The role of serum leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α in malnutrition of male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background Leptin is a protein mainly secreted by adipocytes, and the major function of leptin was its role in body weight regulation. It is suggested that increased levels of circulating leptin may contribute to anorexia in pathologic conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between leptin and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This study aimed to explore the role of serum leptin in the malnutrition of COPD patients, and to observe the changes of serum leptin levels during acute exacerbation, also to investigate relationship between leptin and TNF-α. Methods Seventy-two COPD patients and 34 control subjects participated in this study. Seventy-two COPD patients were divided into 3 groups: group COPD IA (patients without malnutrition during acute exacerbation, n=25), group COPD IB (patients without malnutrition during stable disease, n=29), group COPD II (patients with malnutrition during stable disease, n=18). To eliminate the effect of sex differences, all patients and controls were male. Body mass index (BMI), percent ideal body weight (IBW％), triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF), mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), mid-upper arm muscle circumference (MAMC), serum leptin and TNF-α levels, serum prealbumin (PA), serum transferrin (TF), serum albumin (Alb), total lymphocytes count (TLC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), maximal inspiration pressure (MIP) and maximal expiration pressure (MEP) were measured in all participants. Leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA. The between group difference and correlation of these parameters were analyzed. Results Serum leptin levels were significantly lower in group COPD II [(4.07±3.42) ng/ml] than in group COPD IB [(9.72±6.67) ng/ml] and controls [(8.21±5.41) ng/ml] (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum leptin levels between group COPD IA [(10.82±6.40) ng/ml], group COPD IB [(9.72±6.67) ng/ml] and controls [(8.21±5.41) ng/ml]. There was no statistically significant difference in serum TNF-α levels between group COPD II [(8.03±3.37) pg/ml], group COPD IA [(8.90±1.60) pg/ml], and group COPD IB [(7.25±2.08) pg/ml]. There was no significant correlation between leptin and TNF-α in any group. Conclusions Leptin was not involved in anorexia and weight loss of COPD patients. There was no statistically significant difference in serum leptin levels between COPD patients during stable stage and acute exacerbation, and there was no significant correlation between TNF-α and leptin during the regulation of the energy balance in COPD patients.     

Clinical value of urinary and serum pseudouridine in diagnosis and monitoring of primary liver cancer.

Urinary and serum pseudouridine concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in 80 patients with primary liver cancer, 32 with benign space occupying lesions of the liver, 42 with liver cirrhosis and 40 healthy subjects. Their mean urinary and serum pseudouridine levels were 39.2=11.5 nmol / /μmol creatinine and 3.4 ± 1.3 μmol / L, 24.5 = 5.4 nmol / μmol creatinine and 2.5 = 0.5 μmol / L, 22.8 ± 7.8 nmol / μmol creatinine and 2.3 = 0.4 μmol / L, 26.4 ± 4.6 nmol / μmol creatinine and 2.3 = 0.4 μmol / L, respectively. Exceeding the mean plus 2SD of pseudouridine of healthy control was considered as positive value for the diagnosis of primary liver cancer. Thus the positivity of urinary and serum pseudouridine in hepatoma was 71.3% and 70.0%, respectively. The positive rate of combined pseudouridine and alpha-fetoprotein assay was 91.3% in patients with hepatoma. Besides, pseudouridine levels could elevate before positive localization and reduce to normal levels after     

Relationship of the plasma urotensin Ⅱ with proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide in patients with congestive heart failure

Objective: To understand the role of urotensin Ⅱ ( U Ⅱ ) and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide ( PAMP) , a fragment of proadrenomedullin ( proADM ) possessing biological activity, in the pathophysiological process of congestive heart failure (CHF) by observing the variation of their plasma levels and exploring their interrelations. Methods: Plasma U Ⅱ and PAMP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 52 patients with CHF and 14 healthy subjects. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the ratio of E/A were determined by echocardiography. Results: The plasma U Ⅱ level was significantly lower in patients with CHF than the healthy subjects (1.5±1.0 pg/ml vs 4. 3±1.2 pg/ml, P < 0.05), while plasma PAMP level was significantly higher in the former group (30. 6±5. 8 pg/ml vs 21.0±6.6 pg/ml P < 0. 05 ). The levels of U Ⅱ and PAMP were parallel with the severity of CHF, and significant correlation of plasma levels of U Ⅱ with LVEF (r=0.530, P=0.000) and the ratio of E/A (r=0.618, P = 0.     

