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Biomedical subjects

L Gianotti

Publications and source records attributed to L Gianotti.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Isolated pulmonary infection acts as a source of systemic tumor necrosis factor.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the local secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the lung as a source for systemic TNF. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized experimental trials. SETTING: Laboratory. SUBJECTS: Hartley guinea pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Female guinea pigs were challenged intratracheally with 10(3) to 10(9) Escherichia coli. Two and eight hrs after the bacterial challenge, colony-forming units of bacteria in the lung and blood, TNF and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and serum TNF concentrations were determined. At the same time, alveolar macrophages were harvested and cultured in vitro, and TNF and PGE2 secretions were measured. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: TNF and PGE2 concentrations were either not detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or were found in very low levels in control animals. High concentrations of TNF and PGE2, however, were found in bacteria-challenged animals. Two hours after inoculation of bacteria, TNF in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid had a significant correlation with TNF values in the serum. The TNF concentration in aortic blood was significantly higher than TNF concentration in right atrial blood. For comparable inocula, TNF in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after 8 hrs was significantly lower than at 2 hrs, but PGE2 levels remained high. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated alveolar macrophage secretion of TNF in vitro was depressed in animals with high PGE2 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and high numbers of viable bacteria in the lungs. CONCLUSIONS: During pulmonary Gram-negative infection, the lungs may be a major source of TNF in the blood. The magnitude of TNF secretion by the lungs is highly dependent on the intensity of infection during its early stages. By 8 hrs after onset of infection, TNF secretion appears to downregulate, possibly by endogenous PGE2.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Role of early enteral feeding and acute starvation on postburn bacterial translocation and host defense: prospective, randomized trials.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of: a) starvation during the preburn period and b) immediate postburn enteral nutrition on the permeability of the gut to microorganisms and the ability of the host to kill translocated bacteria. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, experimental trials. SETTING: Laboratory. SUBJECTS: Balb/c mice and Hartley guinea pigs. INTERVENTIONS: In the first experiment, mice were starved for 0, 6, 12, 18, or 24 hrs before receiving gavage with 10(10) 14C-labeled Escherichia coli and a 20% burn injury. In the second experiment, guinea pigs received a 40% burn injury and were randomized to receive a complete enteral diet (175 kcal/kg/day) or infusion of an equal volume of lactated Ringer's solution via a previously placed gastrostomy for 6, 24, or 48 hrs. After each feeding period, 10(10) 14C Escherichia coli were infused intragastrically. In both experiments, the animals were killed 4 hrs after gavage, and mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, lungs, peritoneal fluid, and blood were harvested aseptically. MEASUREMENTS: For each tissue or fluid, the number of viable E. coli and radionuclide counts of the 14C E. coli were measured and the percentage of translocated bacteria that remained alive was calculated. MAIN RESULTS: In mice, 18 and 24 hrs of preburn starvation increased translocation only to the mesenteric lymph nodes, but it also enhanced bacterial killing in all tested tissues. Guinea pigs that were fed enterally for 6, 24, and 48 hrs postburn had significantly lower bacterial translocation in all tissues compared with animals infused with lactated Ringer's solution. Additionally, enhanced killing of translocating organisms was observed after 24 and 48 hrs of feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Starvation preburn has different consequences than starvation postburn on translocation and bacterial killing. Postburn enteral nutrition decreases the load of viable bacteria in the tissues via a double mechanism: an initial decreased translocation and a subsequent improved ability to kill bacteria that do translocate.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Interaction of salbutamol with pyridostigmine and arginine on both basal and GHRH-stimulated GH secretion in humans.

