Case Study of Hepatic Radiofrequency Ablation Causing a Systemic Inflammatory Response Under Total Intravenous Anesthesia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hepatic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with malignant liver disease with respect to inflammation activation and stress response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an observational trial, we investigated the physiologic parameters of 17 patients (20 interventions) who underwent percutaneous RFA under general anesthesia after applying total intravenous anesthesia. TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, adrenaline and noradrenaline, liver enzymes, lactate and creatine kinase were determined pre-interventionally after induction of anesthesia (T1), 90 minutes after initiation of RFA (T2), immediately after the conclusion of the procedure (T3), and 24 hours after the procedure (T4). RESULTS: A significant increase in body temperature (p < 0.001), and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.001) were measured intraoperatively (T2) and the day after the procedure (T4). Increased levels of IL-6 were measured at T3 and T4 (p = 0.001). IL-10 increased immediately after the procedure (T3; p = 0.007). IL-6 levels correlated well with the total energy applied (r = 0.837). Significant increases in the levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline were present at T3 and T4 (p < 0.001). The RFA-induced destruction of hepatic tissue was associated with increased levels of AST, ALT, GLDH and LDH. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous RFA of hepatic malignancies causes an inflammatory and endocrine activation, similar to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. These effects have to be taken in account when dealing with patients susceptible to sepsis or multi-organ failure.

Associations between Sympathetic Activity, Plasma Concentrations of Renin, Aldosterone, and Parathyroid Hormone, and the Degree of Intractability of Blood Pressure Control in modialysis Patients

This study was designed to examine how such factors as hemodialysis parameters, body mass index, renin and aldosterone concentrations, sympathetic nervous activity, and parathyroid hormone concentrations are associated with the control of hypertension in hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients (n=114) were grouped into four categories. Group 1 had normal BP without antihypertensive medication. Group 2 needed one antihypertensive drug, Group 3 needed combination of two or three categories of antihypertensive drugs without minoxidil. Group 4 needed more than three categories of antihypertensive drugs including minoxidil. Parathyroid hormone, beta2-microglobulin, renin and aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and hemodialysis parameters were measured. The fractional clearance of urea as Kt/V urea was significantly lower in Group 3 and Group 4 than in Group 2 (p<0.01). Concentrations of parathyroid hormone were significantly higher in Group 4 than the other groups (p<0.01). Pre-hemodialysis norepinephrine concentrations were significantly higher in Group 4 than the other groups (p<0.05). Traditional factors associated with hypertension did not seem to be relevant to the degree of hypertension in hemodialysis patients in the present study. In conclusion, poor Kt/V urea, elevated parathyroid hormone concentrations, and elevated concentrations of plasma norepinephrine seemed to be the factors that might be associated with control of hypertension in hemodialysis patients.

Large volume abdominal paracentesis effect on some humoral factors and cardiac performance in patients with liver cirrhosis and tense ascitses

Tense ascites is one of the most disabling and distressing manifestation of liver cirrhosis. In the presence of ascites alteration in ventricular function is marked. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous system, whose activation is marked when tense ascites develops, could be involved as pathogenic factors causing increased left ventricular wall thickness. Large volume para-centesis [LVP] is an old but safe and effective procedure to mobilize ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients The study evaluated the left ventricular function in patients with liver cirrhosis and tense ascites and determine the effect of total abdominal paracentesis on cardiac performance and correlated between cardiac performance and some humoral factors [renin, aldosterone, nor-epinephrine and epineph-rine] in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Fifty cirrhotic patients with tense ascites, besides 20 normal persons matched with patients in age and gender as a control group were included in our study. All patients were hospitalized and, submitted to a 4 days bed rest, low sodium diet and subjected to full investigations clinically and laboratory. Abdominal paracentesis was done to all patients [mean volume 7.5+11.7 L] with dexran-70 infusion. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after paracentesis for neurohormonal assay [plasma rennin activity PRA, plasma aldosterone PA, plasma nor-epinephrine and epinephrine]. The plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, plasma epinephrine, and plasma nor epinephrine was significantly higher than control. They showed significant reduction after paracentesis but still significantly higher than control levels. The results showed that sudden abdominal decompression could play a role in the post paracentesis systemic haemodynamic changes through mechanical decompression of the splanchinic vascular bed. Total paracentesis with albumin infusion causes immediate favorable effects; increasing cardiac output, suppressing plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone, decreasing serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and reducing portal pressure and Porto collateral blood flow

Effect of simulated ascent to 3500 meter on neuro-endocrine functions.

