Accumulation and Elimination of Cadmium by the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in differing Temperatures and Responses of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers

The aims of this study were to investigate the accumulation (15 days) and elimination (15 and 30 days) of cadmium (Cd) in the liver, gill, kidney and muscle of Oreochromis niloticus following exposures to different concentrations (1 and 2 mg/L) of Cd at different water temperatures (20, 25, 30 ^oC). Additionally, responses of oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPx and malondialdehyde, MDA) of the liver were determined following Cd exposures. In accumulation period, Cd levels increased significantly in all the tissues at all temperatures and tissue accumulation order was kidney?>?liver?>?gill. All tissues, except the muscle, accumulated Cd in relation to exposure concentrations and water temperatures. There was no measurable level of Cd accumulation in the muscle, except in fish exposed to 2 mg Cd/L at 30 ^oC. Likewise, elimination of Cd from the tissues also increased in depends on periods and water temperatures. The order of Cd elimination from the tissues was gill?>?liver?>?kidney. The oxidative stress biomarkers also responded to both Cd exposure and temperature increases. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, GPx and MDA levels in the liver increased in relation to increases in Cd concentrations and water temperatures.

     

Methimazole in the Treatment of Melasma: A Clinical and Dermascopic Study

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a chronic hypermelanotic disorder that is challenging to treat; no single effective therapeutic agent for it has been discovered. Methimazole, an oral antithyroid drug, has a skin depigmenting effect when used topically. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of methimazole, applied during microneedling sessions and additional topical use in between sessions, for the treatment of melasma. METHODS: This split-face study included 30 Egyptian patients with melasma, each of whom received 12 microneedling sessions once per week for 12 weeks followed by topical methimazole on the right side of face and placebo on the left side. In between the sessions, topical methimazole 5% cream was applied twice per day on the right side and placebo on the left side. Assessments were performed using the Hemi-melasma Area and Severity Index (hemi-MASI) percentage of improvement, patient satisfaction, dermoscopy, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) serum levels. RESULTS: There were significant clinical and dermoscopic improvements; hemi-MASI scores on the methimazole-treated right sides were decreased (p<0.001). The percent of hemi-MASI score improvement was significantly associated with the malar pattern (p=0.031) and epidermal type (p=0.04) of melasma. About 70 percent of our studied patients reported being satisfied with their treatment response (7% excellent, 33% good, 30% fair). No significant local or systemic side effects were observed. Pre- and posttreatment serum TSH levels were within the normal range in all treated cases. CONCLUSIONS: Methimazole has the potential to be a safe and promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of melasma via dermapen-delivered microneedling sessions with topical use in between sessions.     

Stone extraction with loop ureteral catheter versus ureteroscopy in small distal ureteral stones—retrospective comparison of 547 consecutive patients

BackgroundTo evaluate whether stone extraction with a loop ureteral catheter (LUC) in distal ureteral stones is associated with a higher frequency of ureteral strictures compared to treatment with primary ureteroscopic stone removal (p-URS) or ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (l-URS).MethodsFive hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients were primarily endourologically treated for distal ureteral stones in our department between 2005 and 2019 and included in the study protocol. Data was retrospectively obtained from the patients’ charts and medical reports as well as from office-based urologists. Data analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney test or Student’s t-test as appropriate. A level of P<0.05 was assigned statistical significance.ResultsFour hundred and twelve patients were treated by URS (p-URS n=304, l-URS n=108) and another 135 by LUC stone extraction. Median follow-up was 41 [2–159] months. There was no difference between the groups concerning age, gender, proportion of patients with ureteral stenting, operating time, hospitalization or readmission rates. The number of ureteric strictures was small in all procedures [n=3 (1.0%) in p-URS, n=2 (1.9%) in l-URS and n=2 (1.5%) in LUC] and there was no difference between the groups concerning this serious complication (p-URS vs. LUC: P=0.6465; l-URS vs. LUC: P=0.9999).ConclusionsIn small distal stones, LUC stone extraction still is an alternative to URS procedures in stone management with comparable results concerning postinterventional ureteral strictures. In experienced hands, it still has its value in accurately selected patients.     

