Objective To investigate the relationship between changes of vascular elasticity and spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods We examined the semiquantitatively expression of related angiogenesis factors including von Willebrand factor, elastin and neutrophil elastase in 30 specimens of HCC with spontaneous rupture by immunohistochemistry compared with 30 specimens of HCC without rupture. Results The results showed that there was a significant decrease of von Willebrand factor, overproliferation of elastin and abnormal distribution of neutrophil elastase around the small artery in ruptured HCC. These changes exacerbated weakness of the blood vessels and destroyed function of coagulation. The blood vessels split easily when the vascular load increased from hypertension or minor mechanical trauma. Conclusion The spontaneous rupture of HCC may be related to the vascular dysfunction.
Objective To investigate whether the sleep-induced hypoxemia ( SIH) at different time and different level have different effects on pulmonary emphysema and coagulation systemfunction in the rats with pulmonary emphysema. Methods Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups( n = 10 in each group) . All rats were exposed to cigarette smoke twice a day ( 30 min each time) . From29th day on, the rats in Group A ( pulmonary emphysema with short SIH) were also exposed to mixed gas of 12. 5% oxygen for 1. 5 hours during sleeping time every day ( the expose time was divided into 4 periods, 22. 5 min each) . The rats in Group B ( pulmonary emphysema with mild SIH) were also exposed to mixed gas of 15% oxygen for three hours during sleeping time every day( the expose time was divided into 4 periods, 45 min each) . The rats in Group C( pulmonary emphysema with standard SIH) were also exposed to mixed gas of 12. 5% oxygen for three hours during sleeping time every day( the expose time was divided into 4 periods,45 min each) . After continuous exposure for 56 days, the rats were sacrificed. Semi-quantitative image analytic method was employed for histopathological analysis including pathological score of lungs, mean linear intercept ( MLI) and mean alveolus number( MAN) . ATⅢ, FIB, vWF, FⅧ were measured. Results All animals in three groups manifested the histopathological features of emphysema. Pathological scores of lungs and MLI of every group were significantly different from each other( F = 21. 907, F = 18. 415, all P lt; 0. 05) , Group A [ ( 61. 90 ±4. 25) % , ( 92. 45 ±1. 78) μm] and Group B[ ( 64. 60 ±3. 95) % , ( 92. 80 ±3. 65) μm] were significantly lower than Group C[ ( 73. 30 ±3. 86) % , ( 99. 32 ±2. 81) μm, q= 8. 96, q =6. 84, q = 12. 64, q =9. 65, all P lt; 0. 05] . Levels of FIB were significantly different among three groups ( F = 20. 592, P lt; 0. 05) while FIB in Group A[ ( 189. 98 ±5. 29) mg/ dL] and Group B[ ( 182. 70 ±2. 78) mg /dL] were significantly lower than that in Group C[ ( 198. 40 ±7. 37) mg/ dL, q = 4. 86, q= 9. 07, all P lt; 0. 05] , and FIB in Group A was significantly higher than that in Group B( q = 4. 20, P lt; 0. 05) . Levels of FⅧ were significantly different from each other( F = 33. 652, P lt;0. 05) while FⅧ in Group A[ ( 232. 26 ±4. 17) % ]and Group B[ ( 242. 53 ±14. 50) % ] were significantly lower than that in Group C[ ( 303. 25 ±32. 93) % ,q= 10. 73, q = 9. 18, all P lt; 0. 05] . Conclusions Pulmonary emphysema and hypercoagulable states increases with time and severity of SIH in rats with pulmonary emphysema. The elevated activity of blood coagulation factor may be a critical role in the hypercoagulable states.
Objective To observe the levels of von Willebrand factor ( vWF) expressed by human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs) infected by aspergillus fumigatus ( AF) alone or treatment with cytochalasin D, N-cadherin monoclonal antibody, dexamethasone, respectively, so as to explore the mechanism of angioinvasion in invasive aspergillosis. Methods An in vitro model of HUVECs infected by AF hypha was established. The experiment included six groups, ie. a sham control group, a TNF-αgroup, an AF hypha group, a cytochalasin D group, a N-cadherin antibody group, and a dexamethasone group. Cell supernatants were collected to detect the levels of vWF at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . Results Compared with that of vWF at 2 h, the level was higher at 18 h in the sham controlgroup and the TNF-αgroup, and higher at 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h in the other groups( P lt; 0. 05) . Compared with the sham control group, the level of vWF in each experiment group increased at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h except that in the N-cadherin antibody group at 2 h ( P lt; 0. 05) . The level of vWF in TNF-α group was higher than that in the AF hypha group at 2 h, but lower at 18 h. ( P lt; 0. 05) . The level of vWF was not significantly different between the cytochalasin D group and the AF hypha group at each time point. The level of vWF was lower in the N-cadherin antibody group than that in the AF hypha group at 2 h and 6 h ( P lt;0. 05) . The level of vWF was not significantly different between the dexamethasone group and the AF hypha group at each time point. Conclusion HUVECs infected by AF hypha overexpress vWF. N-cadherinmonoclonal antibody can reduce the expression of vWF, but cytochalasin D or dexamethasone has no significant effect on it.
Objective To analyze the predictive value of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score on severity and prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods The ARDS patients who were admitted between January 2010 and May 2012 were recruited in the study. APACHEⅡ score and plasma vWF were detected on the first day and the third day after diagnose of ARDS. The patients were divided intoasurvival group andadeath group according the prognosis. The predictive value of vWF and APACHEⅡ score on prognosis were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Lung injury score was calculated and its relationship with vWF and APACHEⅡ score were analyzed. Results One-hundred and twelve cases of ARDS were enrolled. There were no significant differences between the survival group and the death group in sex, age, respiration rate, blood pressure, white blood cells, procalcitonin or C-reactive protein (P > 0.05). On the first day after diagnosis of ARDS, the APACHEⅡ score and vWF level of the survival group were significantly lower than those in the death group (P < 0.05). On the third day, the APACHEⅡ score was increased but vWF level declined compared with those on the first day (P < 0.05). On the first day, lung injury score of the survival group was 1.7±0.4, significantly lower than that in the death group (2.5±0.6). On the third day, lung injury score in the survival group decreased, while lung injury score of the death group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). On the first day, vWF and APACHEⅡ score were positively correlated with lung injury score (r=0.75, P < 0.05; r=0.79, P < 0.05), respectively. On the first day, the area under the ROC curve of APACHEⅡ score and vWF were 0.87 and 0.91, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion APACHEⅡ score and vWF have high diagnostic value in evaluating the degree of lung injury and predicting the prognosis of patients with ARDS.