Natural deep eutectic solvents couple with integrative extraction technique as an effective approach for mulberry anthocyanin extraction.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have been growing interest as an alternative to the traditional organic solvents. They not only have the merit of high efficiency but also have the possibility to readily applicable to pharmaceutical and food applications. In the present study, NADES with high-speed homogenization and cavitation-burst extraction (HSH-CBE) was performed on fresh mulberry for anthocyanins extraction. The extraction conditions were statistically investigated by Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimal conditions were obtained as follows: chloride-citric acid-glucose formed a NADES with the mole ratio of 1:1:1, 30% water content, liquid-solid ratio 22 mL/g, homogenization time 60 s, homogenization speed 12,000 rpm, extraction time 30 min, negative pressure -0.08 MPa and extraction two times. The total maximum extraction of anthocyanins reached 6.05 mg/g fresh weight, which was 1.24 folds to those by the traditional organic solvents extraction. Moreover, NADES exhibited higher stability of anthocyanins extraction than traditional organic solvents, which was benefit for the analysis and preservation of anthocyanins. Consequently, this result revealed that the developed method could be taken as a sustainable, green and effective approach for anthocyanins extraction.

Lithium Treatment Prevents Apoptosis in Neonatal Rat Hippocampus Resulting from Sevoflurane Exposure.

We aimed to observe the therapeutic effects of lithium on inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane-induced apoptosis in immature brain hippocampus. From postnatal day 5 (P5) to P28, male Sprague-Dawley pups were intraperitoneally injected with lithium chloride or 0.9 % sodium chloride. On P7 after the injection, pups were exposed to 2.3 % sevoflurane or air for 6 h. Brain tissues were harvested 12 h and 3 weeks after exposure. Cleaved caspase-3, nNOS protein, GSK-3ß,p-GSK-3ß were assessed by Western blot, and histopathological changes were assessed using Nissl stain and TUNEL stain. From P28, we used the eight-arm radial maze test and step-through test to evaluate the influence of sevoflurane exposure on the learning and memory of juvenile rats. The results showed that neonatal sevoflurane exposure induced caspase-3 activation and histopathological changes in hippocampus can be attenuated by lithium chloride. Sevoflurane increased GSK-3ß activity while pretreatment of lithium decreased GSK-3ß activity. Moreover, sevoflurane showed possibly slight but temporal influence on the spatial learning and the memory of juvenile rats, and chronic use of lithium chloride might have the therapeutic effect. Our current study suggests that lithium attenuates sevoflurane induced neonatal hippocampual damage by GSK-3ß pathway and might improve learning and memory deficits in rats after neonatal exposure.

Propofol-induced rhabdomyolysis: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of propofol-induced rhabdomyolysis. In this case, widespread myolysis was detected after induction of anesthesia. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old female patient was scheduled for a hysterectomy. Beginning shortly after the induction of anesthesia with propofol, several episodes of ventricular fibrillation occurred. Despite intensive care, the patient failed to recover. During most episodes of ventricular fibrillation, marked hyperthermia or hyperkalemia were not observed. Unexplained, widespread myolysis affecting both skeletal and cardiac muscle was observed at autopsy. DISCUSSION: In this patient, the evidence for rhabdomyolysis is robust. Clinical characteristics are similar to those observed in propofol infusion syndrome. The absence of a body temperature over 40 °C precludes the possibility of malignant hyperthermia. Widespread rhabdomyolysis locations cannot be explained by precordial electric shocks. Propofol is the only drug used in this case that has been reported to induce rhabodomyolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Signs of propofol-induced rhabdomyolysis may be different from those of malignant hyperthermia. Even a regular induction dose of propofol for adults could possibly trigger rhabdomyolysis similar to what is observed in children diagnosed with propofol infusion syndrome. Though rare, care should still be taken when administering propofol.

Sevoflurane-induced down-regulation of hippocampal oxytocin and arginine vasopressin impairs juvenile social behavioral abilities.

