Therapeutic Role of Proximol and Lasilactone in rat model of renal stress

Background: High salt intake induces renal-stress. The present study was carried out to examine the therapeutic effects of proximol[Halfa bar extract], lasilactonedrug[Spironolactone+Furosemide] and their combination on renal-stressed rats

Material and Methods: Thirty five male rats were used and divided into five groups. The first group served as negative control and received fresh tap water orally for four weeks. The animals in the other four groups drank hypertonic saline solution [2% NaCl] as a sole source of drinking water for four weeks to induce the animal model of renal stress. Then the renal-stressed rats were further divided into: positive control, renal-stressed rats treated daily with proximol [7.8 mg/kg b.wt], renal-stressed rats treated daily with lasilactone [3.9 mg/kg b.wt], and renal- stressed rats treated daily with a combination of proximol and lasilactone for four weeks. The levels of aldosterone, sodium, potassium, calcium, urea, uric acid and creatinine were measured in the sera of rats. Nitric oxide [NO], reduced glutathione [GSH] and lipid peroxidation [MDA] levels were also measured in the homogenate of renal tissue

Results: In the renal-stressed group, there was a significant increase in levels of aldosterone, sodium, calcium, urea, uric acid, NO and MDA and a significant decrease in potassium and GSH as compared to control group. Although the treatment of renal stressed rats with proximol, lasilactone and their combination reduced the increased level of aldosterone induced in renal stressed rats, aldosterone level was still higher than the control value. In addition, the treatment with proximol, lasilactone and their combination restored the significant increase in sodium, NO and lipid peroxidation to non significant changes as compared to control group. Also the decreased levels of GSH induced in renal-stressed rats returned to non significant changes. However, potassium decreased significantly below the control and the model groups with the combined treatment. Furthermore, treatment with proximol, lasilactone and their combination reduced the elevated levels of uric acid and urea induced by hypertonic saline solution to control- like values in the case of uric acid and to a significant decrease in the case of urea

Conclusion: In conclusion, proximol, lasilactone and their combination have an effective role in ameliorating the changes in the levels of aldosterone, serum electrolytes, oxidative stress and consequently the disturbance in kidney functions in renal-stressed rats induced by hypertonic saline solution

Non-invasive predictors of portal hypertension in patients with hepatitis C virus related hepatocellular carcinoma

The reference standard for portal venous pressure measurement which is clinically important for estimating the feasibility of resection of hepatocellular carcinoma is the hepatic venous pressure gradient, which is invasive and expensive. The present study evaluated the noninvasive parameters for assessment of portal hypertension in Child A patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on top of hepatitis C virus. A total of 112 patients were subjected to clinical assessment, biochemical assay, ultra- sonographic Doppler study, triphasic spiral abdominal computed tomography, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement. According to hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement, they were classified into groups: GI: 58 patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient <10 mmHg and GII: 54 patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient >/= 10 mmHg. Significant variables in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis to establish a model for prediction of clinically significant portal hypertension. Results showed that portal vein diameter >/= 1.3 cm, mono or biphasic pattern of flow in hepatic veins and Giannini index /= 10 mmHg. A model with highest likelihood ratio and good fitness was created. This prediction model was displayed by the receiver operating characteristic curve and under the curve area was 0.969 [0.938-1]

Effects of aging and anti-aging hormones on the kidney, the thyroid functions and the histology of the testis of male albino rats

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of aging and anti-aging hormones on the kidney, the thyroid and the testis of aged male albino rats from the physiological and histological points of view. Thirty five male rats were used in the present study. They were allocated into five groups. The first group [5 months old] served as control group and the other remaining groups are [18 months old]. The second group 1 ml/kg b.w. corn oil intramuscular injection through a period of two weeks. The third group received 2mg/kg b.w. of melatonin hormone orally daily for two weeks. The fourth group received 0.57 mg/kg b.w. of testosterone hormone via intramuscular injection through two weeks. The fifth group received the same dose of both hormones [Melatonin and Testosterone] for two weeks. Some biochemical parameters of the kidney, the thyroid and histological structure of the testis were examined. The untreated aged group showed insignificant change in urea level with highly significant decrease in creatinine, T[3] and T[4] hormones levels. The melatonin treated group showed significant decrease in urea level with highly significant decrease in creatinine, T[3] and T[4] hormones. The testosterone treated group showed highly significant increase in urea, T[3] and T[4] hormones and highly significant decrease in creatinine level. Whereas, fifth group showed significant decrease in urea accompanied with a highly significant decrease in creatinine and highly significant increase in T[3] with a significant increase in T[4]. The histological changes induced by aging and anti-aging hormones included intertubular haemorrhage, odematous areas present between the seminiferous tubules. The interstitial tissue was degenerated. The degenerated seminiferous tubules revealed maturation arrest in late-stage spermatides. In conclusion, aging and anti-aging hormones administration into adult male rats exerts a clear effect on the kidney and the thyroid functions and on the testicular structure. On the other hand, amelioration in T3 and T4 serum level was found in anti-aging treated rats compared with untreated aged rats

Role of anti-CCP in diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in comparison to rheumatoid factor

Background: RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the diarthroidal joints. Persistence and progression of the disease is regulated by immune mediators that continue to be defined and provide targets for immune intervention. Anti-CCP Antibodies were detected in over 80% of RA sera. This serological test has advantage of easy performance by convenient enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test

