A preliminary study of the effects of ulinastatin on early postoperative cognition function in patients undergoing abdominal surgery

Effects of intravenous single-bolus lidocaine infusion versus intravenous single-bolus magnesium sulfate infusion on postoperative pain, emotional status, and quality of life in patients undergoing spine fusion surgery: a randomized study

BACKGROUND

We assessed the efficiency of intravenous adjuvants in decreasing opioid intake and pain scores after spine fusion surgery.

METHODS

This study included 120 patients aged 18-60 listed for spine fusion surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups: Group (Lidocaine): received IV lidocaine 4 mg/kg in 50 mL volume over 30 min. Group (Magnesium): received IV magnesium sulfate 30mg/kg in 50 mL volume over 30 min. Group (combined Lidocaine and Magnesium): received IV lidocaine 4 mg/kg in 50 mL volume over 30 min.+IV magnesium sulfate 30mg/kg in 50 mL volume over 30 min. Group (Control): received IV saline 50 mL. The time to the first request analgesia, the postoperative pain score, total analgesic use, patient satisfaction, anxiety, depression, mental state, quality of life, and side effects were measured.

RESULTS

The combined group had more extended time for the first analgesic request and fewer rescue analgesia doses than the other groups. NRS scores at rest or movement were statistically significantly lower in the lidocaine group and the combined group compared to the control group (P1, P3<0.05) at almost all times. This combination reduces anxiety and depression and improves overall health up to three months after a single infusion. The combined group had higher patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

A synergistic effect of a combination of lidocaine and magnesium sulfate on perioperative pain was found. It reduces analgesic consumption, depression, and anxiety and improves overall health up to three months after a single infusion dose.

Effects of anesthetic adjunctive agents on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery: A Bayesian network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients are prone to postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). The comparison of the effects of anesthetic adjuvant drugs on POCD in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery remains controversial.

METHODS

The final search took place on June 10, 2023. Randomized controlled trials including ketamine, ulinastatin, dexmedetomidine, parecoxib, and midazolam on the prevention and treatment of POCD in elderly undergoing noncardiac surgery were collected. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to quantitatively combine the evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 35 randomized trials were finally included in this systematic review, and the overall risk of bias is Allocation concealment. These anesthetic adjuvant drugs did not show significant differences in preventing POCD on postoperative days 1 and 7 compared with each other, but ulinastatin may be more effective in preventing POCD than dexmedetomidine [odds ratio (OR) = 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.10, 0.71)] and parecoxib [OR = 0.3, 95% CI = (0.10, 0.82 on postoperative day 3. The efficiency ranking results also find that ulinastatin and ketamine might provide better effects regarding POCD prevention.

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine and ulinastatin might have better effects in preventing POCD in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Our meta-analysis provided evidence for the use of ulinastatin and ketamine in the prevention of POCD in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Effect of Ulinastatin on Early Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is associated with neuroinflammation by triggering the systemic inflammatory responses. Related studies have demonstrated that ulinastatin, which is a urinary trypsin inhibitor, inhibited the release of inflammatory mediators and improved postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing major surgery. However, there are controversial results put forwarded by some studies. This systemic review aimed to evaluate the effect of ulinastatin on POCD in elderly patients undergoing surgery. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Ovid to find relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ulinastatin on POCD in elderly patients undergoing surgery. The primary outcomes included the incidence of POCD and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. The secondary outcome was the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, S100β, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10. RevMan 5.3 was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results: Ten RCTs were included finally. Compared with controls, ulinastatin significantly reduced the incidence of POCD [risk ratio (RR) = 0.29, 95% CI 0.21-0.41, test of RR = 1: Z = 7.05, p < 0.00001]. In addition, patients in the ulinastatin group have lower levels of TNF-α, S100β, CRP, and IL-6 and higher level of IL-10 in serum following surgery. Conclusion: These findings suggested that ulinastatin can be used as an anti-inflammatory drug for POCD prevention in elderly patients undergoing surgery. Systematic Review Registration Number: CRD42019137449.

