Using a neonatal rat model to explore the therapeutic potential of coenzyme Q10 in prematurity under hyperoxia.

Hyperoxia, is often used in preterm supportive care, leading to high oxygen exposure in neonates. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a free radical scavenger that has been studied in older children but never be investigated for its role in preterm care. We hypothesize that the administration of exogenous CoQ10 would raise serum concentrations of CoQ10 and mitigate the adverse effects of hyperoxia on the organs by reducing oxygen-free radicals and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and survival in neonatal rats after CoQ10 treatment. Neonatal rats delivered from four pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (a) control, (b) CoQ10, (c) hyperoxia (O2 group), and (d) treatment (CoQ10 + O2 ) groups. The dose of CoQ10 injected was 30 mg/kg. The CoQ9, CoQ10, cytokines, oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured. Tissue samples were histologically examined and mortality was monitored for 16 days. The level of CoQ9 significantly increased in the liver, kidney, and plasma, while the level of CoQ10 significantly increased in most organ tissues in the CoQ10 + O2 group. Additionally, CoQ10 decrease oxidative stress in the liver, increase antioxidant enzyme activity in the heart, kidney, and brain, and reverse an inclined level of hematopoietic growth factors. However, CoQ10 had no effect on inflammation, organ damage, or mortality. Therefore, the use of CoQ10 in potential adjuvant therapy for neonatal hyperoxia requires further research.

Adhesive pyramidal thorn patches provide pain relief to athletes.

Pain in athletes is ideally treated without systemic medicine. Therefore, complementary and alternative medicine, including patch treatments, is often used. The physiologic mechanisms of pain relief produced by patch treatment, however, are not well elucidated. In the present study, we introduce a pyramidal thorn (PT) patch that we developed, demonstrate the effects of this PT patch for the treatment of various types of pain in 300 subjects, and suggest a physiologic mechanism for the pain relief effects. One treatment with the PT patch effectively relieved pain in almost half the subjects evaluated. Except for pain generated deeply under the skin, such as low-back pain, pain was eliminated within four treatments with the PT patch in almost all of the subjects. Interestingly, the pain-sensing region moved along the nerve fibers after each trial. Further, patches without PT also provided some pain relief. We considered that this effect was due to hair deflection on the skin; that is, adhesion of the PT patch activates Merkel cells directly as well as Merkel cell-neurite complexes around the hair follicles by deflecting the hair follicles, whereas adhesion of a patch without PT only activates the Merkel cell-neurite complexes. In any case, patch adhesion stimulates Aß fibers to alleviate pain. Finally, we found that the pain threshold is increased by electric stimulation, suggesting that the gentle adhesion of a PT patch would be more effective. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate physiologically the validity of an adherent patch for pain relief.

Effects of vitamin B-6 supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in neonatal rats receiving hyperoxia therapy.

Hyperoxia is often used in the treatment of neonates. However, protracted use of hyperoxia leads to significant morbidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin B-6 supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in neonatal rats undergoing hyperoxia therapy. The study consisted of 2 parts: a survival study and a vitamin B-6 efficacy study for 16 days. Neonatal rats were randomly divided into either the control group, B-6 group (subcutaneously injected with 90 mg/kg/d of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate [PLP]), O2 group (treated with 85% oxygen), or O2 + B-6 group (simultaneously treated with 85% oxygen and 90 mg/kg/d PLP). After the survival study was done, the vitamin B-6 efficacy study was performed with duplicate neonatal rats sacrificed on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 16th day. Serum inflammatory cytokines, tissue pathology, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. In the survival study, the survival rate of neonatal rats in the control, B-6, O2, and O2 + B-6 group on the 16th day were 100%, 100%, 25%, and 62.50%, respectively. The efficacy study showed lung polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) and macrophage infiltration, increased liver hemopoiesis, and higher MDA levels in liver homogenates at days 3 through 16 in the O2 group. Vitamin B-6 supplementation considerably increased serum inflammatory cytokines in either the 6th or 9th day and decreased liver MDA level before the 6th day. These results indicate that neonatal rats receiving hyperoxia treatment suffered divergent serum inflammatory responses and were in increased liver oxidative stress. Vitamin B-6 supplementation seemed to improve survival rates, change systemic inflammatory response, and decrease liver oxidative stress while neonatal rats were under hyperoxia treatment.

Life-threatening Dilated Cardiomyopathy Induced by Late-onset Neonatal Hypocalcemia.

