Effect of betaine supplementation on plasma nitrate/nitrite in exercise-trained men

Background: Betaine, beetroot juice, and supplemental nitrate have recently been reported to improve certain aspects of exercise performance, which may be mechanistically linked to increased nitric oxide. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of betaine supplementation on plasma nitrate/nitrite, a surrogate marker or nitric oxide, in exercise-trained men.Methods: We used three different study designs (acute intake of betaine at 1.25 and 5.00 grams, chronic intake of betaine at 2.5 grams per day for 14 days, and chronic [6 grams of betaine per day for 7 days] followed by acute intake [6 grams]), all involving exercise-trained men, to investigate the effects of orally ingested betaine on plasma nitrate/nitrite. Blood samples were collected before and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after ingestion of 1.25 and 5.00 grams of betaine (Study 1); before and after 14 days of betaine supplementation at a dosage of 2.5 grams (Study 2); and before and after 7 days of betaine supplementation at a dosage of 6 grams, followed by acute ingestion of 6 grams and blood measures at 30 and 60 min post ingestion (Study 3).Results: In Study 1, nitrate/nitrite was relatively unaffected and no statistically significant interaction (p = 0.99), dosage (p = 0.69), or time (p = 0.91) effects were noted. Similar findings were noted in Study 2, with no statistically significant interaction (p = 0.57), condition (p = 0.98), or pre/post intervention (p = 0.17) effects noted for nitrate/nitrite. In Study 3, no statistically significant changes were noted in nitrate/nitrite between collection times (p = 0.97).Conclusion: Our data indicate that acute or chronic ingestion of betaine by healthy, exercise-trained men does not impact plasma nitrate/nitrite. These findings suggest that other mechanisms aside from increasing circulating nitric oxide are likely responsible for any performance enhancing effect of betaine supplementation. © 2011 Bloomer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Comparison Of Halothane, Enflurane And Isoflurane Kidney Effects Through Alanine Aminopeptidase Urine Creatinine Values

The kidney effects of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane were evaluated by using the ratio of urinary excretion of alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) to urine creatinine. Thirty patients in ASA class 1 or 2 were studied, None had renal disease nor received nephrotoxic drugs. Groups 1, 2 and 3 received halothane, enflurane and isoflurane respectively, Creatinine and AAP activities in urine spot tests, serum creatinine and BUN levels were determined preoperatively and on the first and second postoperative days. Urine AAP activity and AAP/urine creatinine values increased significantly on the first and second postoperative days compared with the preoperative values in all groups (P < 0.05). The present study did not reveal any significant difference in the kidney effects of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane through AAP/creatinine in spot urine values.Wo

The role of antioxidant supplementation in occupational exposure to waste anaesthetic gases

Objectives: Although the genotoxicity related to waste anaesthetic gases is controversial, a consistent number of observations have provided evidence for an increased level of DNA strand breaks. The goal of the research was to investigate this hypothesis and estimate the genoprotective role of antioxidant supplementation in technical anaesthesiology staff working in operating theatres. Methods: Heparinized venous blood samples were collected from 17 exposed technical anaesthesiology staff (mean age 34.3 +/- 3.5 years) and non-exposed control group (mean age 32.2 +/- 3.4 years) and examined in the alkaline comet assay for DNA strand breakage. Vitamin E (300 mg/day) plus vitamin C (500 mg/day) were supplemented to the technical anaesthesiology staff for 12 weeks and blood samples were retaken and evaluated by comet assay. Results: The DNA breakage observed in the lymphocytes of the technical anaesthesiology staff was 21.5 +/- 5.0, as calculated by total comet score (TCS). This score was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in the controls (8.6 +/- 4.7) before antioxidant treatment. Supplementation of vitamins E plus C significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the mean TCS as 14.2 +/- 6.1. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that occupational exposure to anaesthetic gases induces oxidative DNA damage. Supplementation of the diet for 12 weeks with vitamin C and vitamin E resulted in a significant decrease in the DNA damage