The “vaccine” hubbub: Viral load comparisons of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants against different vaccine–booster vaccine combinations

There is a significant body of evidence showing that efficient vaccination schemes against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is helping control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, this goal cannot be achieved without real world data highlighting the impact of vaccines against viral spread. In this study, we have aimed at differentially investigating the impact of COVID-19 vaccines (CoronaVac, Pfizer/BioNTech, Astra/Zeneca Oxford, Janssen) used in North Cyprus in limiting the viral load of Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-COV-2. We have utilized real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold values (Ct values) as a proxy of viral load of the two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our results indicate that the administration of at least two doses of the messenger RNA-based Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine leads to the lowest viral load (highest Ct values) obtained for both Omicron and Delta variants. Interestingly, regardless of the vaccine type used, our study revealed that Delta variant produced significantly higher viral loads (lower Ct values) compared with the Omicron variant, where the latter was more commonly associated with younger patients. Viral spread is a crucial factor that can help determine the future of the pandemic. Thus, prioritizing vaccines that will play a role in not only preventing severe disease but also in limiting viral load and spread may contribute to infection control strategies.     

Bilateral synchronous granulomatous orchitis: gray-scale and colour Doppler sonographic findings

A 60-year-old man presented with impotence ultrasonography demonstrated bilateral irregular hypoechoic infiltration of testes and normal epididymis. Colour Doppler sonography showed only peripheral but no intralesional flow. Since the lesion was presumed as malignancy bilateral high inguinal orchiectomy was performed and bilateral idiopathic granulomatous orchitis was diagnosed. It was concluded that granulomatous orchitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diffuse testicular hypoechoic involvement which showed only peripheral low-resistance flow on colour Doppler sonography, in the proper clinical setting. Although this may be a helpful sign in the differential diagnosis of diffuse testicular infiltrations, high inguinal exploration remains mandatory.     

Microcirculatory basis for nonuniform flow delivery with intravenous nitroprusside.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of systemic infusions of nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside on flow distribution and wall shear stress in the microcirculation. METHODS: With university approval, the cremaster muscle of 28 anesthetized (70 mg/kg pentobarbital given intraperitoneally) hamsters (Harlan Sprague Dawley: Syrian; weight, 121+/-11 g [mean +/- SDD) was observed using in vivo fluorescence microscopy. Arteriolar diameter, erythrocyte flux, and velocity were measured for a feed arteriole and its sequential branches. Observations were made during control (mean arterial pressure, 88+/-4 mm Hg) and after 30 min of intravenous delivery of sodium nitroprusside or nitroglycerin, titrated to decrease mean arterial pressure by 20 mm Hg. RESULTS: Sodium nitroprusside significantly dilated select upstream portions of the network (23+/-2.6 to 29+/-2.6 microm); no arterioles were dilated with nitroglycerin. Erythrocyte flux into the feed (i.e., inflow into the arteriolar network) and into the sequential branches (i.e., distribution within the network) were evaluated. With nitroglycerin, inflow decreased significantly from 1,560+/-335 to 855+/-171 cells/s, and flux into the branches decreased evenly. With sodium nitroprusside, inflow increased significantly to 2,600+/-918 cells/s, yet cells were "stolen" from upstream branches (a decrease from 425+/-67 to 309+/-87 cells/s in the first branch). Excess flow passed into a downstream "thorough-fare channel," significantly increasing flux from 347+/-111 to 761+/-246 cells/s. Wall shear stress decreased uniformly with nitroglycerin infusion, with a decrease in the feed from 8.8+/-2.5 to 6+/-1.7 dyn/cm2. With sodium nitroprusside, variable changes occurred that were location specific within the network. For instance, at the inflow point to the network, wall shear stress changed from 8.3+/-2.5 to 4.2+/-3.3 dyn/cm2. CONCLUSIONS: Nitroglycerin infusion promoted homogeneity of flow. Sodium nitroprusside significantly increased the heterogeneity of flow within this arteriolar network; an anatomic location for steal induced by sodium nitroprusside is identified.     

Inhibitory effect of capsaicin on cholinergic transmission in ovine airways: evidence for non-cholinergic contractions

Electrical stimulation of ovine trachealis smooth muscle and bronchial ring segments induced neurogenic and monophasic atropine-sensitive contractions. Pretreatment of the tissues with capsaicin (100 microM) significantly reduced these contractions indicating a possible contribution of a peptidergic neurotransmitter to the contractions. The effect of capsaicin on electrically induced contractions was significantly inhibited by capsazepin indicating an action on vanilloid receptors. In both preparations, electrically induced contractions were not modified by tachykinin NK(1)- and NK(2)-receptor antagonists singly and in combination. It was therefore concluded that a component of the atropine-sensitive electrically induced contractions of ovine airways smooth muscles involved the release of a peptide neurotransmitter which is probably not a tachykinin. However, an action of capsaicin on prejunctional vanilloid receptors located on cholinergic nerves cannot be ruled out.     

