OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence surrounding a potential association between liraglutide and pancreatitis. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (1948-July 12, 2012) and EMBASE (1974-week 27, 2012) using the search terms pancreatitis, liraglutide, and glucagon-like peptide 1/adverse effects. Reference citations from identified publications were reviewed. The manufacturer was contacted and regulatory documents from the Food and Drug Administration website were reviewed for unpublished data related to cases of pancreatitis associated with liraglutide use. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All identified sources that were published in English were considered for inclusion. DATA SYNTHESIS: Eleven cases of pancreatitis have been reported in patients taking liraglutide. Seven were from the LEAD (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes) studies, 1 was reported in the extension of a clinical trial, and 1 was in an unpublished obesity trial. Two were published postmarketing case reports. Nine of the cases reported were diagnosed as acute pancreatitis, while 2 were classified as chronic pancreatitis. The mean age of the patients was 57.5 years and mean body mass index was 33.92 kg/m2. Six of the 11 cases occurred in male patients. Nine of the patients were white and 1 was African American. In 7 of the cases, onset occurred at liraglutide doses at or above 1.8 mg daily. Common comorbidities included history of pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, and diabetes. One case was fatal. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatitis is a potential complication with liraglutide therapy. Liraglutide should be used cautiously in patients at risk of pancreatitis (eg, alcohol abuse, history of pancreatitis, cholelithiasis).

Acute pancreatitis is a disease which can present in a mild or severe form. In the last few years, the incidence of acute pancreatitis has been steadily rising. The treatment of severe cases is complex and nutrition is one of the key treatment factors. Enteral and parenteral nutrition are documented parts of acute phase treatment included in many guidelines. However, there is a controversy about the timing of initiation of peroral nutrition after the acute phase of severe pancreatitis has resolved. This dissertation shows the results of monocentric prospective randomized trial which compares the safety and effectivity of peroral nutrition compared to enteral nutrition in patients with severe acute pancreatitis during hospitalization as well as in long term after hospital discharge. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis were randomized into two groups - enteral nutrition versus peroral nutrition. The randomized nutrition strategy was initiated within the first 14 days of hospitalization. We monitored the length of hospital stay, tolerance of nutrition, complications, body weight and nutrition parameters. The two groups did not differ significantly in the length of hospital stay. The number of complications was similar between the groups, there was no significant difference in the rate of acute...

Background The gallstone prevalence in the western world is 10-20%. Most gallstones are silent, but symptoms and complications appear in 20-40%. The incidence of symptom development in patients with silent gallstones is 2-4% per year. The indication for surgical (including endoscopic) treatment of gallstones is symptoms of certain magnitude, and no contraindications. During the past three decades an intense technical development in imaging (ultrasound, computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging), endoscopic therapy, and surgery has taken place. The aim of this thesis is to scrutinize changes in management of complicated gallstone disease on a population-based level, using national register data. Have the new methods improved the treatment of acute pancreatitis, common bile duct stones and acute gallbladder disease? Methods Data is collected from National Patient Register (NPR) run by The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. NPR collects discharge data from every admission from every Swedish hospital. Mortality is calculated as standardised mortality ratio (SMR) using age-, gender-, and calendar year specific survival estimates. We have studied both general trends in admissions and treatment alternatives and outcomes in defined patient cohorts. Length of hospital stay, readmission, and mortality has been used as proxy indicators of the effectiveness of treatment strategies used. Results During the study period mortality in acute pancreatitis (SMR within 90 days of admission) improved and hospital stay for all patients with acute pancreatitis decreased. Cholecystectomy rate at or shortly after index stay for mild acute biliary pancreatitis increased from 14.5 % to 22.7 %. Of all patients with acute pancreatitis 