Selenium prevented renal tissue damage in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats.

OBJECTIVES: Kidney diseases are one of the common diseases, which are one of the main causes of death in society and impose costs on the health system of the society. A growing body of evidence has well documented that inflammatory responses and oxidative damage play a significant role in the progress of various kidney diseases. METHODS: This study examined whether selenium (Sel) could prevent the detrimental influences of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. Four groups of Wistar rats were considered: control, LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p., for 14 days), LPS-Sel 1 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p., for 14 days), and LPS-Sel 2 (0.2 mg/kg, i.p., for 14 days). RESULTS: Sel treatment markedly attenuated oxidative stress damage in the kidney tissue in LPS-induced renal toxicity. Generally, the administration of Sel resulted in improved antioxidant indicators such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, or total thiol content, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) in the kidney tissue. It also decreased interleukin-6 in kidney homogenates. Furthermore, Se treatment significantly inhibited the elevation of serum biochemical markers of kidney function including serum, BUN, and creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of the current study, it seems that the administration of Sel to LPS-treated rats improves renal function by reducing oxidative damage and inflammation in kidney tissue. However, more research is needed to reveal the accurate mechanisms for the effect of Sel on renal outcomes of LPS in human subjects.

Efficacy of Preoperative Albendazole on Protoscoleces Viability in Hydatid Cyst of the Liver.

Background: Optimal duration for medical therapy of liver hydatid cysts before surgery in not certainly defined yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 weeks preoperative albendazole in decreasing viable cysts. Methods: Patients referring to Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran with a diagnosis of hepatic hydatid cyst were randomly divided into intervention (44 patients) and control (46 patients) groups. The case group were treated with oral albendazole before surgery and the control group underwent surgery without albendazole therapy. Efficacy of albendazole on the reduction of prevalence and viability of the protoscoleces was finally evaluated. Results: A number of 90 patients were included in the final analysis. Protoscoleces were reported alive in 10 (22.7%) and 17 (36.9%) of patients in the case and control group, respectively. The decrease of live protoscoleces in case group was not statistically significant (P=0.14). Conclusion: Decrease in the viability of protoscoleces in hepatic hydatid cysts after 2 weeks administration of oral albendazole at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day preoperatively, is not significant. Optimal duration of medical treatment before surgery seems to be 4 weeks or more.