Protective effect of pentoxifylline on oxidative renal cell injury associated with renal crystal formation in a hyperoxaluric rat model.

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the renal tubular cell injury and stone formation in a hyperoxaluric rat model induced by ethylene glycol and its possible underlying mechanisms. The study was performed with 30 male Wistar rats and randomized into three groups of teen. The sham-control (group 1) received only drinking water orally. The EG/untreated (group 2) received drinking water containing 0.75% EG for 4 weeks orally. The EG/PTX treated (group 3) received drinking water containing 0.75% EG for 4 weeks orally and PTX. Urine and blood were collected to determine some parameters. The kidneys were also removed for histological examination. Serum and urinary parameters were significantly improved in the EG/PTX treated. In the EG/PTX-treated group, the MDA, TOS and MPO activity reduced and the TAS, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities were increased markedly compared with the group 2. In urine of the group 2 rats, a large number of CaOx crystals were displayed and most tubules that contained crystals were dilated and showed degeneration, necrosis, and desquamation of the lining epithelium. Only few CaOx crystals were r in EG/PTX-treated animal's urine. Mild tissue damage was observed in PTX-treated rats. iNOS expression was significantly elevated in the group 2. In contrast, in the EG/PTX-treated group, eNOS expression in renal tubular epithelial cells was increased. Current study indicates that PTX may partially reduce renal tubular injury resulting from hyperoxaluria-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress.

Carvacrol attenuates histopathogic and functional impairments induced by bilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

BACKGROUND: Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury is the most common cause of acute kidney injury, which frequent occurrence in critically ill patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Carvacrol (CARV) against bilateral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) in rats. METHODS: Renal I/R injury were induced by clamping of the left and right renal arteries for 45 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 10): the sham-control group, the renal I/R-untreated (I/R-untreated) group, and the I/R-CARV-treated group. At 2 h before reperfusion, the rats in the I/R- CARV -treated group rats received an i.p. injection of 75 mg/kg CARV. Renal function and histological changes were compared and the relevant parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation were detected. RESULTS: Compared to the sham-control group, I/R led to renal dysfunction as evidenced by higher plasma urea and creatinine along with increase in oxidative stress and histological changes in renal tissues. Treatment with CARV decreased urea, creatinine, and renal MDA and MPO levels, and increased SOD, CAT, GSH activity and eNOS expression in the kidney. In the I/R-CARV-treated group, minimal hydropic changes in the tubular epithelial cells and regeneration of tubular epithelium were observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CARV treatment could reduce renal injury induced by bilateral renal I/R via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects.

Effects of nicorandil on renal function and histopathology in rats with partial unilateral ureteral obstruction.

To evaluate the effects of nicorandil in a rat kidney model of partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO). Thirty male rats were randomly divided into three groups as follows: (1) Group 1 (Sham-control), ureters of the rats were manipulated but not ligated; (2) Group 2 (PUUO-untreated), PUUO was performed with two-thirds of the left ureter embedded in the psoas muscle; and (3) Group 3 (PUUO-nicorandil treated). After PUUO was established, nicorandil (15 mg/kg/day) was administered by gastric lavage for 21 days to determine its effects on PUUO-induced histopathological-, functional-, and oxidative stress-induced changes. The serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were reduced in Group 3. The level of urinary albumin and the ratio of urinary protein/creatinine were increased in the kidneys of Group 2 but decreased in Group 3. Malondialdehyde value was decreased in Group 3 compared with Group 2. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) were decreased in Group 2. Nicorandil treatment caused an increase in these enzyme activities. In Group 3, leukocyte infiltration and tubular dilatation were significantly reduced. Other parameters, such as degeneration of tubular epithelium and fibrosis, also showed a marked improvement in Group 3. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in Group 2 and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in Group 3 were significantly elevated. Nicorandil can inhibit renal tubular damage and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by reducing the effects of oxidative stress after PUUO.

Does the kidney injury molecule-1 predict cisplatin-induced kidney injury in early stage?

BACKGROUND: It is not possible to diagnose acute kidney injury (AKI) in early stages with traditional biomarkers. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a novel biomarker promising the diagnosis of AKI in early stages. We studied whether urinary and serum KIM-1 (KIM-1 U and KIM-1 S ) concentrations were useful in predicting cisplatin-induced AKI in early stages. METHODS: We prospectively analysed 22 patients on cisplatin treatment. KIM-1 S and KIM-1 U concentrations were assessed in the samples of the patients on four different time periods (before treatment [BT], first [AT1], third [AT3] and fifth [AT5] day after treatment). RESULTS: KIM-1 U concentrations on the first day after cisplatin treatment in patients with AKI were significantly increased compared to both KIM-1 U concentrations of the same patients BT (P=0.009) and to AT1-KIM-1 U concentrations of the patients without AKI (P=0.008). A receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that AT1-KIM-1 U concentrations may predict AKI with an 87.5% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity (area under the curve=0.94). KIM-1 S concentrations were not significantly changed between BT and AT periods. CONCLUSIONS: KIM-1 U concentrations may predict cisplatin-induced AKI in early stages with high sensitivity and specificity.

