Saliva/serum ghrelin, obestatin and homocysteine levels in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare ghrelin, obestatin, homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and folate levels in the serum and saliva of ischaemic heart disease patients. METHODS: Serum and saliva were collected from 33 ischaemic heart disease (IHD) patients and 28 age- and body mass index-matched healthy individuals. Levels of acylated and desacylated ghrelin, obestatin and Hcy were determined using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Acylated ghrelin, desacylated ghrelin and obestatin levels in the saliva were found to be higher than those in the serum of the control group, while acylated and desacylated ghrelin levels in the saliva were significantly lower than those in the serum. Obestatin levels were higher in IHD patients (p = 0.001). Saliva and serum vitamin B12 and folate levels in IHD patients were significantly lower than in the control group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that serum ghrelin levels increased in ischaemic heart disease patients, while serum levels of obestatin decreased.

A nationwide multicentre study in Turkey for establishing reference intervals of haematological parameters with novel use of a panel of whole blood.

INTRODUCTION: A nationwide multicentre study was conducted to establish well-defined reference intervals (RIs) of haematological parameters for the Turkish population in consideration of sources of variation in reference values (RVs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: K2-EDTA whole blood samples (total of 3363) were collected from 12 laboratories. Sera were also collected for measurements of iron, UIBC, TIBC, and ferritin for use in the latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method. The blood samples were analysed within 2 hours in each laboratory using Cell Dyn and Ruby (Abbott), LH780 (Beckman Coulter), or XT-2000i (Sysmex). A panel of freshly prepared blood from 40 healthy volunteers was measured in common to assess any analyser-dependent bias in the measurements. The SD ratio (SDR) based on ANOVA was used to judge the need for partitioning RVs. RIs were computed by the parametric method with/without applying the LAVE method. RESULTS: Analyser-dependent bias was found for basophils (Bas), MCHC, RDW and MPV from the panel test results and thus those RIs were derived for each manufacturer. RIs were determined from all volunteers' results for WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, MCV, MCH and platelets. Gender-specific RIs were required for RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit, iron, UIBC and ferritin. Region-specific RIs were required for RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit, UIBC, and TIBC. CONCLUSIONS: With the novel use of a freshly prepared blood panel, manufacturer-specific RIs' were derived for Bas, Bas%, MCHC, RDW and MPV. Regional differences in RIs were observed among the 7 regions of Turkey, which may be attributed to nutritional or environmental factors, including altitude.

Relation of fetuin A levels with cardiac, subcutaneous lipid accumulation and insulin resistance parameters in Turkish obese children.

BACKGROUND: Fetuin A is an inhibitor of insulin action and have been found to be related with subcutaneous lipid accumulation and insulin resistance. The relation of cardiac lipid accumulation, fetuin A and insulin resistance parameters in obese children is not well-known. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation of serum fetuin A levels with subcutaneous and cardiac lipid accumulation, and insulin resistance parameters in Turkish obese children. METHODS: Serum fetuin A levels, cardiac and subcutaneous lipid accumulation parameters of 42 obese (10.9±2.3 years, 19 female) and 40 control group subjects (11.2±2.7) were compared. Cardiac lipid accumulation measured by subepicardial adipose tissue thickness. Insulin resistance was assessed using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index. RESULTS: There were significant correlations serum fetuin A levels with BMI-SDS, circumferences of waist, hip and midarm, SATT and HOMA-IR (r=0.362, p=0.018, r=0.728, p=0.001, r=0.662, p=0.0001, r=0.713, p=0.0001, r=0.477, p=0.001, and r=0.330, p=0.038 as, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Fetuin A was correlated well with cardiac and subcutaneous lipid accumulation, insulin resistance parameters, which may be related with early pathogenetic mechanisms of metabolic obesity complications in children.

A Simple and Easy Process for the Determination of Estimated Plasma Glucose Level in Patients Presenting to Hospital: An Example of Multicentric Data Mining.

