The protective effects of pomegranate on liver and remote organs caused by experimental obstructive jaundice model.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the protective potential of pomegranate extract on the liver and remote organs in rats with obstructive jaundice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were split into 4 groups. In Group 1 (G1) (sham group) rats, the common bile duct was mobilized without any ligation. Group 2 (G2) received a combination of the sham operation and synchronous treatment with pomegranate. Group 3 (G3) received common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Group 4 (G4) were subjected to CBDL and treatment with pomegranate. After 8 days, we measured total oxidative status (TOS) and antioxidant capacity in the rats' liver tissue and remote organs, and evaluated blood levels of malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). RESULTS: G3 rats showed significantly raised malondialdehyde level as compared to G1 rats (p < 0.001). Following the pomegranate therapy, a decrease in malondialdehyde was observed (p = 0.015). TAC levels were significantly raised in the G3 rats compared to the G1 rats (p = 0.004). TAC levels dropped after pomegranate therapy (p = 0.011). CBDL caused elevated TOS levels in the liver and remote organs, with a statistically significant increase in the lung tissue (p = 0.002). TOS levels in the CBDL groups decreased after pomegranate treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the marked protective effect of pomegranate on the liver and remote organs in obstructive jaundice.

Validity and reliability of Turkish version of rhinitis and mini-rhinitis quality of life questionnaires

Background: The aim of the present study was to develop the Turkish version of Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and mini-RQLQ for clinical and research purposes. Methods: Study included 55 patients with Allergic Rhinitis (AR), aged 18–69. Demographic characteristics and symptom score (T4SS) were recorded. All patients filled in the Turkish RQLQ and mini-RQLQ. Reliability analysis included internal consistency and item-total score correlations. Construct validity analysis was performed by Known Group method by correlation of RQLQ and mini-RQLQ scores with T4SS and SF36. Results: Mean age of patients was 36.4 ± 10.6. Mean T4SS was 4.7 ± 4.1. Cronbach's α scores of all RQLQ domains were above 0.90 and those of mini-RQLQ were above 0.80. All items were significantly correlated with their domains. All correlation coefficients for item versus domain score were above 0.75 for RQLQ and above 0.84 for mini-RQLQ. Total RQLQ score was correlated with SF36 domains except physical functioning domain. Total mini-RQLQ score was significantly correlated with all SF36 domains (all r > -0.46). T4SS revealed significant correlation with RQLQ practical score (r=0.38). On the other hand, T4SS was correlated significantly with practical, nose and total scores of mini-RQLQ (r=0.33, 0.48, 0.34 respectively). Conclusions Health is the complete state of well-being and AR has major impact on quality of life (QoL), therefore it seems essential to include QoL measures in clinical evaluation along with traditional parameters. This study has demonstrated that RQLQ and mini-RQLQ are valid measures for use in Turkish patients with AR (AU)

Symptoms of the olive pollen allergy: do they really occur only in the pollination season?

BACKGROUND: Olive (Olea europaea; O.e.) pollen is a major cause of seasonal respiratory allergy. The O.e. pollination season lasts two months from the beginning of May till the end of June. It was expected that patients with allergic disease from O.e. sensitization were symptomatic only during this period. However, during the last few years, we have observed that the clinical symptoms appear not only during the O.e. pollination season but also during the rest of the year. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe and document symptoms of respiratory allergic diseases in the O.e. sensitized patients during the O.e. pollination season and after it. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients with respiratory allergic disease were enrolled in the study. Allergenic sensitizations were shown by SPT. Finally, patients were split into two groups as monosensitized with O.e. (n=19) and polysensitized (n=108). Patients were assessed by using scores of respiratory allergic disease symptoms and percentage of peak expiratory flow rate values (PEFR %) (only for asthmatic patients) during the O.e. pollination season and after it. RESULTS: Of the patients with O.e. monosensitization, 13 had allergic rhinitis (AR) only while six had allergic asthma (AA) additionally. AR alone and accompanied by AA was present in 84 and 24 polysensitized patients respectively. Eleven patients with O.e. sensitization (57.9 %) and 86 patients with polysensitization (79.6 %) had AR symptoms throughout the year irrespective of the O.e. pollination season. Similarly, three of the O.e. monosensitized and ten of the polysensitized patients with AA had asthmatic symptoms during the O.e. pollination season and also after it. CONCLUSIONS: In the patient group sensitive to O.e. along with other pollen extracts, it was possible to observe symptoms outside the pollination season. However, patients with O.e. monosensitization also had symptoms to a great extent outside the season.

Sublingual immunotherapy and influence on urinary leukotrienes in seasonal pediatric allergy.

Sublingual immunotherapy has been suggested for the treatment of respiratory allergies. Many controversial studies have been reported on the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate whether sublingual immunotherapy was effective according to clinical and laboratory results in pediatric allergies. Thirty-nine allergic, grass pollen sensitive children were admitted into the study. Sublingual immunotherapy was given over a 12-month period to 21 children (mean age 10.5 +/- 3.3 years), 10 of whom had seasonal allergic rhinitis and 11 seasonal allergic asthma. During the same period, 18 children (mean age 11.1 +/- 2.5 years), 10 with seasonal allergic rhinitis and eight with seasonal allergic asthma, received placebo. Symptom scores and drug requirements were recorded and urine samples were collected to detect urinary levels of leukotrienes (Uc-LTB4 and Uc-LTE4). In patients who received sublingual immunotherapy, the symptom scores of seasonal allergic rhinitis significantly decreased, but no statistically significant changes were observed in terms of symptoms of seasonal allergic asthma. Uc-LTE4 and Uc-LTB4 levels of seasonal allergic rhinitis, with a geometric mean and 95% confidence interval (CI), were significantly decreased from 216 (103-464) and 61 (22-198) pmol/mmol creatinine to 78 (29-159) and 35 (12-118) pmol/mmol creatinine, respectively (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). On the other hand, Uc-LTE4 and Uc-LTB4 levels for seasonal allergic asthma were 180 (92-355) and 78 (44-258) pmol/mmol creatinine and decreased to 156 (72-402) and 69 (32-254) pmol/mmol creatinine, respectively. These changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). According to our clinical results and urinary levels of leukotrienes, which are mediators showing the severity of allergic inflammation, it can be suggested that sublingual immunotherapy may be useful in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis but not of seasonal allergic asthma.