Changes of plasma beta-endorphin levels before and after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy in patients with mitral stenosis.

To clarify the contribution of left atrial pressure to the secretion of beta-endorphin, we have investigated the relation between plasma beta endorphin levels and hemodynamic changes in 35 patients with mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC). Before PTMC, plasma beta-endorphin levels obtained from the antecubital vein (28.91 ± 5.59 pg / ml) and from the femoral vein (28.20 ± 5.44 pg / ml) in the patients with mitral stenosis were significantly higher than those obtained from the antecubital vein in the healthy volunteers (22.59 ± 3.86 pg / ml, n = 34, P< 0.001 for each). The levels of beta-endorphin in the femoral vein correlated well with the mean left atrial pressure (r=0.777, P< 0.001) and the mean right atrial pressure (r = 0.450, P<0.01) before the procedure. The antecubital venous levels of beta-endorphin in patients in New York Heart Association functional Classess Ⅱ (26.45 ± 5.39 pg / ml, n = 20) and Ⅲ (32.20 ± 4.02 pg / ml, n = 15) were significan     

Adipocytokines and breast cancer risk

Background Many researches suggested that obesity increased the risk of breast cancer, but the mechanism was currently unknown. Adipocytokines might mediate the relationship. Our study was aimed to investigate the relationship between serum levels of resistin, adiponectin and leptin and the onset, invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. Methods Blood samples were collected from 80 newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed breast cancer patients and 50 age-matched healthy controls. Serum levels of resistin, adiponectin and leptin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipids, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were assayed simultaneously.Results Serum levels of adiponectin ((8.60±2.92) mg/L vs (10.37±2.81) mg/L, P=0.001) and HDL-c were significantly decreased in breast cancer patients in comparison to controls. Serum levels of resistin ((26.35±5.36) μg/L vs (23.32±4.75) μg/L, P=0.000), leptin ((1.35±0.42) μg/L vs (1.06±0.39) μg/L, P=0.003), FBG and triglyceride (TG) in breast cancer patients were increased in contrast to controls, respectively. However, we did not find the significant difference of the serum levels of resistin, adiponectin and leptin between premenopausal breast cancer patients and healthy controls (P＝0.091, 0.109 and 0.084, respectively). The serum levels of resistin, adiponectin and leptin were significantly different between patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and those without LNM (P=0.001, 0.000 and 0.006, respectively). The stepwise regression analysis indicated that the tumor size had the close correlation with leptin (R(2)=0.414, P=0.000) and FBG (R(2)=0.602, P=0.000). Logistic regression analysis showed that reduced serum levels of adiponectin (OR: 0.805; 95%CI: 0.704–0.921; P＝0.001), HDL (OR: 0.087; 95%CI: 0.011–0.691, P＝0.021), elevated leptin (OR: 2.235; 95%CI:1.898–4.526; P＝0.004) and resistin (OR: 1.335; 95%CI: 1.114–2.354; P＝0.012) increased the risk for breast cancer; Reduced serum levels of adiponectin (OR: 0.742; 95%CI: 0.504–0.921; P=0.003) and elevated leptin (OR: 2.134; 95%CI:1.725–3.921; P= 0.001) were associated with lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. Conclusions The decreased serum adiponectin levels and increased serum resistin and leptin levels are risk factors of breast cancer. The low serum adiponectin levels and high serum leptin levels are independent risk factors for metastasis of cancer. The association between obesity and breast cancer risk might be explained by adipocytokines.     

