thymosin-beta(4) and Postoperative-Complications

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used in the treatment of early esophageal cancer. However, the incidence of postoperative esophageal stricture is relatively high, especially after full circumferential ESD. Previous studies have shown that thymosin β4 (Tβ4) has anti-fibrotic activity and prevents scar formation. In this study, we investigated the safety and therapeutic effect of Tβ4 injection in preventing esophageal stricture after circumferential ESD in a porcine model.. A total of 8 Bama pigs underwent esophageal circumferential ESD under anesthesia (n = 4 for experimental and control group). Local injection of Tβ4 gel was administered in the experimental group. Follow-up endoscopy was conducted, and balloon dilation (EBD) was performed to prevent the occurrence of esophageal stricture.. Esophageal stricture developed after circumferential ESD in all pigs. Local Tβ4 gel injection has shortened resolution of the stricture (p = 0.012) and was associated with a lesser number of EBD sessions (p = 0.002). The severity of esophageal stricture was milder in the experimental group (p = 0.046 vs. control group). No adverse events occurred in the study.. Local Tβ4 gel injection appeared to be safe and effective for the prevention of esophageal stricture after circumferential ESD in a porcine model.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Endoscopic Mucosal Resection; Esophageal Stenosis; Humans; Male; Postoperative Complications; Swine; Thymosin

Wound fluids were collected up to 60 h after abdominal surgery. Immediately after obtaining the wound fluid by Robinson drainage, wound fluid was centrifuged to remove blood cells and inflammatory cells. The concentration of total protein as well as of thymosin beta(4) was determined in the cell-free supernatant solution. Total protein concentration decreased from about 50 g/L to 30 g/L within 60 h after surgery. After surgery we observed a concentration of up to 20 mg thymosin beta(4) per liter decreasing to about 1 mg/L with time. Neither thymosin beta(10) nor oxidized thymosin beta(4) was detected in human wound fluid.

Topics: Abdomen; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Proteins; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Thymosin; Wounds and Injuries