Value of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Pretreatment in Experimental Sepsis Model in Rats

Background and Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the changes of endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha, and oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in experimental sepsis model in rats. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: sham (group 1), sepsis (group 2), and sepsis + CAPE (group 3), n = 8 each. CAPE was administered (10 µmol/kg) intraperitoneally to group 3 before sepsis induction. Serum ET-1, serum TNF-alpha, tissue SOD activity, and tissue MDA levels were measured in all groups. Results. Pretreatment with CAPE decreased ET-1, TNF-alpha, and MDA levels in sepsis induced rats. Additionally SOD activities were higher in rats pretreated with CAPE after sepsis induction. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that CAPE may have a beneficial effect on ET and TNF-alpha levels and oxidative stress parameters induced by sepsis in experimental rat models. Therefore treatment with CAPE can be used to avoid devastating effects of sepsis

Our new stethoscope in the Emergency Department: Handheld ultrasound

BACKGROUN

A Rare Cause of Acute Renal Failure: Fenofibrate-Induced Rhabdomyolysis

Fibrates are derivative of fibric acid and broad spectrum drugs which are commonly used in the treatment of dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Side effects are often related with striated muscles, kidney and liver. Rhabdomyolysis developing with striated muscle destruction is potentially the most lethal of these side effects. Although several case reports of rhabdomyolysis have been reported due to the combination of statin and fenofibrate, fenofibrate alone rarely causes rhabdomyolysis. The purposes of this paper are to present a patient whom we diagnosed with acute renal injury due to use of fenofibrate in order to emphasize the importance of questioning drugs which have been used, and to review management of rhabdomyolysis due to fenofibrate use. [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(4.000): 800-804

Oxidative stress in isolated blunt traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury is a common cause of death after trauma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress parameters and, outcomes and clinical findings in patients with isolated traumatic brain injuries. Fifty-four patients who were admitted into the emergency department of Ankara Ataturk Training and Research hospital with isolated blunt traumatic brain injuries and 33 healthy adults as control group, were included in this study. Serum oxidant status was evaluated by measuring Total Oxidant Status (TOS) levels in patients with traumatic brain injury and in healthy individuals. Serum antioxidant status was evaluated by measuring Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) levels. Then, also Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) was calculated. A total of 54 patients with isolated traumatic brain injuries (mean age 36.7 +/- 18.3 years; 60.4% male, 39.6% female) were enrolled. TOS and OSI levels increased in patient group compared to the control group. High levels of OSI, TOS and TAS were observed in patients who finally became dead. A significant correlation between symptoms including nausea, vomitus, loss of consciousness, seizing and TOS, OSI levels of all patients have been observed. Moreover, there was a meaningful correlation between Glaskow Coma Scale (GCS) score, TOS and OSI levels of patients. The oxidative stress parameters may be valuable prognostic markers in traumatic brain injury patients. It can be concluded that oxidative stress parameters may be valuable in the assessment of clinical severity and in predicting outcome of traumatic brain injury patients