Two clinically relevant pressures of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum cause hepatic injury in a rabbit model

AIM:To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum(CDP) in rabbits,compare the eects olow-and high-pressure pneumoperitoneum,and to determine the degree o hepatic injury induced by these two clinically relevant CDP pressures.METHODS:Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits weighing 3.0 to 3.5 kg were randomly divided into three groups(n = 10 for each group) and subjected to the ollowing to CDP pressures:no gas control,10 mmHg,or 15 mmHg.Histological changes in liver tissues were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy.Liver unction was evaluated using an automatic biochemical analyzer.Adenine nucleotide translocator(ANT) activity in liver tissue was detected with the atractyloside-inhibitor stop technique.Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels were detected bywestern blotting.RESULTS:Liver Functions in the 10 mmHg and 15 mmHg experimental groups were significantly disturbed compared with the control group.After CDP,the levels or alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were 77.3 ± 14.5 IU/L and 60.1 ± 11.4 IU/L,respectively,in the 10 mmHg experimental group and 165.1 ± 19.4 IU/L and 103.8 ± 12.3 IU/L,respectively,in the 15 mmHg experimental group,which were all higher than those of the control group(p < 0.05).There was no difference in pre-albumin concentration between the 10 mmHg experimental group and the control group,but the prealbumin level of the 15 mmHg experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(p < 0.05).No significant differences were observed in the levels of total bilirubin or albumin among the three groups.After 30 and 60 min of CDP,pH was reduced(p < 0.05) and fa CO2 was elevated(p < 0.05) in the 10 mmHg group compared with controls,and these changes were more pronounced in the 15 mmHg group.Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed no significant change in liver morphology,except for mild hyperemia in the two experimental groups.Transmission electron microscopy showed mild mitochondrial swelling in hepatocytes of the 10 mmHg group,and this was more pronounced in the 15 mmHg group.No significant difference in ANT levels was found between the control and 10 mmHg groups.However,ANT concentration was significantly lower in the 15 mmHg group compared with the control group.The expression of hepatic Bax was significantly increased in the two experimental groups compared with the controls,but there were no differences in Bcl-2 levels among the three groups.Twelve hours after CDP induction,the expression of hepatic Bax was more significant in the 15 mmHg group than in the 10 mmHg group.CONCLUSION:A CDP pressure of 15 mmHg caused more substantial hepatic injury,such as increased levels of acidosis,mitochondrial damage,and apoptosis;therefore,10 mmHg CDP is preferable for laparoscopic operations.

Baicalin and geniposide inhibit the development of atherosclerosis by increasing Wntl and inhibiting dickkopf-related protein-1 expression

Background Our previous study showed that the combined Chinese herbs containing scutellaria baicalensis georgi and gardenia jasminoids ellis inhibited atherosclerosis. In this study, we sought to determine if baicalin and geniposide could inhibit atherosclerosis through Wntl and dickkopf-related protein-1 （DKK1）. Methods The wild-type and ApoE-/- mice were treated with baicalin, geniposide, and baicalin plus geniposide daily by gavage for 12 weeks. Blood lipid levels were measured with an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Aortic atherosclerotic lesion areas were analyzed with Image-ProPlus software. The mRNA and protein expression of DKK1, Wntt and nuclear factor-r,B （NF-κB） were measured with RT-PCR and Westem Blot. Serum levels of interleukin-12 （IL-12） were quantified with ELISA. Results The baicalin or geniposide monotherapy as well as combination therapy inhibited the development of atherosclerotic lesions, increased Wntl and decreased DKKI expression and elevated the ratio of Wntl/DKK1 compared with high-lipid diet group. However, only baicalin or geniposide monotherapy decreased NF-κB expression. Moreover, baicalin and geniposide monoor combination therapy lowered IL-12 levels. Geniposide reduced both serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels, while baicalin either alone or in combination with geniposide did not affect serum lipid levels. In human, umbilical vein endothelial ceils stimulated by oxidized low density lipoprotein, baicalin and geniposide also increased Wntl and decreased DKK1 expression and elevated the ratio of Wntl/DKK1. Condusions Baicalin and geniposide exert inflammation-regulatory effects and may prevent atherosclerotic lesions through enhancing Wntl and inhibit- ing DKK1 expression.

Non-invasive glucose measuring apparatus based on conservation of energy method

A new non-invasive blood glucose measuring apparatus (NBGMA) made up of MSP430F149 SCM (single chip micyoco) was developed,which can measure blood glucose level (BGL) frequently,conveniently and painlessly. The hardware and software of this apparatus were designed,and detecting algorithms based on conservation of energy method (COEM) were presented. According to the law of conservation of energy that the energy derived by human body equals energy consumed by metabolism,and the relationship between convection,evaporation,radiation and the BGL was established. The sensor module was designed. 20 healthy volunteers were involved in the clinical experiment. The BGL measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer (ABA) was set as the reference. Regression analysis was performed to compare the conservation of energy method with the biochemical method,using the 20 data points with blood glucose concentrations ranging from 680 to 1 100 mg/L. Reproducibility was measured for healthy fasting volunteers. The results show that the means of BGL detected by NBGMA and ANA are very close to each other,and the difference of standard deviation (SD) is 24.7 mg/L. The correlative coefficient is 0.807. The coefficient of variation (CV) is 4% at 921.6 mg/L. The resultant regression is evaluated by the Clarke error grid analysis (EGA) and all data points are included in the clinically acceptable regions (region A:100%,region B:0%). Accordingly,it is feasible to measure BGL with COEM.

