Effect of cyclosporine. A on paraoxonase activity in wistar rats

Many adverse effects have been reported on using cyclosporine [CSA] in organ transplantation. To investigate the effects of CSA on paraoxonase [PON] activity and lipid peroxidation metabolites in early and late-stage of peroxidation and also total antioxidant [TA]. Twenty 220-250 g adult male Wistar rats were included in the study. The animals were stored for one week in the animal room before the initial injection to habituate with temperature, humidity, and circadian rhythm of day [12 h] and night [12 h]. The temperature was kept at 23 °C. Animals had access to food and water ad libitum. A significant [p=0.002] increase in the serum levels of conjugated diones was observed in the case compared to the control group. At the end of the study, malondialdehyde [MDA] levels in CSA group was significantly [p=0.01] higher than the control group. Serum PON1 activity was significantly [p=0.004] lower in the case than the control group. CSA administration could impair oxidant-antioxidant pathways and increase oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy could be beneficial in patients treated with CSA

Effect of isoproterenol on LDL susceptibility to oxidation and serum total antioxidant capacity in cyclosporine-treated rats

Cyclosporine therapy is associated with a variety of adverse effects. Recent studies have suggested increased oxidative stress as a cause of these side effects. Since, melatonin is one of the most powerful known antioxidants, and regarding that isoproterenol is one of the drugs stimulating endogenous melatonin production, we tried to determine the effect of isoproterenol on LDL susceptibility to oxidation and serum total antioxidant capacity in cyclosporine-treated rats.32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: of group A were controls that received placebo; group B, received intraperitoneal isoproterenol [20 mg/kg/d] alone; group C, intravenous cyclosporine [15 mg/kg/d] alone; and group D, both drugs simultaneously at the same doses and durations namely cyclosporine one week after administration of isoproterenol. Blood samples were drawn four times for each group: before injections, during the treatment, end of the treatment, and one week after the last injections. There was an increase in LDL susceptibility to oxidation [P<0.05], and a decrease in serum total antioxidant capacity [P<0.05] in group C rats. But, there were no significant changes in group B and D rats by point of LDL susceptibility to oxidation and total antioxidant capacity. Isoproterenol may be capable of delaying adverse effects of cyclosporine by preventing the increase in LDL susceptibility to oxidation, and decrease in serum total antioxidant capacity

survey of relation between iPTH, high sensitive CRP and carotid intima media thickness in under hemodialysis patients

C-reactive protein is a chronic inflammation factor and a strong predictor of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. The studies have shown that increased levels of intact parathyroid hormone in uremia may cause to lipid metabolism abnormalities, involved in accelerated atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. We survey relation between iPTH and high sensitive CRP and carotid intima-media thickness in hemodialysis patients. In this prospective study, serum levels of high sensitive CRP, iPTH, lipoprotein alpha, cholesterol, low and high density lipoprotein, calcium, phosphor, carotid intima-media thickness of 30 hemodialysis patients with ESRD were evaluated. Mean of high sensitive CRP in males was 4.65 mg/dl and in females was 6.4 mg/dl, mean of iPTH in males was 65.7 pg/dl and in females was 74.03 pg/dl. Significant difference was not found between mean of intima media thickness of right and left carotid in two sex [P>0.05]. But, significant correlation was found between high sensitive CRP. iPTH and intima media thickness of carotid [p<0.001]. Attention to this findings, especially using of high sensitive CRP could result in early diagnosis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, it will be decrease of mortality of these pateints

Cryoglobulinemia in dialysis and kidney transplanted patients infected by viral hepatitis B and C

Cryoglobulinemia is a disorder which appears in hepatitis B and C patients in long term. It usually accompanied by production of rheumatoid factor leading to consumption of complement components in serum. As dialysis and kidney transplantation patients are highly subjected to viral hepatitis B and C infections, therefore this study has been designed to find the frequency of cryoglobulinemia, rheumatoid factor in these patients. Two hundred and twenty nine dialysis patients and 70 kidney transplant recipients randomly selected. HBsAg and anti - hepatitis C antibodies of both sexes with different prolongation of treatment were tested by third generation of ELISA method. Their serum samples were collected and then were stored in refrigerator for a whole week in order to precipitatation of cryoglobulines. Rheumatoid factor were immediately processed by quantitative agglutination, single radial immunodiffusion and hemolysis methods. Cryoglobulinemia in dialysis and transplant patients were 36.68% and 15.71% respectively. Rheumatoid factor percentages in dialysis and transplant patients were 53.57% and 20% respectively. The age apparently did not critically affect the results, while prolongation of dialysis period significantly increased the frequency of cryoglobulinemia and rheumatoid factor incidences. Cryoglobulinemia and rheumatoid factor incidence in hepatitis B infected dialysis patients was 32% and 50%, respectively compared to 60% and 80% in hepatitis C infected ones. Cryoglobulinemia and rheumatoid factor incidence dialysis in female patients were higher than male's [53.26% against 25.54% and 64.13% against 45.98%]. These results did not correlate with transplant patients results. Chronic hepatitis B and C may lead to exist of cryoglobulinemia and rheumatoid factor appearance and further tissue damage in dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Regular check up and proper treatment of these individuals could prolong and ease their surveillance

Differentiation of glomerular from non-glomerular hematuria by three different methods of microscopic examinations of erythrocytes in urine

