Preventive effect of germinated barley foodstuff on diarrhea induced by water-soluble dietary fiber in rats

The two cases presented illustrate the diagnostic difficulties and recommend an approach to use in patients in whom features of acute renal allograft rejection and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) appear simultaneously in allograft biopsies. Both patients developed acute allograft rejection episodes in the early post-transplant period followed by severe immunosuppression (OKT-3) and active Epstein-Barr virus infection. In addition to early recognition of light microscopic features of PTLD, immunohistology and in situ hybridization for EBV complement the diagnostic work-up and provide clues to the prompt diagnosis of rapidly developing PTLD affecting the allograft even in the face of persisting rejection.     

The effect of alpha-tocopherol and pentoxyfilline on ischemia-reperfusion induced liver injury in rats

BACKGROUND/AIM: In the present study our purpose was to investigate the effect of pentoxyfilline, that plays a role in microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, alone and in combination with an antioxidant vitamin E on tissue damage in the rat liver induced by ischemia-reperfusion. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-one albino rats were divided into four groups. Rats in group I (n= 7), group II (n= 8) and group III (n= 8) were given, respectively, pentoxyfilline (25 mg/kg), pentoxyfilline and vitamin E in combination (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively) and equal volume of saline solution intraperitoneally for 7 days. Rats in group IV (n= 8) served as controls and received no treatment. On day 7 ischemia was induced by cross-clamping the hepatic artery, portal vein and left branch of the biliary duct for 30 minutes. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity were assessed in tissue sample, and the level of ALT was measured in serum obtained after reperfusion for 30 minutes. Histological examination of tissue sample was also carried out. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in ALT level between three study groups. Group I and group II had significant lower MDA and catalase levels than those of group III. The results of histopathologic examination in group I and group II were better than that of group III. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that the treatment of pentoxyfilline alone and in combination with vitamin E decreased liver damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion and that the effect of latter was more effective but the difference between the two treatment patterns was not statistically significant.     

Machanism of the stimulatory effect of intracerebroventricular administration of histamine on gastatric acid secretion induced by pentagastrin in rats

MOTIVATION: We needed an efficient way to explore the binding reactions leading to protein complexes of known composition and structure. RESULTS: A new program is described that allows the user to define a set of protein elements and to link these elements into an oligomeric 'ball-and-stick' assembly in a graphical interface. Once the structure of the oligomer has been defined, the program then employs a novel algorithm to deduce the binding reactions and intermediate complexes needed to make the oligomer from its starting protein components. The program also finds the equilibrium state of the system, using either default starting concentrations and Kd values or data supplied by the user.     

Anterograde amnesia induced by hyperthermia in rats.

Anterograde amnesia (AA), forgetting of events that occur following a traumatic episode, has recently been demonstrated by using hypothermia as the amnestic agent. However, no data currently exist to indicate if hyperthermia might affect memory processing in a similar manner. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that increasing the colonic body temperature of the rat to 3–4°C or more above normal during avoidance training, produced a significant retention loss when the test occurred 24 hr after training. In Experiment 3, AA resulting from an elevation in temperature was reversed by reheating "amnestic" subjects just prior to the 24-hr test. By rapidly reversing hyperthermia immediately after the training trial with a cooling procedure, Experiment 4 demonstrated that hyperthermia-induced AA was not the result of retrograde influences of the heating treatment. Results are discussed in terms of possible retention deficits which could conceivably follow environmental heat stress or fever hyperthermia resulting from bacterial infection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dose-dependent gingival overgrowth induced by cyclosporin in rats

This study evaluated the effect of dosage on severity of cyclosporin-A (CSA) induced gingival overgrowth. Eighty (80) male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups. Rats in each group daily received CSA in mineral oil by gastric feeding at dosages of 0 (control), 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, respectively, for 6 weeks. Stone models of the mandibular incisal region were obtained biweekly and were used for analysis of the gingival dimensions. Animals were sacrificed at the end of week 6 and tissue sections were processed for histopathologic evaluations. Animals were sacrificed at the end of week 6 and tissue sections were processed for histopathologic evaluation Gingival overgrowth including bucco-lingual and mesio-distal width and vertical height were significantly increased with increasing CSA dosage. Furthermore, the gingival dimensions displayed a positive linear relation to dosage and treatment duration. The histopathologic evaluation revealed a granulomatous tissue wedging the tooth-gingival interface in the 3 mg/kg group. This tissue had reached exuberant size in the 10 and 30 mg/kg groups. In summary, the analysis of gingival dimensions the histopathologic evaluation shows a dose-dependent effect on the severity of CSA-induced gingival overgrowth.     

