The hepatoprotective effects of Hypericum perforatum L. on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Little is known about the effective role of Hypericum perforatum on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Hence, albino rats were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion period. Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE) at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight (HPE50) was intraperitonally injected as a single dose, 15 min prior to ischemia. Rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion period and then, biochemical investigations were made in serum and liver tissue. Liver tissue homogenates were used for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. At the same time alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed in serum samples and compared statistically. While the ALT, AST, LDH activities and MDA levels were significantly increased, CAT and GPx activities significantly decreased in only I/R-induced control rats compared to normal control rats (p < 0.05). Treatment with HPE50 significantly decreased the ALT, AST, LDH activities and MDA levels, and markedly increased activities of CAT and GPx in tissue homogenates compared to I/R-induced rats without treatment-control group (p < 0.05). In oxidative stress generated by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, H. perforatum L. as an antioxidant agent contributes an alteration in the delicate balance between the scavenging capacity of antioxidant defence systems and free radicals in favour of the antioxidant defence systems in the body

Gallic acid reduces experimental colitis in rats by downregulation of cathepsin and oxidative stress

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with common, repetitive inflammation of the colon and rectum, which is highly defined by loss of blood on colon mucosa, ulceration and acute inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of gallic acid (GA) through a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis rat model, using biochemical and histopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of four groups, each including seven rats, namely control group, colitis group, colitis-GA 50 mg/kg group and colitis-GA 100 mg/kg group. Colon tissue samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), cathepsin B and cathepsin L values. Results: Tissue MDA, MPO, cathepsin L and cathepsin B values increased significantly in colitis group (p=0.028, p=0.038, p=0.024, p=0.019, respectively). However, MDA, MPO, cathepsin L and cathepsin B values showed a significant decrease in animals with GA (at a dose of 100 mg/kg) administration in TNBS-induced colitis in rats (p=0.021, p=0.026, p=0.019, p=0.031, respectively). Colitis group was defined by the severe detriment of surface epithelium, submucosal edema and inflammatory cell infiltration. Treatment with GA significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusion: GA can be used as an effective agent in the treatment of colitis due to its inhibitory properties in multiple pathways and its potent antioxidant effect

Uncommon site of prostatic adenocarcinoma metastasis thyroid cartilage

Aim: Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and tends to metastases to bone, lung, liver, pleura and adrenal glands. Herein we presented a case of prostate carcinoma with an atypical site of metastasis. Method: An 83-years-old male patient with a known diagnosis of prostate cancer and newly developed mass in the left lung was referred to fludeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computerized tomography (CT) and Ga-68 prostate membrane antigen (PSMA)/PET/CT. Results: FDG PET/CT demonstrated hypermetabolic mass located in apicoposterior segment of the left lung and multiple hypermetabolic metastatic lesions in skeletal system including the right side of the thyroid cartilage. Then, patient underwent Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT due to an increase in prostate-specific antigen level (12.39 ng/mL). Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT revealed PSMA accumulation in the mass located in left lung, intense PSMA uptake in the prostatic gland and increased uptake in the widespread metastatic lesions of skeletal system involving the right side of the thyroid cartilage. Conclusion: Ga-68 PSMA is a useful tool for evaluating the distant and unexpected metastases of prostate cancer. Cartilaginous tissue is a resistant site for metastasis because its rich structure of protease inhibitors prevents the destruction of extracellular matrix components. In this patient with advanced stage prostate cancer, both FDG and PSMA uptake were observed in the thyroid cartilage metastasis