Antiapoptotic effect of carvedilol and vitamin E in diabetic nephropathy and cardiomyopathy

Oxidative stress plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Bcl-2 gene has close connection with antioxidant stress destruction in many diseases including diabetes. BcI-2 gene also has anti apoptotic effect. Carvedilol, is novel beta-adrenoreceptor blocker, which has antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. In physicochemical, biochemical and cellular assay carvedilol inhibited the formation of reactive oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation and prevented the depletion of endogenous antioxidants. Moreover, it was reported that carvedilol enhanced the expression of Bcl-2 gene which has antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. There are few researches on the effect of Carvedilol on diabetic cardiomyopathy and nephropathy. Whether carvedilol can improve cardiac or renal function in diabetic animal models and the ability of carvedilol to express the Bcl-2 gene and compare its antioxidant effect with a traditional antioxidant like vitamin E is our aim of the current study. In this study we used streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus in male albino rats, we investigated carvedilol-administrated in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 6 weeks as well as vitamin E to compare their effects on biochemical parameters [blood glucose level, lipid profile, serum levels of thiobarbetioric acid [TBAS] and total antioxidant status [TAOS], renal function tests, creatinin phosphokinase [CPK], expression of Bcl-2 protein in the cardiac and renal tissues and histopathological examination in the cardiac and renal tissues. The study showed that, the diabetic rats not only had cardiac and renal dysfunction, high levels of blood glucose and lipid peroxide, lower levels of TAOS, but also showed lower expression of Bcl-2 protein. Carvedilol and vitamin E treatments improved renal and cardiac functions, lowered blood glucose, serum lipids and lipid peroxide, increased levels of TAOS and expression of Bcl-2 protein in healthy rats as well as diabetic rats. In addition they have protective effects on cardiac and renal tissues. These results indicated that carvedilol and vitamin E partly improve cardiac and renal function via their antioxidant properties in diabetic rats

Spotlight on systemic antimicrobial adjunctive therapy in aggressive periodontitis

In this study, 35 adult patients with untreated aggressive periodontitis were exposed to a microbiological analysis to define the kind of oral microorganisms causing this disease. They were found to harbor sub-gingival Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Capnocytophaga species, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Eikenella corrodens as the common putative and anaerobic microorganisms causing the disease. Moreover, a follow up study was carried out on 45 adult patients with untreated aggressive periodontitis. According to the antimicrobial regimens, the patients were treated for 14 days with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, either alone [group I] or combined with any of certain drugs, including doxycycline 100 mg/day [group II], metronidazole 750 mg/day [group III], doxycycline 100 mg/day and metronidazole 750 mg/day [group IV], doxycycline 20 mg twice daily and metronidazole 750 mg/day [group V]. The study concluded that the systemic administration of the antimicrobial agents as adjunctive therapy of aggressive periodontitis is effective in improving the inflammatory condition. Drug combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy with single agent. The administration of a combination of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, metronidazole and doxycycline proved an optimum adjunctive drug therapy of periodontitis. The administration of doxycycline in this combination in a sub-antimicrobial dose of 20 mg bid is as effective as doxycycline in a dose of 100 mg/day

role of corticosteroids in the treatment of burn shock

The value of corticosteroids in treatment of shock is not clear despite their accepted use for many years. Guidelines to the utility or limitations of these agents remain controversial despite extensive study. Our study aimed to compare the degree and onset of improvement of burn shock in patients receiving corticosteroids with those not receiving. Hence our patients were divided into 2 main groups, the first group included 20 patients who received corticosteroids, the second group included 17 patients who did not receive corticosteroid. A part from corticosteroids both groups received the same management including first aid measures and intravenous fluids. Follow up was done using heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, urine output, restlessness and mental status and condition of extremities. Also 2 samples of blood were taken for measuring serum sodium and potassium just after admission and 48-96 hours after admission. The results of this study showed less mortality rate with patients receiving corticosteroids. Follow up of heart rate showed that it was faster in nearly all patients not receiving corticosteroids. Temperature was higher in nearly all patients not receiving corticosteroids yet temperature changes were statistically significant starting from the second day postburn. Clinical evaluation of patients as regards restlessness and mental status was statistically significant. In addition urine output was greater in nearly all the subgroups receiving corticosteroids, yet it was not statistically significant. Finally the results of this study showed that it is favourable to use parenteral corticosteroids in sufficient doses in all patients suffering from burn shock