Objective:To evaluate the effect of ulinastatin on the postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in the patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).Methods:Medical records from patients scheduled for elective OPCABG from September 2021 to August 2023 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into ulinastatin and control groups based on the intraoperative use of ulinastatin. Confounding factors were adjusted using propensity score matching and an extended Cox proportional hazards model. The primary outcome was the development of PPCs within 30 days after surgery, and secondary outcomes included length of stay in intensive care unit, length of hospital stay and occurrence of other adverse events.Results:A total of 1 532 patients were included in this cohort study, and 585 cases (38.2%) experienced PPCs. Compared with control group, the incidence of PPCs was significantly decreased (before matching: 42.7% vs. 35.2%, P=0.004; after matching: 42.2% vs. 35.6%, P=0.033), the incidence of acute kidney injury was decreased and no significant differences were found in the length of stay in intensive care unit, length of hospital stay and incidence of other adverse events in ulinastatin group ( P>0.05). In the extended Cox proportional hazard model before and after adjustment for confounding factors, the risk of PPCs was significantly reduced after the use of ulinastatin ( HR value before adjustment was 0.81, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.67-0.99, P=0.004; the HR value after adjustment was 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.96, P=0.022). The risk of PPCs was significantly decreased in patients aged >65 yr and at high risk of PPCs after using ulinastatin ( HR=0.667, 95% CI 0.542-0.821, P<0.001; hR value was 0.641, 95% CI 0.516-0.812, P<0.001). Conclusions:The intraoperative use of ulinastatin is helpful in decreasing the risk of PPCs in patients undergoing OPCABG.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of sevoflurane on Ca 2+ transporter expression in cardiomyocytes during right ventricular remodeling in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) by the random number table method: control group (CM group), sevoflurane group (CS group), monocrotaline group (M group) and sevoflurane + monocrotaline group (S group). Monocrotaline 60 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in group M and group S, and monocrotaline lysate was intraperitoneally injected in group CM. The rats in S and CS groups inhaled 2.5% sevoflurane for 1 h, twice a week, at an interval of 3 days starting from the first day after injection of monocrotaline. Pulmonary artery acceleration time and pulmonary artery ejection time were measured by transthoracic echocardiography at 6 weeks after monocrotaline injection. The chest was exposed under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia, the heart was perfused, and the pulmonary artery branch and right ventricular myocardial tissues were retained. The wall thickness of pulmonary arterioles and cross-section area of right ventricular cardiomyocytes were observed by HE staining. The expression of Ca 2+ transporter in right ventricular cardiomyocytes was detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with CM group, the ratio of pulmonary artery acceleration time to pulmonary artery ejection time was significantly decreased, the cross-section area of right ventricular cardiomyocytes was increased, the wall thickness of pulmonary arteriole was increased, the expression of type 1 sodium-calcium exchange and inositol triphosphate receptor was up-regulated, and the expression of voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel α1C subunit, type 2 ryanodine receptor, sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump 2α and proteinphilin-2 was down-regulated in M group ( P<0.01). Compared with group M, the ratio of pulmonary artery acceleration time to pulmonary artery ejection time was significantly increased, the cross-section area of right ventricular cardiomyocytes was decreased, the wall thickness of pulmonary arteriole was decreased, the expression of type 1 sodium-calcium exchange and inositol triphosphate receptor was down-regulated, and the expression of voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel α1C subunit, type 2 ryanodine receptor, sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump 2α and proteinphilin-2 was up-regulated in group S ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The mechanism by which sevoflurane improves right ventricular remodeling is related to regulating the expression of Ca 2+ transporter in cardiomyocytes of rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for intraoperative hemorrhage and transfusion in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).Methods:A total of 1, 442 patients, regardless of gender, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification≥Ⅱ, scheduled for elective OPCABG from June 7, 2021 to March 8, 2023, were enrolled in a prospective, observational study. Patients′ general characteristics, preoperative hemodynamics, preoperative blood routine, duration of operation, the number of transplanted vessels, intraoperative application of vasoactive agents, intraoperative consumption of crystalloid and colloid, urine volume, blood products, use of tranatemic acid and ulinastatin were collected. Univariable and multiple linear regression models were used to screen the risk factors for intraoperative blood loss and infusion volume of concentrated red blood cell (CRBC), and univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to screen the risk factors for intraoperative CRBC infusion requirement.Results:One thousand four hundred and twenty patients were finally included. Prolonged operation duration, increased number of transplanted vessels and older age were risk factors for intraoperative blood loss, while male, increased intraoperative usage of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), increased urine volume, and application of