Antioxidant therapy impresses in oxidative stress-induced kidney cells.

INTRODUCTION:   Renal cell cancer (RCC) is not a single entity, but consists of different types of tumors derived from various parts of the nephron (epithelium or renal tubules). It is known that cancer initiation and progression is related to the balance between oxidants and antioxidants directly. Interestingly, advanced stages of cancer such as metastasis, angiogenesis are associated with cell oxidative capacity. Familiar antioxidative substances such as carotenes and vitamin C inhibit oxidation of other molecules during carcinogenesis. They can define the distinction between cancer and normal cells, destroying cancer cells while stabilizing healthy cells. METHODS:   apoptotic activities of kidney cells were measured with caspase Elisa kits. DNA laddering test was used to show DNA damage in H2O2 condition. RESULTS:   For tumor mechanism, they act as pro-oxidants, producing hydrogen peroxide that attacks the cancer, whereas, in normal conditions they act as protective antioxidants. CONCLUSIONS:   The unlike reaction of specific antioxidants should be known at different cell stages. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidative roles of alpha lipoic acid on kidney cancers during oxidative stress induction (Tab. 1, Fig. 7, Ref. 27).

GSM-like radiofrequency exposure induces apoptosis via caspase-dependent pathway in infant rabbits.

BACKGROUND: There have been several Radio Frequency (RF) field researches on various populations and groups of different ages in recent years. However, the most important group for research has been declared as the pregnant women and their babies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse the effect on apoptotic factors of RF fields on newborn rabbit liver tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytochrome c and AIF (Apoptosis Inducing Factor) levels were measured by western blot and caspase 1, 3 and 9 activities were measured by colorimetric method. RESULTS: Cytochrome c and AIF levels were not altered, but all caspase activities were increased in female infant rabbits that exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals when they reached 1 month of age and caspase 1 and caspase 3 levels were decreased in male infant rabbits that exposed to 1800 MHz GSM-like RF signals between 15th and 22nd days of the gestational period. Results showed that 1800 MHz GSM-like RF exposure might lead to apoptosis in infant rabbit's liver tissues. CONCLUSION: According to the results, we suggest that postnatal RF exposure causes caspase dependent apoptosis in female infant rabbits liver tissues (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 27).

Nitric oxide concentrations in mammary quarters during heifer mastitis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NOx) concentration in infected and non-infected mammary quarters of dairy heifers before and after calving. The relationship between bacterial species and NOx concentrations, as well as correlation between NOx concentrations and postpartum somatic cell count (SCC), was assessed. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the bacteria commonly isolated during the pre- and postpartum period. Infected quarters had greater NOx concentrations than non-infected quarters before (30.81 v. 22.83 µM/ml, P < 0.05) and after (9.56 v. 5.77 µM/ml, P < 0.0001) calving. It was determined that the interaction between sampling period and infectious status had no effect on NOx concentration (P < 0.16). Infected quarters had greater SCC (log(10)) than healthy quarters (4.95 v. 4.39; P < 0.0001). NOx concentrations, however, did not correlate with SCC (r = 0.02). In summary, changes in NOx concentration were mainly dependent on the infectious status of the quarters with variations among the bacterial species (P < 0.05).

The cell death pathway induced by metal halide complexes of pyridine and derivative ligands in hepatocellular carcinoma cells - necrosis or apoptosis?

BACKGROUND: Drugs designed to restore programmed cell death might be effective against many cancer. It was aimed to study the possible apoptotic-necrotic effects of the pyridinehalide complexes such as dichlorodipyridinepalla-dium(ll) (PdCl2L1(2)), dichlorodipyridinenickel(ll) (NiCl2L1(2)), dichlorodipyridinecopper(ll) (CuCl2L1(2)), dibromodipyridinecopper(ll) (CuBr2L1(2)) and dichlorobis-(2,4-dimethylpyridine)copper(ll) (CuCl2L2(2)) in the hepatocarcinoma cells (Hep G2). METHODS: All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H-NMR, FT-IR and Far-IR spectroscopy. Apoptotic effects were evaluated by cell viability assay, DNA laddering assay, LDH assay, DAPI nuclear staining and caspase 1-3-9 activity analysis. RESULTS: According to cell proliferation/viability datas, CuCl2L2(2) was estimated the most toxic, NiCl2L1(2) the least toxic complex. Treatment of CuCl2L2(2) in IC50 doses resulted in a remarkable increase lactate dehydrogenase, it was followed by CuBr2L1(2) complex. Picnotic nuclei, anisonucleosis and nuclear condensations in 200 microM concentration of CuCl2L2(2) and CuCl2L1(2) treated cells were observed with DAPI staining also DNA brakes were also determined with electrophoresis. Caspase 1,3 and 9 increased activation were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: The present study results indicate that, PdCl2L1(2), NiCl2L1(2), CuCl2L1(2), CuBr2L1(2), CuC12L2(2) complexes have antiproliferative action on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However it would be wrong to interpret this effect as an apoptosis or necrosis exactly.

Serum neopterin, sialic acid and nitric oxide levels in dogs with malignant mammary tumours.

