Objective:To analyze the changes in plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations in the patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:Fourteen patients with ARDS induced by trauma, 8 males and 6 females, aged 19-80 yr, were studied. The severity of ARDS was graded according to the Berlin definition of ARDS after admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Venous blood samples were obtained on 1st, 3rd and 5th days after admission to ICU, the plasma ET-1 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay, the pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) was determined by PiCCO technique, and multiple organ dysfunction (MOD) score and lung injury score (LIS) were assessed. Spearman correlation of plasma ET-1 concentrations with MOD score, LIS and PVPI was analyzed.Results:MOD score, LIS, PVPI and plasma ET-1 concentrations were significantly decreased in mild ARDS patients ( n=5) as compared with moderate ARDS patients ( n=9, P<0.05). The plasma ET-1 concentration was positively correlated with MOD score, LIS and PVPI ( r=0.69, 0.76, 0.62, P<0.001). Conclusions:Plasma ET-1 concentrations can reflect the pulmonary vascular permeability and even the severity of the disease in the early stage of ARDS, so it is necessary to carry out dynamic monitoring in the patients.

Objective:To evaluate the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the down-regulation of Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) expression during endotoxin-induced lung injury in rats.Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: normal control group (group C), acute lung injury (ALI) group, ALI+ AhR antagonist group, and ALI+ vehicle group. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) 1 mg/kg was intratracheally instilled to develop the model of lung injury, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. At 2 h before LPS injection, AhR antagonist 6, 2′, 4′-trimethoxyflavone solution 5 mg/kg (diluted to 1 ml in dimethyl sulfoxide solution) was intraperitoneally injected in ALI+ AhR antagonist group, while dimethyl sulfoxide solution 1 ml was given in ALI+ vehicle group. The rats were sacrificed under anesthesia at 48 h after LPS administration. The left lung was lavaged and the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of the concentrations of CCSP by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of CCSP in the bronchial epithelium in right lung tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results:Compared with group C, the expression of CCSP in the bronchial epithelium was significantly down-regulated, and the concentrations of CCSP in BALF were decreased in the other three groups ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with ALI group and ALI+ vehicle group, the histopathological injury was significantly reduced, the expression of CCSP in the bronchial epithelium was up-regulated, and the concentrations of CCSP in BALF were increased in ALI+ AhR antagonist group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:AhR partially mediates the down-regulation of CCSP expression during endotoxin-induced lung injury in rats.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and clinical significance of the vesical imagingreporting and data system (Ⅵ-RADS) in predicting muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).Methods The data of 59 bladder cancer patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and surgery between 2014 March and 2019 May were retrospectively analyzed,which includes 51 males and 8 females,aged 36-82 years old,with a median age of 62 years old.According to the scoring methods specified by Ⅵ-RADS,radiologists read and scored all mpMRIs including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI),diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),and dynamic contrast enhancement MRI(DCE-MRI) of all the included patients.And then the Ⅵ-RADS were compared with pathological diagnosis.Proportions of MIBC in each score category were calculated,and ROC curve was plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) was estimated to assess the sensitivity and specificity of Ⅵ-RADS in diagnosing MIBC.Results The number of patients in Ⅵ-RADS score category 1 to 5 were 12,28,2,15 and 2,respectively.And there were 0,2 (7.4％),1 (50.0％),13 (81.3 ％),2 (100.0％) MIBC patients in each score category,respectively.When Ⅵ-RADS ≥3 was used to define MIBC,it came to the largest Youden's Index(0.7913),with an AUC of 0.924.And the sensitivity and specificity were 88.9％ and 90.2％,respectively.Conclusions Ⅵ-RADS has high accuracy in predicting MIBC,and it is worthy of application and verification in further clinical practice.The urologists should be highly alert to the existence of MIBC when Ⅵ-RADS ≥3.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of healthy side tilt training on balance function in patients with Pusher syndrome (PS) after stroke. MethodsFrom February, 2021 to November, 2023, 40 patients with PS after stroke in People's Hospital of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture were selected. They were divided into control group (n = 20) and experimental group (n = 20) in accordance with the order of the patients' admission. The control group received comprehensive training for paralyzed limbs combined with sitting balance training, and the experimental group received comprehensive training for paralyzed limbs combined with healthy side tilt training, for three weeks. They were assessed with Burke Lateropulsion Scale (BLS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Balance (FMA-B) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, BLS score significantly decreased in both groups (t > 12.603, P < 0.001), and was lower in the experimental group than in the control group (t = -2.559, P < 0.05). The scores of FMA-B and MBI were significantly increased in both groups (|Z| > 3.941, |t| > 12.082, P < 0.001), and FMA-B score was higher in experimental group than in the control group (Z = -2.538, P < 0.05). ConclusionComprehensive training for paralyzed limbs combined with healthy side tilt training can effectively improve the balance function and postural control of patients with PS after stroke, and improve the activities of daily living.