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that acetylcholine and arginine stimulate GH secretion while activation of beta-adrenergic receptors inhibits GH secretion in man. We aimed therefore to ascertain whether or not the inhibitory influence of beta-adrenergic receptors on GH secretion would over-ride the stimulatory one of acetylcholine and arginine. DESIGN: We studied the interaction of salbutamol, a beta 2-adrenergic agonist (SAL, 0.08 mg/kg orally) with pyridostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor (PD, 120 mg orally), or arginine (0.5 g/kg i.v.) on both basal and GHRH (1 microgram/kg i.v.)-stimulated GH secretion. SUBJECTS: Fourteen healthy male volunteers, aged 20-35 years, were studied. MEASUREMENTS: Serum GH was measured in duplicate by immunoradiometric assay. RESULTS: In study A, SAL inhibited the GH response both to GHRH (P < 0.01) and ARG (P < 0.002). ARG enhanced the GHRH-induced GH rise (P < 0.01) but its effect was abolished (P < 0.02) by SAL pretreatment. In study B, SAL inhibited the GH response both to GHRH (P < 0.01) and PD (P < 0.02). PD enhanced the GH response to GHRH (P < 0.001) but its effect was abolished (P < 0.05) by SAL pretreatment. In both studies, the GH response to GHRH alone was similar to that to the neurohormone when combined with ARG + SAL or PD + SAL. CONCLUSION: Our results show that beta 2-adrenergic activation by salbutamol is able to inhibit not only the GH rise induced by GHRH, arginine and pyridostigmine, but even the potentiating effect of both arginine and pyridostigmine on the GH response to GHRH. They indicate that catecholamines, acetylcholine and arginine play a major role in GH secretion having opposite influences aimed to balance the function of the hypothalamus-GH-IGF-I axis in man.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, after intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, and oral administration in man.

We evaluated the GH-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, after i.v. (1 and 2 micrograms/kg), sc (1.5 and 3 micrograms/kg), intranasal (20 micrograms/kg), and oral (po; 20 and 40 mg) administration to 12 healthy young volunteers. Reference treatments were i.v. saline and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH; 1 microgram/kg). GH release (mean +/- SEM) after the i.v. dose of 1 microgram/kg hexarelin [area under the curve (AUC), 3175 +/- 506 micrograms/min.L] was about 2 times higher than that induced by 1 microgram/kg GHRH (AUC, 1544 +/- 161 micrograms/min.L; P < 0.001). Hexarelin (2 micrograms/kg, i.v.) elicited a further increase in GH levels (AUC, 4422 +/- 626 micrograms/min.L) compared to the 1 microgram/kg dose. The GH response to 2 micrograms/kg hexarelin, i.v., was very reproducible (AUC, 4016 +/- 563 vs. 3959 +/- 803 micrograms/min.L). The sc administration of hexarelin produced a dose-dependent GH response (AUC, 3180 +/- 392 and 4459 +/- 566 micrograms.min.L with 1.5 and 3 micrograms/kg, respectively). Intranasal administration of 20 micrograms/kg hexarelin induced GH release (AUC, 2642 +/- 452 micrograms/min.L) similar to that caused by 1 microgram/kg, i.v. Twenty and 40 mg hexarelin, po, produced a dose-related increase in GH levels (AUC, 2278 +/- 442 and 4079 +/- 514 micrograms/min.L). Biological bioavailabilities were 77.0 +/- 10.5%, 4.8 +/- 0.9%, and 0.3 +/- 0.1% for the sc, intranasal, and po routes, respectively. This study shows that the GH response to hexarelin administered by the i.v. route has a limited variability and is superior to the response to GHRH. The GH-releasing activity appeared to be dose dependent. Thus, hexarelin could be clinically useful to stimulate GH secretion in humans.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1994

Arginine and growth hormone-releasing hormone restore the blunted growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin in elderly subjects.