Effects of Apolipoprotein Ε ε4 allele on early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after anesthesia

BACKGROUND

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is one of the main causes of morbidity after noncardiac surgery; however, the pathogenic mechanisms of POCD have remained unclear until now. In this study, we performed a pilot study to investigate the association between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 and POCD in older patients undergoing intravenous anesthesia (IVA) and inhalation anesthesia (IAA).

METHODS

In total, 180 patients from Shenzhen People's Hospital were recruited and randomly divided into an IVA group and an IAA group. The IVA group and IAA group received propofol and sevoflurane treatment, respectively. Within 7 days after surgery, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used daily to assess the cognitive function of both groups of patients. The genotypes of the ApoE gene were detected using the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. In addition, the serum levels of (soluble protein-100β) S‑100β and (Interleukin- 6) L‑6 were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared to the preoperative and IVA groups, the MMSE score in the IAA group significantly decreased at 3 days after surgery. Furthermore, the IAA group had a higher percentage of patients who scored less than 25 points than the IVA group at 3 days after surgery. The decrease in the MMSE score was closely related to the ApoE ε4 allele in the IAA group, but this correlation was not observed in the IVA group. The levels of S‑100β and IL‑6 were increased sharply in patients with the ε4/ε4 genotype who received IAA compared with IVA at 1 day after surgery.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study indicated that the ApoΕ ε4/ε4 genotype was a risk factor for early POCD in older patients undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia.

The Effect of Ulinastatin to the Learning and Memory in Zebrafish

Previous study indicated that Ulinastatin (UTI) increased glutamine uptake by upregulation of glutamate transporters in astrocytes. These glutamate transporters have important role to improve cognitive function in hippocampus. In this study, we wanted to demonstrate whether UTI could improve learning and memory by using zebrafish behavior model and bio-markers. Zebrafish were 6-8 months of age and were 2.5-3.5 cm long. They were divided into four groups by control, 1X PBS-injected control, UTI 10,000, and 50,000 injected group. All PBS and UTI injected zebrafish were anesthetized by Tricainemethanesulphonate. We measured total time, distance moved, and frequency in each compartment of T-maze. We also measured the expression levels of glutamate transporter levels and cognitive bio-markers such as c-fos, c-jun, BDNF. UTI affected the learning and memory in zebrafish in a dose-dependent manner. In 50,000 unit/kg UTI-treated zebrafish, there were increases of time, distance, and frequency in target compartment. In 50,000 unit/kg UTI-treated zebrafish, there was an increase of time in target compartment. There was no difference among control, PBS-injected, and UTI 10,000 unit/kg-treated groups. EAAT4 glutamate transporter, c-fos and BDNF were significantly increased in 50,000 unit/kg UTI-treated group. UTI-enhanced learning and memory in zebrafish. The expressions of EAAT4 glutamate transporter, c- fos and BDNF in zebrafish were highly correlated may play a role.

Effects of edaravone on postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing hip joint replacement surgery: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a complication of central nervous system in patients after surgery. Edaravone as a brain-protective agent may have protective effect on postoperative cognitive function. The study was designed to explore the effects of edaravone on postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing hip joint replacement surgery and potential mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients undergoing hip joint replacement surgery were randomly allocated into 2 groups: the edaravone group (group E) and the control group (group C). Group E received intravenous edaravone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg after induction of anesthesia, while group C received normal saline. The cognitive function was evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) 1day before surgery,3 days and the 7 days after surgery. Patients' plasma samples were collected to detect the levels of S100β protein (S100β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) before the induction of anesthesia, at the end of surgery and on postoperative day 3.

