Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine and oxfenicine on aorta stiffness in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: We compared the haemodynamic and metabolic effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (one of the carnitine derivatives) and of oxfenicine (a carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 inhibitor) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced by a single tail vein injection of 55mgkg(-1) streptozotocin. The diabetic animals daily treated with either acetyl-L-carnitine (150mgkg(-1) in drinking water) or oxfenicine (150mgkg(-1) by oral gavage) for 8weeks,were compared with the untreated age-matched diabetic controls. Arterial wave reflection was derived using the impulse response function of the filtered aortic input impedance spectra. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) measurement was used to estimate malondialdehyde (MDA) content. RESULTS: Oxfenicine, but not acetyl-L-carnitine, increased total peripheral resistance in diabetes, which paralleled its elevation in plasma levels of free fatty acids. By contrast, acetyl-L-carnitine, but not oxfenicine, resulted in a significant increase in wave transit time and a decrease in wave reflection factor, suggesting that acetyl-L-carnitine may attenuate the diabetes-induced deterioration in systolic loading condition for the left ventricle. This was in parallel with its lowering of MDA/TBARS content in plasma and aortic walls in diabetes. Acetyl-L-carnitine therapy also prevented the diabetes-related cardiac hypertrophy, as evidenced by the reduction in ratio of the left ventricular weight to body weight. CONCLUSION: Acetyl-L-carnitine, but not oxfenicine, attenuates aortic stiffening and cardiac hypertrophy, possibly through its decrease of lipid oxidation-derived MDA/TBARS in the rats with insulin deficiency.

[A case of successful control of recurrent duodenal carcinoma receiving paclitaxel].

We have experienced a case of successful control of recurrent duodenal carcinoma receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy. A 61-year-old woman with epigastralgia was diagnosed with pyloric gastric carcinoma upon upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy. Distal gastrectomy with D2 dissection was performed. However, at the resected organ, the lesion was on the duodenum. So, we additionally resected the anal edge. And 13a, 13b, 12a, p lymph nodes were dissected for duodenal carcinoma. Later, the CEA level was increased, and abdominal CT scan showed swelling of paraaortic lymph nodes. Recurrence of the duodenal carcinoma was diagnosed in February 2007, and S-1 administration was begun. But, we dosed down with S-1 due to severe diarrhea. In spite of combined S-1 and CPT-11 chemotherapy, the CEA level increased, and lymph nodes were getting larger. She then underwent the paclitaxel chemotherapy during the 5 months without severe side effects. The CEA level decreased significantly and metastatic lymph nodes were reduced observed by CT scan. Paclitaxel chemotherapy is effective for duodenal cancer.