The role of oxidative stress parameters in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ascites.

OBJECTIVE: Ascites is the pathological fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity and there are mainly two reasons for its etiology. These are malignant diseases such as hepatoma or pancreas cancer and benign diseases such as liver cirrhosis and heart failure. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic utility of arylesterase (ARES), paraoxonase (PON), stimulated paraoxonase (SPON), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ascites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted between February and September 2016. Patients with acute infection, those taking vitamin supplements and antioxidant medication, smoking, and drinking alcohol were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 60 patients: 36 had benign (60%) and 24 had malignant (40%) ascites. The mean age of the patients was 63.3 years. MPO levels (14.2 vs. 4.2; p=0.028) were found to be higher and PON (2.6 vs. 4.5; p<0.001), SPON (10.7 vs. 23.9; p<0.001), ARES (615.7 vs. 823.5, p<0.001) and CAT (13.3 vs. 36.8; p=0.044) were found to be lower in malignant patients compared to benign patients. There was a positive correlation between PON, SPON, and ARES levels, and a negative correlation between MPO levels and SPON, ARES, and CAT levels. MPO levels showed superior diagnostic performance compared to ARES and CAT levels (p<0.05) for predicting malignancy but showed no diagnostic superiority compared to PON and SPON levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PON, SPON, ARES, CAT, and MPO can be used with high sensitivity and specificity in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign ascites.

Effects of infliximab against carbon tetrachloride-induced intestinal injury via lipid peroxidation and apoptosis.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is often employed in the production of chlorofluorocarbons, petroleum refining, oil and rubber processing, and laboratory applications. Oral, subcutaneous, and inhalation exposure to CCL4 in animal studies have been shown to be capable of leading to various types of cancer (benign and malignant, liver, breast, and adrenal gland tumors). The present study also evaluated the protective role of infliximab (INF) against the deleterious effects of CCL4 on the intestinal system. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups, control (n = 8), CCL4 (n = 8), and CCL4 + INF (n = 8). The control group received 1 mL isotonic saline solution only via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. The CCL4 group received a single i.p. dose of 2 mL/kg CCL4. The CCL4 + INF group received a single i.p. dose of 7 mg/kg INF followed 24 h later by a single dose of 2 mL/kg CCL4. All rats were euthanized 2 days following drug administration. CCL4 group samples also exhibited diffuse loss of enterocytes, vascular congestion, neutrophil infiltration, an extension of the subepithelial space and significant epithelial lifting along the length of the villi with a few denuded villous tips. In addition, CCL4 treatment increased intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) level and caspase-3 positivity. On the other hand, INF decreased MDA levels, caspase-3 positivity, and loss of villous. Our findings suggest that CCL4 appears to exert a highly deleterious effect on the intestinal mucosa. On the other hand, INF is effective in preventing this CCL4-induced intestinal injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.