AIM: To study the mechanism of protective effect of exogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in the lung injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of hind limbs in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, control+CO, IR and IR+CO. A rat model of ischemia in hind limbs and the reperfusion lung injury was made. The rats in IR+CO and control+CO groups were exposed to air containing 2.5?10~ -8 CO for 1 h before reperfusion or the corresponding control time point, while the other two groups were exposed to the routine air. The lung tissue structure, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count, wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the animal survival rate were observed. The carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in artery blood were detected with CO-oximeter and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the lung was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared to control, the animal mortality, lung PMNs number, W/D , MDA content and ICAM-1 expression were all significantly increased in IR group. Compared with the IR group, the blood COHb level was significantly increased and the animal mortality, lung PMNs number, W/D, MDA content and ICAM-1 expression were all significantly decreased in IR+CO group. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that exogenous CO attenuate limb IR- induced lung injury by down-regulatiny ICAM-1 expression and suppressing PMN sequestration in the lung following limb IR in rats.

To study the in vitro antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of 317L stainless steel containing 4.5% copper alloy (317L-Cu), we produced 317L-Cu stainless steel with epsilon-Cu phase. The cell proliferation of osteoblasts on material surface was detected in vitro. Escherichia coli was cultured with 317L-Cu for evaluating the antibacterial activity. We found that the 317L-Cu could effectively kill the Escherichia coli on material surface. The cell proliferation of osteoblasts on material surface was not different significantly, compared with titanium material. Our study clearly demonstrated that the 317L-Cu alloys had a significant antimicrobial activity and was biocompatible in vitro, so it would be suitable to be used as a new medical material with antibacterial activity.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Biocompatible Materials ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Copper ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Prosthesis-Related Infections ; prevention & control ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry ; pharmacology