Effect of Aloe vera gel extract on antioxidant enzymes and azoxymethane-induced oxidative stress in rats.

The present work was undertaken with a view to study the effect of oral feeding of 2% Aloe vera gel extract (AGE) for 30 days on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced oxidative stress in rats. It was observed that AOM administration resulted in a significant increase in malondialdehyde and conjugated dienes, with reduction in hepatic glutathione (GSH), vitamin A and uric acid contents. AOM-induced reduction in hepatic GSH and uric acid was brought back to normal by AGE. There was a significant raise in hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activities as a result of feeding of the extract. Ingestion of the extract effected reduction in AOM-induced colonic GSH-peroxidase, G-6- PD and glutathione S-transferase and femur bone marrow micronuclei formation. Hence, it is suggested that Aloe vera gel extract possess the ability to reduce AOM- induced oxidative stress and toxicity in liver.

Bees wax polyphenols as suppressor of CC1--induced oxidative stress in rats.

Bee's wax produced by honeybees is rich in polyphenols. As the polyphenols are thought to protect cell constituents against oxidative damage through scavenging of free radicals, the present work was undertaken to evaluate the effects of polyphenols extracted from bees wax on the oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The polyphenols extracted by 80% methanol from bee wax (PBW) were fed to Wistar rats at 100 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg body weight for 14 days in order to study its antioxidative and antihepatotoxic effects against CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg body weight)-induced stress. On 15th day all the rats were sacrificed, blood was collected for serum and organs/tissues were excised for biochemical analysis. The results showed a significant decrease in hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities viz. catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant increase in glutathione S-transferase (GST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) by CCl4, probably due to the peroxidative effects. The prophylactic use of PBW at 200 mg/kg level resulted in a significant increase in CCl4-induced reduction in catalase, G-6-PDH, GSSGR and SOD. The hepatic levels of lipid peroxides viz. malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxides, enhanced by the administration of CCl4 were brought down by the ingestion of PBW at a level of 200 mg/kg. The hepatotoxicity caused by the administration of CCl4 was reduced significantly. Hence, it is concluded that the polyphenols from bees wax exhibit hepatoprotective and antioxidative properties in

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis presenting as pyonephrosis: a case report.

Tumours of the renal pelvis are rare. We present a case of primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis masquerading as pyonephrosis clinically and diagnosed on histopathologic examination. Patient presented with pyonephrosis of the left kidney due to a large staghorn calculus and was treated with tube nephrostomy followed by nephrectomy.

Adrenocortical carcinoma: diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Two cases of adrenal cortical carcinoma are described, wherein the diagnosis was established by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). FNAC is increasingly being accepted as a means of diagnosis of adrenal cortical carcinomas. In yester years the diagnosis was established largely on post-operative histopathology. Adrenal cortical carcinomas are rare and account for less than 0.05% of all malignant neoplasms. Adrenal gland has become frequent target of needle biopsies with the availability of sensitive imaging techniques and better localization. Currently, needle biopsy is the only non-surgical means of obtaining a diagnosis in patient with adrenal mass. We present two cases of adrenal cortical carcinoma diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

Hypospadias-hypertelorism syndrome.

A young male child presented with hypospadias. Examination revealed additional anomalies including hypertelorism and upslanting of palpebral fissures, suggesting a diagnosis of hypospadias-hypertelorism syndrome. The case is reported because of its rarity and some unusual features.