Factors associated with preoperative anxiety levels of Turkish surgical patients: from a single center in Ankara

Ezgi Erkilic, Elvin Kesimci, Cem Soykut, Cihan Doger, T&uuml;lin Gumus, Orhan Kanbak Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Atat&uuml;rk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey Background: Preoperative anxiety and stress are undoubtedly a difficult experience in patients undergoing elective surgery. These unpleasant sensations depend on several factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preoperative anxiety levels in a sample of Turkish population, as well as the underlying causes using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI anxiety) scale.Methods: The study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local ethical committee. All participants gave written informed consent upon having received detailed information on the study. Upon entry in the study, state and trait anxiety questionnaires were completed by 186 patients scheduled for elective surgery. The influencing factors in regard to age, sex, educational status and others were also reported.Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between state and trait anxiety scores in this Turkish population. While the most important predictive factors that affected state-STAI scores were age, sex and duration of sleep the night before surgery; educational status and age were the best predictors for determining the variation in trait-STAI scores.Conclusion: The factors affecting anxiety levels in different populations might vary among different countries. Interestingly, in this sample of Turkish population, the trait anxiety levels were found to be higher from state-anxiety levels, especially in women and less educated people. Thus, doubts about operation and anesthesia are overlooked. This could be attributed to the low to intermediate life standards of people admitted to our hospital. Keywords: state and trait anxiety, preoperativ

Does remifentanil attenuate renal ischemia&ndash;reperfusion injury better than dexmedetomidine in rat kidney?

E Erkılı&ccedil;,1 E Kesimci,1 F Alaybeyoğlu,1 I Kılın&ccedil;,2 R Tural,3 A Yazgan,4 T G&uuml;m&uuml;ş,1 A Sepici Din&ccedil;el,3 EG Dumlu,5 O Kanbak1 1Anesthesiology and Reanimation Department, 2General Surgery Department, Atat&uuml;rk Training and Research Hospital, 3Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 4Pathology Department, Atat&uuml;rk Training and Research Hospital, 5General Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey Background: Ischemia&ndash;reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common cause of patient morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period. Patients undergoing long-lasting, abdominal, and urogenital surgeries with risk factors such as advanced age, peripheral artery disease, diabetes mellitus, renovascular disease, and congestive heart failure are candidates for acute kidney injury (AKI) due to impaired renal perfusion and decreased functional renal reserve. Pharmacological agents with multiple functions and anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation properties may be promising preventative strategies for AKI. Recently, dexmedetomidine (dex) has been postulated to have renoprotective effects.Objectives: We aimed to investigate the protective effects of an intravenous anesthetic remifentanil in renal I/R injury in the rat in comparison with dex. Materials and methods: A total of 30 Sprague Dawley adult rats were randomly assigned into five groups: the control group (group C, n=6), the sham group (group Sh, n=6, saline-infused rats without I/R injury), the saline group (group S, n=6, saline-infused rats with I/R injury), the remifentanil-treated group (group REM, n=6), and the dexmedetomidine-treated group (group DEX, n=6). The infusions (saline, remifentanil, and dex) were started after anesthesia induction and right nephrectomy and continued until the end of the surgical procedure. In I/R injury groups, the left renal artery and vein were occluded together by a clamp for 30&nbsp;minutes and reperfusion lasted for 30&nbsp;minutes. The rats were sacrificed after reperfusion, and the left kidney tissue was harvested. Blood samples were drawn from all animals to evaluate plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) at the beginning, 15&nbsp;minutes after ischemia, 15&nbsp;minutes after reperfusion, and 6&nbsp;hours after the surgical procedure (T0, T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Results: The plasma NGAL levels exhibited increase at T1, T2, and T3 compared to the levels at T0 in group S (P&lt;0.05). In group REM, there was a significant increase in plasma NGAL levels at T3 in comparison to those at T0, T1, and T2. The plasma NGAL levels at T2 in group S were significantly higher than those at T2 in group DEX (P&lt;0.05). The groups S and REM showed significantly higher plasma NGAL levels at T3 compared to those at T0 (P&lt;0.05). Upon histological examination, there was no difference among the study groups when left kidneys were evaluated (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The NGAL levels and histopathological findings reflected protection by dex against renal I/R injury. However, the same exact results could not be mentioned for remifentanil depending on our study results. Keywords: ischemia&ndash;reperfusion, dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocali

Does remifentanil attenuate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury better than dexmedetomidine in rat kidney?