RESULTS

The MMSE scores in group E were higher than those of group C 3 days after surgery (25.98 ± 1.99 vs 24.86 ± 1.86, p = 0.003). There were remarkable rises (p < 0.05) in plasma IL-6, S100βand MMP-9 levels at the end of surgery and on postoperative day 3 in the two groups, however, edaravone pretreatment could reduce these levels to a certain extent compared with group C (p < 0.05).In group E, the SOD concentration was higher at the end of surgery (16.03 ± 2.46U/ml vs. 13.65 ± 2.53U/ml, p = 0.0001), while the MDA level was lower on postoperative day 3 than those in group C (7.01 ± 2.37 nmol/ml vs. 11.34 ± 3.18 nmol/ml, p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that preoperative intervention with edaravone may improve the postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing hip joint replacement surgery.

Application of Acupuncture to Attenuate Immune Responses and Oxidative Stress in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: What Do We Know So Far?

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common sequela following surgery and hospitalization. The prevention and management of POCD are important during clinical practice. POCD more commonly affects elderly patients who have undergone major surgery and can result in major decline in quality of life for both patients and their families. Acupuncture has been suggested as an effective intervention for many neurological disorders. In recent years, there are increasing interest in the use of acupuncture to prevent and treat POCD. In this review, we summarized the clinical and preclinical evidence of acupuncture on POCD using a narrative approach and discussed the potential mechanisms involved. The experimental details and findings of studies were summarized in tables and analyzed. Most of the clinical studies suggested that acupuncture before surgery could reduce the incidence of POCD and reduce the levels of systematic inflammatory markers. However, their reliability is limited by methodological flaws. Animal studies showed that acupuncture reduced cognitive impairment and the associated pathology after various types of surgery. It is possible that acupuncture modulates inflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic changes, and other cellular events to mitigate POCD. In conclusion, acupuncture is a potential intervention for POCD. More clinical studies with good research design are required to confirm its effectiveness. At the same time, findings from animal studies will help reveal the protective mechanisms, in which systematic inflammation is likely to play a major role.

Multi-organ protection of ulinastatin in traumatic cardiac arrest model

Background

Post-cardiac arrest syndrome, which has no specific curative treatment, contributes to the high mortality rate of victims who suffer traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) and initially can be resuscitated. In the present study, we investigated the potential of ulinastatin to mitigate multiple organ injury after resuscitation in a swine TCA model.

Methods

Twenty-one male pigs were subjected to hemodynamic shock (40% estimated blood loss in 20 min) followed by cardiac arrest (electrically induced ventricular fibrillation) and respiratory suspension for 5 min, and finally manual resuscitation. At 5 min after resuscitation, pigs were randomized to receive 80,000 U/kg ulinastatin (n = 7) or the same volume of saline (n = 9) in the TCA group. Pigs in the sham group (n = 5) were not exposed to bleeding or cardiac arrest. At baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 h after the return of spontaneous circulation, blood samples were collected and assayed for tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6, and other indicators of organ injury. At 24 h after resuscitation, pigs were sacrificed and apoptosis levels were assessed in samples of heart, brain, kidney, and intestine.

Results

One pig died in the ulinastatin group and one pig died in the TCA group; the remaining animals were included in the final analysis. TCA and resuscitation caused significant increases in multiple organ function biomarkers in serum, increases in tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 6 in serum and increases in the extent of apoptosis in key organs. All these increases were lower in the ulinastatin group.

Conclusion

Ulinastatin may attenuate multiple organ injury after TCA, which should be explored in clinical studies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13017-018-0212-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ulinastatin May Significantly Improve Postoperative Cognitive Function of Elderly Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery by Reducing the Translocation of Lipopolysaccharide and Systemic Inflammation

Background: Studies have shown that perioperative inflammatory response is one of the important factors that caused postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Ulinastatin is a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor that inhibits inflammatory. We investigated the effects of ulinastatin on inflammatory response and early postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Methods: This clinical trial was approved by the Xuanwu Hospital Ethical Committee (Registration number: ChiCTR-IPR-16008931). Sixty elderly patients undergoing elective spinal surgery with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status of I–II were randomized into ulinastatin and control groups; total intravenous anesthesia was performed. The elderly patients in ulinastatin group underwent intravenous infusion of ulinastatin 10,000 units/kg following anesthesia induction and before surgical incision, and 5000 units/kg on post-operative days 1 and 2. Cognitive function was determined with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test preoperatively and on post-operative day 7 by a neurologist. Serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) concentration levels were measured at baseline, the end of surgery, and on post-operative days 1 and 3.

