Pomegranate flower extract does not prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats

Nephrotoxicity is the major side-effect of cisplatin [CDDP], and it is reported to be gender-related. We evaluated the effects of pomegranate flower extract [PFE] as an antioxidant on CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats. Twenty-three adult female rats in four groups treated as following. Groups 1 and 2 received PFE at doses of 25 and 50 [mg/kg/day], respectively, for 9 days, and from day 3 on, they also received cisplatin [CDDP] [2.5 mg/kg] daily. Group 3 was treated as group 1 expects saline instead of PFE, and group 4 received PFE [25 mg/kg/day] alone. Cisplatin alone increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and nitrite; and kidney tissue damage score and kidney weight. However, PFE not only did not ameliorate the induced nephrotoxicity, but also aggravated renal tissue damage. Pomegranate extract as an antioxidant did not ameliorate CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats

Co-administration of silymarin and deferoxamine against kidney, liver and heart iron deposition in male iron overload rat model

Tissue iron deposition may disturb functions of the organs. In many diseases like thalassemia, the patients suffer from iron deposition in kidney and heart tissues. Deferoxamine [DF] is a synthetic iron chelator and silymarin [SM] is an antioxidant and also a candidate for iron chelating. This study was designed to investigate the effect of DF and SM combination against kidney and heart iron deposition in an iron overload rat model. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups. The iron overloading was performed by iron dextran 100 mg/kg/day every other day during 2 weeks and in the 3[rd] week, iron dextran was discontinued and the animals were treated daily with combination of SM [200 mg/kg/day, i.p.] and DF [50 mg/kg/day, i.p.] [group 1], SM [group 2], DF [group 3] and saline [group 4]. Group 5 received saline during the experiment. Finally, blood samples were obtained and kidney, heart and liver were immediately removed and prepared for histopathological procedures. The results indicated no significant difference in kidney function and endothelial function biomarkers between the groups. However, combination of SM and DF did not attenuate the iron deposition in the kidney, liver and heart. DF alone, rather than DF and SM combination, significantly reduced the serum level of malondialdehyde [P < 0.05]. Co-administration of SM and DF significantly increased the serum level of ferritin [P <0.05]. DF and SM may be potentially considered as iron chelators. However, combination of these two agents did not provide a protective effect against kidney, liver and heart iron deposition

Serum and peritoneal fluid levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in women with endometriosis

Endometriosis is known as one of the most common disease in women of reproductive age. Due to important role of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in neo-vascularization for the implantation of endometrial cell, and also presence of different studies reported VEGF level in the serum and peritoneal fluid [PF] in endometriosis patients, this study was designed to determine the serum and PF levels of VEGF in endometriosis patients, and to compare with normal subjects. In this descriptive study, 179 women subjected to laparoscopy for the evaluation of infertility or pelvic pain were allocated into the following two groups: group I: different types of endometriosis patients [n=90] and group II: non-endometriosis patients [n=89]. The PF from pelvis and venous blood samples were obtained. The VEGF concentration of the serum and PF were measured using enzyme immunoassay kit and were compared using t test. The level of VEGF in serum was significantly less than that in PF in both groups [p=0.00]. However, endometriosis patients had significantly higher level of VEGF in peritoneal fluid than non-endometriosis patients [p=0.043]. According to our findings, endometriosis is not associated with change in the level of circulating VEGF

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

Protective role of recombinant human erythropoietin in kidney and lung injury following renal bilateral ischemia-reperfusion in rat model