68.4 % of the patients had no aetiological diagnosis in the register. The incidence of bile duct interventions increased 27.8% from 1988 through 2006. The favoured treatment of bile duct stones changed from open choledocholithectomy to endoscopic sphincterotomy with stone extraction during the same period. However, in 2006, still 19.6% of bile duct interventions for stones were performed as choledochotomy and in the great majority of these cases as open surgery. This indicates a continuing need of education in open bile duct surgery. Mean hospital stay for treatment of common bile duct stones decreased significantly (4.5 days) during the period studied. The mortality (SMR) diminished although without statistical significance during the time period, and there was no significant difference in SMR between choledochotomy and endoscopic sphincterotomy. For acute gallbladder disease a moderate increase of admissions occurred from 1988 through 2006. The relation between acute cholecystectomies versus all cholecystectomies did not change during this period. Of all patients admitted with acute gallbladder disease 32.3 % were cholecystectomised during their first hospital stay, whereas 20.3 % underwent elective cholecystectomy and 6.1 % emergency cholecystectomy within two years of first admission. 41.4 % of patients were not operated on for gallbladder disease within two years of first admission with this diagnosis. Mortality from first admission and 90 days onwards was elevated three-fold during the entire period without time trend, without statistical difference between age groups, and between patients who had cholecystectomy at first admission or later. Conclusion During the audit period treatment of acute pancreatitis improved. However, etiological classification and timing of cholecystectomy in mild acute biliary pancreatitis fell below accepted guidelines. Interventions on the common bile duct for gallstone disease increased significantly. Common bile duct clearance has been separated from cholecystectomy, and cholecystectomy often not done. Only one third of all patients with acute gallbladder disease underwent cholecystectomy at first admission. There is room for improvement in treatment of complicatedgallstone disease, and, gallstone surgeons still need good knowledge in open biliary surgery.

Pancreatic acinar cells display plasticity to acquire distinct differentiation programs, being involved in diseases as chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This work shows that acinar cells cultured in suspension undergo dedifferentiation, acquiring a pancreatic embryonic progenitor phenotype. Dedifferentiated cells turn on a senescent program, associated with activation of p53 and Ras pathways. A similar progenitor‐like phenotype with activation of senescence is present in experimental chronic pancreatitis. Acinar cultures lacking p53 overcome growth arrest and lose the pancreatic phenotype, undergoing an epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, while maintaining the expression of pre‐pancreatic endoderm and stem cell markers. In experimental acute pancreatitis, absence of p53 results in increased acinar cell proliferation and delayed regeneration. Our findings support a role for acinar cell dedifferentiation in the initiation of pancreatic diseases. A p53‐ dependent control of cell growth and epithelial differentiation constitutes a tumor suppressive mechanism that may limit PDAC development. / Las células pancreáticas acinares poseen plasticidad que les permite adquirir distintos programas de diferenciación, estando implicadas en enfermedades como la pancreatitis crónica y el adenocarcinoma ductal pancreático. En este trabajo hemos demostrado que las células acinares cultivadas en suspensión se desdiferencian, adquiriendo un fenotipo de progenitores pancreáticos embrionarios. En estas células se induce un programa de senescencia asociado con la activación de las vías de p53 y Ras. Un fenotipo similar se evidencia en modelos de pancreatitis crónica experimental. Cultivos acinares en los que se ha inactivado p53 sobrepasan el bloqueo de crecimiento y pierden el fenotipo pancreático, presentando una transición epitelio‐mesenquimal y manteniendo la expresión de marcadores de endodermo pre‐pancreático y de células madre. Durante la inducción de una pancreatitis aguda experimental, la ausencia de p53 resulta en un incremento de la proliferación acinar y en un retraso en la regeneración. Nuestros resultados demuestran que la desdiferenciación de las células acinares participa en el desarrollo de enfermedades pancreáticas. El control del crecimiento celular y de la diferenciación pancreática epitelial dependiente de p53 constituye un mecanismo de supresión tumoral que puede limitar el desarrollo del PDAC.