Results: All elderly patients completed the study. Ulinastatin infusion significantly reduced the incidence of POCD in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery (ulinastatin group 16% vs. control group 43%, χ² = 5.079, P = 0.024, P < 0.05). The elderly patients in ulinastatin group exhibited lower serum LPS, IL-6, CRP, and MMP-9 concentrations, as well as a shortened peak value duration, compared with those in the control group following surgery (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Systemic inflammation and translocation of LPS were inhibited by the infusion of ulinastatin in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery. The anti-inflammation intervention with ulinastatin can significantly improve the elderly patients’ postoperative cognitive function.

Short-Term Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Inflammatory Response in Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study

Objectives

To assess the association between short-term postoperative cognitive dysfuction (POCD) and inflammtory response in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

University medical centre.

Participants

Fifty-one adult patients who had undergone CRS-HIPEC and twenty control participants.

Measurements

The inflammatory marker levels in plasma and cognitive function were measured.

Results

Twenty (39.2%, 20/51) patients developed POCD at 1 w after CRS-HIPEC. The patients with POCD had higher serum interleukin 1β (IL-1β), serum amyloid A (SAA), S100 calcium-binding protein β (S-100β), and high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1) levels at 1 and 24 h postoperatively than patients without POCD. There was an association between POCD and the maximum IL-1β and S-100β concentrations in serum, which remained following adjustment for age and FBS.

Conclusion

In this pilot study, perioperative inflammatory marker levels increase significantly after CRS-HIPEC in adult patients, and such elevations are associated with the development of short-term cognitive dysfunction after this complex surgery. These results suggested the need for a larger RCT to replicate and confirm these findings.

Effects of ulinastatin on early postoperative cognitive function after one-lung ventilation surgery in elderly patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

We investigated the effects of ulinastatin on early postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after one-lung ventilation (OLV) surgery in elderly patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Eighty elderly patients with preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy scheduling for radical esophagectomy under OLV were recruited. They were randomly divided into an ulinastatin pretreatment group (U group, n = 40) and a control group (C group, n = 40). The U group received 10,000 U/kg ulinastatin before anesthesia and 5000 U/kg daily on postoperative days 1 to 3, while C group received saline. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), and S-100β protein were assayed before surgery, at the end of surgery, and on postoperative days 1 and 3. Patients underwent cognitive assessment 1 day before and 7 days after surgery. 38 patients in U group and 37 patients in C group completed the neuropsychological tests. The U group had a lower incidence of POCD than C group (23.7 % versus 45.9 %, P = 0.043). The levels of S-100β protein, IL-6, IL-10, and CRP in both groups increased after surgery. The postoperative concentrations of S-100β protein, IL-6, and CRP in U group were lower than those in C group. On postoperative day 3, compared with C group, the level of CRP in U group was lower, while that of IL-10 was higher. These findings demonstrate that ulinastatin can attenuate the elevation of S100β protein levels and the incidence of POCD, most likely by the mechanism of reducing serum IL-6 and CRP levels and increasing IL-10 levels.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment with different waveforms prevents brain injury in rats subjected to cecal ligation and puncture via inhibiting microglial activation, and attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study was to investigate the protective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment with different waveforms on septic brain injury in rats and its mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated by EA with different waveforms (continuous wave, dilatational wave, or intermittent wave) at Baihui (GV20) and Tsusanli (ST36) acupoints for 30min, and underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham operation. The results showed that EA pretreatment with different waveforms improved survival rate, attenuated encephaledema, brain injury, neuronal apoptosis and cognitive dysfunction, and preserved blood-brain barrier (BBB). EA pretreatment decreased the production of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin(IL)-6, malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and hippocampus at 48h after sham or CLP operation. Additionally, EA pretreatment downregulated the expressions of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba 1). The effect of dilatational wave was the most significant, followed by intermittent wave, and continuous wave was relatively poor. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EA pretreatment with three waveforms alleviates sepsis-induced brain injury by inhibition of microglial activation and attenuation of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings suggest that EA pretreatment with dilatational wave at Baihui and Tsusanli acupoints might be a promising therapeutic strategy for relieving septic brain injury.