Neonatal seizures caused by hypocalcemia may be associated with cardiopulmonary dysfunction and may require specific management other than calcium supplementation. Severe dilated cardiomyopathy is an extremely rare complication in neonatal hypocalcemia and often results in high morbidity and mortality. We report here a 14-day-old neonate presenting with a gradually increasing frequency of tonic seizures. After admission, arterial desaturation was found despite supplying oxygen (4 L/min) through nasal prongs and the patient developed life-threatening respiratory distress and heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy. His critical cardiopulmonary derangements rapidly improved after respiratory support, the administration of diuretic and inotropic drugs, and the correction of his hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. The patient responded to treatment and was well during the 1-year follow-up period. We present this unique case history of seizure, respiratory distress, and heart failure induced by transient hypocalcemia to remind clinicians about the importance of this rare, life-threatening, but reversible, disorder.

Early evaluation of the therapeutic effectiveness in children with epilepsy by quantitative EEG: a model of Mozart K.448 listening--a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: There are many treatments being developed for patients with epilepsy, including anti-epileptic drugs, ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation. To date, there is a lack of valid methods to predict at an early stage the therapeutic effects on patients with epilepsy who receive one of these treatments. Our previous studies revealed that epileptiform discharges which were observed in patients with epilepsy were significantly decreased while listening to Mozart K.448. In this study, we attempted to develop a useful marker by utilizing a quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) method in analyzing the features of EEG to early evaluate the effect of the music on children with epilepsy, even without epileptiform discharges. METHODS: EEG segments from 19 Taiwanese children who were selected from a large screen study of music effect (eight boys and 11 girls) diagnosed with epilepsy were analyzed. EEG examinations were performed in two parallel periods in each patient; before, and while listening to Mozart K.448's first movement (8 min 22s) and EEG data were compared by qEEG. EEG segments were classified into music effective/ineffective group. The term "effective" was defined as patient exposure to music resulting in over a 25% reduction in epileptiform discharges. On the contrary, the term "ineffective" was defined as patient exposure to music resulting in less than a 5% reduction in epileptiform discharges. RESULTS: There were four global feature descriptors selected for the music effective/ineffective classification. Two descriptors, DecorrTime_avg_AVG and DecorrTime_std_AVG, were related to the EEG feature "decorrelation" whereas the other two descriptors, RelPowGamma_avg_SNR and RelPowGamma_std_SNR, were related to "relative power of gamma." There were significantly higher RelPowGamma_std_SNR (0.190±0.133 vs. -0.026±0.119, p=0.0029), DecorrTime_std_AVG (0.005±0.004 vs. 0.0003±0.0016, p=0.0055), DecorrTime_avg_AVG (0.005±0.005 vs. -0.002±0.008, p=0.0179), and RelPowGamma_avg_SNR (0.176±0.219 vs. -0.078±0.244, p=0.0222) in the effective group than in the ineffective group. The precision rate of classification was 0.953. CONCLUSIONS: Using qEEG, we have developed a useful model for predicting therapeutic effectiveness of music in patients with epilepsy. Among the limited number of patients, the tool is of potential to predict the effectiveness in patients even without epileptiform discharges. It is worthwhile in the application of other therapeutic model.

Mozart K.448 listening decreased seizure recurrence and epileptiform discharges in children with first unprovoked seizures: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of reports show the beneficial effects of listening to Mozart music in decreasing epileptiform discharges as well as seizure frequency in epileptic children. There has been no effective method to reduce seizure recurrence after the first unprovoked seizure until now. In this study, we investigated the effect of listening to Mozart K.448 in reducing the seizure recurrence rate in children with first unprovoked seizures. METHODS: Forty-eight children who experienced their first unprovoked seizure with epileptiform discharges were included in the study. They were randomly placed into treatment (n = 24) and control (n = 24) groups. Children in the treatment group listened to Mozart K.448 daily before bedtime for at least six months. Two patients in the treatment group were excluded from analysis due to discontinuation intervention. Finally, forty-six patients were analyzed. Most of these patients (89.1%) were idiopathic in etiology. Seizure recurrence rates and reduction of epileptiform discharges were compared. RESULTS: The average follow-up durations in the treatment and control groups were 18.6 ± 6.6 and 20.1 ± 5.1 months, respectively. The seizure recurrence rate was estimated to be significantly lower in the treatment group than the control group over 24 months (37.2% vs. 76.8%, p = 0.0109). Significant decreases in epileptiform discharges were also observed after 1, 2, and 6 months of listening to Mozart K.448 when compared with EEGs before listening to music. There were no significant differences in gender, mentality, seizure type, and etiology between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the case number was limited and control music was not performed in this study, the study revealed that listening to Mozart K.448 reduced the seizure recurrence rate and epileptiform discharges in children with first unprovoked seizures, especially of idiopathic etiology. We believe that Mozart K.448 could be a promising alternative treatment in patients with first unprovoked seizures and abnormal EEGs. Further large-scaled study should be conducted to confirm the effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01892605, date: June-19-2013.