Protective effect of melatonin against hippocampal DNA damage induced by intraperitoneal administration of kainate to rats

The pineal hormone melatonin protects neurons in vitro from excitotoxicity mediated by kainate-sensitive glutamate receptors and from oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. Intraperitoneal injection on kainate into experimental animals triggers DNA damage in several brain areas, including the hippocampus. It is not clear whether melatonin is neuroprotective in vivo. In this study, we tested the in vivo efficacy of melatonin in preventing kainate-induced DNA damage in the hippocampus of adult male Wistar rats. Melatonin and kainate were injected i.p. Rats were killed six to 72 h later and their hippocampi were examined for evidence of DNA damage (in situ dUTP-end-labeling, i.e. TUNEL staining) and for cell viability (Nissl staining). Quantitative assay was performed using computerized image analysis. At 48 and 72 h after kainate we found TUNEL-positive cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus; in the adjacent sections that were Nissl-stained, we found evidence of cell loss. Both the number of TUNEL-positive cells and the loss of Nissl staining were reduced by i.p. administration of melatonin (4 x 2.5 mg/kg; i.e. 20 min before kainate, immediately after, and 1 and 2 h after the kainate). Our results suggest that melatonin might reduce the extent of cell damage associated with pathologies such as epilepsy that involve the activation of kainate-sensitive glutamate receptors.     

P53 mutations in tumours induced by intraperitoneal injection of crocidolite asbestos and benzo[a]pyrene in rats

Mutation analysis of the tumour suppressor gene p53 in tumours induced in the peritoneal cavity of rats revealed differences in the mutational pattern with regard to the carcinogenic substances applied. In tumours induced by benzo[a]pyrene a considerable amount of p53 mutations resulting in an altered protein structure could be detected. For the development of these tumours an escape from the p53 mediated cell cycle control can be assumed. However, in tumours of the same tumour type induced by crocidolite asbestos no mutations could be observed. Since there were even no spontaneous p53 mutations detectable in this tumour group, it is obvious that in these tumours the escape from cell cycle control does not take place via inactivation of p53. Therefore, it is concluded that the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and tumour development in this tumour type depend on the type of carcinogen applied.     

Hydroxyl radical formation in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin

Production of hydroxyl radicals was examined in the diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin to prove its involvement to the pathogenesis of diabetes. Hydroxyl radicals generated in plasma, heart muscle, liver and brain of the hyperglycemic rats were quantitatively assayed by trapping hydroxyl radicals with salicylic acid as 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The concentrations of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid were significantly increased in all the tissues of the diabetic rats. In the brain and heart muscle of the diabetic rats, the increase of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid was more manifest than that of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, while in liver 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid increased markedly. All the values of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid detected in the tissues of the diabetic rats were quite higher than those in control. Hydroxyl radical production and blood glucose concentration were depended almost linearly on the amount of streptozotocin injected to rats up to 60 mg/kg body weight. It was suggested that 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid was produced from hydroxyl radicals themselves, while 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was produced by hydroxylation of salicylic acid not only with hydroxyl radicals, but also by enzymatic reaction of microsomal cytochrome-P450. Hydroxyl radical formation may account for some pathological process especially in the heart muscle and brain.     

