Grape seed and skin extract protects kidney from doxorubicin-induced oxidative injury

The study investigated the protective effect of grape seed and skin extract [GSSE] against doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity in healthy rats. Animals were treated with GSSE or not [control], for 8 days, administered with doxorubicin [20mg/kg] in the 4th day, and renal function as well as oxidative stress parameters were evaluated. Data showed that doxorubicin induced renal toxicity by affecting renal architecture and plasma creatinine. Doxorubicin also induced an oxidative stress characterized by an increase in malondialdehyde [MDA], calcium and H2O2 and a decrease in catalase [CAT] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]. Unexpectedly doxorubicin increased peroxidase [POD] and decreased carbonyl protein and plasma urea. Treatment with GSSE counteracted almost all adverse effects induced by doxorubicin. Data suggest that doxorubicin induced an oxidative stress into rat kidney and GSSE exerted antioxidant properties, which seem to be mediated by the modulation of intracellular calcium

Efficacy of grape seed and skin extract against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in rat liver

Doxorubicin [Dox] is an anthracycline used in chemotherapy, although it causes toxicity and oxidative stress. Grape seed and skin extract [GSSE] is a mixture of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. To evaluate the hepato-toxicity of Dox on healthy rats as well as the protective effect of GSSE, rats were treated with GSSE [500mg/kg bw] during 8 days. At the 4[th] day of treatment, they received a single dose of Dox [20 mg/kg bw]. After the treatment [9[th] day], livers were collected and processed for oxidative stress status. Dox increased MDA [+ 900%], decreased catalase [-60%] and increased peroxidase [+90%] and superoxide dismutase [+100%] activities. In this latter case Dox mainly increased the iron isoform. Furthermore Dox altered intracellular mediators as catalytic free iron [-75%], H[2]O[2] [-75%] and calcium [+30%]. Dox also affected liver function by elevating plasma triacylglycerol and transaminases and liver morphology by altering its typical architecture. Importantly all Dox-induced liver disturbances were alleviated upon GSSE treatment. Dox induced liver toxicity and an oxidative stress mainly characterized by increased lipoperoxidation but not protein carbonylation. GSSE efficiently protected the liver from Dox-induced toxicity and appeared as a safe adjuvant that could be incorporated into chemotherapy protocols

Resveratrol provides cardioprotection after ischemia/reperfusion injury via modulation of antioxidant enzyme activities

In this study, we investigated the cardioprotective effects of resveratrol. Rats were intraperitoneally administered with resveratrol [25 mg/kg bw] or vehicle [ethanol 10%] for 7 days and their heart subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury. Isolated hearts were langendorff perfused, left ventricular functions as heart rate and developed pressure, as well as, heart antioxidant status were determined. Data showed that resveratrol improved recovery of post-ischemic ventricular functions when compared to control. Resveratrol also improved myocardial lipoperoxidation, free iron and antioxidant enzyme activities. Resveratrol decreased significantly catalase while it increased peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. In this later case, native PAGE analysis of superoxide dismutase isoforms revealed that resveratrol up regulated iron and manganese isoforms. Resveratrol exerted potential cardioprotection partly by its antioxidant properties

Anti-CCP antibodies, rheumatoid factors and anti-keratin antibodies: clinical value in established rheumatoid arthritis

It is well documented that in early rheumatoid arthritis, anti-CCP antibodies have better diagnostic value than rheumatoid factors and anti-keratin antibodies. However, their role is less well defined in patients with established or long duration disease. To evaluate and to compare diagnostic performances of anti- CCP, anti-keratin, IgM and IgA rheumatoid factors in established rheumatoid arthritis. In a cross-sectional study, 90 patients with established rheumatoid arthritis and 100 controls were tested for these autoantibodies. The association of these markers with disease activity and severity was investigated. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each of four tests, using the clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. The anti-CCP and IgM rheumatoid factor exhibited the best diagnostic value. None of the tested antibodies had any significant association with the disease activity score [DAS28]. After adjustment by multiple linear regression, only anti-CCP positivity was found to be significantly associated with erosive disease. In long duration rheumatoid arthritis, anti-CCP and IgM rheumatoid factor have similar diagnostic value. However anti- CCP are useful in seronegative patients. They are also a reliable marker of severe erosive disease

[IL1/IL1 Ra, DTLA-4 and Apol/Fas genes polymorphisms and susceptibility to IgA nephropathy in Tunisian patients]

