No abstract

Septic shock and sequential multiple organ failure are the main cause of mortality in patients with sepsis. The induction of inflammation during sepsis is a complex biological cascade, which requires successful therapeutic intervention. Selenoprotein S (SEPS1) is a novel endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein and is important in the production of inflammatory cytokines. The present study attempted to assess the effect of SEPS1 suppression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. In total, 30 mice were randomly assigned to three groups: i) H group (LPS-induced sepsis group; n=10): Mice with intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg); ii) K group (scrambled siRNA group; n=10): Mice transfected with scrambled control siRNA 12 h prior to injection with LPS and iii) L group (SEPS1 siRNA group; n=10): Mice transfected with SEPS1 siRNA 12 h prior to injection with LPS. The effects of siRNA were evaluated by SEPS1 gene and protein expression, biochemical parameters including serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and myocardial kinase (CK-MB), as well as the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) was also detected by western blot analysis. In the SEPS1 siRNA group, SEPS1 gene and protein expression decreased significantly, while the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 increased compared with the control group. The biochemical parameters of ALT, AST, BUN, LDH, CK and CK-MB were markedly increased in the SEPS1 siRNA group. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was also significantly activated. The decrease in SEPS1 gene and protein expression and the production of TNF-α and IL-6 may correlate with the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. Biochemical factors and pathological results demonstrated that the damage to vital organs was aggravated. In conclusion, these findings suggested that SEPS1 may protect mice against LPS-induced sepsis and organ damage. Therefore, SEPS1 may be a new target to resolve LPS-induced sepsis.

No abstract

A new technique focusing on retrograde wire externalization in recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion Science Bulletin 64, 222 (2019); Magnetic anchor technique and its clinical application Chinese Science Bulletin 65, 1274 (2020); Active greeting technique: a mother-and-child catheter based technique to facilitate retrograde wire externalization in recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion Science Bulletin 63, 1565 (2018); Potential clinical treatment for Ebola pandemic SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences 57, 982 (2014); Basic and clinical study of stem cell treatment for diabetes mellitus in China

Abstract. Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication of acute pancreatitis. One of the major risk factors of both acute pancreatitis and rhabdomyolysis is alcohol abuse. However, only a few studies have reported the prognosis and association of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and rhabdomyolysis in alcohol abuse patients. In the present study, we report two cases presenting with SAP complicated by rhabdomyolysis following high-dose alcohol intake. The disease onset, clinical manifestations, laboratory data, diagnosis and treatment procedure of each patient were recorded, and the association with rhabdomyolysis was analyzed. Alcohol consumption was the most predominant cause of SAP and rhabdomyolysis in these patients. SAP-related rhabdomyolysis was primarily induced by the toxicity associated with pancreatic necrosis. The laboratory tests revealed that the concentration of serum creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin increased and acute renal failure symptoms were present, which provided an exact diagnosis for SAP-induced rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis and subsequent hypermyoglobinuria severely impaired kidney function and aggravated hypocalcemia. The therapy of early stage SAP complicated by rhabdomyolysis involved liquid resuscitation support. When first stage treatment fails, blood purification should be performed immediately. Both patients developed multiple organ failure (MOF) and succumbed to the disease. Considering the two cases presented, we conclude that alcohol-related SAP complicated by rhabdomyolysis may have a poor clinical prognosis.