Bioenergetic failure correlates with autophagy and apoptosis in rat liver following silver nanoparticle intraperitoneal administration.

BACKGROUND: Deposition and accumulation of silver nanoparticles (Ag-nps) in the liver have been shown to induce hepatotoxicity in animal studies. The hepatotoxicity may include oxidative stress, abnormalities in energy metabolism, and cell death. Studies have indicated that autophagy is an intracellular event involving balance of energy, nutrients, and turnover of subcellular organelles. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that autophagy plays a role in mediating hepatotoxicity in animal after exposure to Ag-nps. Focus was placed on interrelationship between energy metabolism, autophagy, apoptosis and hepatic dysfunction. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with Ag-nps (10-30 nm in diameter) at concentration of 500 mg kg(-1). All animals were sacrificed on days 1, 4, 7, 10 and 30 after exposure and blood and liver tissues were collected for further studies. RESULTS: Uptake of Ag-nps was quite prompt and not proportional to the blood Ag concentration. Declination of ATP (-64% in days 1) and autophagy (determined by LC3-II protein expression and morphological evaluation) increased and peaked on the first day. The ATP content remained at low level even though the autophagy has been activated. Apoptosis (based on caspase-3 protein expression and TUNEL-positive cells staining) began to rise sigmoidally at days 1 and 4, reached a peak level at day 7, and remained at the same levels during days 7-30 post exposure. Meanwhile, autophagy exhibited a gradual decrease from days 1-10 and the decrease at day 30 was statistically significant as compared to day 0 (sham group). Inflammatory reaction (histopathological evaluation) was found at day 10 and preceded to an advanced degree at day 30 when liver function was impaired. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that following Ag-nps administration, autophagy was induced; however, failure to preserve autophagy compounded with energy reduction led to apoptosis and the eventual impairment of liver function. The study provides an in-vivo evidence of hepatotoxicity by continuous exposure of Ag-nps in rats.

Parasympathetic activation is involved in reducing epileptiform discharges when listening to Mozart music.

OBJECTIVE: Listening to Mozart K.448 has been demonstrated to improve spatial task scores, leading to what is known as the Mozart effect. Our previous work revealed the positive effects of Mozart K.448 in reducing epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy. However, the mechanism remains unclear. parasympathetic activation has been shown to help seizure control in many studies. In this study, we investigated the effect of Mozart music on epileptiform discharges and autonomic activity. METHODS: Sixty-four epileptic children with epileptiform discharges were included. They all received electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram examinations simultaneously before, during, and after listening to Mozart K.448 or K.545. The total number of epileptiform discharges during each session (before, during, and after music) were divided by the duration (in minutes) of the session and then compared. Heart rate variability including time and frequency domain analysis was used to represent the autonomic function. RESULTS: The results showed that epileptiform discharges were significantly reduced during and right after listening to Mozart music (33.3 ± 31.1% reduction, p<0.001, during Mozart K.448 and 38.6 ± 43.3% reduction, p<0.001, during Mozart K.545) (28.1 ± 43.2% reduction, p<0.001, after Mozart K.448 and 46.0 ± 40.5% reduction, p<0.001, after Mozart K.545). No significant difference was noticed between the two pieces of music. The reduction was greatest in patients with generalized seizures and discharges. Significant increases in high-frequency (HF), the square root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals (RMSSD), the standard deviation of differences between adjacent RR intervals (SDSD), and a decrease in mean beats per minute (bpm) were found during listening to Mozart music. Most of the patients with reduced epileptiform discharges also showed a decreased LF/HF ratio, low-frequency normalized units (LF nu), mean bpm, and an increased high-frequency normalized units (HF nu). CONCLUSIONS: Listening to Mozart music decreased epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy. The majority of these patients showed an increase in parasympathetic tone during music exposure. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggested that Mozart music stimuli induced parasympathetic activation which may be involved in the effect of music in reducing epileptiform discharges and the recurrence rate of seizures.

