ß-Glucan ameliorates cisplatin-induced oxidative and histological damage in kidney and liver of rats.

We investigated the effects of ß-glucan (ßg) on kidney and liver damage caused by cisplatin (CP), an antineoplastic agent widely used to treat many types of cancer, in a rat model. The side effects of CP in many tissues and organs limit its usage. ßg is a natural polysaccharide that is an effective free radical scavenger. A total of 28 rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 was a non-intervention control, only feed and water were given. Group 2 was administered 7 mg/kg CP in a single dose. Group 3 was administered 50 mg/kg ßg orally for 14 days. Group 4 was administered ßg for 14 days, following a single dose of CP. At the end of the experiment, kidney and liver tissues were evaluated biochemically and histopathologically. Increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels, as well as decreased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as histological damage, were noted in both the kidney and liver tissues of the CP group. However, ßg treatment prevented the oxidative and histopathological effects of CP. The study demonstrates the protective efficacy of ßg against CP-induced kidney and liver damage through the effect of its antioxidant properties.

Fluvastatin Decreases Oxidative Stress in Kidney Transplant Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress has been suggested to have a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular disease in kidney transplant patients (KTPs). The effects of fluvastatin on oxidative status in KTPs have not been well evaluated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of fluvastatin on oxidative status by investigating erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx), serum paraoxonase (PON1), and serum arylesterase (ARE), along with lipid peroxidation products, serum malonldialdehyde, and apolipoprotein B malondialdehyde (ApoB MDA). METHODS: Eighteen KTPs were included in the present study. Blood samples were obtained after 1 night's fast. Erythrocyte SOD, erythrocyte GPx, serum PON1, serum ARE, serum MDA, and ApoB MDA were measured using methods described previously. Paired-sample t test was used for comparing the changes from week 0 to week 4 of parameters that might be associated with fluvastatin treatment. RESULTS: The present study has shown that erythrocyte SOD and GPx, and serum PON1 and ARE activities increased at the fourth week of the statin treatment. Furthermore an increase in the antioxidant enzymes following fluvastatin may be a clue for the antioxidant effects of this drug. Four weeks of fluvastatin long-acting tablets 80 mg/day led to a decrease in plasma Apo-MDA and MDA levels. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study demonstrate that fluvastatin 80 mg long-acting tablets may be used safely for 4 weeks and decrease atherogenic lipoproteins in KTPs. Furthermore, after 4 weeks of fluvastatin treatment, the levels of antioxidant parameters increased and oxidative parameters decreased. Further placebo-controlled treatment studies would be helpful to evaluate the effects of fluvastatin on oxidant and antioxidant parameters including PON1 in patients with KT.

Right ventricular aneurysm complicating right ventricular infarction.

Right ventricular (RV) involvement commonly occurs in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. RV dysfunction and dilatation commonly recover in survivors; chronic RV dyskinesia and failure are rare complications. This case report presents a patient in whom an isolated RV aneurysm complicates a RV involvement of acute inferior-posterior myocardial infarction.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on serum gastrin in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with increased gastrin release in patients with normal renal function. Hypergastrinaemia is a common finding in haemodialysis patients and, in many cases, may be linked to H. pylori infection. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of H. pylori infection, and its eradication, on elevated gastrin levels in haemodialysis patients. METHODS: Eighty-nine dyspeptic patients were included in the study. While 44 patients had normal renal function, the remaining 45 were end-stage renal failure patients. Patients were assigned to one of four groups according to their H. pylori and renal function status. Infected patients were re-evaluated after 2 months following eradication treatment. Serum gastrin levels were measured in these groups both before and after eradication treatment. RESULTS: Haemodialysis patients with H. pylori infection had higher serum gastrin levels than did H. pylori negative haemodialysis patients (321+/-131 pg/ml vs 154+/-25 pg/ml) (P<0.05). Mean serum gastrin concentration was 152+/-21 pg/ml in the non-uraemic H. pylori-positive group. This value was 58+/-17 pg/ml in the non-uraemic H. pylori-negative group (P<0.05). There were significant decreases in serum gastrin levels from pre- to post-eradication of H. pylori in the infected haemodialysis and non-uraemic patient groups (312+/-131 pg/ml to 179+/-85 pg/ml and 152+/-21 pg/ml to 72+/-2.4 pg/ml respectively, P<0.05). Four patients in group Ib and 5 patients in group IIb who had persistent infection did not have a decrease in serum gastrin level. All patients with successful eradication had a decrease in serum gastrin concentration. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that H. pylori infection contributes to hypergastrinaemia in haemodialysis patients. More research is needed regarding the clinical consequences of hypergastrinaemia in these individuals.

