The beneficial effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mouse model

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice. GA is a natural substance found in the root of licorice and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has many pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects.

Materials and methods: A total of 40 C57BL/6 mice were divided equally into four groups: (1) Control, (2) EAE, (3) GA and (4) GA?+?EAE. 14?days after induction of EAE with MOG35-55 and pertussis toxin, mice were treated with GA at doses of 100?mg/kg/day for 7?days intraperitoneally.

Results: To our results, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidations (elevated TBARS levels, decreased GPx, SOD, CAT, and GSH levels) were significantly (p?p?≤?.01) and cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-1β, p?p?Conclusions: In conclusion, the GA treatment can protect the brain tissue against EAE in mice with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.     

Plasma homocysteine levels in hyperthyroid patients

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for premature atherosclerotic vascular diseases. It is known that plasma homocysteine levels are higher in hypothyroid patients compared to healthy subjects. The aim of our study was to assess plasma total homocysteine concentrations in hyperthyroid patients before and after treatment when euthyroid status was reached and compare them with control group. Thirteen hyperthyroid patients (age, 42.9 +/- 15.6 year) and eleven healthy subjects (age, 39.9 +/- 12.5 year) were involved in the study. Plasma levels of homocysteine and serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, urea, creatinine, vitamin B12, folate were measured before and after treatment. LDL cholesterol and creatinine clearances were calculated. Pretreatment homocycteine levels of the hyperthyroid patients were significantly lower than healthy controls (11.5 +/- 3.6 micromol/L vs. 15.1 +/- 4.5 micromol/L, respectively, p<0.05). Posttreatment homocysteine levels were significantly higher than pretreatment levels (13.9 +/- 6.3 micromol/L vs. 11.5 +/- 3.6 micromol/L, respectively, p<0.05) and posttreatment creatinine clearance were lower than pretreatment level (103.5 +/- 12.7 ml/min vs. 114.2 +/- 9.3 ml/min, respectively, p<0.01). Lower homocysteine levels in hyperthyroidism can be partially explained with the changes in creatinine clearance.     

Antithrombin III prevents 60 min warm intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury in rats

We investigated the effect of antithrombin III on 60 min warm intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 220-250 g, were divided into three groups: group 1 sham-operated group (no IR injury, n=8), group 2 ischemic control group (control, Ringer's lactate infused, n=8), group 3 Antithrombin III treated group (250 U/kg before ischemia, n=8). Intestinal ischemia was induced in rats by occluding the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and mucosal damage were investigated after 120 min reperfusion. Elevated MDA levels and MPO activity and severe histopathological damage were observed in the control group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Decreased MDA levels and MPO activity and less histopathological damage were detected in group 3 compared with the control group (P<0.05). Accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and neutrophils in mucosal tissues were significantly inhibited by antithrombin III treatment. We conclude that treatment with antithrombin III before intestinal ischemia prevents histological damage in rats.     

A method to rank order water soluble compounds according to their toxicity using Caenorhabditis elegans, a Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter,and axenic liquid media

Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS) parameters Time of Flight (TOF) and Extinction (EXT) were utilized to assess growth and development in Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to (in order of decreasing toxicity) sodium arsenite, sodium fluoride, caffeine, valproic acid, sodium borate or DMSO in C. elegans Habitation Medium (CeHM) for 72 h. Using multivariate statistical modeling and unique sub sampling procedures mean p-value ratios were calculated for each compound. Comparison of mean p-value ratios and/or the percent change in mean-p value ratios to controls were utilized to assess test compound toxicity. Using this assay 5 of the 6 compounds tested (83.3%) were correctly ranked according to their toxicity based on oral rat LD50 data. Test compounds were ranked from most toxic to least toxic as follows: sodium arsenite, sodium fluoride, sodium borate, valproic acid, caffeine and DMSO. Sodium borate was found to be more toxic than caffeine and valproic acid in this bioassay. This study suggests that axenic liquid culture may be used to expose large numbers of nematodes to water soluble toxicants and the COPAS parameters TOF and EXT may be used as functional biomarkers to assess a toxin’s effect on growth and development in C. elegans.     

Generalized seizures aggravated by levetiracetam in an adult patient with phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is one of the most common inherited metabolic disorders, which is characterized by excessive accumulation of phenylalanine (Phe) in tissues. Generalized seizures occur in 25% of the patients. Little is known about seizures and their treatment in adult PKU patients, and information with newer antiepileptic drugs is lacking. Here we report an adult patient who developed generalized seizures later in life, despite strict dietary control, and whose seizures were aggravated by levetiracetam (LEV). Convulsions ceased after discontinuation of LEV and the patient has been seizure free on topiramate 125 mg/day.     

Generalized spike-wave discharges with focal onset in a patient with head trauma and diffuse cerebral lesions: a case report with EEG and cranial MRI findings.

The role of cerebral lesions associated with absence seizures, outside the frontal lobe, has not been demonstrated by both electroencephalography and neuroimaging techniques until now, to our knowledge. We present a case with absence seizures and EEGs with generalized 3 Hz spike-wave patterns that were preceded by a burst of spike-waves on the right parieto-occipital region. The patient had a history of head trauma, and cranial MRI revealed lesions that might be responsible for the seizures. The patient's lateralized and localized EEG findings were probably a representation of secondary bilateral synchrony (SBS). The mechanism of SBS is considerably more complex than a simple triggering of generalized spike-wave complexes from a single cortical focus.