Local and systemic effects of aging on acute pancreatitis.

Background: /Objectives: Evaluation of the local and systemic effects of aging on the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in an experimental rat model in elderly animals.

Methods: AP was induced in Wistar rats by intraductal 2.5% taurocholate injection and divided into two groups: Young (3 month old) and Aged (18 month old).

Mechanisms of the beneficial effect of sevoflurane in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Purpose: To evaluate the underlying mechanisms by which sevoflurane protects the liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury evaluate the mechanism by which sevoflurane exerts this protective effect.

Methods: Twenty-six rats were subjected to partial ischemia/reperfusion injury for 1h: one group received no treatment, one group received sevoflurane, and sham group of animals received laparotomy only. Four hours after reperfusion, levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukins 6 and 10 were measured.

Beneficial effects of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ channel opener on liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Aim: To investigate the effect of diazoxide administration on liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Methods: Wistar male rats underwent partial liver ischemia performed by clamping the pedicle from the medium and left anterior lateral segments for 1 h under mechanical ventilation. They were divided into 3 groups: Control Group, rats submitted to liver manipulation, Saline Group, rats received saline, and Diazoxide Group, rats received intravenous injection diazoxide (3.

Nitric oxide synthase inhibition reduces albumin induced lung damage in acute pancreatitis.

Background/objectives: Colloid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis (AP) is a matter of controversy due to the possible deleterious effect on lung function. A previous study demonstrates that albumin administration increases lung damage in burns and this effect can be reversed by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibition. This study evaluates the effects of S-methylisothiourea (SMT), a specific iNOS inhibitor, on lungs and pancreas of rats with AP receiving intravenous albumin.

Pentoxifylline improves liver regeneration through down-regulation of TNF-α synthesis and TGF-β1 gene expression.

Aim: To investigate the mechanism of pentoxifylline (PTX) improvement in liver regeneration.

Results: Rats were randomized into 4 groups: Control rats; Sham - sham-operation rats; Saline - 70% hepatectomy plus saline solution; PTX - 70% hepatectomy plus PTX. At 2 and 6 h after hepatectomy, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum and hepatic tissue levels were determined.

Timing-dependent protection of hypertonic saline solution administration in experimental liver ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: During liver ischemia, the decrease in mitochondrial energy causes cellular damage that is aggravated after reperfusion. This injury can trigger a systemic inflammatory syndrome, also producing remote organ damage. Several substances have been employed to decrease this inflammatory response during liver transplantation, liver resections, and hypovolemic shock.

Statin pretreatment in experimental acute pancreatitis.

Context: Some authors have found beneficial effect of statins in certain inflammatory conditions, but the effect of statins on acute pancreatitis is not yet defined.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on an experimental model of mild and severe acute pancreatitis.

Animals: One hundred and one Wistar rats with cerulein or taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis were used in this study.

Effect of hyperthermia on experimental acute pancreatitis.

Background: [corrected] Recent studies indicate that hyperthermia can change inflammatory mechanisms and protect experimental animals from deleterious effects of secretagogue-induced acute pancreatitis

Aim: To evaluate the effects of hyperthermia post-treatment on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

Methods: Twenty animals were divided in two groups: group I (n = 10), rats with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis undergone hyperthermia, and group II (n = 10), animals with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis that were kept normothermic. In all groups, amylase serum levels, histologic damage, vascular permeability and pancreatic water content were assessed. Acute pancreatitis was induced by administration of two cerulein injections (20 mcg/kg).

Influence of pancreatic enzyme content on experimental acute pancreatitis.

Introduction: Some studies demonstrate the crucial role of proteases in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). Systemic release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been demonstrated in AP, yet the mechanism of activation remains unclear. Furthermore, it is not known if the amount of pancreatic enzyme in the pancreas determines the production of proinflammatory cytokines.