Effect of infliximab against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

To investigate whether infliximab [Ib], an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpja], prevents cisplatin [Cis] -induced nephrotoxicity. The study was performed in the Department of Internal Medicine, RecepTayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey, between November 2012 and May 2013. Thirty male Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups, a control group, a Cis group, and a Cis+Ib group. The animals of the Cis group were injected with a single dose [7 mg/kg] of Cis intraperitoneally. The animals of the Cis+Ib group were injected with a single dose [7 mg/kg] of Ib 72 hours prior to Cis injection. The TNF-a, interleukin-1 beta [IL-1J3], nitric oxide [NO] and adenosine deaminase [ADA] levels of the Cis group were higher than both the control group TNF-alpha [p<0.001], IL-la [p<0.001], NO [p<0.001] and ADA [p<0.001], and the Cis+Ib group TNF-alpha [p<0.001], IL-1[3 [p<0.001], NO [p<0.001], and ADA [f=0.003]. Histopathological examination revealed extensive damage in the Cis group, while the damage in the Cis+Ib group was lower. While the carbonic anhydrase II [CA-II] level of the Cis group was lower than both groups, it was similar in the Cis+Ib and the control groups. Infliximab acts against Cis-induced nephrotoxicity by a strong inhibition of TNF-alpha. Additionally, the combination of these 2 drugs does not obviously change the level of CA-II

Serum Fibronectin Levels in Acute and Chronic Viral Hepatitis Patients

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum fibronectin (FN) levels and liver enzyme activities in patients with acute hepatitis (A, B, C) and chronic viral hepatitis (B, C); determine whether the virus types correlated with disease severity; and assess whether FN could be used as a marker of virus type or disease severity in patients. Methods: A total of 60 subjects were enrolled in the study, including 20 patients with acute hepatitis (A, B, C), 20 with chronic hepatitis (B, C), and 20 healthy controls. Serum fibronectin (FN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and albumin were measured in all patients from blood samples. Results: Serum FN levels were significantly lower in acute (122.9 μg/mL (SD 43.1), P < 0.001) and chronic hepatitis patients (135.7 μg/mL (SD 46.0), P < 0 .001) compared to controls 221.4 μg/mL (SD 32.5). A negative correlation was found between serum FN and AST (r2 = 0.528, P < 0.001), ALT (r2 = 0.425, P < 0.001), and GGT (r2 = 0.339, P < 0.001). Additionally, high serum GGT levels (β = –0.375, P = 0.010), and low serum albumin levels (β = –0.305, P = 0.008) were associated with low serum FN levels. Conclusion: Serum FN levels were lower in both acute and chronic hepatitis patients, and an inverse relationship between serum FN and serum AST, ALT, and GGT levels was found. A decrease in serum FN levels may indicate hepatitis severity as AST and ALT represent hepatocyte damage.

Mean Platelet Volume and Vitamin D Level

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency and a high mean platelet volume (MPV) are related to cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with high MPV. METHODS: This study included 434 patients without chronic disease who were not taking vitamin D or calcium supplements. Vitamin D was measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay on the Architect-I2000 system (Abbott Diagnostics, USA), and MPV was measured on the Cell-Dyn Ruby analyzer (Abbott Diagnostics). Patients were divided into Groups 1 (138 [men/women, 46/92]), 2 (148 [men/women, 54/94]), and 3 (148 [men/women, 50/98]) according to vitamin D levels of 20 ng/mL, respectively. RESULTS: The vitamin D level in Group 1 (7.7+/-1.9 ng/mL) was lower than that in Group 2 (15.1+/-1.6 ng/mL, P<0.001) and Group 3 (25.6+/-6.3 ng/mL, P<0.001). The MPV in Group 3 (7.5+/-1.0 fL) was lower than that in Group 1 (8.1+/-1.1 fL, P<0.001) and Group 2 (7.9+/-1.0 fL, P=0.009). Linear regression analysis showed that low levels of vitamin D (beta=-0.109, P=0.019) was independently associated with increased MPV. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong association between a low vitamin D level and a high MPV; therefore, vitamin D deficiency may be associated with increased MPV.

Is the Mean Platelet Volume Predictive of Hip Fractures in the Elderly?

No abstract available.

Effects of octreotide on healing of mechanical ileus in rats

To investigate the effects of octreotide on mechanical ileus without surgical intervention. This study was organized to investigate the effects of octreotide [Sandostatine one microgram/ml-Sandoz], a long acting analogue of somatostatin, in a mechanical ileus model in Sprague-Dowley rats. The study was performed at Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey in April 2005. The animals were randomly separated into 3 groups. 1] control group [n:10] 2] ileus group [n:12], and 3] ileus + octreotide group [n:13]. Intraluminal liquid volume, as well as concentrations of sodium, chlorine, calcium, and phosphorous were measured in systemic circulation, proximal, and middle bowel segments. We also evaluated the leukocyte count, and hematocrit levels in all animals. There was no difference in leukocyte count and hematocrit levels. The effects of octreotide in decreasing intestinal liquid volume, and electrolytes were significant. However, these effects were not beneficial on the mortality rates, and intestinal edema [p>0.05]. We believe additional animal studies, and subsequently controlled clinical trials are necessary before using octreotide as a clinical adjunct in the treatment of small bowel obstruction