Darbepoetin α ameliorates neuronal damage in a rat model of acute ethanol intoxication.

OBJECTIVE: Acute ethanol intoxication has been shown to cause oxidative damage in many organ systems including the brain. Erythropoietin has antioxidant effects and prevents neuronal damage in the animal model of ischemic brain injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of darbepoetin alpha, an analog of erythropoietin with a longer half-life and higher in vivo activity, on ethanol-induced acute brain injury. METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar albino rats were allocated to four groups. The first group received ethanol treatment (E), the second group was treated with ethanol and darbepoetin (ED), the third group received only saline treatment (S), and the fourth group received both saline and darbepoetin treatment (SD). Plasma S100-ß and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were measured. Histopathological evaluation of the brains was performed. RESULTS: The plasma S100-ß and NSE levels were significantly lower in group ED compared with group E. In group E, we have observed focal red-neuron formation at the granular layer of the dentate gyrus. We did not observe any histopathological changes in the other groups (ED, S, and SD). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that darbepoetin alpha has neuroprotective effect in acute ethanol intoxication, possibly through its antioxidant effect.

Effects of lycopene on oxidative stress and remnant liver histology after partial hepatectomy in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Partial hepatectomy is performed for the treatment of mass lesions in the liver. Lycopene, which is a carotenoid, is present in various physiologic processes. In this study, the effects of lycopene administration in partially hepatectomized rats were evaluated by assessing various oxidant/antioxidant parameters, remnant liver histology and plasma nitric oxide levels. METHODS: Thirty Wistar albino adult male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups as: Sham, Partial Hepatectomy and Lycopene-Administered + Partial Hepatectomy groups. Lycopene (4 mg/kg), which was dissolved in olive oil, was given to the rats per orally (via gavage tube) (0.1 ml) every day for 6 weeks before partial hepatectomy and for one week after partial hepatectomy. Tissue and blood samples were collected one week after partial hepatectomy. RESULTS: Plasma malondialdehyde (p<0.001) and nitric oxide (p<0.05) levels in the lycopene-administered + partial hepatectomy group were significantly higher than in the partial hepatectomy group. Intraerythrocytic glutathione (p<0.001), plasma (p<0.001) and liver tissue Cu-Zn (p<0.05) superoxide dismutase levels of the lycopene-administered + partial hepatectomy group were significantly lower than in the partial hepatectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene administration could be harmful by increasing oxidative stress after partial hepatectomy.

Evaluation of intraoperative parathormone measurement for predicting successful surgery in patients undergoing subtotal/total parathyroidectomy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of intraoperative parathormone measurement addressing successful surgical resection in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: The study included 42 consecutive patients operated on between May 2006 and July 2008. Patients were grouped according to successful surgery (Group 1, n = 36) and persistent postoperative hyperparathyroidism (Group 2, n = 6). Serum phosphorus (P), total calcium (tCa), ionized calcium (iCa), intact parathormone (iPTH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were drawn preoperatively and intraoperatively upon 15 minutes after completion of resection (iPTH(15)). The rate of decrease of pith detected by iPTH(15) compared to preoperative values was calculated (iPTH(%)). RESULTS: Preoperative P, tCa, iCa, iPTH, and ALP were comparable. Subtotal parathyroidectomy (sPx) (n = 27) and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (tPx) (n = 15) were performed. Mean iPTH(15) value, iPTH(%) rates were 145.9 +/- 12.3 pg/mL, % 91.6 +/- 0.7, and 522.5 +/- 85.4 pg/mL, % 75.1 +/- 2.0 (P = ,001) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Mean serum tCa and iCa at POD#1 in Group 1 were 7.6 +/- 0.1 mg/dL, 0.910 +/- 0.4 mmol/L, and Group 2 were 8.3 +/- 0.3 mg/dL, 1.050 +/- 0.4 mmol/L (P < .05), respectively. ALP levels were similar. CONCLUSION: iPTH(15) value and iPTH(%) rate accurately predicts the completeness of resection in secondary hyperparathyroidism. The rate of decrease in serum iPTH detected intraoperatively compared to preoperative baseline levels exceeding 90% in sPx, 95% in tPx, accurately predicts the success of surgery. Postoperative normocalcemia without calcium replacement would raise a suspicion about completeness of surgical resection.

Evaluation of visual evoked potentials in chronic renal failure patients with different treatment modalities.