ulinastatin and tranexamic acid were protective factors for intraoperative blood loss in OPCABG patients ( P<0.05). Prolonged operation duration and increased intraoperative usage of FFP were risk factors for intraoperative CRBC transfusion volume, while elevation of preoperative hemoglobin levels was a protective factor for intraoperative CRBC transfusion volume in OPCABG patients ( P<0.05). Prolonged operation duration and increased intraoperative usage of FFP were risk factors for intraoperative CRBC infusion requirement, while increased body mass index, elevation of preoperative hemoglobin levels and application of ulinastatin were protective factors for CRBC infusion requirement ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Prolonged operation duration, increased number of transplanted vessels and older age are risk factors for intraoperative blood loss, and increased intraoperative usage of FFP, increased urine volume, and application of ulinastatin and tranexamic acid are protective factors for intraoperative blood loss in OPCABG patients. Prolonged operation duration and increased intraoperative usage of FFP are risk factors for intraoperative CRBC infusion requirement and transfusion volume, elevation of preoperative hemoglobin levels is a protective factor for intraoperative CRBC infusion volume, and increased body mass index, elevation of preoperative hemoglobin levels and intraoperative application of ulinastatin are protective factors for intraoperative CRBC infusion requirement in patients undergoing OPCABG.

Objective:To analyse the core genes and mechanisms of brain injury induced by isoflurane using the bioinformatics analysis.Methods:The GSE358 and GSE359 isoflurane anesthesia data set were downloaded from the GEO database. Debatch processing, screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), construction and analysis of protein-protein interaction network, and functional enrichment analysis were performed. The gene expression heat map was plotted, and the diseases most related to the core genes were found by Comparative Toxicogenomics Database analysis.Results:A total of 500 DEGs were identified. According to the results of Gene Ontology analysis, they were mainly enriched in the response to foreign stimuli, the response to hypoxia, the apoptotic process, and the inflammatory response in the Biological Process analysis. In Cellular Component analysis, they were mainly enriched in the cytoplasm, extracellular space, and neuronal projections. In Molecular Function analysis, they focused on protein binding and sequence specific DNA binding in transcriptional regulatory regions. In Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, they were mainly enriched in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway, apoptosis and cAMP signaling pathway. Six core genes (interferon gamma [IFN-γ], TLR4, nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha [NFKBIA], interleukins-1α [IL-1α], proto-oncogene fos[Fos]), CCAAT enhancer binding protein β [CEBPB]) were obtained by protein-protein interaction network. Comparative Toxicogenomics Database analysis revealed that core genes (IFN-γ, IL-1α, Fos) were associated with neurological disorders, brain injury, hyperalgesia, drug-related side effects and adverse reactions, neurodegeneration, etc. The inference score could reflect the degree of association between the gene and the disease, among which IFN-γ, IL-1α and Fos had higher inference scores in brain damage.Conclusions:IFN-γ, IL-1α, Fos, TLR4, NFKBIA and CEBPB are six core genes associated with isoflurane-induced brain injury, and these genes may play important roles in immune and inflammatory responses.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of different doses of ulinastatin on lung function in patients undergoing total aortic arch replacement.Methods:One hundred and thirty five patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection of both sexes, aged 20-70 yr, with body mass index of 16.2-33.3 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status Ⅳ, were divided into 3 groups ( n=45 each) using a random number table method: high-dose ulinastatin group (group H with total dose of 30 000 U/kg), low-dose ulinastatin group (group L with total dose of 20 000 U/kg) and control group (group C). In group H and group L, half of the total dose of ulinastatin was given after induction of anesthesia, the rest of the total dose was primed after being added to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit, while normal saline 100 ml was given at the same time point in group C. After induction of anesthesia (T 0), and at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the beginning of CPB (T 1-5), blood samples from the central vein were collected for determination of plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The oxygenation index (OI) and alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen difference (P A-aO 2) at T 0 and T 2-T 5, intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and the incidence of complications within 30 days after surgery were collected. Results:Compared with group C, the plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly at T 1-T 5, OI was increased, and P A-aO 2 was decreased at T 2, 3 in H and L groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mechanical ventilation time, length of ICU stay and incidence of complications within 30 days after surgery among the 3 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Ulinastatin can inhibit inflammatory responses and improve lung function in patients undergoing total aortic arch replacement, but it has no value for clinical outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the modified efficacy of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) combined with general anesthesia for thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer.Methods:Eighty-two patients of both sexes, aged 40-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-24 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer, were divided