Effects of selective Cox-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, alone or combination with furosemide on renal functions and renal Cox-2 expression in rats

Background  

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act by inhibiting the rate-limiting enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which are important in prostanoid formation. The aim of this experimental study was to examine the effects of selective Cox-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, with or without furosemide, on urine and serum electrolytes, creatinine clearance, plasma renin activity (PRA), and Cox-2 expression in the renal cortex.     

Effect of colchicine on cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, reduction of TGF-beta overexpression, apoptosis, and oxidative damage: an experimental animal study

BACKGROUND: Proinflamatory and profibrotic cytokines may be responsible for the cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity. Increased levels of apoptosis, free oxygen redicals, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), may play an important roles in the pathogenesis of nephrotoxicity. In this experimental animal study, we sought to investigate the effects of colchicine on the cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. METHOD: Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: cyclosporine 15 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC); cyclosporine 15 mg/kg SC plus colchicine 30 mcg/kg orally; and a control group; equal doses of olive oil orally were administered to groups 1, 2, and 3. Renal function, cyclosporine levels, and serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured at the end of 4 weeks. Apoptosis, TGF-beta, and other findings were detected in renal tissue with the TUNEL method, with a immunohistochemical method, and with routine staining procedures, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the values of mean creatinine clearance between group 1 and group 3 and between group 2 and group 3 (P < .05 for each comparison), but not between group 1 and group 2 (P > .05). MDA levels in group 1 were high compared with the control group (P < .05) with a trend toward elevation relative to group 2 but the results were not statistically significant (P > .05). Renal tubular vacuolization in group 1 and group 2 animal were greater than in the control group, but no significant difference were observed between any of the groups (P > .05). Mononuclear cell infiltration in group 1 and group 2 hosts were higher than the control group, but there was no significant differences between the groups (P > .05). Afferent arteriolar hyalinization was observed group 1 and 2 but not group 3. There was a statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 3 and between group 2 and group 3 (P < .05 for each comparison). The expression level of TGF-beta was higher in group 1 than group 2 or group 3 (P <.05 for each comparison) but group 2 and group 3 were similar (P > .05). Apoptotic cell death count of group 1 was higher than that in group 2 or group 3 (P < .05, for each comparison); moreover, group 2 also showed greater numbers of apoptotic cells than group 3 (P < .001). At the end of the 4 weeks, there was no intersititial fibrosis in any of the hosts. CONCLUSION: While cyclosporine caused increased TGF-beta expression and apoptotic cell death in the renal tissue of rats colchicine prevented the increase in MDA serum levels, TGF-beta expression, and apoptosis in renal tissue. Our study suggests that colchicine may diminish the cyclosporine nephrotoxicity by its suppressing the expression of TGF-beta, apoptotic cell death, and MDA production.     

The effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium on the rat kidney,and alteration by furosemide

Introduction  

Renal physiology is a partially cyclooxygenase (COX)-dependent system. Kidneys express both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. In this study, we tried to investigate the effects of diclofenac sodium (D), with or without furosemide (F), on plasma renin activity (PRA), serum and urine electrolytes, creatinine clearance, and COX-1 and COX-2 expression in the renal cortex.     

Surgical treatment of symptomatic subependymoma of the nervous system. Report of five cases

Subependymomas are uncommon and relatively benign tumors with a distinctive histological appearance. They are generally asymptomatic and most of them are found incidentally at postmortem examination. These tumors are usually located in the fourth and lateral ventricle, and sometimes in the spinal cord. The authors present a series of 5 pure subependymomas of the central nervous system all of which were symptomatic and all of which were treated by microsurgical removal. The clinicopathological findings and the results of microsurgical treatment in this series are presented.     

Giant chondroblastoma of the scapula with pulmonary metastases

A 53-year-old man presented with a 12-year history of a progressively growing solid mass at his left shoulder. A 39×30×18-cm and 14.440-kg mass including the scapula was resected. Pathologic features were specific for chondroblastoma. During the 36-month follow-up, he had multiple inoperable metastatic lesions in his lungs. Histology of the transthoracic needle biopsy showed the metastatic nodules had features specific for chondroblastoma; however, the microscopic features additionally had hyperchromasia and increased mitotic activity in some areas. In the English literature, there are a few cases of chondroblastoma located in the scapula. It is exceptional to see this lesion in the sixth decade of life and with pulmonary metastases.     

Membranous nephropathy presenting with nephrotic syndrome in a child with thalassemia major

Few data on the renal effects of thalassemia syndrome are available in the literature. Recent clinical studies identified proximal tubular damage and glomerular filtration abnormalities in thalassemia. Iron‐chelating agents might be nephrotoxic as well, but proven glomerular injury, either due to anemia or chelating therapy, has not previously been demonstrated in thalassemia patients. Here, we report the first thalassemia patient presenting with nephrotic syndrome to be diagnosed with membranous nephropathy in the literature.     

Medullary nephrocalcinosis in Schimke immuno‐osseous dysplasia

Schimke immuno‐osseous dysplasia (SIOD) is a rare hereditary disease characterized by skeletal dysplasia, immune deficiency and progressive renal disease. Kidney involvement mainly determines the prognosis. The most common renal pathology is focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Medullary nephrocalcinosis refers to the diffuse deposition of calcium salts in renal medulla and has not previously been identified in SIOD. Here we report the first case of a pediatric patient having typical features of SIOD with medullary nephrocalcinosis.     

Sweet's syndrome associated with G-CSF

Summary. Sweet's syndrome (SS) developed in two patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for febrile neutropenia due to AML chemotherapy. Fever, painful skin and conjunctival lesions developed and neutrophilic infiltration was detected at biopsy specimens. Neutrophilia was not detected. Skin lesions regressed within 1–2 weeks and conjunctival lesions within 4 weeks following the cessation of G-CSF. We conclude that SS may be a complication of G-CSF therapy and tender skin and/or conjunctival lesions developing during G-CSF therapy should suggest the possibility of SS.