Possible Mechanism of Increase in Gastric Mucosal PGE2 and PGI2 Generation Induced by Ecabet Sodium, a Novel Gastroprotective Agent

The gastroprotective agent ecabet sodium(ecabet, 12-sulfodehydroabietic acid monosodium salt)increases the formation of prostaglandin (PG)E₂ and I₂ by gastric mucosa. Inthe present study, we examined the effect of ecabet on metabolism ofarachidonic acid (AA) in rat gastric mucosal cells.Ecabet (0.1-10 mM) concentration- and time-dependentlypotentiated the release of [¹⁴C]AA fromgastric mucosal cells prelabeled with [¹⁴C]AA andsimultaneously increased the production ofPGE₂ and PGI₂. The ecabet-mediatedincreases in [¹⁴C]AA release andPGE₂ production were both partly depressed bymepacrine (30 and 100 M) and Ca²⁺ chelation.Ecabet, however, showed no effect on gastricphospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activityand [Ca²⁺]_i in the gastric mucosalcells. Ecabet and other dehydroabietic acid derivatives, 12-carboxydehydroabietic acid monosodium saltand mono[16-(12-sulfodehydroabietyl)]succinic acidmonosodium salt, which potentiated the liberation of[¹⁴C]AA, increased the membrane fluidity ofgastric mucosal cells assessed by usingdiphenylhexatrienepropionic acid (DPH-PA) as the probe,while 12-sulfamoyldehydroabietic acid showed no effecton either the AA liberation or the membrane fluidity.Ecabet (0.1-10 mM) increased the membrane fluidityconcentration- and time-dependently in accordance withits facilitating effect on AA release. In conclusion,ecabet increases the synthesis of PGE₂ andPGI₂ by gastric mucosal cells through promoting the release ofAA, which is partly dependent on PLA₂ andCa²⁺. The ecabet-induced increase in membranefluidity may be involved in part 2 in the liberation ofAA from the gastric mucosal cells.     

Comparison of forced-air warming systems in prevention of intraoperative hypothermia

In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of forced-air warming upper body blankets and forced-air warming underbody blankets on intraoperative hypothermia in patients who were planned to undergo open abdominal surgical operations in which extensive heat loss occurs. This prospective and randomized study included 92 patients who would undergo lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomized by closed envelope method and divided into two groups. Group I (n:46) included the patients who would receive warming with forced-air warming upper body blanket, and Group II (n:46) consisted of the patients who received warming with forced-air warming underbody blanket. Central body temperature was recorded by measuring with a temperature probe placed in distal esophagus. Demographic data, amount of fentanyl, crystalloid and blood products used, duration of operation, type of operation, hemodynamic parameters, shivering and thermal damage information were recorded. There was not any statistically significant difference among the patients in terms of demographic data, amount of fentanyl, crystalloid and blood products used, duration and type of operation and hemodynamic parameters. No difference was found between the groups in terms of body temperatures (Group I:36.1?°C, Group II:36.3?°C, respectively) (P?>?0.05). Forced air warming underbody blanket can be as effective as forced-air warming upper body blankets in preventing intraoperative hypothermia. They can be alternative in cases where use of forced-air warming upper body blankets is not feasible.     

Angle between the common and internal carotid arteries detected by ultrasound is related to intima-media thickness among those with atherosclerotic disease

Objectives

Although carotid artery structural variations have been detected by ultrasound, their clinical significance is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine whether the angle between the common carotid artery (CCA) and the internal carotid artery (ICA), designated angle α, an ultrasound-detectable carotid artery structural variation, is related to carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate marker for carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods

As a cross-sectional study, we measured angle α in routine carotid artery ultrasounds from 176 subjects (130 men) with atherosclerotic disease/risk factors that attended Kouseiren Hospital in Kagoshima City, Japan between August 2007 and April 2009. We evaluated the correlation between the angle α and CCA- or ICA-IMT.

Results

Angle α was weakly correlated with age but significantly correlated with ICA-IMT. The correlation was stronger in subjects with an ICA-IMT ≥ 0.5 mm than in those with an ICA-IMT < 0.5 mm (Right side r = 0.475 vs. 0.246, Left side r = 0.498 vs. 0.301, respectively). Upon multivariate logistic regression analysis, angle α and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were independent explanatory variables for ICA-IMT.

Conclusion

Angle α is related to ICA-IMT in subjects with atherosclerotic disease or risk factors in this study.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12199-015-0453-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Evaluation of the thyroid disorders in children with familial Mediterranean fever

Clinical Rheumatology - Although it is well-known that autoimmune thyroid diseases are more common in most of the autoimmune connective tissue diseases, the relationship between autoinflammatory...