Although both spontaneous and stimulated GH secretion undergo an age-related decline, the secretory capacity of somatotrope cells is preserved in human aging. In the present study we compared the GH responses to hexarelin, GHRH, and the combined administration of hexarelin and GHRH or arginine in young and elderly subjects. Thirteen young (24- to 30-yr-old) and 16 elderly (65- to 84-yr-old) normal males were divided into 2 groups. The first group (7 young and 8 elderly subjects) received the following as single iv injections during 3 different treatment sessions: hexarelin (2 micrograms/kg), GHRH (2 micrograms/kg), or hexarelin (2 micrograms/kg) plus GHRH (2 micrograms/kg). The second group (6 young and 8 elderly subjects) was administered single iv injections of hexarelin (2 micrograms/kg) or hexarelin (2 micrograms/kg) plus arginine (0.5 g/kg) during 2 different treatment sessions. In both groups basal IGF-I levels in the elderly were lower than those in young subjects (114.5 +/- 18.7 vs. 211.5 +/- 19.1 micrograms/L; P < 0.001). In the first group the GH response to hexarelin was greater in young compared to elderly subjects (area under the curve from 0-120 = 4849 +/- 601 vs. 2112 +/- 683 micrograms.min/L; P < 0.001). GHRH elicited a lower GH response than that induced by hexarelin in both young (1455 +/- 102 micrograms/h.L; P < 0.02) and elderly subjects (563 +/- 87 micrograms/min.L; P < 0.02). GHRH potentiated the somatotrope response to hexarelin in both young (7725 +/- 503 micrograms/min.L; P < 0.02) and elderly subjects (3895 +/- 612 micrograms/min.L; P < 0.02), but to a lesser extent in the latter (P < 0.001). In the second group, the GH response induced by hexarelin was also higher in young subjects than in elderly subjects (4819 +/- 668 vs. 1649 +/- 459 micrograms/min.L; P < 0.001). The GH response to hexarelin was potentiated by arginine in elderly (4139 +/- 1057 micrograms/min. L; P < 0.001), but not in young subjects (4743 +/- 774 micrograms/min.L). This study shows that the maximal effective dose of hexarelin releases more GH than the maximal effective dose of GHRH in both normal young and elderly subjects. The effect of hexarelin on GH secretion is age dependent, and the GH response to the combined administration of hexarelin and GHRH was significantly higher in young subjects compared to elderly subjects. Arginine does not potentiate the GH response to hexarelin in young subjects, whereas it significantly enhances it in elderly subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Immunologic aspects of artificial nutrition].

Artificial nutrition (AN) has become an essential part of traumatised and surgical patient care. The main indications for AN are severe undernutrition and hypermetabolism, which are important causes of immunosuppression. Total parenteral nutrition has proved to be as beneficial in the perioperative period only in malnourished subjects. In contrast, overfeeding may cause detrimental sequelae with an increase in postoperative complications. Experimental and clinical trials have clearly shown that the administration of nutrients via the enteral route versus the parenteral one has several advantages, including improved local and systemic immune response and gut barrier function with the subsequent reduction of septic morbidity. Preliminary data in traumatised and surgical patients have shown further immunological and clinical advantages when the composition of the enteral solutions has been enriched with specific nutrients capable of enhancing the host defence mechanisms. The most important are arginine, n-3 fatty acids, RNA, and glutamine.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Reduction of bacterial translocation with oral fibroblast growth factor and sucralfate.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and sucralfate to prevent bacterial translocation after burn injury. Four groups of Balb/c mice (n = 10/group) were treated by gavage with bFGF (10 micrograms/kg/d), sucralfate (15 mg/kg/d), bFGF plus sucralfate, or saline for 4 days prior to receiving a gavage with 1 x 10(10) 14C-radiolabeled Escherichia coli and a 20% full-thickness burn. Four hours after burn, the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and blood were harvested aseptically. For each tissue, the number of viable bacteria and radionuclide counts of the translocated 14C-labeled E. coli were measured, and the percentage of translocated organisms that remained alive was calculated. The results indicated that treatment with either bFGF or sucralfate alone had a partial effect on translocation, whereas the combined treatment with bFGF plus sucralfate significantly decreased the magnitude of translocation in all tested tissues (p < 0.05, ANOVA), which was associated with complete preservation of gut mucosal integrity. None of the treatments affected the ability of the host to kill translocated bacteria when the results were compared with those of the controls. The additive effect of the combined therapy may be due to the high affinity of sucralfate for bFGF, decreasing the degradation of bFGF by gastric acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Identification of the blood component responsible for increased susceptibility to gut-derived infection.