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe disease in about 20% of patients, causing hospitalization and death, mainly due to associated systemic complications. The treatment of this condition is still insufficient to control the intrinsic inflammatory process and is focused on managing the complications and symptoms of patients. Among the many factors involved in AP, the inflammatory response and oxidative stress can be highlighted. In this context, rutin is presented as a natural substance with important potential to treat AP, by considering its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the pharmacological effects of rutin on experimental AP induced by L-arginine administration in mice. Adult male Swiss mice (25-30 g) were used in this study and all experiments were approved by this institution´s Ethics Committee in Animal Research (43/2012). For the induction of AP, mice received 2 injections of L-arginine (8%, 4 g/kg, i.p., with an interval of 1 h). The control group received the same volume of saline (0.9%) instead of L-arginine. Mice submitted to AP induction were treated with rutin (37.5, 75 or 150 mg/kg, p.o.) or saline (vehicle) after 24, 36, 48 and 60 h of the first injection of L-arginine. The control group was treated with vehicle at the same time points. The euthanasia occurred after 72 h of induction and was accompanied by blood and organ (pancreas, lung, liver and kidney) collection. We investigated parameters that permitted us to infer about pancreatic and systemic inflammation and evaluate serum concentrations of pancreatic enzymes, abdominal hyperalgesia and oxidative stress. In animals injected with L-arginine, it was detected the increase of inflammatory and biochemical parameters that confirmed the induction of AP, when compared with saline-injected animals. The treatment with rutin reduced the myeloperoxidase activity in pancreas (p<0.001 for 37.5, 75 or 150 mg/kg), but not in lung, reduced the pancreatic edema index (p<0.001 for 37.5 mg/kg and p<0.05 for 75 and 150 mg/kg) and the serum concentration of amylase (p<0.001 for 75 and 150 mg/kg). From these experiments, we chose the dose of 75 mg/kg for the next steps. In this way, treatment with this dose of rutin also reduced the serum lipase (p<0.001), C reactive protein (p<0.001) and interleukin-6 (p<0.001) concentrations, as well as decreased the abdominal hyperalgesia (p<0.05), when compared with Vehicle + L-arginine group after 72 h of L-arginine injection. The administration of rutin also diminished lipid peroxidation induced by L-arginine in pancreas, liver and kidney (p<0.001) and increased both the activity of catalase in pancreas (p<0.001), glutathione peroxidase in pancreas (p<0.05) and superoxide dismutase in pancreas (p<0.01) and liver (p<0.05). Besides, it decreased the expression of 3-nitrotyrosine in pancreas (p<0.05). Altogether, these results demonstrate that rutin exert anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant actions during AP induced by L-arginine, which are suggestive that this flavonoid is of interest for developing future studies or approaches focused on new alternatives to treat AP in humans. / A pancreatite aguda (PA) é uma doença grave em cerca de 20% dos casos, que causa hospitalização e óbito dos pacientes devido às complicações sistêmicas associadas. Seu tratamento clínico tem se mostrado insuficiente para controlar o processo inflamatório intrínseco da doença e é focado no manejo dos sintomas e complicações. Dentre os diversos fatores envolvidos na PA, destacam-se a resposta inflamatória e o estresse oxidativo. Neste contexto, a rutina, um flavonoide conhecido por suas atividades antioxidante e anti-inflamatória, apresenta-se como uma substância natural em potencial a ser utilizada no tratamento da PA. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar os efeitos farmacológicos da rutina em modelo de pancreatite aguda experimental induzida por L-arginina em camundongos. Foram utilizados camundongos Swiss machos adultos (25-30 g) e os procedimentos foram aprovados pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa com Animais da UFS (43/2012). Para a indução da pancreatite os animais receberam duas injeções de L-arginina (8%, 4 g/kg, i.p., com intervalo de 1 h entre elas). O grupo controle recebeu duas injeções de salina (0,9%, i.p.). Os animais submetidos à indução da pancreatite foram tratados com rutina (37,5, 75 ou 150 mg/kg, v.o.) ou salina (veículo), após 24, 36, 48 e 60 h da 1° injeção de L-arginina. O grupo controle foi tratado com veículo nos mesmos tempos. A eutanásia dos animais foi realizada 72 h após a indução, com subsequente coleta de sangue e de órgãos (pâncreas, pulmão, fígado e rim). Foram avaliados parâmetros que permitiram inferir sobre o quadro inflamatório pancreático e sistêmico e avaliar as concentrações séricas de enzimas pancreáticas, a hiperalgesia abdominal e o estresse oxidativo. Os animais que receberam as injeções de L-arginina apresentaram aumento significativo dos parâmetros inflamatórios e bioquímicos