Ulinastatin suppresses burn-induced lipid peroxidation and reduces fluid requirements in a Swine model.

Objective. Lipid peroxidation plays a critical role in burn-induced plasma leakage, and ulinastatin has been reported to reduce lipid peroxidation in various models. This study aims to examine whether ulinastatin reduces fluid requirements through inhibition of lipid peroxidation in a swine burn model. Methods. Forty miniature swine were subjected to 40% TBSA burns and were randomly allocated to the following four groups: immediate lactated Ringer's resuscitation (ILR), immediate LR containing ulinastatin (ILR/ULI), delayed LR resuscitation (DLR), and delayed LR containing ulinastatin (DLR/ULI). Hemodynamic variables, net fluid accumulation, and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations were measured. Heart, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, and ileum were harvested at 48 hours after burn for evaluation of TBARS concentrations, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and tissue water content. Results. Ulinastatin significantly reduced pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and extravascular lung water index (ELWI), net fluid accumulation, and water content of heart, lung, and ileum in both immediate or delayed resuscitation groups. Furthermore, ulinastatin infusion significantly reduced plasma and tissue concentrations of TBARS in both immediate or delayed resuscitation groups. Conclusions. These results indicate that ulinastatin can reduce fluid requirements through inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

The effect of Vaccinium uliginosum on rabbit retinal structure and light-induced function damage.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Vaccinium uliginosum L., (VU) on the electroretinogram (ERG) and retinal pathological changes in rabbits after light-induced damage. METHODS: Twenty-eight Chinchilla rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: administration beforehand (A), administration after injury (B), light injury without administration (C), and blank (D) groups. After a 4-week administration of VU homogenate at 4.8 g/(kg·d) once a day in group A, ERG in groups A, B and C were recorded according to the standards set by the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV). Except for group D, the groups were then exposed to strong light. Just after that, group A stopped receiving VU treatment and group B started to receive it. Then ERGs in all groups were recorded after 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks. Throughout the whole process groups which were not fed with VU were fed with normal saline. Finally, the tissues and structures of all the groups were observed and the thickness of the outer nuclear layers (ONL) was measured. RESULTS: (1) After 4-week feeding with VU, the latency time of ERG in group A became shorter than those in the other groups and the amplitude increased. After being exposed to strong light, the latency time lengthened and amplitude decreased in all the injury groups, but comparing at each time point, the measured values in group A were better than those in group C. With the accumulation of VU, the ERG in group B improved, and finally, all of the detected values became better than those in group C. (2) Retinae in group D were normal in histology and the layers were in order but those in group C became disarranged. The injuries in groups A and B were minor compared with those in group C. The thickness of the ONL in group C was significantly thinner than in the other groups (P=0.000), and that in groups A and B was thicker than that in group C, although thinner than in group D. That in group A was thicker than in group B. CONCLUSIONS: VU can relieve the injury to rabbit retinae exposed to normal day and night rhythm, alleviate the harm caused by light when used beforehand, and repair the light damage to the retina.

[The effect of Vaccinium uliginosum to the electroretinogram and retina of rabbits before and after light-induced damage].

