Anaphylotoxin levels following thermal injury

Following thermal injury, anaphylotoxins (C3a and C5a) are generated by complement activity. We measured C3a and C5a levels serially in 18 seriously burned patients (mean burn size = 37.9 per cent body surface area) over the initial 3 weeks following injury. Values for C3a were significantly increased when compared with normal controls, with maximum levels during the second week, while C5a levels were slightly elevated initially. These levels did not correlate with the extent of tissue injury, the development of septic complications or the clinical outcome. However, it appears likely that C3a and C5a may be responsible for some of the pathophysiological alterations observed following thermal injury.     

The effect of CAPE on lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels in the plasma of rats following thermal injury

Both experimental and clinical studies have shown that oxygen-derived free radicals rise in the plasma after thermal injury and participate in the pathogenesis of tissue damage. Hence, various antioxidant molecules have been used in treatment of burn injury both experimentally and clinically. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis from honeybee hives, is known to have potent antioxidant property. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of CAPE on oxidative stress in plasma of burned rats. Experiment was designed in three groups of rats with 20% full-thickness burn: (a) sham burn (n = 7); (b) burn only (n = 22); (c) burn + treatment with CAPE (n = 22). Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and the activities of xanthine oxidase (XO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used as both bio-indicators of oxidant status and determinant of antioxidant effect of CAPE. They were assessed by biochemical methods at 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 14th post-burn days. In conclusion, CAPE was shown to possess antioxidant activity by saving SOD activity, preventing XO activity and decreasing the levels of MDA, and NO. Our study showed that CAPE may be beneficial in burn injury.     

Changes of arginine vasopressin in elderly patients with acute traumatic cerebral injury

Argininevasopressinisnotonlyneuraltransmitterandneuroregulatorinthecentralnervoussystem ,butalsocirculatoryhormoneintheblood .Theyplayimportantrolesinthebalanceofbloodpressure,water,sodiumandelectrolytes,andthusinfluencepatients survival.ThechangesofAVPinelderlypatientswithacutetraumaticinjury (within 6hoursafterinjury)arestudiedinthisarticle.Thirtytraumaticpatientswithoutheadinjuryservedasthenon cerebralinjurygroupand3 0healthyvolunteersasthecontrolgroup .METHODSPatientsThedataof 3 2pati…     

Early change of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin in traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage

Objective： To investigate the changes and effects of arginine vasopressin （AVP） in patients with acute traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage （tSAH）. Methods： The plasma and cerebrospinal fluid （CSF） level of AVP, and intracranial pressure （ICP） were measured in a total of 21 patients within 24 hours after tSAH. The neurological status of the patients was evaluated by Glasgow Coma Scale （GCS）. Correlation between AVP and ICP, GCS was analyzed respectively. Meanwhile, 18 healthy volunteers were recruited as control group. Results： Compared with control group, the levels （pg/ml） of AVP in plasma and CSF （x±s） in tSAH group were significantly increased within 24 hours （38.72±24.71 vs 4.54±1.38 and 34.61±21.43 vs 4.13± 1.26, P〈0.01）, and was remarkably higher in GCS ≤8 group than GCS〉8 group （50.96±36.81 vs 25.26±12.87 and 44.68±31.72 vs 23.53±10.94, P〈0.05）. The CSF AVP level was correlated with ICP （r= 0.46, P〈0.05）, but no statistically significant correlation was found between plasma AVP, CSF AVP and initial GCS （r= -0.29, P〉0.05 and r= -0.32, P〉0.05, respectively）. The ICP （ram Hg） in tSAH patients was elevated and higher in GCS ≤ 8 group than in GCS〉8 group （25.9±9.7 vs 17.6±5.2, P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Our research suggests that AVP is correlated with the severity oftSAH, and may be involved in the pathophysiological process of brain damage in the early stage after tSAH. It seems that compared with the plasma AVP concentration, CSF AVP is more related to the severity oftSAH.     

