Invasive mucormycosis in benign gastric ulcer.

Fungal elements are frequently noted overlying the base of chronic peptic ulcers of the stomach and it has been suggested that the fungi enhance the degree of necrosis and that these cases have protracted disease and deeper ulcers with more perforations. It has also been postulated that the number of fungal elements might be increased in the stomach of patients who are receiving potent medications such as H2-receptor antagonists to reduce gastric acidity, but there have not been adequate control studies, and the deleterious effects from the presence of the fungi in these cases have not been substantiated. We present a very rare case of invasive mucormycosis (phycomycosis) occurring in the base of a chronic gastric ulcer in a 55 years old diabetic male. This case was clinically and radiologically been mistaken for a gastric carcinoma. In addition, the ulcer was complicated by perforation and fungal septicemia with subsequent fatal outcome. The clinical, radiological and histopathological features are described together with a literature review of other reported fungal gastric ulcers.

The beneficial effect of alpha-tocopherol on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy on rats.

Liver, a unique organ, is the only organ which has the ability to regenerate after partial hepatectomy. It can return to normal mass several weeks after 70% partial hepatectomy. The exact mechanism responsible for regeneration is yet to be known. This needs further investigation. The aim of this study is to examine the role of oxygen free radicals (OFRs) such as superoxide (O(-)2), hydroxyl radicals (H2O2 or OH(-)) in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (< 70%). To evaluate the effect of antioxidant on liver regeneration, rats were pre-treated intramuscularly with alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) daily for 3 weeks, and continued for 3 weeks post partial hepatectomy (< 70%) liver weight, rat body weight were determined in both control (untreated) and treated groups. The present results showed significant increase in liver weight in vitamin E treated group compared to control. The results of this paper might be useful in throwing some light on the role of oxygen free radical scavengers and antioxidants upon liver regeneration. This would have a therapeutic utilization in patients with liver problems.

The potential synergistic effect of calcium channel blockers and alpha-tocopherol on gastric mucosal injury induced by ischaemia-reperfusion.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Acute oral administration of various doses of alpha-tocopherol (100, 600, 1200 mg/kg by mouth) produced a dose dependent and significant protection of mucosal injury induced by ischaemia-reperfusion injury in experimental animals. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of calcium channel blockers, nifedipine (0.5, 1, 3 mg/kg), diltiazem (1.25, 2.5 mg/kg) and verapamil (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) protected gastric mucosa in ischaemia-reperfusion. alpha-Tocopherol (100 mg/kg by mouth), when given in combination with either nifedipine (0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally), diltiazem (1.25 mg/kg intraperitoneally) or verapamil (1.25 mg/kg intraperitoneally), significantly reduced gastric mucosal injury. The protective effect of calcium channel blockers and the antioxidant agent was synergistic. CONCLUSION: The results showed that calcium channel blockers potentiate the protective effect of the antioxidant activity of alpha-tocopherol on gastric mucosal injury induced by ischaemia-reperfusion in experimental animals.

Role of oxygen-derived free radicals on gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion.

A free radical is an unstable and highly-reactive chemical species capable of independent existence that contained one or more unpaired electrons in its outer orbital. A number of oxygen-derived free radicals (ODFRs) have been identified. However, superoxide (O(-)(2) and hydroxyl (OH*) radicals are extensively studied. The univalent reduction of oxygen to water produces a number of highly-reactive chemical intermediates such as O(-)2 and OH*, which are commonly-known as oxygen-derived free radicals. ODFRS may be formed from several sources as follows: a) mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase, b) xanthine oxidase, c) neutrophils and d) transitional metals. There are several important defense mechanisms to limit or to prevent the damage caused by excessive ODFRs activity. These antioxidant defenses can be divided into a) enzymatic defense mechanisms such as: superoxide dismutase (SOD): catalase: selenium-containing glutathione peroxidase and b) non-enzymatic defense mechanisms including: alpha-tocopherol; ascorbic acid; glutathione and any sulfhydryl-containing compounds.

The pattern of respiratory burst of leucocytes in patients with Echinococcus granulosus.

The function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) of patients with hydatidosis was investigated. The patients were divided into three categories according to the characteristics of the cyst (calcified, alive and dead cyst). Healthy blood donors were used as a control group. The oxidative activity of PMN was determined by chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Reduction of ferricytochrome C was used to measure the superoxide (O2-) production. Phagocytosis was monitored by opsonized yeast uptake. The results showed that the CL response, O2- production and phagocytic index of PMN, significantly increased in patients with dead cysts compared with healthy subjects while in patients with live cysts there was a marked reduction. No significant changes were noticed in patients with calcified cysts. These data indicate that the PMN of infected patients were in an activated state both functionally and metabolically.