Effects of atorvastatin and simvastatin on oxidative stress in diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in Wistar albino rats: a comparative study.

Considering the well-known antioxidant properties of statins, it seems important to assess their impact on major markers of oxidative stress (superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide, and index of lipid peroxidation) to compare the antioxidative potentials of atorvastatin and simvastatin during the different degrees of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in rats. This study was conducted on adult male Wistar albino rats (n = 90; 4 weeks old; 100 ± 15 g body mass) in which HHcy was achieved by dietary manipulation. For 4 weeks, the animals were fed with one of the following diets: standard rodent chow, diet enriched in methionine with no deficiency in B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12), or diet enriched in methionine and deficient in B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12). At the same time, animals were treated with atorvastatin at doses of 3 mg/kg/day i.p. or simvastatin at doses of 5 mg/kg/day i.p. Levels of superoxide anion radical and TBARS were significantly decreased by administration of simvastatin in normal and high-homocysteine (Hcy) groups (p < 0.05). At 4 weeks after feeding with purified diets, the concentrations of the GSH, CAT, and SOD antioxidants were significantly affected among all groups (p < 0.05). Our results indicated that statin therapy had variable effects on the redox status in hyperhomocysteinemic rats, and simvastatin demonstrated stronger antioxidant effects than did atorvastatin.

Non-diethylstilbestrol exposed vaginal adenocarcinoma in young patients associated with unilateral renal agenesis: two case reports and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma, accounts for up to 14% of all vaginal cancer. In young patients, common histological feature is clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) while mesonephric adenocarcinoma (MA) is very rare. The authors report two patients in their early twenties with unilateral renal agenesis and vaginal adenocarcinoma not exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES). CASES: Two patients with vaginal adenocarcinoma were treated, with external beam radiotherapy of pelvis combined with brachytherapy to a radical dose. In 2000, 25-year-old female, was admitted for radiotherapy after incomplete excision of the tumor localized in left vaginal apex and fornix. Histopathology confirmed CCA and classified as clinical Stage II. CT revealed left renal agenesis.The patient is alive and disease-free 15 years after therapy. Vaginal, urethral stenosis, and hydronephrosis occurred and ureteral stent was inserted. In the second patient, 22-year-old, in 2004, after biopsy of bulky tumor of vagina and histology, revealed MA in Stage III and CT scan also confirmed right renal agenesis. Radiotherapy was followed by chemotherapy. After 11 years, patient is disease-free with vaginal stenosis and incipient renal hydronephrosis. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy is effective treatment in advance vaginal adenocarcinoma, however, with high morbidity. The authors advise rigorous gynecologic exams in young females with renal agenesis as there may be a risk of malignant changes in vagina.

The role of hydrogen sulfide in homocysteine-induced cardiodynamic effects and oxidative stress markers in the isolated rat heart.

This study aimed to assess the role of H2S in homocysteine-induced cardiodynamic effects in the isolated rat heart. The hearts were retrogradely perfused according to the Langendorff technique. The maximum and minimum rates of pressure in the left ventricle (dp/dt max, dp/dt min), systolic and diastolic left ventricular pressures (SLVP, DLVP), heart rate (HR), and coronary flow (CF) were measured. A spectrophotometrical method was used to measure the following oxidative stress markers: index of lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), nitrite level (NO2-), superoxide anion radicals (O2•-), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations. The administration of 10 µmol/l DL-homocysteine (DL-Hcy) alone decreased dp/dt max, SLVP, and CF but did not change any oxidative stress parameters. The administration of 10 µmol/l DL-propargylglycine (DL-PAG) decreased all cardiodynamic parameters and increased the concentration of O2•-. The co-administration of DL-Hcy and DL-PAG induced a significant decrease in all estimated cardiodynamic parameters and decreased the concentration of NO2- and O2•- but increased the levels of TBARS and H2O2. Homocysteine shows a lower pro-oxidative effect in the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which indicates a potential anti-oxidative capacity of H2S.