Blood and liver telomere length, mitochondrial DNA copy number, and hepatic gene expression of mitochondrial dynamics in mid-lactation cows supplemented with l-carnitine under systemic inflammation.

The current study was conducted to examine the effect of l-carnitine (LC) supplementation on telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) per cell in mid-lactation cows challenged by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in blood and liver. The mRNA abundance of 31 genes related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and the corresponding stress response mechanisms, the mitochondrial quality control and the protein import system, as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, were assessed using microfluidics integrated fluidic circuit chips (96.96 dynamic arrays). In addition to comparing the responses in cows with or without LC, our objectives were to characterize the oxidative and inflammatory status by assessing the circulating concentration of lactoferrin (Lf), haptoglobin (Hp), fibrinogen, derivates of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROM), and arylesterase activity (AEA), and to extend the measurement of Lf and Hp to milk. Pluriparous Holstein cows were assigned to either a control group (CON, n = 26) or an LC-supplemented group (CAR; 25 g LC/cow per day; d 42 ante partum to d 126 postpartum (PP), n = 27). On d 111 PP, each cow was injected intravenously with LPS (Escherichia coli O111:B4, 0.5 µg/kg). The mRNA abundance was examined in liver biopsies of d -11 and +1 relative to LPS administration. Plasma and milk samples were frequently collected before and after the challenge. After LPS administration, circulating plasma fibrinogen and serum dROM concentrations increased, whereas AEA decreased. Moreover, serum P4 initially increased by 3 h after LPS administration and declined thereafter irrespective of grouping. The Lf concentrations increased in both groups after LPS administration, with the CAR group showing greater concentrations in serum and milk than the CON group. After LPS administration, telomere length in blood increased, whereas mtDNAcn per cell decreased; however, both remained unaffected in liver. For mitochondrial protein import genes, the hepatic mRNA abundance of the translocase of the mitochondrial inner membrane (TIM)-17B was increased in CAR cows. Moreover, TIM23 increased in both groups after LPS administration. Regarding the mRNA abundance of genes related to stress response mechanisms, 7 out of 14 genes showed group × time interactions, indicating a (local) protective effect due to the dietary LC supplementation against oxidative stress in mid-lactating dairy cows. For mtDNAcn and telomere length, the effects of the LPS-induced inflammation were more pronounced than the dietary supplementation of LC. Dietary LC supplementation affected the response to LPS primarily by altering mitochondrial dynamics. Regarding mRNA abundance of genes related to the mitochondrial protein import system, the inner mitochondrial membrane translocase (TIM complex) seemed to be more sensitive to dietary LC than the outer mitochondrial membrane translocase (TOM complex).

Fibrin glue for the treatment of persistent lymphatic drainage.

A 7-year-old girl underwent resection of an abdominal wall lymphangiomatous tumor. Postoperative serous drainage, up to 300 mL per day, developed despite application of external pressure to the wound. Thirty-three days after the initial procedure, fibrin glue was applied to the draining tract. Concentrated fibrinogen was prepared from one unit of blood donated by the patient's mother. Ten milliliters fibrinogen and 10 mL thrombin (1,000 U/mL) were injected simultaneously through the wound drain as it was slowly removed, and pressure was reapplied for 48 hours. No further drainage occurred, and at 2- and 14-week follow-up examinations the wound had healed normally without reaccumulation of fluid. Fibrin glue successfully sealed this persistently draining abdominal wall tract. It is a painless, safe, and effective biologic sealant, and when prepared from homologous plasma it carries a low risk of virus transmission.

Evaluation of fibrin sealing for cardiovascular surgery.

Hemorrhage remains a problem in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. To evaluate fibrin sealant, a completely biodegradable hemostatic agent, three series of experiments were performed in mongrel dogs. In series I, 18 dogs had a 7 cm interposition of knitted Dacron (water porosity 1500 ml/min/cm2) in the descending aorta. In group A, all prostheses were treated with fibrin sealant and in group B by blood preclotting. Measurements of blood loss demonstrated 1.29 +/- 0.26 ml/min in group A as compared with 30.16 +/- 2.85 ml/min in group B (p less than .001). In series II, six dogs of each group were compared for thrombogenicity and platelet survival by using indium-111-labeled autologous platelets. According to Goldman et al., the thrombogenicity index was calculated. The mean thrombogenicity index for group A was 0.23 +/- 0.02 in contrast to 0.33 +/- 0.05 for group B (p greater than .05). Mean platelet survival was 5.59 +/- 0.23 days in group A in contrast to 5.34 +/- 0.05 days in group B (p greater than .05). In series III, the gluing potential was investigated by creating four types of injuries: four dogs had an aortic stab wound 3 to 5 mm, six dogs received a 10 to 15 mm stab wound to the left ventricle, seven dogs had a 3 cm laceration of the left atrial appendage, and four dogs had bilateral division of their carotid arteries. Wounds of the aorta and left atrial appendage were treated by partial clamping and the sole use of fibrin sealant, the carotid arteries were repaired by four simple sutures and fibrin sealant, and the left ventricular stab wounds were treated by the combined use of heterologous collagen and fibrin sealant without suture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)