In vivo effects of curcumin and deferoxamine in experimental endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is one of the most common chronic gynecological diseases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of curcumin and/or deferoxamine on cell proliferation in a rat model of endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty female 12-week-old albino Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were used in this study. All the rats underwent ovariectomy and 0.1-mg ß-estradiol 17-valerate pellets were placed intraperitoneally. An experimental model of endometriosis was created in all the animals. To create the experimental model, an approximately 1-cm long section of the uterus was taken, primarily from the right horn of the uterus. Autologous fragments were then placed between the peritoneum and muscle. The animals were divided into 3 groups: Group A, treated only with the vehicle used for curcumin and deferoxamine; group B, treated with curcumin (100 mg/kg body weight); and group C, treated with deferoxamine + curcumin (100 mg/kg body weight). After biopsy samples were obtained, the sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Immunostaining for cytokeratin-7 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was performed. Blood iron levels were measured using a Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 800 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The endometrial implant size increased in Group A, but treatment with curcumin (p = 0.01) and deferoxamine + curcumin (p = 0.007) reduced the implant size. In ectopic endometrial epithelial cells, there were significant decreases in PCNA immunoreactivity between groups A and B (p = 0.044) and between groups A and C (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with curcumin alone and/or in combination with deferoxamine contributed to a reduction in implant size and cell proliferation in a rat endometriosis model. Iron-chelating agents may act in the same manner when used in women with endometriosis; however, further studies from different perspectives are still needed.

Glucose-induced alteration of accumulation of organotechnetium complexes accumulation in Pgp-negative tumor-bearing mice.

The biologic and microenvironmental factors determining (99m)Tc sestamibi (MIBI) and (99m)Tc tetrofosmin (TF) uptake in breast tumors are incompletely understood, especially in P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-negative tumors. We analyzed the influence of glucose administration on the uptake and retention of MIBI and TF in Pgp-negative tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Twenty (20) mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumor cell (EATC) xenografts were divided into four groups: (1) MIBI, (2) MIBI+glucose, (3) TF, and (4) TF+glucose. Glucose was administered (5.0 g/kg body weight) intraperitoreally (i.p.) 1 hour before scintigraphy. There were significant differences between the E-UPR MIBI and MIBI+glucose groups (p = 0.009) and minor differences in L-UPR between these groups (p = 0.04). There was a significant inverse correlation between E-UPR of MIBI and glucose levels (r = 0.71, p = 0.02). Comparing the four groups, the highest E-UPR was obtained in the MIBI group (p = 0.006). Other parameters were not different in the MIBI and MIBI+glucose groups and in the TF and TF+glucose groups. Increased blood glucose level affected the MIBI uptake of tumor tissue, particularly for E-UPR. We suggest that these findings were due to basically decreased blood flow and secondarily decreased extracellular pH. However, glucose administration did not affect TF.

Experimental myoglobinuric acute renal failure: the effect of vitamin C.

During times of war and natural disasters, rhabdomyolysis-induced myoglobinuric acute renal failure (ARF) can assume epidemic proportions. Free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of myoglobinuric ARF. Vitamin C is a major antioxidant, scavenging free radicals. We have not found any studies on the effect of vitamin C on myoglobinuric ARF. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin C on the myoglobinuric ARF formed by glycerol in rats. Three groups of rats were employed in this study. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was given 50% glycerol (10 mL/kg, i.m.), and group 3 was given glycerol plus vitamin C (20 mg/kg, i.p. for four days). Ninety-six hours after glycerol injections, blood samples and kidney tissues were taken from the anesthetized rats. Urea and creatinine levels in plasma; N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in urine; malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activity in kidney tissue were determined. Histopathological changes and iron accumulation in the kidney tissue were evaluated. In this study, glycerol administration led to marked renal oxidative stress and severe renal functional and morphological deterioration. The treatment of animals with vitamin C partially corrected the renal dysfunction and morphological impairment. In this respect, vitamin C appears to be a promising candidate for the prevention of rhabdomyolysis-induced ARF. Higher dosages of vitamin C than in 20 mg/kg may be beneficial for better functional and morphological recovery in this model ARF.

Microneurosurgical training model in fresh cadaveric cow brain: a laboratory study simulating the approach to the circle of Willis.

BACKGROUND: Residents of neurosurgery need many years to develop microneurosurgical skills, and laboratory training models are essential for developing and refining surgical skills before clinical application of microneurosurgery. A simple simulation model is needed for young residents to learn how to handle microneurosurgical instruments, and to perform safe dissection of intracranial vessels and nerves. METHODS: The material consists of a 2-year-old fresh cadaveric cow cranium. A 4-step approach was designed to dissect the internal carotid artery and its proximal branches, the optic nerve, the optic chiasm, and the pituitary stalk. RESULTS: The model simulates standard microneurosurgery using a variety of approaches to vessels and neural structures in and around the circle of Willis of the human brain. CONCLUSION: The cadaveric cow brain, besides being cost-effective, represents a fairly useful method to accustom residents of neurosurgery, especially junior residents, to dissecting intracranial vessels and nerves, and it simulates intracranial microneurosurgical procedures performed in the human brain.

A laboratory training model for interhemispheric-transcallosal approach to the lateral ventricle.

Laboratory training models are essential for developing and refining surgical skills before clinical application of microneurosurgery. Our aim is to train residents of neurosurgery to be familiar with a basic microneurosurgical technique in access to the lateral ventricle via a transcallosal approach. The training material consists of a 2-year-old fresh cadaveric cow cranium. A four-step approach was designed to simulate microneurosurgical dissection along the falx to visualize cingulated gyri, callosomarginal and pericallosal arteries in order to perform callosotomy and access to the lateral ventricle, and finally to the foramen of Monroe. We conclude that the model perfectly simulates standard microneurosurgical steps in interhemispheric-transcallosal approach to the lateral ventricle and to the area of the foramen of Monroe.