Role of antioxidatns and supplementary therapy in cases of lead poisoning in Zagazig university hospitals

Lead is one of the most important elements that contribute to the impact on human health from many variable sources. It most commonly affects peoples living in developing countries where, chelating agents [main line of treatment] are not easily available. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of some antioxidants [garlic and silymarin] together with supplementary therapy in management of lead poisoned cases. This study was carried out in Zagazig University Hospitals in the period from January 2007 to December 2008. The study included 30 patients of both sexes and different ages, who presented as families with symptoms suggesting lead poisoning mainly abdominal colic and severe constipation. From the history they all share the same source of exposure, which was contaminated water from plumbed water pumps. The local health territory of Sharkia governorate was conveyed immediately after presentation of each family to take its procedures for water supply in the residence areas of the patients. After admission complete history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations; complete blood count [CBC], liver and kidney functions, blood lead level [BLL], glutathione [GSH] and malondialdehyde [MDA] levels and activity of superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase enzymes were analyzed for all patients at the time of admission and after 1, 2, 6 months of follow up and for control subjects. Treatment lines included garlic, silymarin, vitamins and minerals together with symptomatic treatment were given for 1 month at hospital and for another 1 month at home. All patients were from rural areas in Sharkia governorate. At admission all patients complained of abdominal colic and severe constipation. About 80% and 66.7% of cased complained of easy fatigability and body aches respectively. Blue line and pallor were found in 50% and 93.3% of cases respectively. Some of these symptoms and signs disappeared gradually after 1 and 2 months of treatment together with improvement of CBC, liver function, BLLs and antioxidant activity. While after 6 months of follow up all symptoms disappeared completely and most of measured parameters returned nearly to control values except BLLs were still elevated compared to control values. The present study revealed that lead induced deleterious effects may be due to oxidant stress and lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by significant drop in GSH level and decreased in activity of SOD and catalase enzymes, with increased serum level of oxidation product MDA. Moreover, these effects were ameliorated by treatment with antioxidants [garlic and silymarin] together with supplementation and symptomatic therapy. Also, recovery of antioxidant enzymes activity and GSH level with drop of MDA level was noticed after treatment. It is recommended to change the plumbed pipes of the water pumps, and to conduct further studies on larger number of populations to evaluate the effectiveness of garlic, silymarin and other antioxidants in treatment of lead poisoning

Hazardous effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones on the brain and cochlea of albino rats: role of melatonin and vitamin C

The wide spread of mobile phone communication raises questions about the effects of electromagnetic fields [EMFs] on the human body. The objective of this study was to examine effects of exposure to radio frequency EMFs emitted by mobile phones on the brain and cochlea, and to investigate the role of melatonin and vitamin C on these effects in adult rats. Forty two adult albino rats were randomly grouped into 7 groups [six rats each]. Group I [Negative control], Group II [Sham-operated without exposure to EMR], Group III [rats treated with melatonin], Group IV [rats treated with vitamin C], Group V [Exposed group, rats were exposed to mobile phone radiation, Group VI [Exposed and treated with melatonin] and Group VII [Exposed and treated with Vit C]. Groups V, VI and VII were exposed to mobile phone radiation for 60 min/day, for 30 days using an experimental exposure device. Glutathione [GSH] level and superoxide dismutase enzyme [SOD] activity in brain tissue and blood, gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] and norepinephrine [NE] levels in the brain tissue and serum corticosterone level were estimated in all examined groups. Histopathological examination of brain tissue and cochleae [organ of Corti] by light microscope was also performed for all groups. The results of the study revealed that exposure to mobile phone radiations induced significant decrease in GSH level and SOD enzyme activity in brain tissue and blood, decrease GABA levels and increase NE levels in brain tissue, and significant increase in serum corticosterone level. Brain tissue of exposed rats revealed small dispersed neurons with dark swollen nuclei in undifferentiated layers of the cerebral cortex, deeply stained swollen nuclei of Purkinje cells and hypocelularity of granular layer with disorganization of molecular layer of cerebellum and degenerated neurons with dark pyknotic and swollen nuclei on both sides the dentate gyrus of hippocampus. Complete destruction of all cells of the organ of Corti and neurons of spiral ganglion was noticed in the exposure group. Co-administration of melatonin or Vit. C throughout the exposure period showed significant increase in the levels of GSH, SOD enzyme activity in brain tissue and blood, increase GABA and decrease in NE levels in brain tissue and significant decrease in serum corticosterone level compared to exposed group. Furthermore, brain and organ of Corti of rats exposed to mobile phone and treated with melatonin showed nearly normal structure. While, co-administration of Vit. C throughout the exposure period showed mild protection of brain tissue and organ of Corti. Mobile phone radiations induced both biologically and histopathologically deleterious effects on the brain tissues and organ of Corti, these effects were ignorantly reversed nearly to normal with co-administration of melatonin, while mild reverse was noticed with co-administration of Vit. C. It is recommended to use antioxidants for mobile phone users especially those who use it for long periods, and to decrease the calls period as much as possible

