Anti-fatigue effect of tormentic acid through alleviating oxidative stress and energy metabolism-modulating property in C2C12 cells and animal models

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#Oxidative stress is caused by reactive oxygen species and free radicals that accelerate inflammatory responses and exacerbate fatigue. Tormentic acid (TA) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, the aim of present study is to determine the fatigue-regulatory effects of TA in H2O2 -stimulated myoblast cell line, C2C12 cells and treadmill stress test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) animal models.MATERIALS/METHODS: In the in vitro study, C2C12 cells were pretreated with TA before stimulation with H2O2 . Then, malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) activity, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glycogen, and cell viability were analyzed. In the in vivo study, the ICR male mice were administered TA or distilled water orally daily for 28 days. FST and TST were then performed on the last day. In addition, biochemical analysis of the serum, muscle, and liver was performed. @*RESULTS@#TA dose-dependently alleviated the levels of MDA, LDH, CK activity, TNF-α, and IL-6 in H2O2 -stimulated C2C12 cells without affecting the cytotoxicity. TA increased the SOD and CAT activities and the glycogen levels in H2O2 -stimulated C2C12 cells. In TST and FST animal models, TA decreased the FST immobility time significantly while increasing the TST exhaustion time without weight fluctuations. The in vivo studies showed that the levels of SOD, CAT, citrate synthase, glycogen, and free fatty acid were increased by TA administration, whereas TA significantly reduced the levels of glucose, MDA, LDH, lactate, CK, inflammatory cytokines, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and cortisol compared to the control group. @*CONCLUSIONS@#TA improves fatigue by modulating oxidative stress and energy metabolism in C2C12 cells and animal models. Therefore, we suggest that TA can be a powerful substance in healthy functional foods and therapeutics to improve fatigue.

The Effects of Nitrous Oxide on Volume and Pressure of Endotracheal Tube Cuffs during General Inhalation Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated that nitrous oxide diffuses into the cuffs of endotracheal tubes and increases cuff volumes and pressures. Such increments of cuff pressure maybe result in damage to the trachea. We evaluated the increase of intracuff pressure, volume and the statistical significance was analyzed with personal computer. METHODS: Fourty-nine patients ranging in age 37+/-15 years, in ASA physical status class 1~2 , they were 26 males and 23 females. They divided into two groups, group I(n=25) were anesthesia with nitrous oxide : oxygen (2 L/min : 2 L/min), group II were(n=24) anesthesia with nitrous oxide : oxygen (4 L/min : 2 L/min). The cuff pressure was measured every 30 minutes and compared with each others and group I and II. RESULTS: Our results suggest that a significant intracuff volume and pressure changes developed between two groups (p<0.05), more significant intracuff pressure changes occured at group II than group I (p=0.001) and significant increment changes according to time and different concentration of nitrous oxide between two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study was conducted to determine the degree of intracuff pressure and volume changes during general inhalation anesthesia with different concentration of nitrous oxide. These results suggest that a nitrous oxide significantly increases cuff pressure and volume in a concentration and time related fashion.

General Anesthesia for Carolis Disease / 대한마취과학회지

Caroli's disease is associated with the combination of congenital dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, polycystic disease of the kidney and congenital hepatic fibrosis. The disease entity was first reported by Caroli and associates(1958) and was extensively reviewed in a monograph by Caroli and Corcos (1964). The original first description of Carolis disease is characterized by congenital saccular dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, a high incidence of stone formation and cholangitis, absence of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension but associated with renal tubular ectasia or other forms of cystic disease of the kidneys, possibly of the pancreas. However the pure form, as described above, has been uncommon. We have experience with a case of general anesthesia for a 12 year old female patient who had Caroli's disease, which was confirmed preoperatively by computerized tomography in Kyung Hee Medical Center. As the Carolis disease may involve hypofunction of the liver and kidney, anesthetics with less action on the liver and kidney are-preferable. This patient was premedicated with atropine and meperidine. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and succinylcholine for intubation, then maintained with N2O-O2 pancuronium and meperidine. The anesthetic and immediate postoperative course was uneventful, but the patient expired with expected cardiac arrest one week later.

A Clinical Study of Cardiac Arrhythmias during General Anesthesia in Patients with Preexisting ECG Abnormalities / 대한마취과학회지

The incidence of cardiac arrhythmias has been studied in 50 unselected surgical patients with preexisting ECG abnormailties preoperatively, by means of continuous monitoring, utilixingan eIectrocardioscope, Burdick CS-515 Monitor, and was recorded by EK-4S ECG, at the Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The results are as follows: 1) Among 50 patients, 32 cases (64%) developed a variety of arrhythmias during general anesthesia and operation. It also showed arrhythmias excluding sinus tachycardia in 14 cases. The 28 per cent incidence of arrhythmias was rather high compared with the patient groups without preexisting heart disease or arrhythmias, such as in our previous report in 1972 of 20%, Dodds 19, 9% and Vaniks 16. 3%. 2) The most common arrhythmia seen was sinus tachycardia (26 cases, 65% of the total arrhythmias) and the next one was premature ventrieular contraction. 3) Nine cases (22. 5%) were considered serious in nature, such as premature ventricular contractions. 4) There was an increased incidence of new arrhythmias in the patients in poor general condition. 5) The vast majority of arrhythmias seen during anesthesia, except for 3 cases did not require drug treatment. It is usual to eliminate the cause of the arrhythmia by lowering anesthetic depth, eliminating excess carbon dioxide by hyperventilation and proper oxygenation of the lungs. 6) Constant electrocardiographic monitoring of patients under anesthesia has proven to be valuable adjunct to the administration of clinical anesthesia.