Huge colloid cyst of the third ventricle associated with calcification in the cyst wall

Giant or huge colloid cysts of the third ventricle up to of more than 3 cm in diameter are extremely rare. The patient presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, including headache, vomiting, and papilledema. Computerized tomographic (CT) scan revealed a hypodense, huge colloid cyst of the third ventricle associated with calcification in the cyst wall. Both hypodensity and calcification are uncommon roentgenological findings for colloid cysts of the third ventricle. The patient was operated on by the transcortical/transventricular approach and the colloid cyst was completely excised.     

Dietary antioxidants and the biochemical response to oxidant inhalation. II. Influence of dietary selenium on the biochemical effects of ozone exposure in mouse lung

We examined the influence of dietary selenium (Se) on the pulmonary biochemical response to ozone (O3) exposure. For 11 weeks, weanling female strain A/St mice were fed a test diet containing Se either at 0 ppm (-Se) or 1 ppm (+Se). Each diet contained 55 ppm vitamin E (vit E). Mice from each dietary group were exposed to 0.8 +/- 0.05 ppm (1568 +/- 98 micrograms/m3) O3 continuously for 5 days. After O3 exposure, they were killed along with a matched number of unexposed controls, and their lungs were analyzed for various biochemical parameters. The Se contents of lung tissue and whole blood were determined, and the levels were seven- to eightfold higher in +Se mice than in -Se mice, reflecting the Se intake of the animals. In unexposed control mice, Se deficiency caused a decline in glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity relative to +Se group. After O3 exposure, the GP activity in the -Se group was associated with a lack of stimulation of glutathione reductase (GR) activity and the pentose phosphate cycle (PPC) as assessed by measuring glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) activities. In contrast, the +Se group after O3 exposure exhibited increases in all four enzyme activities. Other parameters, e.g., lung weight, total lung protein, DNA and nonprotein sulfhydryl contents, and O2 consumption, were not affected by dietary Se in the presence or absence of O3 exposure. The data indicate that dietary Se alters the GP activity, which in turn influences the GR and PPC activities in the lung evidently through a reduced demand for NADPH. The level of vit E in the lung was found to be twofold higher in the -Se group than in the +Se group, suggesting a compensatory relationship between Se and vit E in the lung. With O3 exposure, both Se and vit E contents further increased in the lungs of each dietary group. It is plausible that Se and vit E under oxidant stress are "mobilized" to the lung from other body sites.     

Enhancement of imipramine-induced rat brain β-adrenoreceptor desensitization by subacute co-administration of trazodone,zimelidine, quipazine or 5-hydroxytryptophan

The present work was undertaken to characterize the role of serotonin in the regulation of -adrenoceptors utilizing isoprenaline-induced water drinking in the rat. For this purpose, a serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (24.3 mg/kg/day, PO), the serotonin neuronal uptake blockers, trazodone (18.5 mg/kg/day, PO), or zimelidine (14.6 mg/kg/day, PO) or a serotonin agonist, quipazine (12.6 mg/kg/day, PO) were administered either alone or in combination with imipramine for a period of 4 days. While none of these drugs alone showed any significant effect in attenuating the effects of isoprenaline-induced water drinking, their co- administration with imipramine did produce a significant reduction in isoprenaline-induced drinking. Simultaneous injection of the serotonin synthesis inhibitor,p-chlorophenylalanine (200 mg/kg/day, IP), has resulted in blockade of this acceleration of desensitization of -adrenoceptors produced by the subacute co-administration of trazodone or quipazine with imipramine. The selective 5HT₂ receptor antagonist ketanserin (4 mg/kg/day/ IP) significantly inhibited the attenuation of the isoprenaline-induced drinking attained by the co-administration of quipazine with imipramine, while methysergide (2 mg/kg/day, IP) which blocks both 5HT₁ and 5HT₂ receptors failed to produce a significant effect on this response. These results indicate that the inhibition of the synaptosomal uptake of serotonin by quipazine seems to be more pertinent than its serotoninergic agonistic effect in the desensitization of central -adrenoceptors in the rat. Thus, it can be concluded that noradrenaline and serotonin are both required for the process of the desensitization of central -adrenoceptor systems by antidepressants.Part of this paper was presented at the International Symposium of Serotonin from Cell Biology to Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Florence (Italy), March 29–April 1989