Agmatine, a metabolite of L-arginine, reverses scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment in rats

Agmatine (l-amino-4-guanidino-butane), a metabolite of L-arginine through the action of arginine decarboxylase, is a novel neurotransmitter. In the present study, effects of agmatine on cognitive functions have been evaluated by using one trial step-down passive avoidance and three panel runway task. Agmatine (20, 40, 80 mg/kg i.p.) was administered either in the presence or absence of a cholinergic antagonist, scopolamine (1 mg/kg i.p.). Scopolamine significantly impaired learning and memory in both passive avoidance and three panel runway test. Agmatine did not affect emotional learning, working and reference memory but significantly improved scopolamine-induced impairment of learning and memory in a dose dependent manner. Our results indicate that agmatine, as an endogenous substance, may have an important role in modulation of learning and memory functions.     

Fifty-one Kaposi sarcoma patients

Introduction

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a mesenchymal tumor originating from lymphatic endothelial cells. Immunsupressive patients have higher risk for KS. HHV-8 has a role in immunpathogenesis of KS.

Aim

Evaluation of demographical properties with tumor characteristics and treatment modalities of KS.

Material and method

Histopathologically documented KS patients were evaluated retrospectively. Anti-HIV seroprevalence was also evaluated with patient and tumor characteristics besides treatment regimens.

Results

Fifty-one patients were included between September 1998 and February 2009. Male/female ratio was 3.25 (39/12). Median age was 68 (31–94). Lower extremity was the most common site whereas excisional biopsy was the most common diagnostic procedure. Smoking rate was 42.8%. Twenty percent had family history for cancer. Anti-HIV seropositivity rate was 1.9%. Thirty eight percent had local monotherapy, and radiotherapy was most common (26%). Multidisciplinary approach rate was 44%. Most of them had surgery and radiotherapy combination. Two-third of the patients had radiotherapy alone or with other modalities. Rates were as 12% for chemotherapy and 6% for interferon. Vincristine-bleomycin-doxorubicin combination was the most preferred regimen (60%).

Conclusion

Male patients in the sixth decade seem to have higher risk for KS. Smoking rate was almost as high. Local therapy might be sufficient in most of the patients. However, we may also consider systemic chemotherapy for selected patients, including vincristine, bleomycin and doxorubicin.     

Effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor E7080 and eNOS inhibitor L-NIO on colorectal cancer alone and in combination

Objective：To investigate the effects of E7080 and N5-（1-iminoethyl）-L-ornithine dihydrochloride （L-NIO）on colorectal cancer alone and in combination.Methods：HT29 colorectal cancer cell line from Sap Institute was used.Real-time cell analysis （xCELLigence system） was performed to determine the effects of E7080 and L-NIO on colorectal cell proliferation.While apoptosis was determined with Annexin V staining,and the effect of agents on angiogenesis was determined with chorioallantoic membrane （CAM） model.Results：We found that E7080 has a strong antiproliferative effect with an half maximum inhibition of concentration （IC50） value of 5.60×10-8 mol/L.Also it has been observed that E7080 showed antiangiogenic and apoptotic effects on HT29 colorectal cancer cells.Antiangiogenic scores of E7080 were 1.2,t.0 and 0.6 for 100,10 and 1 nmol/L E7080 concentrations,respectively.Furthermore,apoptosis has been detected in 71％ of HT29 colorectal cancer cells after administration of 100 nmol/L E7080 which may indicate strong apoptotic effect.Meanwhile administration of L-NIO alone did not show any effect,but the combination of E7080 with L-NIO increased the antiproliferative,antiangiogenic and apoptotic effects of E7080.Conclusions：Results of this study indicate that E7080 may be a good choice in treatment of colorectal tumors.Furthermore the increased effects of E7080 when combined with L-NIO raise the possibility to use a lower dose of E7080 and therefore avoid/minimize the side effects observed with E7080.     

Nasal cytology in the diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis in atopic and nonatopic children

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of nasal cytology in the diagnosis of sinusitis and follow-up of atopic and nonatopic children before and after treatment and to compare the nasal cytologic findings with the radiologic findings. DESIGN: Open randomized investigation. SETTING: Ministry of Health, Ankara Diskapi Children's Hospital. METHOD: Fifty-five children with bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis followed by the Allergy Department of the Ministry of Health, Ankara Diskapi Children's Education and Research Hospital and 35 control children were evaluated for the following parameters: symptoms and signs of sinusitis, total serum immunoglobulin E level and eosinophil count, skinprick tests to common allergens, paranasal sinus radiographs, and nasal cytology (by the Rhinoprobe [Synbiotics Inc. London] method and wax paper blow). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nasal cytology, radiologic findings, and treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between radiologic and cytologic findings in any of the groups (p > .05). In both atopic and nonatopic chronic sinusitis patients, the Rhinoprobe method had results similar to the radiologic findings, and there was a significant relationship (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal cytology is still a diagnostic tool in the follow-up and evaluation of chronic sinusitis in atopic children but should not be considered an adequate alternative to sinus radiography.     