The aim of the present study was to determine the relation between the simultaneous fasting plasma glucose level and HbA1c in a large population of patients presenting to the hospital, based on various measurement methods available for HbA1c. HbA1c levels of 162,210 patients presenting to various hospitals and laboratories were measured based on seven different systems, and at the same time, eAG levels were calculated based on HbA1c levels. The correlation coefficients (r) between serum plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were found to be 0.809, 0.774, 0.779, 0.817, 0.704, 0.796, and 0.747 in Bio-Rad Variant II, Tosoh G8, ADAMS A1c, Trinity Boronate Affinity, Chromsystems HPLC, Roche Tina-quant, and Abbott Architect, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficients between the eAG levels as calculated with the formulas provided in the text and the eAG levels as calculated according to NGSP directions (where eAG = (28.7*HbA1c) - 46.7) were found to be between 0.9339 and 0.9866. Despite the progress made for the standardization of HbA1c measurements, the relation between serum glucose and HbA1c still demonstrated certain discrepancies pertaining to the differences in measurement methodologies. As a conclusion, each laboratory could determine different eAG levels depending on the data originated by their individual analyzer.

A multicenter nationwide reference intervals study for common biochemical analytes in Turkey using Abbott analyzers.

BACKGROUND: A nationwide multicenter study was organized to establish reference intervals (RIs) in the Turkish population for 25 commonly tested biochemical analytes and to explore sources of variation in reference values, including regionality. METHODS: Blood samples were collected nationwide in 28 laboratories from the seven regions (≥400 samples/region, 3066 in all). The sera were collectively analyzed in Uludag University in Bursa using Abbott reagents and analyzer. Reference materials were used for standardization of test results. After secondary exclusion using the latent abnormal values exclusion method, RIs were derived by a parametric method employing the modified Box-Cox formula and compared with the RIs by the non-parametric method. Three-level nested ANOVA was used to evaluate variations among sexes, ages and regions. Associations between test results and age, body mass index (BMI) and region were determined by multiple regression analysis (MRA). RESULTS: By ANOVA, differences of reference values among seven regions were significant in none of the 25 analytes. Significant sex-related and age-related differences were observed for 10 and seven analytes, respectively. MRA revealed BMI-related changes in results for uric acid, glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase. Their RIs were thus derived by applying stricter criteria excluding individuals with BMI >28 kg/m2. Ranges of RIs by non-parametric method were wider than those by parametric method especially for those analytes affected by BMI. CONCLUSIONS: With the lack of regional differences and the well-standardized status of test results, the RIs derived from this nationwide study can be used for the entire Turkish population.

Neuron-specific enolase and S100B protein in children with carbon monoxide poisoning: children are not just small adults.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in children with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. METHODS: In this prospective, case-controlled study, children with CO poisoning were recruited. Patient demographics features and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were recorded. Blood samples were collected from all children with CO poisoning at their admission to the hospital and at 3 and 6 hours after admission. Levels of NSE and S100B were measured. The control group consisted of age-matched healthy children. RESULTS: A total of 30 children with CO poisoning (mean age, 7.88 ± 3.75 years; 17 boys) and 30 healthy children (mean age, 8.16 ± 3.05 years; 7 boys) were enrolled in the study. Mean carboxyhemoglobin level (%) measured at admission was 30.05 ± 8.00. Serum NSE levels of the children with CO poisoning were significantly higher than those of children from the control group at 0 hour and also at 3 and 6 hours (P < .001, P = .001, and P = .005, respectively). Serum S100B protein levels were similar between the 2 groups at 0 and 3 and 6 hours (P > .05). Serum NSE levels of patients with CO poisoning demonstrated a negative correlation with the admission GCS scores. No correlation was found between GCS scores and S100B protein levels. CONCLUSION: We have shown that NSE levels increase in CO-associated hypoxic brain damage in accordance with clinical findings. We have also found that, contrary to the studies conducted on adults, S100B protein levels do not increase in response to hypoxic brain damage.

Hair zinc and selenium levels in children with recurrent wheezing.

The prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases has increased markedly in the last few decades. Oxidative stress plays a central role in asthma pathogenesis, and reduced daily consumption of antioxidants is positively correlated with increased risk of asthma. Zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) are the main antioxidant elements. In our study, we aimed to investigate hair Zn and Se levels in children with recurrent wheezing. The study included 65 patients with recurrent wheezing (RW) and 65 healthy children (HC). The hair Zn and Se levels (µg/g) of the RW group were lower in comparison with the HC group (162.43 ± 91.52 vs. 236.38 ± 126.44, P < 0.001, and 217.37 ± 83.01 vs. 280.53 ± 122.73, P < 0.001, respectively). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (mmol/L) of the RW group was found to be significantly lower in comparison with the HC group (1.38 ± 0.14 vs. 1.53 ± 0.20, respectively; P < 0.001). Number of wheezing episodes in the last 6 months were negatively correlated with serum TAC, hair Zn, and Se levels in RW group (r(p) = -0.291, P = 0.001; r(p) = -0.209, P = 0.017; r(p) = -0.206, P = 0.019, respectively). The number of acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) episodes in the last 6 months was negatively correlated with serum TAC and hair Zn levels (r(p) = -0.316, P < 0.001, and r(p) = -0.196, P = 0.025, respectively). In this study, we found that TAC, hair Zn, and hair Se levels were lower in children with RW than HC and negatively correlated with wheezing episodes in the last 6 months. Also body Zn and Se levels can be reliably measured in hair samples.

The association of serum lipocalin-2 levels with metabolic and clinical parameters in obese children: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the association between serum lipocalin-2 level and clinical and metabolic parameters in obese children. METHODS: The study included obese children with a body mass index (BMI) >95th percentile who presented to Kecioren Teaching and Research Hospital with the complaint of weight gain and healthy children with a BMI <85th percentile. The height and weight of the patients were measured for compartment of anthropometric data. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and serum lipocalin-2 level were measured to evaluate the laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The study included 33 obese and 34 healthy nonobese children. Comparison of data on the obese subjects with those of the healthy subjects shows differences in BMI, BMI-SDS, triglyceride, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment index-insulin resistance levels between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05), whereas serum lipocalin-2 was not statistically significant (p >0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum lipocalin-2 levels when obese and control groups were reclassified as prepubertal and pubertal ( p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we did not find any relationships among serum lipocalin-2 level, anthropometric parameters, or metabolic parameters. According to the results of this study, we do not suggest routine investigation of serum lipocalin-2 level in obese subjects for risk stratification of the obesity-related complications.

The correlation between smoking status of family members and concentrations of toxic trace elements in the hair of children.

Hair analysis is a promising tool for routine clinical screening and diagnosis of heavy metal exposure and essential trace element status in the human body. Systemic intoxications have been identified by anomalously high values of toxins in hair samples. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between smoking habit of the family members and the levels of toxic and nontoxic trace elements in hair samples of children. The randomized cross-sectional controlled study comprised of 95 children (41 girls and 54 boys) between the ages of 1 and 6 years. After written informed consent was obtained, a face-to-face interview was conducted with the families about educational background, total income of the family, and smoking habits of family members. The mineral elements considered in this study were Zn, Se, B, V, Co, Mo, Mn, iron (Fe), Be, aluminum (Al), As, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), Hg, chromium (Cr), Ag, Be, nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), Sn, and antimony (Sb). Hair mineral contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb, Fe, and Al in hair samples of children whose parents smoked were significantly higher than those whose parents were nonsmokers. The number of smokers and the frequency of smoking at home were positively correlated with Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Sb levels found. At the same time, it was found that there was no correlation between toxic element concentrations and family income or educational background excluding the levels of Cd. A correlation was observed between the smoking status of family members and levels of toxic trace elements in hair where this correlation was more significant with the levels of Pb and Cd. High socioeconomic status and the level of education of family members did not have any effect on toxic trace levels in hair samples of children.

Determination of 5-fluorouracil and dihydrofluorouracil levels by using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for evaluation of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase enzyme activity.

