Time-Related Evidence of Intestinal Oxidative Stress in Obstructive Jaundice-Induced Rats.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive jaundice is known to affect intestinal permeability and facilitate bacterial translocation through related mechanisms. This study was conducted to evaluate the alterations concerning blood biochemistry and levels of several markers of oxidative stress (OS) in blood and intestinal mucosa caused by obstructive jaundice and how these fluctuate over time, in order to further explore the possibility of intervening in the OS path in future experiments. METHODS: A total of 54 albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (control, sham operated, and bile duct ligation) and sacrificed at specific time intervals (12 h and 2, 7, and 14 days). The intestinal barrier function was evaluated by measuring endotoxin levels in portal, aortic, and peripheral blood. Also, basic biochemical parameters were simultaneously measured in peripheral blood. Tissue samples collected from the terminal ileum were homogenized for determining the OS markers, lipid peroxidation, and protein-free radical-induced oxidation. RESULTS: We designed this experiment to examine the alterations in enteric mucosa primarily in relation to OS in a period of 14 days. During this time period, we investigated in specific time intervals not only OS fluctuations but also other liver function parameters, as well as CRP and endotoxin levels. The alterations were monitored in relation to time after bile duct ligation. CONCLUSION: Bile duct ligation in rats causes OS versus post-ligation time progression of the common bile duct. OS was increased by ∼50% compared to control/sham and peaked at 7 days and at least up to 14 days post-ligation. This phenomenon was accompanied with a deranging of liver function after ligation, as anticipated, but not in all measured parameters; biochemical and endotoxin levels followed the same pattern.

Time progression and regional expression of brain oxidative stress induced by obstructive jaundice in rats.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice induces oxidative changes in the brain parenchyma and plays significant role in clinical manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy. We aim to study the progression of the brain oxidative status over time and the differences of its pattern over the hemispheres, the brainstem and the cerebellum. We use an experimental model in rats and measuring the oxidative stress (OS) specific biomarkers protein malondialdehyde (PrMDA) and protein carbonyls (PrC = O). RESULTS: Hyperbilirubinemia has been confirmed in all study groups as the result of common bile duct obstruction. We confirmed increase in both PrMDA and PrC = O biomarkers levels with different type of changes over time. We also confirmed that the oxidative process develops differently in each of the brain areas in study. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms the progressive increase in OS in all brain areas studied using markers indicative of cumulative protein modification.

Pineal cyst surveillance in adults - a review of 10 years' experience.

Objective: Pineal cysts are common benign incidental findings in adults. There are no commonly accepted criteria for follow up or indications for intervention. We looked at our outcomes for this condition to explore their natural history and review our surveillance criteria.Method: Retrospective review of multidisciplinary team meetings at a tertiary neurosurgical centre over 10 years. Data relating to demographics, presenting symptoms, maximum diameter, duration of surveillance, final diagnosis and overall outcome were extracted from electronic patient records and available MRI. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 24.Result: Seventy-seven pineal cysts were identified. Female to male ratio was 1.43, female mean age was 38.6 and male mean age was 50.4. An increase in referral frequency was observed over the study period (mean increase of 1.4 cases per year). Presenting symptoms of headache in 45% and visual and hearing symptoms in 38.5% were recorded and baseline mean maximum diameter was 13.4mm. 20 patients were discharged on presentation, 54 were booked for at least one follow-up scan with a median follow up period of 14 months. The mean change in maximum diameter was 0.04mm over 18 months. Three patients (3.9%) underwent endoscopic biopsy and CSF diversion for cysts all more than 20mm with radiological evidence of hydrocephalus. In 100% of cases, the initial MDT diagnosis and final diagnosis were concordant.Conclusions: No patient under surveillance required surgical treatment and those managed surgically were symptomatic with large cysts and hydrocephalus on presentation. A majority of pineal cysts remained unchanged during the MRI follow-up, therefore our review suggests that routine follow-up of pineal cysts is not necessary in the absence of unusual radiological characteristics or related clinical symptoms.