Ascent to extreme High Altitude (HA) is in steps and it entails acclimatization at moderately HA locations. In terms of acclimatization, it is pertinent to understand the physiological changes, which occur on immediate ascent to moderate HA. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of ascent to 3500 m on neuro-endocrine responses in the first hour of induction. The plasma levels of catecholamines and cortisol were measured before and after one hour of ascent to high altitude. The peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), Galvanic Skin Resistance (GSR), Heart Rate (HR) and Blood Pressure (BP) were simultaneously monitored. The plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and cortisol were increased after one-hour exposure to 3500 m altitude as compared to before exposure. The SpO2 showed a significant decrease during and after high altitude induction. The heart rate and diastolic BP increased at 3500 m whereas the GSR did not show significant changes. There are changes in neuroendocrine responses, which reflect a sympathetic over activity in the first hour of exposure to 3500 m.

Effects of cerastes cerastes cerastes and cerastes vipera venoms on some hormonal levels in the white rat

Viprine venoms have drastic effects on the metabolic performance of their victims. The venoms of these two vipers, Certastes cerastes cerastes [C.c.cerastes] and Cerastes vipera [C. vipera] were studied in a comparative manner focusing on some hormones related to glucose level in the blood. Both studies, in vivo and in vitro, were conducted to pinpoint the site and mechanism of action. Levels of insulin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and corticosterone significantly changed by venom injection and by perifusing isolated pancreatic islets with crude venoms. This study primarily concluded that venom of C.c.cerastes has a peptide of hypoglycemic effect. Besides, this peptide may have enough amino acid sequence to bind to anti-insulin antibodies. Venom was milked from C.c.cerastes and C.vipera reared in the serpentarium of the department. White adult male albino rats were purchased and kept in the animal house for acclimatization before experimentation. Radioimmunoassay [RIA] and spectroflourometry were used for hormonal estimation. In vitro study included isolating the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, testing their viability and testing direct effect of the venom on insulin release. While C.c.cerastes venom is hyperinsulinemic and hypoglycemic C. vipera is just the opposite. The two venoms do not adopt opposite mechanisms to effect their roles. Cc. cerastes venom includes apeptide of hypoglycemic effect, it also binds to anti-insulin antibody. Crude venoms of C.c.cerastes and C. vipera are crowds of different peptides. These peptides manifest various effects by working directly on the relevant site or by being a step in a cascade of events. These venoms showed major effects on the blood levels of insulin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and corticosterone. Furthermore, the insulinic effect shown is largely due to a peptide that mimics insulin in its activity. We concluded the presence of a hypoglycemic peptide in the venom of C.c.cerastes that demands further study and characterization

Assessment of serum catecholamine concentrations in patients with pheochromocytoma undergoing videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy

INTRODUCTION: We analyzed the changes in serum catecholamine concentrations, i.e. adrenaline and noradrenaline, in response to surgical stress in patients with pheochromocytoma who undergone videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and March 2002, 11 patients underwent 12 videolaparoscopic adrenalectomies. In one case, the adrenalectomy was bilateral. Serum catecholamines were measured at 6 surgical times: T0: control before induction; T1: following the induction, laryngoscopy and intubation sequence; T2: after installing the pneumoperitoneum; T3: during manipulation-exeresis of the pheochromocytoma; T4: following ablation of the pheochromocytoma; T5: in the recovery room following intervention when the patient was extubated and was hemodynamically stable. RESULTS: Mean concentrations of serum noradrenaline were significantly different when the T0 and T2 surgical times were compared (T0: 3161 pg/mL; T2: 40440 pg/mL; p < 0.01), T0 and T3 (T0: 3161 pg/mL; T3: 46021 pg/mL; p < 0.001), T1 and T3 (T1: 5531 pg/mL; T3: 46021 pg/mL; p < 0.01), T2 and T4 (T2: 40440 pg/mL; T4: 10773 pg/mL; p < 0.01) and T3 and T5 (T3: 46021 pg/mL; T5: 2549 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Mean concentrations of serum adrenaline were significantly different when the T0 and T3 surgical times were compared (T0: 738 pg/mL; T3: 27561 pg/mL; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The pneumoperitoneum significantly increases serum noradrenaline concentrations, manipulation of the adrenal gland significantly increases the serum concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline, and the pheochromocytoma ablation significantly decreases serum noradrenaline concentrations.

