The activities of liver adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase enzymes and the levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide after cisplatin toxicity in rats: protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an antioxidant agent, on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity through adenosine deaminase (AD), xanthine oxidase (XO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in liver tissue of rats. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control group (n = 6), cisplatin group (n = 9) and CAPE + cisplatin group (n = 8). All the chemicals used were applied intraperitoneally. Spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the activities of the above-mentioned enzymes in the liver tissue. NO level and XO activity were found to be increased in the cisplatin group compared to the control group. NO level was found to be decreased in the cisplatin + CAPE group in comparison with the cisplatin group. There was no significant change in the activity of XO between the cisplatin and cisplatin + CAPE groups. The activity of SOD was lower in the cisplatin group than both the control and cisplatin + CAPE groups. There was no significant change in the activity of CAT between the control and cisplatin groups. CAT activity was increased in the cisplatin + CAPE group compared to the cisplatin group. The AD activity and MDA level remained unchanged in all groups. The results obtained suggested that CAPE significantly attenuated the hepatotoxicity as an indirect target of cisplatin in an animal model of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Pamidronate treatment in acute vitamin D intoxication

Management with glucocorticoid, high iv fluid saline intake, furosemide and calcitonin may not result in a favorable reduction of hypercalcemia and may cause several side effects in infants with acute vitamin D intoxication. The bisphosphonate pamidronate, a specific inhibitor of bone resorption through osteoclast mediation was successfully used in a 6-month old infant with acute vitamin D intoxication managed in the Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Unit, after an ineffective trial of hydration, furosemide, calcitonin and prednisolone. After a double infusion of pamidronate on two consecutive days (1 mg/kg/day), an early and safe correction of hypercalcemia/hypercalciuria was supplied. Pamidronate therapy may be considered in patients with hypercalcemia secondary to acute vitamin D poisoning.     

Influence of acute exercise on urinary protein, creatinine, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 concentrations in children

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide hormone and present in human urine. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is the major form of binding protein in human circulation and functions as a carrier for IGF-I. Our goal was to determine the effects of volleyball exercise on the concentrations of urine protein, creatinine, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 in children and to find out whether these effects differ between boys and girls. Volunteer children (13 females and 14 males), aged 10-13 years old were included in this work. Weight and height of the subjects were measured, and urine samples of their were collected before and after 2 hours of exercise. Urinary protein, creatinine, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were analysed. Urinary protein, creatinine and IGF-I concentrations were increased after two hours of exercise wheres urinary IGFBP-3 concentrations did not change. In addition, no statistically significant difference in all parameters analysed was observed between boys and girls of similar age and body mass index.     

Does subjective tinnitus cause sexual disturbance?

OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus can cause psychological problems, which can affect sexual performance. The aim of this study was to investigate sexual disturbance related to the psychological problems of patients with subjective tinnitus. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjective tinnitus group with normal hearing levels consisted of 20 patients (10 male, 10 female) who were nonpsychiatric. The control group consisted of 20 healthy patients (10 male, 10 female) with normal hearing levels who did not have tinnitus and were nonpsychiatric. All subjects were married and had an active sexual life. Using a questionnaire, the subjective tinnitus loudness level score (STLL-Sc) was found. Using Zung Anxiety and Depression Scale, self-rating depression scale (SDS) was found in the study and control groups. Sexual function was assessed in all male subjects with the International Index of Erectile Functions (IIEF) and in all female subjects with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: In females, the satisfaction subscore was slightly lower than normal limits in both the study and control groups. In males, the IIEF showed an insignificant, negative correlation with the STLL-Sc and the SDS and a positive correlation with tinnitus duration. In females, the FSFI showed an insignificant negative correlation with the STLL-Sc and a positive correlation with tinnitus duration and the SDS. CONCLUSION: Sexual disturbance is seen in very quiet- and intermediate-level tinnitus sufferers in the early period of the disease. Over time, they become used to living with their tinnitus, and no loss in sexual performance is seen. In the future, we plan to investigate the sexual disturbance of patients with severe STLL-Scs.     