Toxic interactions between amiodarone and both aspirin and warfarin in adult albino rats

Amiodarone is the drug of choice in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and other forms of tachyarrhythmia. It is usually combined with anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Drug interactions are a common event in medical practice and occur more frequently than is clinically recognized. This study aimed to explore the possible interactions between amiodarone and both aspirin and warfarin. Sixty adult male albino rats were used and divided into 6 groups [n=l0]; control group was given distilled water, aspirin group was given aspirin [7.5 mg/kg/day], warfarin group was given warfarin [0.9 mg/kg/day], amiodarone group was given amiodarone [18 mg/kg/day], amiodarone plus aspirin group was given amiodarone and aspirin in the same previous doses and amiodarone plus warfarin group was given amiodarone and warfarin as previously. All drugs were given orally daily for two weeks. At the end of the experiment, thyroid function represented by serum triiodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4] were measured by radioimmunoassay. In addition serum thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] by chemiluminescnce [immunoassay]. Serum aspirin, warfarin and amiodarone levels by HPLC method, prothrombin time [PT] and international nornialized ratio [INR] were also determined. Histopathological examination of thyroid glands by light microscope was also performed. The results of the study revealed that amiodarone either alone or combined with aspirin or warfarin increased serum T4 levels and decreased serum T3 and TSH levels. Amiodarone/aspirin combination represented the highest increase in T4.While, amiodarone /warfarin combination represented the marked decrease in serum T3 and TSH levels. Moreover, serum amiodarone level was non significantly increased in amiodarone /aspirin group and highly increased in amiodarone /warfarin group. Serum warfarin level was also increased in amiodarone /warfarin group. Histopathological examination of thyroid glands showed signs of thyrotoxicosis in amiodarone either alone or combined with aspirin or warfarin groups that revealed lymphocyte infiltration, lymphoid follicles, vacuolated colloid and papillary folds of the acinar epithelium. The pathological changes were more severe in amiodarone/warfarin group that showed destructed acini, degenerative changes and fibrosis. Moreover, prothrombin time [PT] and INR were highly increased in amiodarone/ warfarin combination group and slightly increased in aspirin, warfarin, amiodarone and amiodarone/aspirin groups. Amiodarone/warfarin combination led to increase in serum amiodarone level and its thyrotoxic effect. Also this combination led to increase in serum warfarin and augmented its anticoagulant effect to great extent represented by elevated PT and INR. While amiodarone /aspirin combination represented less effect on thyroid gland and PT and INR. It is recommended to asses thyroid function regularly and should be performed at short intervals when amiodarone combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy, in order to detect AM induced hypo- or hyperthyroidism. Also, frequent monitoring of PT and INR with modification of the dose especially of warfarin as controlled by measuring PT and INR

Effect of combined desferal/ defriprone therapy on iron overload in beta thalassemic children

