Bevacizumab Allows Preservation of Liver Function and its Regenerative Capacity after Major Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Parallel to the safety of liver resections, new chemotherapy drugs have emerged for the control of liver metastases. However, there is unclear evidence about the combination of intensive BVZ-therapy and extended resections. The main aim was to analyse the impact of Bevacizumab (BVZ) in terms of liver safety and tolerability in two experimental models: a basal-toxicity situation and after major hepatectomy. METHODS: Eighty male-Wistar rats were grouped as toxicity analysis (sham-operated rats-OS-) and regeneration after- surgery analysis (hepatectomy rats-H-). Eight further subgroups were created according to sacrifice (6- hours-6h- or 24-hours-24h-) and dose (µg) of BVZ (none, 100, 200, 400). Several measurements were performed, including biochemical serum samples, histopathological analysis, cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-ß), oxidative-stress (GSH/GSSG, ATP), lipid-peroxidation (TBARS) and epidermal and vascular endothelium growth-factors (EGF and VEGF). RESULTS: In the toxicity analysis, safe results with BVZ were observed, with no significant differences among the groups. A trend towards a lower oxidative status was observed in the OS 6 h-100, -200 and -400 versus the OS 6 h-none group. Similar results were observed in the hepatectomy model, with stable oxidative-stress-index and IL-6, TNF- α, and TGF- ß levels. Despite higher lipid peroxidation status, overall regeneration was preserved. As expected, VEGF was almost undetectable in BVZ-treated groups after resection, but not in the non-resection group. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that liver status was not impaired by BVZ even at the high-dose. Similarly, liver regeneration after extended hepatectomy in BVZ-treated animals was well-preserved. Extended liver resections may be encouraged in BVZ-treated patients due to its excellent tolerability and good liver regeneration status.

9-(Dicyano-methyl-idene)fluorene-tetra-thia-fulvalene (1/1).

The title compound, C(16)H(8)N(2)·C(6)H(4)S(4), crystallizes with the fluorene derivative placed in a general position and two half tetra-thia-fulvalene (TTF) mol-ecules, each completed to a whole mol-ecule through an inversion center. The fluorene ring system is virtually planar (r.m.s. deviation from the mean plane = 0.027 Å) and the dicyano group is twisted from the fluorene plane by only 3.85 (12)°. The TTF mol-ecules are also planar, and their central C=C bond lengths [1.351 (8) and 1.324 (7) Å] compare well with the same bond length in neutral TTF (ca 1.35 Å). These features indicate that no charge transfer occurs between mol-ecules in the crystal; the compound should thus be considered a cocrystal rather than an organic complex. This is confirmed by the crystal structure, in which no significant stacking inter-actions are observed between mol-ecules.

Impact of age on liver regeneration response to injury after partial hepatectomy in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection is a feasible treatment for multiple liver diseases. There is no evidence about the impact of age on liver regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of age on liver regeneration in an experimental in vivo animal model of 70%-partial hepatectomy. METHODS: Forty young (Y) and old (O) Wistar male rats (n = 80) were distributed into four groups [controls (C), sham operated (SO), hepatectomy 6 h (H6), and 48 h (H48)]. Different morphometric and biochemical factors, oxidative and nitrosative stress, lipid peroxidation, cytokines kinetics, and histopathologic tissular parameters were determined. RESULTS: Early postoperative mortality was higher in aged rats (P = 0.049). Morphometric determinations, liver regeneration index, and total volume weight were favorable to young rats. Serum transaminase levels were higher in aged rats. Parameters of necrosis (measured by histopathologic injury [HI: 0-I-II-III]), regeneration (measured by bromodeoxyuridine-BrdU incorporation) and apoptosis (determined by the TDT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-TUNEL) were well-synchronized in young rats. Parameters of oxidative stress such as reduced (GSH), oxidized (GSSG) glutathione and lipid peroxidation (measured by hepatic malondialdehyde -MDA-) were lower in young animals throughout the studied period. Nitrosative stress measured by nitric oxide (NO) end-products was higher in late stages in resected old rats. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α) reached higher and earlier levels in aged rats while pro-regenerative cytokines (IL-6) were significantly higher in early stages for young rats and in late stages for aged rats. The levels of TGF-ß were higher in young rats. CONCLUSION: Liver regeneration is delayed and reduced in aged animals submitted to liver resection.

Structure and degree of charge transfer of two polymorphs of a 1:1 molecular complex: [2,2'-bis-1,3-dithiole][9-dicyanomethylene-4,5,7-trinitrofluorene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester] (TTF-MeDC2TNF).

A new organic charge-transfer complex, C(18)H(7)N(5)O(8).C(6)H(4)S(4), has been prepared using TTF (tetrathiafulvalene) as a donor (D) and MeDC2TNF (9-dicyanomethylene-4,5,7-trinitro-fluorene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester) as an acceptor (A). Two monoclinic polymorphs of the 1:1 salt were crystallized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Form alpha crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n with Z' = 1, while form beta crystallizes in space group C2/c with Z' = 1/2 and the MeDC2TNF moiety disordered across a twofold axis. Both phases have mixed-stack crystal packings, which are characteristic of semiconducting one-dimensional organic complexes. However, the observed crystal packings are significantly different, with a single D...A interlayer separation of 3.452 A for the disordered beta polymorph and interlayer separations of 3.378 and 3.483 A in the case of the ordered alpha form. These variations are reflected in the degree of charge transfer, delta, which was estimated on the basis of the b(2u) stretching-mode frequency shift observed in the IR spectra for the cyano groups of the MeDC2TNF radical anion. The fact that the charge transfer is more efficient for alpha-(TTF-MeDC2TNF) than for beta-(TTF-MeDC2TNF) (delta = 0.35 and 0.31, respectively) is consistent with the structural features observed for each crystalline form.