into 2 groups ( n=41 each) using a random number table method: general anesthesia group (group G) and SAPB combined with general anesthesia group (group SG). Ultrasound-guided SAPB was performed before induction of general anesthesia in group SG.General anesthesia was induced with midazolam, etomidate, sufentanil and cis atracurium, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil.Sufentanil was used for patient-controlled intravenous anesthesia (PCIA) after the end of operation.When visual analog scale score≥4, sufentanil 2.5 μg was injected intravenously for rescue analgesia.The intraoperative consumption of sevoflurane and remifentanil, extubation time, requirement for rescue analgesia within 48 h after operation, consumption of sufentanil, requirement for nicardipine and esmolol and occurrence of adverse events were recorded. Results:Compared with group G, the intraoperative consumption of remifentanil and sevoflurane, postoperative consumption of sufentanil, postoperative requirement for rescue analgesia, postoperative requirement for nicardipine and esmolol, postoperative incidence of nausea and vomiting, skin pruritus and urinary retention were significantly decreased, the extubation time was shortened, and the time of the first postoperative requirement for rescue analgesia was prolonged in group SG ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with general anesthesia alone, SAPB combined with general anesthesia can not only significantly reduce intraoperative general anesthetics and opioid consumption, but also improve postoperative stress management, which is helpful for early postoperative outcome when used for thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of sevoflurane on right ventricular myocardial fibrosis caused by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats.Methods:Eighteen SPF healthy adult male Wistar rats, weighing 260-300 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=6 each) by a random number table method: control group (group C), group PAH and PAH plus sevoflurane group (group PS). The PAH model was established by single intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline 60 mg/kg in group PAH and group PS, while the equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected in group C. Sevoflurane 1.5 MAC was inhaled for 1 h starting from the end of injection, twice a week for 6 weeks in total, in group PS.Echocardiography was performed at the end of 6th week to measure right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVEDD), right ventricular anterior wall end-diastolic thickness (RVWTd), interventricular septal end-diastolic thickness (IVSTd), pulmonary artery inner diameter (PAID) and pulmonary valve orifice maximum peak velocity (PV). At the end of 6th week, the hearts were taken to measure the weight of right ventricle, interventricular septum and left ventricle, and Fulton′s index was calculated, and the tissue of the lower lobe of the right lung was taken, the outer diameter and inner diameter of the vascular wall were measured to calculate the vascular wall thickness index (WT), and total vascular area and lumen area were measured to calculate the vascular wall area index (WA) after HE staining.The myocardial tissue of the right ventricle was obtained to observe the degree of myocardial fibrosis (with a light microscope after Masson staining) and to detect the expression of TGF-β1 (after immunofluorescence staining) and expression of TGF-β1, phosphorylated Smad3 (p-SMad3) and Smad7 (by Western blot). Results:Compared with group C, Fulton′s index, RVEDD, RVWTd, IVSTd, PAID, WT and WA were significantly increased, PV was decreased, the expression of TGF-β1 and pSmad3 in right ventricular myocardial tissues was up-regulated, the expression of Smad7 was down-regulated( P<0.01), and myocardial fibrosis occurred in group PAH.Compared with group PAH, Fulton′s index, RVEDD, RVWTd, IVSTd, PAID, WT and WA were significantly decreased, PV was increased, the expression of TGF-β1 and pSmad3 in right ventricular myocardial tissues was down-regulated, the expression of Smad7 was up-regulated ( P<0.05 or 0.01), and myocardial fibrosis was significantly improved in group PS. Conclusion:Sevoflurane can improve the myocardial fibrosis in right ventricle induced by PAH in rats, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of jugular vein bulb pressure (JVBP) on postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing valve replacement-coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods:Ninety-two patients of both sexes, aged 65-75 yr, with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, with New York Heart Association class Ⅱ or Ⅲ, were selected.All the patients underwent right internal jugular vein catheterization to monitor central venous pressure (CVP) and retrograde catheterization to measure JVBP.JVBP was recorded immediately after anesthesia induction (T 11), 10 min after CPB (T 12) and at the end of operation (T 13). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to JVBP: JVBP<12 mmHg group (group L) and JVBP≥12 mmHg group (group H). At T 11-13 and on 1st and 2nd days after operation (T 14, 15), heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP) were recorded, and blood samples from the jugular vein bulb were collected to determine the concentrations of S100β protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in plasma and nerve specific enolase (NSE) in serum.Cognitive function was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 1 day before operation (T 21), 3 and 7 days after operation (T 22, 23) and 3 months after operation (T 24). Results:A total of 80 patients were included in this study, including 46 patients in group L and 34 patients in group H. Compared with those at T 11, CVP, JVBP, and concentrations of S100β protein and MMP-9 in plasma and NSE in serum were significantly increased at T 12 in group H, and CVP at T 13-15 and JVBP at T 12, 13 and concentrations of S100β protein and MMP-9 in plasma and NSE in serum at T 12-15 were significantly increased in two groups ( P<0.05). MMSE scores were significantly lower at T 22, 23 than at T 21 in the two groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group L, JVBP at T 12, 13, CVP at T 12-14 and concentrations of S100β protein and MMP-9 in plasma and NSE in serum at T 13 were significantly increased, concentrations of S100β prote in plasma were increased at T 12, MMSE scores were decreased at T 22-24, and the incidence of POCD was increased in group H ( P<0.05). JVBP was positively correlated with CVP, plasma S100β protein, MMP-9 concentration and serum NSE concentration, and the r values were 0.95, 0.56, 0.70 and 0.58, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Increased JVBP can decrease the postoperative cognitive function of elderly patients undergoing valve replacement-coronary artery bypass grafting under CPB, and the mechanism is related to blood-brain barrier damage.