Predictive Value of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Pigment Epithelium-derived Factor in Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Objective To explore whether the serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) could serve as the predictors of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure the serum concentrations of VEGF and PEDF on the day of hCG administration, oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer, respectively. Based on OHSS classification of the criteria of Golan, 85 patients were divided into three groups. Patients in group A (n=10) showed symptoms of severe OHSS and patients in group B (n=13) suffered from moderate OHSS. The control group (group C, n=62) contained patients without symptoms of OHSS as well as patients with mild OHSS. Results In groups A, B and C, serum concentrations of PEDF on the day of hCG administration (h-PEDF)(166.54 ± 102.81 pg/ml, 159.45 ± 136.77 pg/ml, 172.05 ± 170.95 pg/ml, P=0.48), oocyte retrieval (o-PEDF)(176.91 ± 103.37 pg/ml, 122.52 ± 92.54 pg/ml, 179.82 ± 177.47 pg/ml, P=0.27) and embryo transfer (e-PEDF)(169.02 ± 240.08 pg/ml, 136.80 ± 139.21 pg/ml, 157.38 ± 222.54 pg/ml, P=0.95), h-VEGF (175.55 ± 103.54 pg/ml, 218.84 ± 179.70 pg/ml, 153.39 ± 145.06 pg/ml, P=0.36) and o-VEGF (171.93 ± 128.55 pg/ml, 220.36 ± 149.82 pg/ml, 138.74 ± 139.30 pg/ml, P=0.15) showed no significant differences. There was a statistical difference in serum concentration of e-VEGF between group A (197.04 ± 156.63 pg/ml) and group C(110.69 ± 49.55 pg/ml)(P=0.008). The serum level of estradiol showed a positive correlation with the count of large follicles (r=0.744). The ratios of h-VEGF/h-PEDF, o-VEGF/o-PEDF and e-VEGF/e-PEDF were calculated and showed a clear difference among groups A, B and C (4.04 ± 3.39, 2.10 ± 2.14, 1.05 ± 4.80, P<0.001; 4.54 ± 5.69, 2.29 ± 1.67, 0.94 ± 0.59, P<0.001; 5.43 ± 6.16, 1.81 ± 1.36, 2.42 ± 2.60, P=0.04). Conclusion While neither serum concentrations of VEGF nor PEDF can be used as an OHSS predictor, the ratios of h-VEGF/h-PEDF, o-VEGF/o-PEDF and e-VEGF/e-PEDF may have great predictive value.     

进展性前列腺癌患者VEGF含量测定及意义

目的：测定前列腺癌（PCA）患者血清血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）和前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）含量,探讨其临床价值。方法：采用酶标记免疫吸附测定法（enzyme labeled immunosorbent assay,ELISA）测定45例PCA患者血清中VEGF和PSA水平,并以32例良性前列腺增生（BPH）作对照。结果：PCA组血清VEGF为（50.17±8.03）pg/ml,高于BPH组,差异有高度统计学意义（P〈0.01）;Ⅲ＋Ⅳ期前列腺癌血清VEGF为（52.71±8.15）pg/ml,高于Ⅰ＋Ⅱ期,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;淋巴结转移患者血清VEGF为（49.46±7.26）pg/ml,高于未转移者,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：血清VEGF与PCA的临床分期和浸润转移有一定的关系,其检测对PCA术前病情判断、疗效和预后评价有一定的临床意义。     