Cumulative evidence indicates that early childhood anesthesia can alter a child's future behavioral performance. Animal researchers have found that sevoflurane, the most commonly used anesthetic for children, can produce damage in the neonatal brains of rodents. To further investigate this phenomenon, we focused on the influence of sevoflurane anesthesia on the development of juvenile social behavioral abilities and the pro-social proteins oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the neonatal hippocampus. A single 6-h sevoflurane exposure for postnatal day 5 mice resulted in decreased OT and AVP messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in the hippocampus. OT and AVP proteins became sparsely distributed in the dorsal hippocampus after the exposure to sevoflurane. Compared with the air-treated group, mice in the sevoflurane-treated group showed signs of impairment in social recognition memory formation and social discrimination ability. Sevoflurane anesthesia reduces OT and AVP activities in the neonatal hippocampus and impairs social recognition memory formation and social discrimination ability in juvenile mice.

Hemodynamic responses during induction: comparison of Marsh and Schnider pharmacokinetic models.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic stability is one of the most critical concerns during induction of anesthesia. Whether the pharmacokinetic model by Marsh or the one by Schnider will produce better hemodynamic stability remains unclear. This study compared hemodynamic changes during induction between the two models. METHODS: 60 patients who underwent elective surgery were randomly assigned to plasma target-controlled infusion by Marsh's (n = 30) or Schnider's (n = 30) model with an initial target concentration of 4 µg×mL-1. The target was then reset and gradually titrated to a sedation level with a narcotrend index (NI) below 64. Stroke volume, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, arterial pressure, target, and effect site concentration, and dose of propofol infused were recorded every minute during the first 25 minutes of infusion. RESULTS: Throughout the first 25 minutes, stroke volume index and cardiac index were decreased significantly in both Marsh and Schnider groups, but no statistical difference was detected between the groups (p > 0.05). Central venous pressure (CVP), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and heart rate (HR) did not significantly change during induction (p > 0.05). Time to loss of responsiveness (LOR), and time for NI to decrease to 64 was faster in Marsh than in Schnider (1.51 ± 0.8 minutes vs. 2.8 ± 1.2 min, p < 0.001; 3.3 ± 2.0 minutes vs. 5.2 ± 2.3 minutes, p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When target concentrations are titrated according to NI during induction of anesthesia, Marsh's model could induce sedation faster than Schnider's. Meanwhile, hemodynamic changes were not observed to be statistically different between the two models. Hypotension induced by plasma target-controlled infusion of propofol could mainly be attributed to decreased stroke volume instead of vascular dilation.

[Effects of preoperative oral glucose on perioperative insulin resistance and plasma proteins of intestinal surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of oral intake of glucose solution before surgery on the pH at the lower esophagus, perioperative blood glucose level, and plasmic protein in patients undergoing radical resection for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2008, 60 patients undergoing radical surgery for colorectal cancer were enrolled and randomized into three groups using the table of random digits. Four patients were withdrawn from the study. Patients in group A (n=19) were given 800 ml of 12.5% glucose solution for oral intake the night before surgery, and 200 ml two hours before surgery. Patients in group B (n=19) were given distilled water instead of glucose. Patients in group C (n=18) were asked to fast for 8-12 hours before operation. Combined general and epidural anesthesia was used. pH at the lower esophagus was monitored during intubation and extubation. Albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, insulin, and fasting blood glucose were measured before surgery and at postoperative day 1, 3, and 7. RESULTS: pH at the lower esophagus was 8.05±0.43 in group A, 7.98±0.41 in group B, and 7.94±0.41 in group C. There were no perioperative acid regurgitations (P>0.05). Serum insulin in group A at postoperative day 1 was (16.32±16.11) µU/L, which was significantly lower than that in group B (30.65±41.74) µU/L and group C (34.01±52.91) µU/L. Log HOMA-IR in group A at postoperative day 1 was significantly lower than that in group B and group C (0.49±0.35 vs. 0.59±0.56 and 0.60±0.63, P<0.05). Transferrin in group C at postoperative day 3 and 7 was significantly lower than that in the other two groups, as was albumin at postoperative day 3 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral liquid intake 2 hours before surgery is not associated with increased risk of regurgitation or aspiration during intubation and extubation, and may glucose solution intake reduce insulin resistance and protein degradation after colorectal surgery.

