Regulation of ω-3 Fish Oil Emulsion on the SIRS during the Initial Stage of Severe Acute Pancreatitis

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of parenteral supplementation with ω-3 fish oil emulsion （Omegaven） on systemic inflammatory response syndrome （SIRS） during the initial stage of severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. In a prospective, randomized and controlled trial, 60 patients with SAP were randomized either to treat with conventional therapy （Con group, n=30） or conventional therapy plus intravenous supplementation with ω-3 fish oil emulsion 0.2 g/kg every day （FO group, n=30）. The effects were analyzed by the SIRS-related indexes. The results showed that APACHE-Ⅱ scores in FO group were significantly lower, and the gap increased much farther after the 4th day than those in Con group （P〈0.05）. Fluid equilibrium time became shorter markedly in FO group than in Con group （5.1±2.2 days vs 8.4±2.3 days）. In FO group, SIRS scores were markedly decreased and the SIRS state vanished after the 4th day; Plasma level of TNF-α was significantly reduced, while IL-10 decreased markedly, most prominently between the 4th and 7th day, and the ratio of IL-10/TNF-α raised as compared with Con group （P〈0.05）. During the initial stage of SAP, parenteral supplementation with ω-3 fish oil emulsion could efficiently lower the magnitude and persistence time of the SIRS, markedly retrieve the unbalance of the pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, improve severe condition of illness and may provide a new way to regulate the SIRS.     

Effect of adolescent exposure to MDMA and cocaine on acquisition and reinstatement of morphine-induce CPP

It is well known that an elevated percentage of ecstasy users also consume cocaine. Recently, it has been reported that a high frequency of heroin smokers first consumed heroin under the effects of ecstasy with the hope of reducing the stimulant effects of the latter drug. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exposure to MDMA and cocaine during adolescence on morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and reinstatement in adulthood. In the first experiment, adolescent mice were exposed to six injections of MDMA and three weeks later their response to the reinforcing properties of 40 mg/kg of morphine was evaluated using the CPP paradigm. All the treatment groups developed the same magnitude of morphine-induced preference and, after CPP was extinguished, it was restored in all the groups with a priming dose of 10 mg/kg of morphine. Only mice that had been treated with 10 or 20 mg/kg of MDMA had their morphine-induced preference reinstated after receiving only 5 mg/kg of morphine. In the second experiment, adolescent mice were similarly treated with six administrations of cocaine (25 mg/kg) or cocaine plus MDMA (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg), and their response to morphine-induce CPP was evaluated three weeks later. Similarly to the first experiment, all the groups developed a preference for the morphine-paired compartment, but this preference was not reinstated with a priming dose of 10 mg/kg of morphine following extinction, as was the case among the control animals. These results lead us to hypothesize that periadolescent MDMA exposure alters responsiveness to the rewarding properties of morphine, highlighting MDMA as a gateway drug whose use may increase the likelihood of dependence on other drugs.