Mozart K.448 attenuates spontaneous absence seizure and related high-voltage rhythmic spike discharges in Long Evans rats.

PURPOSE: Recent research has revealed more evidence supporting the positive effects of music on humans and animals. However, evidence of music's effects on improving epilepsy in animals is sparse. This study aimed to clarify the influence of Mozart's music in Long Evans rats, which are characterized by spontaneous absence epilepsy (SAE) and high-voltage rhythmic spike (HVRS) discharges. METHODS: Continuous electroencephalograms comprised of HVRS discharges, and behavioral performance were recorded in Long Evans rats (n=5) before, during, and after exposure to the Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K.448 (Mozart K.448). The same evaluation was repeated after they had been subjected to daily exposure of the music for 20 days. RESULTS: Seizure frequencies and spontaneous HVRS discharges were reduced in all of the SAE rats during and after music exposure compared with the pre-music stage. The average seizure frequencies were 79.8±24.6, 48±15.2, and 33±12.1/h before, during, and after music exposure, respectively. The average run of spike episodes were 84.6±18.4, 52±17.8, and 36.8±16.9/h before, during, and after music exposure, respectively. The seizure frequencies and related run of spike episodes decreased by 39.8% and 38.5% during, and 58.6% and 56.6% post music exposure, respectively. The average run of spike durations and spike numbers also showed significant decreases (reduction by 47.1%, 47.8% during music and 60.8%, 61.3% post music). After daily music exposure for 20 days, the number of HVRS discharges and seizure frequencies during and after music exposure, however, showed no further accumulative reduction or adaptation effect. These results suggest that Mozart K.448 had a positive short-term effect in attenuating the spontaneous HVRS discharges in Long Evans rats. However, the mechanism needs further investigation.

Inhibitory effect of hexahydrocurcumin on human platelet aggregation.

The effects of hexahydrocurcumin on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced human platelet aggregation were studied. Treatment of human platelet-rich plasma with hexahydrocurcumin resulted in an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, suggesting the potential of this compound as an anti-atherosclerogenic agent in humans.

Mozart k.545 mimics mozart k.448 in reducing epileptiform discharges in epileptic children.

Mozart K.448 has been shown to improve cognitive function, leading to what is known as the Mozart Effect. Our previous work reveals positive effects of Mozart K.448 in reducing epileptiform discharges in epileptic children. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Mozart K.545 and compared the effects with those of Mozart K.448 on epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy. Thirty-nine epileptic children with epileptiform discharges were included in the study. They received electroencephalogram examinations before, during, and after listening to Mozart K.448 and K.545, one week apart, respectively. The frequencies of epileptiform discharges were compared. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of epileptiform discharges during and right after listening to Mozart K.448 and K.545 (reduced by 35.7 ± 32.7% during Mozart K.448 and 30.3 ± 44.4% after Mozart K.448; and 34.0 ± 39.5% during Mozart K.545 and 31.8 ± 39.2% after Mozart K.545). Spectrogrammatic analysis of the two pieces of music demonstrated that both share similar spectrogrammatic characteristics. Listening to Mozart K.448 and K.545 decreased the epileptiform discharges in epileptic children. This suggests that Mozart K.448 is not the only piece of music to have beneficial effects on children with epilepsy. Other music with lower harmonics may also decrease epileptiform discharges in epileptic children.

The long-term effect of listening to Mozart K.448 decreases epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy.

Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K.448 (Mozart K.448), has been shown to improve mental function, leading to what is known as the Mozart Effect. Our previous work revealed that epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy decrease during and right after listening to Mozart K.448. However, the duration of the effect was not studied. In the study described here, we evaluated the long-term effect of Mozart K.448 on epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy. Eighteen children with epilepsy whose seizures were clinically well controlled with antiepileptic drugs were included. For each child, EEGs had revealed persistent epileptiform discharges for at least 6 months. These patients listened to Mozart K.448 for 8 minutes once a day before bedtime for 6 months. Epileptiform discharges were recorded and compared before and after 1, 2, and 6 months of listening to Mozart K.448. All of the children remained on the same antiepileptic drug over the 6 months. Relationships between number of epileptiform discharges and foci of discharges, intelligence, epilepsy etiology, age, and gender were analyzed. Epileptiform discharges significantly decreased by 53.2±47.4, 64.4±47.1, and 71.6±45.8%, respectively, after listening to Mozart K.448 for 1, 2, and 6 months. All patients except those with occipital discharges showed a significant decrease in epileptiform discharges. Patients with normal intelligence and idiopathic epilepsy had greater decreases than those with mental retardation and symptomatic epilepsy. Age and gender did not affect the results. We conclude that long-term listening to Mozart K.448 may be effective in decreasing epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy in a chronologically progressive manner.

