Methylene blue as an antioxidant agent in experimentally-induced injury in rat liver.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to test the methylene blue (MB) as a dye and also to test its antioxidant activities in devascularization-induced liver injury. METHODS: Twenty rats weighing 240-280 g were randomly divided into two groups, each containing 10 rats. High-grade liver injury was induced by using a pair of long pliers with blades. MB was injected into portal vein of the rats with no hepatic injury (Group 1; control group) and those with injured livers (Group 2; injury group). Liver and hepatic function tests, paraoxonase, stimulated paraoxonase, arylesterase activity, total antioxidant, and oxidant status were evaluated before and 24 h after MB injection. RESULTS: MB did not stain the non-perfused area. Total antioxidant status decreased significantly in Group 2 at hour 24 compared to Group 1. In Group 2, total antioxidant status was lower at hour 24 compared to hour 0. Total oxidant status in Group 2 at hour 0 increased significantly compared to Group 1. Total oxidant status in Group 2 at hour 24 was lower compared to that at hour 0. Lipid peroxidation parameters did not alter due to devascularization. CONCLUSION: MB is useful in defining the devascularization area. Moreover, it showed to have a beneficial effect on oxidant status (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 25).

Changes in collagen and elastic fiber contents of the skin, rectus sheath, transversalis fascia and peritoneum in primary inguinal hernia patients.

BACKGROUND: It has been claimed that inguinal hernia is not a local disease; it is a local manifestation of a systemic disorder of collagen metabolism. Previous studies have shown that patients with inguinal hernia have some anomalies in collagen metabolism and changed ratio of collagen types. AIM: To search the changes in collagen and elastic fiber contents of the skin, rectus sheath, transversalis fascia and peritoneum in primary inguinal hernia patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty patients operated on for inguinal hernia (HR) included in the study (11 direct and 9 indirect). Nine patients underwent open cholecystectomy served as the control group (CC). A 0.5 x 1 cm. tissue was sampled from skin, rectus sheath, transversalis fascia and peritoneum in HR group. Skin, rectus sheath and peritoneum samples were taken from the patients in CC group. The sections of those samples were submitted to two different staining methods: "Masson's trichrome" for collagen and "van Gieson" for elastin fibers and graded with light microscopy. RESULTS: The rectus sheath samples of CC had higher staining scores for both collagen and elastin fibers in comparison with HR (p = 0.032 and p = 0.026, respectively). CC had a significantly higher score for collagen in peritoneum samples (p = 0.019). There were no statistically significant differences between the patients with direct and indirect inguinal hernias for collagen or elastin fibers scores in skin, rectus sheath, transversalis fascia and peritoneum samples. CONCLUSIONS: These findings, which concur with most of the previous studies, support the theory that inguinal hernia may not be merely a local disease and can be more generalized, at least a regional connective tissue disorder. Regarding the difference between direct and indirect hernias, it could not be possible to report a certain answer, and this issue should be considered together with previous quantitative researches and more sophisticated studies may take place in the future (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 23).

Pentoxifylline effects on acute and late complications after radiotherapy in rabbit.

Soft tissue damages after radiotherapy are an uncommon but serious complication. Late damage after radiation is the principal dose-limiting factor in radiation therapy today and is dependent on vascular pathology as a result of radiation. Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative that produces dose-related improvement in blood flow, lower blood viscosity, improved erythrocyte flexibility, and increased tissue oxygen levels. An agent that increases blood flow and tissue oxygen content may contribute to enhanced healing of soft tissue pathology. Sixteen adult New Zealand rabbits were separated into 2 groups and inspected for 30 weeks after radiation. We noted acute and chronic reactions and pathologic changes in different regions of the head and neck of rabbits. The prophylactic administration of pentoxifylline in the postirradiation period can reduce late soft tissue pathology, but it does not affect acute radiation reactions.