Inhalation of the BK(Ca)-opener NS1619 attenuates right ventricular pressure and improves oxygenation in the rat monocrotaline model of pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Right heart failure is a fatal consequence of chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH). The development of PH is characterized by increased proliferation of vascular cells, in particular pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and pulmonary artery endothelial cells. In the course of PH, an escalated right ventricular (RV) afterload occurs, which leads to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Effects of short-term infusion of lipid emulsions on pro-inflammatory cytokines and lymphocyte apoptosis in septic and non-septic rats.

Long-term administration of PUFA is known to modulate immune functions and apoptotic pathways depending on the respective amount of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (FA). Data on short-term effects on apoptotic pathways are rare. Apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes is the hallmark of detrimental sepsis.

Protective properties of inhaled IL-22 in a model of ventilator-induced lung injury.

High-pressure ventilation induces barotrauma and pulmonary inflammation, thus leading to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). IL-22 has both immunoregulatory and tissue-protective properties. Functional IL-22 receptor expression is restricted to nonleukocytic cells, such as alveolar epithelial cells.

Cuff overinflation and endotracheal tube obstruction: case report and experimental study.

Background: Initiated by a clinical case of critical endotracheal tube (ETT) obstruction, we aimed to determine factors that potentially contribute to the development of endotracheal tube obstruction by its inflated cuff. Prehospital climate and storage conditions were simulated.

Methods: Five different disposable ETTs (6.

A point-of-care assessment of the effects of desmopressin on impaired platelet function using multiple electrode whole-blood aggregometry in patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: Blood loss after cardiac surgery can be caused by acquired platelet dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass. Monitoring of platelet function is clinically important for the identification of patients experiencing such platelet dysfunction. 1-Deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (desmopressin acetate, DDAVP) has been shown to augment platelet function and to reduce blood loss in patients with platelet dysfunction.

Effect of inhaled and intravenous lidocaine on inflammatory reaction in endotoxaemic rats.

Background And Objective: Systemically administered lidocaine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Inhalation is an attractive way of application because of high pulmonary compound concentrations and potentially fewer systemic side effects. The aim of this study was to clarify whether inhaled or, likewise, intravenous lidocaine can attenuate the inflammatory response in a model of experimental endotoxaemia in the rat.

Effects of intravenous and inhaled levosimendan in severe rodent sepsis.

Purpose: We aimed at comparing the effects of intravenous (i.v.) and inhaled (inh.

Sevoflurane and isoflurane decrease TNF-alpha-induced gene expression in human monocytic THP-1 cells: potential role of intracellular IkappaBalpha regulation.

The nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/inhibitory (I)kappaBalpha pathway is one of the most important intracellular signal transduction pathways during inflammation which is induced by a variety of major early response cytokines. Recent studies suggest that volatile anesthetics interfere with inflammatory cytokine production through inhibition of intracellular signal transduction pathways. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of the volatile anesthetics sevoflurane and isoflurane on NF-kappaB/IkappaBalpha-dependent intracellular signal transduction in human monocytic THP-1 cells induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and downstream heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).

Inhaled IL-10 reduces biotrauma and mortality in a model of ventilator-induced lung injury.

Background: High-pressure ventilation induces barotrauma and pulmonary inflammation, thus leading to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). By limiting the pulmonal inflammation cascade the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 may have protective effects. Via inhalation, IL-10 reaches the pulmonary system directly and in high concentrations.

Inhaled levosimendan reduces mortality and release of proinflammatory mediators in a rat model of experimental ventilator-induced lung injury.

Objectives: Mechanical ventilation during critical care can cause structural and functional disturbances in the lung with subsequent release of proinflammatory mediators, termed ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). VILI progressively provokes decreased efficiency of gas exchange with subsequent hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction leading to cardiopulmonary alterations, such as pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. We therefore aimed to evaluate whether inhalation therapy with levosimendan, a calcium-sensitizer with pulmonary vasodilating properties, could attenuate VILI and improve short-term survival in a rat experimental model.

Cecal ligation and incision: an acute onset model of severe sepsis in rats.

Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of death among critically ill patients. Up to now, severe sepsis with acute onset in animals has been induced mainly through injection of single bacteria species or endotoxin and not through a surgical procedure, which might adequately mirror the situation in septic patients. We therefore aimed to establish a surgical model of severe sepsis in rodents fulfilling international sepsis criteria.