Mozart K.448 acts as a potential add-on therapy in children with refractory epilepsy.

Mozart's Sonata for two pianos in D major, K.448 (Mozart K.448), has been shown to improve mental function, leading to what is known as the Mozart effect. Our previous work revealed that epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy decreased during and immediately after listening to Mozart K.448. In this study, we evaluated the long-term effects of Mozart K.448 on children with refractory epilepsy. Eleven children with refractory epilepsy were enrolled. All of the patients were diagnosed as having had refractory epilepsy for more than 1 year (range =1 year to 6 years 4 months, mean =3 years 11 months) and had been receiving at least two antiepileptic drugs (AED). During the study period, they listened to Mozart K.448 once a day before bedtime for 6 months. Seizure frequencies were recorded 6 months before they started listening to this music and monthly during the study period. All of the patients remained on the same AEDs during the 6-month study period. Frequencies of seizures were compared before and after listening to Mozart K.448. Eight of eleven patients were seizure free (N=2) or had very good responses (N=6) after 6 months of listening to Mozart K.448. The remaining three (27.3%) showed minimal or no effect (effectiveness <50%; unmodified or worsened seizure frequency). The average seizure reduction was 53.6 ± 62.0%. There were no significant differences in seizure reduction with IQ, etiology, or gender. We conclude that Mozart K.448 should be further studied as a potential add-on therapy in the treatment of children with refractory epilepsy.

Mozart K.448 and epileptiform discharges: effect of ratio of lower to higher harmonics.

PURPOSE: Certain music has been shown to improve mental function, leading to what is known as the Mozart effect. This study measured the impact of Mozart's Sonata for two pianos in D major, K.448, on different epileptic foci of epileptiform discharge in Taiwanese children (n=58) with seizure disorders and investigated the characteristics of the musical stimulus presented that resulted in epileptiform discharge reduction. METHODS: We examined the relationship between the number of discharges with the foci of epileptiform discharge (n=6), sleep state, gender, and mentality. A continuous electroencephalogram was recorded before, during and after exposure to Mozart's Sonata for two pianos in D major, K.448 (piano K.448), and the frequencies of discharges were compared. The study was repeated a week later using digitally computerized string version of the same musical stimulus (string K.448), in patients who responded to piano K.448 with the largest reduction in interictal discharges (n=11). RESULTS: Interictal discharges were reduced in most (81.0%) patients and varied greatly (33.10+/-28.33%) as they listened to the piano K.448 (more fundamental tones and lower harmonics). Patients with generalized or central discharge showed the most improvement. In most patients (76.1%), the decrease in epileptiform discharges continued after the music ended. The state of wakefulness, gender and mentality did not affect the results. Although the string K.448 had a larger number of higher harmonics in the spectrogram analysis, the discharges were not reduced at all when listening to this music. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that listening to Mozart K.448 for two pianos reduced epileptiform discharges in children with epilepsy. This study suggests that it is possible to reduce the number of epileptiform discharges in some patients by optimizing the fundamental tones and minimizing the higher frequency harmonics.

Preliminary results of integrated therapy for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of integrated therapy on the functional status of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A total of 140 subjects with bilateral knee OA (Altman grade II) were randomized sequentially into 4 groups (groups I-IV). Group I received isokinetic exercises; group II received isokinetic exercise and pulse ultrasound for periarticular soft tissue pain; group III received isokinetic exercise, pulse ultrasound, and intraarticular hyaluronan therapy; and group IV acted as the control group. The therapeutic effects of the interventions were evaluated by changes in Lequesne's index, knee range of motion, peak muscle torques of knee flexion and extension, and ambulation speed after 8 weeks of treatment and at followup 1 year later. In addition, changes in visual analog scale pain and rates of attrition in each group were also recorded. RESULTS: Patients in groups I-III exhibited increased muscle peak torques and significantly reduced pain and disability after treatment and at followup. Groups II and III showed significant improvements in range of motion and ambulation speed after treatment. Group III also showed the greatest increase in walking speed and decrease in disability after treatment and at followup. Both group II and group III had significant gains in muscular strength after treatment and at followup; group III showed the greatest gains. CONCLUSION: An integrated therapy deals with the extra- and intraarticular progressive pathologic changes, and kinesiologic management of OA is suggested for the management of knee OA.

