Protection of renal tubular cells by antioxidants: current knowledge and new trends

Acute renal damage mainly develops following toxic or ischemic insults and is defined as acute. These damages have largely been attributed to oxidative stress. Recently much attention has been directed toward decreased renal tubular cell regeneration during tubular cell injury. Antioxidants have recently been the focus of researchers and scientists for prevention and treatment of various oxidative stress-related conditions, including renal toxicities. Although free radicals are known to contribute in kidney injury and abundant researches, particularly laboratory trials, have shown the beneficial effects of antioxidants against these complications, long term clinical trials do not uniformly confirm this matter, especially for single antioxidant consumption such as vitamin C. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possible explanation of this matter

Ameliorative effect of melatonin against contrast media induced renal tubular cell injury

Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is a mediator of renal damage. Melatonin is a potent-free radical scavenger. Our objective was to test whether melatonin would protect against the nephrotoxicity of contrast media. In an experimental study 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups including: 1] Control group [No drug], 2] Contrast media group [10 ml/kg iodixanol i.v. single dose], 3] Contrast media and melatonin [first 10 ml/kg iodixanol then 10 ml/kg/day melatonin by i.p. injection on days 3, 4 and 5] and 4] Contrast media and melatonin pretreatment group [melatonin 10 ml/ kg/day by i.p. injection on 1, 2 and 3 days, then 10 ml/kg iodixanol by i.v. injection on third day. The blood creatinine and BUN as well as the histological changes were evaluated for severity of renal injury [degeneration, vacuolization of tubular renal cells, dilatation of tubular lumen and presence of debris in the lumens], by scoring from one to four. Contrast media significantly increased the creatinine and BUN and renal injury [p < 0.05]. Melatonin prevented and reversed the injury induced by contrast media [P < 0.05]. Pretreatment with melatonin reduced the renal injury induced by contrast media [P < 0.05]. Melatonin is an effective drug to prevent contrast-induced renal injury. Therefore its usage [especially pretreatment] might be beneficial in patients who are planning to use contrast media agents

New concepts in nutraceuticals as alternative for pharmaceuticals

Nutraceuticals are products, which other than nutrition are also used as medicine. A nutraceutical product may be defined as a substance, which has physiological benefit or provides protection against chronic disease. Nutraceuticals may be used to improve health, delay the aging process, prevent chronic diseases, increase life expectancy, or support the structure or function of the body. Nowadays, nutraceuticals have received considerable interest due to potential nutritional, safety and therapeutic effects. Recent studies have shown promising results for these compounds in various complications. In the present review much effort has been devoted to present new concepts about nutraceuticals based on their diseases modifying indications. Emphasis has been made to present herbal nutraceuticals effective on hard curative disorders related to oxidative stress including allergy, alzheimer, cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, eye, immune, inflammatory and Parkinson's diseases as well as obesity. The recently published papers about different aspects of nutraceuticals as alternative for pharmaceuticals were searched using scientific sites such as Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The used terms included nutraceutical and allergy, alzheimer, cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, eye, immune, inflammatory or Parkinson

World cancer day 2014: "increasing the awareness"

World Cancer Day [WCD] is celebrated on February 4[th] each year around the world to remind the efforts done by united nations, World Health Organization [WHO], and other governmental and non-governmental health organizations with the aim of delivering the real message about cancer and its treatments to fight against this fatal disease through uniting all the people on global basis [1-4]. In brief, cancer is a large group of different disorders involving unregulated cell growth. In malignancy, cells divide and grow uncontrollably to form malignant tumors and to invade neighboring parts of the body. The cancer tumor may spread to more distant parts of the body through blood or lymphatic systems [5-8]. It has been observed that most of the cancer cases and related deaths happen in less developed countries that this situation is expected to get worse by 2030. Therefore, it is very crucial to get control over such condition throughout the world. Furthermore, WCD aims to save millions of preventable deaths every year by raising alertness and by educating people about malignancy, while forcing the governments throughout the world to take action against this disease [2-8]. The day is also a key chance for cancer patients to ensure that world leaders stick to the promises they made at the United Nations Summit for reducing the cancer and its impacts. During this particular occasion, participants try to promote healthy lifestyles, balanced diet, regular physical activity, weight management, as well as using antioxidants in order to diminish the risk of malignancies [1-8]. Furthermore, this day is celebrated to plan certain new strategies and to imply various new programs in order to make people aware of this disorder. WCD is also celebrated to make non-patient people aware about the preventive methods and the risk factors of cancer [2-8]. The theme of WCD of 2014 is "Debunk the Myths" because some people believe that if they contact or live with a patient who has cancer, they would get cancer as well. The day is, therefore, distinguished to eradicate such types of the social myths [5-13] and to make certain concepts about different aspects of the malignancy, such as its symptoms, causing factors and treatment [1, 3, 9]. Furthermore, on this day, some of activities are organized to indicate that cancer patients should not be treated distinctly, while they are entitled to the same rights as normal people in the society [14-19]. Although they have less chances of existence, they should be fulfilled their wishes by their relatives. It should not make them sense that the treatment remedies are given them for existence as they are dying. In this regards, it is very important to make them feel better like a normal person. They should be also prepared a normal environment in their home and society. It is essential that normal people avoid being overly sympathetic to them [20-27]

