Local and systemic effects caused by Crotalus durissus terrificus, Crotalus durissus collilineatus, and Crotalus durissus cascavella snake venoms in swiss mice

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Crotalus envenomations cause serious complications and can be fatal without appropriate treatment. Venom isoforms present and inter/intraspecific variations in the venom composition can result in different symptoms presented by bites by snakes from the same species but from different geographical regions. We comparatively evaluated the local and systemic effects caused by Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt), C.d. collilineatus (Cdcolli), and C.d. cascavella (Cdcasc) envenomation. METHODS: Venom chromatography was performed. Proteolytic, phospholipase, and LAAO activities were analyzed. Edema, myotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and coagulation alterations were evaluated. RESULTS: The venom SDS-PAGE analyses found the presence of convulxin, gyroxin, crotoxin, and crotamine in Cdt and Cdcolli venoms. Crotamine was not present in the Cdcasc venom. Cdt, Cdcollli, and Cdcasc venoms had no proteolytic activity. Only Cdcasc and Cdt venoms had phospholipase activity. LAAO activity was observed in Cdcolli and Cdcasc venoms. Cdcolli and Cdcasc venoms caused 36.7% and 13.3% edema increases, respectively. Cdt venom caused a 10% edema induction compared to those by other venoms. All venoms increased TOTAL-CK, MB-CK, and LDH levels (indicating muscle injury) and ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP levels (markers of liver damage) and were able to induce a neuromuscular blockade. Urea and creatinine levels were also altered in both plasma and urine, indicating kidney damage. Only Cdcolli and Cdcasc venoms increased TAPP and TAP. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results allow us to draw a distinction between local and systemic effects caused by Crotalus subspecies, highlighting the clinical and biochemical effects produced by their respective venoms.

Lindane-induced biochemical perturbations in rat serum and attenuation by omega-3 and Nigella sativa seed oil.

Lindane (-hexachlorocyclohexane, -HCH), a highly persistent organochlorine insecticide is neurotoxic at acute doses and has been reported to induce oxidative stress in cells and tissues. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant property of Nigella sativa seed oil (N.O) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (3) against -HCH-induced oxidative hepatic and renal damage in male rats serum. Rats were orally given sublethal dose of -HCH (12 mg/kg, 24 h prior to decapitation), while N.O (0.3 ml/kg) and 3 (20 mg/kg) were given every 48 h for 20 days single or together, or also combined with -HCH. -HCH caused a significant increase in the levels of serum total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides by 49, 61 and 30% respectively, while HDL-cholesterol decreased by 45% compared to control group. Pretreatment with 3 and N.O prior -HCH administration re-established the altered biochemical features and alleviated the harmful effects of g-HCH on lipid profile. The concentration of serum total protein and albumin was significantly decreased by 35 and 45% respectively in rats treated with -HCH compared to control. -HCH also caused hepatic and renal damage, as observed from the elevated serum levels of urea, creatinine, total bilirubin and uric acid contents and aminotransferases (AST and ALT), phosphatases (ACP and ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. Co-administration of 3 and N.O reversed the hazardous effects induced by -HCH on the liver and kidney and also protected acetylcholinesterase from the inhibitory action of -HCH as well as suppressed the lipid peroxidation. Thus, the results show that 3 and N.O might prevent oxidative stress and attenuate the changes in the biochemical parameters induced by -HCH in male rats.

Effects of simvastatin on lipid profile, atherogenic index and serum transaminases in hyperlipidemic patients

Hyperlipidemia is characterized by increased concentrations of iipids including triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins in the blood and some times decreased high density lipoproteins. Many drugs have been used for treatment of this disorder. The present study was designed to estimate the effects of simvastatin on lipid profile, atherogenic index, transaminases, creatinine, uric acid and alkaline phosphatase. This study covered 70 subjects, they were divided into two groups, the first group included 45 hyperlipidaemic patients which were treated with 20mg simvastatin and second group included 25 normal subjects. After 12 hours fasting, serum lipid profile, transaminases; alkaline phosphatase, uric acid and creatinine were measured for the patients in 3 intervals before treatment, after 8 weeks and 16 weeks of treatment, and one time for normal subjects. After therapy, simvastatin showed a significant reduction in serum [TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and atherogenic index] and also, significant rise in HDL noticed, by performing a comparison between the group before treatment, and groups after treatment.Serum ALT, AST and ALP were significantly increased but were still within normal levels.Insignificant effect was observed from serum creatinine, uric acid and also body mass index by performing a comparison between group before treatment and groups after treatment. Conclusions:Simvastatin was effective in controlling lipid profile and atherogenic index, with no significant abnormality in liver functions

Alterações hematológicas, hemostáticas e bioquímicas induzidas pela clofazimina e claritromicina, em doses única e múltiplas, em ratos / Hematological, hemostatic and biochemical alterations induced by clofazimine and clarithromycin, in single and multiple doses, in rats

