Bacterial endotoxin is considered as one of the critical risk factors in medical devices, especially implanted devices that directly or indirectly contact with blood circulating system. In that case, endotoxin limits for implanted medical devices is important in determine the safety of medical devices. According to GB/T 14233.2-2005, the requirements of endotoxin index for intrathoracic medical devices is 2.15 EU per device. However, the definition of "intrathoracic medical devices" is vague. Specifically, "for cardiovascular system application" instead of "intrathoracic application" is more reasonable. With the deeper understanding of the risk of endotoxin in medical devices and considering the internationally accepted standards, the limits of endotoxin in medical devices for cardiovascular system application is acceptable at 20 EU per device.
Endotoxins

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-endotoxin of different concentration baicalin.

METHODS6.250 microg/mL, 3.125 microLg/mL, 1.562 microg/mL and 0.781 microg/mL baicalin solutions were mixed with I EU/mL endotoxin, respectively. The mixtures were put into water of (37+/-1) degrees C for 15 min, 30 min and 60 min. The degrading effects were determined by using limulus amebocyte lysate test (LAL test).

RESULTS1) The degrading effect of 6.250 microg/mL, 3.125 microg/mL and 1.562 microg/mL baicalin solution on I EU/mL endotoxin was degraded completely in 15 min, 30 min and 60 min, respectively. 2)The degrading effect of 3.125 microg/mL, 1.562 microg/mL and 0.781 microg/mL baicalin solution on 1 EU/mL endotoxin after these mixtures had been incubated for 15 min. Endotoxin values were (0.155 5 +/- 0.002 8) EU/mL, (0.212 1+/-0.004 9) EU/mL, (0.355 9+/-0.013 9) EU/mL, respectively. These differences among them were statistically significant (P<0.01). 3) The degrading effect of 1.562 microg/mL and 0.781 microg/mL baicalin solution on 1 EU/mL endotoxin after these mixtures had been incubated for 30 min. Endotoxin values were (0.1640+/-0.0025) EU/mL and (0.2094+/-0.004 4) EU/mL, respectively. These differences between them were statistically significant (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe action of anti-endotoxin of baicalin is dose-dependent and time-dependent. The results show that baicalin has the stronger anti-endotoxin effect.

Endotoxemia ; diagnosis ; Endotoxins ; analysis ; Humans ; Sepsis ; diagnosis

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but severe condition associated with high mortality. We encountered a patient with severe and rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis. Patient: A 40-year-old male was hit by a tractor and received a wide laceration wound spanning the length of his posterior thigh. Soon after the accident, the wound was washed and debridement was performed. Two days postoperatively, we observed septic changes in the wound and diagnosed this condition as necrotizing fasciitis. Consequently, the patient's leg was amputated at the thigh. The patient, however, developed toxic shock syndrome after the amputation. Endotoxin adsorption using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column was performed for 2 days. Finally, a hip joint amputation was performed after 11 days, following which the patient's general condition gradually improved. Discussion: Treatment for necrotizing fasciitis should be initiated promptly. Early debridement is associated with a significant decrease in mortality. In severe conditions, endotoxin and cytokine removal by blood purification is one of the most effective treatments. Although group A streptococci are widely known as "flesh-eating bacteria," we should also consider a wide variety of pathogenic organisms to be the probable cause of severe necrotizing fasciitis. Conclusion: Management of necrotizing fasciitis requires careful investigation as well as an aggressive therapeutic approach, which may include urgent surgical intervention. In addition to surgery, endotoxin adsorption therapy should be considered.
Patients ; Fasciitis ; Endotoxins ; Therapeutic procedure ; Amputation

The course of experimental uveitis and inflammatory membrane proliferation was observed following intravitreal single injection of bacterial endotoxins (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri). 30 microgram/O.1cc of one endotoxin was injected to 5 pigmented rabbits (total 15 rabbits), then the inflammatory processes of anterior chamber and vitreous cavity were evaluated and the histologic review was also made. Remarkable inflammatory signs were observed in 24-48 hours post-injection, decreased gradually, and disappeared in 1 week post-injection finally. The proliferation of vitreoretinal membrane was observed as early as in 2 weeks post-injection. In histologic examination, there were vitreal thickening, strand-like fibrous structure, and infiltration of spindle shaped cells and monocular cells in 2 weeks post-injection. The membrane, arising from the disc, was composed of the large vascular stalk, fibrous bundles, spindle shaped fibroblast-like cells, and round cells. In this results, the pathogenesis of intraocular membrane proliferation following intraocular inflammation could be understood more precisely.
Anterior Chamber ; Endotoxins ; Inflammation ; Membranes* ; Rabbits ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Shigella ; Uveitis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of removing bacterial endotoxin in the key processes of Reduning injection.

