Protective effect of dexmedetomidine against organ dysfunction in a two-hit model of hemorrhage/resuscitation and endotoxemia in rats

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors, has anti-inflammation properties and potential beneficial effects against trauma, shock, or infection. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether DEX might protect against multiple-organ dysfunction in a two-hit model of hemorrhage/resuscitation (HS) and subsequent endotoxemia. Eighty Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: NS (normal saline), HS/L (HS plus lipopolysaccharide), HS/L+D (HS/L plus dexmedetomidine), and HS/L+D+Y (HS/L+D plus yohimbine). Six hours after resuscitation, blood gas (PaO2) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. The histopathology was assayed by staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were assayed. The PaO2 levels in HS/L rats were lower whereas the ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and NO levels were higher compared to the control group. The HS/L+D increased PaO2 and further increased IL-10 and decreased ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, and NO levels of the HS/L groups. In addition, the MDA in the HS/L groups increased whereas SOD activity decreased compared to the control group. Moreover, the HO-1 expression levels were increased by DEX administration in lung, liver, and kidney tissues. Lungs, livers, and kidneys of the HS/L group displayed significant damage, but such damage was attenuated in the HS/L+D group. All of the above-mentioned effects of DEX were partly reversed by yohimbine. DEX reduced multiple organ injury caused by HS/L in rats, which may be mediated, at least in part, by α2-adrenergic receptors.

Fluorescent Detection of Specific DNA Sequences Related to Toxoplasma gondii Based on Magnetic Fluorescent Nanoparticles Fe3O4/CdTe Biosensor.

Magnetic fluorescent nanoparticles (Fe3O4/CdTe) were prepared in this work and applied for Toxoplasma gondii DNA detection. First, CdTe quantum dots were synthesized with 3- mercaptopropionic (MPA) capped. Fe3O4 magnetic particles were prepared by hydrothermal method with NaOH as precipitator, and they were surfacely modified with silane coupling agent (KH550). After then, the MPA-capped CdTe QDs were immobilized on the Fe3O4 particles surface via electrostatic interaction, and the Fe3O4/CdTe particles were prepared with the average size of 10 nm. The DNA sensing probe was fabricated through labeling a stem-loop Toxoplasma gondii DNA oligonucleotides with Fe3O4/CdTe (donor) at the 5′ end and BHQ2 (acceptor) at 3′ end, respectively. The assembly prosess was verified by UV-Vis, TEM, IR, XRD etc. The sensitivity characterization of the molecular beacon probe was performed by fluorescence spectrum (FS) with a detection limit of 8.339x10-9M. This chemical strategy can be further applied to prepare the magnetic nanoparticles for DNA detection.