung tissues （P<0.01）， while the level of F4/80 was not significantly changed. ConclusionThe combined therapy of lung and intestine can obviously alleviate the fever and inflammatory state of ALI rats， and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB inflammatory pathway and the polarization of lung tissue macrophages to anti-inflammatory phenotype.

Gastrodin injection alleviates lung injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia in rats through NGF/TrkA pathway-mediated activation of the anti-inflammatory pathway / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of gastrodin injection for alleviating lung injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia in rats and the role of the NGF-TrkA pathway in mediating this effect.@*METHODS@#Forty SD rats were equally randomized into normal group, sham-operated group, model group and gastrodin group, and in the latter two groups, rat models of focal cerebral ischemia were established by embolization of the right middle cerebral artery. After successful modeling, the rats were treated with intraperitoneal injection of gastrodin injection at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg for 14 days. After the treatment, the wet/dry weight ratio of the lung tissue was determined, the pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed using HE staining, and the levels of IL-10 and TNF-α in the arterial blood were detected with ELISA. The expressions of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in the lung tissue were detected with Western blotting, and the expressions of NGF and TrkA were detected using immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal control and sham-operated groups, the rats in the model group showed obvious inflammatory lung injury, significantly increased wet/ dry weight ratio of the lungs (P < 0.01), increased TNF-α level in arterial blood (P < 0.01), and significantly up-regulated protein expressions of NF-κB p65 (P < 0.01), TNF-α (P < 0.01), NGF (P < 0.05) and TrkA(P < 0.05) in the lung tissue. Treatment with gastrodin injection obviously alleviated lung inflammation, decreased the wet/dry weight ratio of the lungs (P < 0.05), and significantly lowered TNF-α level (P < 0.01) and increased IL-10 level in the arterial blood in the rat models (P < 0.01); gastrodin injection also significantly decreased the protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α (P < 0.05) and up-regulated the expressions of NGF and TrkA in the lung tissue of the rats (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The NGF/TrkA pathway may participate in cerebral ischemia-induced inflammatory lung injury, which can be obviously alleviated by gastrodin through the activation of the anti-inflammatory pathway mediated by the NGF/TrkA pathway.

Role of pyroptosis pathway related molecules in acute lung injury induced by gas explosion in rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To explore the role and significance of pyroptosis in gas explosion-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Methods: In February 2018, 126 SPF male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into blank control group (18 rats) and experimental group (40 m, 80 m, 120 m, 160 m, 200 m and 240 m, 18 per group) . The experimental group carried out gas explosion in the roadway to build the ALI model, the control group did not carry out gas explosion, and other conditions were consistent with the experimental group. Respiratory function indexes such as respiratory frequency (f) , tidal volume (TV) , minute ventilation (MV) and airway stenosis index (Penh) were measured 24 hours after the explosion. 5 rats in each group were sacrificed after anesthesia, Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the content of Caspase-1. Western blotting was used to detect the content of cell pyroptosis including nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) , Caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in lung tissue related protein expression. Results: The f and MV of rats in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) . Except for the 40 m and 80 m groups, the TV of rats in the other experimental groups were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) . Except for the 40 m group, the Penh of rats in the experimental groups were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05) . HE staining showed that the lung tissue of the experimental groups at different distance points showed obvious edema of the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli, a large number of red blood cells and inflammatory cells exuded in the alveolar space, thickening of the pulmonary interstitium, and increased lung injury score (P<0.05) . The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of Caspase-1 in each experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Western blotting results showed that the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in each experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Pyroptosis is involved in the pathophysiological process of gas explosion-induced ALI in rats.