The effects of ghrelin on colonic anastomosis healing in rats.

Objectives: In addition to its roles in the stimulation of growth hormone secretion and the regulation of appetite and metabolism, ghrelin exerts immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions in several organ systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of ghrelin on the healing of experimental colonic anastomoses.

Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10 in each).

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with unconnected liver lesion.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a chronic renal inflammation characterized by destruction and replacement of its parenchyma with granulomatous tissue. This uncommon condition is rare in children. We report on a 5-month-old male infant with a left renal and hepatic mass detected by ultrasound.

Attenuation of ureteral obstruction-induced renal injury by polyenylphosphatidylcholine.

Background: The cytoprotective, antioxidant and antifibrotic effects of polyenylphosphatidylcholine (lecithin, PPC) have been demonstrated both experimentally and clinically. The present study investigated whether PPC treatment has any beneficial effect on renal injury in unilateral partial ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats.

Methods: Forty Wistar-Albino rats were split into three groups (sham-operated controls, untreated and treated rats).

Fluvastatin reduced liver injury in rat model of extrahepatic cholestasis.

Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3methylglutarly coenzyme A, reductase, namely statins, exert pleiotropic actions beyond lipid-lowering effects. In ex vivo and in vitro studies, statins have antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects. Herein, we sought to determine whether treatment with fluvastatin (FV) would be beneficial in a rat model of common bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver injury.

Polyenylphosphatidylcholine pretreatment ameliorates ischemic acute renal injury in rats.

Aim: Polyenylphosphatidycholine has been demonstrated to have antioxidant, cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Whether polyenylphosphatidycholine pretreatment affects ischemia/reperfusion-induced renal damage in vivo is not known and was investigated here in rats.

Methods: Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups.

The NF-kappaB inhibitors attenuate hepatic injury in bile duct ligated rats.

Cholestasis-induced liver injury during bile duct obstruction causes an inflammatory response and this inflammatory process may be an important source of tissue injury. We hypothesized that NF-kappaB inhibition would decrease liver injury in a rat model of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. A total of 40 female rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were allocated to four groups.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and synaptophysin expression in pelviureteral junction obstruction.

Objectives: To examine the expression of neuronal markers in congenital pelviureteral junction (PUJ) obstruction as a causative factor. The findings from some investigations have suggested that defective neuronal innervation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PUJ obstruction.

Methods: Using specific antibodies, we studied the neuronal markers of specimens from 12 cases of PUJ obstruction and 10 normal PUJs by immunohistochemistry using glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), synaptophysin, S-100, and neurofilament.

Polyenylphosphatidylcholine pretreatment protects rat liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Hepatic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion following surgery, transplantation, or circulatory shock combined with resuscitation is a major clinical problem. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) has strong antioxidant, cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

Aim: In this study, the influence of PPC pretreatment on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the liver was examined in rats.

Delayed gastric emptying in gastroesophageal reflux disease: the role of malrotation.

The association between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and intestinal malrotation (IM) has been well described. Delayed or impaired gastric emptying in IM is thought to be a contributing factor in the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The current study assessed the role of malrotation in delayed gastric emptying in children with GERD.