Amelioration of N,N'-dimethylhydrazine induced colon toxicity by epigallocatechin gallate in Wistar rats.

Colon cancer is a life-threatening disease all over the world and is linked to constant oxidative stress and inflammation. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is a naturally occurring flavone possessing health benefiting pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging properties. Our study investigates the role of EGCG on N,N'-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), a toxic environmental pollutant, induced colon toxicity. To investigate the effect of EGCG, Wistar rats were given EGCG for 7 days at the two doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight and DMH was injected on the seventh day in all the group rats except the control. Our results indicate that DMH administration increased the oxidative stress (MDA) and depleted the glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GR, GST and GPx) which was significantly ameliorated by EGCG treatment. Additionally DMH treatment upregulated inflammatory markers expression (NF-κB, COX-2 and IL-6) and enhanced mucosal damage in the colon. EGCG treatment significantly reduced inflammation and restored the normal histoarchitecture of the colon. We can conclude from the present study findings that EGCG protects the colon from DMH toxicity through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Protective role of diosmin against testosterone propionate-induced prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats: Plausible role of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an important key health concern for aging men. Polyphenolic compounds have been found to possess important roles in the inhibition of numerous ailments that involve reactive oxygen species and inflammation. Diosmin is a citrus flavone that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and anticancer activities, so based on these properties of diosmin, we decided to evaluate its effect on testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH. A total of 30 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups having six animals in each. This study was of 28 days in which TP (5 mg kg-1) was administered to induce BPH in the last 10 days of the study. It was found that diosmin at the doses of 20 and 40 mg kg-1 significantly reduced malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase formation in a dose-dependent manner; however, it replenished catalase, glutathione (GSH), and GSH-dependent enzymes, that is, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase significantly against TP-induced BPH. Further, immunohistochemical study showed that diosmin alleviated inflammatory markers (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-6). It was also found that diosmin downregulated the expression of androgen receptor and decreased the prostate-specific antigen concentration dose-dependently, significantly against TP-induced BPH. Diosmin also restored histoarchitecture of the prostate in a dose-dependent manner. Findings from the present study revealed the protective role of diosmin against TP-induced BPH in Wistar rats.

Benzo(a)pyrene induces lung toxicity and inflammation in mice: prevention by carvacrol.

Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is an environmental pollutant which causes various lung toxicities. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of carvacrol, a monoterpenic phenol against B(a)P-induced lung toxicity. In this study, Swiss albino mice were pretreated with carvacrol (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) orally for 7 consecutive days before administering oral B(a)P (125 mg/kg). Preventive efficacy of carvacrol was assessed in terms of membrane oxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities, histopathological changes, and inflammatory (iNOS, NF-κB, and COX-2) markers. Carvacrol pretreatment in the two doses restored B(a)P-induced lipid peroxidation and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Protein expressions of iNOS, NF-κB, and COX-2 in the lung tissue were found to be upregulated by B(a)P. Carvacrol treatment, however, downregulated their expressions by decreasing the marker of positive stained cells and restored the histopathological architecture of lung tissue. Our results suggest that carvacrol can be used as a protective agent against B(a)P-induced lung toxicity and inflammation.

Overexpression of p185erbB2/neu in the NbE prostatic epithelial cell line increases cellular spreading and the expression of integrin alpha6beta1.

Overexpression of p185erbB2/neu has been demonstrated in approximately 30% of prostatic carcinomas and has been shown to induce tumorigenesis and metastasis in a prostatic epithelial cell line, NbE. To metastasize successfully, cells must be able to proliferate, degrade and be motile on a variety of substrates; thus attachment and spreading on a variety of substrates are key features of the metastatic phenotype. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrate that NbE-neuT-9/10 clones attached significantly better to specific substrates and spread significantly better on both specific and non-specific substrates as compared to the control clones. Additionally, the expression of integrin alpha6beta1, a key receptor enabling attachment and spreading on laminin, is upregulated on the metastatic clones NbE-neuT-9 and 10.

Inguinal scrotal incision for penile fracture.

PURPOSE: We report a new incision for repair of penile fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe 2 cases in which the inguinal scrotal incision was used for repair of penile fracture. The preoperative evaluation as well as the technical case and rationale for use of this incision are discussed. RESULTS: Preoperative cavernosogram delineated the site of the fracture. Immediate repair of the fracture using the inguinal scrotal incision was successful. CONCLUSIONS: The inguinal scrotal incision should be entertained for cases of penile fracture. It avoids incision into markedly edematous penile skin and allows for excellent visualization of the fracture site.

Study of activities of arginase, hexosaminidase, and leucine aminopeptidase in prostate fluid.

Our previous studies demonstrated that extracts of the cancerous prostate tissues exhibit increased activities of arginase and hexosaminidase and decreased activity of leucine aminopeptidase. In an endeavor to devise a reliable, noninvasive and cost effective method for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma, prostate fluids collected from 123 patients were analyzed for arginase, hexosaminidase, and leucine aminopeptidase. Based on the clinical diagnoses, the patients were divided into four groups: 13 men with chronic prostatitis, 29 with no recognized prostatic lesions, 63 with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 18 with prostate cancer. The prostate fluids had no detectable arginase activity. The means of the total (units/mL) and the specific activities (units/mg of protein) of hexosaminidase and leucine aminopeptidase varied, albeit there were no significant differences in the four groups of patients recruited in this study. It was concluded that the profiles of enzymes in prostate fluids might differ from that in the secreting prostate tissues and that the results of enzyme analysis in prostate fluids for the diagnosis of cancer should be interpreted with caution.