OBJECTIVE:To investigate relationship between plasma endotbelin(ET)and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)levels and diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: Plasma ET and serum ACE levels were measured in 62 patients with diabetes mellitus(DM) and in 30 normal control subjects with radioimmunoassay and ultraviolet-spectrophotometry. RESULTS:Plasma ET and serum ACE levels in patients with DR were significantly higher than in patients without DR (P＜0.01). Along with the progression of DR,plasma ET levels were significantly elevated and serum ACE levels were gradually elevated. CONCLUSIONS :These findings suggest that increased plasma ET and serum ACE levels may be related to the development and progression of DR. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 177-179）
Objective To evaluate the relationship between endothelin (ET) in bile and peripheral blood with systemic and hepatobiliary injury in patients with acute cholangitis of severe type (ACST). Methods ET, ALT and total bilirubin in bile and peripheral veinous blood of 25 patients with acute cholangitis of severe type (ACST) were detected during operation, one week and two weeks after operation. Results The contents of ET, ALT and total bilirubin were significantly lower on 7-day and 14-day after operations as compared with that during operations (Ｐ＜0.05 and Ｐ＜0.01). The concentration of ET in peripheral veinous blood paralleled with that in bile. Conclusion This suggests that ET is tightly related with the pathologic process of ACST. So, in patients with ACST, the dynamic measurement of ET in peripheral veinous blood can be an index for judging the degree of pathological damage either to the hepatobiliary or systemic systems.
Objective To investigate the serumlevel of endothelin-1 ( ET-1) in patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ALI/ARDS) and its clinical significance. Methods Thirty-one ALI/ARDS patients received mechanical ventilation in ICUand 25 normal subjects were recruited in the study. The patients who died in two weeks fell in death group, and the patients who did not died in two weeks fell in survival group. The serum level of ET-1 measured by EIA method were compared between thepatients with different severity of lung injury [ evaluated by American-European Consensus Conference on ARDS ( AECC) criteria and lung injury score( LIS) ] , and between the patients with different prognosis ( death or survival ) . The correlation was analyzed between the level of ET-1 and clinical parameters.Results The ET-1 level was higher in the ALI/ARDS patients than that in the control subjects [ ( 6. 18 ±4. 48) ng/L vs. ( 2. 68 ±1. 34) ng/L, P lt;0. 05] . There was no significant difference in the patients with different severity [ ALI vs. ARDS, ( 5. 43 ±4. 39) ng/L vs. ( 7. 01 ±4. 51) ng/L, P gt; 0. 05; LIS≤2. 5 vs.LISgt;2. 5, ( 5. 93 ±5. 21) ng/L vs. ( 6. 68 ±2. 76) ng/L, P gt; 0. 05] . The ET-1 level in the death group continued to increase, and higher than that in the survival group on the 5th day [ ( 7. 96 ±3. 30) ng/L vs.( 4. 36 ±3. 29) ng/L, P lt; 0. 05] . The ET-1 level was positively correlated with SIRS, SAPSⅡ and APACHEⅡ ( r = 0. 359, 0. 369 and 0. 426, respectively, P lt; 0. 05 ) , and negatively correlated with PaO2 /FiO2 and AaDO2 ( r = - 0. 286 and - 0. 300, respectively, P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion The measurementof serum ET-1 can help to evaluate the severity and prognosis of ALI/ARDS patients.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of endothelin receptor antagonist on recent outcome of patients undergoing Fontan surgery. MethodsThirty nine patients who received Fontan procedure from January 2009 to December 2010 in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital were recruited in the study. There were 25 males and 14 females with mean age of 8.02±4.98 years (ranged from 2.5 to 18.0 years). According to the admission number, the patients were randomly divided into an endothelin receptor antagonists group (bosentan group, n=16) and a control group (n=23). The bosentan group received bosentan treatment by gastric fill or oral according to the recommended dose in three days after surgery for over 7 days. The control group did not receive any pulmonary hypertension targeted therapy. On the 10th day after surgery, indexes including mortality etc in the two groups were compared. ResultsNo death occurred in the bosentan group. One patient died on the 5th day after operation in the control group. There was no significant difference in the postoperative mortality. The patients in the bosentan group got significantly better results than the control group in cardiac function, incidence of pleural effusion, vasoactive drugs score, and serum B-type natriuretic peptide, albumin, alanine aminotransferase on the 10th day (P < 0.05); while the 6-minute walk distance, transcutaneous oxygen saturation, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I, and creatinine of the two groups showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05). ConclusionEndothelin receptor antagonists can improve the short-term outcome of patients after Fontan surgery.