Effect of Ulinastatin in the Treatment of Postperative Cognitive Dysfunction: Review of Current Literature

Background. Ulinastatin, identified as a urinary trypsin inhibitor, has been widely used in patients with inflammatory disorders. However, little is known about its effect on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). The aim of our current work is to review the current body of literature. Methods. A systematic literature search in PubMed and EMBASE was performed to identify randomized controlled trials. Incidence of POCD, MMSE score, and laboratory indicators (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and S100β) were selected as outcomes. Results. Five RCTs involving 461 elderly patients that underwent surgical operations were identified. The meta-analysis suggested no statistical difference of incidence of POCD between ulinastatin and control groups on postoperative day 1; but ulinastatin could significantly decrease the incidence of POCD on postoperative day 3 and day 7 when compared with control treatment. Ulinastatin was effective in improving the MMSE score on day 1, day 3, and day 7 after operation. IL-6 and S100β concentrations were lower up to postoperative day 2. The incidences of postoperative complications in ulinastatin groups were lower than control. Conclusion. Ulinastatin administration was effective in treating early POCD (postoperative day 3 and day 7) and reducing IL-6 and S100β concentrations within two days after operations. Studies with larger-scale and rigorous design are urgently needed.

Interventions for preventing delirium in hospitalised non-ICU patients

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a common mental disorder, which is distressing and has serious adverse outcomes in hospitalised patients. Prevention of delirium is desirable from the perspective of patients and carers, and healthcare providers. It is currently unclear, however, whether interventions for preventing delirium are effective.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of interventions for preventing delirium in hospitalised non-Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched ALOIS - the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group's Specialized Register on 4 December 2015 for all randomised studies on preventing delirium. We also searched MEDLINE (Ovid SP), EMBASE (Ovid SP), PsycINFO (Ovid SP), Central (The Cochrane Library), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), LILACS (BIREME), Web of Science core collection (ISI Web of Science), ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO meta register of trials, ICTRP.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of single and multi- component non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for preventing delirium in hospitalised non-ICU patients.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors examined titles and abstracts of citations identified by the search for eligibility and extracted data independently, with any disagreements settled by consensus. The primary outcome was incidence of delirium; secondary outcomes included duration and severity of delirium, institutional care at discharge, quality of life and healthcare costs. We used risk ratios (RRs) as measures of treatment effect for dichotomous outcomes; and between group mean differences and standard deviations for continuous outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 39 trials that recruited 16,082 participants, assessing 22 different interventions or comparisons. Fourteen trials were placebo-controlled, 15 evaluated a delirium prevention intervention against usual care, and 10 compared two different interventions. Thirty-two studies were conducted in patients undergoing surgery, the majority in orthopaedic settings. Seven studies were conducted in general medical or geriatric medicine settings.We found multi-component interventions reduced the incidence of delirium compared to usual care (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.81; seven studies; 1950 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Effect sizes were similar in medical (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.92; four studies; 1365 participants) and surgical settings (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.85; three studies; 585 participants). In the subgroup of patients with pre-existing dementia, the effect of multi-component interventions remains uncertain (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.36; one study, 50 participants; low-quality evidence).There is no clear evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors are effective in preventing delirium compared to placebo (RR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.17 to 2.62; two studies, 113 participants; very low-quality evidence).Three trials provide no clear evidence of an effect of antipsychotic medications as a group on the incidence of delirium (RR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.33 to 1.59; 916 participants; very low-quality evidence). In a pre-planned subgroup analysis there was no evidence for effectiveness of a typical antipsychotic (haloperidol) (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.60; two studies; 516 participants, low-quality evidence). However, delirium incidence was lower (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.52; one study; 400 participants, moderate-quality evidence) for patients treated with an atypical antipsychotic (olanzapine) compared to placebo (moderate-quality evidence).There is no clear evidence that melatonin or melatonin agonists reduce delirium incidence compared to placebo (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.09 to 1.89; three studies, 529 participants; low-quality evidence).There is moderate-quality evidence that Bispectral Index (BIS)-guided anaesthesia reduces the incidence of delirium compared to BIS-blinded anaesthesia or clinical judgement (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.85; two studies; 2057 participants).It is not possible to generate robust evidence statements for a range of additional pharmacological and anaesthetic interventions due to small numbers of trials, of variable methodological quality.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is strong evidence supporting multi-component interventions to prevent delirium in hospitalised patients. There is no clear evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors, antipsychotic medication or melatonin reduce the incidence of delirium. Using the Bispectral Index to monitor and control depth of anaesthesia reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium. The role of drugs and other anaesthetic techniques to prevent delirium remains uncertain.