METHODThe content of bacterial endotoxins was detected by kenitic-turbidimetry and the removal efficacy was studied before and after using 0.8% of activated carbon and ultrafiltration with molecular weight cut-off of 10 x 10(3).

RESULTThe adsorption rate of bacterial endotoxins was 78.7% by using activated carbon, while the removal efficacy of bacterial endotoxins was 99.6% with ultrafiltration membrane at cut-off molecular weight 10 x 10(3).

CONCLUSIONThe key technology can effectively guarantee the safety of Reduning injection.

OBJECTIVETo study the deactivation of the endotoxin in artificial glass root canals with ultrasonic vibration.

METHODS80 artificial glass root canals were randomly divided into 8 groups: Ultrasonic vibration of 5 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes, ultrasonic vibration of 5 minutes together with 3% H2O2 solution, only 3% H2O2 solution, ultrasonic vibration of 5 minutes together with 5.25% NaClO solution, only 5.25% NaClO solution and the control. Standard endotoxin solution was introduced into each root canal. Different time's ultrasonic vibration was applied to different groups. After ultrasonic vibration, the endotoxin activity of each group was tested by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test.

RESULTThere were no significant differences among the groups of different time ultrasonic vibration and the control (P>0.05). There was great statistical difference between each group with root canal rinse solution and the control (P<0.001). The endotoxin activity of the test was significantly lower than the control. There was no significant difference between the groups of only rinse solution and rinse solution together with ultrasonic vibration.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of this study, the only ultrasonic vibration can not deactivate the endotoxin of infected root canals and can not intensify the effect of root canal rinse solution.

Endotoxins ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Liver Cirrhosis

Endotoxin is an important factor which can lead to endotoxemia and complication. Accurate detection of its concentration is very useful for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. A piezoelectric biosensor for detecting endotoxin was developed, which was based on liquid damping effect of quartz crystal resonator. The test results showed that the maximal frequency shift of sensor is linearly dependent on the logarithm value of concentration of endotoxin (0.1 pg/m - 10 ng/ml). The time which d (deltaf)/dt(maax) appeared in frequency shift curve was also linearly dependent on the logarithm value of concentration of endotoxin (0.01 pg/ml - 10 ng/ml). The detection time was shortened and the minimal limit of detection was decreased using the second method. Thus the proposed sensor is much simpler, more precise and has more lower limit of detecting detection of endotoxin when compared with the conventional methods.
Animals ; Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; Endotoxins ; analysis ; Equipment Design ; Quartz ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early intestinal mucosal damage plays an important role in severe acute pancreatitis (AP). Previous studies have shown that intestinal permeability (IP), serum endotoxin and cytokines contribute to the early intestinal barrier dysfunction in AP. This study explored the predictive capacity of IP, endotoxemia and cytokines as prognostic indicators in AP patients. METHODS: Eighty-seven AP patients were included in the study. The patients were classified into three groups according to the Balthazar computed tomography severity index (CTSI). We compared the biochemical parameters, including IP, serum endotoxin level and cytokine level among the three groups. The associations of IP with serum endotoxin, cytokines, CTSI, and other widely used biochemical parameters and scoring systems were also examined. RESULTS: IP, serum endotoxin, interleukin (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha had a positive correlation with the CTSI of AP. Endotoxin, IL-6, TNF-alpha, CTSI, the Ranson/APACHE II score, the duration of hospital stay, complications and death significantly affect IP in the AP patients. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that IP with subsidiary measurements of serum endotoxin, IL-6 and TNF-alpha may be reliable markers for predicting the prognosis of AP. Further studies that can restore and preserve gut barrier function in AP patients are warranted.
Cytokines ; Endotoxemia ; Endotoxins ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Length of Stay ; Pancreatitis ; Permeability ; Prognosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha