Protective effect of pentoxyfilline in renal toxicity after methotrexate administration.

INTRODUCTION: Nephrotoxicity is an important side-effect of treatment with Methotrexate (MTX). Pentoxifylline (PTX) is an anti-inflmmatory and anti-oxidant agent. We hypothesized that pentoxifylline may affords renal protection by downregulating TNF-alpha as well as by improving cellular anti-oxidant activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five male Wistar rats were assigned to 3 groups of 15 animals each: Group 1: control group (0.9% saline). Group 2: MTX; injected with 20 mg/kg MTX intraperitoneally (i.p.). Group 3: MTX + PTX injected i.p. MTX (20 mg/kg) + PTX (50 mg/kg) i.p. PTX was administered since 3 days before MTX administration and continued for 6 days. After 6 days rats were anesthetized and serum sampled and renal tissue removed for biochemical and histological evaluation. RESULTS: Data showed that glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were lower in PTX + MTX group comparing to MTX group significantly (p < 0.05). Renal tissue injury index and percent of TUNEL positive cells, renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, serum BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), creatinine (Cr) and TNF-alpha levels were higher in MTX group comparing to MTX+PTX group significantly (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the increased level of tissue MDA and serum TNF-alpha level together may be suggested that the underlying mechanism is related to direct toxicity of MTX rather than blockage in folate synthesis in kidneys. PTX administration also attenuated renal tissue injury and number of apoptic cells and suppressed the elevation of BUN and Cr levels. However, further studies are essential to elucidate the exact mechanisms of MTX-induced renal toxicity, and protection and the effect of PTX.

Evaluation of Copper, Zinc, Cu/Zn, and VEGF in Patients with AML in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Copper and zinc are the elements with numerous physiological activities. Copper (Cu) has an important role in angiogenesis and acts by increasing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Serum levels of copper will be increased in cancer incidence, progression and recurrence. The aim of this study was to measure blood levels of copper, zinc, and the ratio of Cu /Zn, as well as VEGF levels before and after treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. METHODS: Thirty patients who were recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML) in Shahid Ghazi Tabatabai oncology hospital enrolled in this clinical trial. On the first day, blood samples were taken for copper, zinc, and VEGF assay and flowcytometry. Treatment protocol was (7×3) regimen. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of copper, zinc, and VEGF. They were sent to Biochemistry Laboratory in medicine faculty for analysis. RESULTS: Amongst 30 AML patients, 14 (46.7%) were female and 16 (53.3%) were male. Patients of various ages ranged from 16 to 53 years, with a median age of 9.1±9.35 years. The mean serum level of copper, zinc, and mean Cu/Zn ratio before and after treatment showed significant difference (p<0.05) There was also significant difference between the mean VEGF level before and after treatment (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that there is no significant relationship between copper, zinc serum levels, their ratio, and VEGF in AML patients. We hypothesize that increased serum copper is associated with increase of VEGF levels which can indicate the impact of copper in malignancies including AML.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the spermatic cord: a case report and review of the literature.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a morphologically ill-defined tumour of the soft tissues and may involve nearly every organ of the body. MFH of the spermatic cord represents an extremely rare entity and reports of it in the literature are limited. We report a 69-year-old man found to have a left spermatic cord MFH and retroperitoneal and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, who was treated with radical orchiectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The morphological findings of the spermatic tumour are presented and the literature is reviewed to clarify the potential diagnostic/therapeutic approaches and the prognosis related to spermatic cord MFH.

Human leukocyte antigen and esophageal cancer in the northwestern region of Iran.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is the 6th most commonly occurring cancer worldwide. A relationship between HLA A1 and B40 and esophageal cancer was described in patients examined in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of HLA class 1 and esophageal carcinoma in the northwestern region of Iran. Using specific monoclonal antibodies, different human leukocyte antigens (HLA) were quantified in 100 patients suffering esophageal carcinoma in Tabriz, a major city located in the Northwestern region of Iran. These data were compared to those of 100 healthy matched individuals as a control group from the same region. HLA B14 and A24 were increased and showed statistically significant correlation in squamous cell carcinoma. These findings may also indicate the association between genetic factors and esophageal carcinoma. Further studies are suggested for detecting correlation of HLA and esophageal carcinoma in other regions.

A comparison of nurse and patient perceptions of chemotherapy treatment stressors.

To assess how closely nurses and patients considered various situations as causing stress in chemotherapy treatment, this study was designed to compare nurse and patient perceptions of chemotherapy treatment stressors for patients in an oncology hospital. This descriptive study was conducted in the summer of 1997. Fifty patients receiving cytotoxic treatment were chosen by random sample. All 21 registered nurses of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences who worked in the oncology department were contacted. A Likert-type questionnaire was designed to measure the stressfulness of commonly occurring items in chemotherapy treatment. The intensity of each item was measured by a scale with response choices ranging from the most to the least important. The patients were asked to indicate their perceptions of the seriousness of stress by sorting items. The nurses were asked to complete the same questionnaire as the patients completed. The greatest physical stressor mentioned by the patients was fatigue (66%), and by nurses, alopecia (62%). The nurses' perceptions of psychosocial items causing the greatest stress included fear of disease recurrence (90.5%), fear of death (90.5%), economic problems (90.5%), and appearance changes (90.5%), whereas the patients perceived dependency (80%), economic problems (70%), and loss of social activity (66%), as the greatest stressors (p < 0.05). The findings showed disagreement between the two groups on intensity of physical and psychosocial stressors (p < 0.05). The results from this study increased nurses' awareness of important stress factors in chemotherapy treatment. Identification of the situations perceived to be more stressful than others helped clinical nurses to modify their care and provide for their patients in a way that removes or reduces the stressors.