A Meta-analysis on the Effect of Ulinastatin on Serum Levels of C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Asian Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the influence of ulinastatin (UTI) on the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in Asian patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) by performance of a meta-analysis.

METHODS

Two investigators independently searched 11 databases, including PUBMED, EBSCO, Ovid, SpringerLink, Wiley, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Journal Full-text Database, and China Biomedicine Database. The full-text articles were screened and the data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. All statistical analyses were conducted with Stata software, version 12.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX).

RESULTS

A total of 94 studies were initially retrieved, and 10 studies containing 424 Asian patients with AP were ultimately enrolled in this meta-analysis. The results revealed that the serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in Asian AP patients significantly decreased after UTI therapy (CRP: standardized mean difference [SMD] = 3.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.69-4.83, p < 0.001; IL-6: SMD = 5.92, 95% CI = 2.09-9.75, p = 0.002; TNF-α: SMD = 4.07, 95% CI = 0.79-7.35, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

The results of this meta-analysis suggest that UTI can effectively depress the serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in Asian patients with AP, and thereby inhibit inflammation.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction after inhalational anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing major surgery: the influence of anesthetic technique, cerebral injury and systemic inflammation

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients are reportedly at higher risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane. We hypothesized that the incidence of POCD would be higher in elderly patients undergoing major surgery under inhalational rather than intravenous anesthesia. We also measured plasma S-100β protein concentration as a biomarker of central nervous system injury, and plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations to judge the contribution of systemic inflammation to POCD.

METHODS

Ninety patients aged 65-75 years scheduled for resection of an esophageal carcinoma were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 30) as follows: a group receiving sevoflurane anesthesia (Group S); a group receiving preoperative methylprednisolone before sevoflurane anesthesia (Group S + MP); and a control group maintained with intravenous propofol (Group C). The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were used to measure patients' cognitive function the day before surgery, and on the first, third and seventh postoperative days. The plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and S-100β protein were measured 10 min before anesthesia, and on the first, third and seventh postoperative days.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the demographic or clinical characteristics, or perioperative hemodynamic status, of the three groups. The MMSE and MoCA scores were significantly lower in Group S than in the propofol control (Group C) and Group S + MP on the first, third and seventh postoperative days (P <0.05). Throughout the first postoperative week the plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and S-100β protein were significantly elevated in Group S compared with Group C (P <0.05), but were significantly lower in Group S + MP than Group S (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of POCD was higher in elderly patients undergoing major surgery under inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane than those maintained on intravenous propofol, and lower in elderly patients pro-treating with methylprednisolone. Furthermore, we found elevated plasma concentrations of S-100β protein, TNF-α and IL-6 in those receiving sevoflurane anesthesia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-IOR-15007007 (02-09-2015).

