Search

About 80% of nosocomial infections are caused by aerobic bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Pseudomonadaceae family; P. aeruginosa is responsible for 6-22% of all hospital infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy (2 atm abs x 55 min.day-1) alone for 8 days and combined with antibiotic chemotherapy (amikacin 15 mg.kg-1.day-1 for 8 days by intraperitoneal route) in rats infected subcutaneously and via the pulmonary route. In the rats infected by P. aeruginosa, HBO2 induced a reduction in mortality and morbidity with bacteria eradication in blood culture, bronchial aspirate, and skin biopsies when compared to control. These effects were increased by the use of amikacin, an antibiotic used for the treatment of sensitive Gram-negative bacteria.

The effects of prolonged (20 day) hyperbaric exposure (HBO) to oxygen on non adrenergic non cholinergic (NANC) contractile and relaxant responses of rat trachea were examined. The electrical field stimulation (EFS) of rat tracheal rings was performed at 30 Hz and contractile and relaxant responses were assessed in the absence or in the presence of pretreatment with L-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NO synthase, and L-Arginine (L-ARG), a precursor of NO synthesis, plus L-NAME. Our data demonstrated that L-NAME significantly (p0.05) enhanced the contractile responses induced by EFS (controls 30.6 +/- 0.99%; L-NAME 76.07 +/- 2.00%) and statistically (p0.05) reduced the relaxant component of EFS (controls 31.10 +/- 0.46; L-NAME 15.00 +/- 0.12); these effects were reversed when tissues were pretreated with L-ARG plus L-NAME, suggesting that NO plays a modulatory role in cholinergic neurotransmission and participates in EFS relaxant responses. Moreover, prolonged HBO exposure (20 days) at 202.6 and 303.9 kPa did not modify the contractile or relaxant responses induced by EFS, nor modify the L-NAME or L-ARG effects on EFS responses.

Objective The purpose of this review is to evaluate the use and effectiveness of the local administration of tramadol in reducing post-operative pain during surgical interventions. Methods The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases will be searched for this review. This systematic review will include studies evaluating the clinical efficacy of the local infiltration of tramadol, with no study design restrictions. Only studies that present clear descriptions of local tramadol administration are published in peer-reviewed journals in the English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese or German language and are published in full will be taken into consideration. A meta-analysis will be performed when there is sufficient clinical homogeneity among the retrieved studies, and only randomized controlled studies and quasi-randomized controlled studies will be included. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess the certainty in the evidence. If a quantitative analysis cannot be conducted, a qualitative description of the results of the retrieved studies will be provided. Results A high-quality synthesis of the current evidence on the local administration of tramadol for managing post-surgical pain will be illustrated using subjective reports and objective measures of performance. The primary outcomes will include the magnitude of post-operative pain intensity improvement, with improvement being as defined by a reduction by at least 2 points in the visual analogue scale (VAS) score or numerical rating scale (NRS) score. The secondary outcomes will be the magnitude of reduction in tramadol rescue doses and in other analgesic drug doses. Conclusion This protocol will present evidence on the efficacy of tramadol in relieving post-surgical pain. Systemic review registration PROSPERO CRD42018087381

We used a model of neuropathic pain consisting of rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, in order to investigate whether endocannabinoid levels are altered in the dorsal raphe (DR) and to assess the effect of repeated treatment with (R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-naphthalenylmethanone mesylate, a synthetic cannabinoid agonist, or N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenamide (AM404), an inhibitor of endocannabinoid reuptake, on DR serotonergic neuronal activity and on behavioural hyperalgesia. CCI resulted in significantly elevated anandamide but not 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels in the DR. Furthermore, as well as thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, CCI caused serotonergic hyperactivity (as shown by the increase of basal activity of serotonergic neurones, extracellular serotonin levels and expression of 5-HT1A receptor gene). Repeated treatment with either (R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[ 1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-naphthalenylmethanone mesylate or AM404 reverted the hyperalgesia and enhanced serotonergic activity induced by CCI in a way attenuated by N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-3- pyrazolecarboxamide, a selective cannabinoid subtype 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist. Despite the elevated levels of anandamide following CCI, N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-3-pyrazolecarboxamide did not produce hyperalgesia or any other effect on serotonergic neuronal activity when administered alone. Furthermore, the effects of AM404 were not accompanied by an increase in endocannabinoid levels in the DR. In conclusion, following CCI of the sciatic nerve, the endocannabinoid and serotonergic systems are activated in the DR, where repeated stimulation of CB1 receptors with exogenous compounds restores DR serotonergic activity, as well as thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds, to pre-surgery levels. However, an elevated level of endogenous anandamide in the DR does not necessarily contribute to the CB1-mediated tonic control of analgesia and serotonergic neuronal activity.

To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on zymosan-induced shock in rats. Zymosan, a cell wall component of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, induces inflammation by causing the production of various cytokines and pro-inflammatory mediators. The administration of zymosan to rats represents a new experimental shock model by inducing acute peritonitis, severe hypotension, and signs of systemic illness. However, it has been recently proposed that the zymosan-induced shock, like septic shock, may be mediated by overproduction of nitric oxide.Experimental study.Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.Male rats were treated with zymosan (500 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal route, with HBO (2 Absolute Atmosphere) or with zymosan and HBO (2 Absolute Atmosphere).Peritoneal exudate, plasma, and peritoneal nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and zymosan determined a time-dependent increase in peritoneal and plasma NOx concentrations, and peritoneal leukocytes were determined. Moreover, symptomatology was observed. The administration of zymosan caused the appearance of a severe illness in the rats characterized by ruffled fur, lethargy, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and a significant loss of body weight. All zymosan-treated rats developed an acute peritonitis, producing turbid exudate. Zymosan determined a time-dependent increase in peritoneal, plasma NOx, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha concentrations. Morbidity of zymosan shocked rats has been attenuated and no mortality was observed by treatment with HBO. These findings were associated with a significant reduction either of peritoneal leukocytes and exudate, or plasma and peritoneal NOx concentrations. Moreover, TNF-alpha levels were significantly reduced in animals shocked by zymosan and treated with HBO.

La storia dei partiti politici in Italia dal dopoguerra alla metà degli anni Settanta. La nascita e la formazione dei partiti organizzati. Gli aspetti strutturali del sistema. Gli anni Cinquanta. Da De Gasperi a Fanfani. La vecchia e la nuova classe politica. La Dc di Moro. La crisi del Pci e il nuovo ruolo del Psi. La formazione di nuove reti politiche. Gli anni Settanta. L'individualizzarsi del voto. Clientelismo e corruzione.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on multiple organ failure induced by zymosan. Administration of zymosan (500 mg/kg) in the rat induced neutrophil infiltration in the lung, liver, and intestine as evaluated by increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Therefore, lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in zymosan-treated rats. This inflammatory process coincided with the damage of lung, liver, and small intestine. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a marked increase in the immunoreactivity to nitrotyrosine in the lung, liver, and small intestine of zymosan-shocked rats. HBO (2 absolute Atmosphere) exposure attenuates the increase in the tissue levels of MPO and malondialdehyde (MDA) caused by zymosan in the lung, liver, and intestine. In addition, HBO (2 absolute Atmosphere) was effective in preventing the development of lung, liver, and intestine injury. Taken together, the present results demonstrate that HBO may also be an efficacious treatment in multiple organ failure induced by zymosan.