EFFECTS OF ERYTHROPOIETIN ON THE SERUM AND LIVER TISSUE LEVELS OF COPPER AND ZINC IN RATS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE EFEKTI ERITROPOETINA NA NIVOE BAKRA I CINKA U SERUMU I TKIVIMA JETRE KOD PACOVA SA OPSTRUKTIVNOM @UTICOM

Summary Background: Erythropoietin is an anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, angiogenetic cytokine and has protective properties against oxidative stress. In this study we investigated the effects of erythropoietin on the le vels (serum and liver tissue) of copper and zinc in cholestatic rats. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats used in the study were divided into four groups -Group I: Sham; Group II: Erythropoietin; Group III: Obstruc tive Jaundice; Group IV: Obstructive Jaundice+Erythro poietin. After the first operation, rats were followed up for seven days and then operated for the second time. Rats were sacrificed by intracardiac blood taking, and the liver tissue samples were obtained immediately. Results: Erythropoietin reduces copper, and increases zinc levels in serum and liver tissues after obstructive jaundice (p<0.05). Furthermore, it has been shown that the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin/direct bilirubin were significantly lower in Obstructive Jaundice+Erythropoietin group than Obstructive Jaundice group. Conclusions: Erythropoietin affects the changes in copper and zinc levels, thus decrea sing the liver damage biochemically in rats with obstructive jaundice. However, further investigations are needed to discover how erythropoietin therapy might reduce target organ damage in cholestatic liver cases by affecting copper and zinc levels

Abdominal and perineal approaches in the surgical treatment of rectal prolapse

Introduction: Rectal prolapse is a disease, which is an important cause of social and functional problems and has a continuing debate about the ideal surgical treatment of itself. In this study, we aimed to investigate the abdominal and perineal approaches with early and late postoperative result in the patients undergoing surgery for rectal prolapse.Materials and methods: Between 2006-2011, the records of 21 patients undergoing surgery with the diagnosis of rectal prolapse were reviewed, retrospectively. The demographic and physical examination findings, surgical procedures, early and late postoperative complications, recurrence and mortality rates were recorded.Results: The median age was 43 years and female/male ratio was 1.63/1. The most common presenting complaint was gas control failure and often wetting with mucus. Stage 1 and stage 3 rectal prolapses was detected in 19% and 81% of the patients, respectively. The most common surgical procedure was Notaras (54%). Early postoperative complications were seen in 14.3% of the patients. There were no postoperative recurrence, mortality and complication requiring re-exploration. Advanced age and shorter duration of hospital stay were determined and often performed under regional anesthesia in the patients undergoing perineal approach. No statistical differences were observed in terms of early postoperative complications and recurrence.Conclusion: Results of abdominal and perineal approaches were similar, when they were applied with taking into account the risk factors for surgical treatment, findings of the patients and the surgeon’s experience

THE EFFECTS OF ERYTHROPOIETIN ON BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION AND INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN AN EXPERIMENTAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION MODEL IN RATS UTICAJ ERITROPOETINA NA BAKTERIJSKU TRANSLOKACIJU I INFLAMATORNI ODGOVOR U EKSPERIMENTALNOM MODELU INTESTINALNE OPST

Summary Background: Intestinal obstruction results in distortion of balance of antiinflammatory cytokines and release of oxidants, and also leads to bacterial translocation, sepsis and multiple organ failure. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is related to multiple organ failure as a new prognostic marker. Erythropoietin reduces the inflammatory response by decreasing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and cytokine-induced apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of erythropoietin in reducing the severity of bacterial translocation and inflammatory response after intestinal obstruction and the relation between asymmetric dimethylarginine and inflammatory markers. Methods: Forty Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were divided into 4 groups as follows: Group 1 (Sham), only ileocaecal junction dissection; Group 2 (Erythropoietin), ileocaecal junction dissection and 3000 IU/kg erythropoietin subcutaneously; Group 3 (Intestinal Obstruction), complete ileal ligation; Group 4 (Intestinal Obstruction + Erythro poi e tin), complete ileal ligation and 3000 IU/kg erythropoietin subcutaneously. After 24 hours, the rats were sacrificed by taking blood from the heart for biochemical analyses. Peri to neal swab culture, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and ileum were collected for microbiological and histopathological examinations. Results: Erythropoietin reduced the secretion of in flammatory cytokines, oxidative damage and bacterial translocation, prevented the formation of inflammatory changes in the intestine, liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes

A new application of plant virus nanoparticles as drug delivery in breast cancer

Nanoparticles based on non-pathogenic viruses have opened up a novel sector in nanotechnology. Viral nanoparticles based on plant viruses have clear advantages over any synthetic nanoparticles as they are biocompatible and biodegradable self-assembled and can be produced inexpensively on a large scale. From several such under-development platforms, only a few have been characterized in the target-specific drugs into the cells. Potato virus X is presented as a carrier of the chemotherapeutic drug Herceptin that is currently used as a targeted therapy in (HER2+) breast cancer patients. Here, we used nanoparticles formed from the potato virus X to conjugate the Herceptin (Trastuzumab) monoclonal antibody as a new option in specific targeting of breast cancer. Bioconjugation was performed by EDC/sulfo-n-hydroxysuccinimide (sulfo-NHS) in a two-step protocol. Then, the efficiency of conjugation was investigated by different methods, including sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot, ELISA, Zetasizer, and transmission electron microscopy. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis confirmed an 82-kDa protein band that resulted from conjugation of potato virus X (PVX) coat protein (27 kDa) to heavy chain of Herceptin (55 kDa). Zeta potential values for conjugated particles, PVX, and HER were −7.05, −21.4, and −1.48, respectively. We investigated the efficiency of PVX-Herceptin to induce SK-OV-3 and SK-BR-3 cells (HER2 positive cell lines) apoptosis. We therefore counted cells and measured apoptosis by flow cytometry assay, then compared with Herceptin alone. Based on our data, we confirmed the conjugation of PVX and Herceptin. This study suggests that the PVX-Herceptin conjugates enable Herceptin to become more potential therapeutic tools