Effect of endotoxin and a burn injury on lung and liver lipid peroxidation and catalase activity

Both endotoxin and a burn alone produce oxidant-induced tissue lipid peroxidation. The endotoxin response is due in large part to hydrogen peroxide. The combination of endotoxin after a burn results in an increased liver, but not lung, oxidant injury. Our purpose was to determine whether the burn oxidant injury inactivated endogenous liver tissue catalase, thereby amplifying a subsequent H2O2 insult. Twenty-six adult sheep were studied. Twelve sheep had a 15% TBS burn. Tissue catalase activity, measured in lung and liver 3 days postburn, was significantly decreased from a control of 3.58 +/- 1.8 and 193 +/- 63, respectively, to 1.72 +/- 0.63 and 148 +/- 33 k(sec-1)/0.5 gram tissue. The addition of endotoxin 3 days postburn resulted in an increase in liver malondialdehyde, MDA, a measure of lipid peroxidation, from a control of 110 +/- 80 to 450 +/- 54 nmol/gram tissue. This value was significantly greater than the 210 +/- 80 nmol/gram tissue seen after endotoxin alone. Lung tissue MDA with burn and endotoxin was 65 +/- 8 compared to 42 +/- 7 for control and 80 +/- 6 nmol/gram for endotoxin alone. We conclude that a decrease in liver catalase activity occurs after a burn. The decrease corresponds to an accentuated oxidant-induced lipid peroxidation after an added endotoxin insult where H2O2 is known to be an etiologic agent. The catalase activity also decreases in postburn lung, but accentuated lung damage was not seen, indicating a variable tissue response from the burn-induced decrease in antioxidant activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serum IgG and IgM levels in new and regular long-term plasmapheresis donors.

This Australian study monitored the effects of monthly plasmapheresis on donor serum IgG and IgM levels in 127 new and 124 established plasma donors who donated 1014 units over a five-month period. Of the 251 donors, 3% had reduced total serum protein (TSP) levels, 7% had low IgG levels and 12% had low IgM levels prior to donation on at least one occasion over the study period. Statistical analysis showed that the TSP, IgG and IgM levels of new donors who had donated plasma on less than 10 occasions were no more likely to fall below normal than those of old donors. However, new and old donors whose IgG or IgM levels fell below normal at any time during the study had significantly lower levels of the relevant parameter on entry to the study. Followed longitudinally, IgG and IgM levels in old and new donors tended to fall, although levels fluctuated throughout the study. Statistical analysis failed to show any correlation between TSP levels and IgG or IgM levels. These parameters did not correlate significantly with the number of previous plasmaphereses, donor weight, volume collected or history of infection. This study highlighted the need for regular, specific quantitation of IgG and IgM levels as well as TSP in regular plasmapheresis donors. The frequency of testing is yet to be determined, in view of the high materials and labour costs of such a programme.     

Effect of dobutamine infusion on endotoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in awake sheep.

beta-agonists are known to not only increase oxygen delivery, but also attenuate the inflammatory response. We studied the effect of infusing the beta-agonist, dobutamine, on the oxidant-induced lung and liver tissue lipid peroxidation seen after endotoxemia. Twelve unanesthetized adult sheep with lung and soft tissue (prefemoral) lymph fistulae were given 5 micrograms/kg of Escherichia coli endotoxin intravenously. In six sheep, dobutamine 10 to 15 micrograms/kg/min was infused beginning 3 hours after endotoxin to increase oxygen delivery by 75% above baseline. Animals were killed at 6 hours, and lung and liver lipid peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde, was obtained. Data were compared to six control sheep. Endotoxin alone produced increased lung and soft tissue vascular permeability as evidenced by a twofold increase in protein-rich lymph flow. Lung and liver malondialdehyde increased to 116 +/- 40 nmol/gm and 202 +/- 64 nmol/gm, respectively, compared to control values of 42 +/- 7 nmol/gm and 110 +/- 20 nmol/gm, respectively. Dobutamine infusion after endotoxin increased oxygen delivery by 75%, although changes in total oxygen consumption were not different from those seen with endotoxin alone. Lung and soft tissue lymph flow did not change with dobutamine. However, lung malondialdehyde was 41 +/- 17 nmol/gm, not different from controls. Liver malondialdehyde remained elevated at 164 +/- 26 nmol/gm. We conclude that dobutamine infusion prevents further oxidant-induced lung tissue lipid peroxidation but does not reverse the increased permeability already present. Liver lipid peroxidation was not decreased, suggesting the liver oxidant process may not be caused by the same mechanism as the lung lipid peroxidation.     

Fusidic acid in infections of the external eye

Summary A newly developed 1% eye preparation of the potent antistaphylococcal antibiotic fusidic acid, showed an excellent clinical effect in 206 Egyptian children with external eye infections. The 248 patients included in the study were randomized, in the ratio 5:1, to either fusidic acid or chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops. Both preparations were given four to six times daily for one week. Bacterial conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 56% of the children. Offending eye pathogens were mainlyStaphylococcus aureus (60%),Haemophilus aegyptius (10%),Streptococcus pneumoniae (13%) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae (6%). The overall clinical success rate in children with bacterial conjunctivitis was 85% with fusidic acid, compared to 48% with chloramphenicol (p < 0.001). The better effect of fusidic acid could be ascribed to a lower frequency ofin vitro resistance (16%) in comparison to chloramphenicol (55%). Both drugs were apparently well tolerated and no side-effects were observed.