It has previously been reported that the transfusion of allogeneic whole blood increases sepsis-related mortality and decreases the ability of the host to kill bacteria that have translocated from the intestinal tract. To determine which blood component contributes to this adverse effect, the impact of the transfusion of white cells (WBCs), red cells (RBCs), and plasma on microbial translocation, bacteria killing, and mortality rate was studied. Blood from C3H/HeJ mice was separated into WBCs, RBCs, and plasma, and these fractions were transfused to Balb/c mice. Controls received sterile saline. Five days after transfusion, all Balb/c mice underwent a 20-percent burn and gavage with 1 x 10(10) Escherichia coli labeled with 14C-glucose. Mortality was observed for 10 days. Four additional groups, receiving the same treatment as above, were sacrificed 4 hours after the burn, and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, kidney, and blood were harvested aseptically. For each tissue, quantitative colony counts, radionuclide counts, and percentage of translocated bacteria that remained alive were calculated. By radionuclide counts, no difference was observed in the degree of 14C E. coli translocation among the groups. In contrast, the percentage of viable bacteria and the mortality rate were significantly higher in the group receiving allogeneic WBCs than in all other groups (p < 0.05). It is concluded that WBCs are the component in transfused blood that has an adverse effect on host resistance to gut-derived infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Arginine-supplemented diets improve survival in gut-derived sepsis and peritonitis by modulating bacterial clearance. The role of nitric oxide.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of arginine on survival rates and host defense mechanisms was studied using two clinically relevant models of infection that included transfusion-induced immunosuppression. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Dietary arginine will improve resistance to infection but its role in transfusion-induced immunosuppression and bacterial translocation (gut-derived sepsis) has not been defined. METHODS: Balb/c mice were fed for 10 days with either a defined AIN-76A diet, an AIN-76A diet supplemented with 2% arginine, an AIN-76A diet supplemented with 4% glycine, or standard laboratory chow. In most experiments, the mice were then transfused with allogeneic blood and allowed to feed for an additional 5 days before undergoing either cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or gavage with 10(10) Escherichia coli and a 20% burn injury. Additional animals fed with the arginine supplemented diet were treated with the nitric oxide inhibitor N omega-Nitro-L-arginine (NNA) before gavage and burn. The effect of these diets and NNA on the degree of translocation of 14C-radiolabeled E. coli from the intestine and the ability of the host to kill translocated organisms was also investigated. Mice were fed and received transfusion, gavage, and burn as above. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver and spleen were harvested 4 hours postburn. RESULTS: Survival after CLP was 56% in the arginine-supplemented group versus 28% in the AIN-76A group and 20% in the chow group (p < 0.02). After gavage and burn, survival was 100% in the arginine-supplemented group versus 50% in both the glycine-supplemented and chow groups and 35% in the AIN-76A group (p < 0.01). In animals receiving the arginine-supplemented diet, treatment with NNA decreased survival from 95% to 30.5% (p < 0.0001). Greater translocation, as measured by radionuclide counts, was observed to the MLN of the AIN-76A group. However, there was no difference in translocation to the liver and spleen related to dietary group. Quantitative colony counts and the calculated percentage of remaining viable bacteria showed that the ability to kill translocated organisms was significantly enhanced in animals receiving arginine. Treatment with NNA reversed the beneficial effects of arginine on immune defense. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of arginine appears to be mediated by improved bactericidal mechanisms via the arginine-nitric oxide pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Bacterial translocation: a potential source for infection in acute pancreatitis.

