Resveratrol ameliorates methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity in rats via inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Hepatotoxicity is one of the major complications of methotrexate (MTX) therapy. This study was carried out to evaluate the possible protective effect of resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, RVT) against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. Rats were randomly divided into four groups as control, MTX treated (7 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally (i.p.), once daily for 3 consecutive days), MTX + RVT treated (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.), and RVT treated. First dose of RVT was administrated 3 days before the MTX injection and continued for 3 days. Histopathology of liver was evaluated by light microscopy. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were used as biochemical markers of MTX-induced hepatic injury. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, a marker of lipid peroxidation) and activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were used to analyze the oxidative stress-mediated lipid peroxidation in liver sections. Our results showed that MTX administration significantly increased ALT, ASP, and ALP levels. TBARS, CAT, and GST levels were also markedly increased in liver after MTX administration. RVT treatment significantly prevented MTX-induced hepatotoxicity, as indicated by AST, ALT, and ALP levels and liver histopathology. Moreover, administration of RVT significantly decreased the elevated levels of TBARS and activities of CAT and GST in the liver compared to MTX-treated group. These results revealed that RVT may have a protective effect against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated lipid peroxidation. Consequently, RVT treatment might be a promising strategy against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity.

Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting using a laryngoscope: procedural, functional, and morphologic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Because commercial minimally invasive harvesting equipments significantly increase operation costs, they are not always available in all clinics worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate whether minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting using a laryngoscope can be applied efficiently and successfully. METHODS: Thirty patients were prospectively randomized into two groups. One group underwent a minimally invasive technique using a laryngoscope; the other, open saphenous vein harvest. A modified bridging technique, in which tissue retraction and illumination is achieved with a sterilized laryngoscope, was used for minimally invasive harvesting. Smooth muscle contractile and endothelial functions were tested in vitro using an organ chamber. Morphology was examined with light microscopy. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in harvest times or length of the vein harvested by either of the above mentioned techniques. Total length of the incision in the minimally invasive group was significantly shorter than that in the open group. In follow-ups, no significant complications occurred in either group. Pain and leg edema were significantly less in the minimally invasive group compared to those of the open group. There was no significant difference in response to acetylcholine and 80 mM KCl between veins taken with the laryngoscope compared to veins taken with the traditional open technique. Similarly, histological data was unable to show any significant damage to the vessel wall. CONCLUSIONS: Because the laryngoscopic saphenectomy does not harm the harvested graft, it can be applied, instead of other minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting systems, with a zero cost, efficiently, successfully, and with satisfactory speed and significant reduction of postoperative leg pain and wound complications.

The prognostic relevance of angiogenesis and mast cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.

AIMS: Angiogenesis, an important prognostic factor in several tumours, is a complex event mediated by angiogenic factors released from cancer cells and host immune cells. Among the host immune cells, a role has been implicated for mast cells in tumour progression via promoting angiogenesis. Data have been recorded that indicate a correlation between intratumoral neovascularisation, as assessed by microvessel density (MVD), and prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oesophagus. However, a correlation between mast cell density (MCD) and either prognosis or angiogenesis has not been delineated yet in this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of MVD and MCD in SCC of the oesophagus. The correlation between MVD and MCD was also evaluated. METHODS: MVD and MCD were investigated in tumour specimens from 53 patients diagnosed with SCC of the oesophagus. Intratumoral microvessels were stained with anti-CD34 antibody and mast cells with toluidine blue before being measured by light microscopy. RESULTS: Both MVD and MCD were associated with the depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumour progression (stage). A significant correlation was noted between MVD and MCD values (r = 0.72). The prognosis was significantly worse in patients with high MVD (> or = 92) and high MCD (> or = 18) values. Multivariate analysis indicated that MVD and stage were independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the suggestion that MVD is a reliable prognostic marker in SCC of the oesophagus. Moreover, MCD may have a role in the angiogenesis of these tumours and might be responsible for their aggressive behaviour.

Microvessel count, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 indices in gastric adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to immunohistochemically investigate the prognostic value of neovascularization (expressed as microvessel count-MVC) and tumor cell proliferation (expressed as PCNA labeling index PLI and Ki-67 labeling index KLI) in gastric adenocarcinoma. Correlations with clinicopathologic features were also evaluated. Tumor specimens from 74 patients diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections stained immunohistochemically with F-VIII, PC10 and MIB-1 monoclonal antibodies. By ocular grid subdivided into 100 areas, number of microvessels and PC10, MIB-1 positive and negative cells were counted at x400 magnification. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method and cox regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that, MVC and PLI had a significant correlation with invasion and lymph node metastasis. The prognosis was significantly worse in patients with high MVC (>14 ) and with high PLI (>49%). However any relationship was not observed between KLI (38%) and clinicopathologic parameters, so KLI failed to predict the prognosis. Cox model showed that, MVC and PLI were independent prognostic variables. Ki-67 labeling index in gastric carcinomas has no prognostic relevance. However, the evaluation of microvessel count and proliferating cell nuclear antigen index in gastric carcinomas could be reliable indicators of prognosis.