The protective action of thymol against carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in mice.

The protective action of thymol (paramethyl-isopropyl-phenol) was investigated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in male Swiss albino mice. The CCl(4)at a dose of 20 microl kg(-1)produced damage to liver cells and was followed by the significant increase (P<0.001) in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and hepatic lipid peroxidation after 24 h. The hepatocellular necrosis was further confirmed by histopathological examination of liver section. Oral administration of thymol in a single dose (300 mg kg(-1)) resulted in significant (P<0.05) amelioration of CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Thymol also inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by CCl(4)in vivo. The protection offered by thymol was also evident from histopathology photomicrograph. In a separate in vitro assay, thymol inhibited the non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of normal mice liver homogenate induced by Fe(3+)-ascorbate. The present study suggests that thymol protects the liver against CCl(4)-induced toxicity and the protection may be mediated through its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. However, other interactions between thymol and CCl(4)remains to be elucidated. 1999 Academic Press.     

Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in mice by thymoquinone.

The modulating effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-induced forestomach tumours was investigated in female Swiss albino mice, receiving oral administration of BP at a dose of 1 mg twice weekly for 4 weeks. Administration of 0.01% of TQ in drinking water 1 week before, during and after BP treatment until the end of the experiment resulted in significant suppression of BP-induced tumourigenesis when compared with the group receiving BP alone. TQ inhibited both BP-induced forestomach tumour incidence and multiplicity by 70% and 67%, respectively. Lipid peroxide accumulation and decreased glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and DT diaphorase activities were observed in the liver of BP-treated tumour-bearing mice. TQ alone showed a significant induction in the enzyme activities of hepatic GST and DT diaphorase. Mice treated with TQ along with BP showed almost normal hepatic lipid peroxides and GSH levels, and normal enzyme activities compared to the control group. The present data may indicate the potential of TQ, the main constituent of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seed, as a powerful chemopreventive agent against BP-induced forestomach tumours in mice. The possible modes of action of TQ may be through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, coupled with enhancement of detoxification processes.     

Protective effects of oral arabic gum administration on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Arabic gum (AG) is a complex polysaccharide used as suspending agent. It has been widely used by eastern folk medicine practitioners as a restorative agent and is thought to be an excellent curative for renal failure patients. We therefore tested these folkloric claims using a rat model of gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity. AG (7.5g 100ml(-1), in drinking water) was administered orally for 8 days concurrently with GM (80mgkg(-1) per day, i.p.). Estimation of urine volume, serum creatinine and urea concentrations, kidney tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and glutathione (GSH) were carried out after the last dose of GM. Kidneys were also examined for histological changes. GM caused a marked nephrotoxicity as evidenced by significant increases in urine volume (295%), serum creatinine (318%) and urea (258%) and a significant decrease in creatinine clearance (Ccr) (26%). Treatment with AG protected the rats from GM-induced nephrotoxicity as evident by normalisation of these parameters. In addition there was about 187% increase in kidney tissue MDA contents above the control with GM treatment. AG totally prevented the GM-induced rise in kidney tissue contents of MDA. Kidney histology of the tissue from GM-treated rats showed necrosis and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells in renal cortex as well as interstitial nephritis. Whereas it was very much comparable to control when AG was co-administered with GM. In conclusion, AG protected the rats from GM-induced nephrotoxicity, possibly, at least in part through inhibition of the production of oxygen free radicals that cause lipid peroxidation.     

Protection effects of Taurine supplementation against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

