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This lecture reviews the progress of the Association for Academic Surgery during the 1990s, a decade of sweeping innovations in technology, communication, and biomedical sciences; a well as a decade of transition in the demographics of surgical trainees; and a decade of new and previously unimagined possibilities for new directions in academic surgical careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mild dietary zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in human populations, but its influence on recovery after acute illness is poorly understood. In a mouse model of abdominal sepsis (cecal ligation puncture), systemic immune responses and liver metabolism were monitored in early (24 h) and late (5 d) phases, under control conditions and during mild dietary Zn restriction. Methods Mice were fed diets adequate or marginally deficient (ZM) in Zn (30 versus 10 mg zinc/kg diet) for 4 wk, before undergoing laparotomy alone (nonseptic control) or cecal ligation puncture (septic). Results Among nonseptic mice, the ZM state was not associated with differences in inflammation or metabolic responses. Among septic mice, mortality did not differ between the zinc adequate and ZM groups. In the early phase, the ZM state amplified increases in plasma interleukin (IL) 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-10, while dampening the interferon gamma response. In the late phase, subtle but significant ZM-associated increases were observed in plasma IL-5 and interferon gamma levels and hepatic protein synthesis, the latter of which appeared to be mammalian target of rapamycin independent and was associated with increased hepatic tumor necrosis factor alpha messenger RNA content. Conclusions Without increasing mortality, the ZM state is associated with a more disordered acute systemic inflammatory response and persistence or enhancement of acute phase responses within the liver parenchyma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent studies suggest that purified omega-3 fatty acids may attenuate acute inflammation and hasten the transition to healing. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that pretreatment with omega-3–rich fish oil (FO) would promote resolution of peritoneal inflammation through production of specific lipid mediators. Methods C57/BL6 mice were given a daily 200-μL oral gavage of saline (CTL) or FO (1.0-1.5 g/kg/d docosahexaenoic acid and 1.3-2.0 g/kg/d eicosapentaenoic acid) for 7 d before chemical peritonitis was induced with thioglycollate. Peritoneal lavage fluid was collected before induction and at days 2 and 4 after peritonitis onset. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Leukotriene B4 (LTB4), Resolvin D1 (RvD1), and the composition of immune cell populations were examined in peritoneal lavage exudates. Cells harvested from the peritoneum were assessed for macrophage differentiation markers, phagocytosis, and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine secretion profiles (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, IL-1β, TNFα). Results The ratio of RvD1 to pro-inflammatory PGE2 and LTB4 was increased in the peritoneal cavity of FO-supplemented animals. FO induced a decrease in the number of monocytes in the lavage fluid, with no change in the number of macrophages, neutrophils, or lymphocytes. Macrophage phagocytosis and M1/M2 messenger RNA markers were unchanged by FO with the exception of decreased PPARγ expression. FO increased ex vivo TNFα secretion after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence that nutraceutically relevant doses of FO supplements given before and during chemical peritonitis shift the balance of lipid mediators towards a proresolution, anti-inflammatory state without drastically altering the number or phenotype of local innate immune cell populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caspase-3, a pro-apoptotic enzyme, represents a class of proteins in which the active site contains reduced thiol (S-H) groups and is modulated by heavy metal cations, such as Zn2+. We explored the effects of the thiol oxidant monochloramine (NH2Cl) on caspase-3 activity within cells of isolated rabbit gastric glands. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that NH2Cl-induced alterations of caspase-3 activity are modulated by oxidant-induced accumulation of Zn2+ within the cytoplasm. Materials and methods: Isolated gastric glands were prepared from rabbit mucosa by collagenase digestion. Caspase-3 activity was measured colorimetrically in suspensions of healthy rabbit gastric glands, following exposure to various concentrations of NH2Cl with or without the zinc chelator TPEN [tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylene diamine] for 1 h, and re-equilibration in Ringer''s solution for 5 h. Conversion of procaspase-3 to active caspase-3 was monitored by Western blot. Results: Monochloramine inhibited caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent fashion. At concentrations of NH2Cl up to 100 μm, these effects were prevented if TPEN was given concurrently and were partly reversed if TPEN was given 1 h later. Caspase-3 activity was preserved by concurrent treatment with a thiol-reducing agent, dithiothreitol. Conclusions: At pathologically relevant concentrations, NH2Cl impairs caspase-3 activity through oxidation of its thiol groups. Independently from its thiol oxidant effects on the enzyme, NH2Cl-induced accumulation of Zn2+ in the cytoplasm is sufficient to restrain endogenous caspase-3 activity. Our studies suggest that some bacterially generated oxidants, such as NH2Cl, impair host pathways of apoptosis through release of Zn2+ from endogenous pools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Caspase-3, a pro-apoptotic enzyme, represents a class of proteins in which the active site contains reduced thiol (S-H) groups and is modulated by heavy metal cations, such as Zn(2+). We explored the effects of the thiol oxidant monochloramine (NH(2)Cl) on caspase-3 activity within cells of isolated rabbit gastric glands. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that NH(2)Cl-induced alterations of caspase-3 activity are modulated by oxidant-induced accumulation of Zn(2+) within the cytoplasm., Materials and Methods: Isolated gastric glands were prepared from rabbit mucosa by collagenase digestion. Caspase-3 activity was measured colorimetrically in suspensions of healthy rabbit gastric glands, following exposure to various concentrations of NH(2)Cl with or without the zinc chelator TPEN [tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylene diamine] for 1 h, and re-equilibration in Ringer's solution for 5 h. Conversion of procaspase-3 to active caspase-3 was monitored by Western blot., Results: Monochloramine inhibited caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent fashion. At concentrations of NH(2)Cl up to 100 microM, these effects were prevented if TPEN was given concurrently and were partly reversed if TPEN was given 1 h later. Caspase-3 activity was preserved by concurrent treatment with a thiol-reducing agent, dithiothreitol., Conclusions: At pathologically relevant concentrations, NH(2)Cl impairs caspase-3 activity through oxidation of its thiol groups. Independently from its thiol oxidant effects on the enzyme, NH(2)Cl-induced accumulation of Zn(2+) in the cytoplasm is sufficient to restrain endogenous caspase-3 activity. Our studies suggest that some bacterially generated oxidants, such as NH(2)Cl, impair host pathways of apoptosis through release of Zn(2+) from endogenous pools.