Resveratrol successfully treats experimental endometriosis through modulation of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation

Background and Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic efficiency of resveratrol in the treatment of experimental endometriosis in rats. Settings and Design: Experimental study was carried out in a University hospital. Materials and Methods: Endometriosis was surgically induced in 24 female rats. Four weeks after this procedure, the viability and dimensions of the endometriosis foci were recorded. Rats were then randomly divided into three groups: (1) Control group (n = 8); (2) low dose (10 mg/kg) resveratrol group (n = 8); (3) high dose (100 mg/kg) resveratrol group (n = 8). At the end of the 7-day treatment, blood samples were taken and laparotomy was performed. The endometrial implants were processed for biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical studies. Statistical Analysis Used: The Kruskal-Wallis H test and one-way ANOVA test were used. Results: Resveratrol-treated rats showed significantly reduced endometriotic implant volumes (P = 0.004). After treatment, a significant and dose-dependent increase in activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in serum and tissue of the rats in Group 2 and Group 3 was detected. Similarly, serum and tissue malonyl dialdehyde levels and tissue catalase levels were significantly higher in Group 3 than that of control animals. Histological scores and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression levels were also significantly reduced in Group 2 and Group 3 than that of control group. Conclusion: In a rat endometriosis model, resveratrol showed potential ameliorative effects on endometriotic implants probably due to its potent antioxidative properties

Use of caffeic acid phenethyl ester to prevent sodium-selenite-induced cataract in rat eyes

Purpose: To investigate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) prevents sodium-selenite-induced cataract

Serum leptin concentrations are decreased and correlated with disease severity in age-related macular degeneration: a preliminary study

Background Age-related maculopathy (ARM) or degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Despite several studies on the morphology of ARMD, the aetiology is unknown and factor(s) contributing to the pathogenesis remain to be characterised. More recent studies have demonstrated that cholesterol esters and lipids are present within Bruch's membrane deposits and drusen, and dietary fat intake is associated with ARMD. The product of Ob gene, leptin, is a recently discovered peptide participating in human metabolism. There is a direct relationship between serum leptin and diet, and lipoprotein metabolism, but the role of leptin in the course of ARMD has not previously been investigated

Effects of iloprost on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats compared with methyl-prednisolone

Objective: Prostacyclin (PGI2) has been shown to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators in pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to test the preventive effects of intraperitoneally administered iloprost, a stable PGI2 analog, on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and to compare the effects of iloprost with the effects of methyl-prednisolone, a traditional therapy. Methods: Rats were randomly allocated into four groups: 1. Saline alone (n = 6); 2. Bleomycin + placebo (n = 7); 3. Bleomycin + methyl-prednisolone (n = 7); 4. Bleomycin + iloprost (n = 7). Fibrotic changes in the lungs were demonstrated by analyzing the cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, histological evaluation and lung hydroxyproline content. Results: Fibrosis was made in the lungs of rats by bleomycin experimentally. Fibrosis scores in the methyl-prednisolone and the iloprost groups were significantly lower than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the score of the iloprost group was significantly lower than the score of the methyl-prednisolone group. The hydroxyproline content was significantly less in the methyl-prednisolone and the iloprost groups (p < 0.05). In the placebo group, the neutrophil percentage in bronchoalveolar lavage was significantly higher than in the other groups, whereas the macrophage percentage in placebo group was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Iloprost has protective effect on the pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin and it may be more effective in decreasing fibrotic changes than methyl-prednisolone. Resumo: Objetivo: A prostaciclina (PGI2) é conhecida por inibir a expressão de mediadores pró-inflamatórios e pró-fibróticos na fibrose pulmonar. Neste estudo, procurou-se testar os efeitos preventivos do iloprost administrado por via intraperitoneal, um análogo estável do PGI2, na fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina em ratos e comparar os efeitos do iloprost com os efeitos da metil-prednisolona, uma terapia tradicional. Métodos: Os ratos foram divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos: 1. Apenas soro fisiológico (n=6); 2. Bleomicina + placebo (n=7); 3. Bleomicina + metil-prednisolona (n=7); 4. Bleomicina + iloprost (n=7). Foram demonstradas alterações fibróticas nos pulmões analisando a composição celular do líquido de lavagem bronco-alveolar, avaliação histológica e conteúdo de hidroxiprolina pulmonar. Resultados: Aparecimento de fibrose nos pulmões dos ratos tratados com bleomicina. Os resultados dos grupos tratados com metil-prednisolona e iloprost foram significativamente inferiores ao do grupo placebo (p<0.05). Além disso, o resultado do grupo de iloprost foi significativamente inferior ao resultado do grupo de metil-prednisolona. O teor de hidroxiprolina foi significativamente inferior nos grupos de metil-prednisolona e de iloprost (p <0.05). No grupo placebo, a percentagem de neutrófilos na lavagem bronco-alveolar foi significativamente mais elevada do que nos outros grupos, enquanto que a percentagem de macrófagos no grupo placebo foi significativamente inferior (p <0.05). Conclusão: O Iloprost tem um efeito protetor sobre a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina e pode ser mais eficaz na diminuição de alterações fibróticas que a metil-prednisolona. Keywords: Pulmonary fibrosis, Bleomycin, Iloprost, Methyl-prednisolone, Rats, Palavras-chave: Fibrose pulmonar, Bleomicina, Iloprost, Metil-prednisolona, Rato

