Effects of curcumin on proinflammatory cytokines and tissue injury in the early and late phases of experimental acute pancreatitis

Background & aimsAcute pancreatitis (AP) varies from mild to severe necrotizing changes with high mortality. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on tissue injury and proinflammatory cytokines in the early and late phases of AP.MethodsAP was induced by sodium taurocholate in rats (n = 140). First group was left untreated. Group II received 100 mg/kg curcumin daily starting 20 days before AP induction. The rats were allocated into 7 sub-groups (n:5) and were sacrificed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 72, 144 and 288 h following the induction of AP. Blood and pancreatic tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathologic evaluations and the assessment of protein and mRNA levels, as well.ResultsCurcumin decreased total histopathologic scores in comparison with those of the taurocholate group (P < 0.05). Curcumin increased Caspase-3 activity and decreased trypsin activity, while inhibited nuclear factor-κ (NF-κB) at all time points (P < 0.05) and moreover reduced activator protein-1 (AP-1). Curcumin decreased chemokine (except for 288 h), TNF-α (except for 2 and 24 h), IL-6 (except for 2, 6 and 288 h) and iNOS (except for 144 and 288 h) mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Curcumin serum nitric oxide (NO) (except for 144 and 288 h) levels were reduced, as well.ConclusionsIn conclusion, curcumin reduced tissue injury, trypsin activation and inhibited NF-κB and AP-1. However TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOS and NO were not inhibited at all time points. Therefore no direct correlation was detected in the subgroups between tissue injury, proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative enzymes.     

Enhanced HDL-cholesterol-associated anti-oxidant PON-1 activity in prostate cancer patients

Increases in the generation of reactive oxygen species and decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities with aging have been reported in the prostate, and are also observed in age-related disorders such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and cataracts. Several studies have demonstrated that proteins are targets for reactive oxidants in cells, and that oxidized proteins accumulate during aging, oxidative stress and in some pathological conditions. However, only a limited number of studies have actually evaluated oxidative damage in relation to HDL-cholesterol-associated antioxidant enzyme activities or have assessed its relationship with prostate cancer. In this study, we examined the effect of HDL-cholesterol-associated antioxidant enzyme activities, paraoxonase1, arylesterase and new oxidative stress parameters (total oxidant status, total antioxidant status [and oxidative stress index]) in newly-diagnosed prostate cancer patients and healthy controls. There were no significant differences in oxidative stress parameters and lipid parameters between prostate cancer patients and controls, however, paraoxonase1 enzyme activity, and non-HDL-cholesterol levels were higher in prostate cancer patients than controls. The results of this study were derived from a small number of subjects, but might represent an important working hypothesis for further research in a larger number of cases to clarify the role of paraoxonase1 overproduction on the prostate and its clinical relevance.     

Therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with neurological diseases: Multicenter retrospective analysis

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), is a procedure, changing pathologic substances in the plasma of patients with replacement fluid. TPE has an increasing list of indications in recent years such as neurological, connective tissue, hematological, nephrological, endocrinological and metabolic disorders. We report our multicenter data about therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with neurological diseases. Six University Hospitals’ aphaeresis units medical records about neurologic diseases were reviewed retrospectively. Hundred and fifteen patients and 771 TPE sessions from six aphaeresis units’ were included to this study. Of the 115 patients, 53 (46%) were men and 62 (54%) were women. The median age was 50 (range: 5–85) years. Of these patients 58.3% were Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), 17.4% were acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), 10.4% were chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), 7% were multiple sclerosis, 6.1% were myasthenia gravis (MG) and 0.9% were Wilson disease (WD). The median number of TPE sessions per patient was 5 (range 1–72). Human albumin was used as a replacement fluid in 66% and fresh frozen plasma was used in 34% of cases. TPE was done through central venous catheters in 66%, and peripheral venous access in 34% of patients. Some complications were seen in patients (18.3%) during TPE sessions. These complications were, complications related to catheter placement procedure (8.7%), hypotension (3.5%), hypocalcaemia (3.5%) and allergic reactions (1.7%). The complication ratios were 2.7% in total 771 TPE procedures. TPE procedure was terminated in 6% of sessions depending on these complications. Overall responses to TPE were noted in 89.5% of patients.In conclusion; Therapeutic plasma exchange is an effective treatment option in several neurologic diseases.     