外周血血管内皮生长因子在垂体腺瘤患者的表达

目的探讨外周血中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的表达水平是否可反映垂体腺瘤的生物行为.方法以203例垂体腺瘤患者、22例垂体增生患者、7例垂体Rathke囊肿患者及3例垂体脓肿患者为研究对象,并以20例正常献血者为对照组,用酶联免疫吸附法测定各组外周血中VEGF水平.结果在垂体疾病患者中,垂体腺瘤患者的血清VEGF水平为(366.8±211.1)pg/ml,垂体增生患者为(286.8±107.6)pg/ml,分别高于垂体Rathke囊肿患者(180.5±61.7)pg/ml、垂体脓肿患者(147.5±46.3)pg/ml和正常对照组(180.8±56.2)pg/ml,差异均具有显著性(P＜0.05).在垂体腺瘤患者中,大腺瘤(380.0±234.5)pg/ml和巨大腺瘤(380.1±280.3)pg/ml分别高于微腺瘤(294.6±111.6)pg/ml和垂体增生,差异有显著性差异(P＜0.05).而血清VEGF在垂体腺瘤是否具有侵袭性生长、卒中、囊性变和激素分泌类型上表达无差异(P＞0.05).结论外周血VEGF水平可反映垂体腺瘤生长大小的生物学行为,不能反映垂体腺瘤是否具有侵袭性生长、出血卒中、囊性变及激素分泌类型.检测外周血中VEGF水平对垂体腺瘤与垂体Rathke囊肿、垂体脓肿的鉴别可能具有一定的参考价值.     

结直肠癌患者VEGF的检测及意义

目的 探讨结直肠癌患者血清VEGF含量检测及其临床意义.方法 检测复旦大学附属华山医院宝山分院普外二科及新疆医科大学肿瘤医院共64例已确诊的结直肠癌患者及48例健康体检者VEGF含量,比较结直肠癌患者在有无淋巴结、肝脏转移,Dukes不同分期时VEGF水平差异.结果 健康体检者VEGF水平低于结直肠癌患者(t=34.11,P＜0.05);有淋巴结转移的结直肠癌患者血清VEGF水平高于无淋巴结转移,有肝脏转移结直肠癌患者血清VEGF水平高于无肝脏转移的(均P＜0.05);TNMⅠ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ期VEGF水平分别为(120.14±25.88)、(192.07±26.95)、(277.93±63.18)、(433.40±48.39) pg/ml,随着分期增加VEGF水平逐渐升高(F=83.11,P＜0.05).结论 VEGF的表达与结直肠癌的淋巴结转移、肝转移及TNM分期密切相关,有望成为判断预后的重要参考指标之一.     

SERUM LEVELS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN PATIENTS WITH ANGINA PECTORIS AND ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮ　　Ｖａｓｃｕｌａｒｅｎｄｏｔｈｅｌｉａｌｇｒｏｗｔｈｆａｃｔｏｒ (ＶＥＧＦ)ｏｒｖａｓｃｕｌａｒｐｅｒｍｅａｂｉｌｉｔｙｆａｃｔｏｒ (ＶＰＦ)ｃｏｎｓｉｓｔｓｏｆａｆａｍｉｌｙｏｆｐｏｌｙｐｅｐｔｉｄｅｉｓｏｆｏｒｍｓｔｈａｔｓｐｅｃｉｆｉｃａｌｌｙｒｅｇｕｌａｔｅｅｎｄｏｔｈｅｌｉａｌｃｅｌｌｆｕｎｃｔｉｏｎ ,ｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇｅｎｈａｎｃｅｍｅｎｔｏｆａｎｇｉｏｇｅｎｅｓｉｓ( 1) ,ｅｎｈａｎｃｅｍｅｎｔｏｆｍｉｃｒｏｖａｓｃｕｌａｒｐｅｒｍｅａｂｉｌｉｔｙ ( 2 ) ,ａｎ…     

