alpha-lipoic acid protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: inhibition of FAS mediated liver apoptosis

Acetaminophen [APAP] overdose causes acute liver injury in humans and animals. This study was carried out to investigate whether the lipid soluble antioxidant -lipoic acid [ALA] can protect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were treated with APAP [1q/kg] I.P. either alone or with ALA [100mg/ kg] at the same time for 24hr. Acetaminophen caused a time-dependent increase in the plasma levels of ALT enzyme activity; hepatocytes LDH leakage; nitric oxide [measured as NO2 -/NO3-] levels and caused severe hepatic necrosis. It also decreased liver contents of reduced glutathione [GSH]. In addition, APAP caused hepatic DNA fragmentation as assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis technique; increased apoptotic index [assessed by TUNEL assay] and liver Fas expression [assessed immunohistochemically]. Co-administration of ALA with APAP resulted in protection against APAP-induced hepatic injury as presented by the significant decrease in the hepatocellular enzyme release [ALT and LDH] and attenuation of hepatocytes apoptosis and necrosis. The hepatoprotective effect of ALA against APAP-induced liver damage was found to be due to several mechanisms including attenuation of hepatic lipid peroxidation [measured as MDA], increase hepatic contents of GSH, and/or decrease liver Fas expression, decreased apoptotic cell death and DNA damage. These results may recommend the use of ALA in treatment of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity as a new line therapy

In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the mutagenic potential of carbamazepine: does melatonin have antimutagenic activity?

The mutagenic potential of carbamazepine [CBZ] therapy has been evaluated invivo and in vitro. Analysis of chromosome aberrations [CA], sister chromatidexchanges [SCEs], mitotic and proliferation [PRI] indices were performed. Thein vivo was carried out on 30 patients with idiopathic epilepsy and undergoingtreatment with CBZ for different periods starting from 6 months up to 15years. Plasma CBZ levels were also determined for each patient. From theobserved results, it was suggested that CBZ monotherapy may lead to chromosomedamaging effects [genotoxic] and the use of melatonin as anti- mutagenic agentfor human protection against CBZ-induced chromosome damage should beconsidered

Relation between serum carbamazepine concentration and pain in dental patients with trigeminal neuralgia

The relation between changes in pain intensity, frequency and serum carbamazepine [CBZ] concentration was studied in 10 dental patients with trigeminal neuralgia. All patients included in this study were previously treated as dental patients with misdiagnosed pain. All patients were treated with a daily dose of CBZ [600 mg] for a period of 10 months. Serum CBZ concentration, blood examination and measuring pain intensity and frequency were performed every 3 months after initiation of CBZ therapy. It was found that CBZ concentration varies from period to period even within the same individual. Also, there was a fluctuation in pain intensity in most of the patients as in periods where the CBZ levels were low, pain was relatively well controlled and vice versa. There was a considerable interindividual differences in response to CBZ. However, pain frequency was found to be reduced with long-term therapy. Moreover, this study showed a correlation between CBZ levels and the particular side effects. Side effects such as ataxia, dizziness, skin rashes, and leucopenia were observed in very few elderly during high serum CBZ level periods. These effects were transient. Furthermore, this study revealed that most of the patients had transient improvement of pain after oral surgical interference which could be a provoking factor of pain as pulpitis and impacted tooth. Therefore, this study showed the importance of monitoring serum CBZ level, pain intensity, frequency and side effects during long-term CBZ therapy. Also, proper diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia in dental patients suffering from pain should be considered. Further, the dental problems causing pain on top of TN should be treated

Serum lipoproteins in acne vulgaris

In order to clarify the obscure pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [VLDL-C] were determined in 40 female acne patients [20 mild cases and 20 severe cases]. This study showed that the mean values of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and VLDL-C in acne patients did not significantly differ from those of the control group. On the other hand, the serum level of LDL-C was significantly higher in patients with severe acne when compared with that of the controls. Also, it was found that the serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C and not significantly differ in severe acne patients when compared with those of mild acne patients