Inhibition of methotrexate induced toxicity in the adult rat spleen by adalimumab.

Methotrexate (MTX) has been in use for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and cancer since 1948. Its toxic side effects on tissues and organs have been well documented but splenotoxicity has not been addressed. This study set out to investigate this issue by examining the effectiveness of anti-TNFα agents against MTX-induced toxicity in T lymphocytes and macrophages via the regulation of CD3, CD68, and CD200R. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were allocated to three groups: control (received saline solution only), MTX (20 mg/kg of single-dose of MTX), and Ada + MTX (single dose of 10 mg/kg Adalimumab before MTX administration). The spleens were removed 5 days after MTX administration. The number of CD3+/mm3cells for the control, MTX and Ada + MTX groups were, respectively, 2.69 ± 0.86, 20.51 ± 2.7, (p = 0.000) and 11.07 ± 2.01 (p = 0.000). The number of CD68+ macrophages/mm3 in the control, MTX and Ada + MTX groups were, respectively, 8.62 ± 1.08, 38.19 ± 1.37 (p = 0.000), and 16.87 ± 12.57 (p = 0.000). The number of macrophages that were CD200R+/mm3 in the control, MTX, and Ada + MTX groups were 3.33 ± 1.66, 25.77 ± 2.37 (p = 0.000), and 8.68 ± 2.66 (p = 0.000), respectively. We also observed that Ada reduced the numerical densities of these cells following MTX administration (p < 0.05). Ada may, therefore, be a promising candidate for the prevention of the deleterious effects on T lymphocytes and macrophages of MTX-induced toxicity.

Serum visfatin level is associated with complexity of coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Visfatin is an adipokine that plays a role in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate whether adipokine is associated with the extent of stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The study population included 110 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography (CAG) due to stable angina pectoris. The severity of CAD was assessed by the 'Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX)' score. We evaluated patients in two groups: group 1 with a SYNTAX score <22 (low) and group 2 with a SYNTAX score ⩾22 (intermediate to high). RESULTS: Serum visfatin (8.6 ± 4.2 ng/ml versus 13.4 ± 5.2 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels [0.46 (0.25-0.77) mg/dl versus 0.71 (0.32-1.10) mg/dl, p < 0.001] were lower in group 1. A positive significant correlation was found between serum visfatin level and SYNTAX score (r = 0.559, p < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, visfatin [odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.36; p < 0.001], CRP (OR 6.22, 95% CI 1.70-22.7; p = 0.006), and diabetes mellitus (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.10-13.2; p = 0.034) were found to be independent predictors of SYNTAX score. CONCLUSIONS: Serum visfatin level was positively correlated with CAD severity in patients with high SYNTAX score. Serum visfatin level can be a useful biomarker for predicting high SYNTAX scores in patients with angina pectoris undergoing CAG.

The effects of mobile phone exposure on mast cells in rat dura mater / Efectos de la exposición del teléfono móvil en los mastocitos de la duramadre de ratas

Mobile phone use has increased rapidly. The central nervous system has been shown to be adversely affected by its electromagnetic field (EMF) resulting in headache and sleep disturbances. How the cells make up the CNS and are affected by EMF is unclear. However, because of their central role in inflammation through diverse stimuli including radiation, this study aimed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields induced by mobile phones on mast cells in rat dura mater. A total of 18 adult, female, SpragueDawley rats were divided into two groups. The choice of female rats for his study was based on recent surveys demonstrating that mobile phone use is more frequent and prolonged among females. The study group was exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field (1 h/day for 45 days). In the end of the study, duramater tissue was extracted and stained using Toluidine blue. Mast cells were counted and results were analysed using Student t test. Mean mast cell number was 202.33±9.82 and 456.78±35.01 in the control and study groups, respectively (p<0.05). Analysis of serum electrolyte and immunoglobulin E levels showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). The study showed that mobile phone exposure increased mast cell number and degranulation in rat dura mater. Further studies are required to evaluate the clinical implications of these findings.

El uso del teléfono móvil ha aumentado rápidamente. Se ha demostrado que el sistema nervioso central (SNC) se ve afectado de manera adversa debido al campo electromagnético (CEM) que produce dolor de cabeza y trastornos del sueño. No está claro cómo se ve afectada la composición celular del SNC por el CEM. Sin embargo, debido a su función principal en la inflamación a través de diversos estímulos que incluyen la radiación, este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los efectos de los campos electromagnéticos inducidos por los teléfonos móviles en los mastocitos de la duramadre de ratas. Un total de 18 ratas Sprague-Dawley adultas, hembras, se dividieron en dos grupos. Se usaron ratas hembras para este estudio en base a investigaciones recientes que han demostrado que el uso de teléfonos móviles es más frecuente y prolongado en las mujeres. Los grupos de estudio fueron expuestos a un campo electromagnético de 900 MHz (1 h / día durante 45 días). Al término del estudio, fue extirpado el tejido de la duramadre y teñido con azul de toluidina. Se contaron los mastocitos y se analizaron los resultados utilizando la prueba t de Student. La cantidad media de células cebadas fue de 202,33 ± 9.82 y 456,78 ± 35,01 en los grupos control y estudio, respectivamente (p <0,05). El análisis del electrolito sérico y los niveles de inmunoglobulina E no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos (p> 0,05). El estudio mostró que la exposición a teléfonos móviles aumentó el número de mastocitos y la desgranulación en la duramadre de las ratas. Se requieren estudios adicionales para evaluar las implicaciones clínicas de estos hallazgos.