Management of B-thalassemia major with regular blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy with desferrioxamine [DFO] has markedly improved the prognosis of the disease but some patients continue to develop iron-related complications and to die despite the use of DFO. Deferiprone [DFP] is suggested to be the most promising oral iron chelator under development. The present study was conducted on 60 pediatric patients with Beta-thalassemia major to evaluate the effectiveness of combined therapy with DFO and DFP compared to DFO therapy alone. The patients were evaluated clinically with complete history taking, routine laboratory investigations, doppler echocardiography, serum ferritin and serum cardiac troponin T [cTnT] estimation. The results showed significant improvement in hemodynamic parameters and significant decrease in serum cTnT and decrease in serum ferritin post-treatment with DFO and combined DFO/DFP when compared with pre-treatment values of the patients. Combination therapy was more effective than DFO therapy alone in the improvement of hemodynamic parameters, reduction of the myocardial damage indicator [cTnT] and reduction of serum ferritin. The authors recommend the use of combined DFO/DFP therapy in the management of transfusional iron overload in beta-thalassemia major

Effect of sodium thiosulphate and melatonin on cisplatin-induced oto and nephro -toxicity and oxidative stress in adult albino rats

Cisplatin [CDDP] is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. However, it results in severe oto and nephro-toxicity. Sodium thiosulphate [STS] and melatonin were suggested to protect against CDDP-induced toxicity. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of both agents on this toxicity. Seventy adult albino rats were comprised in this work they were classified into seven groups each involved ten rats. The first group received nothing [negative control]. The second, third and fourth groups received intraperitoneally one milliliter distilled water [positive control], STS [800 mg/kg/day] and melatonin [5 mg/ kg/day], respectively. The fifth group received CDDP [5 mg/kg/week] alone, sixth group concurrently received CDDP and STS and the seventh group is co-treated with CDDP and melatonin. After 6 weeks for all rats glutathione [GSH], glutathione reductase [GR], catalase [CAT], supperoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA] as an index of lipid peroxidation, blood urea and serum creatinine were determined spectrophotometrically. Also, histopathological examination of the cochlea of the inner ear and renal tissue was carried out. The results revealed that CDDP induced elevation of urea, creatinine and MDA, and decreased GSH and antioxidant enzymes. These biochemical changes were associated with severe damage in cochleas and renal tubules. No significant changes were found with STS and melatonin when received alone. With the use of STS and melatonin with CDDP the biochemical changes were significantly improved as compared to CDDP group. Although no significant difference was found between CDDP/STS and CDDP/melatonin groups, the changes were normalized in CDDP/STS group, but still a significant difference was present between CDDP/melatonin group compared to control group indicating that STS has protective effect better than melatonin. These results were associated with improved histopathological changes of the cochlea and kidney. In conclusion CDDP-induced oto- and nephro-toxicity that may be related to increased lipid peroxidation associated with reduced level of GSH and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Also, this study revealed that STS is superior for melatonin, in short term protection against CDDP-induced toxicity and prevention of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress and in improving antioxidant status. It is recommended to use both thiol agents and melatonin during treatment of human cancer to ameliorate the oxidative stress produced by the drug. However, further studies are required to evaluate the impact of these agents on antitumoral efficacy of CDDP

Comparative toxicological interaction study of clonidine and clomipramine in albino rats

The present work was deigned to study some of the side effects of one ofcentrally acting antihypertensives [clonidine] and one of the tricyclicantidepressants [clomipramine] and evaluate the interaction between them,particularly on the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system for 60 days. 192adult rats of both sexes were used and divided into four equal groups [control[GI], clonidine [G2], clomipramine [G3] and clonidine and clomipramine [G4]]. Several blood samples from animals sacrificed at successive 2 weeks interval were taken for the quantitative determination of alanine amino transferase [ALT] and aspartate amino transferase [AST], reflecting any disturbance in the liverfunction. Kidney functions were also determine by the estimation of bloodurea and serum creatinine. In addition, blood pressure rate and ECGestimation were done at the same intervals. It could be concluded that therapy with clonidine and clomipramine should be controlled by regular assessment of the liver and renal function tests. Also, ECG was recommended for following up the long-term therapy. This study also recommended to avoid their combination in hypertensive patients with depression