Effect of temperature on the activation of myocardial KATP channel in guinea pig ventricular myocytes: a pilot study by whole cell patch clamp recording.

BACKGROUND: The myocardial ATP sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP) channel) has been known for more than two decades, the properties of this channel have been intensively investigated, especially the myocardial protection effect by opening this channel. Numerous studies, including hypothermic, using K(ATP) agonists to achieve a hyperpolarizing cardioplegic arrest, have shown a better myocardial protection than potassium arrest. However, there is no evidence showing that K(ATP) channel could be opened by its agonists under profound hypothermia. We investigated the effect of temperature on activation of myocardial K(ATP) channel by nicorandil. METHODS: Isolated ventricular myocytes were obtained by collagenase digestion of the hearts of guinea pigs and stored in KB solution at 4 degrees C. With a steady ground current, the myocytes were perfused with 1 mmol/L nicorandil until a steady IK(ATP) occurred. Then the cells were perfused with 1 mmol/L nicorandil plus 1 micromol/L glybenclamide. Currents signals were recorded on whole cells using patch clamp technique at several temperatures. The temperature of the bath solution around myocytes was monitored and was controlled at 4 degrees C, 10 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C respectively. About 10 cells were tested at each temperature, the cells were considered useful only when the outward current could be induced by nicorandil and blocked by glybenclamide. All data were analyzed using Graphpad PRISM 3.0 (Graphpad, San Diego, CA, USA). Nonlinear curve fitting was done in Clampfit (Axon) or Sigmaplot (SPSS). RESULTS: At 4 degrees C, 10 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C, the time needed to open the myocardial K(ATP) channel was (81.0 +/- 0) minutes, (50.5 +/- 11.7) minutes, (28.8 +/- 2.3) minutes, (9.4 +/- 10.2) minutes and (2.3 +/- 1.0) minutes respectively (P = 0.003). The linear relationship between temperature and time needed to open the channel was y (min) = (4348.790 - 124.277x)/60, where y (min) is time needed to open K(ATP) channel, x is temperature, correlation coefficient r = -0.942 (P = 0.00), regression coefficient b = -124.277 (P = 0.00). The current densities among different temperatures were statistically different (P = 0.022), the current density was greater after the activation of K(ATP) channel at higher temperatures. The lower the temperature, the fewer cells in which K(ATP) channels could be opened. At 4 degrees C, only one cell in which the K(ATP) channel could be opened, took a quite long time (81 minutes) and the I-V curve was quite untypical. CONCLUSIONS: K(ATP) channel activated by nicorandil is temperature dependent and the temperature linearly related to time needed to open K(ATP) channel; the lower the temperature, the longer the time needed to open channel and the smaller the current density. At profound hypothermia, it is difficult to activate K(ATP) channels.

[Comparison of efficacy between procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids and open hemorrhoidectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) and open hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: A standard questionnaire was given to all patients after PPH or open hemorrhoidectomy from March 2001 to March 2004. In combination with proctological examination, the results including symptoms relief and recurrence were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 184 effective questionnaires, including 96 cases in PPH group and 88 in open hemorrhoidectomy group. PPH and open hemorrhoidectomy both relieved prolapse (92.7% vs 96.8%, P=0.282), bleeding (91% vs 81%, P=0.241) and pain (91.7% vs 91.5%, P=0.977). There were no statistical differences in the overall complication rate (30.2% and 29.5%, P=0.923) and recurrence rate (21.8% vs 20.5%, P=0.814) between the two groups. The overall satisfactory degree was 87.5% in PPH group and 84.8% in open hemorrhoidectomy group (P=0.218). CONCLUSION: PPH is a safe and effective option for prolapsed hemorrhoids compared with open hemorrhoidectomy.