Amyloid β: one of three danger-associated molecules that are secondary inducers of the proinflammatory cytokines that mediate Alzheimer's disease

This review concerns how the primary inflammation preceding the generation of certain key damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) arises in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In doing so, it places soluble amyloid β (Aβ), a protein hitherto considered as a primary initiator of AD, in a novel perspective. We note here that increased soluble Aβ is one of the proinflammatory cytokine-induced DAMPs recognized by at least one of the toll-like receptors on and in various cell types. Moreover, Aβ is best regarded as belonging to a class of DAMPs, as do the S100 proteins and HMBG1, that further exacerbate production of these same proinflammatory cytokines, which are already enhanced, and induces them further. Moreover, variation in levels of other DAMPs of this same class in AD may explain why normal elderly patients can exhibit high Aβ plaque levels, and why removing Aβ or its plaque does not retard disease progression. It may also explain why mouse transgenic models, having been designed to generate high Aβ, can be treated successfully by this approach.

Biomarkers of postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction

Elderly surgical patients frequently experience postoperative delirium (POD) and the subsequent development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Clinical features include deterioration in cognition, disturbance in attention and reduced awareness of the environment and result in higher morbidity, mortality and greater utilization of social financial assistance. The aging Western societies can expect an increase in the incidence of POD and POCD. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms have been studied on the molecular level albeit with unsatisfying small research efforts given their societal burden. Here, we review the known physiological and immunological changes and genetic risk factors, identify candidates for further studies and integrate the information into a draft network for exploration on a systems level. The pathogenesis of these postoperative cognitive impairments is multifactorial; application of integrated systems biology has the potential to reconstruct the underlying network of molecular mechanisms and help in the identification of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers.

Neuroprotective effects of intravenous lidocaine on early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients following spine surgery

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lidocaine treatment on cognitive impairment in aged patients undergoing spine surgery and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Material/Methods

Patients were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups: (1) saline (control) and (2) lidocaine. After induction of anesthesia, the lidocaine group received lidocaine as a bolus of 1 mg/kg over 5 minutes, followed by a continuous infusion at 1.5 mg/kg/h until the end of the surgery. We examined the effects of lidocaine treatment on the improvement of cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at preoperation and 3 days postoperation. Serum samples were collected to assess the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, S100β, and NSE before inducing anesthesia, at the end of surgery, and 3 days after the end of surgery.

Results

We found that the MMSE scores in the lidocaine group were markedly higher than those in the control group at 3 days after surgery. Moreover, lidocaine treatment markedly suppressed the release of IL-6, S100β, and NSE into the serum at the end of surgery and 3 days after the end of surgery. In the control group, serum MDA levels increased by 3 days after the end of surgery. The lidocaine group had lower serum MDA levels than those in the control group.

Conclusions

Lidocaine may be an effective neuroprotective agent in treating early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery.

Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients serve as a predictor for the incidence of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction following orthopedic surgery

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the levels of the plasma biomarkers, cortisol, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, change in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD); thus, may serve as predictive factors for POCD. In total, 75 adolescent scoliosis patients, aged between 11 and 18 years and categorized as American Society of Anesthesiologists classification I or II, were scheduled for orthopedic surgery with general anesthesia. Blood samples were collected on the day of admission and at day 2 following surgery. The plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while the concentrations of cortisol were determined using a radioimmunoassay. Cognitive function was assessed one day prior to and at day 7 following the surgery in a quiet room with the guidance of a Chinese version protocol. In total, 66 patients completed the sample collection and neurocognitive tests. According to the criteria for the diagnosis of POCD, 19 patients (28.8%) developed POCD within seven days of surgery. No statistically significant differences were observed in the baseline concentrations of cortisol, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 or IL-6 between the POCD and non-POCD groups. However, the baseline plasma level of TNF-α on day 2 in the POCD group was found to be higher compared with the non-POCD group. In addition, at day 2 after surgery, the concentration of cortisol in the non-POCD group was higher compared with the POCD group. Therefore, the plasma level of TNF-α in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients at day 2 following orthopedic surgery may be a predictor for the incidence of early POCD.