Effects of Delivery Nursing Care using Essential Oils on Delivery Stress Response, Anxiety during Labor, and Postpartum Status Anxiety / 간호학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the effect of delivery nursing care using essential oils on labor stress response, labor anxiety and postpartum status anxiety for primipara. METHODS: This study used nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this experiment consisted of forty eight primipara with single gestation, full term, & uncomplicated pregnancies. Twenty four primipra were in the experimental and control group each. Their mean age was 27.9 years old, their mean gestation period 279.9 days. As a treatment, delivery nursing care using essential oils was applied by nurses. Data collected epinephrine, norepinephrine, anxiety during labor. In the 24 hours after birth, the data for the postpartum mother's status anxiety was collected. Data was analyzed by t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, & Wilcoxon signed ranks test with SPSS Program. RESULTS: Plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine were significantly low in the experimental group (P=0.001, P=0.033, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in anxiety during labor and postpartum mother's status anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that delivery nursing care using essential oils could be effective in decreasing plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine. But, that could not be verified in decreasing mother's anxiety.

Subjective versus objective stress in noncritically ill hospitalized and outpatient adult men

Um estudo transversal de 120 indivíduos foi executado visando avaliar hormônios do estresse e estresse subjetivo (ansiedade) em casos ambulatoriais e hospitalizados. O objetivo era determinar o grau de estresse objetivo, bem como correlacionar este achado com queixas subjetivas, estimadas pelo Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck. MÉTODO: Três populações foram investigadas, nominalmente doentes clínicos ambulatoriais (Grupo I, n= 30), enfermos clínicos hospitalizados (Grupo II, n=30), e pacientes cirúrgicos hospitalizados (Grupo III, n= 30). Os controles (Grupo IV, n= 30) eram voluntários sadios recrutados entre profissionais da saúde e estudantes. Todos casos hospitalizados foram documentados na admissão, antes de quaisquer procedimentos terapêuticos, e somente homens foram selecionados em todos os grupos, a fim de contornar interações hormonais. A adrenalina, noradrenalina e cortisol foram mensurados pela manhã, e o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck foi aplicado por uma psicóloga especializada. RESULTADOS: Os três grupos de doentes exibiram níveis de ansiedade superiores aos dos controles. As taxas hormonais não estavam apreciavelmente alteradas, e não se corelacionaram com os achados de estresse subjetivo (ansiedade). CONCLUSÕES: 1) Anormalidades subjetivas (Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck ) foram comuns tanto em populações internadas quanto ambulatoriais, sem diferenças entre os grupos; 2) Estresse objetivo (hormonal) foi mais difícil de confirmar e os valores raramente ultrapassaram a faixa de referência; 3) Não se conseguiu demonstrar correlação entre as duas órdens de variáveis; 4) Estudos adicionais são necessários para definir a quantificação e a interpretação de estresse em populações enfermas, especialmente para fins de diagnóstico nutricional e prescrição dietética;

Metabolic and stress responses of the body to trauma: produced by the laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is regarded as gold standard therapy for symptomatic gall stone disease. This study was done to compare the metabolic and stress responses between open and lapraroscopic cholecystectomy and to evaluate their significance in postoperative recovery. Thirty patients with symptomatic gall stone disease were treated with open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy on elective basis (14 versus 16). Three samples of blood were collected from each patient to investigate serum cortisol, adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, C-reactive protein and blood glucose level. The mean age of patients was 41.86+/-10.13 blood glucose and stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, nor adrenaline) and C-reactive protein all were found significantly raised in the postoperative period in open cholecystectomy than laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. The postoperative recovery was also prolonged in the open group. The obvious clinical advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy over open cholecystectomy is mainly because of less metabolic and stress response.

