Antioxidant action of bixin against cisplatin-induced chromosome aberrations and lipid peroxidation in rats.

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer, but has serious side effects, inducing nephrotoxicity and chromosome aberrations. In this study we evaluated the role of the carotenoid bixin on cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats through three markers of oxidative damage: chromosome aberrations, glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation. The animals were divided into six treatment groups with six rats in each (n= 6).

Induction of anaesthesia with desflurane and isoflurane in the rabbit.

The characteristics of two techniques of face-mask induction of desflurane anaesthesia (rapid or slow) were compared with the effects of slow isoflurane induction in five New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Slow induction used stepwise increments in vapour setting of 2% for desflurane and 0.5% for isoflurane at 30 s intervals.

Effects of the antioxidants curcumin or selenium on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in rats.

A large number of natural products and dietary components have been evaluated as potential chemoprotective agents. In the present investigation we report the effects of pre-treatment with two dietary antioxidants, curcumin (8 mg kg-1 body wt.) or selenium (1 mg kg-1 body wt.

Protective effect of thiourea, a hydroxyl-radical scavenger, on curcumin-induced chromosomal aberrations in an in vitro mammalian cell system.

Natural dietary antioxidants are extensively studied for their ability to protect cells from damage to DNA, protein, and lipids induced by antitumor agents or radiation that leads to the generation of free radical in normal cells in vivo and in vitro. Curcumin is a natural antioxidant known to possess therapeutic properties and has been reported to scavenge free radicals and to inhibit clastogenesis in mammalian cells. However, curcumin has been reported to induce a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

[Formaldehyde fixation in the third millennium].

This review deals with the general principles and problems of formaldehyde fixation. After a short description of 1) formaldehyde methods of production, 2) chemical properties of formaldehyde solution, and 3) kinetic of formaldehyde binding in tissue, formaldehyde reactivity with the tissue biopolymers, proteins and cucleic acids mainly, are described. How formaldehyde fixation of tissues adversely affects the reactivity of cellular proteins with their respective specific antibody and the ways the most commonly used retrieval techniques in immunohistochemistry act are, thereafter, discussed.

Assessment of ketamine/medetomidine anaesthesia in the New Zealand White rabbit.

Objective: To compare the characteristics of anaesthesia induced with four dose combinations of ketamine/medetomidine.

Design: Prospective randomized study. Animals Five female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits of approximately 2.

Effects of selenium pretreatment on cisplatin-induced chromosome aberrations in wistar rats.

Selenium is an essential trace element and a potent anticancer agent. Extensive laboratory studies demonstrate that selenium is an effective chemopreventive agent in various sites in animals. The administration of selenium as a chemopreventive agent raises the question whether the antioxidant selenium, alone or in combination with other dietary antioxidants, could protect non-tumor cells from the clastogenic effect of cisplatin.

Analysis of tissue chimerism in nude mouse brain and abdominal xenograft models of human glioblastoma multiforme: what does it tell us about the models and about glioblastoma biology and therapy?

In situ hybridization coupled to immunohistochemistry for antigens of interest allows unequivocal identification of tumor cells from reactive stroma cells and normal adjacent structures in human glioblastoma multiforme grafts transplanted into nude mice. With this methodology, we have explored the development of glioblastoma multiforme solid grafts transplanted into nude mouse brains or flanks. The brain transplants closely resembled the human situation, particularly in relation to differentiation and growth patterns.

Resistance profile of Bacteroides fragilis isolated in Brazil. Do they shelter the cfiA gene?

The epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates and human intestinal strains of Bacteroides fragilis has assumed great importance in the last few years since this microorganism, like other members of the B. fragilis group, can be responsible for the spread of resistance determinants. It is possible that the presence of B.

Effects of the antioxidants curcumin and vitamin C on cisplatin-induced clastogenesis in Wistar rat bone marrow cells.

The use of dietary antioxidants to prevent antitumor agent-induced chromosomal damage in nontumor cells is currently eliciting considerable interest. Curcumin (CMN) is a dietary antioxidant that has been reported to protect against clastogenesis in in vivo and in vitro assays. This study was undertaken to investigate the modulatory effects of CMN on cisplatin-induced chromosomal aberrations in Wistar rat bone marrow cells and whether there is any potentiation of these effects with the combination between CMN and vitamin C (VC), which has been reported to reduce the clastogenic effect of many antitumor agents in in vivo assays.

Protective effects of vitamin c against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in adult rats: a dose-dependent study.

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer, but its clinical use is associated with nephrotoxicity. In the present study we report the effects of different amounts of vitamin C (50, 100 or 200 mg kg(-1)body wt.) in rat kidneys treated with cisplatin (5 mg kg(-1)body wt.

[Association of sarcoidosis and hemorrhagic rectocolitis in an insulin-dependent diabetic].

Ulcerative colitis and sarcoidosis are seldom associated. A 33-year-old diabetic man developed simultaneously a rectitis and a non-productive cough leading to the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and sarcoidosis. These diagnoses are discussed because of the possible gastrointestinal lesions from sarcoidosis or the respiratory disorders due to ulcerative colitis.

Production of bacteriocin by Bacteriodes fragilis and partial characterization.

The ability of Bacteroides fragilis strains, isolated from various sources, to produce bacteriocin was evaluated. All strains isolated from intestinal infections were producers in high levels and less susceptible to the others. Strains from other origins were found to produce bacteriocin at a medium level and they were variably susceptible.

Protection and induction of chromosomal damage by vitamin C in human lymphocyte cultures.

Some chemotherapeutic approaches have proposed the use of antioxidants such as vitamin C (VC) to minimize the cytotoxicity and damage induced in normal tissue by antitumor agents that produce free radicals. Nevertheless, VC can also be cytotoxic, genotoxic, and harmful when combined with antitumor agents in human cells in vitro. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of VC (100, 200, 500, and 1,000 microg/ml) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro and its anticlastogenic effect on chromosomal aberrations induced by doxorubicin (DXR).

Modulatory effects of curcumin on the chromosomal damage induced by doxorubicin in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Curcumin, a natural phenolic compound, is gaining importance as a free radical scavenger. This study was undertaken to investigate the modulatory effects of curcumin on the chromosomal damage induced by the antitumoral doxorubicin (DXR), a known free radical generator, in Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture. Cells were treated with three concentrations of curcumin (2.

[Massive bone destruction: an atypical sign of orbital lymphoma].

A case of lacrimal sac malignant lymphoma with frank bony distruction visible on computed tomography is described. This is an unusual radiologic finding which does not rule out lymphoma. Biopsy is mandatory to complete the diagnosis.

Effects of high doses of vitamins C and E against doxorubicin-induced chromosomal damage in Wistar rat bone marrow cells.

Doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the major antitumoral agents available for clinical use. In addition to intercalating into the DNA molecule, this drug generates free radicals. Vitamins C (VC) and E (VE) can protect normal cells from the damage caused by radicals without interfering with the cytotoxicity of DXR against tumors.

Protective effects of the amino acid glutamine and of ascorbic acid against chromosomal damage induced by doxorubicin in mammalian cells.

The interaction of antioxidants can provide an essential protection against the damaging effects of free radicals. Beneficial interactions include radioprotection, protection against acute toxicity of chemicals, and antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of the amino acid glutamine (GLN) and ascorbic acid (AA) on the frequency of chromosomal aberrations induced by the antineoplastic agent doxorubicin (DXR).

Immune profiles in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni after surgical treatments.

The hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis mansoni sometimes induces bleeding in oesophageal varices that requires surgical treatment. Although splenectomy is often necessary these patients rarely present with septic events, a finding that may be related to changes in the immunological system. To investigate the immunological profiles of patients with schistosomiasis, we studied the B- and T-lymphocyte counts and the immunoglobulin A, G and M (IgA, IgG and IgM) levels in patients treated surgically and in those who were not operated on.

[Amplification of immunologic reactions using catalytic deposition at the reaction sites of tyramine derivatives. A decisive gain in sensitivity in immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization].

In the catalyzed reporter deposition technique, horseradish peroxidase catalyzes the activation of conjugated phenolic compounds resulting in the covalent binding of the radicalized intermediates to electron rich moieties in the protein molecules present at the site of reaction. Comparing the biotinyl-, digoxigeninyl-, and fluoresceinyl-derivatives of tyramine and four immunohistochemical formats, we showed that the most sensitive detection system was that using biotinyl-tyramide and an immunohistochemical technique using a biotinylated secondary antibody followed by a streptavidin peroxidase. Amplification without background staining was obtained in most biotin rich tissues with digoxigeninyl-tyramide.

[The PRINS technique. Aplication to the detection of X and Y chromosomes for follow-up of bone marrow allografts performed with an opposite sex donor].

The PRimed IN Situ synthesis is a method for rapid identification of chromosomes in metaphase or interphase on cytological preparations and frozen tissue sections, using oligonucleotide primers derived from chromosome specific subsets of repeated DNA families. PRINS technique is an alternative to fluorescence in situ hybridization, as sensitive as FISH but faster and more specific. This technique is potentially of great interest for pathologists involved in transplantation pathology or cytogenetic interphasic oncology.

Gene alterations and apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma.

The aim of the study is to look retrospectively for gene alterations and evaluate apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs) from 40 children including 24 patients not previously treated. Histological subtype was botryoid in 1 case, spindle cell in 2 cases, embryonal in 22 cases, alveolar in 10 cases, and undetermined in 5 cases. Gene expression was evaluated immunohistochemically for p53 tumor suppressor gene, MDM2 oncogene, and bcl-2 gene.

[Imaging findings in hypertensive encephalopathy].

Hypertensive encephalopathy is a neurologic syndrome caused by a marked and rapid rise of blood pressure above baseline levels. Efficacy of current anti-hypertensive drugs greatly diminished the frequency of this situation in which diagnosis is essentially based on clinical parameters. This can justify the few papers found in radiologic literature.