Plasma arginine vasopressin levels and arterial pressure during open heart surgery

A study of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels and their relation to changes in arterial pressure was undertaken in 13 patients undergoing open heart surgery. Seven of the patients received high doses of intravenous morphine (1 or 2 mg/kg) as part of their anaesthetic, whereas the other six did not. Increases in the AVP levels during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were significant in both groups, but were significantly greater in the patients not receiving morphine (median 86.1 fmol/ml) than in those who did (47.5 fmol/ml). In both groups there was a linear correlation between the natural logarithm of the plasma AVP level and the percentage fall in the mean arterial pressure, although the slope of the relationship was significantly less in the group receiving morphine than in the group not receiving morphine. These results indicate that in patients undergoing cardiac surgery the neuroendocrine reflex control of plasma AVP levels in relation to changes in arterial pressure is intact, but that the sensitivity of the reflex (i.e. the increase in plasma AVP level for a given fall in arterial pressure) is reduced by the administration of high doses of intravenous morphine.     

Regulation of plasma arginine vasopressin in patients with chronic renal failure maintained on hemodialysis

Plasma arginine vasopressin (PAVP) was studied in patients before and after hemodialysis. The levels of PAVP were higher before and reverted to normal range after dialysis (5.7 vs. 2.7 pg/ml). Sequential chemical dialysis showed that vasopressin was removed during the chemical dialysis phase. Data obtained during a simulation experiment were also consistent with the view that vasopressin was removed during the chemical dialysis phase.     

Early changes of arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II in patients with acute cerebral injury

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Independent impact of plasma homocysteine levels on neurological outcome following head injury

Homocysteine (tHcy) has been hardly studied among patients with head injury. This study was to evaluate whether there is any independent impact of tHcy levels on neurological outcome following head injury in a multivariate model. Patients admitted within 24 h of injury were included in the study, along with 20 age- and gender-matched controls. Plasma levels of tHcy were measured at admission using direct immunoassay. All the variables were analyzed with respect to tHcy levels and outcome according to Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at 3 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SPSS 21. There were a total of 72 patients in the study. tHcy levels were significantly higher after head injury (mean 24.03[SD ± 16.0] μmol/L), compared to matched controls (mean 16.62 [SD ± 10.4] μmol/L) (p = 0.05). Patients with severe head injury, acute SDH, or diffuse higher radiological grades had greater levels of tHcy compared to others. There was a significant relationship between tHcy level and neurological outcome. tHcy levels were significantly higher in patients who had unfavorable GOS (mean 36.22[±25.3] μmol/L), compared to those with favorable GOS (mean 22.71[±14.3] μmol/L) (P = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, tHcy level (adj. odds ratio [OR] 1.17, P = 0.05) and Glasgow Coma Scale (adj. OR 5.17, P = 0.01) had significant association with neurological outcome at 3 months independent of age, dietary habit, radiological grading and of each other. tHcy level has significant independent impact on neurological outcome and may be useful as a prognostic marker following head injury.     

The relationship between arginine vasopressin levels and hyponatremia following a percutaneous renal biopsy in children receiving hypotonic or isotonic intravenous fluids

Post-operative hyponatremia is a common complication in children which results from hypotonic fluid administration in the presence of arginine vasopressin (AVP) excess. We evaluated the relationship between the change in serum sodium and AVP levels following percutaneous renal biopsy in children receiving either hypotonic or isotonic fluids. This study was prompted after we encountered a patient who developed near-fatal hyponatremic encephalopathy following a renal biopsy while receiving hypotonic fluids. The relationship between the change in serum sodium and AVP levels was evaluated prior to (T0) and at 5 h (T5) following a percutaneous renal biopsy in 60 children receiving either hypotonic (0.6% NaCl, 90 mEq/L) or isotonic fluids (0.9% NaCl, 154 mEq/L). The proportion of patients with elevated AVP levels post-procedure was similar between those receiving 0.6 or 0.9% NaCl (30 vs. 26%). Patients receiving 0.6% NaCl with elevated AVP levels experienced a fall in serum sodium of 1.9 ± 1.5 mEq/L, whereas those receiving 0.9% NaCl had a rise in serum sodium of 0.85 ± 0.34 mEq/L with no patients developing hyponatremia. There were no significant changes in serum sodium levels in patients with normal AVP concentrations post-procedure in either group. In conclusion, elevated AVP levels were common among our patients following a percutaneous renal biopsy. Isotonic fluids prevented a fall in serum sodium and hyponatremia, while hypotonic fluids did not.     

