Effects of infliximab against carbon tetrachloride-induced spleen toxicity in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a non-polar molecule used in industry in grain curing, insect-killing and especially in the production of chlorofluorocarbons. It is estimated that an average of 70,000 industry workers in Europe are exposed to this toxic compound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control group (saline only, Group I), infliximab (INF) group (Group II), CCl4 group (Group III) and CCl4+INF group (Group IV). RESULTS: While there was an increase in the numerical density of CD3, CD68, and CD200R positive T lymphocytes and macrophages in the CCl4 administration group (p=0.000), this was not the case in the CCl4+INF administration group (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: TNF-α inhibitors have a protective effect against CCl4-induced spleen toxicity/inflammation as seen by the reduction in CD3, CD68, CD200R positive T lymphocytes and macrophages.

Elevated nucleosome level and oxidative stress in schizophrenia patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oxidative stress on nucleosome levels and its relation with the clinical features in schizophrenia patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty schizophrenia patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects matched to the patients with regard to age and gender and who had no history of any psychiatric disorder. The severity of schizophrenia symptoms in the patients was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S). Physical and neurological examinations were performed in each of the patients and controls. RESULTS: Nucleosome, total oxidant levels and OSI values were higher in schizophrenia patients than in controls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total antioxidant levels. There was a positive correlation between the nucleosome level and PANSS positive subscale (p=0.028, r=0.402). There was a positive correlation between TAS and age (p=0.025, r=0.289), PANSS total (p<0.001, r=0.604). There was a negative correlation between OSI and PANSS total (p=0.019, r=-0.427), PANSS positive subscale (p=0.043, r=-0.372). There was a negative correlation between TOS and PANS total (p=0.028, r=-0.402). CONCLUSION: In this study we found a correlation between nucleosome level and PANSS positive subscale. To our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates oxidative stress and nucleosomes released from apoptotic cells together (Tab. 2, Ref. 50).