The efficiency of proanthocyanidin in an experimental pulmonary fibrosis model: comparison with taurine.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive fatal disorder. Bleomycin (BLM) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent causing PF. Numerous agents have been investigated to prevent the progression of PF so far, but there is still a need to find more efficacious agents. Proanthocyanidin (PA) is a strong antioxidant, the main ingredient of grape seed extract. Since PA is ready for use in practice, we aimed to compare the preventive effect of PA in comparison with taurine (Tau) in BLM-induced PF. Forty Wistar male albino rats were used in the study and were divided into four groups: group 1, control; group 2, BLM-induced PF group; group 3, BLM-induced PF and treated with PA group; and group 4, BLM-induced PF and treated with Tau group. Treatments were begun 10 days before and continued 21 days after BLM injection. PA and Tau effectively inhibited inflammation, edema, severity of fibrosis, fibrosis extension, inflammatory cell accumulation, iNOS staining, and hydroxyproline level as well (p < 0.05). Total histological scores of the PA group were similar to the control group; Tau was significantly higher than the control group but lower than the BLM group (p < 0.05). We believe that PA could be a new treatment choice for PF, but further studies need to be conducted to verify the findings of the current study.

Comparison of antifungal efficacies of moxifloxacin, liposomal amphotericin B, and combination treatment in experimental Candida albicans endophthalmitis in rabbits.

The goal of this study was to compare in vitro and in vivo efficacy of moxifloxacin and liposomal amphotericin B (Amp-B) monotherapies and combination treatment against Candida albicans in an exogenous endophthalmitis model in rabbit eyes. Microplate dilution tests and checkerboard analysis were performed to detect in vitro efficacies. Endophthalmitis was induced by intravitreal injection of C. albicans in 40 rabbit eyes with simultaneous intravitreal drug injection according to prophylactic treatment groups. Group 1 (control group) received 0.1 mL of balanced salt solution, group 2 (moxi group) 100 microg moxifloxacin/0.1 mL, group 3 (Amp-B group) 10 microg liposomal Amp-B/0.1 mL, and group 4 (combi group) both 100 microg moxifloxacin/0.1 mL [DOSAGE ERROR CORRECTED] and 10 microg liposomal Amp-B/0.05 mL intravitreally. Clinical examination, quantitative analysis of microorganisms, and histopathologic examination were performed as in vivo studies. The minimum inhibitory concentration of liposomal Amp-B against C. albicans was found to be 1 microg/mL. Moxifloxacin showed no inhibition of in vitro C. albicans growth. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of liposomal Amp-B for C. albicans were reduced two- to eightfold with increasing concentrations of moxifloxacin in vitro. In vivo, there was no C. albicans growth in the combi group (zero of eight eyes), whereas three eyes (37.5%) showed growth in the Amp-B group. Vitreous inflammation, retinal detachment, focal retinal necrosis, and outer nuclear layer loss were found to be lower in the moxi group compared with the control group. Ganglion cell and inner nuclear layer loss was observed in all eyes (100%) in both the moxi and combi groups, whereas only in 25% (two of eight eyes) in the Amp-B group. Moxifloxacin strongly augments the efficacy of liposomal Amp-B against C. albicans in vitro, although it has no in vitro antifungal activity when used alone. It is interesting that we found a synergistic effect for in vitro tests but failed to demonstrate it in vivo. When 100 microg moxifloxacin/0.1 mL is given intravitreally, it has some toxic effects that are limited to the inner retinal layers.

Probiotic agent Saccharomyces boulardii reduces the incidence of lung injury in acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced rats.

BACKGROUND: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas that can lead to extrapancreatic organ involvement. Supervening lung injury is an important clinical entity determining the prognosis of the patient. Probiotics are dietary supplements known to reduce or alter inflammation and inflammatory cytokines. In the present study, we hypothesize that probiotics may reduce lung injury by reducing bacterial translocation, which results in reduced infection, inflammation, and generation of proinflammatory cytokines in an experimental model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: Pancreatitis was induced by concomitant intravenous infusion of cerulein and glycodeoxycholic acid infusion into the biliopancreatic duct. Saccharomyces boulardii was used as the probiotic agent. Rats were divided into three groups: sham, pancreatitis-saline, which received saline via gavage at 6 and 24 h following the pancreatitis, pancreatitis-probiotics, which received probiotics via gavage method at 6 and 24 h following the pancreatitis. The rats were sacrificed at 48 h, venous blood, mesenteric lymph node, pancreatic and lung tissue samples were obtained for analysis. RESULTS: Serum pancreatic amylase, lactate dehydrogenase, secretory phospholipase A(2), and IL-6 were found to be increased in pancreatitis-saline group compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Histological analyses revealed that edema, inflammation, and vacuolization as well as polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration in the lung tissue was significantly reduced in the probiotic treated group. Bacterial translocation was significantly reduced in the probiotic treated group compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Saccharomyces boulardii reduce the bacterial translocation. As a result of this, reduced proinflammatory cytokines and systemic inflammatory response was observed, which may be the reason underlying reduced lung injury in acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Effects of the probiotic agent Saccharomyces Boulardii on the DNA damage in acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced rats.

Pancreatitis is a mild and self-limiting disease. Although severe forms such as acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) are rare it is associated with significant mortality rate reported to be 30-70%. Probiotics are viable microbial dietary supplements when introduced in sufficient quantities can have beneficial effects. The physiological effects of probiotics include suppression of bacterial infections, production of some digestive enzymes and vitamins and reconstruction of normal intestinal microflora. In the present study, the aim was to investigate the role of probiotics on the DNA damage in the peripheral lymphocytes, in the exfoliated epithelial cells and lymphocytes of the peritoneal fluids and in the pancreatic acinar cells of ANP induced rats. DNA damage was determined by COMET assay. ANP was induced by intravenous infusion of cerulein and superimposed infusion glycodeoxycholic acid into biliopancreatic duct. Saccharomyces Boulardii was used as the probiotic agent. DNA damage in pancreatic acinar cells and exfoliated epithelial cells and the lymphocytes of the peritoneal fluids was significantly higher in pancreatitis group compared to the controls and probiotic treated groups (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the DNA damage between the groups in the peripheral lymphocytes. In conclusion; our results support that probiotic agent Saccharomyces Boulardii can diminish bacterial infections and offer health benefits in the therapy of pancreatitis.

In vivo gastroprotective effects of five Turkish folk remedies against ethanol-induced lesions.

Through evaluation of the data accumulated in Data Bank of Turkish Folk Remedies (TUHIB), five plant remedies, which are used to treat stomach ache were selected to test for their anti-ulcerogenic potency. In order to confirm the claimed activities, either decoction or methanol extracts were prepared from the roots of Asphodelus aestivus and Cichorium intybus, herbs of Equisetum palustre and Viscum album ssp. album and fruits of Laurus nobilis, according to their folkloric application way and tested for their effects on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in rats. Pharmacological experiments clearly demonstrated that the relevant extracts of all the plants given orally showed significant stomach protection against this model of ulcerogenesis. Results were further evaluated by using histopathological techniques.