The Critical Role of Cannabinoid Receptor 2 in URB602-Induced Protective Effects Against Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Rat.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) and even induces remote organ damage. Accumulating proofs demonstrates that the endocannabinoid system may provide a promising access for treatment strategy of renal IRI associated AKI. In the current study, using the established renal IRI model of rat, we tested the hypothesis that pretreatment of URB602, 30 min before renal IRI, alleviates kidney injury and relevant distant organ damage via limiting oxidative stress and inflammation. Using Western blot analysis and LC-MS/MS, renal IRI showed to increase the levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in kidneys as well as COX-2, PGE2, TXA2, and decrease N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA); the expressions of renal cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) were unchanged. The URB602 pretreatment in renal IRI, further enhanced renal 2-AG which is high affinity to both CB1 and CB2, and reduced renal COX-2 which is involved in the regulation of renal perfusion and inflammation. AM630 (CB2 antagonist) almost blocked all the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and nephroprotective effects of URB602, whereas AM251 (CB1 antagonist) showed limited influence, and parecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor) slightly ameliorated renal function at the dose of 10 mg/kg. Taken together, our data indicate that URB602 acts as a reactive oxygen species scavenger and anti-inflammatory media in renal IRI mainly depending on the activation of CB2.

[Response of radial growth of Pinus koraiensis in broad-leaved Korean pine forests with different latitudes to climatical factors.] / ä¸åŒçº¬åº¦é˜”å¶çº¢æ¾æž—çº¢æ¾å¾„å‘ç”Ÿé•¿å¯¹æ°”å€™å› å­çš„å“åº”.

To reveal the radial growth trends of Pinus koraiensis and the differences in their responses to climate factors among different latitudes, and to assess the dynamic characteristics, adaptabi-lity and sensitivity of P. koraiensis under the influence of climate change, dendrochronological techniques were used to study the relationships between the climatic variables and the radial growth of P. koraiensis in broad-leaved Korean pine forests with different latitudes. The results showed that there were differences in the responses of the radial growth of P. koraiensis in four different latitudes to local climatic factors. In Baishilazi Nature Reserve, the southernmost sample plot, the radial growth of P. koraiensis was significantly positively correlated to the average relative humidity but significantly negatively correlated to the average maximum temperature of growing season. In low altitude of Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, the intermediate sample plot, it was significantly positively correlated with precipitation, average relative humidity and PDSI, and significantly negatively correlated with the average maximum temperature in growing season. In Liangshui Nature Reserve, the intermediate sample plot, significantly positive correlations occurred for average relative humidity and PDSI in growing season, while significantly negative correlations occurred for the average temperature and the average maximum temperature in growing season. Nevertheless, in Shengshan Nature Reserve, the northernmost sample plot, it was positively correlated to the tempe-rature factors of most months. The climatic variables in June of current year were the main factors limiting the radial growth of P. koraiensis in all latitudes, and the average maximum temperature in June of current year was highly negatively correlated with radial growth for P. koraiensis measured at all sites. In recent four decades, with the rising of temperature, the radial growth of P. koraiensis decreased significantly in the southernmost point, increased significantly in the northernmost point, and did not change significantly in middle latitudes. The distribution area of P. koraiensis would be reduced if the temperature increased and precipitation remained unchanged in the future.

Comparison of Incidence of hypoxia during modified rapid sequence induction and an alternative technique: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects and safety of an alternative technique for rapid sequence intubation in children predicting to have high risk of pulmonary aspiration in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five children predicting to have high risk of pulmonary aspiration were randomly allocated to spontaneous breathing maintained induction and intubation group (Group S) and the modified rapid sequence group (Group C). The primary outcome was the incidence of hypoxemia around the intubation period, which was defined as SpO2<90% at any time during the induction and 10 min after the endotracheal intubation. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of pulmonary aspiration, gastroesophageal reflux and other major adverse events associated with the induction and intubation. RESULTS: There were no differences in the incidence of hypoxemia around the intubation period between Group C and Group S; 25.9% vs. 14.8% (P=0.079). The incidence of severe hypoxemia appeared higher in Group C than Group S but not statistical significance, 6.2% vs. 2.5% (P=0.246). Simultaneously, gastroesophageal reflux (upper esophageal pH≤4) was detected in 4.93% children in Group C and 2.47% in group S, which was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.552). There were no witnessed aspirations in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane based deep sedation with spontaneous respiration maintained technique is not superior to modified rapid sequence induction but can be an alternative technique for anesthesia induction for those predicting to have high risk of aspiration in children.

[Climatic effects on radial growth of Korean pines with different bark forms in Liangshui Natural Reserve, Northeast China].

Dendrochronological techniques including correlation functions and single-years analysis were used to study the relationship between the two kinds of Korean pine radial growth in Liangshui Natural Reserve and climatic variables, and to assess the similarities and differences between Korean pine with coarse bark (Pinus koraiensis forma pachidermis) and fine bark (Pinus koraiensis forma leptodermis) in response to climate factors, the main affecting factors and whether the response relationship could be of long-term stability. The results showed that the Korean pine with fine bark was more suitable for dendrochronological study. The radial growth of the two kinds of Korean pine was very sensitive to environmental variables and their climate responses had no significant differ- ences. From 1902 to 2009, meteorological factors in the growing season, especially in June were the primary factors affecting the radial growth of the two kinds of Korean pine in the study area. The temperature showed a significant negative correlation and the precipitation showed a significant positive correlation. The Korean pine growing in different periods had a significantly different iresponse to meteorological factors. With the rapid rise of temperature and drought after 1970, the radial growth of the two kinds of Korean pine was more sensitive to the meteorological factors than before, which was especially more sensitive to temperature in growing season and PDSI in many seasons.