The effect of different vasoactive drugs on the pH [intracellular pH (pHi)] of gastric mucosa in patients with septic shock was evaluated in the present study. According to the vasoactive drugs applied, 48 patients with septic shock were divided into 3 groups: A, B and C, with 16 cases each. Cases of group A were treated with dopamine, those of group B with norepinephrine while those of group C were treated with norepinephrine plus dobutamine. The changes of pH of gastric mucosa were observed before treatment (baseline) and 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment, and the hemodynamic indicators were observed before treatment (baseline) and 6 h after administration. The gastric mucosal pH was not significantly different between two of the three groups before treatment (each at P>0.05). The gastric mucosal pH of group A did not change 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment with drugs compared with the baseline (all at P>0.05), while the gastric mucosal pH in groups B and C were each statistically higher at the time points of 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment with drugs compared with the respective baselines (all at P<0.05). Following treatment with drugs, the gastric mucosal pH of group C at all the time points of 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment were significantly higher than those of groups A and B at the same time points after treatment, while there were some statistical differences between groups A and B at these time points (6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment; P<0.05). The hemodynamic indicators of the patients before treatment were not significantly different between two of the three groups (all at P>0.05). Compared with the baseline values, the mean arterial pressure and the cardiac index of each group after treatment were significantly increased, the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and the central venous pressure of groups B and C significantly increased (all at P<0.05) and the heart rate of group A was significantly increased (P<0.05). In conclusion, the gastric mucosal pH of the septic shock patients was increased when treated with norepinephrine or with dobutamine. Additionally, the gastric mucosal pH was significantly higher when the patients were treated with dobutamine and norepinephrine in combination than with norepinephrine or dopamine alone. Dopamine, norepinephrine and dobutamine can improve the systemic hemodynamic conditions in patients with septic shock.

Purpose: To determine the regulatory role of sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) in melanoma cell growth. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to investigate SPAG9 expression in melanoma tissues. Western blot was used to evaluate SPAG9 expression in melanoma tissues and cells. Melanoma cells were transfected with an siRNA targeting SPAG9 or a SPAG9 overexpression vector. Cell migration and invasion were examined by wound healing and transwell assays. The effects of SPAG9 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in melanoma cells were assessed by western blot. Results: SPAG9 expression was enhanced in melanoma tissues and cells. SiRNA-mediated silencing of SPAG9 repressed melanoma cell migration and invasion, and SPAG9 overexpression contributed to melanoma cell metastasis. In melanoma cells transfected with siRNA-SPAG9, E-cadherin expression decreased while vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 expression increased. However, ectopic expression of SPAG9 reversed this expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, and MMP-2/9. Silencing of SPAG9 decreased the phosphorylation of MAPKs, including p-p38, p-ERK and p-JNK, in melanoma cells. SPAG9 overexpression upregulated phosphorylation of MAPKs. Conclusion: SPAG9 promotes the migration and invasion of melanoma cells by activating the MAPK pathway.