卵巢上皮性肿瘤患者血清血管内皮生长因子的诊断及预后意义

目的探讨术前血清血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)检测在卵巢上皮性肿瘤诊断及预后判断方面的价值.方法利用酶联免疫吸附分析(ELISA)检测卵巢上皮性肿瘤患者(恶性47例,良性14例)术前血清VEGF浓度,11例正常妇女的血清作为对照.分析检测结果与临床资料的关系.结果血清VEGF检测结果,恶性组血清VEGF均值221.81 pg/ml(95%置信区间(CI)180.35～262.87 pg/ml),良性组均值158.21 pg/ml(95%CI 27.32～279.10 pg/ml),正常对照组均值121.48 pg/ml(95%CI 34.13～228.32 pg/ml).三组血清VEGF均数差异无显著性(P＞0.05).47例恶性上皮性卵巢肿瘤中,晚期患者(38例)的术前血清VEGF浓度比早期患者(9例)的高,差异有显著性(P＜0.05).肿瘤分化程度差(G3)的患者术前血清VEGF浓度高于肿瘤分化程度高(G1-2)的(P＜0.05).不同病理类型的患者术前血清VEGF水平无统计学差异(P＞0.05).对29例已经进行彻底的肿瘤细胞减灭术的患者随访,术前血清VEGF水平高的患者2年内肿瘤复发或远处转移的可能较大(P＜0.05).结论术前血清VEGF可能对反映患者的预后有一定价值.     

艾迪注射液对乳腺癌患者血清VEGF水平的影响

目的观察艾迪注射液对乳腺癌患者血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的影响,探讨其对乳腺癌的治疗作用。方法46例乳腺癌患者随机分为对照组（单纯化疗）、实验组（化疗加艾迪注射液）,每组23例。另收集30例健康人做为健康对照组。应用双抗体夹心EMSA法检测两组乳腺癌患者治疗前后血清VEGF水平变化。结果化疗前乳腺癌患者血清VEGF水平明显高于对照组（P〈0．01）,其水平与患者年龄、肿瘤大小、组织学分级无关（P均〉0．05）,与患者淋巴结转移、临床分期有关（P均〈0．01）。新辅助化疗前乳腺癌患者血清VEGF明显高于健康对照组[（285．17±57．58）pg／ml傩（152．17±26．45）pg/ml,P〈0．01];实验组治疗前、后血清VEGF水平分别为（289．30±61．50）、（210．13±52．12）pg／ml,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;对照组治疗后血清VEGF水平与治疗前相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;实验组治疗后VEGF水平低于对照组[（210．13±52．12）pg／mlvs（261．46±54．29）pg／ml,P〈0．01]。结论艾迪注射液可以降低乳腺癌患者血清VEGF水平,通过抑制肿瘤血管生成进而抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖、浸润及转移,从而发挥抗肿瘤作用,在乳腺癌辅助抗肿瘤治疗中起着重要作用。     

雷帕霉素抑制肝癌细胞生长及转移的实验研究

目的探讨具有抗肿瘤特性的新型免疫抑制剂雷帕霉素(RPM)对肝癌细胞生长及转移的作用。方法应用流式细胞仪检测RPM(10 ng/m l)、环孢素(CsA)(100 ng/m l)、以及两者合用对人肝癌高转移细胞株MHCC97H细胞凋亡及细胞周期的影响;应用MTT法检测上述药物对细胞增殖的影响。用实时定量聚合酶链反应(PCR)法检测RPM处理后血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)mRNA、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)mRNA、缺氧诱导因子-1α(H IF-1α)mRNA、转化生长因子b(TGFb)的表达。ELISA法检测MHCC97H培养液上清VEGF蛋白水平的变化。28只原位种植高转移性人肝癌模型LC I-D20裸鼠,随机分为CsA(25 mg/kg)组、RPM(2 mg/kg)组、CsA+RPM组及对照组(生理盐水),每组7只;探讨免疫抑制剂对肿瘤生长及自发肺转移的影响。结果体外实验中,RPM抑制了MHCC97H细胞的增殖,并使细胞停滞于G0/G1期,但未促进细胞凋亡。RPM下调了H IF-1α和VEGF的基因表达及MHCC97H培养液上清VEGF蛋白的表达(890.3 pg/m l±25.1 pg/m lvs 1583.7 pg/m l±17.3 pg/m l,P=0.000)。CsA对细胞周期及增殖无影响。体内实验中,RPM及CsA+RPM抑制了LC I-D20模型移植瘤的生长(0.76 g±0.38 g vs 2.09 g±0.75 g,P=0.001;0.40 g±0.22 g vs 2.09 g±0.75 g,P=0.000)及肺部转移的发生(均为2/7 vs 7/7,P=0.021)。CsA组肺部自发转移灶的数目多于对照组(6±2 vs 4±1,P=0.046)。结论RPM能明显抑制肝癌细胞的生长及转移,以RPM为基础的免疫抑制方案在肝癌肝移植中可能有临床应用前景。     

