Effects of methylene blue in acute lung injury induced by blunt chest trauma.

BACKGROUND: We studied whether methylene blue (MB) treatment blunts chest trauma-induced lung injury in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats, 200-300g, were used. The rats were divided into five groups (n=8): control, early contusion (EC), early contusion + methylene blue (2 mg/kg, EC+MB), late contusion (LC), and late contusion + methylene blue (2 mg/kg, LC+MB). RESULTS: Histopathological analysis showed increased hemorrhage, alveolar wall thickness, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltrates in the EC and LC rats, which decreased upon MB treatment. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that MB reduced activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the number of active terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. A significant increase was observed in the malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the EC group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In addition, a significant decrease was reported in the glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels (p<0.01), but no significant difference was observed in the catalase (CAT) levels among the groups. The MDA level was significantly higher in the LC group compared to the control group, whereas the GSH level was significantly lower compared to the control group. The NO level in the EC+MB group was significantly lower when compared to the NO level in the EC group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that MB might serve as a therapeutic treatment for blunt chest trauma.

Nimodipine can diminish oxidative stress in patients with severe head trauma.

AIM: Antioxidative effect of nimodipine was investigated in patient with severe head trauma. METHODS: The patients in group A were treated according to the standard procedures without nimodipine. Other patients in group B were treated with standard procedures plus intravenous nimodipine for a week. Three times per day, blood samples were taken from internal jugular venous saturation probe and central venous catheter for a week. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitrite, and nitrate, ascorbic acid, retinol and ß-carotene in the serum were measured. RESULTS: MDA levels in group B were significantly lower than those in the group A (P<0.05). As for GSH levels, it was observed that there was a significant increase in GSH levels in group B when compared to those in group A (P<0.01). Comparison of nitrate and nitrite levels in the serum of patient groups showed that these parameters were significantly higher in group B than those in group A (P<0.01). It was seen that there were a significant increase in ascorbic acid (P<0.01) and ß-carotene (P<0.05) levels in group B when compared to those in group A. Values of retinol levels were slightly higher in group B than that of group A, and there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Severe head trauma may increase oxidative stress. Administration of nimodipine may prevent the oxidative stress and may augment endogenous antioxidative defense systems in patients with severe head trauma.

Major and minor bio-element status in children with febrile seizure.

Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common cause of seizures in children. The exact etiopathogenesis is unknown but involves factors like genetic predisposition and alterations in the levels of neurotransmitters and some trace elements. The study includes 48 consecutive children with FS, and 55 healthy age matched control subjects. Calcium, magnesium and potassium concentrations in the febrile study group were lower than in the control group (p<0.05). Iron and Gallium levels in the study group were lower than in the control group (p<0.01). Serum Selenium (p<0.001), Zinc (p<0.001) and Strontium (p0.05). The aim of the present prospective analytical case-control study was to determine whether there was any change in element levels in children with FS (Ref. 33).

Can dantrolene protect spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury? An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the possible protective effect of dantrolene on neuronal injury induced by aortic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: Nineteen rabbits were divided into three groups: sham (group 1, n = 5, no I/R), control (group 2, n = 7, only I/R) and dantrolene (group 3, n = 7, dantrolene + I/R). Abdominal aortic occlusion between the renal arteries and iliac bifurcations was carried out for 30 min. The spinal cord functions of the subjects were assessed using the Tarlov Scale. Blood and cord tissue samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Tarlov scores in group 3 were significantly higher than in group 2 ( P < 0.05). In group 3, the MDA levels of the spinal cord decreased significantly compared to those of group 2 ( P < 0.05). In rabbits with I/R (group 2), the GSH levels of the spinal cord decreased significantly compared to those of group 1 ( P < 0.01), but dantrolene pretreatment significantly prevented a decrease in GSH levels. Histopathological examination showed that group 3 had less vascular proliferation, hemorrhage, edema and neuron loss than group 2. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that dantrolene applied after ischemia might help protect the spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Effects of Nigella sativa L. and Urtica dioica L. on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and some liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects Nigella sativa L. (NS) and Urtica dioica L. (UD) on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and some liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated rats. A total of 60 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized in this study. The rats were randomly allotted into one of four experimental groups: A (CCl4-only treated), B (CCl4 + UD treated), C (CCl4 + NS treated) and D (CCl4 + UD + NS treated), each containing 15 animals. All groups received CCl4 [0.8 ml/kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice a week for 90 days starting day 1]. In addition, B, C and D groups also received daily intraperitoneal injections of 0.2 ml/kg NS or/and 2 ml/kg UD oils for 45 days starting day 46. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 ml/kg normal saline solution for 45 days starting day 46. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from five randomly chosen rats in each treatment group at beginning, at 45th and at 90th day of the experiment. The CCl4 treatment for 45 days increased the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and also decreased the antioxidant enzyme levels. NS or UD treatments (alone or combination) for 45 days starting day 46 decreased the elevated lipid peroxidation and liver enzyme levels and also increased the reduced antioxidant enzyme levels. Live weights of the rats decreased in group A, and increased in groups B, C and D. It is concluded that NS and UD decrease the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and increase the antioxidant defence system activity in the CCl4-treated rats.