Minocycline mitigated enduring neurological consequences in the mice model of sepsis

AIM

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy is a frequently observed consequence of sepsis, often resulting in chronic brain inflammation and injury, ultimately leading to a range of behavioral abnormalities. This study explores the potential preventive effects of minocycline on the long-lasting outcome of sepsis in a mice model of sepsis.

METHODS

Adult male C57 mice were subjected to experimental sepsis through a single intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Minocycline administration via oral gavage (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) commenced three days before sepsis induction and continued on the day of induction. Mice underwent behavioral assessments one month post-sepsis, with subsequent brain tissue analysis to investigate oxidative stress markers and cholinergic function.

KEY FINDINGS

One month following sepsis induction, mice exhibited significant anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors as determined by assessments in the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, and tail suspension test (TST). Additionally, they displayed impaired recognition memory in the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Brain tissue analysis revealed a notable increase in oxidative stress markers and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in septic mice. Notably, minocycline treatment effectively mitigated the long-term behavioral abnormalities resulting from sepsis, attenuated oxidative stress markers, and reduced AChE activity.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings underscore the potential of minocycline as a therapeutic intervention during sepsis induction to prevent the enduring behavioral and neurological consequences of experimental sepsis.

The effects of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone on liver function in hypothyroid rats

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of rosiglitazone (ROG) and pioglitazone (POG) on oxidative damage and dysfunction of hepatic tissue in hypothyroid rats.

METHODS

The male rats were classified into six groups: (1) Control; (2) Hypothyroid, (3) Hypothyroid-POG 10, (4) Hypothyroid-POG 20, (5) Hypothyroid-ROG 2, and (6) Hypothyroid-ROG 4. To induction hypothyroidism in rats, propylthiouracil (PTU) (0.05 %w/v) was added to drinking water. In groups 2-6, besides PTU, the rats were also intraperitoneal administrated with 10 or 20 mg/kg POG or 2 or 4 mg/kg ROG for six weeks. Finally, after deep anesthesia, the blood was collected to measure the serum biochemical markers and hepatic tissue was separated for biochemical oxidative stress markers.

RESULTS

Administration of PTU significantly reduced serum thyroxin concentration, total thiol levels, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes, and increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (Alk-P) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver. Additionally, our results showed that prescription of POG or ROG for six weeks to hypothyroid rats resulted in an improvement in liver dysfunction (decrease in serum levels of AST, ALT, and ALK-P) through reducing oxidative damage in hepatic tissue (increase in CAT, SOD, or total thiols and decrease in MDA levels).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study presented that the IP administration of POG and ROG for six weeks improves liver dysfunction induced by hypothyroidism in juvenile rats by reducing oxidative damage.

-Neonatal Kasabach-Merritt syndrome healed by complete surgical excision of the angioma-

BACKGROUND

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is an infrequent combination of a giant hemangioma and severe thrombocytopenia. This syndrome may be life-threatening. There are various but no definitive methods of treatment. We describe here a neonatal case cured by total excision of the tumor.

CASE REPORT

A boy was admitted at birth with a giant hemangioma of the back with thrombocytopenia. Tumor compression, corticosteroids, acetylsalicylic acid and ticlopidine were ineffective. Total surgical excision was performed on day 51, resulting in complete recovery.

CONCLUSION

Total surgical excision of a localized hemangioma in a non-functional area is probably the most appropriate and justified treatment for the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

[Management of newborn infants in maternity-neonatal intensive care units]

BACKGROUND

Although in utero transfer seems actually the safest option when risk factors are identified, specialized transport teams remain important to consider for the neonatal overall management.

SUBJECTS

From January 1988 through December 1992, 692 transports of 838 neonates were prospectively studied to determine effectiveness and safety of the Hospital Lenval's neonatal transport team.

RESULTS

Neonatal transports were required respectively for prematurity (46.4%), acute fetal distress (13.8%), respiratory distress (10.1%), intrauterine growth retardation (7.8%), multiple pregnancies (5.2%), perinatal asphyxia (3.1%) and life-threatening congenital abnormalities (2%). Pediatric assistance was unplanned in most of the cases (80%). Assistance with a pediatrician before delivery was performed more frequently (70%) for premature babies (mean gestational age 34.1 +/- 3.1 wk) delivered by cesarean section in 66.4% of the cases; in this group, delivery room resuscitation was less aggressive. Assistance was performed after delivery less frequently (30%), approximately in one-half of the cases for neonatal distress: respiratory (33.9%) or neurologic (17.1%); in this group, delivery room resuscitation was more aggressive. In transit, ventilation support via endotracheal intubation was given to 17.9% of the babies. Neither death nor heavy complication occurred during transport. On arrival in the neonatal intensive care unit, hypothermia was noted in 9.6% of the cases, hypotension in 4.3%, hypoglycemia in 13.1% and metabolic acidosis in 10.4%. In our series, the overall mortality rate was 6%, and incidence of neurologic damage 3.3%.

CONCLUSION

A skilled person in neonatal resuscitation available at every referring maternity and regional high-risk obstetric/neonatal combined centre are two recommendations which could provide improved neonatal management.