Remote ischemic conditioning protects against testicular ischemia∕reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of remote ischemic conditioning associated to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on testicular ischemia∕reperfusion (I∕R) injury in rats. Methods Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into five experimental groups (n=5), as follows: Sham, I∕R, Perconditioning (PER), NAC and PER+NAC. Two-hour ischemia was induced by rotating the left testis 720° to clockwise direction, followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. Perconditioning was performed by three I/R cycles of 10 min each on the left limb, 30 min before reperfusion. N-acetylcysteine (150 mg∕kg) was administered 30 min before reperfusion. Results Statistical differences were observed in MDA levels between I/R group with all groups (p<0.01), in addition there was statistical difference between PER and Sham, and PER+ NAC groups (p<0.05) in plasma. Conclusions The protective effect of perconditioning isolated in the reduction of lipid peroxidation related to oxidative stress was demonstrated. However, when Perconditioning was associated with NAC, there was no protective effect against testicular injury of ischemia and reperfusion.

Modelo de dissecção e acesso vascular de baixo custo / Low cost model for vascular dissection and access

OBJETIVO: Descrever um modelo de treinamento de baixo custo de dissecção e acesso vascular utilizando língua bovina. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizadas dez línguas de boi para confecção de simuladores. Inicialmente, o corpo da língua foi dissecado, separando as camadas epitelial e muscular, e o pedículo vascular foi destacado da base da língua. A artéria principal da língua foi, então, cateterizada e conectada a uma seringa, sendo, em seguida, fixada à porção muscular. Após, para simular o tecido celular subcutâneo, foi confeccionada uma pasta amarela gelatinosa, que foi posicionada de modo a cobrir a extensão do pedículo vascular por inteiro. Por fim, a camada epitelial da língua foi reposicionada sob a camada muscular, por meio de sutura contínua. Para avaliar o modelo, foram observados o tempo de confecção do modelo, sua durabilidade, seu custo e o número de vezes que pôde ser usado. RESULTADOS: O tempo médio para confecção do modelo foi de 15,82±2,45 minutos, com durabilidade de 20 dias sob refrigeração. O custo médio foi de R$25,00, podendo ser utilizado, em média, por 3,8±0,63 vezes. Não houve falhas na montagem do modelo. CONCLUSÃO: O modelo de língua de boi se mostrou viável e de fácil aplicação para o treinamento de técnica cirúrgica de dissecção vascular. (AU)

OBJECTIVE: To describe a low cost training model for dissection and vascular access using a bovine tongue. METHODS: Ten bovine tongues were used to build simulators. First, the body of the tongue was dissected, with its epithelial layer being separated from the muscular layer, and the vascular pedicle was detached from the base of the tongue. The tongue main artery was then catheterized and connected to a syringe, and subsequently fixed to the muscle layer. Then, the entire vascular pedicle was covered with a yellow gelatinous paste to simulate the subcutaneous tissue. Finally, the epithelial layer was repositioned above the muscle layer through continuous suture. To evaluate the model, 4 variables were considered: 1) time for building the model, 2) its durability, 3) its cost, 4) number of times that it could be used. RESULTS: The mean time to make the model was 15.82 ±2.45 minutes, with a durability of 20 days under refrigeration. The mean cost of each model was U$10.00, and could be used about 3.8±0.63 times. There were no fails to build the model. CONCLUSIONS: The model with a bovine tongue proved to be viable and easy to be applied for training the surgical technique of vascular dissection. (AU)

Perconditioning associated to hypertonic saline solution on liver function improvement after ischemia/reperfusion injury

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effects of hypertonic saline solution associated to remote ischemic perconditioning in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: 25 male rats (Wistar) were distributed into five groups: Sham group (S); Ischemia/Reperfusion group (I/R) with 30 minutes of liver ischemia; Remote ischemic perconditioning group (Per) with three cycles of 10 minutes of I/R performed during liver ischemia; Hypertonic saline solution group (HSS) treated with hypertonic saline solution (4ml/kg); Remote ischemic perconditioning + Hypertonic saline solution group (Per+HSS) with both treatments. Results: Per+HSS group showed a lower degree of liver dysfunction in relation to I/R group, whereas the technique of remote ischemic perconditioning isolated or associated with saline solution significantly improved liver function and reduced histological damage. Conclusion: Remote ischemic perconditioning associated or not to saline solution promoted reduction of acute liver injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion.

Continuous versus interrupted suture technique in microvascular anastomosis in rats

Abstract Purpose: To compare the continuous and interrupted suture technique on femoral artery on rats after vessel repair and 14 days after. Methods: Twenty rats were operated randomly divided into two group matched according to the suture technique used: interrupted or continuous. We performed a femoral anastomosis on the right femoral artery. We analyzed weight, arterial caliber, anastomosis time and patency after vessel repair and 14 days after. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in the weight (p=0.64), diameter of the femoral artery (p=0.95) and patency (p=1.00). The time spent in the anastomosis was 451 seconds in the continuous group and 718 seconds in the interrupted group, presenting significant difference (p<0.01). Conclusion: The continuous suture technique shows a similar patency rates than interrupted technique, however with a shorter time to perform the anastomosis.

Influence of remote ischemic conditioning and tramadol hydrochloride on oxidative stress in kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effects of tramadol hydrochloride associated to remote ischemic perconditioning on oxidative stress. Methods: Twenty five male rats (Wistar) underwent right nephrectomy and were distributed into five groups: Sham group (S); Ischemia/Reperfusion group (I/R) with 30 minutes of renal ischemia; Remote ischemic perconditioning group (Per) with three cycles of 10 minutes of I/R performed during kidney ischemia; Tramadol group (T) treated with tramadol hydrochloride (40mg/kg); remote ischemic perconditioning + Tramadol group (Per+T) with both treatments. Oxidative stress was assessed after 24 hours of reperfusion. Results: Statistical differences were observed in MDA levels between I/R group with all groups (p<0.01), in addition there was difference between Tramadol with Sham, Per and Per+T groups (p<0.05), both in plasma and renal tissue. Conclusion: Remote ischemic perconditioning was more effective reducing renal ischemia-reperfusion injury than administration of tramadol or association of both treatments.