The Journal of surgical research
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In acutely anephric dogs, depressed reflex adrenal medullary secretion (AMS) may be related to low plasma angiotensin. Either local (adrenal medulla) or central nervous system mechanisms are responsible. Local influences of acute bilateral nephrectomy on AMS were evaluated after left splanchnic nerve section. ⋯ At the first stimulation interval NE:E was 0.28 +/- 0.14 (1 SD) in renal intact dogs vs 0.11 +/- 0.04 in anephric dogs, P less than 0.05. At rest NE:E was 0.33 +/- 0.12 in group 1 vs 0.17 +/- 0.02 in group 2 dogs, P less than 0.02. Plasma NE was also low in the anephric group (289 mg/liter +/- 126 (1 SD) vs 612 +/- 189, P = 0.033, resting).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The enhanced risk of severe sepsis following splenectomy is now well recognized in both adult and pediatric patients. Prophylactic antibiotics and bacterial vaccines have been utilized with limited success to inhibit the high morbidity and mortality. This study reports the use of glucan, a beta-1,3-polyglucose, as a nonspecific immunostimulant for postsplenectomy pneumococcal sepsis. ⋯ Splenectomy alone did not significantly decrease phagocytic function. An increased leukocytosis in response to pneumococcal infection was observed in splenectomized glucan-treated animals. Nonspecific immunostimulation appears to have significant potential as a treatment strategy against postsplenectomy infection.
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The response of intravascular (PBV) and extravascular (EVLW) pulmonary fluid volumes to varying degrees of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was examined using double indicator techniques (thermal green dye) in six open-chest anesthetized dogs during the production of oleic acid (0.15 cc/kg)-induced pulmonary injury. Data were obtained at a control state, then 1.5 hr after the oleic acid was injected. Positive-end expiratory pressure (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm H2O) consistently reduced cardiac output prior to and after oleic acid edema was created, with greater reductions occurring with higher levels of PEEP. ⋯ PBV declined from 6.0 +/- 2.4 to 4.0 +/- 1.0 ml/kg with 20 cm H2O of PEEP (P less than .01) in the control state and 4.4 +/- 2.1 to 2.9 +/0 0.9 ml/kg (P less than .01) after oleic acid administration. It is concluded that PEEP significantly reduced intravascular pulmonary fluid volumes along with cardiac output, without changing EVLW. While the effects of altered left ventricular geometry were not examined, the displacement of blood from the central to the peripheral circulation during PEEP must substantially contribute to reductions in systemic flow.