Gradual detorsion of torsioned rat testis attenuates ischemia reperfusion injury

Aim

This study was designed to investigate effect of gradual detorsion on testicular ischemia reperfusion injury.

Materials and Methods

A total of 21 male rats were divided into 3 groups, each containing 7 rats. Torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction. Group 1 underwent sham operation. Group 2 (sudden detorsion) served as a torsion/detorsion group, receiving 2 hours torsion and 2 hours detorsion. In group 3, 360° detorsion was done for 20 minutes after 720° torsion for 2 hours. Then, testis was done full detorsion for 100 minutes. At the end of the experiments (fourth hour), left orchiectomy was performed to measure the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and to perform histologic examination in testes.

Results

The MDA levels of testis tissues were significantly increased in the sudden detorsion group as compared with the sham group. We found decrease of the MDA level in gradual detorsion group, but it was not a statistically significant amount. Significant decrease was found in the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the sudden detorsion group as compared with the sham and gradual detorsion groups. Histologic examinations were in accordance with the testicular tissue MDA levels.

Conclusion

In the light of our biochemical and histopathologic findings, we can say that gradual detorsion has a trend to decrease the degree of testicular reperfusion injury in the rat torsion/detorsion model.     

Renal cortical thickness and PON1 activity both decrease in chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with a tendency to atherosclerosis due to the enhanced oxidative stress and insufficient antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and paraoxonase (PON 1), together with abnormalities in lipid parameters. We determined the in vitro susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation and PON1 activities in patients with chronic renal insufficiency to see how PON1 affected the progression of the disease and whether hemodialysis influenced these parameters. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (21 men, 16 women, mean age 43.9 +/- 16) with CRF were included, 23 were receiving hemodialysis treatment. Exclusion criteria were diabetes mellitus and acute coronary disease. Eighteen healthy subjects (9 men and 9 women, mean age 39.9 +/- 10.5) volunteered to participate as controls. All patients were evaluated by renal ultrasound (USG) and two-dimensional echography, and their lipid profiles, PON1 activity, basal and Cu-induced LDL oxidation were determined. RESULTS: PON1 activities of patients were lower than controls (14.4 +/- 11 vs 30.9 +/- 19 U/L, p < 0.05) while basal ox-LDL levels determined by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method were higher (0.6 +/- 0.4 vs 0.4+/- 0.2 nmol/mg LDL protein, p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups treated with hemodialysis or not. There was a positive correlation between renal cortical thickness and HDL levels (r=0.47, p=0.006) and PON1 activity (r=0.45, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that HDL cholesterol levels and PON1 activities were both lower in patients, indicating depletion of the protective antioxidant capacity. PON1 activities and phenotypes were no different in patients with coronary disease and others so it does not appear to be a significant indicator of coronary artery disease in patients with CRF.     

The clinical value of 18F-FDG detection with a dual-head coincidence camera: a review

Positron emission tomography (PET) has evolved into a technique that can accurately determine the distribution of positron-emitting radionuclides. The addition of a coincidence detection mode to a standard dual-head detector system has resulted in the option of single-photon and annihilation coincidence detection. This new device for imaging fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) accumulation in neoplasms became commercially available in 1994. Besides conventional low-energy imaging in the collimated single-photon mode, it offers a relatively inexpensive opportunity to perform uncollimated PET by switching to the coincidence acquisition mode. This review summarises the clinical value of ¹⁸F-FDG detection with a dual-head coincidence camera in oncology. The results are compared with the overall results obtained using dedicated PET scanners. With respect to head and neck tumours, ¹⁸F-FDG coincidence mode gamma camera imaging (CGI) yields results that are in agreement with those obtained with dedicated PET scanners. With regard to other malignancies, such as lung cancer, lymphoma and brain tumours, data in the literature are too scarce to draw any definite conclusions. In general, the results of ¹⁸F-FDG CGI in tumours >15 mm seem to be comparable to those obtained with dedicated PET scanners, whereas in tumours <15 mm, the relative sensitivity of ¹⁸F-FDG CGI is approximately 80%. Using attenuation correction, the diagnostic yield of ¹⁸F-FDG CGI may increase. However, further clinical investigation is required to definitely establish its value in staging primary disease, therapy monitoring and assessment of tumour recurrence in clinical oncology.     