BACKGROUND: Taurine, which is the major intracellular free beta-amino acid, is known to be an antioxidant and a membrane-stabilizing agent. This study was designed to investigate the protective role of taurine supplementation against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups and treated as follows: (1) saline-treated control drinking tap water, (2) saline-treated plus taurine-supplemented (1.5% taurine in the drinking water), (3) saline-treated plus taurine-depleted (3% beta-alanine in the drinking water), (4) cisplatin-treated, CDDP 6 mg/kg intraperitoneally, (5) taurine-supplemented plus CDDP-treated and (6) taurine-depleted plus CDDP-treated. Rats were sacrificed 7 days after CDDP treatment, and serum as well as kidneys were isolated and analyzed. RESULTS: CDDP-treated rats showed increased kidney weight as a percentage of total body weight, serum creatinine and BUN levels and decreased serum albumin and calcium levels. Also, CDDP treatment resulted in a depletion of kidney GSH content, a reduction in the kidney glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and increased kidney MDA production level. Taurine supplementation attenuated CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity which was manifested by jeopardizing the elevation in serum creatinine and BUN levels and the reduction in serum albumin and calcium levels. Moreover, taurine supplementation restored kidney GSH content and GSH-Px activity and reduced platinum accumulation and MDA production levels in the kidney tissue following CDDP treatment. Histopathological examination of the kidney of CDDP-treated rats revealed tubular atrophy, tubular necrosis and desquamation of renal tubular cells. However, taurine supplementation protected against CDDP-induced histopathological changes. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that taurine supplementation effectively attenuates the accumulation of platinum within kidney tissue and counteracts the deleterious effect of CDDP on the renal tubular function.     

Postoperative neck pain associated with an implantable microvascular ultrasonic Doppler: a case report

Microvascular reconstruction in the head and neck has enabled the transfer of large amounts of tissue, and has improved functional and cosmetic outcomes for patients. Its success is primarily dependent on adequate perfusion, and though many methods have been used to monitor the circulation of flaps, the Cook-Swartz implantable Doppler has gained favour with surgeons and nursing staff. We present the unusual case of a patient who had developed recurrent infection and pain that was associated with its use.     

Endobronchial inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung

Inflammatory pseudotumor (also called plasma cell granuloma, histiocytoma and x-anthofibroma) is a benign, slow growing lesion which may present with cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis and unresolving pneumonia or can be discovered radiographically as a localised lesion. It has been reported in individuals up to 70 years old, but approximately two-thirds have developed in individuals under 30 years of age. The sex incidence is approximately equal. Inflammatory pseudotumors of the lung are usually peripheral lesions but may occasionally be endobronchial. We report the case of an endobronchial inflammatory pseudotumor in a 17-year-old girl who presented with unresolving right-sided pneumonia. Appropriate radiological, bronchoscopic and histopathological investigations lead to accurate pre-operative diagnosis and early complete surgical resection through a limited right main bronchus incision (bronchotomy). The patient made good postoperative recovery and an excellent prognosis is anticipated.     

Acute otitis media causing visual loss: A case report and review of the literature

Acute otitis media (AOM) is usually self-limiting condition mainly affecting children. It may be complicated by rare but serious intra and extra cranial complications. Otitic hydrocephalus (OH) was described in 1936 by Sir Charles P. Symonds. The accepted pathophysiology is lateral cerebral sinus obliteration secondary to thrombosis and subsequent intracranial hypertension occurring after AOM. There are no clinical or serological features of meningeal irritation and no radiological features of hydrocephalus. The use of antibiotics has reduced the incidence of these complications. We report a case of permanent, bilateral visual loss secondary to AOM in an 11-year-old boy [1], [2].     

Bilateral subepidermal calcified nodules of the eyelid

A subepidermal calcified nodule (SCN) is an uncommon benign lesion, which usually develops in early childhood and is typically solitary. A rare form of this lesion has been reported in the eyelid. We report here a case of a 12-year-old girl with bilateral nodules of the right upper eyelid and a left lower eyelid simulating epidermal cyst. The histopathologic examination of the excised nodule confirmed the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this may be the first bilateral case of eyelid SCN reported in the literature.     

Unusual clinicopathological and immunological presentation of chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood (linear IgA dermatosis)

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis is a rare sulfone-responsive subepidermal blistering disorder of unknown etiology in which smooth linear deposits of IgA are found in the basement membrane zone. Chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood is equivalent to linear IgA disease of adulthood and is characterized by an abrupt onset of large, widespread and tense bullae on a normal or erythematous base. In this case, we describe an unusual presentation of chronic bullous dermatosis in a 14-month-old Saudi girl. Histopathological examination revealed subepidermal cell poor blisters with linear deposition of IgA, IgG, IgM, and C3 along the dermoepidermal junction. The unusual clinical, histopathological and immunofluorescence findings in this patient are discussed, with an account on the differential diagnosis in such cases along with a detailed review of the relevant literature.