Immobilization stress induces formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to the oxidative injury in various tissues. In this study, the effects of immobilization stress on peripheral blood cells distribution, plasma level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and activities of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes were investigated in male Fischer rats. A significant increase in plasma TBARS was observed during and after the stress. Dramatic increases of neutrophils and monocytes imply that ROS formation resulted from their activation. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes were dramatically increased during and after the stress, while a large fall in erythrocyte number was observed. These findings suggest that the activation of immune cells can be a source of the immobilization-induced ROS production, and that antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes play an important role in preventing the ROS-induced injuries.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between self-reported night sleep duration and cognitive functions such as word memory, story memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed of older adults with normal global cognitive function. Methods: A total of 241 functionally independent older adults (mean age, 75.5 ± 6.4 years) participated in this study. No participants had a history of dementia diagnosis, and each had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24. Participants were evaluated for self-reported sleep duration and cognitive function using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT). Results: The longest sleep duration group (≥9 h) had lower MMSE scores (p = 0.010), Z-score of word list memory II (delayed recall; p = 0.001), and Z-score of story memory II (delayed recognition; p = 0.002) than the medium sleep duration group (7-8 h). Longest and long sleep duration (8-9 h) was significantly associated with impairment of story memory II (longest sleep duration: adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-11.37, long sleep duration: adjusted OR = 4.30, 95% CI = 1.34-13.82) with reference to medium sleep duration, but no impairment of MMSE according to multiple logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, short sleep duration (<7 h) was not associated with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: This study suggests that long sleep duration is associated with cognitive impairment, especially of story memory (delayed recognition) in older adults with normal global cognitive function.

Sepsis is a systemic immune response to infection. In patients with sepsis, many symptoms such as organ dysfunction, hypotension, hypothermia, or fever, increased level of leukocytes, and tachycardia are observed. 1 The hallmark pathological feature of sepsis is the infiltration of inflammatory leukocytes into multiple organs. Macrophages are the fast immune cells to phagocyte pathogens. These macrophages produce pro-inflammatory cytokines [eg, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6] to induce the infiltration of other immune cells such as neutrophils. 2 Neutrophils also kill pathogens by producing oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytotoxic granule components, antimicrobial peptides, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). 3 Continuing or overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ROS, and NETs in macrophages and neutrophils caused tissue damages, and the incidence of severe sepsis and septic shock was increased. In

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BackgroundFew studies have reported the dosage of cefmetazole (CMZ) for intraoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. We therefore examined the optimal intraoperative dosage of CMZ according to pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) theory in patients who undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.MethodsThe study group comprised 23 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery, using CMZ as antimicrobial treatment to prevent postoperative infection. CMZ was administered intravenously within 60 min before surgery. PK/PD analysis was performed by population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte-Carlo simulation.ResultsThe final population pharmacokinetic parameters of CMZ were as follows: CLCMZ = 0.0704 × creatinine clearance (Ccr) and VdCMZ = 0.163 × body weight (Bw). In patients with a Ccr of ≥90 to <130 mL/min, the probability of achieving concentrations exceeding MIC was 52.9 to 82.2% at 2 h after the initial dose and less than 20% at 3 h after the initial dose.ConclusionsAdditional doses of CMZ should be given every 2 h in patients with a Ccr of ≥90 to <130 mL/min, every 3 h in those with a Ccr of ≥50 to <90 mL/min, and every 4 to 5 h in those with a Ccr of ≥10 to <50 mL/min.