Objective To investigate the alteration of protein kinase C (PKC) and endothelin system in early diabetic rats, and the effect of specific PKC inhibitor on the expression of retinal endothelin-1 (ET-1). Methods The rats model with streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes were set up. The expression of retinal PKC was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of retinal ET-1, ET-3, ET-A and ET-B receptor mRNA was determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The alteration of retinal ET-1 mRNA after intravitreal injection of PKC inhibitor GF109203X in diabetic rats was also observed. Results The activities of membranous PKC were significantly increased in 2-week diabetic rats compared with that in normal rats（t=3.296 , P=0.008）, while activities of cytosolic PKC were unchangeable（t=0.138, P=0.894）. The expression of retinal ET-1 mRNA was significantly increased（P=0.008）, while no change was found in expression of ET-3, ET-A and ET-B mRNA（P=0.918，P=0.889，P=0.500）. After intravitreal in jection of 10-5、10-6、10-7 mol/L PKC inhibitor GF109203X in diabetic rats, the expression of retinal ET-1 mRNA was decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control rats. Conclusion Activation of PKC and increased expression of ET-1 could be found in the retina of early diabetic rats, and PKC inhibitor could inhibit the expression of retinal ET-1. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：168-171)
Objective To investigate the correlation between the plasma endothelin (ET) and gastric mucosal pathology.MethodsIn this experiment,seven dogs who experienced common bileduct ligation were in experiment group, the other three dogs who underwent shamoperation were control group. By using specific radio immunological method, the plasma ET levels were determined in dogs before and after 1,4,7 d. The total bilirubin levels were determined before and after 1,4,7 d after operation by using carbazotic acid method.The gastric mucosa,7 d after operation, was cut into slices and was examined under the electron microscope and the light microscope.Results In the experiment group,the levels of ET and total bilirubin rose continually and were higher than those in control group. Vascular congestion and oedema were seen in gastric mucosa of common bileduct ligated dogs. Under the electron microscope, we could see the dilated blood capillary and sludging of blood,the intenstitial mucusa cells oedema. Conclusion The increase of plasma ET might lead to impairment of mucosal microcirculation,which might be one of the pathogens that could induce the gastric mucosal damages in common bileduct ligated dogs.
Objective To study the effects of endothelin (ET) on acute pancreatitis in rats. Methods The acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP) and hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (AHNP) model of rats were induced by cerulein and dextran-110 and endothelin-1 was administered on AEP rats via intravenous injection. Serum amylase, plasma ET and 6-Keto-PGF1α, pancreas hostologic observation were determined. Results The serum concentration of amylase increased markedly in AHNP rats, and there was a significant difference between AHNP and AEP (Ｐ＜0.01). A dose of extrinsic ET-1 may induce the conversion of AEP to AHNP in rats. The degree of pancreatic damage correlates positively with the level of the plasma ET. Conclusion Endothelin might take part in the development of acute pancreatitis, and play a key role in the conversion of AEP to AHNP.
This prospective animal study was designed to investigate the changes of plasma endothelin (ET) levels in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly devided into 3 groups: acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) group in which ANP was induced by infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate (STC) into biliopancreatic duct, sham operation (SO) group and platelet activating factor antagonist BN50739 (BN) group. Blood levels of ET and platelet activating factor (PAF) were detected. Pancreatic microcirculatory blood flow was measured and pancreatic histological scores were evaluated. Results showed that the pancreatic microcirculatory blood flow in ANP group was decreased to a great extent immediatly after induction of ANP and soon began to rise slowly for 3 hours and again decreased steadily after that. The blood levels of ET, PAF and histological scores in ANP group were significantly higher than those in SO group. In BN group, the blood flow was significantly improved and the levels of blood ET, PAF and histological scores were all significantly lower as compared to those in ANP group. It is concluded that ischemia/ reperfusion is present in the initiation of acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by STC in the rat. This leads to injuries of endothelial cells and increase in the production of ET and PAF. I/R lesions,and interaction of ET and PAF lead to a vicious circle, thus augmenting the pathological changes in the pancreas.
In order to study effect of endothelin (ET-1) on hepatic blood flow in rats and effect of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) on ET-1 biological function, 20 rats were randomized into control, ET-1, ET-1 plus nitric-Larginine, ET-1 plus prostacyclin and indomethen groups. The result showed that ET-1 decreased hepatic blood flow and lasted for longer time. NO and PGI2 may antagonize the biological action of ET-1 during endotoxemia. Therefore, the endothelium-derived vascular factors may regulate hepatic blood flow.
Objective To research the changes in plasma endothelin, LPS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in the patients with obstructive jaundice (OJ) and non-obstructive jaundice (NOJ) after surgery. Methods The plasma ET, LPS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in 15 patients without jaundice as controls. Results As compared with NOJ, the postoperative changes of ET, LPS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in OJ group increased significantly at multiple time points (P＜0.05). Conclusion There is interaction between ET,LPS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 and damage to multiple organ function in patients with OJ after surgery.