A cross-sectional survey on the lung ultrasound training and practice of respiratory therapists in mainland China.

PURPOSE: This national study aimed to investigate the lung ultrasound (LUS) training and practice of respiratory therapists (RTs) in mainland China. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted from May 22, 2021 to August 12, 2021, through online platforms. This survey included RTs in mainland China. The survey was divided into four sections: (1) demographic characteristics and basic information; (2) basic information about LUS training and practice; (3) LUS practice details; and (4) Other ultrasound training and practice. RESULTS: A total of 514 responses were received, and 494 valid responses were included in the analysis. 81.2% (401/494) participants' highest degree of education was a bachelor's degree, and 43.1% (213/494) participants were at level II in terms of job ranking. 99.2%(490/494) participants agreed that the RTs needed to learn lung ultrasound, but only 12.3% (61/494) participants had received a LUS training course. Further, 66.2% (327/494) experienced participants responded to Sect. 3. Most of RTs used LUS when the patient had hypoxia (265/327, 81%) or dyspnea (260/317, 79.5%); they also used it during spontaneous breathing trial(SBT) (191/327, 58.4%) or in prone position (177/327, 54.1%). The A-line (302/327, 92.4%), B-line (299/327, 91.4%), lung slide (263/327, 80.4%), and bat sign (259/327, 79.2%) were well known as LUS signs. Also, 30.6% (100/327) participants did not use the LUS protocol in their clinical practice, and only 25.4%(83/327) participants said they had used LUS scores. Moreover, 55.7% (182/327) participants frequently changed the respiratory therapy strategy according to LUS results. CONCLUSIONS: We should improve the number and workplace of RTs in mainland China in the future. We should also standardize the application of LUS practice and training for RTs in mainland China and establish corresponding certification pathways.

Effect of dexmedetomidine on rats with convulsive status epilepticus and association with activation of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is a neurological disease with contraction and extension of limbs, leading to damage of hippocampus and cognition. This study aimed to explore the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the cognitive function and neuroinflammation in CSE rats. All rats were divided into control group, CSE group and DEX group. Morris water maze test was used to measure cognitive function. Acute hippocampal slices were made to detect long-term potentiation (LTP). Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), S-100ß and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our results showed that DEX improved the memory damage caused by CSE. DEX reduced seizure severity and increased the amplitudes and sustainable time of LTP, and also inhibited the hippocampal expression of α7-nAChR and IL-1ß in CSE rats. DEX treatment decreased serum IL-1ß, TNF-α and S-100ß levels and increased BDNF levels. The effects of DEX on seizure severity and LTP could be simulated by nicotine or attenuated by concurrent α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) treatment. In conclusions, DEX significantly improved spatial cognitive dysfunction, reduced seizure severity and increased LTP in CSE rats. Improvements by DEX were closely related to enhancement of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Characterization of the anticancer effects of S115, a novel heteroaromatic thiosemicarbazone compound, in vitro and in vivo.

AIM: To investigate the anticancer effects of S115, a novel heteroaromatic thiosemicarbazone compound in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The anti-proliferative action of S115 was analyzed in 12 human and mouse cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Autograft and xenograft cancer models were made by subcutaneous inoculation of cancer cells into mice or nude mice. The mice were orally treated with S115 (2, 8, 32 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) for 7 d, and the tumor size was measured every 3 d. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were examined using flow cytometry, gene expression profile analyses, Western blots and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The IC50 values of S115 against 12 human and mouse cancer cell lines ranged from 0.3 to 6.6 µmol/L. The tumor growth inhibition rate caused by oral administration of S115 (32 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) were 89.7%, 81.7%, 78.4% and 77.8%, respectively, in mouse model of B16 melanoma, mouse model of Colon26 colon cancer, nude mouse model of A549 lung cancer and nude mouse model of SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer. Furthermore, oral administration of S115 (7.5 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) synergistically enhanced the anticancer effects of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, or 5-fluorouracil in mouse model of S180 sarcoma. Treatment of A549 human lung cancer cells with S115 (1.5 µmol/L) induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, S115 downregulated the level of ubiquitin, and upregulated the level of Tob2 in A549 cells. CONCLUSION: S115 exerts anticancer effects against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and in grafted cancer models by inducing apoptosis, downregulating ubiquitin and upregulating Tob2.

Present Situation and Research Progress of Kidney Function Recoverability Evaluation of Acute Kidney Injury Patient.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical illness in clinic. The guideline recommendation of kidney disease for improving global outcomes regards urine volume and creatinine as standards to evaluate kidney functions. However, urine volume and creatinine have a certain delay for kidney function evaluation, and these would be interfered by many factors. Whether the renal function of AKI patients can recover is very important, which affects the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the present study reviews the application situation and research progress of the recoverability evaluation of AKI patient kidney function from three aspects: conventional indexes, biomarkers, and imaging methods of kidney function.