Serum homocysteine level is increased and correlated with endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in Behcet's disease

Background/aims: Beligei's disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory vasculitis of young adults with unknown aetiology, characterised by endothelial dysfunction and occlusion in both deep venous and retinal circulation. Ocular involvement occurs in 70% of cases and is characterised by periphlebitis, periarteritis, vascular occlusion, and thrombosis leading to blindness despite vigorous treatment. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a vasoconstricting peptide while nitric oxide (NO) is a relaxing molecule and both are released by endothelium for blood flow regulation. Homocysteinaemia is a newly defined term connected to the increased risk of atherothrombotic and atherosclerotic systemic and retinal vascular occlusive diseases, and its role in the course of BID has not been previously described. The authors aimed to detect serum total homocysteine (tHcy), ET-1, and NO in BID and to assess if tHcy, ET-1, and NO are associated with ocular BD or disease activity

Effect of long-term therapy with sodium valproate on nail and serum trace element status in epileptic children

Antiepileptic drugs could cause changes in the trace element status of the body. Valproic acid (VPA) is a very effective anticonvulsant agent widely used in the management of various forms of epilepsy. Nail trace element content is a reliable index of trace element nutritional status of the body. To determine whether some of the side effects of antiepileptic drugs could be the result of zinc (Zn) depletion within tissues, Zn concentrations as well as copper (Cu) concentrations in nail and serum in 59 children having various types of epilepsy receiving valproate and 31 controls were assessed. Although serum Zn level in epileptic patients was found to be decreased, there was no difference in nail samples when compared to controls. There was a statistically significant increase in nail Cu level in epileptic patients when compared to controls. On the other hand, serum Cu levels were not different between the groups. Although none of our patients showed any symptoms of Cu elevation and Zn depletion, we should pay attention to potential body trace element changes in patients with epilepsy under VPA treatment. In conclusion, our results indicate that serum trace metal homeostasis might be affected by VPA therapy, but not by the convulsive disorder itself

The Effect of Long-term Therapy with Sodium Valproate on Nail and Serum Trace Element Status in Epileptic Children

Antiepileptic drugs could cause changes in the trace element status of the body. Valproic acid (VPA) is a very effective anticonvulsant agent widely used in the management of various forms of epilepsy. Nail trace element content is a reliable index of trace element nutritional status of the body. To determine whether some of the side effects of antiepileptic drugs could be the result of zinc (Zn) depletion within tissues, Zn concentrations as well as copper (Cu) concentrations in nail and serum in 59 children having various types of epilepsy receiving valproate and 31 controls were assessed. Although serum Zn level in epileptic patients was found to be decreased, there was no difference in nail samples when compared to controls. There was a statistically significant increase in nail Cu level in epileptic patients when compared to controls. On the other hand, serum Cu levels were not different between the groups. Although none of our patients showed any symptoms of Cu elevation and Zn depletion, we should pay attention to potential body trace element changes in patients with epilepsy under VPA treatment. In conclusion, our results indicate that serum trace metal homeostasis might be affected by VPA therapy, but not by the convulsive disorder itself