[Oxidative stress in experimental acute glomerulonephritis]. / Stres oksydacyjny w eksperymentalnym ostrym zapaleniu klebuszków nerkowych.

The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of lipid peroxidation products (TBARS -thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in serum and in renal cortex, and erythrocytes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in blood during the development of experimental acute glomerulonephritis. Total antioxidant capacity of plasma and some of plasma nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as total protein level and uric acid were also measured. Acute glomerulonephritis was induced by intravenous injection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in rabbits, at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Blood and tissues for analysis were taken from animals on the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th day after antigen administration. Morphologic changes in kidneys were verified by light and electron microscope. Injection of the BSA resulted in diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis with transient proteinuria with peak on the 8th day after antigen administration. Morphological alterations were associated with marked increase of TBARS in serum (on the 2nd, 4th, and 12th day) and renal cortex (on the 2nd, 4th and 8th day). In immunized rabbits we observed an increase in SOD activity (after 8 and 12 days of BSA injection). Activity of GPx was elevated throughout the observation period. We also noted an exhaustion of nonenzymatic antioxidants in plasma expressed as the decrease of total plasma antioxidant capacity (on the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th day), uric acid and total plasma protein level (8th day). We conclude, that during development of experimental acute glomerulonephritis, oxidative stress occurs which manifests as an increase of lipid peroxidation products, changes in antioxidant enzymes and exhaustion of nonenzymatic scavengers. The oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may contribute in the development of pathogenic changes in this model of glomerulonephritis.

Immunoexpression of nm23 in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The study was undertaken to determine the immunoexpression of protein products of nm23 genes which are thought to be potential metastasis suppressor genes, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and to analyze their relationship to selected clinicopathological features (age, sex, tumour size, depth of invasion, presence of lymph nodes and distant metastasis, pathologic tumor stage, degree of cancer differentiation and vascular/lymphatic invasion), as well as to the overall survival. Immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody against nm23 using LSAB2/HRP method on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections obtained from 32 tumors was performed. Eight tumors (25%) showed positive nm23 immunoexpression. There were no statistically significant differences between nm23-positive and nm23-negative groups with respect to all clinicopathological features studied. The positive nm23 status was related to a worse prognosis but this was not significant. The results may suggest that nm23-status is not associated with metastatic ability and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, but such thesis requires further study on a larger population.

The influence of interferon alpha on the rat liver injured by chronic administration of carbon tetrachloride.

Due to their complex and not fully known etiopathogenesis as well as difficulties in treatment, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis still remain one of the main problems of hepatologists. Nowadays, the use of IFN alpha is considered the most effective method of treatment in chronic hepatitis. Recently, a new property of IFN, i.e. its effects on the reduction of fibrosis, has been discovered. The aim of the paper was to examine the effects of IFN alpha on biochemical parameters (AlAt and AspAt activities), on the metabolic function of the liver and its morphologic picture observed under the light and electron microscope after the 3- and 6-week CCl4-induced damage. The experiments were carried out in Wistar male rats. To evaluate the liver function, the test of aminophenazone elimination in the isolated perfused rat livers was used according to Miller modified by Hafte. Additionally, AspAt and AlAt activities were determined. The liver specimens were analysed under the light and electron microscope and using immunohistochemical methods. The findings show that after the 3-week CCl4-induced liver damage, IFN alpha does not significantly affect AlAt and AspAt activities, irrespective of the dose used. IFN alpha administered after the 6-week damage significantly changes those activities when the doses used are high. It was found that carbon tetrachloride does not result in evident cirrhotic changes, however it activates Ito cells, causes focal retraction of the stroma and fibrosis. The increased number of Ito cells in Disse's space observed in immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations is indicative of the activation of liver fibrotic processes following CCl4 administration in both variants used. IFN alpha substantially weakens fibrogenesis of the CCl4-damaged liver which is visible in the decreased number of Ito cells and weaker expression of the stroma retraction. Moreover, IFN alpha administered to the experimental animals after the CCl4-induced injury of the liver increases aminophenazone clearance, especially when used in higher doses. Positive effects of IFN confirmed in the studies suggest that the drug may be used in patients with chronic hepatitis and early cirrhosis since it is likely not only to eliminate the virus but also to improve the liver function and reduce fibrosis.