Acute kidney injury [AKI] has been recognized as one of the most complex clinical complications in modern medicine, and ischemia/reperfusion [I/R] injury is well-known as a main reason of AKI. In addition, AKI leads to important systemic consequences such as acute lung injury. This study was designed to investigate the role of erythropoietin [EPO] on kidney function makers and tissue damage; and lung endothelial permeability and lung water content [LWC] in bilateral renal I/R injury model in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of sham, I/R, and I/R treated with EPO [I/R + EPO] groups. The I/R and I/R + EPO groups were subjected to bilateral renal I/R injury; however, only the I/R + EPO group received EPO [500 IU/kg, i.p.] 2 h before ischemia surgery, and the same dose was continued once a day for 3 days after ischemia. The sham group underwent a surgical procedure without ischemia process. The blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and serum creatinine [Cr] levels, kidney tissue damage score [KTDS], and kidney weight [KW] per 100 g body weight significantly increased in I/R group [P < 0.05]. EPO administration decreased levels of BUN and Cr significantly [P < 0.05], and KTDS and KW insignificantly [P = 0.1]. No significant differences in kidney and serum levels of malondialdehyde, and lung vascular permeability and LWC were observed between the groups. The serum and kidney levels of nitrite were not significantly different between I/R and sham groups; however, administration of EPO increased the renal level of nitrite [P < 0.05]. EPO protected the kidney against I/R injury; however, it may not protect the lung tissue from the damage induced by renal I/R injury in rats

Epidemiology of four main nosocomial infections in Iran during March 2007 - March 2008 based on the findings of a routine surveillance system

Annually, around six million patients are admitted to hospitals in Iran. Information about the prevalence of nosocomial infections [NIs] is necessary for both appropriate management and establishment of preventative measures in hospitals. This article is based on the findings of the Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System [NISS] which has been providing information on NIs in Iran since March 2007. NISS covers 95 hospitals throughout Iran, each with over 200 beds. There are four main infections; urinary tract infection [UTI] surgical site infection [SSI], bloodstream infection [BSI] and pneumonia [PNEU] included in NISS. Reports are completed on forms that have been provided based on national guidelines. In all selected hospital there is one designated nurse who conducts infection control activities and is trained in the detection and reporting of NIs based on NISS guidelines. During March 2007 - March 2008, a total of 1, 879, 356 patients were admitted to the selected hospitals. The total detected NIs were 10557 with a prevalence of 0.57%. Of these, UTI was the most prevalent infection [32.2%] and BSI was the least [16.3%]. Based on gender, females had more UTI, whereas PNEU was the highest in males. Of reported NIs, 9% were detected in children less than five years of age and included BSI [45%], PNEU [20%], SSI [19%] and UTI [16%]. There were 26% reported NIs in the age group over 65 years, of which the most prevalent infections were UTI [42%] followed by PNEU [31%], SSI [15%] and BSI [12%] NIs were most often detected in intensive care units [ICUs; 26.7%], followed by surgery wards [12.8%]. In comparison with other studies and the World Health Organization [WHO] estimates, the rate of NIs appears to be less according to NISS. NISS has the capability to provide basic information for efficient management and control measures, in addition to indicating variations in NIs based on gender, age and location [hospital ward]. In order to have a more estimate of NIs and strengthen NISS, it is advisable to conduct a point prevalence study

role of magnesium supplementation in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in a rat model: no nephroprotectant effect

Cisplatin [CP] is used as the commonest drug to treat solid tumors. It is accompanied by a nephrotoxicity side effect. The main objective of this study is to investigate the protective role of magnesium [Mg] supplementation in CP-induced nephrotoxicity in a rat model. Twenty-nine Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups [1-4]. Groups 1-3 received 20, 80, and 200 mg/kg magnesium sulfate respectively, for 10 days, but on day 3, a single dose of CP [7 mg/kg, i.p.] was also injected. Group 4 [positive control group] received the same regimen of Groups 1-3 except saline instead magnesium sulfate. One week after CP administration, blood samples were obtained and all animals were killed for kidney histopathological investigations. All CP-treated animals lost weight, and the percentage of weight loss in Group 1 [low dose Mg sulfate treated] was significantly higher compared with the positive control group [Group 4, P < 0.05]. The increase in blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and creatinine [Cr] levels in serum in Group 1 were more than those in other groups [P < 0.05]. No statistical differences were observed in serum magnesium, nitrite, and total protein levels among the groups. The kidney tissue damage in Groups 1-3 was not significantly different when compared with Group 4. Moreover, the kidney and testis weights in Group 1 were significantly greater than those in the positive control group [P < 0.05]. Regarding the BUN and Cr levels in the serum, kidneys weight, and the histopathological study, the low dose of Mg supplementation intensifies kidney toxicity and renal dysfunction in CP-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat model. However, the protective role of Mg with moderate and high doses is not certain