In vivo heat shock protein assembles with septic liver NF-kappaB/I-kappaB complex regulating NF-kappaB activity.

This study elucidates the mechanism through which heat shock treatment influences the outcome of sepsis. Post-heat shock sepsis was induced in rats by CLP 24 h after whole-body hyperthermia. Liver cytosolic and nuclear fractions were collected and analyzed in early and late sepsis rats (sacrificed 9 and 18 h after CLP, respectively). During sepsis, levels of I-kappaB and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) declined in the cytosol of liver, whereas NF-kappaB increased in nucleus. NF-kappaB activity was significantly enhanced during sepsis, and the products of NF-kappaB target genes, such as TNF-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were overexpressed. Heat shock treatment, inducing heat shock protein synthesis, prevented down-regulation of cytosolic I-kappaB and decreased translocation of NF-kappaB into the nucleus. Therefore, the sepsis-induced acceleration of NF-kappaB activation was inhibited. Expression of TNF-alpha and iNOS mRNA was also down-regulated. Coimmunoprecipitation with anti-NF-kappaB (p65) and anti-IkappaB antibodies verified an assembling phenomenon of heat shock protein (HSP) 72 with NF-kappaB and I-kappaB. We suggest that the mechanism preventing septic activation of NF-kappaB is that oversynthesized HSP72 forms a complex with NF-kappaB/I-kappaB, thus inhibiting nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. HSP72 appears to play a crucial protective role in modulating the gene expression controlled by NF-kappaB in sepsis.

Effects of hyperthermia pretreatment on expression of heme oxygenase-1 and nitric oxide synthase in rats subjected to experimental anaphylactic shock.

Previous studies have shown that hyperthermia pretreatment results in an attenuation of increased vascular leakage in rats subjected to experimental anaphylactic shock. It is known that both nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) play a role in the maintenance of microvascular integrity. In the study, we investigated the effect of hyperthermia pretreatment on mRNA expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and HO-1 in heated or nonheated rats subjected to anaphylactic shock using a semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Protein contents of eNOS and HO-1 in tissue were also assayed. Plasma nitrite and nitrate before and after induction of anaphylactic shock were quantified using a NO analyzer. The heated, anaphylactic rats showed a significant increase of HO-1 mRNA expression in heart as compared to both non-heated, anaphylactic and control rats. HO-1 protein contents in both heart and lung tissues in the heated, anaphylactic rats were significantly higher than both non-heated, anaphylactic and control rats. Protein contents of eNOS in various tissues appeared to be the same among groups. No significant change of iNOS mRNA expression was detected among groups. Plasma nitrite and nitrate before and after anaphylactic treatment appeared to be the same among groups. These data suggest that reduction of anaphylactic hypotension by hyperthermia pretreatment in rats subjected to anaphylactic shock may be resulted from over-expression of HO-1 rather than NOS in various tissues.

Effects of helium-neon laser on levels of stress protein and arthritic histopathology in experimental osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of low-power laser therapy on levels of stress proteins (SPs) in experimental arthritis and their relation to the bioeffects on arthritic cartilage repair. DESIGN: A total of 42 rats with similar degrees of induced arthritis evaluated by means of bone scan were divided randomly into two groups. In the treated group, 21 rats received helium-neon laser treatment; in the control group, 21 rats received sham laser treatment. The changes in chondrocytes of SPs were measured by electrophoresis of proteins extracted from chondrocytes of arthritic cartilage at various time periods. The histopathologic changes and the presence of SP of arthritic cartilage were identified by hematoxylin and eosin stain and by immunostains of SP72 antibody individually from frozen sections of arthritic cartilage. RESULTS: SP density increased markedly in rats after laser treatment and was closely related to the repair of arthritic cartilage. Furthermore, the pathohistology of arthritic cartilage improved significantly with the decline of SP levels in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Helium-neon (632 nm) low-power laser can enhance SP production in arthritic chondrocytes. The extragenic production of SP is well correlated with the therapeutic effect of low-power laser in preserving chondrocytes and the repair of arthritic cartilage in rats.