Propofol reduces liver dysfunction caused by tumor necrosis factor-α production in Kupffer cells.

Purpose: The present study, conducted in rats, investigated whether propofol attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered liver dysfunction via regulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production in activated Kupffer cells.

Methods: Rats received LPS (500 μg/kg) under Urethane™ sedation (1 g/kg) in combination with propofol (5 mg/kg/h) or Intralipid™ from 1 h before to 6 h after LPS administration. Some rats were treated with 10 mg/kg gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) to induce Kupffer cell depletion.

Role of naofen in apoptosis of hepatocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide through mitochondrial signaling in rats.

Aim:   Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes apoptosis of hepatocytes, which is probably mediated by inflammatory substances released from Kupffer cells (KCs). Recently, we have reported that naofen, a newly found intracellular WD40-repeat protein, has a role in inducing the apoptosis in HEK293 cells. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate a role of naofen in the LPS-induced apoptosis of rat hepatocytes.

Prolongation of QT interval induced by electroconvulsive therapy is attenuated by landiolol.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if landiolol, ultra short-acting beta adrenoceptor antagonist, attenuates the prolongation of QT interval caused by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Methods: Fifteen patients, scheduled to undergo ECT for the treatment of major depression disorder, were studied. In each patient, 2 sessions of ECT were picked up and randomly assigned to be administered with (treatment L) or without continuous infusion of landiolol (treatment C).

General versus locoregional anesthesia for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: influences of the type of anesthesia on its outcome.

Of 31 patients who underwent elective endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in our facility in 2007, 12 underwent EVAR under general anesthesia, and in 19 patients EVAR was done under locoregional anesthesia. In a retrospective analysis of the medical records from these two groups, we observed that locoregional anesthesia for the anesthetic management of EVAR was well tolerated, and it had advantages over general anesthesia with respect to a reduction in the incidence of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay and the duration of the operation. Our single-institutional experience confirms that patients undergoing EVAR are likely to benefit from the use of locoregional anesthesia.

A combination therapy of whole lung lavage and GM-CSF inhalation in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Systemic and inhalation therapy of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is usually effective in controlling autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), but some cases are refractory to GM-CSF therapy and subjected to whole lung lavage (WLL). A 9-year-old girl developed severe respiratory failure due to autoimmune PAP was treated with inhalational 250 microg of GM-CSF daily, however, it was ineffective. Unilateral WLL was performed three times and subsequent GM-CSF inhalation therapy yielded marked physiological and radiological improvement and was continued for 1 year.

Opposing effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane on neurogenic pulmonary edema development in an animal model.

Background: The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of pretreatment with isoflurane and sevoflurane on the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema in an animal model.

Methods: Rats were exposed to room air (control), 1.5% isoflurane, or 2.

Effects of specific signal transduction inhibitors on increased permeability across rat endothelial monolayers induced by neuropeptide Y or VEGF.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) elevates the permeability of cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) in monolayer cultures under hypoxic conditions (5% O(2)) possibly by binding to the NPY Y(3) receptor. The present study evaluated the effects of NPY compared to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). RAECs were cultured on the upper chamber base of a double-chamber culture system, FITC-labeled albumin was introduced into the chamber, and permeation into the lower chamber was measured.