IL-1β is induced in reactive astrocytes in the somatosensory cortex of rats with genetic absence epilepsy at the onset of spike-and-wave discharges, and contributes to their occurrence

Interleukin (IL)-1β plays a crucial role in the mechanisms of limbic seizures in rodent models of temporal lobe epilepsy. We addressed whether activation of the IL-1β signaling occurs in rats with genetic absence epilepsy (GAERS) during the development of spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs). Moreover, we studied whether inhibition of IL-1β biosynthesis in GAERS could affect SWD activity.IL-1β expression and glia activation were studied by immunocytochemistry in the forebrain of GAERS at postnatal days (PN)14, PN20, and PN90 and in age-matched non-epileptic control Wistar rats. In PN14 GAERS, when no SWDs have developed yet, IL-1β immunostaining was undetectable, and astrocytes and microglia showed a resting phenotype similar to control Wistar rats. In 3 out of 9 PN20 GAERS, IL-1β was observed in activated astrocytes of the somatosensory cortex; the cytokine expression was associated with the occurrence of immature-type of SWDs. In all adult PN90 GAERS, when mature SWDs are established, IL-1β was observed in reactive astrocytes of the somatosensory cortex but not in adjacent cortical areas or in extra-cortical regions.An age-dependent c-fos activation was found in the somatosensory cortex of GAERS with maximal levels reached in PN90 rats; c-fos was also induced in some thalamic nuclei in PN20 and PN90 GAERS.Inhibition of IL-1β biosynthesis in PN90 GAERS by 4-day systemic administration of a specific ICE/Caspase-1 blocker, significantly reduced both SWD number and duration.These results show that IL-1β is induced in reactive astrocytes of the somatosensory cortex of GAERS at the onset of SWDs. IL-1β has pro-ictogenic properties in this model, and thus it may play a contributing role in the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of absence seizures.     

Lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and coenzyme Q10 in lung cancer patients--markers for risk assessment?

Objectives: Early diagnosis and prevention is very important for lung cancer patients. Previous studies have emphasized that the level of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), present primarily in mitochondria, decreases with age and is low in patients with chronic diseases. Our goal was to find out if there is any relationship between lung cancerand CoQ10 and lipid peroxidation levels. Design and Methods: Blood samples from lung cancer patients were collected. Total and oxide CoQ10 levels, 8-OHdG (product of DNA damage), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (lipid peroxidation) were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The MDAlevel (P<0.001) and DNA damage rate (8-OHdG) (P<0.001) was higher in cancer patients than in the control group; in contrast, theCoQ10 enzyme level was ignificantly lower (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest t hat the aforementioned parameters can be useful for lung cancer risk assessment.     

A pioneering study: oral clarithromycin treatment for feeding intolerance in very low birth weight preterm infants

Purpose: To examine the prokinetic effect of clarithromycin in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants.

Materials and methods: VLBW preterm infants who have not achieved half of the full enteral feeding in the second week of life were enrolled in the study. The infants enrolled in the study were randomized. Twenty infants received oral clarithromycin (7.5?mg/kg, twice a day) and 20 control infants did not receive any treatment.

Results: Full enteral feeding was attained earlier in the clarithromycin group than in the control group [7 (6–9) versus 9 (9–11) days, respectively; p?p?=?.013 and p?n?=?1 versus 3, p?=?.1) and length of hospital stay (50 versus 59 median days, p?=?.1) tend to be lower in the clarithromycin group without any statistical significance. We observed no adverse effect of clarithromycin therapy.

Conclusions: Clarithromycin treatment in VLBW preterm infants resulted in better toleration of enteral feeding. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to establish routine use of clarithromycin in the treatment of feeding intolerance.     

Presence of obestatin in breast milk: relationship among obestatin, ghrelin, and leptin in lactating women