BACKGROUND: Uremia causes central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Modern diagnostic methods are useful for the recognition of CNS complications in uremic patients. Data concerning visual evoked potentials (VEPs) of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients is limited. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to assess and compare VEPs abnormalities in CRF patients managed by only medical therapy (pre-dialysis) or medical therapy plus renal replacement therapy (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or hemodialysis (HD)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients diagnosed with CRF of various etiologies were divided into 3 groups according to the treatment modalities used to manage CRF; pre-dialysis group, HD group and CAPD group. For the comparison of VEPs parameters, an age matched control group was formed with 10 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Bilateral N2 latency (p<0.001), bilateral P2 latency (p=0.003), right N2 latency (p=0.006) and left VEP N2 latency (p=0.002) in the HD group was significantly higher than the control group. The CAPD group had significantly increased bilateral N2 latency (p<0.001), right eye VEP N2 latency (p=0.004), right eye P2 latency (p=0.001), left eye N2 latency (p=0.005) and left eye P2 latency (p=0.001) levels than the control group. There was no significant difference between VEPs of the CAPD and HD groups. CONCLUSION: The renal replacement treatments that we evaluated have similar effects on VEPs. Diminished VEPs indicating visual neuronal system damage were observed, when CRF progresses. CNS dysfunctions can be diagnosed and additional therapeutic approaches could be followed using VEPs during the treatment of CRF.

Donor heart preservation with iloprost supplemented St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution in isolated rat hearts.

This study was designed to assess the influence of St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution (St. Th.) on heart preservation in rat hearts subjected to 6h ischemia when supplemented with iloprost. In the control group (n=8), nothing was added to St. Th., whereas 10 or 1000 nmol L(-1) iloprost was added in the second (n=7) and third (n=8) groups, respectively. Mechanical contraction parameters, cardiac tissue damage and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. The 10 nmol/L iloprost group peak systolic pressure (71.0+/-30.9 versus 41.0+/-9.4 mm Hg) and -dp/dtmax (1103.8+/-94.3 versus 678.6+/-156.8 mm Hg s(-1)) were significantly higher than control group at 30 min of reperfusion (p<0.05). Iloprost supplemented groups had higher GSH and catalase levels of coronary perfusate at reperfusion, in comparison with initial values (p<0.05). AST, CK, CK-MB values increased at 0 min of reperfusion and cTnI values at 45 min of reperfusion (p<0.05) in all groups with no difference between groups. According to our results, iloprost supplementation had mild but significant improvement in postischemic values in mechanical and oxidative stress parameters, resulting in better heart preservation.

Iloprost pretreatment before unilateral nephrectomy: an experimental study in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of iloprost administration before unilateral nephrectomy on postoperative interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), and oxidant/antioxidant status. METHODS: Malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase were measured in the blood and remnant kidney of Adult male Wistar albino rats to assess oxidant and antioxidant status. The rats were divided into three experimental groups: sham group (S) (n = 12); unilateral nephrectomized group (N) (n = 12); an hour before unilateral nephrectomy iloprost (1 ng/mL/kg, intraperitoneal) administered group (IN) (n = 12). RESULTS: Iloprost administration before unilateral nephrectomy lowered oxidant parameters and IL-6 levels significantly. NO levels were increased in both N and IN groups. CONCLUSION: Iloprost pretreatment before unilateral nephrectomy can reduce oxidative stress and IL-6, which increases due to anaesthesia and surgery and causes organ damage during surgery and in the short-term postoperative period.

The carotid-femoral (aortic) pulse wave velocity as a marker of arterial stiffness in familial Mediterranean fever.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that chronic inflammation impairs vascular function and leads to an arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) increase in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients (17 women) with FMF, and 23 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. Aortic PWV was determined by using an automatic device (Complior Colson, Createch Industrie, France) that allowed on-line pulse wave recording and automatic calculation of the PWV. RESULTS: The PWV was slightly higher in patients with FMF than in control subjects (P=0.05). A significant correlation between PWV and age (P<0.001, r=0.67), body mass index (P<0.001, r=0.52) and leukocytes (P<0.001, r=0.66) was found in both groups combined and also in patients with FMF (P<0.001, r=0.73; P=0.01, r=0.52; P<0.001, r=0.69, respectively). CONCLUSION: The PWV was slightly higher in patients with FMF compared with control subjects. Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug treatment, may have reduced the expected increased level of PWV in FMF patients. PWV is influenced by age, body mass index and leukocytes.

Transient hypothalamic hypothyroidism and diabetes insipidus after electrical injury.

Transient or permanent diabetes insipidus (DI) due to damage in vasopressinergic neurons--which may be hereditary or caused by head injury, brain surgery, tumors, granulomatous disorders, infections, vascular disorders, autoimmunity, and idiopathic causes--is not rare. Hypothalamic hypothyroidism is due to decreased thyrotropin-releasing hormone secretion and is seen rarely. We report a case of transient hypothalamic hypothyroidism and transient DI due to electrical injury.