Effects of diphenhydramine HCl and methylprednisolone in the prevention of abdominal adhesions

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and methylprednisolone in peritoneal adhesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-eight male rats were used in the study. The rats were anesthetized by 5 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride. After opening the abdomen, 10 longitudinal incisions of 2 to 3 cm in length were made on the right parietal peritoneum, and a 2 cm(2) peritoneal layer was excised from the left abdominal wall. The abdomen was closed with 3/0 silk suture. Group I was the control group, group II was given 10 mg/kg diphenhydramine intravenously, group III was given 20 mg/kg methylprednisolone intravenously, and group IV was administered both of the drugs in the above doses. A blood sample of 2 mL was taken from the rats on the 14th day after the operation. The animals were then sacrificed. The abdomen was opened and abdominal adhesions were examined. A tissue sample of 1 g was taken from the abdominal incision line. Albumin, zinc, and hemoglobin levels and leucocyte counts in the blood were determined as well as hydroxyproline levels in the tissue.

RESULTS

Numbers of adhesions were as follows: 9 in group I, 3 in group II, and 2 in group III. No adhesion was observed in group IV. Albumin, zinc, and hemoglobin levels and leucocyte counts were found to be similar in all groups. Hydroxyproline levels in the tissue were significantly lower in groups III and IV than in groups I and II (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Diphenhydramine and methylprednisolone reduced postoperative adhesions significantly in rats. Further investigations are needed in order to use these drugs as antiadhesive agents in humans.

The impact of oral feeding on the severity of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

In the management of acute pancreatitis, oral feeding is prohibited and either enteral or parenteral feeding is commenced for the patients in an effort to not increase the secretion of the pancreatic enzymes.

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the impact of oral feeding on the severity of acute pancreatitis and to compare this impact with that of parenteral feeding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. In both groups, acute pancreatitis was induced by ligation of the main biliopancreatic duct. The rats in group I were fed orally and the rats in group II were fed parenterally. The rats were sacrificed at 48 hours, and blood samples were obtained from the heart upon exposure of the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The pancreas and the left lung were removed for histopathological examination. The levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glucose, calcium and blood urea nitrogen, base deficit, partial oxygen pressure, leukocyte count, and hematocrit level among Ranson criteria and the level of amylase were measured. The pancreas and the lung were examined under a light microscope.

RESULTS

The levels of LDH, SGOT, and calcium for the rats in group I were significantly higher when compared with the rats in group II (P <0.05). Similarly, the levels of amylase for the rats in group I were found to be higher when compared with the rats in group II, but the difference was not significant. Inflammatory changes observed in the pancreas were less severe whereas inflammatory changes observed in the lung were more severe for the rats in group I when compared with the rats in group II.

CONCLUSION

The blood levels of the enzymes were adversely affected for the rats fed orally. In contrast, inflammatory changes observed in the pancreas were more severe for the rats fed parenterally. The study suggests that certain hormones released from the duodenum upon stimulation by oral nutrient intake lessens the severity of pancreatitis through protective effects on the pancreas, whereas the elevated levels of the enzymes cause endothelial damage resulting in destruction in distant organs such as the lung.

Does large-bowel enema reduce septic complications in acute pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND

The source of septic complications in acute pancreatitis was unknown until recent years. The pathogenesis of bacterial translocation from the gut has been accepted as the main source of pancreatic or peripancreatic infection. This study was designed to investigate the role of large bowel enema during acute pancreatitis in preventing bacterial translocation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four Spraque-Dawley rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups. Group I animals received biliopancreatic duct ligation plus colon cleansing by rectal enemas; group II animals received only biliopancreatic duct ligation. Rectal enemas were applied to the first group of animals three times, at 6, 24, and 48 hours after the operation using 10 cc sodium hydrogen phosphate solutions. All animals were sacrificed 72 hours later, and tissue samples were taken from mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, spleen, and liver for bacteriologic cultures via a midline laparatomy. Blood and cecum cultures were also prepared.

RESULTS

Positive mesenteric lymph node cultures were found in all 12 animals in group II but in only 3 of 11 animals of group I (P <0.05). Distant organ cultures were positive in 9 of group II, but the only infected distant organ culture found in group I was the positive liver culture (P <0.05).

CONCLUSION

As a result of this study, we believe that large bowel enema can reduce the frequency of septic complications in acute pancreatitis by reducing bacterial translocation.

Effect of moderate alcohol intake on lipid peroxidation in plasma, erythrocyte and leukocyte and on some antioxidant enzymes

Plasma, erythrocyte and leukocyte lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and plasma gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were investigated in 36 healthy non-drinkers aged between 18-55 years (mean 38.7) and 72 alcohol drinkers aged between 20-48 years (mean 35.3) in order to determine the oxidative effect of alcohol. Erythrocyte lipid peroxidation of the drinkers (measured in terms of MDA) was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) reduced compared to that of controls. However, when Tukey-HSD and F test with ANOVA were performed, that significance disappears in those who consume less than 140 g of alcohol per day and persists in those who consume more than 140 g of alcohol per day (P < 0.05). Plasma GGT level was significantly increased compared to that of controls (P < 0.001). Also, there was a significant (P = 0.01) correlation between serum GGT level and the amount of alcohol. There were no significant differences between all the other parameters of both groups. Reduced lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes without any accompanying increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes shows that another mechanism might be responsible for this finding. This mechanism was thought to be an alteration in lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes.