The time-dependent effect of gluconasturtiin and phenethyl isothiocyanate on metabolic and antioxidative parameters in rats.

The effect of gluconasturtiin (GNST) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on some metabolic changes and antioxidative parameters in the rat was tested using different doses of PEITC and duration of GNST or PEITC ingestion. Their effect on antioxidative processes was previously observed, however, their influence on metabolic changes is still poorly characterized. In the performed experiment, the effect of GNST (0.5 mg/kg BW) and PEITC (0.1 mg/kg BW or 0.3 mg/kg BW) administered intragastrically after 4 h or 14 days to growing male rats was studied. PEITC at both doses after 4 h of its administration caused a considerable increase in liver cholesterol and triglyceride content with a concomitant drop in the amount of glycogen. Blood glucose, free fatty acids, phospholipids and total, free, esterified cholesterol as well as cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein were not altered. GNST, at its short-time ingestion, augmented significantly the concentration of triglycerides in blood serum. The compounds tested had no influence on metabolic changes after a longer period of action with the exception of glycogen values in liver, which were substantially augmented by PEITC at both doses. Our trial revealed a lack of GNST and PEITC influence on the content of liver sulphhydryl groups and on glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activities. The only distinct change in the content of malonodialdehyde was observed after short-time action of lower dose of PEITC. Our research showed that the short-term PEITC action constituted a significant factor interfering with liver metabolism. Although PEITC has been repeatedly advocated as very promising anticancer agent, in our experiment, the lower dose of PEITC was revealed as a pro-oxidative substance. These inconsistent properties seem to depend on its dose and time of action.

The influence of fasting on liver sulfhydryl groups, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in the rat.

Sulfhydryl groups, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) are important elements of the antioxidant defence in the organism. The efficacy of their antioxidant action is influenced by many factors. In this work, the effect of fasting on total, protein-bound and nonprotein sulfhydryl groups and on the activity of liver and serum GPx and GST in rats were determined. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: non-fasted and 18-hour fasted. In fasted animals liver content of nonprotein sulfhydryl groups (represented predominantly by reduced glutathione; GSH) was diminished by 22% in comparison to non-fasted group, whereas total and protein-bound -SH groups were unaffected. The activity of liver and serum GPx was unchanged in food deprived rats. In these animals the activity of GST in serum was reduced by 26%. Fasting had no significant effect on the activity of GST in the liver. Our results demonstrate that in rats deprived of food for 18 hours liver and serum GPx and GST are not involved in protection against action of reactive oxygen species formed during fasting. The observed drop in the content of liver nonprotein sulfhydryl groups without concomitant rise in the activity of GPx and GST indicates that this effect may be due to augmented degradation of GSH, its potentiated efflux from hepatocytes and formation of conjugates with intermediates arising as a result of reactive oxygen species action.

Adipocyte lipolysis, hormonal and metabolic changes in ethanol-drinking rats.

The effect of ethanol drinking on some hormonal and metabolic changes in the rat and on lipolysis in isolated adipocytes was tested. Male growing Wistar rats divided into two groups were used in the experiment. Ten percent ethanol solution as the only drinking fluid for 2 weeks depressed body weight gain. The diminution of blood insulin with simultaneous increase in leptin concentration found in these rats suggest that the physiological regulation of leptin secretion is disturbed by ethanol. Liver triglycerides content was substantially augmented due to ethanol ingestion. Adipocytes were isolated from both groups of rats by collagenase digestion and the lipolytic activity of these cells was compared. Isolated cells (10(6)/ml) were incubated for 90 min in Krebs-Ringer buffer (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C) containing 3 mm glucose and different lipolytic modulators: adrenaline (1 microm), insulin (1 nm), dibutyryl-cAMP (1 mm) and DPCPX (a selective antagonist of adenosine A1 receptor, 1 microM). To determine basal lipolysis cells were incubated without lipolytic agents. Lipolysis was determined by the amount of glycerol released from cells to the incubation medium. Basal and adrenaline-induced lipolysis was depressed in adipocytes of ethanol-drinking rats. The antilipolytic activity of insulin was the same in both groups of isolated cells. Lipolysis induced by dibutyryl-cAMP was only slightly reduced due to ethanol consumption, whereas triglycerides breakdown evoked by adenosine A1 receptor antagonism was unchanged. Results obtained in vitro indicate that subchronic ethanol drinking attenuates basal and stimulated lipolysis in adipocytes, however, the antilipolytic effect of insulin and the adenosine pathway are unchanged.

[Management of patients with pyogenic complications of long bones open fractures]. / Lechenie bol'nykh s gnoinymi oslozhneniiami otkrytykh perelomov dlinnykh kostei.