The effect of renal transplantation on pulmonary function.

In patients with chronic renal failure, mechanical and hemodynamic changes could occur in the lungs without obvious pulmonary symptoms and findings and their effects could pave the way to pulmonary functional disorders. In this study, pulmonary functional disorders and especially alveolocapillary defects, which are frequently seen in uremia, were determined in renal transplanted patients. Pulmonary functions and diffusion capacity were assessed in uremic patients (n = 20) and in successfully transplanted patients (n = 20) without any lung disease or pulmonary edema symptoms and findings. Patients were selected randomly among outpatients who were followed up in a Nephrology and Transplantation Unit. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF25-75) were measured. Single breath carbon monoxide diffusion test and diffusion lung capacity adjusted for hemoglobin concentration (DLAdj) were done. The means of the spirometric values such as FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were normal in the nondialyzed uremic group, but the PEF25-75 value (68.7%) and diffusion capacity (DLAdj 72.7%) were found to be slightly low. There were 2 patients with normal values and 18 patients with some functional abnormalities in this nondialyzed uremic group. The means of all spirometric parameters and diffusion capacities were found to be normal in the transplanted group. There were 7 patients with normal function and 13 patients with some functional abnormalities in this transplanted group. When the nondialyzed uremic group and the transplanted group were compared statistically, significant differences were found between their spirometric values (except for FVC) and their diffusion capacities. Even though the uremic patients did not show any symptoms, their pulmonary function tests, especially diffusion capacity, were found to be disturbed. Although the transplanted patients as a group had normal mean spirometric values and diffusion capacity there were nevertheless many individual transplanted patients with defective diffusion capacity and abnormal spirometric values.     

Comparison of the effects of aminoguanidine and L-carnitine treatments on somatosensorial evoked potentials in alloxan-diabetic rats

The effects of aminoguanidine (AG) and L-carnitine (LC) on somatosensorial evoked potential (SEP) latency and neural levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), products of lipid peroxidation, were compared in alloxan-diabetic rats. AG and LC were given to diabetic rats starting from the 3rd week after the induction of diabetes and lasting for 4 weeks. SEP latency was measured by stimulating via caudal nerve and recording via cortex, once weekly during the treatments. Diabetes caused deficits in SEP (P < 0.05 vs non-diabetic control rats, respectively). AG and LC restored SEP latencies slightly but not significantly, with the exception of the prominent effect of AG at the first week and both treatments at the 4th week of the treatments (P < 0.05 vs untreated diabetic rats, respectively). Diabetes caused elevation in neural TBARS levels (P < 0.05 vs non-diabetic group), which was prevented by both AG and LC (P < 0.05 vs untreated diabetic rats, respectively). Weight and the glucose levels were not influenced by the treatments. Our results suggest that AG improves SEP latencies better than LC. Our results also suggest that the beneficial effects of both AG and LC on diabetic neuropathy are not associated with the regulation of glycemia, but these effects may be related in part with prevention of lipid peroxidation.     

Hearing status in brucellosis.

BACKGROUND: Although brucellosis can lead to multisystem complications, involvement of the ear in brucellosis is rarely reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the hearing status of patients with brucellosis. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with brucellosis were included in the study. Pure tone and speech audiometry and tympanometry were performed in the patients. RESULTS: The mean pure tone averages of the patients were within normal limits and were similar in both ears (P > 0.05). The pure tone averages of the patients with or without anti-Brucella treatment were not significantly different (P > 0.05) and were within the normal limits. When the hearing levels of these patients were compared at the frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz, there was no significant difference as well (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral brucellosis does not appear to be associated with hearing loss.     

Problems with benzene in Turkey

Until recently heavy occupational exposures to benzene were frequent in Turkey. Therefore, numerous cases of aplastic anemia associated with chronic exposure to benzene were detected among workers, mostly shoemakers. In addition, there was an increase in the incidence of leukemia among shoeworkers during the period 1967–1975, but the incidence has recently declined, possibly as a result of the phaseout of benzene. Furthermore, apart from leukemia, a frequent association between chronic exposure to benzene and various types of malignancies such as malignant lymphoma, myeloid metaplasia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, multiple myeloma, and lung cancer has been found and this relationship is discussed.