Correlations between Oxidative DNA Damage, Oxidative Stress and Coenzyme Q10 in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

The correlation of coronary artery disease (CAD) with pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and oxidative DNA damage was investigated.Seventy-seven patients with CAD and 44 healthy individuals as control were included in this study. The comparative ratios of ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10, 8-hydroxy-2^''-deoxyguanosine/deoxyguanosine and the level of MDA measured by HPLC and the activities of GPX and SOD by colorimetric approach in blood samples obtained from patients with CAD were unraveled.8-OHdG/dG ratios, serum MDA level and GPX activity were found significantly elevated level in serum of CAD patients compared to control group. The SOD activity was observed in stable levels in CAD patients. Ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 ratio was significantly lower in patients with CAD than the controls.The positive correlation was observed between 8-OHdG/dG ratios in both MDA levels and GPX activity, while the significant negative correlation was seemed between the ratio of 8-OHdG/dG and ubiquinol-10/ ubiquinone-10 as well as MDA levels and ubiquinol-10/ ubiquinone-10 ratio.We conclude that, both the disruption of pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and oxidative stress in DNA may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.     

B‐mode and power Doppler sonographic findings in the long bicipital tendon in ankylosing spondylitis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess B‐mode and power Doppler ultrasound findings of long head of biceps tendon in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Anthropometric measurements were carried out and disease activity and functional status were evaluated with BASDAI, BASFI, Dougados Functional Index (DFI) and Articular Index (DAI) in 30 patients with AS. The Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) was performed. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured on bilateral long head of biceps tendon and B‐mode and power Doppler ultrasound were carried out. Focal changes (hypoechogenic areas within the tendon), calcification of the tendon, and fluid collection inside or outside the tendon sheath at bicipital groove (peritendinous hypoechoic rim) and vascularity of the peritendinous region were assessed. A cumulative ultrasound score (CUSS) was obtained. Results: Focal changes were present in five tendons of four patients. Calcification of the tendon was present in three tendons of three patients. Biceps tendon sheath effusion (peritendinous hypoechoic rim) was observed in 10 tendons of eight patients. Thirteen tendons of eight patients had discernible flow signals, six were inside the tendon sheath (within the hypoechoic rim) and seven were outside the tendon sheath. Cumulative US score correlated significantly with DFI and ESR. There was not a significant correlation between CUSS and total PPT. Conclusion: Ultrasound examination of the long head of biceps tendon gives detailed information of the tendon and PDUS has the potential to be able to show inflammatory activity of the tendon.     

Histological changes following epidural injection of midazolam in the neonatal rabbit

Midazolam can produce antinociceptive effects when used via intrathecal or epidural routes. Neurotoxicity studies are scanty especially for neonates. The aim of this study was to carry out electron microscopic (EM) examinations in the neonatal rabbit to determine the histological effects of epidural midazolam on spinal cord. Twenty white New Zealand neonatal rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups receiving single dose of 0.9% saline (Group I; Control, n =4), 0.9% saline titrated to pH=3.9 by addition of hydrochloric acid (Group II; n =6), midazolam 250 μg·kg⁻¹ (Group III; n =12) epidurally. Half of each group were sacrificed on the second day and the remainder on the seventh day and spinal cord sections were evaluated by EM. Control group displayed normal histology on grids. Group II and II showed a variable degree of neurotoxic effects such as degeneration of vacuoles, cytoplasm and neurofilaments, disruption of myelin sheaths, lysis of cell membranes, perivascular oedema, pyknosis of nuclei. The toxic effects of acidic saline and midazolam are similar, in view of these results the epidural use of acidic midazolam (commercially available preparations) in neonates should be avoided.     

Urodynamic findings in children with cerebral palsy

AIM: More than one-third of children with cerebral palsy are expected to present with dysfunctional voiding symptoms. The voiding dysfunction symptoms of the cerebral palsy patients in the present study were documented. METHODS: Of the study group, 16 were girls and 20 were boys (mean age: 8.2 years). Children with cerebral palsy were evaluated with urodynamics consisting of flow rate, filling and voiding cystometry, and electromyography findings of the external urethral sphincter to determine lower urinary tract functions. Treatment protocols were based on the urodynamic findings. Anticholinergic agents to reduce uninhibited contractions and to increase bladder capacity were used as a treatment. Clean intermittent catheterization and behavioral modification were used for incomplete emptying. RESULTS: Of the children, 24 (66.6%) were found to have dysfunctional voiding symptoms. Daytime urinary incontinence (47.2%) and difficulty urinating (44.4%) were the most common symptoms. Urodynamic findings showed that neurogenic detrusor overactivity (involuntary contractions during bladder filling) with a low bladder capacity was present in 17 (47.2%) children, whereas detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was present in four patients (11%). The mean bladder capacity of patients with a neurogenic bladder was 52.2% of the expected capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The present study concluded that voiding dysfunction was seen in more than half of the children with cerebral palsy, which is a similar result to other published studies. We propose that a rational plan of management of these patients depends on the evaluation of the lower urinary tract dysfunction with urodynamic studies. These children benefit from earlier referral for assessment and treatment.     