122 patients with purulent complications of open diaphyseal fractures of long bones were treated. Comparative analysis of different surgical methods for treatment of pyogenic complications has shown that the most effective method is one of active sanation of the area of inflammation with the use of combined drainage ensured successful and steady decrease of pyogenic process (follow-up up to 4 years, 89.7% of patients). The drainage provides stable fixation of bones fragments by dipped fixators until consolidation of the fracture. It also promotes repain of residual diaphyseal defects without application of complicated plastic methods.

[The wound microflora of patients with gunshot injuries to the extremities during a mass hospitalization]. / Mikroflora ran bol'nykh v usloviiakh ikh massovogo postupleniia v statsionar s ognestrel'nymi povrezhdeniiami konechnostei.

The dynamic study of the microflora of bullet wounds in 32 patients was carried out. In cases of mass hospitalization coccal microflora (staphylococci and streptococci) was mainly isolated from wounds, at the period of treatment hospital infections with enterobacteria, Pseudomonas and Enterococcus occurred. Before cleaning the wound a decrease in the contamination rate for all microbial species was observed. As the disease progressed an increase in the amount of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains was registered. The results of sanitary microbiological investigations made in the wards where the wounded patients were treated correspond to the structure of the causative agents of purulent processes in patients.

[Features of the treatment of suppurative complications of limb injuries in prolonged crush syndrome]. / Osobennosti lecheniia gnoinykh oslozhnenii povrezhdennykh konechnostei pri sindrome dlitel'nogo razdavlivaniia.

The results of treatment of 42 patients with prolonged crush syndrome complicated by suppuration are analyzed. The results of bacteriological studies are presented, which helped monitor the treatment efficacy. Surgical treatment of the injured limbs is described, as is the combined application-adsorption method of local detoxifying therapy of suppurative wounds, which, combined with staged necrosectomy, helped cope with purulent complications, prepare the wounds of the limbs to repair plastic surgery within 35 to 55 days after the injury, and rule out lethal outcomes.

[The dynamics of the wound microflora in the victims of the earthquake in Armenia]. / Dinamika mikroflory ran postradavshikh pri zemletriasenii v Armenii.

The data on the composition of wound microflora, as well as changes in the contamination index over the course of treatment of patients with the syndrome of prolonged compression, who were brought to the institute after the earthquake in Armenia, are presented. The authors characterize the structure of the causative agents of wound infection in the patients treated at the traumatological department of the institute over several years. The epidemiological situation in the hospital in the period when the earthquake victims were treated there is analyzed.

[Bacteriostatic activity of blood in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis during polychemotherapy]. / Bakteriostaticheskaia aktivnost' krovi bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh pri polikhimioterapii.

Polychemotherapy comprising 4-6 antituberculosis drugs and prescribed either only daily, daily or given on an intermittent basis (every other day) or only on an intermittent basis was given for 4-8 months to 102 patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis (in those newly diagnosed, treated earlier and with a process recurrence). Four and, less frequently, three drugs were used per day. Bacteriostatic blood activity (BBA) was high in 90.2% of the patients, at the maximal concentrations, bacteriostasis was seen at 32-256-fold blood dilutions; in 76.4% of the patients BBA persisted at a high or moderate level during 24 hours (blood dilutions were within 1:256-1:8). The maximal and total BBA level was significantly higher in polychemotherapy than in a combination of 3 drugs. In polychemotherapy bacilli excretion was discontinued in 90% and caverns healed in 74.5% of the patients, while in the regimens comprising 3 drugs in the same contingent of patients, similar events occurred in 77% and 60% of the cases, respectively.

[Treatment of open injuries in the victims of the earthquake in Armenian SSR]. / Lechenie bo'lnykh s otkrytymi povrezhdeniiami, postradavshikh pri zemletriasenii v Armenii.

The results of treatment of 36 patients injured during the earthquake in Armenia are analyzed. The patients had severe traumas: open injuries to the limbs, complicated by nephro- and hepatopathies. The periods of the limb crushing with fragments of ruined buildings varied from 3 hours to 3 days. The treatment modalities included conservative and operative detoxication (hemoperfusion, hemodiafiltration, hemofiltration, prolonged endolymphatic infusions of drugs), active surgical strategy, rehabilitation of patients. Seven amputations, 7 reamputations, and 21 necrectomies were performed in 36 patients by vital indications; no lethal outcomes were recorded. Restorative skin plasty was performed in 14 patients with 19 limb stumps, with good functional outcomes. The patients were directed to the Central Research Institute of Prosthetics to be supplied with prostheses. Only in 3 patients with the upper limb crushing the development of stable ischemic contractures could not be prevented.