preditivos de pancreatite, quando comparados aos animais que receberam salina. O tratamento com rutina reduziu a atividade de mieloperoxidase no pâncreas (p<0,001 para 37,5, 75 ou 150 mg/kg), mas não no pulmão, reduziu o índice de edema pancreático (p<0,001 para 37,5 mg/kg e p<0,05 para 75 e 150 mg/kg) e a concentração sérica de amilase (p<0,001 para 75 e 150 mg/kg). A partir destes resultados a dose de 75 mg/kg foi escolhida para ser utilizada nos experimentos posteriores. O tratamento com esta dose de rutina também diminuiu as concentrações séricas de lipase (p<0,001), proteína C reativa (p<0,001) e de interleucina 6 (p<0,001), bem como reduziu a hiperalgesia abdominal (p<0,05), após 72 h da injeção de L-arginina, quando comparados ao grupo L-arginina + Veículo. O tratamento com rutina (75 mg/kg) também reduziu a peroxidação lipídica induzida pela L-arginina em pâncreas, fígado e rim (p<0,001) e aumentou a atividade de catalase pancreática (p<0,001),de glutationa peroxidase (p<0,05) de superóxido dismutase no pâncreas (p<0,01) e no fígado (p<0,05), além de diminuir a expressão de 3-nitrotirosina no pâncreas (p<0,05). Estes resultados evidenciam que a rutina exerce efeito anti-inflamatório, antinociceptivo e antioxidante durante a PA induzida por L-arginina, os quais sugerem que este flavonoide seja de interesse para abordagens ou estudos futuros objetivando novas alternativas no tratamento da PA em humanos.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) is a common gastrointestinal cause of emergency admissions in dogs and humans and can lead to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Among the various complications associated with ANP, acute lung injury (ALI) or its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are major contributors leading to high mortality rates associated with severe acute pancreatitis (AP) in human patients. The incidence of ALI/ARDS in ANP dogs is not well characterized. However, signs of respiratory complications have been reported clinically in dogs suffering from AP. The pathophysiology of ANP and its systemic complications in dogs and humans are not well understood. Most of the data related to AP comes from rodent models of AP, which may not always represent the true mechanisms occurring in the lungs of dogs or humans with ANP. I decided to undertake evaluation of pancreas and lungs from dogs (N=21) that died of ANP. The cases were selected through the search of the medical records of the Veterinary Medical Center of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). Six healthy SPCA dogs were used as controls. The histology of pancreas was first graded to record the range of ANP severities within dog cases included in this study. Then, characterization of lung inflammation was done with histological grading and qualitative analysis of immunohistochemical staining for von Willebrand Factor (vWF), Toll-Like Receptor-4 (TLR4), interleukin-6 (IL6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Quantification of the recruitment of septal macrophages in the lungs, designated as pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs), in ANP dogs was achieved by counting the number of positive cells in alveolar septa using a macrophage antibody (MAC387). The results revealed that dogs suffering from ANP have variable lung inflammation, which was characterized by a significant infiltration of mononuclear phagocyte cells in the alveolar septa of all ANP dogs (median, 138; range 31-935) compared to control dogs (median: 1.5; range 0-16; p < 0.001), which suggested that PIMs are induced in ANP. In addition, robust staining for vWF in alveolar septal capillaries in lungs of ANP dogs suggested a strong microvascular inflammatory response. Finally, TLR4, IL6, and iNOS expression was increased in lungs of ANP dogs compared to control dogs. The second study was to investigate whether PIMs are induced in a mouse model of L-arginine-induced ANP. Therefore, lungs of L-arginine treated mice (n=7 per time point) were evaluated at various time points (24 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours) using histology and immunohistochemical staining for CD68 cells and vWF. Nine control mice were used. Counting of CD68-positive cells in the lungs of mice treated with L-arginine showed increased numbers of mononuclear phagocytes in alveolar septa at every time point (p<0.001). Also, the lung’s vasculature from L-arginine-treated mice showed increased vWF staining. Taken together, the data showed that ANP in dogs caused significant recruitment of PIMs, increased expression of vWF, TLR4, IL-6, and iNOS suggesting presence of lung inflammation. The mouse model of L-arginine-induced ANP also showed recruitment of PIMs and increased vascular expression of vWF suggesting that this model may be relevant to study the mechanisms of PIMs recruitment and their functions in lung physiology associated with ANP.