Interferon therapy of Turkish patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of alpha interferon therapy in Turkish individuals with chronic hepatitis B virus infection was examined. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-one patients (54 males and 7 females) were studied between 1992 and 1996. Their mean age was 33.4 years (range: 20-57). Each was treated with 4.5 million international units interferon alpha 3 times a week for 24 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and HBV DNA) were monitored. A liver biopsy was obtained before and 6 months after the termination of interferon therapy. RESULTS: Before treatment, the serum ALT level was elevated in all 61 subjects. Six months after the termination of therapy, 23 (38%) had a normal serum ALT level. In all patients, before the start of therapy and 6 months after the termination of therapy, HBsAg was detectable. In 36 (59%), HBeAg was present and anti-HBe was not detectable in serum before the initiation of therapy. In 12 (33%), the serum was negative for HBeAg and positive for anti-HBe 6 months after the termination of therapy. HBV DNA was detectable in all serum samples before the onset of therapy and disappeared in 14 (23%) patients, and continued to be undetectable 6 months after the termination of interferon therapy. Histological improvement defined by an improvement in the Knodell score of 2 points or more was observed in 38 (62%). CONCLUSIONS: Interferon therapy eliminates serum markers of active hepatitis B virus infection (eAg and HBV DNA) and is associated with histological improvement in 30-60% of Turkish patients with chronic HBV infection. Interferon therapy did not eliminate sAg from the serum and the histologic improvement achieved was often incomplete.

Management of brucella endocarditis of a prosthetic valve.

A case of chronic brucella endocarditis of a prosthetic valve is reported. The diagnosis of this infection was established by positive blood cultures and high brucella agglutination titre. The patient was successfully managed by combination of medical therapy (consisting of streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, rifampin and tetracycline) and surgery.

A comparative trial of two surface subunit recombinant hepatitis B vaccines vs a surface and PreS subunit vaccine for immunization of healthy adults.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in Turkey. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity in Turkey is 5 to 10%. HBV is almost completely preventable with the use of hepatitis B vaccines. The most commonly used vaccine is that which contains the predominant viral surface (S) polypeptide. It elicits protective antibodies in greater than 90% of healthy subjects. A vaccine containing the PreS1 and PreS2 antigenic domains has recently been reported as being more efficient in achieving successful immunization in individuals who have not previously responded to the isolated S-antigen vaccine. In this study, the efficacy of a S and PreS-containing vaccine was compared with that of two different standard isolated S-antigen-containing vaccines in terms of the immunization protection produced against HBV in normal healthy adults who had not previously been immunized. Seventy-six young adults (aged 17-22) were randomly assigned to receive 1 ml (20 micrograms) of either one of two standard S-subunit recombinant hepatitis B vaccines (Engerix B. or Hepavax) or the combined S and PreS subunit vaccine (Gen Hevac B) intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle at 0, 1 and 2 months. Hepatitis B surface antigen antibody titres were measured at 1, 2 and 12 months. A titre > or = 10 IU ml-1 was considered to be protective. All subjects receiving the two standard isolated S-antigen-containing vaccines responded to the vaccination with reasonable antibody titres. One-half to two-thirds of those vaccinated developed high antibody titres (> 100 IU ml-1). In contrast, 9% of those receiving the combined PreS1 and PreS2 plus S antigens failed to respond, as demonstrated by antibody titres below the level considered to be protective. The mean titres at 12 months were 107 +/- 12 IU ml-1 (Engerix B), 102 +/- 12 IU ml-1 (Gen Hevac B) and 117 +/- 12 IU ml-1 (Hepavax Gene). Hence, no important difference in term of response to vaccination was found between the two different types of vaccines. As recombinant S-subunit vaccines are less expensive than those that combine S and PreS antigens, it is suggested that, when immunizing normal healthy adults, a standard isolated S-antigen-containing vaccine should be used.