Metabolic changes following thermal injury

Patients with extensive thermal injuries have a tremendous, long-lasting increase in transcutaneous heat loss by increased evaporation, radiation, and convection. Their ability to regulate skin temperature and heat loss is limited, and the core-skin insulation is inadequate. The corresponding posttraumatic metabolic response is a massive catabolic drive revealed as insulin insufficiency and increased release of catecholamines and glucagon. This stimulates lipolysis, proteolysis, substrate flow to the liver, and gluconeogenesis of amino acids. The increased heat production is related to an endogenous reset in metabolic activity and is further influenced by environmental conditions. Extensively burned patients cannot overcome the cold stress to which they are exposed by an increased functional heat insulation or by tolerating decreasing body temperature without reacting with a costly increase in heat production and without shivering. If the burn patients are permitted to control the heat supply from infrared heaters until they feel comfortable and all kinds of external environmental disturbances are eliminated, it is possible to reduce their metabolic rate to the normal value for the actual core temperature. The daily caloric requirements can be estimated and, in patients receiving a combined parenteral-enteral dietary program and infrared heat, weight loss can be entirely avoided. Infrared radiation is a practical and inexpensive way of distributing energy from the environment to the patient, suitable also in disaster situations. The ambient air temperature can be kept comfortable with respect to the patient's airways and to the nursing staff.

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Résumé Les patients atteints de brûlures étendues ont, pendant longtemps, des pertes thermiques extrêmement importantes par evaporation accrue, radiation et convection. Ils ont perdu en partie leur capacité de régulation de la température cutanée et des pertes thermiques. L'isolation de l'organisme devient donc inadéquate. En même temps, la réponse métabolique posttraumatique est un hypercatabolisme considérable qui se marque par un déficit en insuline et une libération accrue de catécholamines et de glucagon. Il y a donc augmentation de la lipolyse, de la protéolyse, de l'influx de substrats vers le foie et de la néoglycogenèse à partir d'acides aminés. La production accrue de calories est en rapport avec les perturbations métaboliques et est, de plus, influencée par l'environnement. Les malades atteints de brûlures étendues ne peuvent surmonter le stress par le froid auquel ils sont soumis: ils ne peuvent accroître leur isolation thermique fonctionnelle; ils réagissent à toute baisse de la température corporelle par une production accrue de chaleur et par des frissons. Si on laisse des brûlés contrôler eux-mêmes, selon leur degré de confort, la température dégagée par des lampes à infrarourge, si de plus on élimine toutes les perturbations de l'environnement, leur métabolisme basai peut étre ramené à des valeurs normales pour leur température centrale. Les besoins caloriques peuvent être estimés et il est possible d'éviter complètement les pertes de poids en alimentant les malades à la fois par voies entérale et parentérale et en les plaçant sous une lampe à rayons infrarouges. Celle-ci fournit de l'énergie au patient, de façon pratique et économique, dans ces situations désastreuses. La température ambiante peut rester dans des limites satisfaisantes pour les voies respiratoires du malade et pour l'équipe soignante.

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Supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project Nos. 40X-676 and 40Y-2370).     

Serum lipid peroxide levels of patients suffering from thermal injury

Lipid peroxide levels and activities of various enzymes were examined in sera from five thermally injured patients. In all patients examined, serum lipid peroxide levels were increased in the early post-burn period, and thereafter activities of glutamate oxalacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase in the sera became elevated in most patients. From these observations, it is considered that increased lipid peroxides in the bloodstream during the early post-burn period would cause damage to various organs, permitting the leakage of the enzymes into the blood. These results support the view that lipid peroxide may be regarded as a 'burn toxin'.     

