Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibits zymosan-induced intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction.

Aim: To investigate whether dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) inhibits gut inflammation and barrier dysfunction following zymosan-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham with administration of normal saline (SS group); sham with administration of DMSO (SD group); zymosan with administration of normal saline (ZS group); and zymosan with administration of DMSO (ZD group). Each group contained three subgroups according to 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h after surgery.

Pyruvate Is Superior to Citrate in Oral Rehydration Solution in the Protection of Intestine via Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Activation in Rats With Burn Injury.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) may be superior to the standard bicarbonate-based ORS in the protection of intestine from ischemic injury. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Pyr-ORS with citrate-enriched ORS (Cit-ORS) on the intestinal hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)-erythropoietin (EPO) signaling pathway for enteral rehydration in a rat model of burn injury.

Methods: Rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (N = 20, 2 subgroups each: n = 10): scald sham (group SS), scald with no fluid resuscitation (group SN), scald and resuscitation with enteral Cit-ORS (group SC), and scald and resuscitation with enteral Pyr-ORS (group SP).

Electroacupuncture activates enteric glial cells and protects the gut barrier in hemorrhaged rats.

Aim: To investigate whether electroacupuncture ST36 activates enteric glial cells, and alleviates gut inflammation and barrier dysfunction following hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to approximately 45% total blood loss and randomly divided into seven groups: (1) sham: cannulation, but no hemorrhage; (2) subjected to hemorrhagic shock (HS); (3) electroacupuncture (EA) ST36 after hemorrhage; (4) vagotomy (VGX)/EA: VGX before hemorrhage, then EA ST36; (5) VGX: VGX before hemorrhage; (6) α-bungarotoxin (BGT)/EA: intraperitoneal injection of α-BGT before hemorrhage, then EA ST36; and (7) α-BGT group: α-BGT injection before hemorrhage. Morphological changes in enteric glial cells (EGCs) were observed by immunofluorescence, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; a protein marker of enteric glial activation) was evaluated using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.

Electroacupuncture ST36 prevents postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions formation.

Background: We have recently proved electroacupuncture (EA) ST36 exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in the early phase of intra-abdominal adhesion formation. Evidences indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of EA ST36 involves a cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway-dependent mechanism via the vagus nerve. However, the exact effects and accurate vagal modulation of acupuncture in prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion formation has not been thoroughly evaluated.

Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) promotes gastric emptying and mucosal blood flow during oral resuscitation of scalded rats with a pyruvate-enriched ORS.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at ST36 (EA ST36) on gastric emptying and mucosal blood flow during intragastric resuscitation with pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) in scalded rats.

Methods: The rats were subjected to a 35% total body surface area (TBSA) of scald injury and randomly divided into five groups (N=24) and two subgroups (n=12) in each group. The Pyr-ORS was delivered intragastrically according to the Parkland formula immediately after scalding at a dose of 1 mL kg(-1) %TBSA(-1) in 1 h.