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Fusidinsäure zur Behandlung von externen Augeninfektionen

Zusammenfassung Eine neuentwickelte 1%ige ophthalmologische Präparation des gegen Staphylokokken hochwirksamen Antibiotikums Fusidinsäure erwies sich bei 206 ägyptischen Kindern mit externen Augeninfektionen als hervorragend klinisch wirksam. Die im Rahmen der Studie behandelten 248 Kinder erhielten nach Randomverfahren im Verhältnis 5:1 entweder 1%ige Fusidinsäure- oder 0.5%ige Chloramphenicol-Augentropfen. Beide Präparate wurden eine Woche lang vier-bis sechsmal täglich verabreicht. Bei 56% der Kinder wurde eine bakterielle Konjunktivitis diagnostiziert. Die häufigsten pathogenen Erreger der Augeninfektionen warenStaphylococcus aureus (60%),Haemophilus aegyptius (10%),Streptococcus pneumoniae (13%) undNeisseria gonorrhoeae (6%). Mit Fusidinsäure wurde bei 85% der Kinder mit bakterieller Konjunktivitis ein Therapieerfolg erzielt, mit Chloramphenicol in 48% der Fälle (p < 0,001). Die therapeutische Überlegenheit von Fusidinsäure ließ sich darauf zurückführen, daß dieIn vitro-Resistenz der Erreger mit 16% der Isolate in der Fusidinsäure-Gruppe geringer war als in der Chloramphenicol-Therapiegruppe mit einer Resistenzrate von 55% der Isolate. Beide Medikamente wurden offensichtlich gut vertragen, Nebenwirkungen wurden nicht beobachtet.

     

Comparison of salivary calmodulin binding proteins in Sjögren''s syndrome and healthy individuals

Background: Reduction in salivary secretion is the hallmark of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin binding proteins (CaMBPs) play a key role in the secretory process of saliva. Recent studies have suggested that SS‐B, an autoantibody associated with SS, is a CaMBP. This finding suggests that CaMBP may contribute to the loss of saliva in SS. To better understand the role(s) of these proteins in SS, the purpose of this study was to compare salivary CaMBPs in Sjögren's patients and controls. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 20 patients and 20 age‐, race‐, and gender‐matched controls. CaM overlay was used to identify CaMBPs in saliva of patients and controls. Results: Higher number of salivary CaMBPs was observed among patients than controls. Conclusions: The increased number of salivary CaMBPs in SS may suggest a potential role for these proteins in the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Treatment of osteoarthrosis secondary to congenital dislocation of the hip. Primary cemented surface replacement compared with conventional total hip replacement

Seventy-four cemented conventional total hip arthroplasties (in fifty-five patients) and thirty-seven cemented surface replacements (in thirty-two patients) were done between 1971 and 1984 for treatment of osteoarthrosis secondary to congenital dislocation of the hip. The patients in the first group were older and had more severe dysplasia. In all patients, we tried to position the acetabular component at the level of the true acetabulum. In both groups, the operation relieved pain and improved the function of the hip in the short term. There were fewer and less severe early postoperative complications in the surface-replacement group, but the rate of long-term failure (revision or resection) was substantially higher. Survivorship analysis demonstrated that neither type of operation yielded durable results in younger patients; all revisions were in patients who were less than sixty years old. However, in older patients who had cemented conventional total hip arthroplasty, survivorship was excellent, regardless of the amount of dysplasia.     

Salsola pollen as a predominant cause of respiratory allergies in Kuwait.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory allergies are common in Kuwait, and the role of certain allergens has been previously documented. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of skin prick tests to a range of allergens that were considered relevant to the vegetation surveys and aerobiological studies performed in Kuwait. METHOD: New patients attending our center during August 2002 to February 2003 with asthma or allergic rhinitis underwent skin prick tests to a battery of allergens. RESULTS: A total of 451 patients aged 5 to 60 years (mean age, 29.5 years) were tested. Of these patients, 403 (89.4%) had a positive test result to at least one allergen and were considered allergic. A total of 76.7% of the allergic patients had a positive reaction to Salsola pollen, with a mean wheal diameter of 8.25 mm (median, 8 mm). Chenopodium album was positive in 57.6% and Bermuda grass was positive in 38.2% of the allergic cases. Indoor allergens seemed to play a lesser role than pollens: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was positive in only 37.5%, and American and German cockroaches were positive in 33.2% and 22.3%, respectively. All the allergens other than Salsola elicited a mean wheal diameter of less than 6.25 mm (median, < or = 6 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Indoor allergens seem to play a lesser role in respiratory allergies in Kuwait. Most allergic patients become sensitized to pollens; the strongest and most frequent reaction is from Salsola pollen. Salsola imbricata is found growing extensively in most areas of the country, flowering mainly in autumn, when the most common pollen is of the Chenopod-Amaranth type and when most patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis become symptomatic.