Einleitung: Der Verdacht, dass Hunde mit einem Bandscheibenvorfall eine Prädisposition für die Entstehung einer Pankreatitis haben könnten, wurde in der Veterinärmedizin bereits in den frühen 1980er Jahren diskutiert. Trotz dieser bereits vor vielen Jahren erhobenen Vermutungen, wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der Entstehung einer Pankreatitis und einem zeitgleich vorliegenden Bandscheibenvorfall auch im Hinblick auf mögliche Risikofaktoren wie dem Einfluss der Narkose oder dem Einsatz von Medikamenten (v. a. Glukokortikoide und nichtsteroidale Antiphlogistika) bisher nicht näher untersucht. Ziele der Untersuchungen: Im Rahmen der vorliegenden prospektiven Studie sollte untersucht werden, ob Bandscheibenvorfälle ein Risikofaktor für die Entstehung einer Pankreatitis beim Hund darstellen. Ferner sollte geklärt werden, ob die Narkose und die Gabe von Glukokortikoiden und/oder nichtsteroidalen Antiphlogistika zusätzlich das Risiko der Entstehung einer Pankreatitis bei Hunden mit einem Bandscheibenvorfall erhöhen. Material und Methoden: Insgesamt wurden 106 Hunde, bei denen aufgrund der klinischen Symptome der Verdacht einer Rückenmarksläsion bestand, an fünf aufeinander folgenden Tagen klinisch untersucht. Besonderes Augenmerk wurde hierbei auf Symptome gelegt, welche typischerweise bei Pankreatitiden zu beobachten sind (reduziertes Allgemeinbefinden, Schwäche, Anorexie, dolentes Abdomen, Vomitus, Regurgitieren, Diarrhoe, Fieber, Dehydratation). Ferner wurde am Tag 0 und Tag 4 der stationären Aufnahme die Konzentration der caninen pankreasspezifischen Lipase im Serum gemessen (Spec cPL und Snap cPL). Am Tag 0 wurde von dem Vorliegen einer Pankreatitis ausgegangen, wenn klinische Befunde im Sinne einer Pankreatitis sowie eine abnorm erhöhte Konzentration der caninen pankreasspezifischen Lipase im Serum (>400 μg/L) auffällig waren. Am Tag 4 erfolgte zudem eine sonographische Untersuchung des Abdomens. Somit basierte die Diagnosestellung einer Pankreatitis an diesem Tag auf dem Vorliegen von zwei der folgenden drei Kriterien: klinische Befunde im Sinne einer Pankreatitis, abnorm erhöhte Konzentration der caninen pankreasspezifischen Lipase im Serum, sonographische Hinweise für das Vorliegen einer Pankreatitis. Im Rahmen der statistischen Auswertung wurden zudem auch Patienten erfasst, welche in einem oder in mehreren der oben genannten Kriterien ein fragliches Ergebnis aufwiesen. Entsprechend ihrer neurologischen Ausfallserscheinungen sowie der Befunde im Rahmen der bildgebenden Diagnostik (Myelographie, Computertomographie, Kernspintomographie) wurden die Patienten in eine der folgenden drei Untersuchungsgruppen eingeteilt: 1. Hunde mit einem chirurgisch versorgten Bandscheibenvorfall (n = 71) 2. Hunde mit einem konservativ therapierten Bandscheibenvorfall (n = 20) und 3. Hunde mit einer akuten intramedullären Läsion (n = 15). Die statistische Auswerte erfolgte aufgrund der geringen Stichprobengrößen vorwiegend deskriptiv. Die Daten wurden mittels des Shapiro-Wilk-Tests auf Normalverteilung überprüft, die durchgeführten Gruppenvergleiche erfolgten unter Verwendung des Kruskal-Wallis und Mann-Whitney-U-Tests. Zudem wurden die betrachteten Merkmale mit dem Fisher Test und dem Chi-Quadrat-Test auf Unabhängigkeit überprüft. Das Signifikanzniveau wurde für alle Tests mit p < 0,05 festgelegt. Ergebnisse: Basierend auf den klinischen Symptomen und der Konzentration der caninen pankreasspezifischen Lipase im Serum konnte insgesamt am Tag 0 bei vier Hunden (3,8 %) eine Pankreatitis diagnostiziert werden. Am Tag 4 waren es, basierend auf den drei Kriterien, welche für die Diagnosestellung einer Pankreatitis herangezogen werden, insgesamt acht Patienten (7,5 %). Hunde mit einem Bandscheibenvorfall (chirurgisch beziehungsweise konservativ therapiert) wiesen am Tag 0 beziehungsweise Tag 4 in 4,3 % (n = 4) beziehungsweise 7,7 % (n = 7) der Fälle eine Pankreatitis auf. Aufgrund der geringen Häufigkeiten in den einzelnen Untersuchungsgruppen, war eine Berechnung eines signifikanten Unterschieds zwischen den Gruppen nicht möglich. Hinsichtlich einer möglichen Korrelation zwischen einer Narkose und der Entstehung einer Pankreatitis bei Hunden mit einer Rückenmarksläsion konnte kein signifikanter Zusammenhang festgestellt werden. Auch die Gabe von Glukokortikoiden und/oder nichtsteroidalen Antiphlogistika hatte hier keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Entstehung einer Pankreatitis. Schlussfolgerung: Vergleicht man die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie mit der in der Literatur angegebenen Prävalenz für akute Pankreatitiden beim Hund (0,7-3,5 %), so kann geschlussfolgert werden, dass eine Rückenmarksläsion, insbesondere ein Bandscheibenvorfall, als Risikofaktor für die Entstehung einer akuten Pankreatitis beim Hund in Betracht gezogen werden muss. Demgegenüber erhöhen weder die Narkose noch die Gabe von Glukokortikoiden und/oder nichtsteroidalen Antiphlogistika zusätzlich das Risiko der Entstehung einer Pankreatitis bei Hunden mit einer Rückenmarksläsion. / Objective: The suspicion that dogs with intervertebral disc disease are at greater risk of developing pancreatitis is being discussed in veterinary medicine since the early 1980s. So far no study has been published examining the correlation between intervertebral disk disease and the development of pancreatitis in dogs, especially in combination with general anaesthesia and anti-inflammatory medication (glucocorticoids and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The aim of this study was therefore 1) to evaluate intervertebral disk disease as possible risk factor of pancreatitis and 2) to ascertain if general anaesthesia and the administration of glucocorticoids and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs further increase the risk of pancreatitis in dogs with intervertebral disk disease. Material and methods: One hundred and six dogs with symptoms associated with spinal cord injury were clinically examined over a period of five days. Special attention was payed to symptoms usually seen with pancreatitis such as anorexia, vomitus and abdominal pain. Furthermore the concentration of canine pancreatic lipase in the blood serum was measured with Spec cPL and Snap cPL at day 0 and day 4 after admission. At day 0 the diagnosis of pancreatitis was based on clinical symptoms associated with pancreatitis in combination with an increased concentration of canine pancreatic lipase in the blood serum (>400 μg/L). A sonography of the pancreas was performed at day 4 to evaluate the organ itself and the surrounding tissue for lesions associated with pancreatitis. Therefore the diagnosis of pancreatitis at day 4 was based on positive results in at least two of the three following criteria: symptoms associated with pancreatitis, elevation of the concentration of canine pancreatic lipase in the blood serum, sonographic changes of the pancreas parenchyma and the surrounding tissue associated with pancreatitis. For statistical analysis questionable results in one or more of these criteria were also documented. According to the neurologic symptoms and the findings of diagnostic imaging (myelography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging), dogs were categorized in one of the following groups: 1. dogs with surgically treated intervertebral disk disease (n = 71), 2. dogs with medically treated intervertebral disk disease (n = 20), 3. dogs with an acute intramedullary lesion (n = 15). Due to the small sample size, statistics were primarily performed descriptively. Data were tested for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test. If Group comparisons were feasible, they were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney-U test. Fisher test and the Chi-Square test were used to test for association between group affiliation and possible risk factors for the development of pancreatitis. A value of P < 0.5 was considered significant for all analysis. Results: Based on clinical symptoms and an elevated concentration of the canine pancreatic lipase (> 400μg/l) at day 0, four dogs (3.8 %) were diagnosed with pancreatitis. According to the clinical symptoms, the concentration of the canine pancreatic lipase and sonographic changes, a total number of eight dogs (7.5 %) were diagnosed with pancreatitis at day 4. Considering only the dogs with intervertebral disk disease (surgically and medically treated) 4.3 % (n = 4) and 7.7 % (n = 7) were diagnosed with pancreatitis at day 0 and day 4, respectively. Due to the small sample size, the calculation of significant differences between the three subgroups was not feasible. There was no significant correlation between general anaesthesia and the development of pancreatitis. Furthermore, the administration of glucocorticoids and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is not significantly associated with the genesis of pancreatitis.

Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Médico Veterinario / La Pancreatitis Necrótica Infecciosa (IPN) es una enfermedad distribuida mundialmente que afecta a distintas especies de salmónidos, siendo uno de los más susceptibles el salmón del Atlántico (Salmo salar). En Chile, así como en otros países, es una de las principales causas de mortalidad, especialmente durante la fase de crianza de agua dulce. Considerando la importancia económica de dicha enfermedad para la salmonicultura nacional, el propósito de este estudio es determinar las fuentes de (co) variación genética de la resistencia a IPN y el peso corporal; y así estimar la respuesta correlacionada en resistencia debida a la selección directa por peso corporal de alevín. Se utilizó un modelo de estudio de desafío experimental en el Laboratorio de Virología de la Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Un total de 4.310 alevines (pertenecientes a 29 familias de propios hermanos) se enfrentó al virus del IPN (IPNv) mediante inmersión. La crianza inicial después de la incubación, se llevó a cabo en la Unidad Experimental de la “Universidad de Chile”, en Castro. Se utilizó un modelo bivariado para la estimación de los parámetros genéticos para peso corporal y resistencia a IPN (medida como días hasta la muerte). El peso corporal fue obtenido inmediatamente después de la muerte; mientras que la resistencia a IPN se consideró como una variable normal a través del tiempo. Se obtuvo varianza genética significativa tanto para peso corporal como resistencia a IPN, con heredabilidades que alcanzan a 0,66 ± 0,19 y 0,56 ± 0,32; respectivamente. Los valores relativamente grandes de estas estimaciones de los parámetros es probable que se deban por los efectos ambientales comunes. Una correlación genética significativa de -0,68 ± 0,11 se encontró entre ambas características. Los resultados muestran que seleccionar directamente por resistencia entregaría una respuesta correlacionada negativa para peso corporal; mientras que, la selección hecha antes de la fase de agua dulce para aumentar el peso corporal, tendría un gran impacto en disminuir la resistencia a IPN del salmón del Atlántico. / Proyecto CORFO-INNOVA (0CT6 PP-10)

A pancreatite aguda (PA) é uma doença que frequentemente está associada a uma inflamação local e sistêmica não controlada que é responsável pela alta morbidade e mortalidade desta doença. Independentemente do mecanismo inicial, o processo inflamatório ocorre após uma lesão nas células acinares, levando ao recrutamento de células inflamatórias que produzem citocinas e quimiocinas que são capazes de desempenhar um papel importante na patogênese dessa doença. A inflamação pancreática induz distúrbios profundos na homeostase levando ao dano tecidual em outros órgãos, tais como o intestino e o pulmão. Por outro lado, órgãos como o cérebro têm mecanismos estruturais e celulares de proteção contra a inflamação. Tem sido descrito, que pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca apresentam lesão cardíaca, levando a produção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, ativação de células T e do sistema complemento. Além da cascata inflamatória, durante todo o estágio da PA o sistema cardiovascular pode sofrer alterações cardíacas e histológicas compatíveis com o processo inflamatório desencadeado pela PA. A intensidade da inflamação sistêmica devido à PA é semelhante em ratos jovens e idosos, porém, a duração da inflamação sistêmica parece ser muito maior nos idosos. A idade avançada é considerada um fator prognóstico independente para um pior prognóstico na PA, mas os mecanismos envolvidos não são totalmente compreendidos. Decidimos analisar a expressão gênica de diversas citocinas, quimiocinas e fatores de crescimento no coração de ratos idosos e jovens submetidos ao modelo animal de PA, com o objetivo de investigar os efeitos da inflamação sistêmica no coração e determinar se esses efeitos sofrem algum tipo de modificação durante a senilidade. Ratos jovens e idosos foram submetidos à PA utilizando-se ácido taurocólico 