Update on ovarian aging and ovarian reserve tests

Ovaries are the female organs that age more quickly than other tissues such as the uterus, the pituitary gland or pancreas. Different from males, an interesting question is why and how the females lose fertility so rapidly. During the aging process, both the number and quality of the oocytes in the ovaries decrease and reach to a point beyond that no more viable offspring may be produced and the associated cyclic endocrinological activities cease, entering the menopause in females at an average age of 50 years. Females who delayed childbearing with or without their willing until their 30 years or 40 years constitute the largest portion of the total infertility population. Ovarian reserve tests [ORTs] provide an indirect estimate of a female's diminishing ovarian reserve or remaining follicular pool. This article briefly reviews recent progresses in relation to ovarian aging and ORTs

Protective effects of etanercept and methylprednisolone on pancreatic damage in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

To examine the pharmacological effect of etanercept and methylprednisolone [MP] on acute pancreatitis [AP] induced by cerulein in an experimental rat model. The present study was carried out in the Experimental Research Center, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey between December 2008 and October 2009. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups [n=8]:1- sham, 2 - cerulein induced pancreatitis [over 20 hours], 3 - etanercept [5mg/kg, intraperitoneal], 4- MP [10mg/ kg, intramuscular], 5- etanercept plus MP. The rats in groups 3,4 and 5 were cerulean-induced pancreatitis at 20 hours, as well. After the treatment, the pancreas and blood were taken for histopathological and biochemical analysis. All cerulein-treated rats developed biochemical and histopathological AP after 20 hours. Histological findings of pancreatitis and serum levels of amylase and lipase were lower in group 5 compared to group 2. Pancreatic inflammation and total pathological score were statistically reduced in the tissues of the pancreas at 20 hours after the treatment of etanercept plus MP in group 5 compared to groups 2,3 and 4.In the early stage of cerulein induced AP, the administration of etanercept plus MP attenuated pancreatic inflammation and significant damage in rats

Effectiveness of free radicals in hydtid cysts

Lipid peroxidation [tbars] levels of fertile cyst liquids [0.84 +/- 0.14, 0.9 +/- 0.12 mumol/L] for sheep liver and lung, respectively, were higher than infertile cyst liquids [0.29 +/- 0.07, 0.20 +/- 0.06 mumol/L] for sheep liver and lung. There were no significant differences between fertile cyst membranes [0.71 +/- 0.12, 0.74 +/- 0.27 nmol/mg wet tissue protein for liver and lung, respectively] and infertile cyst membranes [0.37 +/- 0.11, 0.39 +/- 0.15 nmol/mg wet tissue protein] in terms of tbars levels. The lipid peroxidation levels determined for protoscolices [1.99 +/- 0.45, 2.07 +/- 0.20 nmol/mg wet tissue protein for sheep liver and lung, respectively] were significantly higher than those of fertile and infertile cyst membranes. NO levels of cattle fertile hydatid liquids [liver nitrite [2.07 +/- 0.73 nmol/L], liver nitrate [4.01 +/- 1.15 mumol/L], lung nitrite [2.44 +/- 0.70 mumol/L] and lung nitrate [0.87 +/- 0.30 mumol/L]] were significantly higher compared with cattle infertile hydatid liquids [liver nitrite [0.66 +/- 0.29 mumol/L], liver nitrate [1.10 and 0.41 mumol/L], lung nitrite [0.55 +/- 0.15 mumol/L] and lung nitrate [0.54 +/- 0.16 mumol/L]]