Short-term levosimendan treatment protects rat testes against oxidative stress

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term levosimendan exposure on oxidant/antioxidant status and trace element levels in the testes of rats under physiological conditions. Twenty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups of 10 animals each. Group 1 was not exposed to levosimendan and served as control. Levosimendan (12 µg/kg) diluted in 10 mL 0.9% NaCl was administered intraperitoneally to group 2. Animals of both groups were sacrificed after 3 days and their testes were harvested for the determination of changes in tissue oxidant/antioxidant status and trace element levels. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly lower in the levosimendan group (P < 0.001) than in the untreated control group and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were significantly higher in the levosimendan group (P < 0.001). Carbonic anhydrase, catalase and GSH levels were not significantly different from controls. Mg and Zn levels of testes were significantly higher (P < 0.001) and Co, Pb, Cd, Mn, and Cu were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in group 2 compared to group 1. Fe levels were similar for the two groups (P = 0.94). These results suggest that 3-day exposure to levosimendan induced a significant decrease in tissue MDA level, which is a lipid peroxidation product and an indicator of oxidative stress, and a significant increase in the activity of an important number of the enzymes that protect against oxidative stress in rat testes.

An unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa: A case report / Una manifestación poco usual de la poliarteritis nodosa: Reporte de un caso

Polyarteritis nodosa with gallbladder involvement is a rare condition. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is also a rare condition and rarely complicated. We describe an extremely rare case of Polyarteritis nodosa, involving gallblader and ureter without obstruction, in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. To the best of the authors' knowledge, such a case has not been reported previously.

La periarteritis nodosa con compromiso de la vesícula es una condición rara. La enfermedad poliquística renal autosómica dominante es también una condición rara y raramente complicada. Describimos un caso extremadamente raro de poliarteritis nodosa, con compromiso de la vesícula y el uréter sin obstrucción, en un caso de enfermedad poliquística renal autosómica dominante. Al leal saber y entender de los autores, no ha sido reportado antes un caso como éste.