Intravenous iron injection does not impair liver function in a rat model of cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of convincing data concerning the safety of iron therapy in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (LC). This study investigated the hepatic effects of ferric carboxymaltose, an intravenous iron supplement, in a rat model of cirrhosis. METHODS: In total, 45 Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into three groups: normal rats (control group, n=15), cirrhotic rats receiving intravenous normal saline (LC group, n=15), and cirrhotic rats receiving 20 mg/kg intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (LC-iron group, n=15). LC was induced by twice-weekly intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. Biochemical parameters were compared at 0, 2, 14, and 28 days. Additionally, liver tissue samples were extracted from five rats in each group at 2, 14, and 28 days for evaluation of the degrees of hepatic fibrosis and iron deposition. Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were also compared among groups. RESULTS: Serum alanine transferase levels did not significantly differ between the LC and LC-iron groups at 0 (443±110 vs. 444±117 IU/L, P>0.99), 2 (453±117 vs. 479±136 IU/L, P=0.84), 14 (1,535±1,058 vs. 1,578±711 IU/L, P=0.55), or 28 days (2,067±641 vs. 2,533±914 IU/L, P=0.15). The degree of hepatic fibrosis was comparable between the groups, although hepatic iron accumulation was greater in the LC-iron group than in the LC group. The levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were significantly lower in the LC-iron group than in the LC group. CONCLUSIONS: In our rat model of cirrhosis, the administration of intravenous iron appears safe. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are warranted to confirm the safety and efficacy of intravenous iron in patients with LC or end-stage liver disease.

[Effects of Nei-Guan acupressure on nausea, vomiting and level of satisfaction for gynecological surgery patients who are using a patient-controlled analgesia].

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine effects of Nei-Guan acupressure on nausea, vomiting and level of satisfaction for gynecological surgery patients who were using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). METHODS: For this study, 51 patients were assigned to one of three groups, a control group (17 patients), experimental group 1 (finger acupressure group) (17 patients), and experimental group 2 (relief band group) (17 patients). The data were collected for 24 hr in the recovery room of a university hospital located in Seoul. The 6 hr-intervals including the time of leaving the recovery room were taken into consideration. RESULTS: The occurrence of nausea between the experimental group with Nei-Guan acupressure treatment and the control group was different. However, there was no difference in nausea and vomiting control or level of patient satisfaction between the finger acupressure group and the relief band group. CONCLUSION: Nei-Guan acupressure is recommended for nursing practice as a way for alleviating the opioid-induced nausea and accelerating the recovery of patients who are using PCA after surgery.

Electroacupuncture.

Electrical stimulation of acupoint (EA), a form of electrotherapy, involves passing an electrical current via pairs of acupuncture needles attached to a device that generates an electrical pulse. This electrical generator is used to control and adjust the stimulus parameters. EA is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated. However, EA stimulates a larger area than a specific point. In addition, greater control of stimulus parameters is possible with EA, which results in its being reproducible and objective. EA has been used to treat in various conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders and as a form of anesthesia. Additionally, EA reportedly relieve pain and inflammation, and reduce nausea and vomiting. Although the mechanism by which EA functions has not yet fully elucidated, some of its action on the endogenous opioids system through multiple neuronal pathways has been indentified. It has also been shown that the released neurotransmitters are dependent on stimulation frequencies, although there is considerably overlap. Although EA is increasingly used to treat various clinical conditions, there are insufficient scientific evidences available regarding its efficacy. There is no established optimal protocol of EA treatment (optimal parameter, frequency of treatment, duration of a treatment session). Moreover, the exact mechanism by which EA treats underlying conditions. Therefore, for EA to be recognized as an established mode of treatment, further studies are warranted to assess its scientific and systematic efficacy and to clarify the mechanism underlying its effects.

The effect of 2 Hz and 100 Hz electrical stimulation of acupoint on ankle sprain in rats.

The electrical stimulation of acupoint (ESA) releases several endogenous neuropeptides, which play important roles in management of pain and inflammation. ESA with low and high frequencies has been shown to release different neuropepides, suggesting its various therapeutic effects. Pain and edema are major problems for ankle sprain. However, there have been few reports on the effects of ESA for ankle sprain. We aimed to investigate that ESA can reduce pain and edema resulting from ankle sprain, and whether there is a difference in therapeutic effects between low and high frequency ESA. To induce ankle sprain in Sprague-Dawley rats, the ankle of right hindpaw was overextended in direction of simultaneous inversion and plantar flexion. Stepping force and edema in the paw of the sprained ankle were measured by electronic balance and plethysmometer, respectively. In both 2 and 100 Hz ESA groups, stepping force was increased significantly in similar degrees (p<0.05). Only 2 Hz ESA produced the significant rapid decrease in ankle edema. This study demonstrates that ESA of 2 Hz and 100 Hz shows comparable analgesic effects, but only 2 Hz ESA can facilitate the reduction of edema caused by ankle sprain.