Estimating the change in pleural pressure using the change in central venous pressure in various clinical scenarios: a pig model study.

Background: We have previously reported a simple correction method for estimating pleural pressure (Ppl) using central venous pressure (CVP). However, it remains unclear whether this method is applicable to patients with varying levels of intravascular volumes and/or chest wall compliance. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of our method under different conditions of intravascular volume and chest wall compliance.

Role of Macroautophagy in Mammalian Male Reproductive Physiology.

Physiologically, autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and self-degradative process in cells. Autophagy carries out normal physiological roles throughout mammalian life. Accumulating evidence shows autophagy as a mechanism for cellular growth, development, differentiation, survival, and homeostasis.

Decreased Immunoreactivity of Hepatitis E Virus Antigen Following Treatment with Sakhalin Spruce (Picea glehnii) Essential Oil.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes a common infectious disease that infects pigs, wild boars, deer, and humans. In most cases, humans are infected by eating raw meat. Some essential oils have been reported to exhibit antiviral activities.

Diagnostic value of transpulmonary thermodilution measurements for acute respiratory distress syndrome in a pig model of septic shock.

Background: No direct approach assessing pulmonary vascular permeability exists in the current therapeutic strategy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Transpulmonary thermodilution measures hemodynamic parameters such as pulmonary vascular permeability index and extravascular lung water, enabling clinicians to assess ARDS severity. The aim of this study is to explore a precise transpulmonary thermodilution-based criteria for quantifying the severity of lung injury using a clinically relevant septic-ARDS pig model.

Testicular induced corticosterone synthesis in male rats under fasting stress.

Testicular steroidogenesis is depressed by adrenal-secreted corticosterone (CORT) under stress. However, the mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigated the details of testicular steroidogenesis depression during fasting.

Monitoring the tissue perfusion during hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation: tissue-to-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure gradient in a pig model.

Background: Despite much evidence supporting the monitoring of the divergence of transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (tcPCO) from arterial partial pressure carbon dioxide (artPCO) as an indicator of the shock status, data are limited on the relationships of the gradient between tcPCO and artPCO (tc-artPCO) with the systemic oxygen metabolism and hemodynamic parameters. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis that tc-artPCO can detect inadequate tissue perfusion during hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation.

Methods: This prospective animal study was performed using female pigs at a university-based experimental laboratory.

Early Elevation of Cell-Free DNA After Acute Mesenteric Ischemia in Rats.

Background: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is challenging to diagnose in the early phase. We tested the hypothesis that blood levels of cell-free DNA would increase early after AMI. In addition, proteome analysis was conducted as an exploratory analysis to identify other potential diagnostic biomarkers.

Irisin/FNDC5: A participant in camel metabolism.

The quantification, localization, production, function, and regulation of irisin/FNDC5 in camel species have not been previously studied. The objective of this study was to detect the irisin content in Arabian camel blood and tissues and study the gene expression of FNDC5 and PGC-1α in camel skeletal muscles and white adipose tissue depots under basal conditions. To monitor if exercise influences blood and tissue irisin protein levels as well as FNDC5 and PGC-1α gene expression levels, we analyzed irisin concentrations in the serum, skeletal muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius), and white adipose tissues (hump, subcutaneous, visceral, epididymal, and perirenal) in both control (n = 6) and exercised group (n = 6) using ELISA and determined the cellular localization of irisin/FNDC5 and the mRNA levels of FNDC5 and PGC-1α in skeletal muscles and adipose tissues via immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR, respectively.

Clinical significance of preoperative serum concentrations of interleukin-6 as a prognostic marker in patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: Although the clinical outcome of esophageal cancer has recently improved, the relapse rate remains high for all disease stages. At present, there is no diagnostic method to predict the long-term outcome for esophageal cancer. In this study, we evaluated serum preoperative proinflammatory cytokine levels and investigated the correlation between preoperative interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 levels and survival of patients with esophageal cancer.

Rapid prolactin induction in adult male rats after treatment with diethylstilbestrol.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a synthetic oestrogen known to disrupt the endocrine system and to cause reproductive toxicity mediated via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; however, its molecular mechanism of action is poorly understood. In the present study, we found that, after only 1 week of exposure to DES, blood testosterone dramatically decreased and that this decrease was associated with a strong induction of prolactin (PRL). Even with the increase in PRL, the luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone mRNAs slightly decreased.

Deficiency of CRTH2, a Prostaglandin D Receptor, Aggravates Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis.

Chemoattractant receptor homologous with T-helper cell type 2 cells (CRTH2), a receptor for prostaglandin D, is preferentially expressed on T-helper cell type 2 lymphocytes, group 2 innate lymphoid cells, eosinophils, and basophils, and elicits the production of type 2 cytokines, including profibrotic IL-13. We hypothesized that lack of CRTH2 might protect against fibrotic lung disease, and we tested this hypothesis using a bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis model in CRTH2-deficient (CRTH2) or wild-type BALB/c mice. Compared with wild-type mice, CRTH2 mice treated with bleomycin exhibited significantly higher mortality, enhanced accumulation of inflammatory cells 14-21 days after bleomycin injection, reduced pulmonary compliance, and increased levels of collagen and total protein in the lungs.

Plethysmography variability index for prediction of fluid responsiveness during graded haemorrhage and transfusion in sevoflurane-anaesthetized mechanically ventilated dogs.

Objective: To examine the accuracy of plethysmography variability index (PVI) as a noninvasive indicator of fluid responsiveness in hypovolaemic dogs.

Study Design: Prospective experimental study.

Animals: Six adult healthy sevoflurane-anaesthetized Beagle dogs.

The alpha-lipoic acid derivative DHLHZn: a new therapeutic agent for acute lung injury in vivo.

Objective And Design: An animal experiment was performed to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of an alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) derivative, dihydrolipoyl histidinate zinc complex (DHLHZn) for acute lung injury (ALI) and to investigate the mechanism of action.

Material: Rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: control group (n = 17), DHLHZn(-) group (n = 11, ALI model rats), and DHLHZn(+) group (n = 12, ALI model rats treated by DHLHZn).

Treatment: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 10 mg/kg) were administered intratracheally in the DHLHZn(-) group and the DHLHZn(+) group.

Haptoglobin Reduces Inflammatory Cytokine INF-γ and Facilitates Clot Formation in Acute Severe Burn Rat Model.

Haptoglobin exerts renal protective function by scavenging free hemoglobin from the urine and blood stream in patients with hemolytic disorders. Recent studies elucidate the relationships between haptoglobin and inflammation. In addition, coagulopathy is often induced by systemic inflammation characterized by the presence of vascular endothelial damage.

IL-7 and procalcitonin are useful biomarkers in the comprehensive evaluation of the severity of acute cholangitis.

Background: The incidence of biliary tract infection (BTI), especially healthcare-associated cholangitis, is increasing. However, there are few reports concerning biomarkers of acute cholangitis. We therefore performed an exhaustive investigation of several biomarkers.

Regional and cellular distribution of monocarboxylate transporters 13 and 14 in the cattle gastrointestinal tract.

Understanding of the basic function of orphan transporters can only be achieved by examining their cellular location. This study is the first to describe the precise cellular localization of the orphan monocarboxylate transporters (MCT13) and (MCT14) in the physiologically distinct regions of the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. The present study demonstrated conclusively the regional distribution and relative expression levels of MCT13 and MCT14 on both mRNA and protein levels in the cattle gastrointestinal tract.