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PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the co-administration of aripiprazole and fluoxetine could produce impaired liver function in Wistar rats by means of liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and hemojuvelin (HJV) serum levels. Furthermore, the experiment intended to assess the salivary levels of L-FABP and HJV and to determine whether they correlate with the serum levels of the two markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control (saline 10ml/kg), aripiprazole (4.05 mg/kg), fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) and aripiprazole + fluoxetine (4.05 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). The drugs were administered by gavage, daily at the same hour, along a 6 week period. L-FABP and HJV levels were determined in serum, from intraventricular blood, and in saliva. Also from intraventricular blood, serum levels for aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine amino transferase (ALAT) were assessed. RESULTS: Positive and statistically significant correlations between serum and salivary levels of L-FABP and HJV were found. Aripiprazole + fluoxetine group experienced increased serum L-FABP levels than aripiprazole and fluoxetine groups, and salivary L-FABP as compared to aripiprazole group; but it registered decreased levels for serum and salivary HJV, for ASAT and ALAT than aripiprazole and fluoxetine groups, and for salivary L-FABP compared to fluoxetine group. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that: aripiprazole coprescribed with fluoxetine do not cause additional alterations in liver function; L-FABP and HJV levels can be helpful as biomarkers for impaired function of hepatocytes; and that their salivary determination can replace serum determination.
RESUMEN
A novel target for cancer treatment is based on the effects of non-tumor cells, including hMSCs on tumor growth. However, the results are controversial: some studies showed that hMSCs inhibit tumor progression, while others found they promote tumor cell proliferation. In this study, we analyse the effect of human mesenchymal cells derived from umbilical cord tissue (hUC-MSCs) and bone-marrow- mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) on glioblastoma cells viability in vitro. GB cell cultures were established from fresh sample tissues provided by "Bagdasar-Arseni" Hospital, Bucharest, from consented GB patients. hUC-MSCs, HUC-1 and HUC-2 cell lines, were established from human umbilical cord tissue collected after delivery from natural term births at the Emergency Hospital of Craiova, Romania. hBM-MSCs cell line was purchased from Life Technologies. Conditioned media (CM) from MSCs was used to treat GB cells for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. To determine GB cell viability was used MTT cell proliferation assay. Statistical analyses were performed using Students t-test. hUC-MSCs CM displayed the potential to be cytotoxic to GB cells, while the treatment with hBM-MSCs CM significantly stimulated GB cell growth 24 hours after the treatment and showed minor growth cell inhibition 48, 72 and 96 hours after the treatment. This report proved that hUC-MSCsCM inhibited GB cell proliferation, while little inhibitory effect was exerted by hBM-MSCs CM.
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterised by a slow progressive decline in expiratory airflow [1], a process that has gradually developed over the years. Studies of patients with COPD show an inflammatory process in the small airways [2]. The aim of this paper is to identify the cytopathological aspects of the liquids present in the bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with COPD. We were performed a descriptive analytical case-control and prospective study on forty patients with COPD and ten asymptomatic smokers (healthy smokers or patients at risk). The percentage of marcophage, the type of the dominant inflamatory cell, in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) liquid was significantly higher at patients with mild and moderate COPD as compared to patients with severe and very severe COPD. In the present work, the percentage of the neutrophil in the BAL liquid was significantly higher at patients with severe and very severe COPD, as compared to the patients with mild and moderate COPD and to aparently healthy smokers. In conclusion, we can say that COPD is characterized by an inflammatory process located in the small airways with predominant participation of macrophages, the procentage of macrophages in BAL fluid variyng inversely proportional to the severity of the disease.
RESUMEN
AIM: To evaluate the immunoinflammatory markers that shape the evolution of acute peritonitis and to assess their utility in specifying the development of septic shock from peritonitis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a prospective study on a sample of 100 patients with acute peritonitis, hospitalized during 2001-2005 and immunologically monitored. We realized 2000 dosages of immunoinflammatory markers for 15 days by 1200 simple radial immunodiffusion tests (IDRS), the Mancini-Carbonara method for C reactive protein, complement component C3, immunoglobulins and 836 ELISA tests to evaluate cytokines. Results were reported to a witness group. RESULTS: C reactive protein (CRP) values were significantly elevated in patients with peritonitis (12-310 ng%) vs. witness group (1.5-8 ng%). Postoperative, elevated values were maintained at the patients who will develop serious complications and were correlated with multiple organic dysfunction in deceased patients. Determination of circulating immune complexes have shown elevated values in patients with peritonitis. Dosage of pro/antiinflammatory cytokines may be specific to the severity of inflammatory response to infection. The level of procalcitonin was increased in patients with sepsis and severe inflammatory reactions and become an important prognostic tool. CONCLUSIONS: The study of biological markers in microbial aggression highlights the role of cytokines as messengers and important mediators of immunoinflammatory response. PCT test can be introduced in the daily tracking protocol for septic patients.