The changes of preprogalanin mRNA levels in the superficial dorsal horn neurons (laminae I and II) of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis in response to orofacial pain induced by the injection of 5% formalin into the lips of rats was investigated and compared to those of preproenkephalin A mRNA and preprodynorphin mRNA in the same region by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry. Rapid and marked increases of preprogalanin and preprodynorphin mRNA were observed on the side of the injection, but the increase of preproenkephalin A mRNA level was less pronounced than that of the other two mRNAs, indicating that these peptides have different roles in the dorsal horn analgesic mechanism and that galanin, in addition to opioid peptides, may have a highly specific role in this mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibition on colonic anastomotic healing in rats.

Wound strength depends on the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation; however, the role of collagen breakdown in wound healing is still not well understood. We investigated the role of matrix metalloproteinases in wound healing by using BE16627B, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor. Identical surgical procedures consisting of a colonic anastomosis (single-layer, inverted) and implantation of an osmotic pump in the back were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 270 to 290 grams. The animals were randomly assigned to receive either BE16627B (n = 10) dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide and diluted with ethylene glycol at a dosage of 2.4 mg/rat/day for 3 days or the vehicle solution alone (n = 11). The solutions were administered through the surgically implanted osmotic pumps. The animals were killed 4 days after surgery, and the colonic bursting pressure (mm Hg) and hydroxyproline concentration (microg/mg wet tissue, index of collagen) were measured. The administration of BE16627B enhanced colonic anastomotic healing, as measured by the increase in the colonic bursting pressure (160 +/- 12 vs. 125 +/- 7 mm Hg; P < 0.05) and the increase in the soluble fraction of collagen (0.27 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.01 microg/mg wet tissue; P < 0.01) in the anastomosis. Histologic examination of the tissue revealed that the use of BE16627B resulted in the preservation of the multilayered colonic structure and increased the network of collagen between both ends of the colon in the thickening submucosal layer. These findings demonstrate that the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity influences colonic anastomotic healing, indicating a potential mechanism for enhancing anastomotic healing.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor in peritoneal mononuclear cells after gastrectomy.

As macrophages are found in peritoneal exudates after abdominal surgery, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, their messenger RNAs and immune-specific proteins would also be expected to be found in both peritoneal fluid and mononuclear cells under such conditions. The peritoneal fluid and plasma of patients who had undergone gastrectomy were investigated on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Evidence of mRNA expression and the intracellular immunocytochemical localization of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was determined in cells isolated from peritoneal fluid, and immune-specific protein levels in the peritoneal fluid were measured. Both interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha proteins were identified immunocytochemically in the cytoplasm of peritoneal mononuclear cells, and their mRNAs were detected by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The concentration of interleukin-6 in the peritoneal fluid was significantly higher than that in the plasma, and a high level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was found in the peritoneal fluid, despite its absence from plasma. Expression and changing levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human peritoneal fluid after gastrectomy were shown, indicating local production of these cytokines, which may play important roles in tissue repair.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case of abscess caused by a penetrating duodenal ulcer.

A case of abscess caused by a penetrating duodenal ulcer in a 34 year-old female patient is presented. She had a past history of duodenal ulcer and presented with a low grade fever which had persisted for 1 month. Abdominal ultrasound confirmed a hypoechoic mass and computed tomography revealed a low density area in the posterior side of the hepatoduodenal ligament. The common bile duct and portal vein were compressed. Mild peripheral enhancement was detected. Laparotomy was performed and an abscess in the posterior side of the hepatoduodenal ligament was confirmed. The abscess was firmly adhered to the lesser curvature side of the bulbus and a penetrating duodenal ulcer scar was noted. In conclusion, this report describes a rare event where penetrating duodenal ulcer formed an abscess with only mild complaints.

Abdominal Abscess↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Freeze fracture study of vesicle attachment sites during mediator liberation in spinal motoneuron synapses].

Freeze-fractured appearances of vesicle attachement sites (VAS) in presynaptic active zone were studied in the spinal cord of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) treated and nembutalized rats. The VAS were classified into: type 1 containing no intramembranous particles, type 2 with particles around the edge of openings, type 3 containing several particles within the VAS. The application of 4-AP, which is known to enhance transmitter release, affected strikingly the total number of VAS (p less than 0.001) but not the proportion of the three types. The predominance of type 3 outside the active zone and its similarity to particle-loaded indentations possibly corresponding to coated vesicle formation, suggested that type 3 may represent endocytosis. It is likely that the remaining two types represent exocytosis.

Aminopyridines↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Release of immunosuppressive substances after gastric resection is more prolonged than after mastectomy in humans.

The effects of gastric and breast cancer surgery on the systemic immune response, and potential correlations with cytokines in peritoneal fluid (PF) and wound fluid (WF) after surgery were investigated in humans. Twenty patients with gastric cancer and 13 patients with breast cancer were studied. Blood natural killer (NK) cell activity and serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were assayed, and prostaglandin E2 and transforming growth factor-beta1 were measured in PF and WF. A prolonged decrease in NK cell activity was observed after gastrectomy compared with mastectomy. Serum sIL-2R levels were increased after gastrectomy, whereas no difference was observed after mastectomy. Cytokine levels in PF persisted on day 1 through 5 after gastrectomy, whereas in WF they dropped sharply on postoperative day 3. The systemic immune response was decreased longer after gastrectomy than mastectomy, and this immune modulation may be partly attributable to the presence of cytokines in local exudates.

Adult↗