Aim of Work: This study was conducted to assess the value of anti-CCP as a marker for diagnosis and disease activity in RA patients

Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on 75 subjects [25 RA patients, 25 disease control patients and 25 normal healthy individuals that served as a control group]. Serum anti-CCP level was measured using ELISA test. While Serum RF was measured using immune nephelometry

Results: Serum anti-CCP level was significantly higher in RA patients compared to the disease control group and the control group. Its level showed a positive significant correlation with RF, CRP, and the disease activity score. Sensitivity of the test was 74%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value was 100% and negative predictive value was 73.5%

Conclusions: Detection of serum anti-CCP antibody in RA patients is a laboratory test that can be used as a parameter to diagnose RA

Comparative study between partial obliteration and complete eradication of esophageal varices by injection sclerotherapy: outcome and complications

Background: Major variceal bleeding is a life threatening complication of portal hypertension

Patients and methods: To compare between partial obliteration and complete eradication of post-bleeding esophageal varices [EV] using injection sclerotherapy as regards effectiveness in preventing rebleeding; development of de novo congestive gastropathy or change of its severity if previously present, development of new gastric varices and hemodynamic changes of the portal circulation and its collaterals. Forty patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in whom EV were proved to be the source of bleeding were included and randomly classified into two equal groups [I and II] matched for their variceal grade and Child-Pugh class as far as possible md subjected to injection sclerotherapy; GI [20 cases] [those who were subjected to repeated sessions of injection scierotherapy and the end point was reduction of the size of EV to grade I to II] and GI] [20 cases] to whom repeated sessions of injection sclerotherapy were done till complete eradication of EV. Color Doppler study of portal hemodynamics was done before starting sclerotherapy and repeated 6 and 12 months later afier the end of sessions including portal vein velocity [PVV], congestion index [CI]; and status of intra-abdominal collaterals. After reaching the end of treatment, regular endoscopic follow-up was done every three months and abdominal US and color Doppler follow-up examination every 6 months to compare with the previously mentioned parameters recorded before sclerotherapy

Results: There was a statistically significant difference [P < 0.05] in esophageal varices grade batman both groups after sclerotherapy endpoint by 3 and 6 months with more evident recurrence in group II. Regarding the impact on the hemodynamic parameters, there was no statistically significant differance [P> 0.05] between both groups after sclerotherapy. In each group there was no statistically significant correlation between the grade of esophageal varices, the portal vein diameter [before sclerotherapy] and the number of sessions needed for obliteration or eradication of EV

Conclusion: Recurrence of esophageal varices is early and more evident after complete variceal eradication than partial obliteration. Both partial obliteration and complete eradication can lead to secondary rise in the portal pressure with increase in the rate of new gastric varices development

Microscopical changes in the liver of adult and fetus mice following megestrol acetate administration and the protective role of selenium against hepatotoxicity

Megestrol acetate is widely used as an anticancer drug. Recently it has been reported to be hepatogenotoxic in rat and human hepatocytes and forms adducts with rat hepatocytes DNA in vitro or in vivo. In the present study, the toxic effects of megestrol acetate [MA] on the liver of adult female mice and the liver of their fetuses were investigated. The protective role of selenium against MA-induced hepatotoxicity was also investigated. At the zero day of pregnancy, pregnant females were divided into three groups. One group served as a control. The second group received a daily oral dose of 0.4 mg of MA. The third group received selenium in a dose of 1.4 mcg/kg one hour prior to MA. The pregnant females were sacrificed after 20 days of pregnancy and samples were taken from the liver of the females as well as the liver of their fetuses. The tissue samples were processed for electron microscopic studies. The present study showed severe damage of the liver of the adult females following MA administration. This was represented by disorganization of the liver cell plates, inflammation, dilation of the blood sinusoids, multiple foci of degenerated cells, damage of the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, fluid accumulation in the cells. In addition, marked increase in the lipid dropletes was observed in the hepatocytes while glycogen showed an apparent depletion. The fetal liver also showed an apparent signs of damage which represented by vacuolation of the cell cytoplasm, dilation of the blood sinusoids, mitochondrial and rough endoplasmic reticulum damage, inflammation, and nuclear changes. The results also demonstrate that the use of selenium prior to MA produced protection against MA- induced hepatotoxicity especially in the adult animals

Minimizing radiation exposure from patients treated with lodine-131 for hyperthyroidism using a lead collar: a simple and effective approach

To construct a lead collar useful for shielding the electromagnetic radiation from the thyroid of patients treated with radioiodine 131I for hyperthyroidism, thereby reducing the radiation emitted from these patients. Materials and A specially designed cervical lead collar was used to shield radiation exposure from 'hot thyroids' of 20 patients treated with iodine-131 for hyperthyroidism. The collar was made of lead strips stacked together around a plastic neck support fastened around the patient's neck. Measurements of the radiation exposure rate were obtained at increasing distances from the patients [50, 100, 200 cm], with and without the lead collar, at various times after 131I treatment. Radiation exposure measurements over 3 weeks showed relatively high exposure rates in the first week after treatment. The radiation exposure from the patients wearing the lead collar was half that found in the same patients not wearing the collar. The use of the lead collar significantly reduced the radiation exposure of patients' surroundings. It was particularly useful in patients who could not abide strictly to the standard restrictive protocols after treatment with 131I