Objective: To explore the relationship between plasma levels of soluble receptor of advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac function in patients with sepsis.
Methods: A total of 83 sepsis patients treated in our hospital from 2014-01 to 2015-06 were studied. Plasma levels of sRAGE, BNP were examined at 24 h after admission and they were evaluated by APACHEII scores. According to BNP levels, the patients were divided into 2 groups:Normal cardiac function group, the patients with BNP<500 pg/ml, n=32 and Cardiac dysfunction group, the patients with BNP≥500 pg/ml, n=51. The cardiac function as stroke volume (SV), LVEF, minute volume, E/A were examined by echocardiography. The above indexes were analyzed and compared between 2 groups, the relationship between plasma levels of sRAGE and the occurrence of sepsis was assessed by Logistic regression analysis.
Results: Compared with Normal cardiac function group, the patients in Cardiac dysfunction group presented decreased SV, LVEF, minute volume and E/A;increased APACHEII scores and sRAGE, all P<0.01. Plasma levels of sRAGE in sepsis patients were positively related to BNP (r=0.90, P<0.05) and APACHEII scores (r=0.85, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that plasma levels of sRAGE (OR=1.019, 95%CI 1.004-1.035, P<0.05) was independently related to cardiac function in patients with sepsis.
Conclusion: Plasma levels of sRAGE were independently related to cardiac function in patients with sepsis.

Objective The present study is to investigate the distribution of endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats.Methods Thirty-two SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized (random number) into sham operation group,SAP rat 3 h group (SAP 3 h),SAP rat 6 hgroup (SAP6h),SAP rat 12 hgroup (SAP 12 h),n=8 in each group.The SAPmodel rats were induced by retrograde cholangiopancreatic infusion of 5％ sodium taurocholate.Rats were sacrified 3 h,6 h or 12 h after treatment.,then we collected pancrease,liver,lung,kidney and serum.The SO2 concentration in each tissue or serum was detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbentassay.Results The concentration of SO2 in tissues of pancreas (1.72 ± 0.14) μmol/g,liver (1.62 ± 0.11) μmol/g,lung (1.65 ± 0.11) μ.mol/g,kidney (1.12 ± 0.06) μmol/g or serum (16.80 ± 1.27) μmol/g in SAP 3 h rats was not significant compared with the sham operation group (P ＞ 0.05 in each group).The SO2 content in the pancreas (1.89 ± 0.17) μmol/g,liver (1.92 ± 0.16) μmol/g,lung (1.91 ± 0.15) μmol/g,kidney (1.30 ± 0.10) μmol /g and serum (14.93 ± 1.00) μmol /g of SAP 6 h was significantly increased compared with sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05 each group).The content SO2 in the pancreas (2.31 ± 0.23) μmol /g,liver (2.22 ± 0.15) μmol /g,lung (2.17 ± 0.07)μmol /g,kidney (1.55 ± 0.15) μmol /gand serum (18.88 ± 1.56) μmol /g of SAP rats reached the peak 12Hafter treatment and was significantly higher compared with the sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The increase of SO2 concentration in SAP might be,at least in our present opinion,involved into the pathogenesis of SAP rats.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury complicated with acute respiratory failure (ARF).Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed in EICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2016 to January 2018.One hundred sixty-eight consecutive patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury complicated with ARF,who did not respond to conventional oxygen therapy,were assigned to the HFNC or NPPV treatment group sequenced by the random number table.The baseline clinical characteristics of randomized participants and respiratory frequency (RR),PaCO2,mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 1,12,24,48 h after treatment were evaluated.Comfortable scale,tracheal intubation rate within 28 d,duration of mechanical ventilation,length of stay in ICU and mortality rate were compared as well.Results There was no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics,such as sex,age.between the two groups (P＞0.05).RR and PaCO2 were lower in the HFNC group at all time point.In addition,the HFNC group had significantly lower PaCO2 than the NPPV group at 24 and 48 h after treatment (P＜0.01);Oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) was improved in both groups,and the HFNC group had superior oxygenation index than the NPPV group at 12,24,48 h after treatment (P＜0.01).Furthermore,the HFNC group had better comfort scale (6.93±0.71 vs 4.29±0.93,P＜0.01),shorter length of stay in ICU and duration of mechanical ventilation compared to the NPPV group (P＜0.01).There was no significant differences in tracheal intubation rate and mortality rate between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions In addition to the superior efficacy in improving respiratory function and shortening length of stay in ICU,HFNC was well tolerated by patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury complicated with ARF,and could be recommended in clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the effect of Hsp22 on the activation of cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by TGFβ1 and its possible molecular mechanism.Methods:Cardiac fibroblasts of adult mice were isolated and cultured, and stimulated with TGFβ1 to induce fibroblast activation. Fibroblasts were incubated with Hsp22 of different concentrations (1, 2, 4, 8, 10 μg/mL) for 24 h, and their activation, proliferation and secretion were observed. CCK8 kit was used to detect cell proliferation. RT-PCR was used to detect the transcription of fibrogenic factor. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of α-SMA protein. Immunoblotting was used to detect the possible signal protein.Results:CCK8 results showed that fibroblast increased significantly after TGFβ1 stimulation ( P<0.05). The expression of α-SMA in fibroblasts and the transcription of fibrosis-related genes increased significantly after TGFβ1 stimulation ( P<0.05). Different concentrations (1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 μg/mL) of Hsp22 all inhibited the proliferation of fibroblasts significantly (( P<0.05). Eight μg/mL and 10 μg/mL Hsp22 inhibited the expression of α-SMA ( P<0.05). and reduced the transcription of fibrosis-related genes ( P<0.05). Immunoblotting results indicated that after induced by TGFβ1, the expression of WNT and β-catenin, the phosphorylation level of GSK3β, and the nuclear translocation of β-catenin increased ( P<0.05). Ten μg/mL Hsp22 inhibited the expression of WNT and β-catenin, and reduced the phosphorylation of GSK3β the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and the phosphorylation of smad2 and smad3( P<0.05). Conclusions:Hsp22 could block TGFβ1-induced fibroblast activation, proliferation and secretion via inhibiting the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the value of macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF) in early severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods:①Animal experiment: according to the random number table method, 24 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into Sham group and SAP 3, 6 and 12 hours groups, with 6 rats in each group. SAP rat model was prepared by injecting 5% sodium taurocholate via the retrograde cholangiopancreatic duct. Liver, kidney, lung, pancreas and serum samples were harvested after 3, 6 and 12 hours. In the Sham group, tissue and serum were harvested immediately after pancreas was turned over. The histopathological changes of the pancreas were observed microscopically by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The MIF levels of serum, liver, kidney, lung and pancreas were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ② Clinical study: an observational study was conducted. Seventy-two adult patients within 24 hours of the onset of abdominal pain (blood amylase was 3 times the normal level), and the clinical diagnosis met the criteria of acute pancreatitis (AP) admitted to the emergency department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2018 to October 2019 were enrolled. Venous blood was extracted and serum MIF level was determined by ELISA. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) was recorded for 24 hours. Patients were divided into SAP group (17 cases), moderate severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) group (25 cases), and mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) group (30 cases) according to the revised Atlanta criteria for comparison between groups.Results:① The results of animal experiments showed that the serum, liver, and pancreatic MIF levels of rats in the SAP group all reached the peak at 6 hours after modeling, and the differences were statistically significant compared with the Sham group [serum MIF (ng/L): 2 862.79±238.33 vs. 1 728.32±197.59, liver MIF (ng/L): 2 141.39±328.07 vs. 1 372.70±163.41, pancreas MIF (ng/L): 4 468.00±1 324.31 vs. 1 572.06±108.40, all P < 0.01]; although the levels of MIF in serum, liver and pancreas decreased at 12 hours after modeling, they were still significantly higher than Sham group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in MIF levels of lung and kidney in SAP rats compared with Sham group at 3, 6 and 12 hours after molding. ② Clinical observation showed that early serum MIF levels of SAP, MSAP and MAP patients decreased in order, (14.83±2.99), (10.17±2.64), and (7.21±2.47) μg/L, respectively; APACHEⅡ scores also decreased in order, 10.41±3.74, 7.60±3.18 and 4.00±2.41 respectively. Correlation analysis showed that serum MIF levels in patients with SAP, MSAP, and MAP had a good correlation with APACHEⅡ scores of the respective groups, showing that MIF levels was positively correlated with disease severity (SAP: r = 0.51, P = 0.03; MSAP: r = 0.45, P = 0.02; MAP: r = 0.45, P = 0.01). Conclusion:MIF can predict the occurrence of early SAP, and it is related to the severity of early AP.

OBJECTIVE： To provide reference for rational use of estradiol （E2） preparation in clinic. METHODS： The medical records of outpatients receiving assisted reproductive technology （ART） and E2 preparation [Estradiol valerate tablets （EV）， Complex packing estradiol tablets/estradiol and dydrogesterone tablets （EP）， Estradiol gel （EG）] were collected from the reproductive medicine center of a hospital during Jan. 2016-Mar. 2017. Taking drug instruction as standard， the rationality of medical records was evaluated from aspects of indication， route of administration， contraindication， usage and dosage， treatment course， etc. At the same time， these patients were followed up by telephone or outpatient service， and their pregnancy outcomes and ADR were summarized. RESULTS： A total of 12 646 prescriptions were collected， and 7 222， 3 912， 181 and 1 331 prescriptions used EV， EP， EG and EV+EP， respectively. The types of off-label use included over-indication， over-route and over-contraindication， and the rates of off-label use rates were 100％， 11.73％ and 43.60％， respectively. A total of 5 868 ART patients were involved； 439 patients received fresh embryo transplantation， and 5 429 patients received frozen-thawed embryo transplantation， involving 720 and 11 926 prescriptions， respectively. The rates of off-label use of above E2 preparations were 100％ （except for fresh embryo transplantation patients using EG）. As of Feb. 2018， the infant-holding rates of ART patients using EV， EP， EG and EV+EP were 85.29％， 85.37％， 86.36％ and 85.45％， respectively. No relevant ADR and neonatal birth defect was found. CONCLUSIONS： The phenomenon of off-label use of E2 preparations is widespread in the reproductive medicine center of the hospital. Although there is no indication of related safety risks， evidence-based evaluation should be carried out by enlarging the sample size in clinical practice， and careful use.