Claritromicina e clofazimina têm sido utilizadas no tratamento da hanseníase, tuberculose e infecções causadas pelo complexo Mycobacterium avium. Como os dados sobre a toxicidade de esquemas terapêuticos que incluem estes fármacos são escassos, este estudo teve como objetivo determinar os efeitos adversos destas terapias, por meio da avaliação dos parâmetros hematológicos, hemostáticos e bioquímicos. Os fármacos foram administrados em ratos machos Wistar, em monoterapia, em regime de doses única e múltipla. Claritromicina provocou aumento de leucócitos mono e polimorfonucleares. Ambos os fármacos inverteram a proporção entre células mono e polimorfonucleares e provocaram aumento do número de células polimorfonucleares e células em degeneração. Clofazimina e claritromicina prolongaram o tempo de protrombina e claritromicina também prolongou o tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativa. Claritromicina causou aumento de bilirrubinas total e direta e, ambos os fármacos, elevaram os níveis plasmáticos de gama-glutamiltransferase. Portanto, clofazimina e claritromicina induzem alterações hematológicas, hemostáticas e hepáticas.

Clarithromycin and clofazimine have been used to treat leprosy, tuberculosis and infections caused by the Mycobacterium avium complex. Since there is a scarcity of data on the toxicity of therapeutic regimens that include these drugs, this study had the aim of determining the adverse effects of these therapies, through evaluation of hematological, hemostatic and biochemical parameters. The drugs were administered to male Wistar rats, as monotherapy, in regimens of single and multiple doses. Clarithromycin caused increases in the numbers of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Both of the drugs inverted the proportions between mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells and increased the numbers of polymorphonuclear cells and degenerating cells. Clofazimine and clarithromycin prolonged the prothrombin time and clarithromycin also prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time. Clarithromycin caused increases in total and direct bilirubin. Both of the drugs increased the plasma levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase. Therefore, clofazimine and clarithromycin induce hematological, hemostatic and hepatic changes.

beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on zinc status, carbohydrate metabolism, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activities in alloxan-diabetic rats fed on zinc deficiency diet

The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on zinc deficiency in experimental diabetes. Male alloxan-diabetic Wistar, albino rats of 10 weeks of age were divided into three groups. The first group received a diet containing 54 mg zinc/kg [adequate zinc group, AZ], the second group received a diet containing 1mg zinc/kg [zinc deficient group, ZD], and the third group received a diet containing 1mg zinc/kg supplemented with vitamin E [500mg/kg diet] [ZD+VE]. Body weight gain and food intake of all rats were recorded regularly over a period of four weeks. On day 28, after overnight fasting, animals were killed and blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum protein, serum urea, serum zinc, femur zinc, pancreatic zinc, testis zinc, liver glutathione concentrations and serum glutamic oxalic transaminase [GOT], serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [GPT] and serum alkaline phosphatase activities were determined on blood and tissue samples. Body weight gain of zinc deficient diabetic animals at the end of four weeks of dietary manipulation was significantly lower than that of zinc adequate diabetic animals. Dietary zinc intake significantly increased blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and serum urea of zinc deficient diabetic rats. In contrast, serum zinc, femur zinc, pancreatic zinc, serum protein and liver glutathione levels were lower. The consumption of zinc deficient diet led also to an increase in serum GOT, GPT coupled with a decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase. Vitamin E ameliorated all the previous parameters. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that vitamin E supplementation significantly reduced the severity of zinc deficiency in diabetes mellitus

Effect of anti - tuberculous treatment on serum aminotransferases levels in children

The aim of this work was to study the level of aspartate aminotransferase, AST [normal 5-45 U/L] and alanine aminotransferase, ALT [normal 5-45 U/L] as indicative of liver cell injury before, during and after INH+RIF+PZA therapy for six months. History and clinical examination and investigations; CBC, ESR, tuberculin or BCG test, chest X-ray, sputum smear and culture for acid-fast bacilli and lymph node biopsy were done. Serum AST and ALT were evaluated before treatment [group I, 15 children], after two months [group II, 15 children] and after six months [group III, 15 children]. The diagnosis of TB depended on a total score of >/7 using the TB score chart. The total number of children was 45 [19 males and 26 females], their ages were 1-15 years; the mean age was 9.7 +/- 4.3 years. Pulmonary TB cases were 27 and extra pulmonary TB cases were 18. All cases were responsive to therapy with no clinical side effects. The means +/- SD of AST were 10.5 +/- 4.5 before treatment, 12.l +/- 7.6 after 2 months and 12.7 +/- 7.6 U/L after 6 months with no statistically significant differences. The means +/- SD of ALT were 8.5 +/- 2.9 before treatment, 9.5 +/- 6.7 after two months and 10.5 +/- 4.7 after six months with no statistically significant differences. The anti-TB drugs were well tolerated and had no clinical or biochemical side effects on liver cell function in children when given in proper dose and for the recommended duration of treatment