OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rat cardiac fibroblasts exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment and explore the possible pathways that mediate ROS production.

METHODSIn vitro cultured fetal rat cardiac fibroblasts treated with apocynin (APO, 100 micromol/L), Ang II (10(-7) mol/L), or APO+Ang II (10(-7) mol/L Ang II was added 1 h after 100 micromol/L APO), and the ROS levels and p22phox expression in the cells were detected using fluorescent microscope and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control cells, Ang II treatment of the cardiac fibroblasts resulted in significantly increased ROS production, the effect of which was inhibited by the application of APO. p22phox expression was hardly detected by immunohistochemistry in the control cells, but over-expressed in AngII-treated cells. APO substantially decreased the over-expression of p22phox induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONAng II increases ROS production in fetal rat cardiac fibroblasts probably by inducing p22phox over-expression.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; cytology ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of pulse high volume hemofiltration (PHVHF) in the treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

METHODSTwenty-five patients with MODS received treatment with PHVHF.

RESULTSThe 25 patients showed significantly decreased BUN, Scr, and K(+) levels after the treatment (P<0.01), and PaO(2)/FiO(2) was improved in almost all the patients (P<0.05). The APACHEII scores were significantly improved (P<0.05) in these patients and 18 of them were cured and discharged. PHVHF therapy was associated with a survival rate of 72%.

CONCLUSIONSPHVHF can be effective for treatment of MODS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; methods ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult