Carnosine mitigates apoptosis and protects testicular seminiferous tubules from gamma-radiation-induced injury in mice.

This study investigated the radioprotective effects of a naturally occurring dipeptide, carnosine, on testicular damage. Carnosine was administered (10, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) body weight) to male mice via intraperitoneal injection for 4 days prior to gamma irradiation (2 Gy). Apoptosis with the TUNEL assay and histopathological parameters were evaluated 12-h and 14-day post-irradiation. Pre-treatment with carnosine before irradiation significantly reduced the frequency of TUNEL-positive cells induced by radiation treatment at all doses by reduction factors of 1.8, 2.47 and 2.23 for carnosine at 10, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) bw, respectively, unlike that observed in the radiation alone group. Exposure to ionising radiation decreased sperm count and reduced the height and diameter of seminiferous epithelial tubules. Pre-treatment with all doses of carnosine significantly augmented seminiferous epithelial height and tubule diameter and also increased the number of germinal cells in comparison to the group treated with radiation only. These results indicate that carnosine prevents testicular dysfunction induced by gamma-irradiation via an anti-apoptotic effect; this restoration of proper testicular function ultimately leads to the recovery of spermatogenesis.

Perinatal outcome after fetoscopic release of amniotic bands: a single-center experience and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To present two successful cases of fetoscopic release of amniotic bands with umbilical cord involvement and provide a review of the literature on fetal intervention for amniotic band syndrome (ABS). METHODS: Two cases of ABS were considered in conjunction with a review of the literature. A total of 14 fetuses with ABS underwent fetoscopic intervention between 1965 and 2012. Two of the authors independently completed literature searches in PubMed, Ovid and MEDLINE for articles related to ABS. RESULTS: Among 14 cases of ABS (12 published and our own two), 57% and 7% were complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes and spontaneous preterm birth, respectively. Overall, fetoscopic intervention preserved limb function in 50% (7/14) of cases. Three cases involved intraoperative complications including intra-amniotic bleeding and uterine wall bleeding, and incomplete procedure due to ineffective equipment. CONCLUSION: Fetoscopic release of amniotic bands with minimally invasive surgery may allow preservation of life and/or limb function in cases of ABS. The acceptable functional outcome in 50% of cases is reassuring, although more experience and further studies are needed to determine the selection criteria that will justify the risk of this invasive in-utero therapy for ABS.

Fetoscopic laser ablation of placental anastomoses in twin-twin transfusion syndrome using 'Solomon technique'.

OBJECTIVE: To document perinatal outcomes following use of the 'Solomon technique' in the selective photocoagulation of placental anastomoses for severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). METHODS: Between January 2010 and July 2012, data were collected from 102 consecutive monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by severe TTTS that underwent fetoscopic laser ablation at four different centers. We compared outcomes between subjects that underwent selective laser coagulation using the Solomon technique (cases) and those that underwent selective laser coagulation without this procedure (controls). RESULTS: Of the 102 pregnancies examined, 26 (25.5%) underwent the Solomon technique and 76 (74.5%) did not. Of the 204 fetuses, 139 (68.1%) survived up to 30 days of age. At least one twin survived in 82 (80.4%) pregnancies and both twins survived in 57 (55.9%) pregnancies. When compared with the control group, the Solomon-technique group had a significantly higher survival rate for both twins (84.6 vs 46.1%; P < 0.01) and a higher overall neonatal survival rate (45/52 (86.5%) vs 94/152 (61.8%); P < 0.01). Use of the Solomon technique remained independently associated with dual twin survival (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 11.35 (95% CI, 3.11-53.14); P = 0.0007) and overall neonatal survival rate (aOR, 4.65 (95% CI, 1.59-13.62); P = 0.005) on multivariable analysis. There were no cases of recurrent TTTS or twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) in the Solomon-technique group. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the Solomon technique following selective laser coagulation of placental anastomoses appears to improve twin survival and may reduce the risk of recurrent TTTS and TAPS. Our data support the idea of performing a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the Solomon technique.

The radioprotective effects of Origanum vulgare extract against genotoxicity induced by (131)I in human blood lymphocyte.

Radioiodine ((131)I) has been widely used for the treatment of patients with thyroid diseases. However, there is a persisting concern about the induction of second tumor and genetic damage after (131)I therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effects of Origanum vulgare extract against genotoxicity induced by (131)I in human lymphocytes. Whole blood samples from human volunteers were incubated with origanum extract at doses of 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 µg/mL. After 1 hour of incubation, the lymphocytes were incubated with (131)I (20 µCi/mL) for 1 hour. The lymphocytes were then cultured with a mitogenic stimulant to evaluate micronucleus formation in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells. Incubation of lymphocytes with (131)I induced additional genotoxicity and shown by increases in micronuclei (MN) frequency in human lymphocytes. Origanum at three last doses significantly reduced the MN frequency in cultured lymphocytes. The maximum protective effect and the maximum decrease in the frequency of MN were observed at 100 µg/mL of origanum, which caused a reduction of 70% (p<0.0001). Origanum extract also exhibited an excellent and dose-dependent radical-scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-free radicals. This study has important implications for patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures. The results indicate a protective role for origanum extract against the genetic damage induced by radiopharmaceutical administration.

Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals living in high background radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran.

In order to investigate the biological effects of exposure to low-dose radiation and to assess the dose-effect relationship in residents of high background radiation areas (HBRAs) of Ramsar, cytogenetic investigation of unstable-type aberrations was performed in 15 healthy elderly women in a HBRA of Ramsar, Talesh mahalle, and in 10 elderly women living in a nearby control area with normal background radiation. In total, 77,714 cells were analyzed; 48,819 cells in HBRA residents and 28,895 cells in controls. On average, 3,108 cells per subject were analyzed (range 1,475-5,007 cells). Significant differences were found in the frequency of dicentric plus centric rings in 100 cells (0.207 ± 0.103 vs. 0.047 ± 0.027, p < 0.0005), total chromosome-type aberrations per 100 cells (0.86 ± 0.44 vs. 0.23 ± 0.17, p < 0.0005), and chromatid-type aberrations per 100 cells (3.31 ± 2.01 vs. 1.66 ± 0.63, p = 0.01) by the Mann-Whitney U test between HBRA and the control, respectively. Using chromosomal aberrations as the main endpoint to assess the dose-effect relationship in residents of HBRAs in Ramsar, no positive correlation was found between the frequency of dicentric plus centric ring aberrations and the cumulative dose of the inhabitants estimated by direct individual dosimetry; however, obvious trends of increase with age appeared in the control group. Based on these results, individuals residing in HBRAs of Ramsar have an increased frequency of detectable abnormalities in unstable aberrations.

Cytogenetic radiosensitivity of g0-lymphocytes of breast and esophageal cancer patients as determined by micronucleus assay.

Enhanced chromosomal radiosensitivity is a feature of many cancer predisposition conditions, indicative of the important role of chromosomal alterations in carcinogenesis. In this study the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleous assay was used to compare the radiosensitivity of blood lymphocytes obtained from Iranian breast or esophageal cancer patients (n = 50, n = 16; respectively) with that of control individuals (n = 40). For each sample, one thousand binucleate lymphocytes were analyzed before and after in vitro exposure to 3 Gy of gamma rays. The radiation-induced frequency of micronucleus was significantly higher in the breast cancer group (261/1,000 binucleated cells) than in esophageal cancer group (241/1,000 binucleated cells, P < 0.01) or in the control group (240/1,000 binucleated cells, P < 0.01). The results indicate that breast cancer patients are more radiosensitive compared to normal healthy individuals or esophageal cancer patients. Increased radiosensitivity could be due to defects in DNA repair genes involved in breast cancer formation. Since patients with esophageal cancer did not show elevated radiosensitivity, it is assumed that the contribution of radiosensitivity-related genes to the development of esophageal cancer may be smaller than the contribution of those genes to breast cancer.