血清血管内皮生长因子的测定在卵巢上皮癌诊断和预后中 …

目的 探讨测定血清中血管内皮生长因子（ＶＥＧＦ）的水平在卵巢上皮癌诊断中的价值及其预后的关系。方法 以４１例卵巢上皮癌（ＥＯＣ）、１０例卵巢交界性肿瘤（ＢＯＴ）及２５例良性卵巢肿瘤（ＢＥＴ）患者为３个研究组,２０例正常人为对照组,用酶联免疫吸附（ＥＬＩＳＡ）法测定各组术前血清中的ＶＥＧＦ水平。结果（１）ＥＯＣ、ＢＯＴ、ＢＥＴ及正常对照组血清ＶＥＧＦ中位数分别为４１５．０、３１２．５、１７０、１６５     

血管内皮生长因子及脂联素检测对老年肺癌患者的诊断意义研究

目的探讨血清血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及脂联素检测对老年肺癌患者的诊断意义。方法对41例老年肺癌患者、30例肺良性疾病患者、35例健康者,采用酶联免疫吸附剂测定(ELISA)方法检测血清中VEGF及脂联素的水平。结果肺癌组、肺良性疾病组及健康组VEGF测得值的中位数分别为201.76 pg/ml、148.39 pg/ml及92.13 pg/ml,脂联素测得值的中位数分别为6.23 mg/ml、10.39 mg/ml及13.36 mg/ml,肺癌组与肺良性疾病组及健康组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);肺癌不同临床分期VEGF及脂联素水平不同;术后VEGF明显降低,脂联素明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论老年肺癌患者血清VEGF及脂联素明显异常,联合检测血清VEGF及脂联素对老年肺癌诊断、鉴别、治疗中的动态观察及预后有一定意义。     

Endothelin and acute renal failure: study on their relation and possible mechanisms]

In order to investigate the role of endothelin in the pathogenesis of ARF, we determined the plasma endothelin (pET) level in different clinical ARF patients and experimental ARF rat models. It was found that pET level was significantly higher in hepatic renal syndrome (n = 9, pET 210.1 +/- 32.0 pg/ml), epidemic hemorrhagic fever (n = 18, 113.3 +/- 14.86 pg/ml), septic shock ARF (n = 8, 121.5 +/- 13.5 pg/ml), gentamicin ARF (n = 7, 55.9 +/- 6.23 pg/ml) patients, and in HgCl2 ARF (n = 8, 31.75 +/- 3.07 pg/ml), glycerine ARF (n = 8, 44.75 +/- 9.8 pg/ml) rats, compared with that of normal persons (n = 9, 33.6 +/- 3.08 pg/ml) or of normal rats (n = 10, 11.4 +/- 0.98 pg/ml). Both in the patients and animal groups, there were a linear relationship between the levels of pET and Scr (r = 0.603 4 and 0.844, P less than 0.01, respectively). Intrarenal infusion ET in dosage of 0.16 micrograms.kg-1/h produced a severe reduction of RPF and GFR in the infused kidney, without significant similar changes on the contralateral kidney. Pretreated with captopril ameliorated the renal hemodynamic changes induced by iv ET (0.67 micrograms.kg-1/h), whereas indomethacin potentiated this effect. It is concluded that both circulating or local generated ET during the ARF play an important role in the pathogenesis of ARF. RAS and PG might involve in its mechanisms.