OBJECTIVE: The peptide hormones ghrelin and leptin have been found in blood and breast milk. This study was undertaken to investigate whether breast milk also contains obestatin, which is derived from the same gene as ghrelin but has opposite actions, and to characterize the relations among serum and milk ghrelin, obestatin, and leptin levels in lactating mothers. METHODS: Venous blood, colostrum, and mature milk were obtained from healthy lactating women (n = 31) just before suckling. The ghrelin and obestatin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Leptin levels were measured by enzyme-amplified sensitivity immunoassay. RESULTS: Obestatin levels in colostrum (538.9 pg/mL) and mature milk (528.5 pg/mL) were more than twice the corresponding blood levels (270.3 and 289.4 pg/mL, respectively). In contrast, leptin levels in colostrum (2.01 ng/mL) and mature milk (2.04 ng/mL) were more than five-fold lower than the corresponding blood levels (11.54 ng/mL). There was no correlation between breast milk ghrelin levels and leptin (r = -0.18, P > 0.05). However, there was a positive correlation between leptin levels in breast milk and blood (r = 0.369, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The origin of milk obestatin is not currently known, but it comes from the blood or breast and may drain through the mammary glands into the milk. Ghrelin, obestatin, and leptin in the milk may directly affect appetite and their levels may be related to the regulation of energy balance and the pathogenesis of obesity.     

Transfer of single dose of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and bevacizumab into milk of sheep

AIM: To investigate whether single-dose intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and ranibizumab transfer into milk. METHODS: This study included lactating 12 sheep and a single 3-month old suckling lamb of each sheep. Two groups consisting of 6 sheep and their lambs were constituted; the ranibizumab group and the bevacizumab group before the administration of intravitreal injections, blood and milk samples were obtained from all sheep and, following the injections, blood and milk samples of all sheep and blood samples of all lambs were collected at regular time points. Serum and milk concentrations of bevacizumab and ranibizumab were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The limit of determination was 0.9 ng/mL for bevacizumab and 0.62 ng/mL for ranibizumab. RESULTS: At 6h after intravitreal injections, bevacizumab concentration was above the limit of determination in the blood of all sheep. At 3wk, when the study was terminated, bevacizumab concentrations were high in 4 sheep. Even though bevacizumab concentrations in milk showed fluctuations, the drug transferred into the milk of all sheep at detectable concentrations. Ranibizumab drug concentrations in the blood and milk of sheep and those in the blood of lambs were below the limit of determination by the ELISA kit. CONCLUSION: This sheep model study demonstrate that intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, which did not transfer into the milk of sheep and suckling lambs, is safer than bevacizumab during lactation period.     

Case Report: Acute Abdomen Caused by Brucellar Hepatic Abscess

Brucellosis, a zoonosis that is common worldwide, is endemic in many countries, primarily those of the Mediterranean region (including Turkey). Human brucellosis is a systemic infection with a wide clinical spectrum. Although hepatic involvement is very common during the course of chronic brucellosis, hepatic abscess is a very rare complication of Brucella spp. infection. We present a case of hepatic abscess caused by Brucella melitensis, which resembled the clinical presentation of surgical acute abdomen.     

Seroprevalance of pertussis antibodies in maternal and cord blood of preterm and term infants

Background

The resurgence of pertussis has resulted in an increased morbidity and mortality, especially among young infants. The aim of our study was to determine the antibody concentrations against pertussis antigens in cord and maternal blood in both preterm and term infant–mother pairs and to evaluate the efficacy of transplacental antibody transfer.

Methods

Antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) in maternal and cord blood samples were measured by in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 100 preterm infant–mother and 100 term infant–mother pairs. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of pertussis antibodies and cord:maternal GMC ratios were calculated.

Results

Cord GMCs for anti-PT and anti-FHA in the preterm group were 13.15 and 14.55 ELISA U/ml (EU/ml), respectively. Cord GMCs for anti-PT and anti-FHA in the term group were 19.46 and 19.18 EU/ml, respectively. Cord anti-PT GMC was significanlty lower in the preterm group (p = 0.037). There were no differences between the groups with regard to maternal anti-PT and anti-FHA GMC. Placental transfer ratios for anti-PT and anti-FHA in preterms were 68% and 72%, respectively. The same ratios in terms were 107% and 120%, respectively and were significantly higher than those of preterms (p < 0.001). Placental transfer ratios were even lower in preterms <32 weeks when compared to preterms ≥32 weeks and terms. There was a strong correlation between maternal and cord anti-pertussis antibody levels both in preterm and term infants.

Conclusions

Anti-pertussis antibody levels were generally low in infant–mother pairs and would not be adequate to confer protection until the onset of primary immunization series. Transplacental anti-pertussis antibody transfers and antibody levels were lower in the cord blood of preterm infants, especially in those <32 weeks. These findings support the rationale for maternal immunization, which in combination with cocooning, could be a better option for preterm infants.