Chemopreventive Effect of Tadalafil in Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Nephrotoxicity remains a common untoward effect of cisplatin therapy with limited effective chemopreventive options available till date. This study aims to evaluate the possible chemopreventive effect and mechanism(s) of action of 2 mgkg-1 and 5 mgkg-1 of Tadalafil in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxic rats. In this study, twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 5 rats per group) and daily pretreated with oral doses of distilled water (10 mLkg-1), ascorbic acid (100 mgkg-1), Tadalafil (2 mgkg-1 and 5 mgkg-1) for 7 days before cisplatin (5 mgkg-1, intraperitoneal) was administered. 72 hours post-cisplatin injections, rats were sacrificed humanely and blood samples for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine and renal tissues for reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malonialdehyde dehydrogenase (MAD) assays and histopathology were collected. Results showed that cisplatin injection caused significant decreases in the serum sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), bicarbonate (HCO3-), calcium (Ca2+), phosphate (PO42-) and concomitant significant increases in the serum urea and creatinine levels. In addition, there were significant decreases in the renal tissue GSH, SOD, CAT and increased MAD and GSH-Px levels which were corroborated by histopathological features of tubulonephritis. However, these histo-biochemical alterations were significantly attenuated by ascorbic acid and Tadalafil pretreatments. Overall, results of this study showed the chemopreventive potential of Tadalafil against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity which was possibly mediated via antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidation mechanisms.

Protective effect of selected calcium channel blockers and prednisolone, a phospholipase-A2 inhibitor, against gentamicin and carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity.

The ameliorative effect of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and a phospholipase-A2 inhibitor in drug-/chemical-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated. Rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats in each group. In the gentamicin model, group I rats were pretreated with normal saline (10 ml kg(-1)), while groups II-VII rats were pretreated with normal saline (10 ml kg(-1)), ascorbic acid (10 mg kg(-1)), nifedipine (0.86 mg kg(-1)), verapamil (4.3 mg kg(-1)), diltiazem (3.43 mg kg(-1)), and prednisolone (0.57 mg kg(-1)), respectively, perorally 1 h before intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of gentamicin (40 mg kg(-1)) for 14 days. In the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) model, rats were pretreated with CCBs and prednisolone for 7 days before inducing nephrotoxicity with 20% CCl4 (1.5 ml kg(-1)). Rats were thereafter killed and blood and tissue samples were collected for assessments. I.p. injections of gentamicin and CCl4 caused significant hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and hyperchloremic alkalosis and reduced renal tissue levels of antioxidants. Also, significant reductions in the hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cells, and platelet indices were observed. Pretreatments with nifedipine (0.86 mg kg(-1)), verapamil (4.3 mg kg(-1)), diltiazem (3.43 mg kg(-1)), and prednisolone (0.57 mg kg(-1)) significantly ameliorated the deleterious effects of gentamicin and CCl4 possibly via antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidation mechanisms. The results obtained in this study suggest potential clinical usefulness of tested CCBs and prednisolone in drug-/chemical-induced nephrotoxicity.

A Comparative Study of the Wound Healing Properties of Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) and Silver Sulphadiazine.

Burns expose the deeper tissues of the skin or body to invasive microbes. Topical preparations for treating burn wounds, to be useful, should ideally have antibiotic power and promote healing. Silver compounds have been the mainstay of topical burn treatment for decades. However, most chemical substances retard wound healing. Several natural agents such as honey and moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) are believed to protect wounds from infection and promote healing without causing any of the adverse effects of purified chemicals. In this study, we compared the wound healing properties of MEBO, a herbal preparation of Chinese origin, with silver sulphadiazine (SSD), a long-standing conventional burn dressing. Ten adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. They were housed in separate cages and received partial-thickness burn wounds on their dorsal skin. They were then treated with MEBO and SSD. The wounds were inspected daily until day 8, when all the animals were sacrificed, perfused with normal saline, and had their wounds excised and prepared for histology. It was found that animals in both groups were well preserved. No clinical infections occurred. Wound healing was at an advanced stage by day 8 in all the animals. Clinical and histological examination showed that the two agents gave the animals comparable protection and healing possibilities. It is concluded that MEBO is a suitable and efficacious alternative to conventional silver-based topical therapies for treating partial-thickness burn wounds.

Sesame radiatum phytoestrogens stimulate spermatogenic activity and improve sperm quality in adult male Sprague Dawley rat testis / Fitoestrógenos sesame radiatum estimulan la actividad espermatogénica y mejoran la calidad del esperma en el testículo de ratas Sprague Dawley adulto de sexo masculino

Increasing concern has been expressed about the declining sperm count of humans and the potential environmental effects of both synthetic and natural estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs) on human reproductive health in the last few decades. However, due to paucity of knowledge, we evaluate the chronic reproductive toxicity of sesame phytoestrogenic lignans on the male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats' testis. Thirty adult male SD rats weighing 150-200g were divided into three groups. Two treated groups received a daily dose of aqueous leaves extract of Sesamum radiatum at 14.0 mg/kg bw and 28.0mg /kg bw respectively via gastric gavage, while equal volume of normal saline was administered to the control group for six weeks. Seminal analysis and hormonal assay study were analyzed using SPSS software and P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results showed significant (P< 0.05) body weight gains observed in all the animals with significant (P< 0.05) weight increase in their raw testicular weights compared to control. The relative testicular weight per 100g bw was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in control than treated. However, the weight gain was dose related with a reversal in their relative testicular weight. The cauda sperm count including the motility and morphology of the treated were significantly (P< 0.05) higher than control in a dose related manner. In addition, significant (P > 0.05) increases in testosterone and a significant decrease in FSH in the high dose (treated) compared to control. Sesame phytoestrogenic lignans improves spermatozoa quality in a dose related manner.