Infections from enteric bacteria are a major cause of morbidity and mortality during acute pancreatitis (AP), but the pathways by which these organisms reach distant organs remains speculative. Experiments were conducted to determine if bacterial translocation could be a mechanism for infection during this disease. AP was induced in Lewis rats by i.v. infusion of caerulein (experiment I) or ligation of the head of the pancreas (experiment II). In a third experiment, rats were gavaged with 1 x 10(8) 14C-radiolabeled Escherichia coli and pancreatitis was induced with caerulein. Results in all three experiments showed that AP increased the number of viable bacteria recovered in peritoneal fluid, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, lungs, and pancreas. Radionuclide counting indicated that AP enhanced the gut permeability to 14C E. coli. To estimate the impact of AP on the magnitude of translocation and on the ability of the host to clear bacteria, the nuclide and colony-forming units (CFU) ratios were calculated between animals with and without AP. Blood, peritoneal fluid, and MLN had the highest nuclide ratio. During AP, these tissues may be the principal routes for bacterial spreading from the gut lumen. Peritoneal fluid, pancreas, and lung were the tissues with the highest CFU ratio. Bacterial killing ability of these tissues is likely impaired during AP.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Prostaglandin E1 analogues misoprostol and enisoprost decrease microbial translocation and modulate the immune response.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of two prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analogues, misoprostol and enisoprost, to alter bacterial translocation following burn injury. Balb/c mice were treated with misoprostol (n = 36) or enisoprost (n = 36) for 3 days with different doses (20 or 200 micrograms/kg/day) prior to receiving a 20% full-thickness burn and simultaneous gavage with 1 x 10(10) 14C-Escherichia coli. Animals were sacrificed 4 and 24 hr postburn, and blood, peritoneal fluid, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and lungs were harvested aseptically. Radionuclide counts, number of viable bacteria, and percentage of translocating bacteria remaining alive in each tissue suggested that the high doses of misoprostol or enisoprost decreased the magnitude of 14C-E. coli translocation, while the low dose of both drugs enhanced bacterial clearance. Therefore, both misoprostol and enisoprost reduce bacterial translocation, and modulate bacterial clearance in a dose-dependent manner.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1993

Translocation of Candida albicans is related to the blood flow of individual intestinal villi.

Splanchnic ischemia is associated with increased bacterial translocation, but previous observations showed that translocation of Candida albicans did not occur uniformly among individual intestinal villi. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the degree of Candida translocation and the microcirculation of individual villi. Thiry-Vella intestinal loops were created in eight guinea pigs. One week later, the distal aorta and right carotid artery were cannulated, and systemic blood pressure was recorded throughout the entire experiment. C. albicans (1 x 10(10)) was introduced into the Thiry-Vella loop, and the animals underwent a 40% full-thickness burn. Systolic hypotension was observed in the first 75 minutes postburn; then the systemic blood pressure returned to a normal range. Four hours after burn, 8 x 10(7) microspheres (10 microns) were injected into the aorta. The animals were sacrificed, and the Thiry-Vella loops were harvested and processed for light microscopy. At the microscopic level, within each villus, both the number of beads trapped in the arterioles and the number of Candida translocated into the enterocytes were counted. An inverse linear correlation between number of beads and number of translocated yeast per individual villus was found (r = -0.78; P < 0.005). These data provide further evidence that blood flow is an important determinant of the magnitude of microbial translocation, even within individual villi.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Impact of blood transfusion and burn injury on microbial translocation and bacterial survival.

The role of the immune system in microbial translocation must be clarified. In these studies, the effect of blood transfusion-related immunosuppression on translocation was investigated in a burn animal model previously known to increase the gut's permeability to 14C-radiolabeled Escherichia coli. In a first experiment, Balb/c mice underwent transfusion (T) with 0.2 mL per mouse of allogeneic C3H/HeJ mouse blood 5 days prior to undergoing 30-percent burn injury (B) and simultaneous gavage (G) with 10(9) E. coli bacteria labeled with 14C. An additional six groups of Balb/c mice underwent different combinations of T, B, and G procedures (TG, BG, TB, T, B, G). Survival rate was recorded for all groups on Day 10. This experiment suggested that B and T, to a lesser extent, were the factors affecting survival, although the combination of T, B, and G clearly showed a synergistic effect on mortality. In a second experiment, 18 Balb/c mice belonging to TBG, BG, TG, and G groups were sacrificed 1, 4, and 24 hours after burn or gavage. The residual radioactivity and the percentage of viable bacteria were computed for mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, lungs, blood, and peritoneal fluid. Statistical analysis of the radionuclide counts recognized B as the only variable able to enhance the magnitude of 14C E. coli translocation. The percentage of viable bacteria showed that T and, more moderately, B were the factors leading to the failure of bacterial clearance in the tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The degree of bacterial translocation is a determinant factor for mortality after burn injury and is improved by prostaglandin analogs.