PURPOSE: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), acting as a pyrimidine antagonist, is a major chemotherapy drug used for the treatment of tumors such as gastrointestinal, breast, ovary, and head and neck cancers. The key and rate-limiting enzyme in 5-FU catabolism is dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DHPDH), whose partial or complete deficiency exposes to a severe 5-FU toxicity in patients. The determination of DHPDH activity in patients before the treatment and setting up a personalized therapy for each patient receiving the drug can help us to prevent the possible risk of toxicity. METHODS: To isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples were collected from randomly selected 47 patients and examined for 5-FU and its metabolite dihydrofluorouracil (FUH2) by using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to observe DHPDH activity at different intervals (0 and 4th hour) indirectly. RESULTS: Intra-assay and interassay CV % values of samples from the measurements of the modified methods are found 1.3-11.9, 2.3-9.4 for 5-FU and 3.1-14.4, 3.3-12.6 for FUH2, respectively. The reference values derived from 45 patients treated with 5-FU are 1.84 ± 0.34 ug/gr protein for 5-FU, 40.15 ± 11.43 ng/gr protein for FUH2, respectively. FUH2/5-FU ratio is 21.9 ± 3.72. In addition, the results determined from two patients, in which the lack of DHPDH is considered, were 3.24 and 4.16 ug/gr protein for 5-FU, 4.1 and 6.7 ng/gr protein for FUH2. FUH2/5-FU ratio is 1.26 and 1.61. CONCLUSION: The measurements of 5-FU, FUH2, and especially their ratio (FUH2/5-FU) by the modified LC-MS/MS method could be used to determine DHPDH enzyme activity.

Aspirin resistance is associated with glycemic control, the dose of aspirin, and obesity in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Aspirin resistance (AR) is increased in diabetic patients. It is not known whether glycemic control has effect on AR. DESIGN: To test the hypothesis that glycemic control might have influence on aspirin resistance, we measured aspirin resistance and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in diabetic patients. We also measured aspirin resistance in nondiabetic subjects and compared the results with the diabetic group. METHODS: We examined AR in 108 diabetic patients and 67 nondiabetic subjects with impedance platelet aggregometry. Glycemic control was evaluated according to both fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c levels. RESULTS: According to the analyses, diabetic patients had significantly higher AR (P < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.005), and body mass index (P < 0.05) and significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.005) levels compared with nondiabetic controls. A correlation analysis revealed that AR was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.190, P < 0.01), fasting blood glucose (r = 0.224, P < 0.001), and HbA1c levels (r = 0.297, P < .0001). Using low-dose aspirin (100 mg/d) was a risk factor for aspirin-resistant status in both diabetic patients (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.58, P < 0.05) and overall study group (odds ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.56, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that glycemic control, obesity, and the dose of aspirin have influence on AR in diabetic subjects. Further studies with larger groups are needed to clarify the role of glycemic control on AR.

Fat-free milk as a therapeutic approach for constipation and the effect on serum motilin and ghrelin levels.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the effects of fat-free milk supplementation on individuals with chronic constipation with regard to levels of motilin and acylated and des-acylated ghrelin (which affect intestinal motility) and compares them with data from control subjects given whole milk supplementation. METHODS: The investigation was designed according to the constipation severity test of individuals whose ages and body mass indexes were comparable. Individuals with mild constipation (n=10) were supplemented with 400 mL of fat-free milk daily; moderate constipation cases (n=10) were supplemented with 600 mL, and severe constipation cases (n=10) were supplemented with 800 mL of fat-free milk daily. Healthy control subjects were administered 400 mL of fat-free milk (group 1), which was followed a month later by administration of 400 mL of whole milk for 3 days (group 2). Blood samples were collected from the subjects before and after milk supplementation for hormone analyses. Motilin and acylated and des-acylated ghrelin were quantified with ELISA assay. RESULTS: Supplementation of fat-free milk significantly increased levels of circulating motilin and ghrelin in all groups, including the control subjects, but whole milk supplementation led to a decrease in these hormone levels in the control subjects. CONCLUSION: Drinking fat-free milk might be a new way of solving constipation.