Una mayor preocupación se ha expresado en las últimas décadas por la disminución en la cantidad de espermatozoides de los seres humanos y los posibles efectos ambientales de disruptores endocrinos estrogénicos (DES) sintéticos y naturales sobre la salud reproductiva humana. Sin embargo, debido a la escasez de conocimientos, evaluamos la toxicidad crónica para la reproducción de fitoestrógenos lignanos del sésamo en el testículo de ratas Sprague Dawley (SD) macho. Treinta ratas macho adultas, de un peso de 150-200g se dividieron en tres grupos. Dos grupos de tratamiento recibieron una dosis diaria de extracto acuoso de las hojas Sesamum radiatum de 14,0 mg/kg de peso corporal y 28,0mg / kg de peso corporal, respectivamente, a través de una sonda gástrica, mientras que igual volumen de solución salina normal se administró al grupo control durante seis semanas. El análisis seminal y estudio de ensayo hormonal fueron analizados mediante el software SPSS y P <0,05 fue considerado estadísticamente significativo. Los resultados mostraron significativas (P <0,05) ganancias de peso corporal observados en todos los animales con un peso significativo (P <0.05), aumento de peso en su peso testicular bruto en comparación con el control. El relativo peso testicular por 100 g de peso corporal fue significativamente mayor (P <0,05) en control que en tratamiento. Sin embargo, el aumento de peso dosis se ha relacionado con un retroceso en su peso relativo testicular. La cantidad de espermatozoides, incluyendo la motilidad y morfología de los que recibieron tratamiento fue significativamente más alto que el control (P <0,05) en una dosis relacionados. Además, significativo aumento en los niveles de testosterona (P> 0,05) y una disminución significativa de FSH en la dosis alta (tratados), en comparación con el control. Fitoestrógenos lignanos del sésamo mejoran la calidad de los espermatozoides en una dosis adecuada.

Fatal domestic accident from a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery explosion as seen in lagos state university teaching hospital, ikeja, lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the danger of wrong disposal of used dry-cell batteries in Lagos, Nigeria. METHOD: Information was extracted from the case notes of a patient who died following the explosion of a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery. No post-mortem was performed because the death certificate was inadvertently issued and the body was buried hurriedly according to Islamic rites. RESULTS: A 53% burn involving the face, upper arm, trunk, and thigh was found on examination, in addition to inhalation injuries. CONCLUSION: Dry-cell batteries are highly explosive when heated. There is a need to educate the populace about their explosive nature and to keep batteries away from children.

Oral metformin-ascorbic acid co-administration ameliorates alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic liver disease remains a major cause of liver failure worldwide with no available curative or prophylactic therapy as at present. High dose metformin is reported to ameliorate liver injuries in both human and animal models of acute and chronic alcoholic liver injuries. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present in vivo animal study was to determine whether metformin-ascorbic acid co-administration also prevents alcoholic hepatotoxicity in chronic alcohol exposure. METHODS: In the present study, ameliorating effect of 200 mg/ kg/day of ascorbic acid (Asc), 500 mg/kg/day of metformin (Met) and their co-administration (Met-Asc) were investigated in 5 groups of 50% ethanol-treated male Wistar rats for 2 weeks of the experiment. The body weight of each rat was taken on days 1, 7, and 14 of the experiment, respectively. On day 15, fasted blood samples for plasma lipids and liver enzyme markers were collected via cardiac puncture from the rats under diethyl ether anaesthesia. RESULTS: Results showed that administration of graded oral doses of 50% ethanol for 14 days significantly (p<0.001) elevated the plasma liver enzymes--aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotansferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Two weeks of ethanol treatment also induced alterations in the plasma triglycerides (PTG), total cholesterol (PTC), high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), and low density lipoprotein (LDL-c). However, these elevations were significantly (p<0.05) attenuated by Asc, Met, and Met-Asc after 14 days of oral treatment, with Met-Asc having higher significant (p<0.001) ameliorating effect than Asc alone but with comparative effect to that of Met alone. CONCLUSION: High dose metformin-ascorbic acid co-administration protected the liver against the deleterious effects of chronic high dose alcohol and the hepatoprotective effect of Met-Asc appeared to be due mainly to the metformin molecule of the drug combination. However, further studies would be required to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the observed effects.

Unusual Electric Burns Caused by Communication Disc Contact with a High-voltage Electric Transmission Cable: a Potential Occupational Hazard.

The case reported is that of a communications technician admitted to hospital with 38% burns sustained while climbing a communications mast. The mast was erected less than 3 metres from a 33 kv electric transmission cable. His condition is described, as also the treatment he received until his discharge three months later. In the absence of guidelines regarding the erection of such masts, a number of recommendations are made.