Bacterial translocation and related mortality rates were examined in previously transfused BALB/c mice that were gavaged with 14C radioisotope-labeled Escherichia coli before inflicting a 20% full-thickness flame burn. Radionuclide counts were measured in blood obtained by retro-orbital puncture 4 hours postburn, and survival was recorded for 10 days. Radionuclide counts in the blood correlated well with both radionuclide counts and numbers of viable bacterial in the tissues. Survivors had significantly less bacterial translocation as evidenced by blood radionuclide counts compared with nonsurvivors, and there was a significant inverse correlation between the degree of translocation and the length of survival. In the next experiment, the prostaglandin E (PGE) analogs misoprostol, enisoprost, or 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 were administered to transfused animals for 3 days before burn. Prostaglandin E analogs significantly reduced bacterial translocation as measured by blood radionuclide counts 4 hours postburn and improved survival. The data demonstrate that the intensity of bacterial translocation after burn injury is significantly associated with subsequent death. Improvement of survival by PGE analogs is associated with decreased bacterial translocation.

16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2↗
PubMed1992

Association between perioperative blood transfusion and postoperative infection in patients having elective operations for gastrointestinal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of blood transfusion on the development of infection after elective operations for gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer. DESIGN: Prospective open study. SUBJECTS: 285 consecutive patients admitted with gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer, 215 of whom were suitable for the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sex, age, total iron binding capacity, measurement of haemoglobin and serum albumin concentration, assessment of immune response by delayed hypersensitivity skin test, and weight loss were recorded, as were duration of operation, operative blood loss, and pathological TNM stage of the disease. RESULTS: Sixty patients (28%) developed infections postoperatively. Univariate analysis showed that the development of infection was significantly associated with the amount of blood transfused (p < 0.001), operative blood loss (p < 0.05), and length of operation (p < 0.01), but not weight loss (p = 0.07) or delayed hypersensitivity response (p = 0.08). Multiple logistic analysis showed that blood transfusion was a significant independent variable only when more than 1,000 ml were transfused (odds ratio 6.5, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transfusion of more than 1,000 ml of blood is an independent risk factor in the development of infection postoperatively in patients undergoing operations for gastrointestinal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Perioperative administration of thymopentin for the prevention of infections in oncologic surgery].

The efficacy of thymopentin in reducing postoperative infections (PI) was prospectively evaluated in 138 patients with abdominal cancer, who underwent major surgery. Comparable subsets of patients were obtained according to age (cutpoint 65 years) and nutritional status (patients with serum albumin less than 30 g/l or weight loss greater than or equal to 10% with respect to their usual body weight were considered as malnourished). Patients were then at random attributed to a control group and to a thymopentin receiving (Thy) group, in the latter thymopentin (50 mg) was given three times before surgery and three times after operation. All patients received perioperative short term antibiotic prophylaxis and postoperative parenteral nutrition. The severity of Pl was expressed by the sepsis score which was calculated on all those patients developing Pl. Overall complication rate was 26.3% in the control group and 20.3% in the Thy group (p ns). Surgical-related infections occurred in 14 (20.3%) control group patients and in 10 (14.5%) Thy group patients (p ns). The average sepsis score was 10.11 +/- 6.69 in control group (2 patients died) and 6.85 +/- 3.80 in the Thy group (all patients survived) (p less than 0.05). By considering the elderly patients, a reduction in both Pl rate and the average sepsis score was observed in Thy group. Otherwise, no difference was observed in the young patients. Our data suggest that Thymopentin is useful in reducing both the incidence and the severity of Pl in elderly patients.

Adult↗