The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2011/08, 111(8):506-507. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2011.111.8.487, type of study: ,ani,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2011.111.8.487/html)

Keywords:

animal experiment [68]
LPT [27]
lymphatic pump technique [43]
pneumonia [43]
streptococcus pneumoniae [3]

Abstract:

Background: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) techniques are thought to remove restrictions in the lymphatic vessels and enhance the flow of lymph. One such technique, the lymphatic pump technique (LPT), is thought to aid in the removal of built-up metabolic wastes, toxins, exudates, and cellular debris that occur during infection or edema. Furthermore, LPT has been reported to enhance immune function. Streptococcus pneumoniae is known to be a common cause of otitis media, meningitis, and respiratory infections. It is additionally a major cause of pneumonia in the elderly and infants and has been reported to cause disease secondary to infection with the influenza virus. Objective: To determine if LPT would enhance the clearance of S pneumoniae respiratory infection. Methods: Rats were nasally infected with ∼5 × 107S pneumoniae CFUs. Rats were divided into control, sham, or LPT treatment groups. For 1, 3, or 7 consecutive days, rats received either (1) a daily sham treatment consisting of intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg propofol anesthesia followed by 4 minutes of light touch, (2) 4 minutes of LPT daily under anesthesia, or (3) no treatment or anesthesia (control). At days 2, 4, and 8 postinfection, lungs were collected and measured for S pneumoniae bacteria and the number of pulmonary leukocytes. In addition, blood and spleens were collected to measure the extrapulmonary immune response. Results: LPT treated animals showed a statistically significant (P<.05) decrease in the total CFU/lung at day 2, 4, and 8 postinfection. The decrease was determined to be 20- to 30-fold during each of the 3 points when compared to control animals. At 2 and 4 days postinfection, there were no significant (P>.05) differences in total lung leukocyte numbers between the treatment groups, suggesting LPT did not increase the numbers of leukocytes trafficking into the lungs at this time point. At 8 days postinfection, lung leukocyte concentrations were highest in control rats, which were unable to clear pulmonary bacteria. Both LPT- and sham-treated rats had fewer bacteria in their lungs at day 8 postinfection, suggesting the infection was subsiding; therefore, it was not surprising these rats had fewer leukocytes in their lungs. Conclusions: We have shown that LPT enhances the clearance of pneumococcal bacteria in the lungs after 1, 3, or 7 applications. Our initial findings support the clinical use of LPT to treat patients with pneumonia.