The IgA nephropathy [IgA-N] is considered the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis and its pathogenic mechanisms are very complex. The study of several genes which encode for immunoregulator molecules in inflammatory and immunological responses during the disease, allowed to describe some number of polymorphisms would be involved in the molecular expression, the road marking, the synthesis and/or the binding to the receptors. So an abnormality of the molecular function associated with its polymorphism would be suggested in the genetic predisposition to the disease. To determine interleukin 1 [IL1], interleukin1 receptor antagonist [IL1 Ra], CTLA-4 and Apol/Fas genespolymorphisms frequencies in IgA-N in order to estimate the impact of these polymorphisms in the disease susceptibility. The polymorphism of a single nucleotide [SNP] at [-889] IL1 alpha of 21 IgA-N patients and 100 healthy blood donors, as controls, was studied by PCRSSP. The SNPs of the IL1 beta [+3954], CTLA-4 [+49] and l'Apol/Fas were analyzed by PCR RFLP and finally the polymorphism of the IL1 Ra gene was determined by a PCR VNTR [variable number tandem repeat]. Investigation of IL1 alpha/beta and Apol/ Fas polymorphisms showed no differences in genotypes and allelesfrequencies between IgA-N patients and controls. However, genotype AA of CTLA-4 exon 1 [+49] was significantly higher in patients [47.62%] than in controls [9,1%] p<0.001. Nevertheless, the clinical histological and biological characteristics of IgA-N were similar in AA CTLA-4 genotype patients compared to AG or GG genotype patients. We fund also, a significant increased frequency of 1/1 IL1 Ra genotype in IgA-N patients [95,24%] compared to controls [54%] [p<0,001] [p<0,001]. We conclude that the susceptibility to IgA-N seems to be associated with the presence of CTLA-4 AA and iL1 Ra 1/1 genotypes in Tunisian population. However, the lack of association between IL1 alpha/ beta and Apol/fas genes polymorphisms should be further investigated by large population based studies

The inhibitory effects on adult male reproductive functions of crude garlic (Allium sativum) feeding / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>to investigate the effects of crude garlic on adult male rat reproductive functions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (untreated) and groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed for 30 days with 5%, 10%, 15% and 30% crude garlic, respectively. Testes and accessory organs were weighed and some markers were assessed. Light and electron microscopy observations were also performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A significant decrease was observed in the body weight of groups 4 (14%; P < 0.01) and 5 (20%; P < 0.01); of the prostate weight in group 5 (29.1%; P < 0.05) and of seminal vesicle weight in groups 3 (14.4%; P < 0.01), 4 (18.3%; P < 0.01) and 5 (27.3%; P < 0.01). In contrast, testis and epididymis weights were unchanged. In epididymis tissue, the alpha glucosidase activity and the spermatozoa density were unchanged. The treatment resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone serum levels in groups 3 (77.3%; P < 0.01), 4 (77.3%; P < 0.01) and 5 (90.9%; P < 0.01), associated with a significant increase in LH serum levels (P < 0.01). Testicular histology showed a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of empty seminiferous tubules. Moreover, testicular function was affected; a significant decrease in phosphatase acid activity (P < 0.01) and testosterone (P < 0.05) contents were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Crude garlic consumption during 1 month reduced testosterone secretion and altered spermatogenesis at 10%, 15% and 30% doses.</p>

Acute effects of a partially purified fraction from garlic on plasma glucose and cholesterol levels in rats: putative involvement of nitric oxide.

Garlic has been extensively used as a medicinal plant. Most of its numerous beneficial effects such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumoral involve sulfur-derived amino acids. In the present work, we reevaluated the acute effects of aqueous extract of garlic on plasma glucose and cholesterol levels in normal rats. Control (vehicle H2O) or garlic extract-treated group at 100-120 mg protein/kg body wt were intraperitoneally injected (IP) and glucose, cholesterol, insulin and nitric oxide metabolites levels were determined after a short-term duration of 6 h. We confirmed that garlic contained an active fraction, exerting both glucose and cholesterol-lowering activity. The glucose-lowering effect was triggered by an increase in insulinemia. Preliminary study indicated that the active agent was different from S-allyl-cysteine-sulfoxide, the active principle implicated in hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects of garlic or arginine. The mechanism of action seemed to involve nitric oxide (NO), which increased time and dose-dependently. The garlic effects were abolished by diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI = 1 mg/kg body wt), a specific inhibitor of NO production, suggesting the involvement of constitutive nitric oxide synthase.