Fetal intestinal transplant as an accessory enteral segment

Fetal tissue transplantation has gathered considerable interest among researchers dealing with organ transplantation. A large number of studies concerning fetal intestinal transplantation have been published in the past 2 decades, almost all of them aiming to determine the feasibility of a properly functioning fetal transplant in continuity with the host's own enteral system. This study was designed to determine the absorptive capacity of the neogut in vivo, without anastomosing the transplant to the host's intestine, and to evaluate its use as an accessory enteral segment. Intestinal segments taken from Wistar albino fetuses were transplanted subcutaneously into the abdominal wall of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunosuppression was maintained by daily cyclosporin A (Cy A) 10 mg/kg injections s.c. and evaluated by determination of serum Cy A level and T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio. The neogut was converted into a Thiry-Vella loop 2 weeks after transplantation. A test solution composed of 20% glucose and Trophamine was perfused via the stomas; glucose and amino acid absorption gradients were calculated. The gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity and mitotic index of the neogut were determined. Results were compared to those obtained from the host. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in glucose absorption between the neogut and the host tissue. Amino acid absorption and specific GGT activity were significantly less (P 0.05) between neogut and host intestine in mitotic index. Our data support the idea of using a transplanted fetal intestinal segment as an accessory feeding route

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in beta-thalassemia

Autoxidation of globin chains and iron overload are the suggested mechanisms for the increased oxidative stress in beta -thalassemia. The aim of this study was to evaluated the extend of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of patients with beta -thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and compare the results with healthy subjects. Oxidant and antioxidant status of the children with beta -thalassemia major (n = 22) and iron deficiency anemia (n = 19) were studied. Healthy controls (n=14) were age and sex matched. Fresh anticoagulant venous blood samples obtained from all children. Conjugated diene (CD) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive (TBARS) substances were analysed to indicate the oxidative parameters, whereas the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured to show the antioxidant status of the children. Plasma TBARS and CD concentrations in TBARs was significant. In the iron-deficiency group both TBARS and CD concentrations were elevated in beta -thalassemia compared to IDA. When compared to the controls, elevation in TBARS was significant. In the iron-deficiency group both TBARS and CD levels were decreased in TBARS was significant. In the iron-deficiency group both TBARS and CD levels were decreased compared to the controls. SOD and GPx activities were increased in the beta -thalassemia group. SOD in beta -thalassemia was higher than both IDA and the controls and GPx activity was higher than the IDA group. In vivo lipid peroxidation was increased in children with beta -thalassemia major. This leads to a compensatory increase in antioxidant enzymes, whereas IDA does not lead to lipid peroxidation with a normal antioxidant enzyme activity

A qualitative study of hand hygiene compliance among health care workers in intensive care units

Introduction: Studies indicate that adherence to hand hygiene guidelines is at suboptimal levels. We aimed to explore the reasons for poor hand hygiene compliance

Protein carbonyls are acutely elevated following single set anaerobic exercise in resistance trained men

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a single set of strenuous squat exercise would result in an acute oxidative stress, as demonstrated previously by a single sprint. Thirteen resistance trained men performed one set of 15 repetitions of barbell squats using 70% of one repetition maximum and a 30 s maximal cycle sprint on two different occasions. The total work performed was calculated for each exercise bout. Heart rate, perceived exertion, blood lactate, protein carbonyls, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and malondialdehyde were measured before and within 1 min following exercise. No differences were noted between the squat and sprint tests for total work, heart rate or perceived exertion. An exercise test by time interaction was evident for blood lactate with values greater following sprinting compared to squatting (P = 0.0005). Postexercise protein carbonyls were not different between exercise tests but were elevated above rest (P = 0.04) by 111% and 74% following sprinting and squatting, respectively, while 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde were relatively unaffected by either exercise test. These data indicate that a single bout of strenuous squatting and sprinting performed by resistance trained men results in elevated protein carbonyls, while having little impact on 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine or malondialdehyde during the immediate postexercise period. © 2006 Sports Medicine Australia