The protective effect of betanin and copper on heart and lung in end­organ ischemia reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVES: Betanin and copper sulphate have been previously indicated as beneficial agents for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) as antioxidant compounds in various models. We investigated whether betanin and copper have any protective effects on the heart and lung against I/R injury in rats. METHODS: Spraque-Dawley rats were assigned in groups: Sham (laparotomy only), control (I/R only), betanin treatment (100 mg/kg of betanin administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 60 minutes before I/R) and copper sulfate treatment group (0.1 mg/kg/day copper sulfate i.p. for 7 days before I/R). Ischemia was induced by clamping the aorta between the left renal artery and aortic bifurcation for 45 minutes. After 48-hour reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed and heart/lung tissues were harvested. Malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were determined. Apoptosis was determined via TUNEL assay. RESULTS: MDA, MPO, IL-6 levels and apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the I/R group. In both treatment groups, MDA and MPO levels were decreased. IL-6 was significantly decreased in response to betanin administration in the heart, but not in the lung; copper had no effect in either area. The numbers of apoptotic cells were significantly decreased in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Betanin and copper may have protective effects on I/R injury in the heart and lung in rats (Fig. 6, Ref. 39).

A link between cytotoxicity in cell culture and gastrointestinal side effects of oral anticoagulants: bench-to-bedside.

OBJECTIVE: Warfarin and nonvitamin-K oral anticoagulants including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban are commonly used in the prophylaxis and treatment of systemic embolism and deep vein thrombosis. In this study, we aimed to compare the cytotoxic effects of warfarin and new oral anticoagulants and to show a possible correlation between cell cytotoxicity and gastrointestinal side effects in the real-life setting. METHODS: L929 cells were incubated with test materials. At 24 and 48 hours, morphological changes and cell viability were evaluated. RESULTS: At 24 and 48 hours, dabigatran resulted in altered cell morphology in all dilutions, while rivaroxaban, apixaban, and warfarin showed similar morphology with the control group, except for dilution I. Dabigatran and warfarin at 24 hours and at 48 hours had a statistically significantly lower cell viability in all dilutions, compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal side effect profiles of these four agents in a real-life setting is consistent with the results obtained from the present study. There is no sole factor with the potential of explaining the entire gastrointestinal side effect profiles of anticoagulant agents. However, direct cytotoxic effects of anticoagulants should be considered primarily for gastrointestinal side effects in accordance with the results of present head-to-head cytotoxicity study (Tab. 5, Fig. 3, Ref. 28).