Pharmacological and toxicological effects of Paronychia argentea in experimental calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Renal protection and antiurolithiasic effects of two extracts of Paronychia argentea (PA), a traditional Algerian plant commonly known as Algerian tea, were evaluated. This study was carried out to determine whether the aqueous extract (APA) or the butanolic extract (BPA) of aerial parts could prevent or reduce calculi aggregation in experimental calcium oxalate (Ox) nephrolithiasis in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The two extracts (APA and BPA) were administrated orally and daily, during 28 days to nephrolithiasic treated rats at the dose of 250, 500 mg/kg b.w. and 10, 20mg/kg b.w. respectively. Body weight, renal index, liver index, serum level of creatinine, uric acid, urea, K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+) and transaminase (alanine aminotransferase, ALT; aspartate aminotransferase, AST), phosphatase alkaline activity (PAL) were evaluated following the 28 days treatment in rats. In addition histopathological changes in kidney and liver were stained in hematoxylin eosin (HE). RESULTS: The effect of the extracts could be advantageous in preventing urinary stone retention by reducing renal necrosis and thus inhibit crystal retention. In contradiction with APA, the two doses of BPA attenuated elevation in the serum creatinine (p<0.01) and blood urea levels (p<0.01) (nephroprotective effect). However, the increase in ALT (27%) and PAL (31-51%) serum levels and in the relative liver weights (p<0.01) in the groups treated with doses of APA may indicate that this extract has not a hepatoprotective effect against oxalate toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The presented data indicate that administration of the butanolic extract of aerial parts to rats with NaOx induced lithiasis, and reduced and prevented the growth of urinary stones in experimental calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in Wistar rats.

Quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: impact of disability and lifetime depressive spectrum symptomatology.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of disability and lifetime subthreshold depressive symptoms on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Ninety-two subjects with a diagnosis of RA according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were recruited at the Department of Rheumatology of the University Hospital, Pisa, Italy. Participants who met DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for current or previous Axis I disorders were excluded. Assessments of functional status and disability was conducted using both the ACR classification and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Health-related Quality of Life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire (MOS-SF36) and lifetime depressive spectrum symptomatology using the Mood Spectrum Questionnaire, Self-Report version (MOODS-SR). RESULTS: Comparison with MOS-SF36 Italian normative values indicated that RA patients were significantly impaired on mental and physical HRQoL areas. Correlations between MOODS-SR depressive scores and ACR severity (Spearman rho = 0.15, p = 0.07) and HAQ score (Spearman rho = 0.20, p = 0.05) were modest in absolute value and borderline significant. Lifetime mood depressive spectrum was related with impaired HRQoL levels, both in physical (except for bodily pain) and mental (except for social functioning) domains. Associations of mood depressive spectrum and general health, vitality, role emotional and mental health continued to be significant after controlling for functional status, duration of illness, age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Because lifetime mood depressive symptoms significantly contribute to impairment in HRQoL in RA patients without a past psychiatric history, even after controlling for functional status, duration of illness and demographic characteristics, these symptoms should be assessed for an accurate clinical evaluation and appropriate clinical management of RA patients.