Influence of dihydropyridine calcium antagonist nitrendipine on benzo(<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>)pyrene-induced oxidative stress

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of nitrendipine (NIT), a dihydropyridine derived calcium channel antagonist, on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene (BAP)-induced oxidative stress. Male Sprague Dawley rats (155–220 g) were divided into four groups: Control (corn oil, i.p.); BAP (200 mg/kg, i.p.), BAP + NIT (200 mg/kg, i.p. + 50 mg/kg, i.p.), and NIT (50 mg/kg, i.p.) groups. Twenty-four hours after the injection of BAP, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples, liver, lung, and brain tissues were removed to determine serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities and tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. BAP significantly elevated serum ALT and TBARS levels in all tissues. However, NIT pre-treatment protected against increasing TBARS levels in lung and brain tissues. In addition, NIT pre-treatment significantly increased SOD levels in lung and liver tissues, as well as GSH levels in the lungs, compared to the BAP group. Thus, in conclusion, further studies are required to confirm the protective effects of calcium channel blockers, especially in liver tissue.     

Pulmonary manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect the lung in multiple ways. All components of the respiratory system, including the pleura, pulmonary parenchyma, airways, vessels, and respiratory muscles can be involved in various degrees at some time in the disease course and contribute to its morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the clinical symptoms, imaging techniques, histopathology, prognosis, and treatment of pulmonary manifestations of SLE and the related disorder mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), from a historical perspective and with regard to new insights into pathogenesis and therapy.