The effects of exogenous l-carnitine on lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in an experimental warm hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury model

AbstractBackground: l-Carnitine is the essential endogenous factor for the transport of long-chain fatty acids from the cytoplasm to within the mitochondrion where the β-oxidation process takes place. l-Carnitine is a superoxide scavenger and an antioxidant that possesses an anti-ischemic action and a stabilizing effect on cell membranes. It may be of help in liver ischemia reperfusion injury. Results regarding the effects of l-carnitine on liver ischemia and reperfusion injury are few and conflicting.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of exogenous l-carnitine on lipid peroxidation and protecting liver at different stages of experimental total warm hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (TWHIR) procedure in rats.Methods: This experimental study in healthy, weanling, male Wistar rats (weighing 180–200 g) was conducted at the Experimental Animal Research Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine of Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: (A) Control group; (B) TWHIR procedure only; (C) l-carnitine administered 2 hours before the TWHIR procedure; (D) l-carnitine administered just before the TWHIR procedure; and (E) l-carnitine administered after total warm hepatic ischemia but just before the reperfusion procedure. Total warm hepatic ischemia (via the Pringle maneuver) and reperfusion were performed for 45 and 30 minutes, respectively. l-Carnitine (200 mg/kg) was administered intravenously. At the end of each procedure a blood sample was drawn and total hepatectomy was performed following reperfusion. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels of both plasma and liver tissue, total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in plasma, and histopathologic examination were analyzed to assess lipid peroxidation and damage in liver tissue.Results: Thirty-four rats (mean [SD]age, 59.26 [1.2]days; mean [SD] weight, 194.1 [5.1] g) were used in the study. There was a significant difference observed between groups A (n = 5) and B (n = 5) for all evaluation parameters. The TWHIR procedure performed in group B was associated with significant increases versus baseline in ALT, AST, MDA, and MPO in plasma, and MDA and MPO in liver tissue, but a significant decrease of TAOC in plasma. ALT, AST, serum and liver MDA, and MPO levels of group B were significantly higher than all groups administered l-carnitine. l-Carnitine administration between total warm hepatic ischemia and reperfusion was associated with a significant attenuation in all parameters. The liver MDA levels of groups C (n = 8) and D (n = 8) were significantly lower than that of group E (n = 8) (mean [SD]: C, 16.53 [3.32] and D, 18.28 [1.67] vs E, 23.05 [3.52]; P = 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively). The mean (SD) liver MPO level of group C (1.09 [0.16]) was significantly lower than that of groups D (2.12 [0.25]) and E (2.11 [0.28]) (both, P = 0.001). The TAOC of group B (0.77 [0.12]) was significantly lower than that of groups C (1.34 [0.19]) and D (1.08 [0.20]) (P = 0.001 and P = 0.015, respectively). The TAOC of group C was significantly higher than that of the other l-carnitine groups (E, 0.94 [0.13]) (P = 0.023 vs group D; and P = 0.001 vs group E). Histopathologic scores of groups A, C, and E were significantly lower than that of group B, but the difference between groups B and D was not statistically significant.Conclusions: In this experimental study, administration of exogenous l-carnitine was associated with significantly decreased lipid peroxidation in plasma and liver tissue when administered prior to a TWHIR procedure. In addition, l-carnitine seemed to be more effective with regard to decreasing lipid peroxidation in liver tissue when administered before warm hepatic ischemia. l-Carnitine was associated with significantly decreased leukocyte sequestration in plasma and liver tissue. A significant increase in TAOC was associated with l-carnitine administered prior to ischemia. These observations suggest that l-carnitine might have a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat liver tissue

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: case report and review of the literature

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a rare soft tissue tumor of uncertain differentiation and low metastatic potential, which occurs predominantly in children and young adults. It occurs mostly within the extremities, trunk, head and neck. It can be associated with systemic manifestations such as anemia, pyrexia and malaise. Its morphology is distinct, with an outer shell of lymphoid tissue, sheets of dendritic-like tumor cells with bland nuclei and blood-filled cystic cavities. Herein, we present a case of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma with systemic symptoms before any mass was clinically detectable, arising in the scalp of a 10-year-old girl

Fibrosis in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

There is little quantitative information about the amount of fibrosis in lymphomas. The aim of the present study was to investigate the amount of fibrosis in lymphomas and to highlight the relationship between fibrosis and mast cells, the key players of fibrosis

Lung Clear “Sugar” Cell Tumor and Jak V617f Positive Essential Thrombocythemia: A simple Coıncıdence?

The primary clear cell tumor of the lung is an extremely rare benign tumor, which is called “sugar tumor”, because of the large content of glycogen. Here we are presenting essential thrombocythemia and lung clear cell tumor which was not reported before to the best of our knowledge. A 44 years old woman admitted to the clinic with complaint of lassitude lasting for 2 months. In her physical examination the spleen was 3 cm palpable from the costa arch In laboratory findings number of platelet was 1014000 mm³. A 3.5 cm in diameter pulmonary nodule is detected in right upper lobe in the graphy of the lungs. Subsequently  computed tomography  (CT ) of thorax was carried out. Due to the benign features in the display of  the detected nodule, a total excision with curative and diagnostic intentions was performed. Microscopically the tumor were composed of nests of rounded or oval cells with distinct cell borders and optically clear cytoplasm. The nuclei were small. Immunohistochemically the tumor cells expressed HMB-45, NSE and focal S100 antigen. It was diagnosed as clear  “sugar” cell tumor. In conclusion, in lung clear cell tumor, it is important to make evaluation in terms of myeloproliferative disease in adults whose thrombocytosis continue after the treatment

Detection of deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 and runt-related transcription factor 3 gene expressions in bladder carcinoma

WOS: 000301108500151PubMed ID: 21956756Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, where the majority of tumors are transitional cell carcinoma. Deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1) gene is located at chromosome 10q25.3-q26.1. DMBT1 gene expression has yet to be investigated in patients with bladder cancer. Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene which is localized on the chromosome 1p36. RUNX3 gene expression in bladder carcinogenesis is particularly unknown. We aimed to evaluate DMBT1 and RUNX3 gene expression profiles in bladder cancer and how their expressions could be related to carcinogenesis in the bladder and their correlation with clinicopathological parameters. Fifty-six paraffin embedded specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were used. Total RNA was extracted from bladder specimens and cDNA was synthesized. The quantification of DMBT1 and RUNX3 mRNAs were succeeded according to the manufacturers' instructions by using RT-PCR. DMBT1 and RUNX3 gene expressions were identified in 100% of bladder carcinoma samples. No significant association was found in these genes expression levels when compared to sex and age. RUNX3 gene expression was decreased non-significantly in high-grade tumors. When DMBT1 gene expression was compared to tumor grades, a significant decrease was detected between grade I and III (P = 0.028). Disruption of expression in relation to tumor suppressors like DMBT1 and RUNX3 genes was associated with bladder cancer. Furthermore, detailed studies including these genes should be performed in protein levels and used more patient specimens in a large scale study

Evaluation of deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1) gene expression in bladder carcinoma cases: preliminary study

WOS: 000296232100009PubMed ID: 21999583This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of DMBT1 in bladder cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters analyzed in bladder carcinoma patients. We investigated DMBT1 in 56 paraffin embedded specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We assessed DMBT1 gene expression at mRNA level by RT-PCR. Our results show 100% expression of DMBT1 in bladder carcinoma samples. Due to this preliminary results; gene expression was compared to tumor grade, and a significant difference was detected between grade 1 and 3 (p = 0.028). The down-regulation of DMBT1 gene expression in carcinomas suggests the possible role in bladder cancer