Efficacy of co-administration of garlic extract and metformin for prevention of gentamycine-renal toxicity in wistar rats: a biochemical study

Gentamicin [GM] nephrotoxicity has been related to oxidative stress. Garlic and metformin [MF] have anti-oxadant activity and therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the preventive and curative effects of garlic, MF and their combination on GM indeced tubular toxicity in Wistar rats. In a pre-clinical study, 70 male Wistar rats were randomly designated into 7 groups of 10 and treated as follows: Group 1: Received saline for 20 days. Group 2: Were injected 100 mg/kg/d of GM intraperitoneally [ip], for 10 days and saline for 10 more days. Group 3: Received GM for 10 days then 20 mg/kg garlic ip for the next 10 days. Group 4: Received GM for 10 days and MF [100 mg/kg] orally for the next 10 days. Group 5: Received GM for 10 days and a combination of MF and garlic for the next 10 days [100 and 20 mg/kg, respectively]. Group 6: The same as group 5but with half-doses of MF and Garlic. Group 7: Received GM for 10 days together with a combination ofMF and garlic. On 20th day of the experiment the serum blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and creatinine [Cr] were measured and compared in different groups. GM injection significantly increased the serum BUN and Cr [P < 0.05]. Administration of MF, garlic or their combination with or after injection of GM [high doses] could atenuate BUN and Cr. The results indicate that MF and garlic or their combination have curative and protective activity against GM nephrotoxicity

Protective role of silymarin and deferoxamine against iron dextran-induced renal iron deposition in male rats

Kidney iron deposition [KID] is caused by iron overload that is observed in kidney diseases and anemia. The protective effects of deferoxamine [DF] and silymarin [SM] were studied against iron overload-induced KID in rat model. Rats received iron dextran [200 mg/kg] for a period of 4 weeks every other day, but at the beginning of week 3, they also were subjected to a 2-week [every other day] treatment with vehicle [group 2, positive control], SM [200 mg/kg; group 3], DF [50 mg/kg; group 4], SM [400 mg/kg; group 5], and combination of SM and DF [200 and 50 mg/kg, respectively; group 6]. Group 1, as the negative control, received saline alone during the study. The levels of serum creatinine [Cr], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], iron, ferritin, and nitrite were determined, and the kidney was removed for histopathological investigations. Before treatment, the serum levels of iron and ferritin in all iron dextran receiver groups were significantly higher than those of the negative control group [P < 0.05]. However, the serum levels of BUN, Cr, and nitrite were not different between the groups. No statistical differences were detected in kidney weight and the serum levels of BUN, Cr, iron, ferritin, and nitrite after 2 weeks of treatment with SM, DF, or combination of both. The SM and DF treatments reduced the intensity of the KID, but only in the SM [200 mg/kg] group, a significant reduction in KID was observed [P < 0.05]. It seems that SM is a nephroprotectant agent against KID in acute iron overload animal models

Preventive and curative effects of ginger extract against histopathologic changes of gentamicin-induced tubular toxicity in rats

Gentamicin [GM] is a commonly used aminoglycoside, however, renal toxicity has limited its usage. This study was designed to evaluate the curative and protective effects of Zingiber officinale [ginger] against gentamicin tubular toxicity in rats. The phenolic and flavonoid components and antioxidant activity of ginger were also evaluated. In a preclinical study, 50 male Wistar rats were designated into 5 groups of 10 and treated as follows: Group I: vehicle. Group II: 200 mg/kg/d of ginger for 3 days then, GM [80 mg/kg] for 7 days. Group III: 200 mg/kg ginger orally for 3 days, then ginger plus GM for 7 days. Group IV: GM for 7 days. Group V: GM for 10 days. Group VI: GM for 7 days, then 200 mg/kg ginger orally for 10 days. At the end of the study, the animals were sacrificed and their kidneys were histologically evaluated. Ginger could prevent degeneration of the renal cells and reduce the severity of tubular damage caused by gentamicin. However, it could not regenerate the GM degeneration. The results indicate that ginger is effective as a prophylaxis agent, but has not curative effect

