ABSTRACT
Background: 2'-deoxycytidine [Dcyd] is one of four major nucleosides found in the different normal body fluids due to dissolution of dead cells, and is increase in the presence of malignancy. Previous studies proved that it can be used as a marker for bladder cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The aim of this study is to assess 2'Dcyd as a possible biological marker in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]
Methods: four groups were evaluated for the level 2'-Dcyd as well as alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]; a control group [n = 20], 20 cases of chronic liver diseases [CLD], 20 cases of hepatitis C [HCV] 60 cases of HCC
Results: in the patients with HCC, 2'-Dcyd serum level was 8-fold higher than normal level. It was 3-fold higher in HCV group. A mild increase was noted in patients with chronic liver diseases. Levels >/= 0.14 of 2'-Dcyd had a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 90% for diagnosis of HCC. It also recorded a sensitivity and specificity of 90% for diagnosis of HCV
Conclusions: for diagnosis of HCC, 2'-Dcyd is no better than AFP, as it is elevated in viral hepatitis C. A combination of AFP and 2'-Dcyd could provide broader information in diagnosis and treatment decision
ABSTRACT
Cisplatin is one of the most widely used and effective chemotherapeutic drugs ever discovered against a variety of solid tumors. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of the flavonoid silymarin, a free radical scavenger that prevents lipoperoxidation, on nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rat. Male albino rats were divided into five groups, 10 rats in each. The first group received a daily I.P. injection of normal saline [0.5 m1/150 gm body weight] for 5 consecutive days and served as saline-control group. In the second group, rats were injected I.P. with of 0.2 ml of propylene glycol in saline 75/25 v/v for 5 consecutive days and served as propylene glycol-control group. The third group were injected with a single dose of cisplatin [5 mg/kg, I.P.], whereas animals in the fourth group were injected with Silymarin [100 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days, I.P. injection] [Silymarin was dissolved in 0.2 ml of propylene glycol in saline 75/25 v/v]. The Fifth group received a daily 1.P injection of Silymarin [100 mg/kg/day for 5 days,] 1hr after the last dose the rats were injected with a single I.P. injection of cisplatin [5 mg/kg]. A single dose of cisplatin [5 mg/kg I.P.] caused acute nephrotoxicity biochemically manifested as an increase in serum urea nitrogen [350%], serum creatinine [521%]. Serum nitric oxide was decreased. In the kidney tissue, treatment with cisplatin resulted in a significant 40%, 53% and 15% decrease in GSH, SOD and GSHPx, and a significant 75% and 80% increase in MDA and NO respectively as compared to saline-control group. Interestingly, administration of silymarin [100 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days] before administration of cisplatin attenuated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity manifested by normalizing the increase of serum urea, serum creatinine, MDA and NO in kidney tissues and the decrease in serum NO, GSH, SOD and GSHPx in kidney tissues. Data from this study suggest that silymarin attenuates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity
ABSTRACT
The effect of some environmental factors namely: temperature and hydration on thyroid activity was studied in an experimental model using albino rat. The parameters used for the assessment of such an activity were: protein bound iodine [PBI], free thyroxine [T[4]] and total cholesterol in serum. The levels of PBI and T[4] in serum were higher in winter than in summer and this demonstrates clearly the role of the thethyroid gland in calorigenesia. PBI and T[4] levels were also higher with hydration. Cholesterol levels were higher in summer than in winter and on dehydration than hydration. The increase in T[4] was accompanied by a decrease in cholesterol levels in serum and vice versa. T[4] seems to play a role in sterol removal from blood. This investigation demonstrates the importance of environmental factors in evaluating thyroid activity and the present data may be useful as a standard for further studies on this animal