An antioxidant tetrapeptide UPF1 in rats has a neuroprotective effect in transient global brain ischemia.

Different glutathione analogues have potential to maintain or increase tissue glutathione level and to scavenge the reactive oxygen species. We designed and synthesized a novel non-toxic glutathione analogue, named UPF1, which possessed 60-fold higher hydroxyl radical scavenger efficiency in vitro, compared with glutathione itself, and investigated the effects of UPF1 on a four-vessel occlusion model of rats. The UPF1 was administered via the jugular vein in two separate experiments at two time points: 20 min before global brain ischemia and immediately before reperfusion. In both cases the number of pyramidal cells surviving in the subfield of CA1 at the dorsal hippocampus in the UPF1-treated groups of rats was twice as high as in the vehicle group.

Primary aortoduodenal fistula: successful grafting with axillo-bifemoral bypass.

Primary aortoduodenal fistula (PADF) is uncommon direct pathological communication between the abdominal aorta and duodenum, which may cause life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. PADF leads to high mortality and morbidity unless it is promptly evaluated and appropriate surgical intervention performed. We present a case report describing PADF treated successfully with axillobifemoral bypass. A 70-year-old male was admitted in our hospital with severe back and abdominal pain. A pulsative tumor mass was palpated in the middle abdomen. Previous ultrasonography had shown abdominal aortic aneurysm. There were no symptoms of active gastrointestinal bleeding, but the patient had moderate anaemia. Computer tomography revealed infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Intraoperatively, PADF was diagnosed. The duodenum was repaired and the abdominal aorta was closed directly below the renal arteries. At the next stage, extra-anatomic grafting was performed, because frank pus was found in the abdominal cavity. By present time, the axillobifemoral bypass has been patent for 2 years.

Is elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair accompanied by high grade oxidative stress?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: During elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAAR), lower torso ischaemia-reperfusion event is unavoidable. Previous studies on AAAR have reported the importance of oxidative stress (OS) in ischaemia-reperfusion injury, however, the grade of OS has not been adequately clarified up to now. The aim of this study was to perform a complex investigation of the time-course and grade of systemic and cellular OS in patients undergoing AAAR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Arterial blood samples were taken from 18 patients undergoing elective AAAR (at four points in time: before anaesthesia, 5 min after aortic clamping and 5 min and 30 min after clamp removal). Diene conjugates (DC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidative capacity (TAC), glutathione redox ratio (GSSG/GSH), and levels of antioxidative enzymes as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were measured from the radial arterial blood. RESULTS: 30 min after the removal of the aortic cross-clamp, arterial CAT showed significant elevation (96.0 vs 56.9 U/l, p < 0.05); GSHPx was significantly elevated (51.5 vs 39.9 U/g Hgb, p < 0.05) and TAC was decreased (31.4 vs 36.5%, p < 0.05) in comparison with preoperative value. CONCLUSIONS: We found limited alterations of several OS parameters, which do not characterize either systemic or cellular high-grade OS during elective AAAR.