OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of changes in plasma high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels and its relationship with sepsis and endotojemia in severely burned patients.

METHODSTotally 25 large area burned patients ( > 30% total body surface area) were included in this study, and 8 healthy volunteers served as normal controls. The plasma levels of HMGB1 were measured by ELISA, and endotoxin concentrations was determined by the modified chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay on posthurn days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28.

RESULTSThe plasma HMGBL levels were markedly elevated on postburn day 1 in severely burned patients, and they were significantly higher in septic patients than those without sepsis on days 7, 21, and 28 after burns (P<0.05). Among septic patients, plasma HMGBI levels in the survival group were significantly lower than those with fatal outcome on days 3 and 21 (P<0.05, P<0.01). No significant correlations were found between HMGB1 levels and the sizes of total body surface area (P>0.05). In addition, the plasma HMGB1 levels were positively correlated with endotoxin concentrations on days 3, 5, 7, 21 after major burns (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHMGB1, as an important late mediators of inflammation, may be involved in the development of sepsis following extensive burns, and it can be markedly induced by endotoxemia secondary to acute insults. Dynamic measurements of circulating HMGB1 levels should be helpful to monitor the disease course and judge the prognosis of burned patients.

Burns ; blood ; microbiology ; Endotoxins ; blood ; HMGB1 Protein ; blood ; Humans ; Sepsis ; blood

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pancreatitis ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; etiology ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; complications ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intestinal microflora status and bacterial translocation in rats after liver transplantation.

METHODSMale Brown-Norway (BN) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group I (n = 8) for liver transplantation; group II (n = 8) for simulated liver transplantation; group III (n = 8) for sham operation and group IV (n = 8) for normal group. Caecal bacterial counts, plasma endotoxin, intestinal mucosal ultrastructure and bacterial translocation to liver, spleen, kidney, and mesenteric lymph node were studied 24 h after surgery.

RESULTSThe numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus per gram of wet feces were significantly decreased in group I compare with those in the group III and group IV, while Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus counts were increased markedly compare with those in the group III and group IV, but no different was found between group I and group II. Impaired intestinal mucosa integrity were found in the group I and group II. In group I, the levels of plasma endotoxin increased after the transplantation when compare with group III and group IV. Increased incidence of bacterial translocation to liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph node were also observed after the transplantation (compare with those in the group IV, P < 0.01; compare with those in the group III, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, separately). The increased rate of the bacterial translocation in liver was also found in transplantation group as compare with group II (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLiver transplantation may lead to disturbance of intestinal microflora and impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, and this dysfunction might be caused by the process of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in transplantation.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Intestines ; microbiology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats

Hazardous biochemical agents in animal husbandry indoor environments are known to promote the occurrence of various illnesses among workers and animals. The relationship between endotoxin levels in dust collected from chicken farms and various immunological markers was investigated. Peripheral blood was obtained from 20 broiler chickens and 20 laying hens from four different chicken farms in Korea. Concentrations of total or respirable dust in the inside the chicken farm buildings were measured using a polyvinyl chloride membrane filter and mini volume sampler. Endotoxin levels in the dust were determined by the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Kinetic method. Interferon-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with concanavalin A was significantly lower in broilers or layers from the farms with higher endotoxin concentrations than the chickens from the farms with lower endotoxin levels. An opposite pattern was observed for plasma cortisol concentrations with higher cortisol levels found in chickens from the farms with higher endotoxin levels. When peripheral lymphocytes were examined, the percentage of CD3-Ia+ B cells was lower in layers from farms with higher endotoxin levels than those from locations with lower endotoxin levels. Overall, these results suggest a probable negative association between dust endotoxin levels and cell-mediated immunity in chickens.
Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Biomarkers/blood ; Chickens/*immunology ; Dust/*analysis ; Endotoxins/*analysis ; *Housing, Animal ; *Immunity, Cellular

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on the plasma levels of endotoxin and cytokines in severely burned patients with sepsis.

METHODSTen burn patients who received CRRT and another 10 without CRRT were investigated in terms of the changes in their plasma concentrations of endotoxin and some cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8).

RESULTSThe plasma concentrations of endotoxin and all the cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8) after CRRT treatment were significantly lower than those before the treatment (P < 0.01), and the plasma levels of the above factors at all the time points after CRRT treatment than those in patients were evidently lower by routine treatment (P < 0.05 - 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCRRT treatment could effectively lower the plasma levels of endotoxin and some cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8).

Burns ; blood ; complications ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Sepsis ; blood ; etiology ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of cytokines including TNFalpha, TGFbeta1 and nitrogen monoxide, and endotoxin in the serum of chronic severe hepatitis after the treatment of ALSS, and to evaluate further the value of ALSS in the treatment of chronic severe hepatitis.

METHODSForty two patients were screened. The changes of TNFalpha, TGFbeta1, nitrogen monoxide and endotoxin were detected respectively. The relationship between the cytokines and the severity and prognosis were further analyzed.

RESULTSALSS was effective to decrease the serum concentration of cytokines. TNFalpha dropped from (481.57+/-229.33) pg/ml to (156.46+/-78.12) pg/ml (P < 0.05). TGFbeta1 from (44.09+/-31.73) ng/ml to (27.77+/-23.28) ng/ml (P < 0.01), endotoxin from (1.05+/-0.37) Eu/ml to (0.28+/-0.22) Eu/ml (P < 0.001). NO from (71.15+/-33.09) micromol/L to (58.11+/-29.30) micromol/L (P < 0.001). Before the therapy endotoxin was related with TNFalpha and total bilirubin, while after the therapy, NO was related with protime and aminonemia.

CONCLUSIONHigh level of endotoxin and nitrogen monoxide in serum plays an important role in hepatocyte damage of chronic severe hepatitis. The changes of serum endotoxin TNFalpha, TGFbeta1 and nitrogen monoxide level in patients with chronic severe hepatitis can be used to judge the severity and prognosis of severe hepatitis. ALSS is a reliable hepatic support device for chronic severe hepatitis

Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; blood ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Prognosis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the decomposition products of necrotic tissues from wounds on the serum levels of inflammation factors in comparison with endotoxin.

METHODSThirty adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups and received injections of saline, necrotic tissue homogenate or endotoxin. From each rabbit, blood samples (2 ml) were collected from the central artery of the ears at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 h after the injection for measurement of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6.

RESULTSThe serum level of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in the rabbits increased 2-4 h after injection of the necrotic tissue homogenate and reached the peak level at 12 h, followed by a gradual reduction since 36 h. No obvious changes in the levels of the inflammatory factors were found in saline group (P<0.01). Compared with endotoxin, necrotic tissue homogenate resulted in an early increment (2-4 h vs 5-6 h) and significantly higher peak levels (at 30 h) of the inflammation factors (P<0.05). Curve fitting showed a distinct difference between necrotic tissue homogenate and endotoxin in their effect on the inflammatory factors.

CONCLUSIONThe necrotic tissue decomposition products contain toxic substances that possess a different toxicity profile from endotoxin, and their toxicity can be even stronger.

Animals ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Necrosis ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Wounds and Injuries ; blood ; pathology

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; chemically induced ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Female ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; analysis ; Neurotensin ; analysis ; Rabbits