A practical method for the estimation of vitiligo surface area: a comparison between the point counting and digital planimetry techniques

The accurate measurement of vitiligo surface area is fundamental to the evaluation of treatment efficacy. Digital photography, planimetry and clinical evaluation by the clinician have been used for assessment. Although digital photography with computerized planimetry is a reliable and accurate method, it is labour intensive and expensive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the point counting method and to compare it with digital planimetry techniques for the estimation of vitiligo surface area. Surface areas of 31 vitiligo lesions of five volunteers were estimated using the point counting and digital planimetry methods. Three independent observers evaluated the outlined areas twice using the point counting technique with an interval of 2 weeks. The same lesions were also measured by one observer applying digital planimetry. The estimation results of three observers were compared using inter and intra-observer correlation analysis test. There was significant inter- and intra-observer agreement for all measurements. There was also significant coincidence between each observer's estimation of the point counting and digital planimetry method. No significant differences on the results of surface area obtained using the two methods were found (p > 0.05). The point counting method may be used as a direct and reliable technique to measure the vitiligo surface area.     

A new evaluation method for the intracranial volume changes and subdural effusion of patients following endoscopic third ventriculostomy

Objective

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a procedure commonly applied in the treatment of non-communicating (obstructive) hydrocephalus. One of the rare complications that can occur following ETV is a subdural effusion, even though this procedure is considered to be a more controlled and natural method of cerebrospinal fluid drainage compared to external drainage. In this study, we evaluated the intracranial volume changes and subdural effusion of patients following ETV using Cavalieri method.

Method

Volumes analysis of the cranial cavity, brain, ventricles and subdural effusions of two patients after ETV were performed on computed tomography images using the Cavalieri principle, one of the stereological methods.

Results

The preoperative total intracranial volumes and the preoperative brain volumes decreased for both patients during the postoperative 3rd, 10th and 30th days. Following ETV, the volumes of the lateral ventricles of both patients initially decreased during the postoperative 3rd and 10th days, however, the volumes returned almost to their preoperative size by the end of the 30th day. The effusions were seen on the postoperative 3rd and 10th days resolved by the end of the 30th day.

Conclusion

Our results show that the Cavalieri method can be used to unbiased prediction of intracranial volume changes and to follow the subdural effusion after the ETV surgery.     

Palosuran Treatment Effective as Bosentan in the Treatment Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and fatal disorder that any valuable advance in the management of diseases has crucial importance. The present study aimed to compare the Endothelin1 (ET1) inhibitor bosentan which is regarded as standard therapy with different dose regimens of palosuran which is urotensin-II (UII) inhibitor and explore the discrepancy for mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), UII, ET1 levels, and pulmonary vascular pathology. Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups of ten animals each: group 1 (control group) received the vehicle subcutaneously, instead of monocrotaline (MCT) and vehicle; group 2 (MCT group) received subcutaneous MCT and vehicle; and group 3 (MCT + palosuran 30 mg) received subcutaneous MCT and palosuran. Other groups consist of group 4 (MCT + palosuran 100 mg), group 5 (MCT + bosentan 30 mg), group 6 (MCT + bosentan 100 mg), and group 7 (combination therapy). Serum ET1, UII, mPAP levels, and pulmonary arteriolar pathology of different diameter vessels of all groups have been measured and recorded. The ET1 and UII levels of untreated rats (group 2) were significantly higher than the other groups (p?<?0.05). Moreover, mPAP levels of group 2 were significantly higher than the other groups (p?=?0.001). Finally, 50–125-μm diameter of arteriole wall thickness was found to be significantly thicker in monocrotaline group compared to groups 4 and 6 (p?<?0.001). Statistical differences of wall thickness/diameter ratios of arteries and arterioles larger than 125 was found to be significant between group 5, group 6, and the control group (p?<?0.001). UII inhibitor is at least as effective as standard therapy bosentan. Findings of this study consolidate that palosuran could be a new future promising therapeutic option in PAH.