Effect of SP-A/B in lipoic acid on acute paraquat poisoning

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to observe the concentration of SP-A/B and the pulmonary surfactant in the lung tissue of rats with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by paraquat poisoning after the treatment of metabolic antioxidant-lipoic acid and whether its influence was related to TNF-α.METHODS: Sixty-six male Sprage-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group(NS group), 6 rats; paraquat poisoning group(PQ group), 30 rats; and paraquat+lipoic acid treatment group(LA group), 30 rats. The rats in the PQ and LA groups were subdivided into 3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-hour subgroups, with 6 rats in each group. After the rats were sacrificed, lung tissue from the same part was taken from the rats. After HE staining, histological changes were observed in the tissue under a light microscope. Lung tissue was also taken to test the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA). Whole blood(0.8 mL) without anticoagulant was drawn from the tail vein of rats for the determination of the TNF-α level. The total RNA of the lung tissue was collected, and the Rt-PCR method was used to measure the levels of SP-A and SP-B mRNA.RESULTS: HE staining showed that histopathological changes were milder in the LA group than in the PQ group. There were significant differences in MDA and SOD levels between different intervals both in intergroups and intragroups except the 3-hour subgroup(P<0.01). Likewise, the significant differences in the levels of TNF-α were also present between the three groups and between different intervals(P<0.01). The significant differences in SP-A mRNA and SP-B mRNA amplification ratio were seen between the three groups at the same intervals(P<0.01), but the differences between different intervals in the PQ group were statistically significant(P<0.05). The differences between different intervals in the LA group were statistically significant(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Lipoic acid in acute paraquat poisoning could diminish lung tissue damage by regulating directly tumor necrosis factor and indirectly the content of pulmonary surfactant so as to reduce pulmonary edema, improve lung compliance, and finally protect lung tissues.

Ultrasound guidance for transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy may prevent radiation exposure: A case report

BACKGROUND Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD)has become a mature and mainstream minimally invasive surgical technique for treating lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Repeated fluoroscopy,with more than 30 shots on average,is inevitable to ensure its accuracy and safety.However,exposure to X-rays may pose a threat to human health.We herein report a case of ultrasound(US)-assisted PELD in two levels of LDH to explore a new possibility that can reduce the radiation dose during puncture and cannulation in PELD.CASE SUMMARY A 38-year-old man with low back pain and left leg pain for more than 7 years came to our clinic,his symptoms had aggravated for 1 month,and he was diagnosed with L3-4 and L4-5 disc herniations.He received US-guided PELD with good results:His straight leg elevation increased from 40 to 90 degrees after PELD,and his visual analog scale(VAS)and Oswestry Disability Index scores both significantly decreased immediately and 6 mo after PELD.With the guidance of US,he received only two shots of fluoroscopy(fluoroscopic time:4.4 s;radiation dose:3.98 mGy).To our knowledge,this is the first case of US-guided puncture and cannulation of PELD for LDH at two levels.CONCLUSION US could be used to guide PELD and has the potential to largely reduce radiation than traditional X-ray guidance.