Kefir treatment ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats.

AIM: To investigate the preventive effect of kefir on colitis induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar-albino rats were randomized into four groups: normal control, kefir-control, colitis, and kefir-colitis groups. Rats in the normal and kefir-control groups were administered tap water as drinking water for 14 d. Rats in the colitis and kefir-colitis groups were administered a 3% DSS solution as drinking water for 8-14 d to induce colitis. Rats in the kefir-control and kefir-colitis groups were administered 5 mL kefir once a day for 14 d while rats in the normal control and colitis group were administered an identical volume of the placebo (skim milk) using an orogastric feeding tube. Clinical colitis was evaluated with reference to the disease activity index (DAI), based on daily weight loss, stool consistency, and presence of bleeding in feces. Rats were sacrificed on the 15(th) day, blood specimens were collected, and colon tissues were rapidly removed. Levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, malondialdehyde, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured in colon tissue. RESULTS: The DAI was lower in the kefir-colitis group than in the colitis group (on the 3(rd) and 5(th) days of colitis induction; P < 0.01). The DAI was also significantly higher in the colitis group between days 2 and 6 of colitis induction when compared to the normal control and kefir-control groups. The DAI was statistically higher only on the 6(th) day in the kefir-colitis group when compared to that in the normal control groups. Increased colon weight and decreased colon length were observed in colitis-induced rats. Mean colon length in the colitis group was significantly shorter than that of the kefir-control group. Kefir treatment significantly decreased histologic colitis scores (P < 0.05). MPO activity in the colitis group was significantly higher than in the kefir-control group (P < 0.05). Kefir treatment significantly reduced the DSS colitis-induced TNF-α increase (P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed among groups for IL-10 and MDA levels. Colon tissue iNOS levels in the colitis group were significantly higher than those in the control and kefir-colitis groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Kefir reduces the clinical DAI and histologic colitis scores in a DSS-induced colitis model, possibly via reduction of MPO, TNF-α, and iNOS levels.

N-acetylcysteine modulates doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamin concentrations in liver of rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent, and is widely used in cancer treatment. The most common side effect of DOX was indicated on cardiovascular system by experimental studies. There are some studies suggesting oxidative stress-induced toxic changes on liver related to DOX administration. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) relieves oxidative stress in DOX- induced liver injury in rat. Twenty-four male rats were equally divided into three groups. First group was used as a control. Second group received single dose of DOX. NAC for 10 days was given to constituting the third group after giving one dose of DOX. After 10 days of the experiment, liver tissues were taken from all animals. Lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were higher in the DOX group than in control whereas LP levels were lower in the DOX+NAC group than in control. Vitamin C and vitamin E levels were lower in the DOX group than in control whereas vitamin C and vitamin E levels were higher in the DOX+NAC group than in the DOX group. Reduced glutathione levels were higher in the DOX+NAC group than in control and DOX group. Glutathione peroxidase, vitamin A and ß-carotene values were not changed in the three groups by DOX and NAC administrations. In histopathological evaluation of DOX group, there were mononuclear cell infiltrations, vacuolar degeneration, hepatocytes with basophilic nucleus and sinusoidal dilatations. The findings were totally recovered by NAC administration. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine induced modulator effects on the doxorubicin-induced hepatoxicity by inhibiting free radical production and supporting the antioxidant vitamin levels.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux finding scores correlate with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Helicobacter pylori expression.

CONCLUSION: The expression of Helicobacter pylori (HP) positivity and degree of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) correlate with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). HP positivity and degree of GERD were more adverse in patients with a reflux finding score (RFS) of 7 or more. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between RFS and inflammation of the lower part of the esophagus as well as RFS and HP infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients were analyzed prospectively. The degree of LPR was evaluated using the RFS method. The degree of GERD, lower esophageal mucosal inflammation, and antral HP positivity were evaluated using endoscopic surveys. RESULTS: The mean RFS of the whole population was 11.5+/-4.4. The mean RFS of patients who had lower esophageal mucosal inflammation was 7+/-0.1, 8.1+/-1.3, 13.9+/-3.7, and 16.6+/-3.5, for grades A, B, C and D, respectively. The RFS of patients according to HP expression was as follows: 7.2+/-0.4, 9.3+/-3.07, 12.7+/-3.16, and 17.8+/-2.1, for normal (score 0), score I, score II, and score III, respectively.

Cardiac dysfunction in cirrhosis.

In cirrhosis, cardiac symptoms and physical signs occur as the liver functions worsen. Cirrhosis is associated with hyperdynamic circulation and beta-adrenergic system activation responsible for the cardiovascular changes. The purpose of the present study was to explore the cardiovascular response to exercise in cirrhotic patients. A total of 20 patients (16 men, four women) with cirrhosis of hepatitis B or C without any cardiac dysfunction were included in the study. Ten people (eight men, two women) were enrolled in the control group. Plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations, blood pressures in supine and standing positions, exercise echocardiography and exercise radionuclide ventriculography were carried out. In cirrhotics, the exercise capacity was lower and also there was an impaired cardiovascular response to exercise with lower than expected peak heart rate without any cardiac dysfunction, which may have important clinical implications for the ability of these patients to withstand cardiovascular stress.

Plasma homocysteine level and uveitis in Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease is a chronic relapsing systemic vasculitis of unknown origin in which orogenital ulceration, skin lesions and uveitis are prominent features. Patients with BD have been recognized to be at greater risk for vascular diseases such as thrombosis and aneurysms. Uveitis in BD is usually accompanied by retinal vaso-occlusive disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible role of hyperhomocysteinemia as a prethrombotic disorder in the development of uveitis. METHODS: The study population consisted of 29 patients with BD (13 males and 16 females with a mean age of 32.3 years, range 21-52) and 24 healthy controls. All patients fulfilled the criteria of the International Study Group for BD. The patients were categorized as having active (n = 8) or inactive disease (n = 11) or only uveitis (n = 10). Plasma fasting homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels were studied in all patients and controls. The fasting homocysteine level was significantly higher in patients with only uveitis than in inactive patients and controls (P = 0.029 and P = 0.26 respectively). It was also higher in patients with active disease compared to healthy controls (P = 0.,001). However, no significant difference was found between homocysteine levels of patients with active or inactive disease (P = 0.69). CRP, as a marker of disease activity, was higher in active BD and in patients with only uveitis than in controls (P = 0.01 and P = 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: Homocysteine may play a role in ocular involvement of BD. Chronic inflammation can induce hyperhomocysteinemia, thereby leading to thrombosis in the retinal vascular bed in a way similar to that recently proposed for the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.

Diabetic gastroparesis in association with autonomic neuropathy and microvasculopathy.

Gastroparesis is a frequent and sometimes life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. Autonomic neuropathy seems to be one of the most important mechanisms underlying this entity, together with the other probable pathologies. The present study was performed in order to identify an alternative to gastric scintigraphy as a screening test. The gastric emptying times of 60 subjects (Group 1: 20 insulin-dependent patients, Group 2: 20 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, and Group 3: 20 healthy volunteers) were monitored by gastric scintigraphy. Perception thresholds for cold, heat, and vibration were tested by a quantitative sensory test, and QTc dispersions were calculated from standard electrocardiography recordings. In addition, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c and urine beta2-microglobulin and microalbumin concentrations were determined for the patient groups. Funduscopic examination was performed by an independent ophthalmologist. Gastroparesis was determined in both patient groups, regardless of fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c concentrations. A strong correlation was observed between nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiac autonomic denervation (QTc) and gastroparesis. In conclusion, retinal and renal microvasculopathy parameters and cardiac autonomic function tests may be useful for screening diabetic patients for gastroparesis.