Beneficial effects of resveratrol on scopolamine but not mecamylamine induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests in rats

Resveratrol (3,5,4-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), which is found in grapes and red wine has been shown to protect neuronal cells with its antioxidant activity, improve memory function in dementia and reverse acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on emotional and spatial memory in naive rats, as well as on scopolamine- and mecamylamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Resveratrol (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg), scopolamine (0.6 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (10 mg/kg) were administered to male Wistar rats. In the passive avoidance test, there was no significant difference in the first day latency between all groups, whereas scopolamine and mecamylamine significantly shortened the second day latency compared to the control group. Resveratrol reversed the effect of scopolamine at all doses used, but it had no effect on mecamylamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance test. Both scopolamine and mecamylamine significantly decreased the time spent in the escape platform quadrant during the probe trial of the MWM test compared to the control group. Resveratrol reversed the effect of scopolamine at all doses, but did not change the effect of mecamylamine in the MWM test. There were no significant differences in the locomotor activities of any of the groups. In conclusion, we suggested that resveratrol had improving effects on learning and memory by acting on muscarinic cholinergic receptors and at least in part, may reverse AChE activity.     

A neonate with homozygous protein C deficiency with a homozygous Arg178Trp mutation

Homozygous protein C deficiency affects approximately 1/400,000 to 1/1,000,000 live births. Homozygous protein C deficiency is associated with catastrophic and fatal purpura fulminans-like or thrombotic complications and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In the present patient, genetic study revealed Arg178Trp, a mutation found widely in European population; but this is the first case of homozygous Arg178Trp mutation who suffered from catastrophic purpura fulminans phenotype.     

The effect of human growth hormone on superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione and malondialdehyde levels of hypoxic-ischemic newborn rat brain

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of human growth hormone (GH) on newborn rat brain superoxide dismutase, glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) newborn rats. METHODS: Fourty-eight 7 days old newborn rats were randomized to a healthy (n: 15), H-I (n: 18) and GH administered H-I (GH-H-I, n: 15) group. Permanent, left common carotid ligation was performed in the H-I groups. In the GH-H-I group, 50 mg/kg human GH (Norditropin Simplex, Novo Nordisk A/S) was administered subcutaneously just before carotid artery ligation. Two hours after ligation, rats were subjected to 2 h of hypoxemia and then were decapitated. Right and left cerebral hemispheres (CHs) and cerebellum-brain stem (C-BS) were separated. RESULTS: Glutathione levels of each region were not statistically different from each other in and between the groups. Superoxide dismutase levels were higher in C-BSs compared to CHs (for each comparison p < 0.01). CHs and C-BS MDA levels were similar in the control and H-I groups but MDA levels of both CHs of the GH-H-I group were significantly higher than the levels of the H-I group (p = 0.01; p = 0.024, respectively). Left CH MDA level of GH-H-I group was higher compared to left CH MDA of the control group (p = 0.045) while there was no difference between right CHs. In the GH-H-I group, left CH MDA level was higher than the C-BS (p = 0.03). MDA levels of the C-BSs did not differ between the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although we have not evaluated the effect of GH histopathologically, increased lipid peroxidation especially in the H-I (left) hemisphere of the GH treated rats might suggest that GH treatment may be harmful in H-I encephalopathy.     

Association between the −402GA, −401GT,and −323ins10-bp polymorphisms of factor VII gene and breast cancer

Background and Purpose  

Recent data have shown that the hemostatic system may play a role in cancer development and progression. To test whether factor VII (FVII) can be a candidate factor for breast cancer, we have evaluated the distribution of FVII gene polymorphisms in breast cancer patients and healthy subjects.     

Pleural flap for treating perigraft leak after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt

Plasa oozing through the graft after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt is a troublesome complication. We encountered a massive leak following a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in a 2 1/2 year-old-girl which required reexploration. The leak was treated by wrapping the polytetrafluoroethylene shunt with the parietal pleura flap harvested from the adjacent chest wall. The patient had an uneventful recovery. Covering of the polytetrafluoroethylene shunt with parietal pleura appears to stop plasma leak through the graft following a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.     

Coexistence of K-ras mutations and HPV infection in colon cancer

Background  

Activation of the ras genes or association with human papillomavirus infection have been extensively studied in colorectal cancer. However, the correlation between K-ras mutations and HPV in colorectal cancer has not been investigated yet. In this study we aimed to investigate the presence of K-ras mutations and their correlation with HPV infection in colon cancer.