Morphological examinations of urinary erythrocytes can be of diagnostic value in initial evaluation of hematuria. Dysmorphic urinary red blood cells are known to indicate a glomerular origin of bleeding. We examined the clinical usefulness of this test in a population complained of hematuria by use of three different light microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, and Wright staining and compared their sensitivity and specificity. The study included 169 patients with hematuria [89 glomerular and 80 non-glomerular]. The urine specimens were collected before invasive procedures such as biopsy and cystoscopy. In each urine sample, 100 urinary erythrocytes were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test, correlation coefficient, and x. Reliability parameters including sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of negative and positive tests were also evaluated. Dysmorphic red cells were recorded as acanthocytes, doughnut-like cells, yeast like cells with more than one blebs and ghost forms. Isomorphic erythrocytes had uniform size and shape. Significant difference was found in the number of urinary dysmorphic red cells between the two groups of patients. Statistical analysis showed that by using percentage of glomerular type erythrocytes and setting the cut-off at 20-25%, the specificity for three procedures was almost the same [? 97.5%]. But sensitivity for light microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, and Wright staining was in different ranges as 70.7%, 89.8%, and 86.5% respectively. It was concluded that with some limitations, these simple, non-invasive techniques were useful in identifying the source of bleeding in the work up of hematuria by considering that sensitivity of the methods were in the order of phase contrast microscopy, Wright staining, and light microscopy

effect of zinc supplementation on taste acuity in chronic hemodialysis patients

Zinc deficiency is a cause of taste disturbances. The purpose of the present investigation is to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on improvement of taste acuity in chronic hemodialysis patients. 65 chronic hemodialysis patients were studied in two groups, group one consist of 35 patients and group two consist of 30 patients. Group one received placebo and group two received 100 mg elemental zinc daily for 2 months. Then the placebo and supplement disrupted in next 2 months and afterwards, this study continued as a crossover design 2 months. Taste acuity for the four primary tastes was determined by asking patients to identify them at varying concentration. Taste acuity, body mass index [BMI] and the levels of serum zinc at the 0[th], 60[th], 120[th], 180[th] days in fasting, predialysis samples were determined. Patients completed 1-day food record at nondialysis mentioned day and their dietary zinc were analyzed. Basal serum zinc levels in both groups were below than 80 microg/dl. The zinc supplementation lead to significant increase the levels of serum zinc in both groups. Taste thresholds for the primary tastes significantly increased during the placebo period in both groups. Zinc supplementation lead to decrease taste thresholds for the four tastes in both groups. This decrease was significant, except for salty tastant in group two. BMI values significantly didn't change during study. It can be conclude that in chronic hemodialysis patients: 1] Taste thresholds increased in the absence of zinc supplementation. 2] Zinc supplementation lead to improved of taste acuity. 3] Low serum zinc levels are improved by zinc adminstration

[Association analysis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in familial type in East-Azerbaijan]

Familial form of polycystic kidney disease which is inherited as an autosomal dominant pattern is one of the most common form of kidney disease. The main manifestation of this disease is the presence of growing cysts in kidney which results in malfunction of kidney. The frequency of disease is one in 1000 living birth. Mutation in one of the three different genes could result in developing polycystic kidney disease. Genetically analysis has been able to identify two of the genes, PKD1 and PKD2, located on chromosome 16 and chromosome 4 respectively. The location of the third gene remains unrevealed and the frequency of families affected due to the mutation on this gene is very low. By applying microsatellites tightly linked to the identified polycystic kidney disease genes, affected families referred from East Azerbaijan were genetically analyzed. Families with at least three affected members by polycystic kidney disease were studied. Polymorphic microsatellites from the regions of PKD1 and PKD2 were selected by studying the members of these families. All members of the families were investigated by the polymorphic markers to study linkage analysis. Out of 13 families with 99 members referred by specialists, 7 families with 75 members were selected on the base of availability. Disease in three of these families showed linkage with PKD2 gene and in one family linkage was found between the disease and PKD1 gene. In another family linkage was observed with neither PKD1 nor PKD2 genes. None of the markers were informative in two of the families; therefore these families were excluded from the studies. Most of the families with polycystic kidney disease from North West of Iran, showed linkage with PKD2 gene. One of the families did not show linkage with any of the known genes. In this family, disease could be due to mutation in the third gene which remains to be identified

[ potentiating effects of citrullus colocynthis extract on immune system]

The stimulating effects of medicinal plants on immune system were taken into consideration. In this relation, saponins and flavonoids are well known compounds. The presence of these compounds in Citrullus colocynthis [CC], also a report based on leucocytosis activity of C.C, it caused that we were going to investigate the effect of this plant on immune system. In the present paper, the histologic effects of pulps and seeds extracts of CC on gastrointestinal mucosal from the point of view of immunity were investigated. Aerial parts of CC were extracted with MeOH 70% and the presence of different groups of natural compounds were assessed by phytochemical methods. Then 30 male rabbits are used, they divided into 5 groups. One group is kept as diabetic control and from the other 4 groups, 2 groups were received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of pulp extract and two groups were received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of seed extract of C.C by gavage. After 1 month of experimental period, rabbits were sacrificed by chloroform and specimens from intestine were fixed in 10% formalin and studied with light microscopy. The number of penetrating lymphocytes to intestinal epithelium observed in morphometery were criteria of immune system functional marker. All of animals that received 200mg/kg/day pulp extract of C.C, and 46% of animals that received 100 mg/kg /day of pulp extract died. The number of intestinal mucosal lymphocytes enhanced in group of received 100 mg/kg/day pulp extract. Mean of penetrating lymphocytes was significant in 100 mg/kg/day pulp extract group in comparison to control group[p< 0.05]. Increasing of lymphocytes was significant in 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of seed extract and mean of penetrating lymphocytes was significant in comparison to control group [p<0.005]. Immunostimulant effect of the extract of CC seed is higher than the extract of CC pulp but the toxicity of the pulp extract is more than the toxicity of the seed extract