glycogen and Multiple-Organ-Failure

Recently, both asymmetrical dimethylarginine and IL-6 have been suggested to be associated with the induction and severity of single and multiple organ dysfunction. The aims of the present study were to elucidate if these factors were increased in an ischemia reperfusion (IR) model and whether pre-operative carbohydrate supplementation can reduce the risk factors along with the IR injury.. One group of male Wistar rats was fasted for 16 h (water ad libitum) prior to clamping the superior mesenteric artery (IR fasted n=14). A second group had ad libitum access to a carbohydrate solution prior to clamping (IR fasted CHO group n=11). Sham-fasted animals, which only received laparotomy and no clamping, served as controls (n=4).. Plasma urea and ALAT activity were both increased in the IR fasted animals when compared to the sham rats (P=0.007 and P<0.02, respectively). Furthermore, it was shown that IR fasted rats had increased ADMA and IL-6 concentration in plasma when compared to sham animals (P<0.02). Moreover, the GSH level in lung was significantly decreased in the IR fasted animals (P=0.014). IR CHO supplemented showed no significant increase of ALAT activity and decrease of lung GSH. Furthermore, significantly lower plasma urea, ADMA and IL-6 concentration was seen in the IR CHO supplemented group when compared to the IR fasted rats (P=0.028, P<0.01 and P<0.02, respectively). The liver glycogen concentration in IR fasted rats was 48% of that IR rats supplemented the carbohydrate mixture.. The present rat intestinal ischemia reperfusion model not only induces organ injury indicated by the classical parameters such as plasma urea and ALAT activity, but also increased plasma IL-6 and ADMA and decreased lung GSH concentration in IR fasted rats. Pre-operative supplementation with the carbohydrate mixture significantly lowered the plasma urea, IL-6 and ADMA concentrations and maintained lung GSH concentration. This indicates that pre-operative carbohydrate supplementation reduces post-operative organ injury.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Arginine; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Glutathione; Glycogen; Interleukin-6; Liver; Male; Multiple Organ Failure; Preoperative Care; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; Risk Factors

We describe complete glycogen depletion and increased respiratory chain enzyme activity in a muscle biopsy obtained prior to the demise of a patient in multiorgan failure following status epilepticus. These findings validate the theoretical basis of muscle energy turnover during status epilepticus: the increased demand for energy leads to complete depletion of glycogen reserves. The attempt to preserve adenosine triphosphate requirements results in increased activity of respiratory chain enzymes.

Topics: Biopsy; Child; Electron Transport; Energy Metabolism; Epilepsies, Myoclonic; Fatal Outcome; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Multiple Organ Failure; Muscle, Skeletal; Status Epilepticus

The neuroendocrine-specific protein 7B2, which serves as a molecular escort for proPC2 in the secretory pathway, promotes the production of enzymatically active PC2 and may have non-PC2 related endocrine roles. Mice null for 7B2 exhibit a lethal phenotype with a complex Cushing's-like pathology, which develops from intermediate lobe ACTH hypersecretion as a consequences of interruption of PC2-mediated peptide processing as well as undefined consequences of the loss of 7B2. In this study we investigated the endocrine and metabolic alterations of 7B2 null mice from pathological and biochemical points of view. Our results show that 7B2 nulls exhibit a multisystem disorder that includes severe pathoanatomical and histopathologic alterations of vital organs, including the heart and spleen but most notably the liver, in which massive steatosis and necrosis are observed. Metabolic derangements in glucose metabolism result in glycogen and fat deposition in liver under conditions of chronic hypoglycemia. Liver failure is also likely to contribute to abnormalities in blood coagulation and blood chemistry, such as lactic acidosis. A hypoglycemic crisis coupled with respiratory distress and intensive internal thrombosis most likely results in rapid deterioration and death of the 7B2 null.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Blood Glucose; Cause of Death; Corticosterone; Cushing Syndrome; Glucagon; Glucose; Glycogen; Hormones; Hypothermia; Lactic Acid; Liver; Magnesium; Metyrapone; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Multiple Organ Failure; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroendocrine Secretory Protein 7B2; Pituitary Hormones; Radioimmunoassay; Seizures; Tissue Distribution

Absorption and fluorescent cytophotometry techniques were applied to studies of RNA as well as of total glycogen and its fractions as the parameters of functional activity of the hepatocytes in patients with severe mechanical trauma, both with and without autointoxication (AI). Slides were stained with gallocyanine-chromalums to determine the RNA content and were processed by the fluorescent PAS-reaction for the glycogen content. To trace the dynamics of RNA and glycogen contents in the liver punction biopsies were done in the same patients. A quick increase in the RNA content took place in both groups of patients at the first period (within the first 3 days) of traumatic disease. At the second period of disease the hepatocyte RNA content in patients without AI was found to decrease up to the initial level whereas that in patients with AI increased on the average by 36% of the initial values. The total glycogen content in hepatocytes of all the patients changed insignificantly in the course of disease but its labile fraction in patients with AI decreased to 70% of the total. The increase of hepatocyte synthetic activity and the maintenance of the high glycogen level are indicative of the large compensatory potential of the liver that enables it to carry an intensive functional load under AI conditions.

Topics: Endotoxins; Glycogen; Humans; Liver; Multiple Organ Failure; Prospective Studies; RNA; Wounds and Injuries