ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Date fruits have protective effects against liver fibrosis; however their anti-apoptotic effects have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the modulating effects of date fruits on pro- and anti-apoptotic markers, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in liver fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver fibrosis was induced by injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for eight weeks. Date flesh extract (DFE) and pits extract (DPE) were taken daily concomitant with CCl4. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined by measuring the expression of Fas, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl2 and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). Hepatic levels of HGF and CYP2E1 were determined. RESULTS: Treatment with DFE and DPE significantly attenuated the elevated levels of Fas, caspase 3, Bax and CYP2E1 induced by CCl4. In addition, they alleviated the reduction in Bcl2, HGF and HO-1, the cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic factors in liver. Conclusions DFE and DPE treatment can ameliorate liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/drug effects , Carbon Tetrachloride/toxicity , Fruit/chemistry , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Hepatocytes/drug effects , Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy , Phoeniceae/chemistry , Animals , Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/etiology , Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/prevention & control , Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1/metabolism , Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism , Hepatocyte Growth Factor/metabolism , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Hepatocytes/pathology , Immunoblotting , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Liver Cirrhosis/chemically induced , Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism , Male , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely-used analgesic, while toxic doses of which induce liver injury. Inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is derived prostaglandins which play an anti-inflammatory role in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Selective activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR1, flt -1) on endothelial cells increased mRNA levels of hepatocyte mitogens (IL-6) and hepatocyte growth factor leading to prosurvival effects on hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to compare the hepatoprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC; the antidote for APAP) with that of α-Lipoic acid (ALA) and/or Thymoquinone (THQ) either alone or in combination on liver injury induced by APAP. APAP administration elevated most of the previously measured parameters and decreased GSH, SOD, and total protein levels compared with the control group. Liver sections of H&E demonstrate liver injury characterized by centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis, COX-2, and flt-1 expressions were also increased. Treatment with all fore mentioned antioxidants ameliorated most of the altered parameters compared to APAP-treated group. Treatment with the combination of ALA and THQ was the most effective therapy in the attenuation of liver injury assessed by a decrease in ALT and ALP activities and down-regulation of COX-2 and flt-1 expression. Section of liver from rat received APAP, ALA and THQ shows a marked improvement of hepatic degeneration which restricted to few hepatocytes with mild vacuolation of their cytoplasm while the nuclei appear normal mimic to control cells. It was concluded that the natural antioxidants such as ALA and THQ, may be considered as a potential antidote in combating liver injury induced by APAP.
ABSTRACT
Anatomical variations of the arterial patterns in the upper limb have been describe in many anatomical studies, but the occurrence of four variations in a ipsilateral upper limb is rare. These arterial variations were observed in the right upper limb of a 65 -year old Caucasian male cadaver during routine dissection in the anatomy department, College of Medicine at the King Saud University, Riyadh. These arterial variations include: 1) a large common trunk of the axillary artery giving origin to subscapular artery, profunda brachii artery, common circumflex humoral artery and superior ulnar collateral artery, 2) superficial brachial artery; 3) superficial brachioulnar artery, and 4) the radialis indicis branch from superficial palmar arch. Appreciation of variations in the upper limb vessels is important due to increasing number of procedures both diagnostic and therapeutic as in breast cancer surgery, flap harvesting and arteriogaphy.
En numerosos estudios se han descrito las variaciones anatómicas de los patrones arteriales en el miembro superior, sin embargo, la aparición de cuatro variantes ipsilaterales en un miembro superior es poco frecuente. Estas variaciones arteriales fueron observadas en el miembro superior derecho de un cadáver caucásico masculino de 65 años de edad, durante la disección de rutina en el Departamento de Anatomía de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de King Saud, en Riad. Estas variaciones arteriales incluyen: 1) un gran tronco común de la arteria axilar dando origen a las arterias subescapular, braquial profunda, braquial común y colateral ulnar superior; 2) la arteria braquial superficial; 3) la arteria braquioulnar superficial y 4) la rama radial del índice desde el arco palmar superficial. La observación de variaciones en los vasos del miembro superior es importante debido al número cada vez mayor de procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos, como en la cirugía del cáncer de mama, la recolección de colgajos y arteriografías.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Arteries/anatomy & histology , Arteries/abnormalities , Arm/blood supply , Upper Extremity/blood supply , Cadaver , White PeopleABSTRACT
Objetivo: Apresentar os resultados de um estudo sobre opiniões e conhecimento de residentes de primeiro ano e estudantes de medicina sobre o Currículo de Anatomia e suas sugestões para organizar um curso de bases clínicas em anatomia. Métodos: Residentes de primeiro ano, ao final de seu ano clínico, e estudantes de medicina ao final de seu ano de graduação foram solicitados a avaliar o Currículo de Anatomia que tiveram nos anos pré-clínicos. Resultados: A maioria dos respondentes avaliou o ensino geral de anatomia adequado, mas a grande maioria considerou os cursos de anatomia clínica, anatomia de imagem e anatomia de superfície e viva muito curtos. Os residentes de primeiro ano e estudantes classificaram os cursos de anatomia e temas clínicos integrados como essenciais para seu treinamento clínico e sentiram a necessidade de um curso de anatomia orientado para a clínica, com estudos de casos e participação de docentes de clínica nos anos de ciclo básico. Conclusões: Avaliações retrospectivas ao final do primeiro ano de residência e no último ano de graduação são ?evidências? úteis a serem consideradas na reforma do currículo de anatomia, especialmente para desenvolver um Curso de Bases Clínicas em anatomia. Os resultados de tais estudos devem ser levados em conta ao se discutirem as modificações do currículo de anatomia.