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of propofol on right ventricular hypertrophy induced by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats.Methods:Twenty-two clean-grade healthy adult male Wistar rats, weighing 250-280 g, were divided into 3 groups using a random number table method: control group (group C, n=8), PAH group (group PH, n=6) and propofol group (group P, n=8). In PH and P groups, monocrotaline 60 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally to establish the model of PAH, while the equal volume of normal saline was administered in group C. Propofol 100 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks starting from 2 weeks after establishment of the model in group P. The weight of rats was measured before establishment of model and after administration, and the weight difference (△BW=weight after administration-weight before administration) was calculated.At the end of administration, the right ventricular end-diastolic dimension (RVEDD), right ventricular wall thickness in diastole (RVWTd), intraventricular septum in diastole (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall in diastole (LVPWd) and maximal velocity of pulmonic valve (PV) were measured using cardiac ultrasound.The animals were then sacrificed, and the lungs and hearts were removed for examination of the pathological changes (after haematoxylin and eosin staining) and for determination of the degree of myocardial fibrosis in right ventricular (by Masson staining), expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in lung tissues and myocardial tissues of the right ventricle (by immunohistochemistry). Results:Compared with group C, △BW and PV were significantly decreased, RVWTd, IVTd and RVEDD were increased, the thickness of the wall of pulmonary arterioles and myocardial cell penetration area in right ventricular were increased, the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in lung tissues and myocardial tissues of right ventricle was up-regulated ( P<0.05 or 0.01), inflammatory cell infiltration and structural disorders were found in lung tissues, and intercellular spaces were widened, and the myocardial tissue was extensively fibrotic in group PH.Compared with group PH, △BW and PV were significantly increased, RVWTd, IVTd and RVEDD were decreased, the thickness of the wall of pulmonary arterioles and myocardial cell penetration area (the area of cardiomyocytes in which the nucleus located in the middle) were decreased, the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in lung tissues and myocardial tissues of right ventricle was down-regulated ( P<0.05 or 0.01), inflammatory cell infiltration, structural disorders, intercellular spaces and degree of fibrosis were improved in group P. Conclusion:Propofol can alleviate right ventricular hypertrophy induced by PAH, and the mechanism is probably related to reduction of inflammatory responses in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma(aPRP)on postop-erative outcomes in the patients undergoing Sun's procedure.Methods One hundred and sixteen patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection of both sexes,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index of 19-34 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status Ⅳ,were divided into aPRP group(group A)and control group(group C)by a random number table method,with 58 cases in each group.After an-esthesia induction and intubation,aPRP preparation was completed before surgery in group A,and surgery began in group C.After heparin neutralization,group A received retransfusion of platelet-rich plasma,while group C received conventional fluid management.Thromboelastography was performed on all patients,and the results were recorded.The intraoperative amount of allogeneic blood products and blood loss were recorded in two groups.Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)were recorded after anesthesia induction(T0),immediately after completion of aPRP preparation(T1),3 h after heparin neutralization(T2),and at 24 and 48 h after surgery(T3,4).The volume of post-operative chest drainage and amount of allogeneic blood products,mechanical ventilation time,lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stay,incidence of important complications and fatality rate within 30 days after surgery were also collected.Results Compared with group C,the intraoperative amount of allogeneic blood products and blood loss were significantly reduced,α angle and MA values of thromboelastograph were larger,plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were reduced at T2,3,postoperative chest drainage volume and allogeneic blood transfusion were reduced,the postoperative mechanical ventilation time and length of hospital stay were shortened,and the incidence of pulmonary complications was reduced in group A(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the length of intensive care unit stay,incidence of other complications or fatality rate within 30 days after surgery between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclu-sion aPRP can improve postoperative outcomes in the patients undergoing Sun's procedure.