Serum adrenomedullin level in rheumatoid arthritis compared with systemic lupus erythematosus

This study was conducted to measure the level of serum adrenomedullin [AM] in rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] to find out its role in their pathogenesis and its correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity. Twenty-five RA patients [group I], 15 SLE patients [group II] and 10 healthy controls were included in this study. They were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination and CBC, ESR, RF, ANA, Ant ds DNA investigations and measurement of serum adrenomedullin level with ELISA. An assessment of disease activity was done using Duke score for RA patients and SLE-DAI score for SLE. From the results obtained, it was concluded that serum level of AM was elevated in both RA and SLE [more in RA than SLE] patients and it was correlated with the disease activity parameter RA [only with ESR in SLE]. These findings emphasized that AM is involved in the pathogenesis of RA and SLE

Catecholamine response to exercise in individuals with different levels of paraplegia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the level of injury on the serum level of norepinephrine (Nor) and epinephrine (Epi) at rest and after maximal exercise in individuals with paraplegia. Twenty-six male spinal cord-injured subjects with complete paraplegia for at least 9 months were divided into two groups of 13 subjects each according to the level of injury, i.e., T1-T6 and T7-T12. Serum Nor and Epi concentrations were measured by HPLC-ECD, at rest (PRE) and immediately after a maximal ergospirometric test (POST). Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and non-parametric tests. Maximal heart rate, peak oxygen uptake, and PRE and POST Nor were lower in the T1-T6 than in the T7-T12 group (166 Ý 28 vs 188 Ý 10 bpm; 18.0 Ý 6.0 vs 25.8 Ý 4.1 ml kg-1 min-1; 0.54 Ý 0.26 vs 0.99 Ý 0.47 nM; 1.48 Ý 1.65 vs 3.07 Ý 1.44 nM). Both groups presented a significant increase in Nor level after exercise, while only the T7-T12 group showed a significant increase in Epi after exercise (T1-T6: 0.98 Ý 0.72 vs 1.11 Ý 1.19 nM; T7-T12: 1.24 Ý 1.02 vs 1.89 Ý 1.57 nM). These data show that individuals with paraplegia above T6 have an attentuated catecholamine release at rest and response to exercise as compared to subjects with injuries below T6, which might prevent a better exercise performance in the former group

Effects of acupuncture on behavioral, cardiovascular and hormonal responses in restraint-stressed Wistar rats

Stress is a well-known entity and may be defined as a threat to the homeostasis of a being. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of acupuncture on the physiological responses induced by retraint stress. Acupunture is an ancient therapeutic technique which is used in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Its proposed mechanisms of action are based on the principle of homeostasis. Adult male Wistar EPM-1 rats were divided into four groups: group I (N=12), unrestrained rats with cannulas previously implanted into their femoral arteries for blood pressure and heart rate measurements; group II (N=12), rats that were also cannulated and were submitted to 60-min immobilization; group III (N=12), same as group II but with acupuncture needles implanted at points SP6, S36, REN17, P6 and DU20 during the immobilization period; group IV (N=14), same as group III but with needles implanted at points not related to acupuncture (non-acupoints). During the 60-min immobilization period animals were assessed for stress-related behaviors, heart rate, blood pressure and plasma corticosterone, noradrenaline and adrenaline levels. Group III animals showed a significant reduction (60 percent on average, P<0.02) in restraint-induced behaviors when compared to groups II and IV. Data from cardiovascular and hormonal assessments indicated no differences between group III and group II and IV animals, but tended to be lower (50 percent reduction on average) in group I animals. We hypothesize that acupuncture at points SP6, S36, REN17, P6 and DU20 has an anxiolytic effect on restraint-induced stress that is not due to a sedative action.

Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline in children with Reye's syndrome

This study aimed to estimate the plasma level of both adrenaline and noradrenaline in children with Reye's syndrome. Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline was assayed in eleven children [seven males and four females with age ranged between two years and eleven years] with biopsy proven Reye's syndrome. The median age at which children were presented was 5.8 years. The mean adrenaline level was found to be 611.7 pg/ml compared with 83 pg/ml for the controls. The mean noradrenaline level was 1538.9 pg/ml compared with 372.3 pg/ml for the controls. This study revealed that both adrenaline and noradrenaline increased in children with Reye's syndrome and discussed the cause of the these changes

Separación de aminas biogénicas mediante cromatografía líquida de alta resolución / High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of biogenic amines