OBJECTIVE: Study the effect of Vaccinium uliginosum (VU) on the electroretinogram (ERG) and histology of rabbits' retina before and after light-induced damage. METHODS: It was an experimental study in contrast. Thirty-five Chinchilla Rabbits were divided into five groups according to the randomization tables. All rabbits ate and drank freely except those in group A and D who were fed with VU homogenate. Four weeks later we observed the tissue & structure of the rabbits in group D and E under the light microscope and measured the thickness of their out nuclear layers (ONL) and apoptosis index (AI). At the same time, we recorded maximal combined reaction ERG and oscillatory potentials (oscillatory potentials, OPs) of the left rabbits according to the standards set by the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV). Then group A, B and C were exposed to strong light. Also we stopped feeding group A with VU and start to feed group C with it. We recorded ERG of them all after 1 day, 1 week and 2 weeks respectively. Then we observed the tissues & structures of them. SPSS 12.0 software package was used for one-way or double ways ANOVA and LSD test. RESULTS: (1) Maximal combined reaction ERG: after four weeks feeding implicit time of group A: a wave (14.079+/-0.841) ms, b wave (35.629+/-6.865) ms; amplitude: a wave (83.936+/-10.807) microV, b wave (280.931+/-27.807) microV. Two weeks after injury implicit time of group A: a wave (15.571+/-1.087) ms, b wave (38.915+/-7.683) ms, amplitude:a wave (66.478+/-9.709) microV, b wave (245.887+/-11.797) microV. After four weeks feeding implicit time of group B: a wave (15.635+/-1.661) ms, b wave (42.985+/-3.164) ms; amplitude: a wave (69.331+/-12.355) microV, b wave (197.331+/-16.157) microV. Two weeks after injury implicit time of group B: a wave (18.783+/-1.966) ms, b wave (52.322+/-4.784) ms, amplitude:a wave (57.562+/-8.217) microV, b wave (159.569+/-17.859) microV. After four weeks feeding implicit time of group C: a wave (15.115+/-0.940) ms, b wave (43.242+/-4.662) ms, amplitude: a wave (72.812+/-4.403) microV, b wave (207.815+/-14.373) microV. Two weeks after injury implicit time of group C: a wave (15.957+/-2.154) ms, b wave (44.081+/-9.506) ms, amplitude: a wave (66.804+/-8.755) microV, b wave (186.271+/-29.349) microV. These three groups had statistical significance in maximal combined reaction ERG (implicit time of a wave: fed 4 weeks F=6.057, P<0.05; two weeks after injury F=13.296, P<0.05. Implicit time of b wave: fed 4 weeks F=9.949, P<0.05; two weeks after injury F=11.145, P<0.05. Amplitude of a wave: fed 4 weeks F=8.468, P<0.05; two weeks after injury F=4.844, P<0.05. Amplitude of b wave: fed 4 weeks F=70.194, P<0.05; two weeks after injury F=62.161, P<0.05). The total amplitudes of OPs (OPs=OPs1+OPs2+OPs3) of them had statistical significance (fed 4 weeks F=17.482, P<0.05; two weeks after injury F=11.748, P<0.05). By LSD test we found that before injury the amplitude of a wave and b wave in group B and C in maximal combined reaction ERG were significantly lower than those of group A which was fed by VU for 4 weeks (the a wave and b wave of group B compared to A: P=0.003, 0.000; the a wave and b wave of group C compared to A: P=0.001, 0.000). After light-induced injury, the implicit time of all the groups was increased and amplitude was decreased. But after the injury time of 1 day, 1 week and 2 weeks, the amplitude of b wave of group A was respectively (229.743+/-11.978) microV, (212.785+/-21.021) microV, (245.887+/-11.797) microV, which was significantly higher than group B in the same period (P=0.000). With the accumulation of VU the ERG of group C was improving. Two weeks after injury the implicit time of b wave in group C was (44.081+/-9.506) ms and the amplitude was (186.271+/-29.349) microV. Compared with group B the former was decreased and the latter was increased significantly (implicit time: P=0.008; amplitude: P=0.007). (2) Group D and E were normal in histology and layers were in order. While group B got disordered. Group A and C were injured slightly. The thickness of ONL among all groups had statistical significance (F=330.506, P<0.05). (3) There was statistical significance among all groups in AI (F=230.126, P<0.05). AI of group B was (10.960+/-1.534)% and was higher than others' (P=0.000). AI of group D was (1.817+/-0.203)% and lower than group E (P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Vaccinium uliginosum can decrease retinal cell apoptosis and reduce photochemical damage to retinal tissue. In addition VU is able to promote retinal repairing after light damage.