Post-treatment plasma omentin levels in patients with stage III colon carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal carcinomas are ~1.5-2-fold more prevalent in obese populations compared to nonobese ones. Possible factors playing an important role in the association between obesity and cancer include insulin, insulin like growth factor-I, sex steroids and adipocytokines. This study investigated the omentin levels, a novel adipocytokine, in patients with stage III colon carcinomas (CC). METHODS: The study investigated 45 patients with stage III CC who had been treated with surgery and adjuvant oxaliplatin, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. The study control group was composed of 35 healthy individuals. RESULTS: The median age of the CC and control groups was 62 (range 32-74) and 56 (range 43-71) years, respectively (p=0.206). There were no significant differences between the CC and control groups in terms of gender (p=0.218), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.218), fasting blood glucose (p=0.487), total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.521), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (p=0.722), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.078), triglycerides (TC) (p=0.698), hemoglobin (p=0.096) and creatinine levels (p=0.130). The median plasma omentin concentration was 618 pg/mL (range 151-758) in the CC group and 376 pg/mL (155-662) in the control group (p<0.001). No significant correlation was found between omentin and the other parameters examined in the CC group. CONCLUSION: Omentin levels are significantly elevated in stage III CC patients treated with surgery and chemotherapy. This elevation was independent of the basic risk factors associated with elevated omentin levels. Future studies of the pathophysiological causes of omentin elevation may facilitate the evaluation of the interactions between CC and adipose tissue.

Red cell distribution width and mean platelet volume in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Possible pathophysiological mechanisms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are interactions between microbial flora of the gut and the mucosal/systemic immune system, post-infectious status and inflammation. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) have been reported as inflammatory markers in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but they have not been studied in functional gastrointestinal disorders. AIM: To investigate whether there was an association between haemogram parameters (RDW and MPV) and IBS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients with IBS and 44 healthy controls were included to this retrospective study. Patients diagnosed with IBS according to Rome III criteria were included as the IBS group. They were all screened for psychiatric or organic bowel diseases for the sake of precise diagnosis. RESULTS: Both RDW (p < 0.001) and MPV (p = 0.046) were increased in patients with IBS compared to controls. This increase in RDW and MPV was independent of the type of IBS. CONCLUSIONS: The RDW and MPV should be laboratory indicators of IBS. More prospective studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm our results.

Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on experimentally undescended testis.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine for testicular damage induced by undescended testes in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flutamide was injected in the abdomen of pregnant rats daily from days 14 to 20 of gestation. Male offspring with cryptorchidism were randomly divided into 2 groups. Healthy male rats without undescended testes comprised the control group (group 1). Group 2 (undescended testes without N-acetylcysteine) received no treatment. Group 3 (undescended testes plus N-acetylcysteine) received intraperitoneal N-acetylcysteine daily. At 70 days after experiment initiation the testes were removed for histopathological and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: Mean malonyl dialdehyde values were lowest in group 1 and highest in group 2. In group 3 malonyl dialdehyde levels were significantly lower than in group 2 (p <0.001). Conversely, mean glutathione peroxidase was highest in group 1 and lowest in group 2. Glutathione peroxidase levels in group 3 were significantly higher than in group 2 (p <0.001). Histopathological differences between groups 1 and 3 in the modified Johnsen score were not significant (p = 0.041). However, the differences between these groups and group 2 were significant (p <0.001). The median apoptotic cell count did not differ between groups 1 and 3 but it was significantly higher in group 2 than in the other groups (p = 0.03 and <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: N-acetylcysteine may alleviate undescended testis induced damage to testes through its antioxidant effects. The underlying mechanism of these effects merits further investigation. Long-term studies are also needed as well as comparative animal and human studies.

The effects of a single dialysis session on atrial electromechanical conduction times and functions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Abnormalities in atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) times and mechanical functions are considered as independent predictors of atrial fibrillation. However, to date, effects of a single hemodialysis (HD) session and acute volume-preload changes on atrial-EMD functions have not been investigated by Tissue Doppler Echocardiography (TDE). The aim of the present study was to evaluate atrial-EMD times and mechanical functions in HD patients. METHODS: Thirty-five non-diabetic, normotensive HD patients and 35 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Standard and TDE performed before mid-week dialysis session for hemodialysis group and on admission for control group. RESULTS: Interatrial and left-right intraatrial-EMD intervals and left atrial mechanical volumes were significantly longer in hemodialysis group compared to controls (all p<0.01) and were reduced after HD session. Furthermore, removed ultrafiltration volume was associated with reduction in atrial-EMD intervals and functional volumes. LA-passive emptying volume, ultrafiltration volume, LV-E/E' ratio, and Vp were independent predictors of interatrial-EMD. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms negative effects in HD patients of structural remodeling and reveals negative effects of electrical remodeling. Prolonged inter and intraatrial-EMD intervals should be the underlying pathophysiological factors of increased rate of atrial fibrillation in the HD population.