Short-term exposure to high-pressure ventilation leads to pulmonary biotrauma and systemic inflammation in the rat.

Though often lifesaving, mechanical ventilation itself bears the risk of lung damage [ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI)]. The underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, but stress-induced mediators seem to play an important role in biotrauma related to VILI. Our purpose was to evaluate an animal model of VILI that allows the observation of pathophysiologic changes along with parameters of biotrauma.

Norepinephrine and vasopressin counteract anti-inflammatory effects of isoflurane in endotoxemic rats.

Volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane have been shown to offer anti-inflammatory effects during experimental endotoxemia whereas the alpha-adrenergic vasopressor norepinephrine exhibits proinflammatory properties on systemic cytokine release under the same conditions. However, during major surgery and in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis both agents are frequently administered concurrently. We therefore aimed to investigate the influence of preexisting i.

Targeting caspase-1 by inhalation-therapy: effects of Ac-YVAD-CHO on IL-1 beta, IL-18 and downstream proinflammatory parameters as detected in rat endotoxaemia.

Objective: We set out to investigate whether the nebulized and inhaled specific caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CHO has the potential to attenuate the pulmonary and systemic release of the caspase-1-dependent cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) as well as their downstream enzymes iNOS and COX-2 in rat experimental endotoxaemia.

Design And Setting: Controlled, randomized animal study in a university research facility.

Subject: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=32) were randomly treated as follows: Inhaled Ac-YVAD-CHO was administered in eight rats at a inhaled total dosage of 5 mg and in eight rats at a inhaled total dose of 0.

Prehospital emergency endotracheal intubation using the Bonfils intubation fiberscope.

Among all prehospital emergency intubations, difficulties occur in 7-10%. Furthermore, intubation conditions often worsen when the cervical spine is immobilized in trauma patients. We report on six patients in whom the Bonfils intubation fiberscope, a reusable, rigid fiberoptic device, was used for emergency endotracheal intubation in the field.

Comparison of direct and video-assisted views of the larynx during routine intubation.

Objective: To compare the direct and indirect (video monitor) views of the glottic opening using a new Macintosh blade that is modified to provide a video image of airway structures during laryngoscopy.

Design: Prospective multicenter trial.

Setting: 11 university-affiliated hospitals.

Desflurane differentially affects the release of proinflammatory cytokines in plasma and bronchoalveolar fluid of endotoxemic rats.

Previous studies have indicated that volatile anaesthetics can attenuate the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and other proinflammatory stimuli in vitro and in vivo. Thus far, no studies are available on the influences of desflurane on the cytokine-release. We therefore aimed to investigate the effects of desflurane on the systemic and pulmonary release of proinflammatory cytokines in endotoxemic rats.

Interleukin-10 aerosol reduces proinflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar fluid of endotoxemic rat.

Objective: We aimed to clarify if inhaled interleukin (IL)-10 attenuates pulmonary and systemic inflammation as indicated by reduced content of proinflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma in experimental endotoxemia in the rat.

Design: Laboratory experiment.

Setting: University research institute.

A brief exposure to isoflurane (50 s) significantly impacts on plasma cytokine levels in endotoxemic rats.

Induction of anesthesia by inhalation of isoflurane is a frequently used procedure in models of immunological diseases. Here we investigated effects of a brief exposure to isoflurane on cytokine production by endotoxemic rats. Anesthesia was either performed by pentobarbital/fentanyl without or accompanied by a 50-s inhalation pretreatment with isoflurane.

Aerosol delivery during mechanical ventilation to the rat.

The authors have adjusted a jet nebulizer to a mechanical ventilator (Servo Ventilator, Siemens) to deliver an aerosol to rats. They aimed to clarify whether a modified jet nebulizer generating particles with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 2 microm would be effective and safe in intubated ventilated rats. Fluorescent microspheres (diameter: 1.

Treatment of uncomplicated hydatid cyst of the liver by closed marsupialization and fibrin glue obliteration.

Treatment of hepatic echinococcosis remains a surgical problem not only in endemic countries. Between January 1983 and December 1999 a total of 29 patients underwent surgical treatment for hepatic hydatidosis at the Department of General Surgery at the University Hospital of Granada. The diagnosis was based on clinical criteria, serology, and imaging techniques.