En este trabajo se han compilado los distintos modos cromatográficos y sistemas de detección utilizados en la cromatografía líquida de alta resolución de aminas biogénicas. Se indican las características generales del intercambio catiónico, fase reversa, fase reversa de pares iónicos y cromatografía de partición con fase reversa de pares iónicos. También se analizan comparativamente la detección UV, detección fluorimétrica usando fluorescencia nativa o bien derivatización pre- y postcolumna y detección electroquímica de gran utilidad para esta extensa familia de compuestos. Se dan ejemplos de aplicación de interés en el campo bioquímico-clínico, con el análisis de ácido homovainillínico, ácido 3,4-dihidroxifenilacético y ácido 5-hidroxiindolacético en líquido cefalorraquídeo, metanefrinas, ácido 3,4-dihidroxifenilacético, catecolaminas, ácidos urinarios y 3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenilglicol en orina, catecolaminas y 3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenilglicol en plasma, catecolaminas, 3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenilglicol y otros neurotransmisores en cerebro de rata. Se discuten, también, los tratamientos previos requeridos especialmente para orina y plasma, así como las condiciones de conservación y su incidencia en los resultados obtenidos

Preoperative and postoperative study of left ventricular function, hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine concentrations during dynamic exercise in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation.

We studied 7 patients before and after mitral valve replacement (MVR) for chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) and 5 control subjects by echocardiography and right heart catheterization to assess left ventricular function, hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine concentrations during supine bicycle exercise. Left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension decreased and LV systolic function increased significantly during exercise in patients and control subjects. LV systolic function (fractional shortening and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening) was significantly lower in patients after MVR than before MVR (p < 0.05). Cardiac index at peak exercise was significantly higher in patients after MVR than before MVR (p < 0.05). Significantly greater augmentation in plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were observed during exercise in patients both before and after MVR than in control subjects (p < 0.05). No significant differences in mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were observed between the patients before and after MVR. Thus, it is concluded that LV systolic and pump function (CI) during exercise were augmented by a compensatory activation of sympathetic nervous system in patients both before and after MVR for chronic MR.

Clonidine treatment of acute pancreatitis: report of five cases

Reportamos cinco casos consecutivos de pacientes con pancreatitis aguda, resistente a la terapia convencional, quienes mejoraron dramáticamente con clonidina. Todos los pacientes presentaban niveles plasmáticos muy elevados de noradrenalina, adrenalina y cortisol (indicadores biológicos de estrés, los cuales cayeron bruscamente en cuanto se inició tratamiento con clonidina. Cuando se les practicó el test de clonidina, todos los pacientes tuvieron una hiper-respuesta, lo cual es compatible con situaciones de desadaptación al estrés

Some neurovegetative correlates of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

In 57 patients with psicovegetative disorders and abnormal MMPI, abnormality in MMPI scales indicating hypochondriasis, hysteria, gender deviant, paranoia, psychastenia, schizophrenia, hypomania or introversion was accompanied by increased plasma catecholamine levels and/or responses to hypoglycemia or by an increased cardiovascular reactivity. A high depression scale was associated with lower plasma catecholamine levels. Blunted plasma growth hormone responses to hypoglycemia were found in abnormal hypomania scale, and augmented responses of plasma cortisol in abnormal hysteria or schizophrenia scales. Paranoia and hypomania traits correlated with absence of morning-evening differences in blood cortisol levels. Electrodermal responses compatible with increased sympathetic activity correlated with high hysteria, gender, paranoia, schizophrenia or hypomania MMPI scales. This study indicates that most psychopathological traits in MMPI are accompanied by humoral and/or electrophysiological signs of abnormality of the autonomic nervous system

Transient increase in plasma catecholamines following hypertonic/hyperosmotic fluid administration in conscious rats

Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were monitored to determine possible alterations of the sympathetic nervous system caused by hypertonic fluid adeministration. Iv infusion (3.5 ml/Kg, 1 min) of 7.5% NaCl/6% Hespan transiently increased both plasma norepinephrine and epinehrine levels to 197 ñ 28% and 220 ñ 30% of control, respectively, at 1 min. These increases were no longer significant 5 or 15 min following infusion. A brief hypotension was also observed immediately following hypertonic fluid administration. This, prolonged sympathetic activation does not occur following hypertonic fluid infusion in normovolemic conscious rats