Effects of Nigella sativa L. and Urtica dioica L. on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and some liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects Nigella sativa L. (NS) and Urtica dioica L. (UD) on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and some liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated rats. A total of 60 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized in this study. The rats were randomly allotted into one of four experimental groups: A (CCl4-only treated), B (CCl4 + UD treated), C (CCl4 + NS treated) and D (CCl4 + UD + NS treated), each containing 15 animals. All groups received CCl4 [0.8 ml/kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice a week for 90 days starting day 1]. In addition, B, C and D groups also received daily intraperitoneal injections of 0.2 ml/kg NS or/and 2 ml/kg UD oils for 45 days starting day 46. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 ml/kg normal saline solution for 45 days starting day 46. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from five randomly chosen rats in each treatment group at beginning, at 45th and at 90th day of the experiment. The CCl4 treatment for 45 days increased the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and also decreased the antioxidant enzyme levels. NS or UD treatments (alone or combination) for 45 days starting day 46 decreased the elevated lipid peroxidation and liver enzyme levels and also increased the reduced antioxidant enzyme levels. Live weights of the rats decreased in group A, and increased in groups B, C and D. It is concluded that NS and UD decrease the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and increase the antioxidant defence system activity in the CCl4-treated rats.

The role of Urtica dioica and Nigella sativa in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The role of Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) (NS) and Urtica dioica L. was investigated (UD) in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into fi ve groups (I, IIA and B, IIIA and B) and CCl4 was injected biweekly to all groups. Group I (control, CCl4 only), group IIA and B (NS fixed oil and volatile oil), group IIIA and B (UD fixed oil and UD decoction extract) rats were killed at the end of week 12 and histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of liver tissues were performed. In the control group, coagulation necrosis and hydropic degeneration were marked in the periacinar regions (zone 3) associated with fibrosis in the periacinar regions and in the portal tracts. In groups IIA-B and IIIA-B (NS and UD), none of the serious histopathological findings were detected except for sparse coagulation necrosis in the periacinar regions. ASMA-positive perisinusoidal cells with myo fibroblastic transformation and lysosomal enzyme activity suggesting fibrogenesis were also significantly more common in the control group than in the NS and UD groups. UD and NS seem to be significantly effective in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Clinical characteristics and genetic screening of an extended family with MEN2A.

MEN-2A is characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with pheochromocytoma and sometimes parathyroid adenoma. In affected members of the family, the risk of MTC is about 100%. Biochemical screening allows tumors to be detected early but even at this stage treatment is not always curative. Missense mutations in exon 10 and 11 of the RET proto-oncogene are associated with MEN-2A. Early detection of this mutation by DNA analysis allows the identification of the carriers of the gene. We performed genetic screening in 88 members of an extended family with MEN-2A and found 18 members positive for RET mutation (Cys634Gly). Only three of these 18 RET positive cases had a previous diagnosis of medullary cancer and/or pheochromocytoma. Up to now, 12 of the RET positive cases have undergone thyroidectomy. There was extended disease with cervical lymph node metastasis in 6 of them, bilateral medullary microcancer in 3 and c-cell hyperplasia in the remaining 3. Three of the 18 RET positive patients had also pheochromocytoma. Primary hyperparathyroidism was present in only one patient. The mean age of diagnosis of medullary cancer was between 25-50 yr and mean age of death was between 35-95 yr in affected members of the family. The family had many other affected members in other cities in Turkey and in other countries throughout the world from Australia to the Netherlands. So this family is perhaps one of the most extended families with MEN-2A.

Polyserositis as a rare component of polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type II.

Polyglandular autoimmune (PGA) syndromes (types I and II) may affect various endocrine and non-endocrine organs in the body. In the commoner PGA type II, primary adrenal insufficiency, autoimmune thyroid disease and type I diabetes mellitus are the most frequent manifestations. Serositis with pericardial or pleural involvement is not a well known component of the disease. Here, we report a 21-year-old man who first presented with a pleuropericardial effusion and Graves' disease, and who then developed type I diabetes mellitus.

The effect of autonomic nervous system activity on exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise: evaluation by heart rate variability.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of autonomic nervous system activity on exaggerated systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to exercise in healthy subjects using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. METHOD AND RESULTS: We studied 53 healthy volunteer subjects with exercise treadmill test according to the Bruce protocol. Time domain and frequency domain of HRV were measured for each 5-minute segment before (rest) and after exercise (recovery) and during the total exercise period. The mean change in SBP (delta SBP) was 39 +/- 18 mm Hg. The delta SBP above the value of mean (> or = 40 mm Hg) was defined as an exaggerated delta SBP. According to the delta SBP, subjects were classified into two groups. Group I consisted of 32 patients who showed a normal delta SBP, group II consisted of 21 patients who showed exaggerated delta SBP. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics and exercise duration between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the mean RR intervals, SDNN (standard deviation of all RR intervals), RMSSD (the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent RR intervals), and HF (high-frequency power, 0.15 to 0.40 Hz) at rest between the two groups. However, LF (low-frequency power, 0.04 to 0.15 Hz) and LF/HF ratio at rest were significantly higher at rest in group II than in group I. There were no significant differences in the mean RR intervals and HF at exercise between the groups. However, SDNN and RMSSD were significantly lower, LF and the LF/HF ratio were significantly higher at exercise in group II than in group I. No differences in these parameters were observed at recovery between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The sympathetic activity was higher at rest and during the total exercise period, parasympathetic activity was lower during the total exercise period in healthy subjects with exaggerated SBP response to exercise than in those with normal SBP response.