Efficacy of resuscitative infusion with hemoglobin vesicles in rabbits with massive obstetric hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin vesicles have been developed as artificial oxygen carriers, and they have the potential to serve as a substitute for red blood cell transfusion. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hemoglobin vesicle infusion for the initial treatment instead of red blood cell transfusion in rabbits with massive obstetric hemorrhage. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant New Zealand white rabbits (28th day of pregnancy; normal gestation period, 29-35 days) underwent uncontrolled hemorrhage to induce shock by transecting the right midartery and concomitant vein in the myometrium. Subsequently, rabbits received isovolemic fluid resuscitation through the femoral vein with an equivalent volume of hemorrhage every 5 minutes. Resuscitative infusion regimens included 5% human serum albumin (n=6), stored washed red blood cells with plasma (vol/vol=1:1; n=5), and hemoglobin vesicle with 5% human serum albumin (vol/vol=4:1; n=5). A total of 60 minutes after the start of bleeding, rabbits underwent surgical hemostasis by ligation of the bleeding vessels and then were monitored for survival within 24 hours. RESULTS: During fluid resuscitation, hemoglobin vesicle infusion and red blood cell transfusion maintained a mean arterial pressure of >50 mm Hg and a hemoglobin concentration of >9 g/dL and prevented the elevation of plasma lactate. In contrast, resuscitation with 5% human serum albumin alone could not prevent hemorrhagic shock as evidenced by a low mean arterial pressure (40 mm Hg), a low hemoglobin concentration (2 g/dL), and a marked elevation of plasma lactate. All animals in the red blood cell group and the hemoglobin vesicle group survived more than 8 hours, whereas all animals in the 5% human serum albumin group died within 8 hours. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin vesicle infusion may be effective in the initial management of massive obstetric hemorrhage.

Reference range of blood biomarkers for oxidative stress in Thoroughbred racehorses (2-5 years old).

The oxidant and antioxidant equilibrium is known to play an important role in equine medicine and equine exercise physiology. There are abundant findings in this field; however, not many studies have been conducted for reference ranges of oxidative stress biomarkers in horses. This study was conducted to determine the reference values of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) using blood samples from 372 (191 males, 181 females) Thoroughbred racehorse aged 2 to 5 (3.43 ± 1.10 (mean ± SD)) years old. There were obvious gender differences in oxidative biomarkers, and growth/age-related changes were observed especially in females. Gender and age must be considered when interpreting obtained oxidative stress biomarkers for diagnosis of disease or fitness alterations in Thoroughbred racehorses.

[The efficacy of ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block with hockey stick typed probe].

We report a case of ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block with a hockey stick typed probe in plane approach. Individual difference of infraorbital anatomy makes it difficult to puncture the infraorbital for a man, and the risks include bleeding, double vision and paranasal sinus puncture. The advantage of ultrasound-guided nerve block has been reported. Compared with conventional land mark method approach, ultrasound technique is thought to be easy to perform, more quickly and safely without any complications. From our results, we have demonstrated that ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block assisted by hockey stick typed probe could become one of the safe methods for this purpose.

Hypnotic effect of volatile anesthetics is mediated by PKC-γ dynamics.

BACKGROUND: Although protein kinase C-γ (PKC-γ) is a target for the effects of volatile anesthetics, the molecular mechanisms of the kinase function remain unclear. We examined the effects of different types of anesthetics on PKC-γ knockout mice, and investigated the dynamics of the kinase in mouse brain. METHODS: We measured the required number of times for loss of righting reflex (rtfLORR) after administration of isoflurane, sevoflurane, and propofol on PKC-γ knockout mice and compared with those of wild-type mice. We also used immunoblotting to investigate the intracellular distribution of PKC-γ and phosphorylated PKC-γ (p-PKC-γ) in brain of wild-type mice anesthetized by these anesthetics. RESULTS: Isoflurane and sevoflurane significantly prolonged the rtfLORRs in PKC-γ knockout mice compared with those in wild-type mice, while no significant difference was observed between knockout and wild-type mice treated with propofol. Examination of the cellular fractions showed that PKC-γ was significantly decreased, whereas p-PKC-γ was significantly increased in the synaptic membrane fraction (P2). There was no significant change in the supernatant fraction (S). In propofol-treated mice, PKC-γ and p-PKC-γ showed no significant changes in P2 or S. CONCLUSION: Our results provide new evidence to support the possibility of the involvement of PKC-γ in the actions of volatile anesthetics.