2,5% e, após 11 horas, o tecido cardíaco foi coletado para histologia e para a extração de RNA. A determinação do RNAm de citocinas e quimiocinas foi feita através do PCR Array. Como resultado, a expressão das interleucinas IL-6 E IL-10, e as quimiocinas CCL7 e CCL19 nos ratos idosos com PA foi menor do que nos ratos jovens com PA. Entretanto, os níveis de CXCL3 e CCL20 aumentaram nos idosos com PA. A expressão de CCL20 e CCL19 foi significativamente alta em ambos os grupos jovens e idosos com PA quando comparados com seus respectivos controles. Nos idosos com PA houve uma redução na expressão de CXCL1, CCL1, CCL11 e IL-10 comparados com seus controles, já entre os grupos saudáveis os idosos expressaram mais do que os jovens. Na análise histológica, a infiltração dos neutrófilos foi significativamente maior no tecido cardíaco dos ratos jovens e idosos com PA, comparado com seus controles. Esse estudo indica que a inflamação sistêmica pode mostrar características únicas para diferentes órgãos do corpo, e a diminuição da expressão gênica de algumas quimiocinas no tecido cardíaco de ratos mais velhos com PA pode sugerir um possível mecanismo cardioprotetor em animais mais velhos / Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease frequently associated with uncontrolled local and systemic inflammation that is responsible for the morbidity and mortality of this disease. Regardless of the initial mechanism, the inflammatory process is triggered by injury to the pancreatic acinar cells, leading to recruitment of inflammatory cell that produce cytokines and chemokines, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Pancreatic inflammation induces profound disturbances in homeostasis, leading to tissue injury in other organs such as the intestine and lung. On the other hand, organs such as the brain have structural and cellular mechanisms of protection against inflammation. It has been described that patients with heart failure exhibit cardiac injury, leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activation of T cells and activation of the complement system. In addition to inflammatory cascade during all stage of the PA, the cardiovascular system may suffer cardiac and histological changes compatible with inflammatory process triggered by the AP. The intensity of systemic inflammation associated with AP is similar in young and old rats, however, the duration of systemic inflammation is much longer in older animals. Advanced age is considered to be an independent prognostic factor for a poorer prognosis in AP, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. We analyzed the gene expression of several cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in young and aged rats hearts in an animal model of AP to investigate the effects of systemic inflammation on the heart, and to determine whether the effects are modified with age. Young and old rats were subjected to AP using taurocholic acid (2.5%) and after 11 hours, the cardiac tissue was collected to histology and RNA extraction. The determination of mRNA of cytokines and chemokines was performed by PCR array. The expression of interleukins IL-6 and IL-10 and the chemokines CCL7 and CCL19 in the aged AP rats was lower than young AP rats. However, CXCL3 and CCL20 levels showed opposite results, with increased levels in the aged AP group. The expression of CCL20 and CCL19 was greater in both young and aged AP rats compared with their respective controls. In aged AP rats there were a reduction in the expression of CXCL1, CCL1, CCL11 and IL-10 compared to their controls, and among healthy groups, the elderly rats expressed more than the young rats. In histological analysis, the neutrophils infiltration was significantly higher in the heart tissue of AP rats, both young and old, compared with their controls. This study indicates that systemic inflammation may show unique features for different organs in the body and decreased gene expression of some chemokines in the heart tissue of older AP may suggest a possible cardioprotective mechanism in older animals