Erythropoietin exerts neuroprotection in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated C57/BL mice via increasing nitric oxide production.

Erythropoietin (EPO), produced by the kidney and fetal liver, is a cytokine-hormone that stimulates erythropoiesis under hypoxic conditions. It has been shown that EPO is produced in the central nervous system and its receptor is expressed on neurons. Since EPO has neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo against brain injury, we investigated the effect of EPO treatment on locomotor activities of animals, survival of nigral dopaminergic neurons and nitrate levels in substantia nigra and striatum in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced animal model of Parkinsonism in C57/BL mice. Our findings suggest that EPO has protective and treating effect in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in this mouse model of Parkinson's Disease via increasing nitric oxide production.

Investigation of relationship between idiopathic hypercalciuria and urinary enzyme activities.

In patients with uncomplicated idiopathic hypercalciuria renal function is normal except for increased renal calcium excretion. In this study, the level of fractional urinary enzyme excretion was assessed in relation to calciuria. Fourteen patients with a mean age of 5.8 +/- 0.8 years who had daily urinary calcium excretion more than 4 mg/kg and with otherwise normal renal function tests were included in the study. None of the patients manifested either renal calculus or nephrocalcinosis. Fourteen normal children with a mean age of 5.4 +/- 0.74 were included in the control group. The level of the urinary N-acetyl beta-D glucosaminidase (NAG) to creatinine ratio, fractional aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) excretion were not significantly different compared to the control group (p > 0.05). The patients were subdivided according to the type of hypercalciuria. The levels of NAG/creatinine ratio, fractional ALT, AST, ALP, LDH excretion were not significantly different in the absorptive type of calciuria group compared to the control group (p > 0.05). In conclusion, hypercalciuria during childhood which is 6.46 +/- 1.83 mg/kg/day is not related to the levels of NAG/creatinine ratio, fractional ALT, AST, ALP and LDH excretion in urine.

Urinary enzyme changes in newborns with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Various changes in renal function caused by unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in newborns have been suggested in previous reports. Disclosing an injury in renal tubulus epithelium is feasible by measurement of urinary enzymes. Thus, renal function tests and urinary enzymes in 25 terms newborns with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were evaluated before and after phototherapy. Ten healthy term newborns without hyperbilirubinemia formed the control group. Mean values of the variables obtained before and after phototherapy in the study group and in the controls were, respectively: urine osmolality (osm/kg H2O): 0.147 +/- 0.009, 0.174 +/- 0.011, and 0.153 +/- 0.018; endogenous creatinine clearance (mL/min per 1.73 m2): 45.7 +/- 2.15, 46.0 +/- 1.6 and 46.7 +/- 3.9; fractional excretion of sodium (%): 1.27 +/- 0.30, 0.79 +/- 0.19 and 1.24 +/- 0.07; tubular phosphorus reabsorption (%): 85.8 +/- 3.3, 87.8 +/- 2.8 and 86.6 +/- 1.7; urinary N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase/creatinine (IU/mg): 0.617 +/- 0.226, 0.574 +/- 0.214 and 0.619 +/- 0.210; fractional excretion of alkaline phosphatase (%): 0.422 +/- 0.103, 1.001 +/- 0.374 and 0.596 +/- 0.201; fractional excretion of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH; %): 0.102 +/- 0.019, 0.121 +/- 0.023 and 0.119 +/- 0.041; fractional excretion of AST (%): 0.433 +/- 0.127, 0.530 +/- 0.113 and 0.502 +/- 0.074; fractional excretion of alanine aminotransferase (ALT; %) 0.856 +/- 0.413, 1.619 +/- 1.076 and 1.066 +/- 0.366. No significant difference was found between these values before and after phototherapy in the study group, or between the values before phototherapy in hyperbilirubinemic neonates and in the control group. In conclusion, unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia up to a serum level of 18.4 mg/dL in term neonates does not seem to result in injury of normal tubulus epithelium as shown by urinary enzyme levels.

Serum creatine kinase enzyme levels in the early diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion.

Delay in the diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion (SCT) is still a significant cause of testicular loss in children. The aim of this experimental study was to assess the diagnostic value of serum creatine kinase (CK) in the early period following SCT. Forty male rats were assigned randomly into five similar groups: group A, control; group B, sham, right testis exposed, manipulated, and blood sampling at 6th h; group C, right SCT, blood sampling at 2nd h; group D, right SCT, blood sampling at 4th h; and group E, right SCT, blood sampling at 6th h. Ck and its isoenzymes were measured in the sera of all animals. All testes were removed and examined histopathologically. Significant increases in serum CK levels compared to control and sham groups were observed at 4 and 6 h following SCT. The major increase in CK was observed in the CK-MM isoenzyme fraction. Histologic pictures showed varying degrees of edema, vascular congestion, and hemorrhage in the testicular tissue, but no necrosis in any of the study groups. These results showed that serum CK levels in rats in the early period following SCT increase significantly before necrosis of testicular tissue. This may be of value as a diagnostic test, to corroborate findings from clinical studies.

Ureaplasma urealyticum-induced urinary tract stones in rats.

This study investigated the possible role of Ureaplasma urealyticum, which is predominantly located in the urogenital tract, in the formation of infectious stones. A standardized Ureaplasma urealyticum broth culture isolated from a human urogenital specimen was inoculated into the renal medulla of five male rats (Rattus norvegicus L., Wistar C, weighing 170 +/- 10 g) and the same amount of culture media was used for five identical control rats. Five days after the inoculation, the rats were killed and fresh preparations from the bladders and the inoculated kidneys of both groups were prepared. At the same time biochemical and histopathological analysis of the contents of the bladders and the inoculated kidneys of both groups was performed. Crystal formation within the bladders of the inoculated rats was demonstrated and biochemical analysis of the crystals showed calcium, magnesium and phosphate, which indicated the existence of infection-induced crystals. These findings were absent in the control rats. The role of Ureaplasma in the production of urinary tract infectious stones was thus demonstrated in vivo.

Urinary enzyme changes in children undergoing cineangiographic evaluation using iopromid.

Nephropathy due to radiocontrast media presents with a wide spectrum of changes from reversible renal dysfunction to oliguria requiring dialysis. Nineteen patients (mean age 4.5 +/- 3.7 years) were included. Mean +/- SD values of the variables obtained before and 48 hours after angiography were the following: plasma creatinine: 0.6 +/- 0.10 and 0.6 +/- 0.16 mg/dl; endogenous creatinine clearance: 76.1 +/- 17.0 and 80.9 +/- 19.3 ml/min/1.73 m2; plasma osmolality: 279 +/- 23 and 298 +/- 39 mOsm/kg H2O; urine osmolality: 429 +/- 225 and 459 +/- 196 mOsm/kg H2O; fractional sodium excretion: 2.1 +/- 1.3% and 2.4 +/- 1.3%; plasma uric acid: 3.9 +/- 1.3 and 3.4 +/- 1.0 mg/dl; urinary AST/creatinine: 5.2 +/- 4.8 and 4.2 +/- 2.6 mU/mg; ALT/creatinine: 16.8 +/- 12.4 and 15.3 +/- 12.6 mU/mg; LDH/creatinine: 52.0 +/- 39.6 and 42.3 +/- 31.5 mU/mg; NAG/creatinine: 20.1 +/- 2.8 and 16.8 +/- 2.3 mU/mg, respectively. The changes in renal function parameters and urinary enzyme levels were insignificant statistically (p > 0.05). In conclusion, iopromid injection at maximum doses of 5 ml/kg does not result in injury to the tubular epithelium leading to increased urinary enzyme levels.