The effects on bacterial translocation and tissue damage of selenium treatment in an experimental intestina ischaemia-reperfusion model.

BACKGROUND: The free oxygen radicals formed with reperfusion following intestinal ischaemia are extremely toxic for the cells. Glutathione peroxidase, an important enzyme that prevents the formation of reactive oxygen species, requires selenium as a co-factor. This study aims to demonstrate the effects of selenium administration on reducing ischaemia-reperfusion damage. METHODS: In this study, 28 male Wistar rats were separated into four groups. To Groups 3 and 4, sodium selenite at the dose of 10 µg/kg/day was administered intraperitoneally for five days. In Groups 1 and 3, laparotomy was applied, and in Groups 2 and 4, following laparotomy, ischaemia was created by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 45 mins, then reperfusion was provided for 90 mins. Blood, liver and ileum samples were taken from all the animals for examination of malondialdehyde. For examination of bacterial translocation, liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph node tissue samples were taken. A sample taken from the ileum was examined histopathologically. RESULTS: There was determined to be significantly more bacterial translocation in the mesenteric lymph nodes of the ischaemia-reperfusion group (p<0.05). In the histopathological evaluation, the score in the ischaemia-reperfusion group was significantly higher than the scores in the other groups (p<0.05). Elevated serum, liver and ileum malondialdehyde levels in the ischaemia-reperfusion group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Selenium was seen to have decreased serum and tissue malondialdehyde levels and increased the histopathological damage developing in the intestines with ischaemia-reperfusion and thereby increased bacterial translocation.

The effect of ice pressure applied on large intestinal 4 on the labor pain and labor process.

PURPOSE: This study was designed as an experimental controlled study, aiming to identify the effect of ice massage with short duration (40 min) and long duration (80 min) applied on Large Intestinal 4 (LI4) acupressure point on labor process and perception of labor pain. METHODS: The participants, who met the research criteria according to the results of power analysis, were 72 healthy pregnant women divided into experiment and control group. RESULTS: Results show that ice massage applied on the LI4 region was effective in the 80th minute. Moreover, in terms of the effect of ice massage on labor duration, the application was found to reduce the labor duration of the women in the experimental group approximately 1 h on average. CONCLUSION: It was found that the ice massage applied by midwives on the LI4 point during the active phase of delivery could reduce pain and shorten the delivery duration.