The nephroprotective effect of amifostine in a cecal ligation-induced sepsis model in terms of oxidative stress and inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis is responsible for more than 5 million deaths worldwide every year. The purpose of this study was to use amifostine to reduce acute kidney injury developing as a result of sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups - a healthy control group (Group 1), cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP, Group 2), and a CLP + amifostine (AMF) group receiving a total of 200 mg/kg AMF intraperitoneally (i.p.) 15 min before sepsis induction (Group 3). RESULTS: Total thiol levels decreased while malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB/p65), and interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 levels increased in the CLP group. We also observed degeneration in renal corpuscles, necrotic tubules, polymorphonuclear leukocyte inflammation, and vascular congestion. In the amifostine group, total thiol levels in tissue increased, while MDA, TNF-α, NF-кB/p65, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels, necrotic renal tubules, and inflammation decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Amifostine prevented sepsis-related acute kidney injury by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

The effect of imatinib administered in the prenatal period on testis development in rats.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exposure to imatinib in the prenatal period on testis development in rats. METHODS: Although all the study groups received intraperitoneal imatinib on prenatal days 1-8, no pregnancy occurred in the Imatinib-80 group. Immunohistochemical analysis, TUNEL, c-kit and PDGF staining revealed no difference between the groups in terms of positivity scoring. RESULTS: A significant decrease was detected in total sperm counts in the Imatinib-20 group compared to the control group, but the sperm count was higher in the Imatinib-60 group than in the Imatinib-20 group. At biochemical measurements, the drug increased oxidative stress in the testis and serum in the Imatinib-20 group, but caused a decrease in tissue in the Imatinib-60 group. Thiol measurements revealed a decrease in the testis and serum in the Imatinib-60 group, while an increase in serum measurements was observed in the Imatinib-40 group. Analysis revealed no difference between the groups in terms of protamine and histone gene expression levels in testis tissue exposed to imatinib. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that prenatal exposure to imatinib can lead to histopathological and biochemical changes in testis tissue, but that no adverse effect occurs in nuclear maturation of germ cells during spermiogenesis.

Comparision of inflammatory biomarkers for detection of coronary stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the role of various inflammatory biomarkers in detection of coronary stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy people. METHODS: A total of 111 patients with stable coronary artery disease, and 66 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of lipoprotein-associated-phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured to compare patient and control groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between healthy and patient groups, with the exception of age. ANCOVA and log-transformed data of inflammatory biomarkers revealed that, Lp-PLA2 (p < 0.001) and hs-CRP (p < 0.05) levels in all patient groups were significantly higher than in the control group. Conversely, there was no significant difference in MPO levels among groups. CONCLUSIONS: In stable CAD patients, serum Lp-PLA2 levels are more compatible than hs-CRP and MPO levels in the detection of coronary stenosis.