Early changes of arginine vasopressin and angiotensin Ⅱ in patients with acute cerebral injury

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes and clinical significance of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (AT-II) in patients with acute moderate and severe cerebral injury. METHODS: The early plasma concentration was checked by radioimmunoassay in 47 cases of acute moderate and severe cerebral injury, 30 cases of non-cerebral injury and 30 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The early plasma concentrations of AVP (50.23 ng/L +/- 15.31 ng/L) and AT-II (248.18 ng/L +/- 82.47 ng/L) in cerebral injury group were higher than those in non-cerebral injury group (AVP for 30.91 ng/L +/- 11.48 ng/L and AT-II for 120.67 ng/L +/- 42.49 ng/L, P<0.01). The early plasma concentrations of AVP and AT-II in cerebral injury group were also obviously higher than those of the volunteers (AVP for 5.16 ng/L +/- 4.23 ng/L and AT-II for 43.11 ng/L +/- 16.39 ng /L, P<0.001). At the same time, the early plasma level of AVP (58.90 ng/L +/- 18.12 ng/L) and AT-II (292.13 ng/L +/- 101.17 ng/ L) was higher in severe cerebral injured patients than moderate cerebral injured ones (AVP for 36.68 ng/L +/- 12.16 ng/L and AT-II for 201.42 ng/L +/- 66.10 ng/L, P<0.01). The early level of AVP and AT-II was negatively related to the GCS scales in acute cerebral injury. The early plasma concentrations of AVP (45.98 ng/L +/- 13.48 ng/L) and AT-II (263. 28 ng/L +/- 80.23 ng/L) were lower in epidural hematoma group than those of subdural hematoma and cerebral injury group (AVP for 64.12 ng/L +/- 15.56 ng /L and AT-II for 319.82 ng/L +/- 108.11 ng/L, P<0. 01). CONCLUSIONS: AVP and AT-II may play an important role in pathophysiologic process in the secondary cerebral injury. The more severe the cerebral injury is, the higher the early level of AVP and AT-II will be. The early plasma level of AVP and AT-II may be one of the severity indexes of cerebral injury.     

Effect of osmolar changes on plasma arginine vasopressin (PAVP) in dialysis patients.

The effect of changes in plasma osmolality and changes in plasma arginine vasopressin (PAVP) were analyzed in 10 stable chronic hemodialysis patients utilizing four protocols. During regular hemodialysis opposing influences on PAVP (decrease in blood pressure and intravascular volume and increase in serum calcium) resulted in no significant change in PAVP (by analysis of variance). In the second protocol low dialysate calcium (2.5 meq/l) isovolemic hemodialysis was used. PAVP and serum osmolality levels declined from 2.0 +/- 0.4 to 1.4 +/- 0.2 microU/ml (p less than 0.05), and 285 +/- 2.5 mOsm/l to 275 +/- 3.2 mOsm/l respectively. Removal of PAVP by hemodialysis did not occur as evidenced by no difference in arterial-venous PAVP levels and no "rebound" of PAVP for three hours after completion of dialysis (second protocol). Isovolemic low calcium high dialysate sodium (145 meq/l) hemodialysis was utilized in the third protocol. Serum osmolality and PAVP did not change. Addition of a very high dialysate sodium (155 meq/l) to isovolemic low calcium hemodialysis resulted in an increase in plasma sodium, osmolality and AVP (139.7 +/- 0.62 to 144 +/- 0.67 meq/l, 294 +/- 2.79 to 304.3 +/- 2.4 mOsm/l and 1.8 +/- 0.3 to 2.7 +/- 0.5 microU/ml (p less than 0.05 for each) respectively. In conclusion, PAVP responds to changes in plasma osmolality in chronic hemodialysis patients.