N-Acetylcysteine improves disturbed ileal contractility following partial hepatectomy in rats

Background and Aims:  It is well known that disturbed intestinal motility and bacterial overgrowth may occur following partial hepatectomy. These events have been followed by the translocation of enteric bacteria that play a major role in the development of infections. We designed the present study to evaluate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on ileal muscle contractility as an indication of intestinal motility.
Methods:  Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups ( n  = 6): sham, sham plus preoperative intraperitoneal NAC injection, hepatectomy, and hepatectomy plus preoperative intraperitoneal NAC injection. Contractile and relaxant responses in isolated ileal smooth muscle strips were determined using an in vitro muscle technique. Statistical analyses were performed by Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U -tests.
Results:  Contractile responses to KCl and carbachol were significantly decreased in the ileal strips of the hepatectomy group when compared to the sham-operated control group. The impaired contraction of strips was markedly improved by preoperative NAC treatment. However, neither the electrical field stimulation nor the sodium nitroprusside-mediated relaxant responses changed in any of the groups.
Conclusions:  Our data indicated that disturbed ileal contractility after partial hepatectomy was remedied by preoperative NAC treatment, which in turn might cause attenuation of bacterial translocation.     

Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in subclinical hypothyroid women

Thyroid status is known to influence growth in mammals. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible relationship between autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism and growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3) levels. Thirty-five women with autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism, 33 years of age, were used as controls and enrolled in the study. Free triiodothyronin (FT3), free thyroxin(FT4), thyrotropin(TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase(Anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobuline(Anti-Tg), GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measured in blood samples and correlations among these parameters were evaluated. We found no significant differences in GH, IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 between patients and controls. In patients and controls, there were no correlations among thyroid hormones and IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 levels, but GH levels were correlated with FT3, FT4 and TSH only in patients’ group. In controls, only IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were correlated. The present study suggests that subclinical hypothyroidism with high TSH and antibody status does not affect IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in adult women. To our knowledge, this is the first study concerning the relationship between autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism and IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels.     

Investigation of the relaxant effects of pinacidil and cromakalim on the sheep sphincter of Oddi.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels play an important role in the regulation of smooth muscle membrane potential. This study was designed to investigate the effects of pinacidil and cromakalim, KATP-sensitive channel activators, on sheep sphincters of Oddi (SO). METHODS: SO rings were mounted in a tissue bath and tested for changes in isometric tension in response to pinacidil (10(-9)-10(-4)M) and cromakalim (10(-9)-10(-4)M) in the presence or absence of glibenclamide (10(-6)M), a blocker of KATP channels. Furthermore, concentration-dependent contraction responses of carbachol were obtained. RESULTS: Carbachol (10(-9)-10(-5)M) induced concentration-dependent contraction responses in the SO rings. Pinacidil (10(-9)-10(-4)M) and cromakalim (10(-9)-10(-4)M) induced concentration-dependent relaxation in isolated SO rings precontracted with carbachol (10(-6)M). At their maximum effects, both pinacidil and cromakalim produced nearly full relaxation. In the presence of glibenclamide, concentration-relaxation curves for pinacidil and cromakalim underwent rightward parallel shifts. There were no significant differences between pEC50 and E(max) values of pinacidil and cromakalim in the absence of glibenclamide (10(-6)M) (p > 0.05), but pEC(50) values of pinacidil and cromakalim in the presence of glibenclamide (10(-6)M) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the relaxation caused in sheep SO by pinacidil and cromakalim is mediated through the same glibenclamide-sensitive KATP channel. Pinacidil and cromakalim have an equipotent relaxing effect in isolated sheep SO and they can be beneficial as alternative drugs for obtaining selective relaxation during SO manometry after controlled clinical studies.     

Management of sigmoid colon volvulus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sigmoid colon is the most frequent site for a volvulus. The condition has been a formidable one, fraught with innumerable complications responsible for many deaths. In this report, we reviewed our experience with sigmoid colon volvulus. METHODOLOGY: We present our experience of 61 cases of sigmoid volvulus admitted to our department. Twenty-four patients were subjected to non-operative decompression and the others underwent emergency operation. RESULTS: Intestinal volvulus has quite a high morbidity and mortality. Mortality rate of elective resection following sigmoidoscopy was 7.6%. Mortality rate for emergency surgical detortion, primary resection and Hartman procedure were respectively 13%, 16.6% and 37.5%. Important factors such as the patient's features and frequent late diagnosis can influence the complicated outcome of the disease. Plain X-ray of the abdomen is helpful. CONCLUSIONS: Management with the conservative method of treatment in the form of detortion by sigmoidoscopy and rectal tube application is initially effective in most cases of volvulus of the sigmoid colon. On the other hand, elective or emergency sigmoid resection is the most effective treatment for the disease.