Increased serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels in primary dysmenorrhea.

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common disorder among young women, and uterine ischemia plays an important role in pelvic pain. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is accepted as a strong marker of endothelial dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of ADMA in primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with primary dysmenorrhea and 29 healthy controls were evaluated in a hospital outpatient clinic-based study. Secondary causes of dysmenorrhea had been ruled out in each patient. LDL cholesterol, triglycerides measured and body mass index were also calculated. Blood samples for determination of ADMA concentration were drawn on the 3rd day of menses in each woman. Groups were compared for statistically significant difference by Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Groups did not differ in age or hormone levels. ADMA level was higher in women with dysmenorrhea compared to healthy controls (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = -2.24, p = 0.025). ADMA levels showed positive correlation with age and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the first group (Spearman's rho = 0.360, p = 0.040, and r = 0.379, p = 0.029, respectively). Although erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP) were positively correlated, no significant correlations were found between high-sensitivity CRP and ADMA level in the first group (Spearman's rho = 0.048, p = 0.749). CONCLUSION: ADMA concentrations are elevated in primary dysmenorrhea compared to healthy controls. This suggests that endothelial dysfunction plays a role in primary dysmenorrhea.

Trace and toxic element patterns in nonsmoker patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, and fasting glucose.

PROJECT: Noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus is supposed to be associated with fluctuations in the plasma levels of several trace elements. There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus and that these nutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progression of this disorder. PROCEDURE: The aim of the present study is to compare the levels of essential trace and toxic elements including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), aluminium (Al), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), barium (Ba), silver (Ag), and mercury (Hg) in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (n = 31), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 20), impaired fasting glucose (n = 14), and healthy controls (n = 22). Plasma concentrations of the elements were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The results indicated that values of lead, nickel, aluminium, copper, and chromium were significantly higher, but not above toxic levels, in the plasma of nonsmoker patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05). The values for these elements were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients with impaired fasting glucose than in controls. Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was found between plasma levels of glycated hemoglobin and of some trace elements like lead, nickel, aluminium, copper, chromium, cadmium, and mercury. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it was concluded that chronic complications of glucose metabolism disorders might be associated with alterations in the levels of some trace elements. Nevertheless, some more timely and extensive studies are required to clarify the exact mechanisms of each of these changes.

Comparison of LabUMat-with-UriSed and iQ200 fully automatic urine sediment analysers with manual urine analysis.

Urine analysis is one of the most common tests for assessing urinary-tract and kidney diseases. In recent years there have been new developments in the automation of this test. The objective of the present study was to compare the performances of two urine sediment analysers, namely LabUMat with UriSed (77 Elektronika Kft, Budapest, Hungary) and iQ200 (Iris Diagnostics, Chatsworth, CA, U.S.A.), with the KOVA method for manual urine measurement by evaluating the results in terms of similar parameters (cells or particles per lower-power field or high-power field). The results obtained using the UriSed and iQ200 analysers were more reproducible (7.1-30.2 and 14.9-35.4% respectively) than those obtained using the manual technique (17.9-44.4%). Significant correlations were established among the three techniques in the evaluation of leucocytes, erythrocytes and epithelial cells. Although the UriSed, iQ200 and visual-microscopic measurements were in agreement, confirmation of the results from automated methods by manual urine analyses is significantly useful, especially for pathological cases that were close to the limits of the techniques.

Presence of obestatin in breast milk: relationship among obestatin, ghrelin, and leptin in lactating women.

