The scientists in this study wanted to see if giving propofol before an injury could protect lungs in rats. They split the rats into groups: one received saltwater, another got a substance that causes lung injury, and a third had the injury with propofol. Results showed that in the injured group, lungs were worse off, but in the propofol group, lungs were better. This was seen in measurements like wet-to-dry lung weight ratio and white blood cell counts. They also found a protein called Beclin-1 was involved in this protective effect. So, using propofol before a lung injury helped shield the rats' lungs and could be linked to Beclin-1.