Effects of captopril on factors affecting gastric mucosal integrity in aspirin-induced gastric lesions in Sprague-Dawley rats

Introduction

Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, which is used as an antihypertensive agent and has shown antioxidant properties. This study aims at determining the effects of captopril on factors affecting gastric mucosal integrity in aspirin-induced gastric lesions.

Material and methods

Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley (200-250 g) rats that were given aspirin (40 mg/100 g body weight) were divided into three groups: the control, captopril (1 mg/100 g body weight daily) and ranitidine (2.5 mg/100 g body weight twice daily) groups. Ranitidine and captopril were given orally for 28 days. Rats in all groups were sacrificed and the parameters measured.

Results

Captopril reduced gastric acidity, and increased gastric glutathione (GSH) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) significantly in comparison to the control group. Captopril also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and gastric lesions insignificantly compared to the control group. Ranitidine healed the lesions significantly compared to the control group. There was no difference between ranitidine and captopril on the severity of lesions, gastric acidity, MDA and GSH. Captopril increased PGE₂ compared to ranitidine (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Captopril has desirable effects on the factors affecting gastric mucosal integrity (acidity, PGE₂ and GSH) and is comparable to ranitidine in ulcer healing.     

Histopathological and functional effects of antimony on the renal cortex of growing albino rat

Contamination of the environment with antimony compounds may affect human health through the persistent exposure to small doses over a long period. Sixty growing male albino rats, weighing 43-57 grams, utilized in this study. The animals were divided into 3 groups; each of 20 rats: animals of group I served as control, animals of group II received 6 mg/kg body weight antimony trisulfide daily for 8 weeks with drinking water, and those of group III received the same dose by the same route for 12 weeks. The Malpighian renal corpuscles showed distortion, destruction and congestion of glomerular tuft, vacuoles in the glomeruli, peritubular haemorrhage, obliteration of Bowman’s space, and thickening with irregularity of Bowman’s membrane. The proximal convoluted tubules demonstrated patchy loss of their brush border, thickening of the basement membrane with loss of its basal infoldings, disarrangement of the mitochondria, pleomorphic vacuoles in the cytoplasm, apical destruction of the cells, apical migration of the nuclei, and absence of microvilli. On the other hand, peri-tubular hemorrhage, apical vacuolation, small atrophic nuclei, swelling of mitochondria, obliteration of the lumina, destruction of cells, and presence of tissue debris in the lumina, were observed in the distal convoluted tubules. The present work demonstrated the hazardous effect of antimony on the renal function as evidenced by the significant increase of the level of blood urea, serum creatinine, and serum sodium and potassium. In conclusion, this study proposed that continuous oral administration of antimony for 8 and 12 weeks has hazardous toxic effect on the structure and function of the kidney in growing albino rat. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended to avoid the use of any drinking water contaminated with antimony compounds and forbidden its use in infants and children foods.     

Treatment of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver in children—single center experience

Background

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) represents less than 5% of all malignant hepatic tumors in childhood. It is considered an aggressive neoplasm with an unfavorable prognosis. The aim of this paper is to present a single center experience in the treatment of children with UESL.

Materials and methods

Ten children with UESL were treated between 1981 and 2012. Age at diagnosis ranged from 4 months to 17 years (median age, 6 years and 9 months). Surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CHT) was performed in 7 patients, and in 3 patients primary surgery was done. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in all 10 patients (CYVADIC, CAV, CAV/ETIF/IF + ADM, CDDP/PLADO). Right hemihepatectomy was performed in 1 patient, extended right hemihepatectomy in 6, and partial resection of the right lobe (segments V-VI, segment V) in 2 patients. One patient with unresectable tumor affecting both lobes was listed for liver transplantation (LTx).

Results

Follow-up from diagnosis ranged from 50 to 222 months (mean 138 months). Among 9 patients treated with partial liver resection, distant metastases/local recurrence was not observed in any, and disease-free survival in this group is 100% (9 patients alive). The patient that underwent liver transplantation died of multiorgan failure 4 months postoperatively.However, this patient was misdiagnosed as having hepatoblastoma (HBL) and received PLADO chemotherapy. The overall survival rate is 90%.

Conclusion

Excellent results with long-term survival can be achieved in children with UESL with conventional therapy, including a combination of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery, even in large extensively growing tumors.     

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in familial Mediterranean fever patient with E148Q mutation: the first case report

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, usually accompanied by sterile polyserositis. Although amyloidosis is the most common renal involvement, non-amyloid renal lesions, such as glomerulonephritis, have been described in patients with FMF. In this report, we present the first case of an FMF patient with heterozygous mutation of E148Q, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, and no amyloidosis. While the association of mutation E148Q with renal involvement is still obscure, colchicine treatment is useful in mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with FMF.     

The Prevalence and the Characteristics of Tuberculosis Patients Undergoing Chronic Dialysis Treatment: Experience of a Dialysis Center in Southeast Turkey

Tuberculosis remains a significant health problem for patients receiving chronic dialysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of tuberculosis among patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) undergoing chronic hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Between 1999 and 2006, we diagnosed 21 active tuberculosis patients among a total of 674-dialysis patient in our dialysis center (582 patients on hemodialysis and 92 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis program). Fourteen patients developed extrapulmonary tuberculosis (generally tuberculous lymphadenitis, n = 8) and seven patients developed pulmonary tuberculosis. All patients who developed tuberculosis after starting dialysis had low creatinine clearances and, in general, anemia and hypoalbuminemia. Three of patients greater than 40 years died. In conclusion, tuberculous lymphadenitis was the most frequent form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in our dialysis population. If no cause is found despite extensive investigations in an end stage renal failure case with fever, loss of weight, and/or atypical lymphadenopathy, the physician should consider the possibility of tuberculosis. Finally, it was considered that ESRF is associated with depressed immune system and elevated risk of tuberculosis; thus, in this population, clinicians must evaluate patients carefully.