OBJECTIVETo examine whether sodium tanshinone II A sulfonate (STS), the main effective component of Salvia miltiorrhiza is effective in relieving the microcirculatory disturbance of small intestine by suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rats with sepsis.

METHODSA rat model of sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Rats (n =40) were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operated group (sham, n =10), sepsis group (CLP, n =10), STS treatment group (STS, n =10) and ROS scavenger dimethylthiourea (DMTU, n =10) group. Animals in the STS group were injected with STS (1 mg/kg) for 10 min through the right external jugular vein after the CLP operation, and animals in the CLP group were given the same volume of normal saline after the CLP operation. Animals in the DMTU group were intraperitoneally injected with 5 mL/kg of 20% DMTU 1 h before CLP. The histopathologic changes in the intestinal tissues and changes of mesenteric microcirculation were observed. The levels of ROS in intestinal tissues from each group were qualitatively evaluated using a fluorescent microscope. The expressions of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK1), phosphorylated ASK1 (phospho-ASK1), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK), phosphorylated p38 MAPK (phospho-p38 MAPK) and tissue factor (TF) were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTSIt was shown that there were obvious microcirculatory disturbance (P <0.05) and tissue injuries in intestinal tissues after CLP operation. The levels of ROS production, phospho-ASK1, phospho-p38 MAPK and TF were increased. Both STS and DMTU suppressed ROS, phospho-ASK1, phospho-p38 MAPK and TF production, and ameliorated the microcirculatory disturbance and tissues injury (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTS can ameliorate the microcirculatory disturbance of the small intestine by attenuating the production of ROS in rats with sepsis.

Animals ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; drug effects ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5 ; metabolism ; Male ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of low-dose ketamine against intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury following pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide in rats.

METHODSThirty healthy male adult SD rats (body weight 280-320 g) were randomized into sham-operated group, model group and ketamine group and subjected to pneumoperitoneum for 120 min with carbon dioxide (not in sham-operated group). The rats in ketamine group received an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg ketamine 10 min before pneumoperitoneum, and those in the other two groups received saline injection. Fifteen minutes after pneumoperitoneum or sham operation, the small intestines were sampled to detect the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and fore pathological testing. ELISA was used to detect the serum levels of I-FABP, TNF-α IL-6 and IL-8.

RESULTSPneumoperitoneum caused a significant increase in intestinal MDA content (P<0.05), which was lowered by ketamine pretreatment (P<0.05). Serum I-FABP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 levels all significantly increased following pneumoperitoneum (P<0.05) and were obviously lowered by ketamine pretreatment (P<0.05). Pneumoperitoneum also caused obvious pathologies in intestinal mucosa, which were ameliorated by ketamine pretreatment.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose ketamine preconditioning can reduce the inflammatory reaction and lessen oxidative damage in the intestinal mucosa following pneumoperitoneum in rats.

Animals ; Carbon Dioxide ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ketamine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Pneumoperitoneum ; chemically induced ; complications ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Child ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Telangiectasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology

Animals ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical outcomes of the transcatheter microcoil embolization in patients with active lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding in the small bowel, as well as to compare the mortality rates between the two groups based on the visualization or non-visualization of the bleeding focus determined by an angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We retrospectively evaluated all of the consecutive patients who underwent an angiography for treatment of acute LGI bleeding between January 2003 and October 2007. In total, the study included 36 patients who underwent a colonoscopy and were diagnosed to have an active bleeding in the LGI tracts. Based on the visualization or non-visualization of the bleeding focus, determined by an angiography, the patients were classified into two groups. The clinical outcomes included technical success, clinical success (no rebleeding within 30 days), delayed rebleeding (> 30 days), as well as the major and minor complication rates. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients, 17 had angiography-proven bleeding that was distal to the marginal artery. The remaining 19 patients did not have a bleeding focus based on the angiography results. The technical and clinical success rates of performing transcatheter microcoil embolizations in patients with active bleeding were 100% and 88%, respectively (15 of 17). One patient died from continued LGI bleeding and one patient received surgery to treat the continued bleeding. There was no note made on the delayed bleeding or on the major or minor complications. Of the 19 patients without active bleeding, 16 (84%) did not have recurrent bleeding. One patient died due to continuous bleeding and multi-organ failure. CONCLUSION: The superselective microcoil embolization can help successfully treat patients with active LGI bleeding in the small bowel, identified by the results of an angiography. The mortality rate is not significantly different between the patients of the visualization and non-visualization groups on angiography.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/mortality/radiography/*therapy ; Humans ; Intestine, Small/*blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; surgery ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Male ; Mesentery ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo study the transport of glutamine and glucose, expression of their transporters and tissue morphology in intestinal hypoperfusion.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats were randomized to receive 60 min of intestinal hypoperfusion (superior mesenteric artery clamp) or serve as normoxic controls (celiotomy only). At the same time, jejunal loops were randomized to receive in situ perfusion of mannitol,glucose,or glutamine.Intestinal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were prepared by calcium precipitation. Sodium-dependent uptake of glucose and glutamine into BBMV were quantitated by rapid mixing and filtration. Histologic examination and immunohistochemistry were performed by pathologists blinded to the groups.

