Plasma Hormones Facilitated the Hypermotility of the Colon in a Chronic Stress Rat Model

Objective: To study the relationship between brain-gut peptides, gastrointestinal hormones and altered motility in a rat model of repetitive water avoidance stress (WAS), which mimics the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: Male Wistar rats were submitted daily to 1-h of water avoidance stress (WAS) or sham WAS (SWAS) for 10 consecutive days. Plasma hormones were determined using Enzyme Immunoassay Kits. Proximal colonic smooth muscle (PCSM) contractions were studied in an organ bath system. PCSM cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and IKv and IBKca were recorded by the patch-clamp technique. Results: The number of fecal pellets during 1 h of acute restraint stress and the plasma hormones levels of substance P (SP), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), motilin (MTL), and cholecystokinin (CCK) in WAS rats were significantly increased compared with SWAS rats, whereas vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in WAS rats were not significantly changed and peptide YY (PYY) in WAS rats was significantly decreased. Likewise, the amplitudes of spontaneous contractions of PCSM in WAS rats were significantly increased comparing with SWAS rats. The plasma of WAS rats (100 ml) decreased the amplitude of spontaneous contractions of controls. The IKv and IBKCa of PCSMs were significantly decreased in WAS rats compared with SWAS rats and the plasma of WAS rats (100 ml) increased the amplitude of IKv and IBKCa in normal rats

Glycan labeling strategies and their use in identification and quantification

Most methods for the analysis of oligosaccharides from biological sources require a glycan derivatization step: glycans may be derivatized to introduce a chromophore or fluorophore, facilitating detection after chromatographic or electrophoretic separation. Derivatization can also be applied to link charged or hydrophobic groups at the reducing end to enhance glycan separation and mass-spectrometric detection. Moreover, derivatization steps such as permethylation aim at stabilizing sialic acid residues, enhancing mass-spectrometric sensitivity, and supporting detailed structural characterization by (tandem) mass spectrometry. Finally, many glycan labels serve as a linker for oligosaccharide attachment to surfaces or carrier proteins, thereby allowing interaction studies with carbohydrate-binding proteins. In this review, various aspects of glycan labeling, separation, and detection strategies are discussed

Sulfated N-linked carbohydrate chains in porcine thyroglobulin

N-linked carbohydrate chains of porcine thyroglobulin were released by the hydrazinolysis procedure. The resulting mixture of oligosaccharide-alditols was fractionated by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, the acidic fractions were further separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on Lichrosorb-NH2, and analyzed by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy and, partially, by permethylation analysis. Of the acidic oligosaccharide-alditols, the following sulfated carbohydrate chains could be identified

New Hemostatic Powd-er (GelitaCel Ca Powder TM ) and Its Application in Cranial Neurosurgery

Abstract Background: Intraoperative hemostasis during intracranial surgery is one of the most important aspects of the surgical procedure. One of the most widely practiced methods to prevent postoperative hemorrhage is to cover the cerebral wound bed with cellulose. Objective: We report on the use of a new powder form of regenerated oxidized cellulose enriched with calcium (GelitaCel Ca Powder™, Gelita Medical, Eberbach, Germany) for hemostasis purposes in intracranial surgery. Methods: In 107 patients operated for intracranial mass lesions, the resection cavity was covered with a small layer of cellulose powder for hemostatic purposes. All patients had a postoperative CT or MRI scanning within 24 hours after surgery to detect any surgical complications and to detect the presence of blood within the surgical cavity. Results: Of the 107 operated patients, 96 (90%) had no or minimal blood in the intracranial resection field on postoperative imaging with CT or MRI. Of those 96, 69 patients had no blood at all and 27 patients had a small trace. In the remaining 11 patients, 8 patients (7.5%) had blood filling the resection cavity. In three patients (2.8%), the blood accumulation resulted in mass effect. All these three patients were re-operated due to neurological deterioration. Conclusion: We suggest that cellulose powder is an easy and safe product for hemostasis and prevention of postoperative hemorrhage in intracranial surgery. The main advantage of the powder form over regular oxidized cellulose is the no-touch technique of application and leaves no excess hemostatic material behind which could possibly cause compression