Pentoxifylline mitigates detrimental impact of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis on sperm characteristics,reproductive hormones and histopathology in rats

The protective role of pentoxifylline (PTX) on sperm characteristics, reproductive hormones and histopathology following carrageenan‐induced chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) was investigated in male Wistar rats. Thirty‐six rats were grouped into six rats per group. Group 1 (control) received saline normal. Group 2 received a single intraprostatic dose of 3% carrageenan (50 μl) on day 1 (CNP). Groups 3 and 5 received cernilton (standard drug) and PTX orally at 100 and 50 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days respectively. Groups 4 and 6 received a single dose of 3% carrageenan (50 μl) intraprostatically on day 1 followed by cernilton and PTX orally at 100 and 50 mg/kg on the eighth day for 14 consecutive days respectively. Prostatic index, serum prostatic specific antigen, malondialdehyde, testosterone and luteinising hormone levels were significantly increased (p < .05), whereas serum follicle‐stimulating hormone, sperm count, motility and viability were significantly decreased (p < .05) in CNP group. Histopathology of prostate revealed leucocyte infiltration, large involutions and projection into the lumen in CNP group and these aberrations were improved by PTX. According to these findings, we concluded that PTX effectively mitigated detrimental impact of CNP on sperm characteristics, reproductive hormones and histopathology in rats.     

血必净注射液对硝酸羟胺染毒小鼠组织病理学和网织红细胞影响的研究

目的:探讨血必净注射液对硝酸羟胺染毒小鼠受损脏器保护作用的机制.方法:ICR雄性小鼠经硝酸羟胺1/2半数致死量(LD50)染毒,每日1次,连续染毒3 d.血必净注射液3.75 g/kg腹腔注射治疗1周.染毒后第2、4、6和8 d经小鼠尾静脉取血,煌焦油染色计数网织红细胞;第8 d处死小鼠观察肺脏、肝脏和脾脏组织病理学形态.结果:血必净注射液可抑制硝酸羟胺染毒后4、6和8 d网织红细胞的显著增多(P均<0.001);明显改善肺脏、肝脏的组织损害,减少肺组织炎症细胞浸润和肺细胞变性等,减少脾脏含铁血黄素颗粒的沉着.结论:血必净注射液对硝酸羟胺染毒小鼠具有一定的脏器保护作用,其机制可能是通过抗氧化损伤对器官起保护作用.     

The case for the omission of axillary staging in invasive breast carcinoma that exhibits a predominant tubular growth pattern on preoperative biopsy

True invasive tubular breast carcinoma (TBC) is unlikely to metastasize to axillary nodes, yet it is routinely subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), even if the diagnosis was suspected preoperatively. The positive predictive value (PPV) of core biopsy for TBC and the incidence and predictors of axillary metastasis in invasive breast carcinomas identified as tubular‐rich on core biopsy are unknown. Prospective patient and tumor data regarding postoperatively confirmed TBCs, and tubular‐rich carcinoma identified on preoperative core biopsy between January 2005 and May 2016 was analyzed retrospectively. Axillary metastasis occurred in only 4.2% (4/95) of TBCs, all of which measured >15 mm pathologically. In 11.1% (11/99) of TBCs, the initial core biopsy was either indeterminate/suspicious or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); therefore, their true tubular histotype and size were ascertained following operative excision and before SLNB. Nine were ≤15 mm, and all were node‐negative. Only 63.9% (46/72) of tubular‐rich core biopsies were confirmed as TBCs; the remaining 36.1% (26/72) were well‐differentiated invasive nontubular carcinomas. None of the preoperative patient or tumor features were predictive of true TBC on multivariable analysis; 10.1% (7/69) of carcinomas identified as tubular‐rich on core biopsy (regardless of their true histotypes) were node‐positive; 23.1% (6/26) in nontubular and 2.3% (1/43) in true tubular carcinomas. Preoperative ultrasound size >15 mm was associated with axillary metastasis in 40.0% (4/10) compared to 5.7% (3/53) in those ≤15 mm (OR = 11.11, 95% CI = 1.99‐62.04; multivariable P = .010). Axillary metastasis in TBC is dependent on pathological size; therefore, a case is made for omitting SLNB in small true TBCs confirmed following excision. Preoperative tubular‐rich core biopsy is not adequately diagnostic of TBC; however, it selects carcinomas that are well‐differentiated, small, and unlikely to metastasize to the axilla, thus allowing for the selective omission of SLNB.     

The effects of raloxifene and tibolone on homocysteine and vascular histopathological changes

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of raloxifene (RLX) and tibolone (TBN) on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and their relationship with atherosclerotic changes in the walls of the carotid artery in ovariectomised rats. Thirty surgically ovariectomised Wistar albino rats after a menopausal period of 6 cycles were randomly assigned to receive RLX 0.01 mg/kg/day (n=10), TBN 0.04 mg/kg/day (n=10) and the same dose of placebo (n=10) for 6 cycles. Serum levels of vitamin B12, folate and Hcy were measured and carotid arteries were examined histopathologically following the termination of treatment. Hcy levels were 3.27±0.97, 2.57±0.32 and 2.28±0.12 μmol/l, Vitamin B12 levels were 901.90±239.76, 694.70±112.20 and 631±309.44 pg/ml and folate levels were 73.80±12.71, 72.51±7.05 and 84.79±20.82 ng/ml in receiving RLX, TBN and placebo respectively. Hcy levels were increased by RLX vs. placebo (P=0.006) but not by TBN vs. placebo (P=0.070). Vitamin B12 levels were found to be elevated by TBN vs. the control group (P=0.041) but not by RLX vs. placebo (P=0.059). Histopathological examination of carotid arteries from rats receiving both RLX and TBN revealed no difference vs. placebo. Data obtained from the study support the view that neither RLX nor TBN appears to have a primary protective effect on vascular disease by effecting the metabolism of Hcy at menopause.