Effects of cimetidine on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

We investigated the effects of cimetidine on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, the celiac artery was clamped for 30 min and reperfused for 60 min. Cimetidine, famotidine and omeprazole caused a dose-dependent suppression in the total area of erosions that were induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Whereas, none of them inhibited the increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the stomach, as an index of lipid peroxidation. The inhibitory effect of intraperitoneally administered cimetidine on mucosal damage was abolished by continuous luminal perfusion with HCl solution (pH 1.5, 1 ml/min) during ischemia-reperfusion, while luminal perfusion with the solution containing HCl and cimetidine (3 mmol/l) significantly reduced the total area of erosions compared to luminal perfusion with HCl solution alone. Cimetidine (3 mmol/l) inhibited hydroxyl radical-induced lipid peroxidation of human erythrocyte membranes by 60% in vitro. These results indicate that cimetidine possesses a protective effect against acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion not only due to the suppression in gastric acid secretion, but also due to the antioxidant action when it is present at a high concentration in the intragastric environment.     

Attenuation of early hyperglycaemia induced by streptozocin in fasting rats

Early hyperglycaemia induced by streptozocin was studied in fasting rats. It was found that the early hyperglycaemia was attenuated, the hypoglycaemia was prolonged, and the initiation of the permanent hyperglycaemia was delayed. The early hyperglycaemia induced by streptozocin was further attenuated in carbon tetrachloride pretreated fasting rats. It was speculated that the appearance of the early hyperglycaemia was liver related.     

Melatonin and colon carcinogenesis: I. Inhibitory effect of melatonin on development of intestinal tumors induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in rats

The effect of pineal indole hormone melatonin on colon carcinogenesis was firstly studied in rats. Two-month-old outbred female LIO rats were weekly exposed to 15 (experiment 1, groups 1 and 2) or to five (experiment 2, groups 1 and 2) s.c. injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) at a single dose of 21 mg/kg of body weight. From the day of the first injection of the carcinogen DMH, the rats from groups 2 (experiments 1 and 2) were given melatonin five days a week during the night-time (from 18:00 h to 8:00 h), dissolved in tap water at 20 mg/l. The experiment was finalized in 6 months after the first injection of DMH. In both experiments the majority of tumors were localized in the descending colon. Tumors of the small intestines developed only in rats from experiment 1. Total incidence of colon tumors as well as tumors in different parts of the colon and the mean number of tumors per rat were much higher in rats from both groups in experiment 1 than that in rats from experiment 2. In experiment 1 melatonin failed to influence the total incidence of colon tumors. However, incidence of carcinomas in the ascending colon was significantly reduced (P < 0.01). The multiplicity of total colon tumors per rat, as well as the mean number of tumors, ascending and descending colon per rat, was also decreased under the influence of melatonin (group 2 vs group 1, P < 0.01). In the same experiment, melatonin slightly decreased the depth of tumor invasion and increased number of highly differentiated colon carcinomas induced by DMH. The percentage of small tumours in the descending colon among rats from group 2 was higher than that of group 1. Treatment with melatonin was also followed by a decrease in the multiplicity of DMH-induced tumors of the duodenum (group 2 vs group 1, P < 0.05) and by a decrease in the incidence of jejunum and ileum tumors (group 2 vs group 1, P < 0.05). In experiment 2, the inhibitory effect of melatonin on DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis was much more expressed than that in experiment 1. Thus, in group 1 the incidence of total colon tumors, ascending and descending colon tumors, was significantly decreased in comparison with group 2; also melatonin reduced the number of tumors per rat in the ascending and descending colon. The number of colon tumors that invaded only mucosa was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1, P < 0.05. The ratio of highly differentiated tumors was increased (P < 0.05) and the ratio of low-differentiated tumors was decreased (P < 0.05) in rats exposed to melatonin (group 4) as compared with group 3. The number of large size tumors in the ascending and descending colon was decreased whereas the number of small size tumors (<10 mm2) was increased in those parts of the colon that were under the influence of melatonin in experiment 2. Thus, our results demonstrate the inhibitory effect of melatonin on intestinal carcinogenesis induced by DMH in rats.     

The effect of light on acid-soluble polysaccharide accumulation in Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc

A light-stimulated increase in beta-1,3 glucan accumulation was observed for Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The acid-soluble polysaccharide accumulated in large quantities in 'white' light- and blue light-grown cultures. This polysaccharide also accumulated in both dark- and red light-grown cultures as well. However, the quantities were significantly lower when compared to the 'white' light- and blue light-grown cultures. A greater quantity of polysaccharide accumulated in red light-grown cultures than in dark-grown cultures.     

