The Radioprotective Effects of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Thymoquinone on Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Liver Tissue of Rats Exposed to Total Head Irradiation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of addition of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and thymoquinone (TQ) on oxidative and nitrosative stress in the liver tissue of irradiated rats. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups to test the radioprotective effectiveness of TQ and CAPE administered by intraperitoneal injection. Appropriate control groups were also studied. RESULTS: Liver antioxidant capacity, as measured by levels of total superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity except superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, were statistically lower in the irradiation (IR) group compared to all other groups. Total superoxide scavenger activity and NSSA were statistically higher in the IR plus TQ and IR plus CAPE groups compared to all other groups. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly found to increase in the IR plus CAPE group compared to control groups. The xanthine oxidase (XO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities, nitric oxide (NO●) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the IR group were statistically higher than in the other groups. Moreover, XO activity in the IR plus TQ group was statistically lower than all other groups including the IR plus CAPE group. In addition, NO● level was found to increase in all groups when compared to the normal control group. CONCLUSIONS: Thymoquinone and CAPE decrease oxidative and nitrosative stress markers and have antioxidant effects, which also increase antioxidant capacity in the liver tissue of irradiated rats.

Effects of acute pancreatitis on plasma total and lipid bound sialic Acid levels: an experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationship between serum levels of total sialic acid, lipid bound sialic acid and acute pancreatitis in a rat model of a common bile duct ligation induced acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Twenty five Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into two groups (n=10: control, n=15: experimental). In the control group only a sham laparotomy was performed. In the experimental group, acute pancreatitis was induced by common pancreatobiliary tract ligation. After 36 hours the rats were killed and amylase, serum total sialic acid, lipid bound sialic acid and lipid profiles were measured. Histopathological confirmation of acute pancreatitis was done using hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: Mean amylase, total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid bound sialic acid (LBSA) measurements in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the lipid profiles between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of TSA and LBSA can be useful as specific markers in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis independent of serum lipid profile.

Noncurative total gastrectomy and oesophagogastrectomy in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma in a country with high incidence.

The role of extensive resectional surgery, including total gastrectomy for the palliation of advanced gastric cancer is controversial. This study shows operative results with complications and mortality occurring after total gastrectomy in patients with advanced stage gastric carcinoma. The study included 83 (48 males and 35 females, median age was 54.6 +/- 11.4 years) patients who underwent palliative total gastrectomy or oesophagogastrectomy (distal oesophagectomy in continuity with total gastrectomy). The reason for nonradical treatment was a too locally advanced disease. There was no case of carcinoma without serosal extension. Only five patients were free of histological lymph node metastases. A total of 72 (86.7%) early postoperative complications, including 17 self-limited wound complications, and 21 pulmonary complications were noted. Dehiscence of the oesophagojejunal anastomosis was noted in 7 patients, 3 of whom subsequently died. A total of 8 (9.6%) patients died in the postoperative period. The mean survival period was 12.8 +/- 0.8 months for all patients. It was 18.16 +/- 2.04 months in stage IIIA patients, 13.37 +/- 0.79 months in stage IIIB, and 7.51 +/- 0.97 months in stage IV patients. Total gastrectomy is a relatively safe procedure even when performing as a palliative procedure, with acceptable mortality and low lethal complication rate, and should be considered an alternative option in palliative treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Plasma homocysteine and liver tissue S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine status in vitamin B6-deficient rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma homocysteine (Hcy), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and liver tissue S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) levels in control and vitamin B6-deficient rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two male rats with a weight of 65-75 g were used for the experiment. The rats were divided into control (n=16) and vitamin B6-deficient groups. At the end of the experiment, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine-HCl (Ketalar, 20 mg/kg, i.p.), and the blood was collected by cardiac puncture after thoracotomy. Plasma Hcy, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), liver SAM, SAH levels measured by an isocratic system with high performance liquid chromatography. Plasma GSH-Px, GSH activities and GSH, MDA levels were carried out using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Plasma Hcy, MDA, liver tissue SAH levels were significantly increased, whereas plasma GSH, PLP, liver tissue SAM levels, plasma GST, GSH-Px activities and SAM/SAH ratio were decreased compared to those of control group. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin B6 deficiency causes an increase in plasma homocysteine levels. Thus, we think that vitamin B6 supplementation could be used for therapeutic purposes in hyperhomocysteinemia condition.

A questionaire study evaluating the knowledge and approach by physicians about arterial blood gas.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arterial blood pressure analysis is a frequently applied method in the diagnosis and follow-up of respiratory insufficiency and in the treatment of patients under risk. It is very important to take and analyze the blood gas sample properly. Therefore, a questionary study was performed which evaluated the knowledge and the approach of doctors working in various specialties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionary form consisting of 27 questions were filled by 100 specialist physicians who participated in the study. RESULTS: It was observed that doctors participating in our study had partly sufficient knowledge regarding administration and evaluation of arterial blood gas. It was considered that in intensive care unit experience of participant doctors during their intern periods was a very important factor. But it was observed that most of the participant specialist physicians performed Allen test before radial artery puncture, and they frequently preferred femoral artery for their first puncture option, and they did not pay attention in the proper transportation of the samples and in sending cultures from arterial cannula against risk of infection. The majority of doctors who participated in our study stated that they would like to receive training in arterial blood gas administration and evaluation. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, to take samples from arterial blood gas is an invasive operation and if not performed correctly it can cause complications to develop. Transportation and evaluation is as much important as sampling. It is very important to provide sufficient education to candidates of specialist physicians and to organize training courses aimed to increase their knowledge and experience during the period of their speciality without taking their speciality into account.