RESULTSWhen compared with the control group, tissue lactate concentration of the hypoperfused group increased significantly (4.9+/-0.3 vs 3.1+/-0.2), especially in the glucose perfused groups (P<0.01). Transport and transporters of glucose in brush border, but not glutamine, decreased during hypoperfusion [(76+/-10) pmol d mg(-1) d 10 s(-1) vs (290+/-13)pmol d mg(-1) d 10 s(-1)]. Tissue structural damage was most severe in glucose perfused groups during hypoperfusion.

CONCLUSIONTransport and expression of transporters of glucose and glutamine in enteral nutrition are differently regulated under conditions of trauma and stress.

Animals ; Enteral Nutrition ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glutamine ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of cervical sympathetic nerve block (SB) on blood flow volume and barrier function of intestinal mucosa after combined radiation and burn injury in rat.

METHODSSD rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 18), combined injury group (n = 100, rats with Co gamma ray body irradiation with a dose of 5 Gy plus 15% TBSA full-thickness burn injury), and combined injury with SB treatment (n = 100, with the same dose of gamma-ray irradiation and burn injury, treated with SB). Twenty rats were sacrificed on 0, 1, 5, 7 days after combined injuries for various observations. SB was conducted with injection of ropivhydrochloride into the neck bilaterally for the SB group, and same amount of normal saline was injected instead in the combined injury group. Blood flow volume, changes in villus height and crypt depth in jejunum, Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity, permeability of small intestine were measured at different time-points.

RESULTSThe blood flow volume in small intestinal mucosal on 1 post-injury days (PID) [(0.29 +/- 0.07) ml x min(-1) x g(-1)] were obviously decreased than that in normal controls [(1.26 +/- 0.23) ml x min(-1) x g(-1), P < 0.01 ], with serious destruction of pit cells, decrease in intestinal mucosal Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity, and increase in intestinal mucosal permeability. Compared with combined injury group, the blood flow volume was [(0.82 +/- 0.11) ml x min(-1) x g(-1) 1 day after combined injury, P < 0.01], and the Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity was obviously increased, and the permeability of small intestine was ameliorated.

CONCLUSIONSB can increase blood flow volume of rat small intestine after combined radiation and burn injury, promote the repair of intestinal epithelium and improve the barrier function of the intestinal wall.

Animals ; Autonomic Nerve Block ; Blood Volume ; physiology ; Burns ; physiopathology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; blood supply ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Intestine, Small ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superior Cervical Ganglion

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and pathologic features of ischemic intestinal disease due to mesenteric phlebitis.

METHODThe clinical and pathologic features of the mesenteric venous lesions in 3 patients of ischemic intestinal disease admitted during the period from 2003 to 2004 were studied.

RESULTSAll 3 patients had a clinical history of acute abdominal pain accompanying with a diffuse peritonitis. During operation, an infarcted intestinal segment was identified and was resected respectively in each patient. Histologic examination showed a lymphocytic infiltration and fibrinoid necrosis of the small to medium-sized veins, associated with mural thrombosis and infarction of the corresponding intestinal wall and mesentery. The mesenteric arteries were spared. Two-year follow up of one case showed no evidence of local recurrence or systemic vasculitis.

CONCLUSIONSIschemic intestinal disease due to mesenteric phlebitis is a rare entity with a pathological feature of inflammation of venous wall accompanying with the development of mural thrombosis and subsequent haemorrhagic infarction of intestine. The etiology is unknown and surgical resection of the involved intestinal segment is usually recommended.

Adult ; Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Ischemia ; complications ; Male ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; complications ; Mesenteric Veins ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Phlebitis ; complications