Effects of low dose pre-irradiation on the toxicity of cyclophosphamide

Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the effects as well as the possible mechanisms of low dose γ-ray pre-irradiation on hepatic damage,DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes and genetic material damage caused by high dosage of cyclophosphamide(CTX).Methods:Kunming strain male mice were randomly divided into five groups:control group,sham-irradiated group,low dose irradiation group(LDR group),cyclophosphamide chemotherapy group(CTX group) and low dose irradiation combined with chemotherapy group(LDR + CTX group).Having being raised for one week,all the mice were implanted subcutaneously with S180 cells in the left inguen(control group excluded).On days 8 and 11,mice of LDR and LDR + CTX groups were given 75 mGy whole-body γ-irradiation,30 h later mice of CTX and LDR + CTX groups were injected i.p.3.0 mg cyclophosphamide.All the mice were sacrificed on day 13.DNA damage of the peripheral lymphocytes was analyzed using single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE);ALT activity,total protein(TP) and albumin(ALB) of the plasma were analyzed using automatic biochemistry analyzer;MDA content,SOD and GSH-PX activity of the hepatic homogenate were analyzed using chromometry;genetic material damage was analyzed using micronucleus frequency(MNF) of polychromatoerythrocytes(PCE) in bone marrow.Results:1.Differences of MDA contents,SOD and GSH-PX activity of hepatic homogenate between 5 groups had notable statistical significance(P < 0.01);in control group MDA content was the lowest,SOD and GSH-PX activity were the highest,while in CTX group MDA content was the highest,SOD and GSH-PX activity were the lowest;compared with CTX group MDA content decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and SOD and GSH-PX activity increased significantly(P < 0.05) in LDR + CTX group.2.Differences of ALT activity of plasma between 5 groups had no statistical significance(F = 1.262,P > 0.05).Differences of TP and ALB of plasma between 5 groups had statistical significance(F = 12.879 and 6.336 respectively,P < 0.01);TP and ALB in control group were higher than those of other groups and compared with sham-irradiated group,TP and ALB in LDR group elevated significantly(P < 0.05).3.Differences of DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes had notable statistical significance(F = 6.383,P < 0.01);DNA damage in control group was the lightest,while DNA damage in CTX group was the severest;compared with CTX group,DNA damage in LDR + CTX group was much lighter(P < 0.05).4.MNF of PCE between 5 groups had remarkable significance(F = 179.652,P < 0.01);compared with control group and sham-irradiated group,MNF in CTX group increased significantly(P < 0.01);compared with CTX group,MNF in LDR + CTX group had a tendency of decline,which had no statistical significance(P > 0.05).Conclusion:1.CTX can damage the hepatic tissue through oxidative stress;75 mGy γ-irradiation before CTX chemotherapy can induce activities of anti-oxidative enzymes,promote elimination of free radicals,so as to alleviate the damaging effects of oxidative stress to hepatic tissue caused by high-dose chemotherapy.2.A 75 mGy γ-irradiation before CTX chemotherapy has no obvious effect on ALT activity of plasma,but may have protective effect on the protein synthesis function of liver.3.High-dose CTX chemotherapy can cause DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes;75 mGy γ-irradiation before chemotherapy may have certain protective effect on DNA damage.4.CTX has potent mutagenic effect,can cause significant increase of MNF of PCE;75 mGy γ-ray pre-irradiation did not show obvious protection against genetic toxicity of high-dose CTX chemotherapy.

Lipopolysaccharide/Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway involved Qingdu decoction treating severe liver injury merging with endotoxemia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanism of Qingdu decoction(QDD) on experimental rats with severe liver injury induced by thioacetamide(TAA).METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group(n = 10) and experimental group(n = 30). Rats were administrated the same content of saline in normal group. The rats inthe experimental group were pretreated with TAA at dose of 12 mg/kg lasting 8 weeks, and from 9th week to 12 th week, with TAA at concentration of 36mg/kg. During the 9th week to 12 th week period,the rats were randomly divided into three subgroups(n = 10 each) simultaneously based on the treatment categories: model group, lactulose(LA,3.5 m L/kg) group and QDD(5.95 g/kg) group, orally once per day respectively. At the 12 th week, the content of serum alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST), total bilirubin(TBIL), endotoxin(ET) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The plasma prothrombin time(PT), prothrombin time-international normalized ratio(PTR) and prothrombin time activity(PTA) were measured by automatic coagulation analyzer. The level of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-binding protein(LBP), cluster differentiation 14(CD14) and Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) expressions was measured by both western blot(WB) and real-time polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR).RESULTS: Compared with the model group, hepatic morphology in the QDD group was improved under light microscope and transmission electron microscope; at the same time, the contents of serum ALT, AST, TBIL, ET and TNF-α, and level of LBP, CD14 and TLR4 expressions in liver tissues were significantly decreased compared with the model group(P < 0.05), while PTA in the QDD group was enhanced(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: QDD has the functional effect on improving the injured liver through inhibiting the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway thus decreasing the level of the inflammatory medicators.