Sufentanil Preconditioning Protects Against Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing Inflammation.

BACKGROUND Inflammation is one of the most significant mechanisms of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Sufentanil has a protective effect against liver injury by reducing inflammatory response. In this study, we used a cellular hepatic ischemic/reoxygenated (IR) model to determine whether sufentanil preconditioning protects against hepatic IRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS The human normal liver cells line L-O2 was studied. The levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malonaldehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured using corresponding assay kits. The protein levels of total and phosphorylated ERK1/2, JNK, and p38, and the expression of p65 and COX2 genes, were measured by Western blotting. The levels of inflammatory factors were examined by ELISA. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine if the viability of L-O2 cells was affected by sufentanil. The effects of sufentanil on IR-induced cell apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry. RESULTS IR-induced caused L-O2 cells to become rounded and to have a lower adhesive rate than normal cells. The levels of AST, LDH, and MDA were higher but the level of SOD was lower in the IR group than in the control group. The phosphorylated protein levels of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38, along with the expression of p65 and COX2, were upregulated in the IR group compared to the normal group. In addition, a variety of inflammatory factors were secreted in L-O2 cells after IR. The viability of L-O2 cells decreased and cell apoptosis increased significantly after IR treatment. All indexes of cell injury were reversed by sufentanil in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Sufentanil stimulation triggers downregulation of inflammatory factors such as HIF-1alpha, TNF-alpha, IL-1ß, and IL-6, possibly through suppressing the p38/ERK/JNK/NF-kappaB-p65/COX2 pathways, and thereby reduces the damage to IR hepatic cells.

Pharmacological interventions for phantom limb pain.

OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanisms and current clinical application of pharmacological interventions for phantom limb pain. DATA SOURCES: Both Chinese and English language literatures were searched using MEDLINE (1982 - 2011), Pubmed (1982 - 2011) and the Index of Chinese Language Literature (1982 - 2011). STUDY SELECTION: Data from published articles about pharmacological management of phantom limb pain in recent domestic and foreign literature were selected. Data extraction Data were mainly extracted from 96 articles which are listed in the reference section of this review. RESULTS: By reviewing the mechanisms and current clinical application of pharmacological interventions for phantom limb pain, including anticonvulsants, antidepressants, local anaesthetics, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tramadol, opioids, calcitonin, capsaicin, beta-adrenergic blockers, clonidine, muscle relaxants, and emerging drugs, we examined the efficacy and safety of these medications, outlined the limitations and future directions. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is lack of evidence-based consensus guidelines for the pharmacological management of phantom limb pain, we recommend tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, tramadol, opioids, local anaesthetics and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists as the rational options for the treatment of phantom limb pain.

[Effect of chemotherapy preoperatively upon early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in eldly tumor patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether preoperative chemotherapy history could influence the incidence of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly tumor patients. METHODS: A total of 107 tumor patients (> or = 60 years old, tumor TNM stages T2 - T3, N0 - N3, ASA I -III class) undergoing elective radical surgery of gastric or colorectal cancer were selected and assigned into two groups according to preoperative chemotherapy history: with preoperative chemotherapy history group (C group, n = 52) and without preoperative chemotherapy history group (N group, n = 55). Patients in two groups received radical surgery under intravenous-inhalation general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of neuropsychological tests from five aspects including memory, verbal intelligence, visual-motor, executive function and motor function at 1 day preoperatively and 3 days postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in general state of patient preoperatively health including sex ratio, body mass index, complications, cancer types and stages, ASA classification between two groups (P > 0.05). Neither significant difference was found in duration of anesthesia and surgery, intra-operative bleeding volume and transfusion volume between two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in ICU admission rate, ICU stay, incidence of complications, hospitalization duration and mortality rate between two groups (P > 0.05). Preoperative neuropsychological test score in group C was slightly lower than that in group N, but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Impaired incidence rate of digit-symbol substitution test, controlled oral word association test, grooved pegboard non-dominant hand test and semantic fluency test at 3 days postoperation in group C were significantly higher than those in N group (P < 0.05). Incidence of POCD at 3 days postoperation in group C was significantly higher than that in group N (42.3% vs 15.4% , P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy preoperatively could increase the incidence of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly with tumor.

[Intraoperative radiotherapy for 30 esophageal carcinoma patients].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications and treatment results of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: Sixty patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma underwent esophagectomy through right thoractomy, 30 patients of whom received IORT of 15 - 25 Gy. RESULTS: In patients who underwent IORT, 2 cases of pneumonitis, 1 case of anastomotic leak and 1 case of incisional wound infection were found. In patients underwent surgery only, 1 case of thoracic empyema and 1 case of anastomotic leak were found. All the complications ultimately healed. There was no operative mortality. During the follow-up of 3 years, in patients who underwent IORT, 2 of 3 died of radiation pneumonitis 24 and 26 months after IORT with one complicated with bronchoesophageal fistula. One of 3 died of multiple lung metastases. The 3-year survival rate was 88.0% (22/25) in IORT group and 76.0% (19/25) in surgery only group. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative radiotherapy can reduce locoregional recurrence if performed to thoracic esophageal carcinoma patients without surgical contraindication or distant metastasis. Radiation pneumonitis, a common complication difficult to manage, implies a poor prognosis and, consequently, the lung and bronchus should be protected from the radiation.