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common cause of patient morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period. Patients undergoing long-lasting, abdominal, and urogenital surgeries with risk factors such as advanced age, peripheral artery disease, diabetes mellitus, renovascular disease, and congestive heart failure are candidates for acute kidney injury (AKI) due to impaired renal perfusion and decreased functional renal reserve. Pharmacological agents with multiple functions and anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation properties may be promising preventative strategies for AKI. Recently, dexmedetomidine (dex) has been postulated to have renoprotective effects

Effects of polysaccharide from fruiting bodies of Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Phenllinus linteus on alcoholic liver injury

In the present study, the curative effects of crude polysaccharides (PSs) from mushrooms on the symptoms of alcoholic liver injury were investigated. PSs from Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Phellinus linteus fruiting bodies were administered by gavage at levels of 100¿mg per kg body weight per day for 7¿d after the onset of the disease. The caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial outer membrane integrity of the liver tissues of sacrificed rats, and the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined. In addition, light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were performed for histopathological and cytological evaluations on liver sections. PSs from A. brasiliensis decreased ALT level and mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the outer membrane integrity; microscopic examinations also revealed normal hepatocytes and tissue. On the basis of our data, it can be argued that crude PSs from Agaricus brasiliensis have therapeutic potential for alcoholic liver injury

Does remifentanil attenuate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury better than dexmedetomidine in rat kidney?

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common cause of patient morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period. Patients undergoing long-lasting, abdominal, and urogenital surgeries with risk factors such as advanced age, peripheral artery disease, diabetes mellitus, renovascular disease, and congestive heart failure are candidates for acute kidney injury (AKI) due to impaired renal perfusion and decreased functional renal reserve. Pharmacological agents with multiple functions and anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation properties may be promising preventative strategies for AKI. Recently, dexmedetomidine (dex) has been postulated to have renoprotective effects. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the protective effects of an intravenous anesthetic remifentanil in renal I/R injury in the rat in comparison with dex. Materials and methods: A total of 30 Sprague Dawley adult rats were randomly assigned into five groups: the control group (group C, n=6), the sham group (group Sh, n=6, saline-infused rats without I/R injury), the saline group (group S, n=6, saline-infused rats with I/R injury), the remifentanil-treated group (group REM, n=6), and the dexmedetomidine-treated group (group DEX, n=6). The infusions (saline, remifentanil, and dex) were started after anesthesia induction and right nephrectomy and continued until the end of the surgical procedure. In I/R injury groups, the left renal artery and vein were occluded together by a clamp for 30 minutes and reperfusion lasted for 30 minutes. The rats were sacrificed after reperfusion, and the left kidney tissue was harvested. Blood samples were drawn from all animals to evaluate plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) at the beginning, 15 minutes after ischemia, 15 minutes after reperfusion, and 6 hours after the surgical procedure (T0, T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Results: The plasma NGAL levels exhibited increase at T1, T2, and T3 compared to the levels at T0 in group S (P < 0.05).In group REM, there was a significant increase in plasma NGAL levels at T3 in comparison to those at T0, T1, and T2. The plasma NGAL levels at T2 in group S were significantly higher than those at T2 in group DEX (P < 0.05). The groups S and REM showed significantly higher plasma NGAL levels at T3 compared to those at T0 (P < 0.05). Upon histological examination, there was no difference among the study groups when left kidneys were evaluated (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The NGAL levels and histopathological findings reflected protection by dex against renal I/R injury. However, the same exact results could not be mentioned for remifentanil depending on our study results