Mammary cancer is one of the leading causes of death in pet population. Early diagnosis and malignancy detection is important for prognosis. The levels of neopterin, sialic acid and nitric oxide in serum of dogs with malignant mammary tumours were evaluated to investigate the importance of these biochemical parameters for malign mammary tumour. Twelve healthy dogs and twenty dogs with malignant mammary tumours were used as research materials. Blood samples were collected from both groups for neopterin analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas nitric oxide and sialic acid were measured by modified nitrate reductase method and spectrophotometry, respectively. Tissue specimens were evaluated and defined as malignant tumours. Serum nitric oxide and sialic acid levels in dogs with mammary tumours were significantly higher than those in the healthy dogs. Serum neopterin levels were not found significantly different in dogs with mammary tumours compared to healthy dogs. Malignancy of canine mammary tumours are accompained by an elevation of nitric oxide and sialic acid levels.

Doppler dynamics and their complex interrelation with fetal oxygen pressure, carbon dioxide pressure, and pH in growth-retarded fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between fetal oxygen pressure (PO2), carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2), pH, and 19 fetomaternal Doppler indices that reflect the circulatory changes in growth-retarded fetuses. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 32 severely growth-retarded fetuses, the uteroplacental vessels, umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery, common carotid artery, thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and umbilical vein were assessed by Doppler ultrasound before funipuncture and measurement of umbilical venous PO2, PCO2, and pH. RESULTS: Compared to expected values, Doppler measurements from the middle cerebral and common carotid arteries were both decreased ("brain-sparing effect"), whereas thoracic and abdominal aortic Doppler indices were increased in association with increased uteroplacental and/or umbilical impedance. Carbon dioxide pressure and pH both correlated significantly with Doppler indices from the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and common carotid artery. The middle cerebral and common carotid arteries were both significantly related to PO2 and PCO2. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrates circulatory redistribution in human fetal growth retardation and postulates that compensatory redistribution is regulated by more than one mechanism. Hypercapnia, acting alone or through acidemia, plays a role in the control of carotid and aortic vascular responses, whereas hypoxemia, alone or with hypercapnia and probably through local effects, is responsible for the cerebral vascular responses.

The determination of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in the faeces and tissues of chickens treated with DES and in the faeces and tissue samples of calves, lambs and chickens collected from various areas of Turkey.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) analyses were carried out on muscle, liver, kidney and faeces samples of 20 control and 20 experimental broilers to which 5 mg DES/day had been given orally for a period of 7 days. The treated samples were analysed using the Radioimmunoassay method. The removal time of DES from the tissues was determined. Five days following the final administration of DES, its faecal concentration was 151 ppb. However, 7 days after the final administration faecal DES concentrations increased again. On the first day after the final DES administration, DES concentrations in the liver, muscle and kidney were 0.78, 0.74 and 1.33 ppb, respectively. While these values measured on the final day were within the range of the control values. There was an increase of DES in plasma at the end of the experimental period. A total of 1811 muscle, liver, kidney and faeces samples of calves, lambs and chickens and feed samples collected from various areas in Turkey were analysed for the presence of DES. Positive samples for chicken feed was 36.9%. Also 1.9% of the chicken faeces samples were DES positive. All other samples were negative for DES.

Understanding the pathophysiology of intra-uterine growth retardation: the role of the 'lower limb reflex' in redistribution of blood flow.

Doppler ultrasound was used to investigate the circulatory redistribution and underlying reflex responses of fetal cardiovascular compensation in 30 small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses. The utero-placental bed, umbilical artery and vein, thoracic and abdominal aorta, internal and external cerebral arteries were evaluated. The values were compared to reference ranges constructed from 135 normal pregnancies, correlated to fetal blood gases obtained by cordocentesis and compared to the outcomes. In Group I (mortality and morbidity), all fetuses had loss of end-diastolic frequencies (L-EDF) in the abdominal aorta (100%), but only 20 (87%) and 13 (56%) had L-EDF in the thoracic aorta and umbilical artery respectively. High vascular resistance in the placental bed and low impedance in the middle cerebral and common carotid arteries was found in 14 (61%), 12 (52%) and 20 (87%) fetuses, respectively. In Group II (Healthy infants) two fetuses had high utero-placental vascular resistance and one had brain-sparing. Doppler indices did not always reflect fetal hypoxaemia demonstrating that redistribution in SGA fetuses may not be triggered by a fall in pO2, and that hypoxaemia is an associated pathology but may not be the underlying cause. It is postulated that redistribution in SGA fetuses is regulated by reflex mechanisms (the 'lower limb reflex') which result in severe vasoconstriction in the abdominal aorta, mesentery and carcass, favouring the brain and cardiac muscles. This mechanism explains the good predictive value of L-EDF in the abdominal aorta for poor neonatal outcome (sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value, all 100%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of umbilical artery flow velocity waveform indices as measured by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound.

This study examines four methods, automated and manual, of calculating the pulsatility index (PI) of fetal umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms (FVW) and compares these values to the resistance index (RI), the A/B ratio, and the degree of absence of end diastolic frequencies. The FVWs were obtained by the Doptek continuous wave Doppler ultrasound. All of the maximum envelope indices had significant correlations; a highly significant difference was found between the automated and the manual methods of determining PI. When PI was measured manually, there was a better correlation between the A/B ratio, RI, and degree of absence of end diastolic frequencies than when the automated methods were used.