OBJECTIVE: The peptide hormones ghrelin and leptin have been found in blood and breast milk. This study was undertaken to investigate whether breast milk also contains obestatin, which is derived from the same gene as ghrelin but has opposite actions, and to characterize the relations among serum and milk ghrelin, obestatin, and leptin levels in lactating mothers. METHODS: Venous blood, colostrum, and mature milk were obtained from healthy lactating women (n = 31) just before suckling. The ghrelin and obestatin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Leptin levels were measured by enzyme-amplified sensitivity immunoassay. RESULTS: Obestatin levels in colostrum (538.9 pg/mL) and mature milk (528.5 pg/mL) were more than twice the corresponding blood levels (270.3 and 289.4 pg/mL, respectively). In contrast, leptin levels in colostrum (2.01 ng/mL) and mature milk (2.04 ng/mL) were more than five-fold lower than the corresponding blood levels (11.54 ng/mL). There was no correlation between breast milk ghrelin levels and leptin (r = -0.18, P > 0.05). However, there was a positive correlation between leptin levels in breast milk and blood (r = 0.369, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The origin of milk obestatin is not currently known, but it comes from the blood or breast and may drain through the mammary glands into the milk. Ghrelin, obestatin, and leptin in the milk may directly affect appetite and their levels may be related to the regulation of energy balance and the pathogenesis of obesity.

Sodium nitroprusside as a nitric oxide donor in a rat intestinal ischemia-reperfusion model.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of sodium nitroprusside in the reduction of the intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury as a nitric oxide donor after intraperitoneal administration. METHODS: The histopathological examinations and tissue malonyldialdehyde levels of 35 Wistar albino rats that were subjected to ischemia-reperfusion, were performed in 5 groups. The groups include Control, Ischemia -reperfusion, Sodium nitroprusside, NG-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) and Sodium nitroprusside+L-NAME. Each rat was subjected to ischemia for 40 minutes and reperfusion for 30 minutes, except the control group. The medications were done intraperitoneally as saline 4 ml/kg, Sodium nitroprusside 5 mg/kg, L-NAME 10 mg/kg just before reperfusions. RESULTS: Significant tissue injury in histological sections and an increase in tissue levels of Malonyldialdehyde was detected in the I/R group. The efficacy of intraperitoneal administration of Sodium nitroprusside in both Sodium nitroprusside alone and Sodium nitroprusside+L-NAME groups was found statistically significant for the reducing of injury scores (p<0.05). The difference between the Ischemia/reperfusion and Sodium nitroprusside groups was found statistically significant as in the Ischemia/reperfusion and Sodium nitroprusside+L-NAME groups due to the tissue Malonyldialdehyde levels (p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between Ischemia/reperfusion and L-NAME groups. CONCLUSION: Ischemia/reperfusion induced injury might be reduced by the intraperitoneal administration of Sodium nitroprusside, even in the presence of L-NAME, in the rat intestinal model.

Sodium nitroprusside as a nitric oxide donor in a rat intestinal ischemiareperfusion model

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of sodium nitroprusside in the reduction of the intestinal ischemiareperfusion injury as a nitric oxide donor after intraperitoneal administration. METHODS: The histopathological examinations and tissue malonyldialdehyde levels of 35 Wistar albino rats that were subjected to ischemia-reperfusion, were performed in 5 groups. The groups include Control, Ischemia -reperfusion, Sodium nitroprusside, NG-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) and Sodium nitroprusside+L-NAME. Each rat was subjected to ischemia for 40 minutes and reperfusion for 30 minutes, except the control group. The medications were done intraperitoneally as saline 4 ml/kg, Sodium nitroprusside 5 mg/kg, L-NAME 10 mg/kg just before reperfusions. RESULTS: Significant tissue injury in histological sections and an increase in tissue levels of Malonyldialdehyde was detected in the I/R group. The efficacy of intraperitoneal administration of Sodium nitroprusside in both Sodium nitroprusside alone and Sodium nitroprusside+L-NAME groups was found statistically significant for the reducing of injury scores (p<0.05). The difference between the Ischemia/reperfusion and Sodium nitroprusside groups was found statistically significant as in the Ischemia/reperfusion and Sodium nitroprusside+L-NAME groups due to the tissue Malonyldialdehyde levels (p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between Ischemia/reperfusion and L-NAME groups. CONCLUSION: Ischemia/reperfusion induced injury might be reduced by the intraperitoneal administration of Sodium nitroprusside, even in the presence of L-NAME, in the rat intestinal model.