Ameliorative effect of trimetazidine on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) against cisplatin (CP) induced liver damage in rats. Animals were distributed among 4 groups as follows: control group; TMZ group (20 mg/kg body mass, per oral), which was treated for 10 days; CP group (6 mg/kg, by intraperitoneal injection), which received a single injection; and the CP + TMZ group (20 mg/kg, per oral), which received TMZ 4 days before and 6 days after CP injection. The extent of hepatic damage was studied by assessing biochemical parameters and histopathological evaluation of the extracted liver tissue. The results revealed that liver enzymes were markedly elevated after injection of CP, as evident from significant increases in the serum levels of alanine transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as marked changes to the liver architecture, with a significant decrease in serum levels of albumin. There were also marked changes to the antioxidant defense system, as indicated by significant decreases in total antioxidants and hepatic levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), together with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. However, there was a significant increase in the activity of hepatic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) as well as hepatic Bax protein expression. We conclude that TMZ protects against CP-induced liver damage through scavenging free radicals and anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects, as well as through reducing NF-κB activation.

Histopathological features of colorectal cancer in Al-Madinah region of Saudi Arabia: 8 years experience.

BACKGROUND: To determine the histopathological pattern of colorectal cancer (CRC) among Saudi patients with a view to determine various epidemiological and histopathological features of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected and analyzed the demographic and histopathological data of all the patients with CRC diagnosed at King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia over a period of 8 years from January 2006 to December 2013. RESULTS: Of 324 cases of CRC reviewed, 200 cases (61.7%) were males while 124 cases (38.3%) were females giving a male to female ratio of 1.6: 1. Age of the patients ranged from 20 to 100 years with a mean age 57.9 years. The rectosigmoid region was the most frequent anatomical site (13.6%) involved and adenocarcinoma (88.6%) was the most common histopathological type. The majority of adenocarcinomas (87.3%) were moderately differentiated. A total of 47.8% of patients were in stage B and 43.5% of patients were in stage C of the Aster-Coller classification. Most patients (75.7%) presented with large size tumors. Lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were recorded in 67.9% and 43.6% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal cancer is common in our environment and the majority of patients present late with an advanced stage. Screening programs regarding CRC should be enhanced to improve the outcome of the patients.

Profile of colorectal polyps: a retrospective study from King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

AIM: To evaluate the predominant colorectal polyps in the Almadinah region of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this iretrospective study, we analyzed pathology reports of colonoscopies performed in King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia during the period 2006 to 2013. Data based on patient age, gender, size, site and type of polyps and the degree of dysplasia were analyzed by software SPSS 17 and compared with other published studies from different geographic regions of the world. RESULTS: During these years, 224 patients had colonic polyps, of whom 149 (66.5%) were men and 75 (33.5%) were women. The most common types of polyps were adenomatous (166), followed by hyperplastic polyps (24), juvenile (18), inflammatory (13), lipomatous (2) and one patient with Peutz-Jegher polyps. Tubulovillous adenoma was the commonest adenomatous polyp (102), followed by tubular (41) and villous (23) types. The sigmoid colon was the most commonly involved region (36.6%). Dysplasia was significantly associated with female patients who had large size tubulovillous polyps located in the left colon. CONCLUSIONS: The type and distribution of colorectal polyps in Saudi Arabia is very similar to Western countries. Patient gender, and size, histological type and location of polyps are closely related to dysplastic change in colonic polyps.