A novel angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab induces apoptosis in the rat endometriosis model.

Our aim was to investigate the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody Bevacizumab on endometrial explants and on apoptotic gene expression levels in the rat endometriosis model. Endometriotic implants were surgically formed, and rats treated with (i) 1 mg/kg single subcutaneous injection of depot leuprolide acetate; (ii) 2.5 mg/kg of single intaperitoneal injection of bevacizumab; (iii) intraperitoneal injection of saline. Histopathologic scores and adhesion scores of endometriotic foci and levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Cytochrome c (Cyt-c), B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (Bcl-2) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xl) mRNA gene expressions of endometriotic foci. Bevacizumab treatment decreased the endometriotic explant size compared with control. Bevacizumab-treated rats had lower total adhesion scores when compared with the control group. Semi-quantitative evaluation of the persistence of endometrial epithelial cells in the explants showed a lower score in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist-treated rats compared with control rats. In Bevacizumab increased expression of Bax 3.1-fold, Cyt-c 1.3-fold and decreased expression of Bcl-2 0.4-fold, Bcl-xl 0.8-fold compared with the control group. The GnRH agonist increased expression of Bax 3.0 fold, Cyt-c 1.3 fold and decreased expression of Bcl-2 0.4-fold, Bcl-xl 0.8-fold, compared with the control group. This study suggests that a novel angiogenesis inhibitor, anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab is as effective as GnRH agonist in the regression of the endometriotic lesions in rat endometriosis model. One possible mechanism of this effect is the induction of apoptosis.

Efficacy of long duration resuscitation and magnesium sulphate treatment in amitriptyline poisoning.

A single dose of cyclic antidepressants leads to death in childhood. Myocardial depression and ventricular arrhythmia are the severe side effects in cyclic antidepressant overdose. A 23-month-old boy was brought to hospital because 36 mg/kg of amitriptyline had been taken. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied for 70 minutes due to cardiac and respiratory arrest. Circulation was restored after resuscitative efforts. However, ventricular tachycardia was detected which did not respond to lidocaine, bicarbonate and cardioversion treatment. Magnesium sulphate treatment was started and cardiac rhythm normalized. No side effects were observed. The duration of resuscitation should be extended in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to tricyclic antidepressants intoxication. It should be continued at least for 1 hour. Magnesium sulphate was found to be extremely effective in a case of amitriptyline intoxication refractory to treatment.

Ochratoxin A in human serum samples collected in Isparta-Turkey from healthy individuals and individuals suffering from different urinary disorders.

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a nephrotoxic fungal metabolite (mycotoxin) occurring in foodstuffs. The compound is causally associated with mycotoxin porcine nephropathy, a disease comparable with a human kidney disease called endemic nephropathy. In this paper OA levels in the human serum samples collected from healthy individuals and individuals suffering from different urinary disorders in Isparta-Turkey are presented. OA was measured in serum samples of 40 healthy people and a total of 93 patients with different kinds of urinary disorders. Four different kinds of urinary disorders were represented: chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis (35), chronic renal failure treated by peritoneal dialysis (28), patients with bladder cancer (15), patients with renal stones (15). Analysis of OA in human blood samples was performed using an analytical method based on the measurement of fluorescence spectra. The mean concentration of OA in the healthy group was 0.4 +/- 0.28 ng/ml. The highest mean concentration was found in the group of patients treated by hemodialysis, 2.1+/- 1.2 ng/ml. The mean concentrations of the toxin in all patients groups were higher compared to the control group. Also, a significant difference was found between the mean concentrations of the groups of patients treated by dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) and of the patients with renal stones or bladder cancer, only with the exception of the difference between peritoneal dialysis and renal stones group. No other significant differences were found when comparing the two groups. The findings indicate that OA may have a role in the human urinary pathology considered herein. A higher level of OA in dialysis groups compared to the control, renal stones and bladder cancer groups could probably be explained by the reduced glomerular filtration rate of these patients.