Objective To investigate the effects of noninvasive ventilation for the treatment of acute respiratory failure secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS) . Methods 127 patients with complete information were collected from the database of SARS in Guangdong province, who were all consistent with the ALI/ARDS diagnostic criteria. The patients were divided into three groups depending on ventilation status, ie. a no-ventilation group, a noninvasive ventilation group, and a mechanical ventilation group. The outcome of ventilation treatmentwas followed up.Multi-factor regression analysis was conducted to analyze the relations of ventilation treatment with ARDS and mortality, and factors associated with success of noninvasive ventilation. Results As soon as the patients met the diagnostic criteria of ALI/ARDS, the patients in the noninvasive ventilation group were in more serious condition and had a higher proportion of ARDS compared with the no-ventilation group ( P lt;0. 01) . The patients in the mechanical ventilation group had a higher mortality rate ( P lt;0.01) . 6 and 7 patients in the no-ventilation group had noninvasive ventilation and invasive ventilation thereafter, respectively. 15 patients in the noninvasive group switched to invasive ventilation. Compared with the patients without ventilation ( n =45) , the patients receiving noninvasive ventilation ( n = 61) were in more serious condition and at higher risk of developing ARDS ( P lt;0. 01) , but the mortality was not different between them ( P gt; 0. 05) . The patients who continued to receive noninvasive ventilation ( n = 40) were in more serious condition, and at higher risk of developing ARDS compared with the patients without ventilation ( n = 45) ( P lt; 0. 01) . 15 patients in the noninvasive group who switched to invasive ventilation were older than those patients continuing noninvasive ventilation.Conclusions For SARS patients fulfilling the ALI/ARDS criteria, the patients underwent noninvasive ventilation are more severe, run a higher probability of developing ARDS from ALI. But earlier initiation of noninvasive ventilation has no impact on mortality. The patients who tolerate noninvasive ventilation can avoid intubation, especially for young patients. However, the time and indication of shifting from noninvasive ventilation to invasive ventilation should be emphasized.
Objective To explore the role of renin-angiotensin system( RAS) in acute lung injury( ALI) /acute respiratory dysfunction syndrome( ARDS) by using amouse cecal ligation and puncture ( CLP)model.Methods The ALI/ARDS animal models were assessed bymeasuring blood gas, wet/dry lung weight ratio( W/D) , and lung tissue histology 18 hours after CLP operation. After the ALI/ARDS models was successfully established, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and radioimmunity were used to investigate the changes of several key enzymes of RAS, such as ACE, ACE2 and Ang Ⅱ. In addition, two groups of animals received a separate intraperitoneal injection of angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE) inhibitor captopril or recombinant mouse ACE2 ( rmACE2) after CLP, then the changes of RAS in ALI/ARDS modelswere observed. Results The extensive lung injuries can be observed in the lung tissues from CLP-treated animals 18 hours after operation. The CLP-induced ALI/ARDS led to an increase in the wet/dry weight ratio of the lung tissues, and a decrease in the PaO2 /FiO2 [ ( 194. 3 ±23. 9) mm Hg vs ( 346. 7 ±20. 5) mm Hg,P lt;0. 01] . Immunohistochemistry and western blotting tests of the lung tissues from CLP-treated animals showed a decrease in the ACE2 protein level. However, in both the CLP and sham mice there were no significant differences between the two groups. CLP markedly increased Ang Ⅱ level in lungs and plasma of mice, and RAS drugs significantly impacted the Ang Ⅱ levels of mice. Compared with the CLP group,captopril or rmACE2 led to a decrease of the Ang Ⅱ level in mice [ Lung: ( 1. 58 ±0. 16) fmol /mg,( 1. 65 ±0. 21) fmol /mg vs ( 2. 38 ±0. 41) fmol /mg; Plasma: ( 178. 04 ±17. 87) fmol /mL, ( 153. 74 ±10. 24) fmol /mL vs ( 213. 38 ± 25. 44) fmol /mL] . Conclusions RAS activation is one of the characteristics of CLP-induced ALI/ARDS in mice models. ACE and ACE2 in RAS have a different role in the regulation of AngⅡ synthesis, while ACE has a positive effect in generating AngⅡ, and ACE2 shows a negative effect.
Objective To investigate the role of angiotensin-II type 1 receptor ( AT1) antagonist in treatment of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ALI/ARDS) . Methods Animal model of ALI/ARDS was induced by cecal ligation and perforation ( CLP) . ALI/ARDS animals received a separate intraperitoneal injection of several concentrations( 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/kg) of AT1 inhibitor losartan after CLP, then the changes of lung injury and 7-day survival were measured. Results Oxygenation index and lung wet to dry weight ratio ( W/D) showed an improving trend when losartan was administered at doses of 5 to 15 mg/kg in ALI/ARDS rats, but aggravated above the dose of 15 mg/kg. Losartan ( 15 mg/kg) treatment significantly alleviated pulmonary edema after CLP operation, and decreased serumlevels of TNF-α, IL-6, andIL-1β [ TNF-α: ( 554. 1 ±62. 7 ) pg/mL vs. ( 759. 2 ±21. 5 ) pg/mL, P lt; 0. 01; IL-6: ( 1227. 3 ±130. 0) pg/mL vs. ( 2670. 4 ±174. 1) pg/mL, P lt; 0. 01; IL-1β: ( 444. 0 ±38. 6) pg/mL vs. ( 486. 6 ±61. 7)pg/mL, P lt; 0. 05] . 7-day survival rate also increased in losartan treatment group at a dose of 15 mg/kg( 6. 7% vs. 0 ) . Conclusions The AT1 inhibitor, losartan, can significantly prevent lung injury in ALI/ARDS after CLP, and improve the 7-day survival rate.
Objective To evaluate the safety and diagnostic yield of transbronchial lung biopsy ( TBLB) performed in mechanically ventilated patients. Methods TBLB was performed in 19 mechanically ventilated patients form January 2001 to September 2007 in the ICU of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases. The results of clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 19 patients were analyzed[ 9 female, 10 male, with amean age of ( 57. 94 ±15. 00) years] . Specific diagnoses were made in 9 cases ( 47. 4% ) by TBLB. The diseases included pulmonary aspergillus pneumonia in 4 cases ( 21. 0% ) ,lung cancer in 2 cases ( 10. 5% ) , radioactive pneumonia in 1 case( 5. 3% ) , Goodpasture’s syndrome in1case( 5. 3% ) , pulmonary tuberculosis in 1 case ( 5. 3% ) . Ten cases ( 52. 6% ) were not able to establish confirmed diagnoses including pulmonary interstitial fibrosis in 6 cases( 31. 6% ) and lung tissue nonspecific changes in 4 cases( 21. 0% ) . The treatment was adjusted according to the results of TBLB in 10 patients( 52. 6% ) . Complications associated with this procedure included episodes of bronchial hemorrhage of ≥30 mL in 4 cases ( 21. 0% ) , transient oxygen desaturation in 11 cases ( 57. 9% ) , hypotension in 5 cases ( 26. 3% ) , and transient tachycardia in 1 case ( 5. 3% ) without death and pneumothorax. Conclusions TBLB can be performed safely and has a diagnostic value in mechanically ventilated patients. TBLB should be considered as a diagnostic procedure before open lung biopsy.