Ultraviolet-c haematogenous oxidation therapy of lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia in a rabbit model: A biochemical study

Systemic inflammatory reaction – due to severe response to toxins of infection associated with immune inhibition – leads to multi-organ dysfunctions and high mortality. Ultraviolet (UV) blood is used for its therapeutic effects when moving across the cells. This study aims to evaluate the impact of UV-c Haematogenous Oxidation Therapy (HOT) in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia of rabbit model. A total of 40 rabbits randomly divided into four groups, including normal control (NC). LPS and LPS+UV-c HOT groups received 0.1 mg/kg LPS toxin of E. coli, UV-c HOT and LPS+UV-c HOT groups subjected to UV-c HOT treatments once weekly for five times. Blood collected, perfused with oxygen, UV-c directly irradiated into blood, and then auto-transfused. Rabbits were sacrificed after five weeks; blood and serum were collected for analysis. The survival rate, liver, kidney, lipid profile, and blood ions were assessed in treated rabbits. Mortality was 40% in the LPS group, while other groups showed no death. UV-c HOT enhanced critical pH, base deficit, blood gases, hypomagnesemia, hyperlactatemia, and concurrent acidosis. Besides, TNF-α, nitrite, and nitrate were suppressed in response to UV-c HOT. Moreover, UV-c HOT reduced liver and kidney enzymes, improved lipid metabolism, and ameliorated electrolytes homeostasis. Despite that, UV-c HOT performance in ICU for human and animal endotoxemic or septic patients should be evaluated and considered

Ultraviolet-C haematogenous oxidation therapy of lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia in a rabbit model: A biochemical study

445-454Systemic inflammatory reaction – due to severe response to toxins of infection associated with immune inhibition – leads to multi-organ dysfunctions and high mortality. Ultraviolet (UV) blood is used for its therapeutic effects when moving across the cells. This study aims to evaluate the impact of UV-C Haematogenous Oxidation Therapy (HOT) in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia of rabbit model. A total of 40 rabbits randomly divided into four groups, including normal control (NC). LPS and LPS+UV-C HOT groups received 0.1 mg/kg LPS toxin of E. coli, UV-C HOT and LPS+UV-C HOT groups subjected to UV-C HOT treatments once weekly for five times. Blood collected, perfused with oxygen, UV-C directly irradiated into blood, and then auto-transfused. Rabbits were sacrificed after five weeks; blood and serum were collected for analysis. The survival rate, liver, kidney, lipid profile, and blood ions were assessed in treated rabbits. Mortality was 40% in the LPS group, while other groups showed no death. UV-C HOT enhanced critical pH, base deficit, blood gases, hypomagnesemia, hyperlactatemia, and concurrent acidosis. Besides, TNF-α, nitrite, and nitrate were suppressed in response to UV-C HOT. Moreover, UV-C HOT reduced liver and kidney enzymes, improved lipid metabolism, and ameliorated electrolytes homeostasis. Despite that, UV-C HOT performance in ICU for human and animal endotoxemic or septic patients should be evaluated and considered

Preoperative Serum Copeptin Can Predict Delayed Hyponatremia after Pituitary Surgery in the Absence of Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency

Background Delayed postoperative hyponatremia (DPH) is the most common cause of readmission after pituitary surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cutoff values of serum copeptin and determine the optimal timing for copeptin measurement for the prediction of the occurrence of DPH in patients who undergo endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (eTSA) surgery and tumor resection. Methods This was a prospective observational study of 73 patients who underwent eTSA surgery for pituitary or stalk lesions. Copeptin levels were measured before surgery, 1 hour after extubation, and on postoperative days 1, 2, 7, and 90. Results Among 73 patients, 23 patients (31.5%) developed DPH. The baseline ratio of copeptin to serum sodium level showed the highest predictive performance (area under the curve [AUROC], 0.699), and its optimal cutoff to maximize Youden’s index was 2.5×10–11, with a sensitivity of 91.3% and negative predictive value of 92.0%. No significant predictors were identified for patients with transient arginine vasopressin (AVP) deficiency. However, for patients without transient AVP deficiency, the copeptin-to-urine osmolarity ratio at baseline demonstrated the highest predictive performance (AUROC, 0.725). An optimal cutoff of 6.5×10–12 maximized Youden’s index, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a negative predictive value of 94.1%. Conclusion The occurrence of DPH can be predicted using baseline copeptin and its ratio with serum sodium or urine osmolarity only in patients without transient AVP deficiency after pituitary surgery

pH-dependent modulation of intracellular free magnesium ions with ion-selective electrodes in papillary muscle of guinea pig

A change in pH can alter the intracellular concentration of electrolytes such as intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ ([Na+]i) that are important for the cardiac function. For the determination of the role of pH in the cardiac magnesium homeostasis, the intracellular Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]i), membrane potential and contraction in the papillary muscle of guinea pigs using ion-selective electrodes changing extracellular pH ([pH]o) or intracellular pH ([pH]i) were measured in this study. A high CO2-induced low [pH]o causes a significant increase in the [Mg2+]i and [Na+]i, which was accompanied by a decrease in the membrane potential and twitch force. The high [pH]o had the opposite effect. These effects were reversible in both the beating and quiescent muscles. The low [pH]o-induced increase in [Mg2+]i occurred in the absence of [Mg2+]o. The [Mg2+]i was increased by the low [pH]i induced by propionate. The [Mg2+]i was increased by the low [pH]i induced by NH4Cl-prepulse and decreased by the recovery of [pH]i induced by the removal of NH4Cl. These results suggest that the pH can modulate [Mg2+]i with a reverse relationship in heart, probably by affecting the intracellular Mg2+ homeostasis, but not by Mg2+ transport across the sarcolemma

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

Bulbils of Aerial Yam Attenuate Ethanol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in HepG2 Cells through Inhibition of Oxidative Stress by Activation of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid-2-Related Factor 2 Signaling Pathway

Bulbil of yam (BY) extract contains various active compounds possessing many pharmacological properties. However, little is known about the effect and underlying mechanism of BY extract on ethanol-induced liver damage. The present study explored the beneficial potential of BY extract on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. To evaluate its effectiveness, ethanol-induced HepG2 liver cells were pretreated with BY extract. BY extract effectively rescued cells from ethanol treatment through inhibition of apoptotic cell death as well as inhibiting expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins as stress inducers. BY extract increased the expression of typical antioxidants. Furthermore, BY extract significantly inhibited mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which are major ROS-inducing factors. Finally, as an underlying mechanism of the protective effects of BY extract on ethanol-induced liver damage, it activated Nrf2 protein through translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus, which in turn activated its target oxidative stress suppressor genes. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that BY extract has potential antioxidative effects in ethanol-induced liver cells and contributes to the establishment of a treatment strategy for alcohol-derived liver injuries

Graphene-Based Hybrid Electrode Material for High-Power Lithium-Ion Batteries

Graphene based hybrid electrode material is fabricated from an easy and simple chemical method and is demonstrated as a cathode material for Li rechargeable batteries with high capacity and excellent rate capability. The hybrid material delivers a specific capacity of 156 mAh g(-1) at a current rate of 25 mA g(-1) (0.125 C) after 100 cycles with coulombic efficiency of nearly 100%. At elevated current rates, the specific capacity of the hybrid material is over 100 mAh g(-1) even at a current rate of 2500 mA g(-1) (similar to 12.5 C). The excellent battery performance of the hybrid material is attributed to the easy Li ion and electron transport in the amorphous FePO(4)/graphene hybrid structure, in which electrochemically active amorphous FePO(4) films are directly grown on graphene with superior electronic conductivity. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3599632] All rights reserved.