By reducing TGF beta 1, octreotide lessens the peritoneal derangements induced by a high glucose solution.

BACKGROUND: Chronic peritoneal dialysis may eventually result in peritoneal fibrosis, which progressively reduces dialytic efficacy. Although the pathogenesis has not been elucidated, it has been proposed that transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta 1) plays a central role in the onset of peritoneal fibrosis. METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups and given saline, hypertonic peritoneal dialysis solution alone, a hypertonic peritoneal dialysis solution plus octreotide intraperitoneally. After four weeks, a one-hour peritoneal equilibration test was done. Dialysate-to-plasma urea ratio, glucose reabsorption, ultrafiltration volume and levels of dialysate protein, TGF beta 1 and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) were determined. The peritoneal membrane was examined histologically by light microscopy. RESULTS: Compared to the saline group, peritoneal function tests (ultrafiltration volume 6 (5-7) vs 0.0 ml, dialysate-to-plasma urea ratio 0.51 vs 0.76, glucose reabsorption 0.54 vs 0.40 and morphology (thickness 4.5 vs 75.5 microns) were dramatically deranged in hypertonic peritoneal dialysis solution-treated rats, which also had a higher level of TGF beta 1 and undetectable CA 125. In contrast, in hypertonic peritoneal dialysis solution plus octreotide rats' peritoneal function was protected (ultrafiltration volume 3 mL, dialysate-to-plasma urea 0.60, glucose reabsorption 0.51) but peritoneal thickening (37.7 microns) was not so markedly reduced although the production of TGF beta 1 was significantly inhibited. CONCLUSION: These data show that by inhibiting the production of TGF beta 1, octreotide can preserve peritoneal function and remodeling of the mesothelial cell. Although the production of TGF beta 1 was significantly inhibited, peritoneal thickening cannot be completely prevented.     

Evaluation of perfusion modes on vital organ recovery and thyroid hormone homeostasis in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the effects of perfusion modes (pulsatile vs. nonpulsatile) on vital organs recovery and (ii) to investigate the influences of two different perfusion modes on the homeostasis of thyroid hormones in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures. Two hundred and eighty‐nine consecutive pediatric patients undergoing open heart surgery for repair of congenital heart disease were prospectively entered into the study and were randomly assigned to two groups: the pulsatile perfusion group (Group P, n = 208) and the nonpulsatile perfusion group (Group NP, n = 81). All patients received identical surgical, perfusional, and postoperative care. Study parameters included total drainage, mean urine output in the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation time, duration of ICU and hospital stay, the need for inotropic support, pre‐ and postoperative enzyme levels (ALT [alanine aminotransaminase] and AST [aspartate aminotransaminase]), c‐reactive protein, lactate, albumin, blood count (leukocytes, hematocrit, platelets), creatinine levels, and thyroid hormones (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], FT₃[free triiodothyronine], FT₄[free thyroxine]). All patients survived the perioperative and postoperative periods. There were no statistically significant differences in either preoperative or operative parameters between the two groups. Group P, compared to Group NP, required significantly less inotropic support, had a shorter intubation period, higher urine output in ICU, and shorter duration of ICU and hospital stay. Lower lactate levels and higher albumin levels were observed in Group P and there were no significant differences in creatinine, enzyme levels, blood counts, or drainage amounts between two groups. TSH, Total T₃, Total T₄, and FT₃, FT₄ levels were markedly reduced versus their preoperative values in both groups. FT₃ and FT₄ levels were reduced significantly further in the nonpulsatile group both during CPB and at 72 h postoperation. The results of this study confirm our opinion that pulsatile perfusion leads to better vital organ recovery and clinical outcomes in the early postoperative period as compared to nonpulsatile perfusion in pediatric patients undergoing CPB cardiac surgery. The plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones are dramatically reduced during and after CPB, but pulsatile perfusion seems to have a protective effect of thyroid hormone homeostasis compared to nonpulsatile perfusion.     

Syrian refugee children face more peer victimization in schools what leads to poor mental health: a brief report

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry -