Effect of tempol, a membrane-permeable radical scavenger, on mesenteric blood flow and organ injury in a murine cecal ligation and puncture model of septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Interventions that reduce the generation or the effects of reactive oxygen species exert beneficial effects in a variety of models of septic shock. We investigated the effect of tempol, a low-molecular-weight membrane-permeable radical scavenger, on mesenteric blood flow and organ injury in a murine cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of septic shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four Swiss albino mice were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg, i.p.) and subjected to CLP (except for the sham-operated animals). The animals were divided randomly into 4 groups: the 1st group was sham operated (sham-operated group, n = 10); the 2nd group underwent CLP and was injected with saline (CLP + saline group, n = 12); the 3rd group was sham operated and treated with tempol (10 mg/kg, i.p., sham-treated + tempol group, n = 10); the 4th group underwent CLP and was treated with tempol (10 mg/kg, i.p., CLP + tempol group, n = 12). Mesenteric arterial blood flow (MABF) was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity was examined in the liver, lung, and kidneys. RESULTS: In the CLP + saline group, the MABF was significantly lower than in the sham-operated group (p < 0.001). After tempol administration, MABF values significantly increased (p < 0.05). We observed significantly stronger PARP-positive staining in the lungs and kidney glomeruli in the CLP + saline group than in those of the sham-operated group (p(lung) = 0.0148, p(glomeruli) = 0.0025). A marked reduction in PARP activity was found in the lung and kidney glomeruli of the CLP + tempol group (p(lung) = 0.0026, p(glomeruli) = 0.0085). There was no significant effect of CLP on PARP activity in the liver and kidney tubuli (p(liver) > 0.05, p(tubuli) > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tempol improved MABF in a CLP-induced septic shock model. Although tempol could not prevent the activation of PARP in the liver and kidney tubuli, it did attenuate PARP activation in the lung and kidney glomeruli.

Expression and clinical significance of Ki-67, oestrogen and progesterone receptors in acoustic neuroma.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the presence of Ki-67, and oestrogen and progesterone hormone receptors as well as their clinical correlates in acoustic neuroma. METHODS: Medical records of 59 patients who were operated on for acoustic neuroma between 1995 and 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. Formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded archival acoustic neuroma specimens of the patients were used for immunohistochemical assessments of oestrogen and progesterone hormone receptors, and Ki-67 proliferative marker. RESULTS: Tumour sizes were small (40 mm) in 21, 35 and 3 patients, respectively. On immunohistochemistry, all samples were (+) for progesterone receptor and (-) for oestrogen receptor staining. Ki-67 staining was encountered in 34 of 59 (57.6 per cent) patients, and Ki-67 values ranged from 0 per cent to 10.9 per cent (mean 1.36 per cent). There was no correlation between Ki-67, gender, tumour size and symptoms of the patients (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oestrogen is not an important hormone in acoustic neuroma due to the absence of oestrogen receptor expression in the tissue samples. Since the progesterone receptor is expressed in all acoustic neuroma samples, further studies are necessary to find out about the inhibitory effect of antiprogesterone treatment on acoustic neuroma growth, which may be important particularly in elderly people or high-risk patients. Although Ki-67 is expressed in the majority of acoustic neuromas, it is not an important marker in clinical practice due to a lack of any correlation with the clinical parameters.

Ameloblastic carcinoma containing melanocyte and melanin pigment in the mandible: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of ameloblastic carcinoma containing melanocyte and melanin in a 66-year-old male with swelling and an ulcerating firm mass in the left submandibular region is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. The current histopathological diagnosis and management are discussed.