Hematological,biochemical and histopathological changes in Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877) following exposure to sublethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos

The main objective of this study was to survey the acute and sublethal effect of chlorpyrifos (CPF) on Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius). Toxicity tests were performed for the determination of 96?h median lethal concentration (96hLC50). For this purpose, nominal concentrations of CPF including 0.0125, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3?mgL^??¹. The 96hLC50 value of CPF was 0.026?mgL^?1. The sublethal effect was determined on the basis of acute toxicity, hematological effects, biochemical plasma profile, behavioral and histopathological changes. The experimental group exposed to CPF at nominal concentration of 0.0026?mgL^?1 (10% 96hLC50) for 30 days showed significant changes in hematological and biochemical profiles and caused histopathological changes in liver, gill and kidney. Based on these data, CPF is acute toxic for Caspian trout.     

Alcea rosea root extract as a preventive and curative agent in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats

Introduction:

Alcea rosea L. is used in Asian folk medicine as a remedy for a wide range of ailments. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Alcea rosea roots on ethylene glycol-induced kidney calculi in rats.

Materials and Methods:

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, ethylene glycol (EG), curative and preventive groups. Control group received tap drinking water for 28 days. Ethylene glycol (EG), curative and preventive groups received 1% ethylene glycol for induction of calcium oxalate (CaOx) calculus formation; preventive and curative subjects also received the hydroalcoholic extract of Alcea rosea roots in drinking water at dose of 170 mg/kg, since day 0 or day 14, respectively. Urinary oxalate concentration was measured by spectrophotometer on days 0, 14 and 28. On day 28, the kidneys were removed and examined histopathologically under light microscopy for counting the calcium oxalate deposits in 50 microscopic fields.

Results:

In both preventive and curative protocols, treatment of rats with hydroalcoholic extract of Alcea rosea roots significantly reduced the number of kidney calcium oxalate deposits compared to ethylene glycol group. Administration of Alcea rosea extract also reduced the elevated urinary oxalate due to ethylene glycol.

Conclusion:

Alcea rosea showed a beneficial effect in preventing and eliminating calcium oxalate deposition in the rat kidney. This effect is possibly due to diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects or presence of mucilaginous polysaccharides in the plant. It may also be related to lowering of urinary concentration of stone-forming constituents.KEY WORDS: Alcea rosea, malvaceae, kidney calculi, ethylene glycol, calcium oxalate     

Improvement by N-acetylcysteine of acute respiratory distress syndrome through increasing intracellular glutathione, and extracellular thiol molecules and anti-oxidant power: evidence for underlying toxicological mechanisms

In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), there is extensive overproduction of free radicals to the extent that endogenous anti-oxidants are overwhelmed, permitting oxidative cell damage. The present study examined the benefit of the anti-oxidant compound N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the management of ARDS by measuring patient's intracellular glutathione (inside red blood cells) and extracellular (plasma) anti-oxidant defense biomarkers and outcome. Twenty-seven ARDS patients were recruited from the intensive care unit of a teaching Hospital and randomly divided into two groups. Both groups were managed similarly by regular treatments but 17 patients received NAC 150 mg/kg at the first day that followed by 50 mg/kg/day for three days and 10 patients did not receive NAC. Treatment by NAC increased extracellular total anti-oxidant power and total thiol molecules and also improved intracellular glutathione and the outcome of the patients. In conclusion, patients with ARDS are in a deficient oxidant-anti-oxidant balance that can get a significant benefit if supplemented with NAC.