FN14 Signaling Plays a Pathogenic Role in a Mouse Model of Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of inflammatory cardiomyopathy is affected by the activation of autoimmune-mediated cascades. To study these cascades, we developed an experimental model of troponin I (TnI)-induced autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). One factor playing a pivotal role in the context of autoimmune disorders is the receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (FN14). Thus, the impact of FN14 in the development of autoimmune myocarditis was investigated.Methods and ResultsTnI-immunization led to a significantly increased myocardial FN14 mRNA and protein expression in wild-type (wt) mice. To investigate the precise role of FN14 in EAM, FN14 knockout (ko) and wt littermates were immunized with TnI or control buffer. The animals were evaluated for cardiac parameters and indicators of myocardial injury. FN14 deficiency resulted in better cardiac performance, less myocardial inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac damage. A lower myocardial mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines as well as their receptors could be demonstrated in TnI-immunized FN14ko compared to wt mice also immunized with TnI. Western blot analysis revealed a contribution of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells to FN14-induced signaling cascades.ConclusionsIn the pathogenesis of autoimmune myocarditis, the inflammatory response to cardiac injury is attenuated in FN14ko mice. Thus, inhibition of FN14 in patients might represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of inflammatory cardiomyopathy.     

Effects of Palm Oil on Lipid Peroxidation,Reduced Glutathione,Glutathione Peroxidase,and Vitamin A Levels in the Corpus uteri,Cornu uteri and Corpus luteum of Young and Adult Female Sheep

The aim of the current study was to determine whether a rumen protected palm oil based diet affect malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), reduced glutathione (rGSH) and vitamin A levels in the tissues of cornu uteri, corpus uteri and corpus luteum over the barley based isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diet, and whether the response is different between ewes and ewe‐lambs. During the breeding season, half of Morkaraman ewes (2–4‐year‐old, n=10) and ewe‐lambs (7–8‐months‐old, n=10) was offered a barley based diet and the other half was offered a protected palm oil based diet for 42 ± 0.7 days. At the end of the experiment all animals were slaughtered and measurements carried out in the tissues collected. In all animals tested, cornu uteri had the highest MDA levels followed by corpus uteri and corpus luteum (P<0.01) but no differences were between the tissues observed in GSH‐Px and rGSH levels (P>0.05). Vitamin A levels were, however, higher in corpus luteum than in cornu uteri and corpus uteri (P<0.05). Corpus uteri MDA levels were not different (P>0.05) but rGSH levels were higher for the palm oil fed groups (P<0.05). GSH‐Px and rGSH levels were higher for ewe‐lambs than ewes (P<0.05). In conclusion, it appears that MDA, rGSH, GSH‐Px, and vitamin A work in a different fashion for corpus uteri, cornu uteri and corpus luteum, and for ewes and ewe‐lambs. Dietary palm oil did not significantly affect the parameters studied except higher rGSH levels in corpus uteri. Levels of anti‐oxidatively active substances, such as rGSH and GSH‐Px were lower in ewes compared with those in ewe‐lambs.     

Testis sparing surgery for the treatment of a sequential bilateral testicular germ cell tumor

Standard therapy of sequential bilateral testis cancer is generally considered to be orchiectomy. We present a case of sequential bilateral testicular germ cell tumor treated with testis sparing surgery. The patient was disease free 50 months after surgery without local recurrence or distant metastases. Testis sparing surgery provides a better quality of life and may be considered a safe, feasible alternative in the treatment of carefully selected patients with bilateral testicular germ cell tumor.     

Comparison of microvessel densities in rat prostate tissues treated with finasteride, bicalutamide and surgical castration: A preliminary study

BACKGROUND: A group of anti-androgens with different mechanisms of action and adverse effects have been investigated in patients with gross hematuria related to benign prostate hyperplasia; however, there is not yet any consensus about the standard management of these patients. The present study aims to identify if any one type of the hormonal intervention is superior in terms of the suppression of microvessel formation in the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 mature, healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 +/- 50 g) were used in this study. The rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 7 per group). The effects of three different hormonal therapies on angiogenesis and microvascularity in rat ventral prostate were compared. Groups 1 and 2 were treated for 28 days with finasteride and bicalutamide, respectively, and rats from Group 3 underwent surgical castration. Following treatment, all rats included in the study underwent dissection of the ventral prostate and immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density by factor VIII-related antigen. RESULTS: The mean number of microvessels in the finasteride and bicalutamide groups was 24.5 (+/-8.44 SE) and 27 (+/-9.89 SE) respectively. In contrast, the castration and control groups had microvessel numbers of 12.9 (+/-5.35 SE) and 40.3 (+/-5.03 SE) respectively. Differences were statistically significant between all three treatment groups and the controls (P < 0.005); the number of microvessels in rat prostate tissues of the control group was significantly higher than the treatment groups. Mean microvessel densities in the bicalutamide and finasteride groups were significantly higher than microvessel densities in the castration group (P < 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference between mean microvessel number in rat prostate tissue treated with finasteride or bicalutamide (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Even though finasteride was not as effective as castration in reducing microvessel number, its effect was equal to that of bicalutamide in terms of suppressing the angiogenesis in prostatic tissue. Based on the findings of the present study, finasteride might offer a viable option in the management of macroscopic hematuria by inhibition of microvessel formation within the prostatic tissue. Further clinical studies are warranted.     

Percutaneous ureterostomy as an effective diversion in a newborn

Ectopic ureter in a duplicated system in men is rare and rarely causes bilateral obstructive symptoms. The tendency of the ureter to dilate more than the caliceal system is unique to neonates and makes upper urinary diversions more challenging. However, alternative percutaneous diversions other than nephrostomy might be beared in mind in such cases with huge dilatation in ureters in suffering neonates. As discussed in this case percutaneous ureterostomy may be very effective and have a role in diagnosis and management of neonatal hydroureteronephrosis.