Effect of early hemofiltration on pro- and anti-inflammatory responses and multiple organ failure in severe acute pancreatitis

Penehyclidine ameliorates acute lung injury by inhibiting Toll-like receptor 2/4 expression and nuclear factor-κB activation

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of penehyclidine (PHC) on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI), as well as to examine the mechanism underlying this effect. A total of 60 rats were randomly divided into five groups, including the control (saline), LPS and three LPS + PHC groups. ALI was induced in the rats by injection of 8 mg lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/kg body weight. The rats were then treated with or without PHC at 0.3, 1 or 3 mg/kg body weight 1 min following LPS injection. After 6 h, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were determined by ELISA. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the lung tissue samples, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 protein expression levels were examined by western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that lung injury was ameliorated by treatment with PHC (1 and 3 mg/kg body weight) as compared with treatment with LPS alone. Injection of LPS significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4, as well as the protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 in the lung tissue samples. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were also upregulated by LPS injection. Treatment of the rats with PHC following LPS injection suppressed the LPS-induced increase in TLR2/4 mRNA and NF-κB p65 protein expression levels. PHC also inhibited the increase in TNF-α and IL-6 serum levels. In addition, PHC reduced LPS-induced ALI and decreased the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6, possibly by downregulating TLR2/4 mRNA expression and inhibiting NF-κB activity, and consequently alleviating the inflammatory response.

Pathogenesis and treatment of acute pancreatitis with liver injury

Acute pancreatitis is a frequent acute abdomen in clinic, causes damages not only to pancreas, but also to distant organs. Liver is one of the mainly involved organs. The development of liver injury may aggravate pancreatitis. The pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis with liver injury is mainly related to cytokines, pancreatic enzyme, oxidative stress, microcirculation disturbance, apoptosis and pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid, etc. Its treatment is also to eradicate these factors. However, more methods are still under animal studies. Their clinical application requires further study.

Effects of continuous high-volume hemofiltration on experimental severe acute pancreatitis in pigs

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of different doses of hemofiltration on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in pigs.

METHODS

The animal model of SAP was produced by intraductal injection of sodium taurocholate and trypsin. Animals in group 1 served as SAP control. Animals in group 2 received (20 mL/kg per hour) continuous low-volume hemofiltration (LVHF), and animals in group 3 received (100 mL/kg per hour) continuous high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) immediately after the induction of SAP. After the instrumentation of the animals by arterial and Swan-Ganz catheters, hemodynamic indexes were monitored intermittently at different times. The rectal temperature and the concentration of amylase and cytokines in serum were measured at the same time.

RESULTS

The survival time of HVHF group was significantly prolonged (P < 0.01). The initial elevation of body temperature and the hypothermia in the late course of experiments were significantly ameliorated by HVHF (P < 0.01). Six hours after the induction of pancreatitis, the urine output of animals in HVHF group was obviously higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), which stayed behind 36 hours later (P < 0.05). The major hemodynamic finding was that pancreatitis-induced hypotension was significantly attenuated by HVHF (P < 0.01). The development of hyperdynamic circulatory failure was simultaneously attenuated, as reflected by a limited increase in CI, an attenuated decrease in systemic vascular resistance index. Plasma amylases in the HVHF group were significantly lower than those in control and LVHF groups (P < 0.01). The serum concentrations of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL) 6, and IL-10 all decreased significantly in treatment groups (P < 0.01), and those of HVHF group were less significant than the HVHF group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The HVHF was associated with a better hemodynamic profile, a less hyperkinetic state, and more prolonged survival than that of LVHF, which may result from the HVHF that can remove the inflammatory cytokines more efficiently.

Effect of early continuous high-volume hemofiltration on histopathological changes of pancreas and extrapancreatic organs in pigs with severe acute pancreatitis

AIM: To observe the effect of early continuous high-volume hemofiltration on the histopatho-logical changes of pancreas and extrapancreatic organs in pigs with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODS: Twenty-four domestic pigs were randomly and averagely assigned into 3 groups: control group (untreated model group) as group A, low-volume hemofiltration [20 mL/(kg·h)] group as group B, and high-volume hemofiltration [100 mL/(kg·h)] group as group C. SAP model was produced by injection of sodium taurocholate (40 g/L, 1 mL/kg) and trypsin (2 U/kg) via the pancreatic duct. The pigs in group B and C received hemofiltration immediately after modeling. The parameters including survival time and histopathological scores of pancreas and extra-pancreatic organs were observed.

RESULTS: The median survival times were 41, 50 and 65 h in group A, B, and C, respectively, and there were significant differences among them (P < 0.01). The histopathological scores had no marked differences between the three groups (P > 0.05). However, the scores for hepatocellular degeneration, pulmonary hyaline membranes and microthrombi, and renal tubular damage were obviously lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Although hemofiltration can not reduce the pancreatic damage in pigs with SAP, early continuous high-volume hemofiltration can significantly ameliorate the hepatocellular degeneration, the formation of pulmonary hyaline membranes and microthrombi, and the renal tubular damage in pigs with SAP, which is useful in improving the survival time.