Melatonin exhibits partial protective effects against gemcitabine- and cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries in mice.

Cisplatin has the potential to cause kidney and reproductive organ injuries, prompting the search for protective agents against cisplatin-induced toxicity. Melatonin, an antioxidant hormone, has shown promise in mitigating oxidative stress in various organs. However, its protective effects on cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries have not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to explore the potential protective effects of melatonin on cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries when administered in combination with gemcitabine in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a seven-week treatment with gemcitabine plus cisplatin, with or without melatonin intervention. The testis, epididymis, and kidney were assessed through histological analysis and measurement of blood parameters. Treatment with cisplatin led to a significant reduction in testicular weight, histological abnormalities, and alterations in reproductive hormone levels. Melatonin exhibited a slight protective effect on the testis, with higher doses of melatonin yielding better outcomes. However, melatonin did not reverse the effects of cisplatin on the epididymis. Administration of melatonin before and during treatment with cisplatin plus gemcitabine in mice demonstrated a modest protective effect on testicular injuries, while showing limited effects on epididymal injuries. Serum creatinine levels in the group treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin treatment and high-dose melatonin approached those of the control group, indicating a protective effect on the kidney. These findings underscore the potential of melatonin as a protective agent against cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries and emphasize the need for further research to optimize its dosage and evaluate its long-term effects.

Melatonin induces cell cycle arrest and suppresses tumor invasion in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC) encompasses about 90% of all bladder cancer cases, and the mainstream treatment is the transurethral resection of the bladder tumor followed by intravesical instillation. High rates of mortality, recurrence, and progression in bladder cancer have stimulated the search for alternative adjuvant therapies. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of melatonin as adjuvant therapy in bladder cancer. Cell viability and clonogenic ability were assessed by an MTT assay and colony formation. Cell cycle and apoptosis analysis were performed by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining, while cell metastasis capacity was measured by wound healing and transwell assays. Potential mechanisms were investigated by an oncology array and verified via western blotting. The melatonin treatment significantly reduced T24 and UMUC3 bladder cancer cell proliferation and clonogenic ability. G1 arrest and sub-G1 accumulation in the T24 and UMUC3 cells led to cell proliferation suppression and cell death, and Hoechst 33342 staining further verified the apoptosis induction directly by melatonin. Moreover, melatonin weakened cell motility and invasiveness. Based on the oncology array results, we demonstrated that melatonin exerts its anti-cancer effect by down-regulating the HIF-1α and NF-κB pathways and downstream pathways, including Bcl-2, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction in the UBUC cells. Overall, these findings support the potential of melatonin as adjuvant therapy in bladder cancer.

The effect of coffee/caffeine on postoperative ileus following elective colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Postoperative ileus (POI) is the most common complication of elective colon resection. Coffee or caffeine has been reported to be useful in improving gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of coffee/caffeine on POI in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. METHODS: We searched Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov (until July 2021) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of coffee or caffeine on bowel movements and POI in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. The mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes were calculated and are presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A random effects model was used in all meta-analyses. RESULTS: A total of four RCTs including 312 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Postoperative coffee or caffeine consumption decreased the time to first bowel movement (MD, - 10.36 h; 95% CI, - 14.61 to - 6.11), shortened the length of hospital stay (MD, - 0.95 days; 95% CI, - 1.57 to - 0.34), and was associated with a decreased risk of the use of any laxatives after the procedure (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.92). The time to first flatus, time to tolerance of solid food, risk of any postoperative complication, postoperative reinsertion of a nasogastric (NG) tube, and anastomotic leakage showed no statistical differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative coffee or caffeine consumption improved bowel movement and decreased the duration of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. This method is safe and can prevent or treat POI.