RESUMO
Acute kidney injury is a frequent disorder that can be mimicked by the application of different nephrotoxic agents, including carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), where kidney injury marker-1 (KIM-1) has been recognized as a highly specific marker. Melatonin is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants and has numerous beneficial properties. We evaluated the nephroprotective potential of 2 melatonin treatment regimens (pre- and post-intoxication) in a CCl4-induced acute kidney injury model based on the standard serum parameters, kidney tissue antioxidative capacity, KIM-1 levels, and kidney tissue morphological changes. The two treatment regimens were found to preserve kidney function, as judged from the evaluated standard serum parameters. Only when administered after the intoxication, melatonin preserved total kidney antioxidant capacity; pre-treatment melatonin only preserved reduced glutathione levels. An increase in tissue KIM-1 level was found to be prevented by both treatment regimens, which correlated with the morphological changes seen in the kidney tissues of animals treated with melatonin and CCl4. The findings of our study are in agreement with the known actions of melatonin in relieving kidney tissue oxidative burden, but also contribute to the understanding of its action by preventing an increase in KIM-1.
Assuntos
Tetracloreto de Carbono/efeitos adversos , Citoproteção/efeitos dos fármacos , Rim/efeitos dos fármacos , Rim/lesões , Melatonina/farmacologia , Animais , Biomarcadores/sangue , Rim/citologia , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) is registered in 2%-3% of newborns. In most cases, the causes are not identifiable. OBJECTIVE: We explored the correlation between the intellectual disability and gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, familial diseases, congenital anomalies, and acquired medical disorders, with the aim to estimate the prevalence and severity of comorbidities in the affected children. METHODS: Our study included 22 children with ID, and 24 with proper psychomotor development, aged 5-10 who were not considered to have ID. RESULTS: The presence of familial disorders and CNS congenital anomalies increased the risk of ID 4.147 and 2.59 times, respectively. The risk for other congenital and noncongenital diseases was higher (7.38 and 1.4 times, respectively) in children with intellectual disability. CONCLUSIONS: Children with intellectual disabilities have higher incidence of congenital diseases, family disorders and a higher frequency of acquired disorders during childhood. Apgar score is a sensitive predictor of morbidity regarding congenital as well as noncongenital medical conditions.
Assuntos
Comorbidade , Anormalidades Congênitas/epidemiologia , Deficiência Intelectual/epidemiologia , Índice de Apgar , Peso ao Nascer , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Doença , Epidemiologia , Feminino , Idade Gestacional , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Prevalência , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
CASE REPORT: The case of a drowning teenager is described involving application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by an untrained rescuer in the field and fast transport to a hospital enabling a positive resuscitation outcome despite an underorganized emergency medical service in a rural area. In our case hypoxia led to extended functional disorders of the cardiovascular system, which fully recovered after adequate therapy. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about BLS measures by ordinary citizens, together with continuous education of health professionals concerning modern techniques of CPR, is crucial for increasing the number of patients surviving after cardiac arrest.
RESUMO
AIMS: The present study was designed to compare the ameliorating potential of pre- and post-treatments with melatonin, a potent natural antioxidant, in the carbon tetrachloride-induced rat liver damage model by tracking changes in enzymatic and non-enzymatic liver tissue defense parameters, as well as in the occurring pathohistological changes. MAIN METHODS: Rats from two experimental groups were treated with melatonin before and after CCl4 administration, while the controls, negative and positive, received vehicle/melatonin and CCl4, respectively. Serum levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphates, γ-GT, bilirubin, and albumin, as well as a wide panel of oxidative stress-related parameters in liver tissue, were determined in all experimental animals. Liver tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and further evaluated for morphological changes. KEY FINDINGS: Both pre- and post-treatment with melatonin prevented a CCl4-induced increase in serum (ALT, AST, and γ-GT) and tissue (MDA and XO) liver damage markers and a decrease in the tissue total antioxidant capacity, in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems. The intensity of pathological changes, hepatocyte vacuolar degeneration, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, was suppressed by the treatment with melatonin. SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, melatonin, especially as a post-intoxication treatment, attenuated CCl4-induced liver oxidative damage, increased liver antioxidant capacities and improved liver microscopic appearance. The results are of interest due to the great protective potential of melatonin that was even demonstrated to be stronger if applied after the tissue damage.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Intoxicação por Tetracloreto de Carbono/tratamento farmacológico , Intoxicação por Tetracloreto de Carbono/patologia , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/tratamento farmacológico , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/patologia , Fígado/patologia , Melatonina/uso terapêutico , Alanina Transaminase/metabolismo , Animais , Aspartato Aminotransferases/metabolismo , Intoxicação por Tetracloreto de Carbono/metabolismo , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/metabolismo , Hepatócitos/metabolismo , Hepatócitos/patologia , Inflamação/sangue , Fígado/metabolismo , Testes de Função Hepática , Masculino , Malondialdeído/sangue , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Xantina Oxidase/sangue , gama-Glutamiltransferase/metabolismoRESUMO
Abstract Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) represents an organic chemical that causes reactive oxygen species derived organ disturbances including male infertility. Melatonin (MLT) is a neurohormone with strong antioxidant capacity, involved in numerous physiological processes. In this study we evaluated the capability of MLT, administered in a single dose of 50 mg/kg, to preserve the testicular tissue function after an acute administration of CCl4 to rats. The disturbance in testicular tissue and the effects of MLT after CCl4 exposure were estimated using biochemical parameters that enabled us to determine the tissue (anti)oxidant status and the intensity of arginine/nitric oxide metabolism. Also, the serum levels of testosterone and the histopathological analysis of tissue gave us a better insight into the occurring changes. A significant diminution in tissue antioxidant defences, arginase activity and serum testosterone levels, followed by the increased production of nitric oxide and extensive lipid and protein oxidative damage, was observed in the CCl4-treated group. The application of MLT after the CCl4 caused changes, clearly visible at both biochemical and histological level, which could be interpreted mainly as a consequence of general antioxidant system stimulation and a radical scavenger. On the other hand, the application of MLT exerted a limited action on the nitric oxide signalling pathway.