Suppressive impact of anethum graveolens consumption on biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

We aimed to determine the effects of Anethum graveolens [Dill] powder on postprandial lipid profile, markers of oxidation and endothelial activation when added to a fatty meal. In an experimental study, 32 rabbits were randomly designated into four diet groups: normal diet, high cholesterol diet [1%], high cholesterol diet plus 5% [w/w] dill powder and high cholesterol diet plus lovastatin [10 mg/kg, bw]. The concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoproteins cholesterol [LDL C], alanine aminotransferase [alt], aspartate aminotransferase [ast], fibrinogen, factor VII, apolipoprotein B [ApoB], nitrite and nitrate were measured in blood samples following 15 h of fasting and 3 h after feeding. Concurrent use of A. graveolens powder or lovastatin significantly decreased ALT, TC, glucose, fibrinogen and LDL C values in comparison with hypercholesterolemic diet group [P < 0.05]. Consumption of A. graveolens or lovastatin did not change factor VII, ApoB, nitrite and nitrate levels significantly in comparison with hypercholesterolemic diet group. Intake of A. graveolens significantly decreased serum AST compared to hypercholesterolemic diet. A. graveolens might have some protective values against atherosclerosis and that it significantly affects some biochemical risk factors of this disease. Our findings also confirm the potential harmful effects of oxidized fats and the importance of dietary polyphenols in the meal

Immunoglobulin a nephropathy and malaria falciparum infection; a rare association

Glomerular involvement occurs as a rare form of renal manifestation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Here, we report a rare case of falciparum malaria-associated IgA nephropathy. A 28-year-old man was admitted because of fever and abdominal pain. Ultrasound and computed tomography [CT] showed right kidney pyonenphrosis. Despite placing a nephrostomy tube, fever continued. Repeated CT was in favor of focal pyelonephritis. In addition, peripheral blood smear suggested malaria. Anti-malarial drugs were initiated and right nephrectomy was performed. One year after recovery from malaria, a persistent rise in serum creatinine was detected. A left kidney biopsy showed mesangial proliferation and dominant IgA deposits in immunofluorescence study while C[1q] was not deposited. The impression was IgA nephropathy with M[1]E[0]S[0]T[0] of Oxford classification. The patient was prescribed a combination of low dose prednisolone and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Six months after treatment serum creatinine decreased from 1.6 mg/dL to 1.3mg/dL and urine abnormalities were disappeared. Our findings suggest that malaria infection might be associated with IgA nephropathy

Association of proteinuria with various clinical findings and morphologic variables of oxford classification in immunoglobulin a nephropathy patients

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy [IgAN] with nephrotic syndrome is an uncommon form of IgAN. Clinical and morphological characteristics of proteinuria in IgAN, especially when is in nephrotic range have not yet been fully examined. This study was aimed to correlate morphologic variables of the Oxford classification, and various clinical data with proteinuria in IgAN patients. We also aimed to demonstrate the significance of prevention of proteinuria as one of the important factors in progression of this disease. In an observational study conducted on IgAN patients, total of 114 biopsies were entered in the study. IgAN was diagnosed by light and immunofluorescence study. Of 114 patients 70.2% were male. Mean age of patients was 37.7 +/- 13.6 years. The mean of proteinuria was 1742 +/- 1324 mg/day. Also mean of serum creatinine [Cr] was 1.6 +/- 1.5 mg/dL. Of 114 patients, 11[9.6%] had nephrotic range proteinuria. In this study, there was a positive correlation between proteinuria and serum Cr, peri-glomerular fibrosis or interstitial fibrosis. There was a positive association between proteinuria and totally sclerotic glomeruli too. There was also a positive association between the amount of fibrous crescents and the level of proteinuria. Nephrotic proteinuria could just be seen in male patients. Also, nephrotic syndrome had a positive association with the number of crescents. Our findings firstly support the prognostic value of crescent due to its association with proteinuria and secondly imply the importance of treatment of proteinuria to prevent progression of IgAN