The effect of vitamin E on antioxidant tissue activity in pregnant rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes]

When home enteral nutrition is needed, there is still, despite the undisputed increase in the quality of life that can be achieved with a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG), a reservation in its use because this technique and its maintenance is considered to be very costly. We aim to assess the true cost of home enteral nutrition using the oral route, a nasogastric tube, and PEG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 65 patients who required home enteral nutrition during 1996, were analyzed retrospectively. The access route was a nasogastric tube in 20 cases, 18 patients had PEG, and 27 candidates used an oral route. The average age was 56 years. 50% were men and 50% were women. The most common diagnoses that led to the indication were oropharyngeal-maxillofacial neoplasms and neurological disorders. In all cases the material and formula used was assessed, as were the associated complications and the cost of the at home enteral nutrition. RESULTS: The average duration of the treatment was 175 +/- 128 days, and this was similar in all three groups. The average formula/day cost was slightly higher in the patients using the oral access route. The average total day cost and the average material/day cost was slightly higher in patients with a PEG. Patients with a PEG presented fewer complications than those with a nasogastric tube. The cost derived from possible complications must be higher in the nasogastric tube group, especially considering the repeated tube changes due to obstruction or loss. CONCLUSIONS: The cost of home enteral nutrition is slightly lower if one uses a nasogastric tube. The greater incidence of complications that were mild but required a tube change, in this case a nasogastric tube, suggests higher indirect costs. The oral route is associated with the need for special formulae that are more expensive.     

The effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum mak (GP) on carcinogenesis of the golden hamster cheek pouch induced by DMBA]

AIM: of this study is to compare two similar groups presenting inguinal herniae, one group having laparoscopic herniography and the other having a Bassini or Fruchaud repair. METHOD: Since September 1994, in our department, patients presenting with symptoms of unilateral or bilateral inguinal herniae to our practice were offered the transperitoneal or preperitoneal approach as an alternative of open surgical repair. We considered the first 50 patients operated by laparoscopic technic (35 M and 15 F), age between 22-72 years (group A), and similar group operated by Bassini or Fruchaud technic (group B). All the patients had general anesthesia and perioperative antibiotics. In the group A we used Prolene, Mercilene or Plastex mesh. The following parameters were assessed: 1) operative time from incision to closure: 2) amount and type of analgesia required postoperatively; 3) morbidity related to the procedure; 4) interval before returning to full activity; 5) early recurrence rate; 6) hospital cost. RESULTS: The mean operative time for unilateral herniae in group A was 70 +/- 10 minutes versus 40 +/- 12 minutes in group B. Group A required to return to work was significantly shorter for the patients in group A (7 +/- 3 days) compared with group B patients (25 +/- 10 days). Although no recurrent herniae have yet been found in patients from either group; follow-up was only 2-18 months in the two groups. The cost of hospital care of group A patients exceeded that of group B by approximately 1.7 more. IN CONCLUSION: was consider that although is more expensive, the laparoscopic procedure in treatment of inguinal herniae, has more benefits for the patients.     

Combined effect of hypokinesia of various duration and gamma-radiation on central nervous system activity in rats]

There studied the effects of a combined effect of hypokinesia (HK) of various duration (7 and 30 days, corresponding to the stages of anxiety and resistance of general adaptation syndrome) and gamma-radiation dose of 3 Gy on the formation of differentiated motor-drinking conditioned reflex (CR) in the rats. It is demonstrated that the applied exposures lead to the various disorders of the higher nervous activity of the test animals: after 7-day hypokinesia in the behaviour there prevail the fear and emotional-vegetative components whereas following 30-day hypokinetic exposure there occurs some stimulation of the orientation-exploratory behaviour with concurrent enhancement of the inertness of nervous processes and the tendency to formation of stringent behavioural stereotypes slowing-down the conditioned reflex formation. A modifying effect of radiation counts only after 30-day hypokinesia and consists in the development of extra-limited inhibition (reaction of acquired helplessness) in the part of animals.