Ellagic acid attenuates oxidative stress on brain and sciatic nerve and improves histopathology of brain in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of ellagic acid in brain and sciatic nerve tissues of diabetic rats. Also, the impact of ellagic acid on catalase and paraoxonase (PON-1) activities, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were examined. The rats were randomly divided into four groups, with eight rats each: Normal controls (not diabetic), only ellagic acid treated (ellagic acid controls, not diabetic), Diabetic controls (streptozotocin, diabetic), ellagic acid-treated diabetic (streptozotocin?+?ellagic acid). After a 4?week experiment, rats were sacrificed, and biomarkers for oxidative stress in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues of the rats were measured. There was significant depletion in the PON-1, catalase, and TAS levels in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues compared to the control groups (for both parameters, p?<?0.05). The values of catalase, PON-1 and TAS reversed back to normal levels in ellagic acid-treated diabetic rats compared to untreated diabetic rats (for both parameters, p?<?0.05). The levels of MDA, TOS, NO and, OSI in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues were higher in untreated diabetic rats compared to control group (for both parameters p?<?0.05). However, MDA, TOS, OSI, and NO levels were found to be significantly reduced in the ellagic acid-treated diabetic group compared to the untreated diabetic group in these tissues (for both parameters, p?<?0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that ellagic acid exhibits neuroprotective effects against oxidative damage in diabetic rats.     

The Impact of Mitral Stenosis on Left Atrial Function Assessed by Two‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mitral stenosis (MS) on left atrial (LA) function using two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). Methods and Results: The study subjects consisted of 52 patients with asymptomatic MS and 52 control subjects. LA function was assessed using prototype speckle tracking software and manual tracking method. Maximal LA volume (LAVmax) and minimal LA volume (LAVmin) and LA volume before atrial contraction (LAVpre‐a) were measured. Using these volumes, LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump fuction parameters were calculated. Indexed LAVmax, LAVmin, and LAVpre‐a measurements via speckle tracking were highly correlated with manual tracing methods in both groups. Expansion index (67.8 ± 36.4 vs. 148.3 ± 44.2), diastolic emptying index (37.7 ± 12.9 vs. 58.0 ± 8.5), passive emptying (37.3 ± 14.1 vs. 70.4 ± 10.4) and passive emptying index (13.3 ± 6.3 vs. 41.3 ± 10.6) were decreased significantly in MS patients (P < 0.001). In contrast active emptying index (62.6 ± 4.1 vs. 29.5 ± 10.1) increased in MS group (P < 0.001) while active emptying (28.1 ± 13.0 vs. 28.3 ± 6.9) remained same among both groups. Conclusions: This is the first study relating LA volumes and function assessed by 2DSTE to MS. 2D speckle tracking analysis of LA volume is relatively easy and provides more detailed information regarding the changes in LA volumes during the cardiac cycle.     

Efficacy and safety of pegylated-interferon α-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C

AIM： To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated- interferon alpha-2a in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS： Thirty-six hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in a controlled and prospective study. All patients were treatment naive, positive tested for anti-HCV antibodies, and positive tested for serum HCV-RNA. Twenty-two patients received 135 μg peglyated-interferon α-2a weekly for 48 wk （group A）. The remaining patients were left untreated, eleven refused therapy, and three were not candidates for kidney transplantation and were allocated to the control group （group B）. At the end of the treatment biochemical and virological response was evaluated, and 24 wk after completetion of therapy sustained virological response （SVR） was assessed. Side effects were monitored.
RESULTS： Of 22 hemodialysis patients, 12 were male and 10 female, with a mean age of 35.2 ± 12.1 years. Virological end-of-treatment response was observed in 14 patients （82.4%） in group A and in one patient （7.1%） in group B （P = 0.001）. Sustained virological response was observed in 11 patients （64.7%） in group A and in one patient in group B （7.1%）. Biochemical response parameters normalized in 10/14 patients （71.4%） at the end of the treatment. ALT levels in group B were initially high in six patients and normalized in one of them （25%） at the end of the 48 wk. In five patients （22.7%） therapy had to be stopped at mo 4 due to complications of weakness, anemia, and bleeding.
CONCLUSION： SVR could be achieved in 64.7% of patients on hemodialysis with chronic hepatitis C by a treatment with peglyated-interferon α-2a. Group A had a significantly better efficacy compared to the control group B, but the side effects need to be concerned.     

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm: Single Center Experience on a Rare Hematological Malignancy

PurposeBlastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and poor prognostic hematological malignancy. There is still no standard treatment established for BPDCN patients. We aim to summarize the main clinical, biological features and treatment of 9 BPDCN patients.MethodsNine patients with BPDCN who had been diagnosed between July 2008 and December 2018 in Ankara University School of Medicine, were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsAll patients (n = 9) were male, median age was 64 (21–80). Five patients (55.6%) had bone marrow infiltration, 5 patients (55.6%) cutaneous lesions, 6 patients (66.7%) lymph node involvement, 2 patients (22.2%) central nervous system involvement and 2 patients (22.2%) spleen involvement at time of diagnosis. Complex karyotype was observed in 2 patients. CHOP was given to 5 patients (55.6%), hyper-CVAD to 2 patients (22.2%), fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and mitoxantrone to 1 patient (11.1%) and cyclophosphamide, etoposide, methylprednisolone to 1 patient (11.1%) as first line chemotherapy. Four patients (44.4%) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in complete remission (CR) 1. Venetoclax was given to a transplant ineligible patient who had skin and lymph node involvement, with the off-label use. The median follow-up time was 15.9 months (3–48.6 months). Estimated median overall survival was 15.9 + 1.6 (95% CI 12.7–19.1) months.ConclusionIntensive induction therapies followed by AHSCT in CR seems to be best approaches for patients with BPDCN. Thus, more effective treatment strategies particularly targeted therapies should be warranted to improve the survival of patients with this rare disease.