Protective Effects of Chia Seeds and Omega-3 Fatty Acid against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Oligospermia in Male Wistar Rats: Potential Risks of Adverse Drug Interaction with Chia Seeds

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether chia (Salvia hispanica) seeds, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins with antioxidant properties, can mitigate the negative effects on male reproductive function caused by cyclophosphamide, a frequently used chemotherapeutic agent. Methods: Male wistar rats are divided into seven groups (n=6). All groups except the normal control (NC) received cyclophosphamide (30mg/kg, i.p.) for the first 5 days. The standard group received clomiphene citrate (0.25 mg/kg, p.o.). Treatment groups T1%, T5%, T10%, and ω-3 received 1%, 5%, and 10% chia seeds in the diet, and 880 mg/kg omega-3 fatty acid (p.o) respectively for 15 days. The effect on the reproductive system was evaluated by analysis of epididymal sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters, and serum testosterone level. Results: Clomiphene citrate improved oligospermia via hormone mediated effect. Chia seeds and omega-3 fatty acid treatment also showed improvement in reproductive parameters including oxidative stress and histological features of the testes. Omega-3 fatty acid treatment was more effective for the prevention of cyclophosphamide toxicity on testes as compared to chia seeds. Nasal bleeding was noted in several animals subjected to chia seed treatment. This occurrence might be attributed to chia seeds' impact on coagulation and/or platelet function, potentially heightened due to chemotherapy associated bone marrow suppression. Conclusions: In our study, chia seeds as well as omega-3 fatty acid treatment were found to be protective against cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity in rats. However, the adverse effect of hemorrhage associated with drug interaction of chia seeds with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs needs careful attention and further investigation.

Contamination of potable water by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: qPCR based culture-free detection and quantification

Tourists visiting to endemic zones may acquire Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection resulting into diarrhea due to consumption of contaminated potable waters. In this study, a qPCR assay (SYBR Green), targeting LT1 and ST1 genes was designed to quantify ETEC in potable waters derived from civic water supply. The assay could detect lowest 1CFU/PCR targeting LT1/ST1 gene from ten-fold diluted culture of the reference strain (E. coli MTCC 723) and is ten-fold more sensitive than the conventional PCR. The quantification of the ETEC in potable waters collected from civic supply of a major city of the northern India exhibiting high flow of tourists reveals that all the sites that ran along sewage line were contaminated by the ETEC. Contamination was due to percolation of sewage. The assay could be used for the regular monitoring of potable water in places exhibiting heavy flow of tourists to prevent ETEC induced diarrhea.

Xenon exposure in the neonatal rat brain: effects on genes that regulate apoptosis

BACKGROUND

In the developing rodent brain, exposure to volatile anesthetics causes widespread neuronal apoptosis in several regions of the brain. Increasing evidence points to a possible neuroprotective role for the anesthetic gas xenon, following neuronal injury. To address this gap in understanding, we explored the transcriptional consequences of xenon in the brains of postnatal day 7 (P7) rats exposed to xenon compared to those of air-breathing animals, with particular emphasis on the mRNA transcript levels of Akt and c-Jun N-terminal kinase kinase 1 (JNKK1), which are important for cell survival and the activation of extrinsic neuroapoptotic pathways, respectively.

METHODS

P7 Sprague/Dawley rats were exposed to air (75% nitrogen, 25% oxygen) or xenon (75% xenon, 25% oxygen) for 120 min (N=6/group). Forebrains were harvested for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, which enabled quantification of Akt and JNKK1 mRNA transcripts. Suppression subtractive hybridization was used to explore the "genetic signature" of xenon exposure.

RESULTS

Compared to control air-breathing animals, xenon-breathing rats exhibited a 0.7-fold decrease in Akt mRNA expression (P<0.01) and a 1.6-fold increase in JNKK1 mRNA levels (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The concomitant decrease in the Akt mRNA expression level and increase in the JNKK1 mRNA transcript level provide evidence that xenon has a neuroapoptotic effect in the developing rodent forebrain. Given these results, further study into the paradoxical neuroprotective and neuroapoptotic effects of xenon is warranted.

Lung transplantation for primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Single lung transplantation (SLT) and bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) are routinely performed in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH). It is unclear which procedure is preferable. We reviewed our experience with lung transplants for PPH and SPH to determine if any advantage exists with SLT or BLT for either PPH or SPH.

METHODS

We reviewed the outcomes of all lung transplants performed for PPH or SPH for 4.5 years (July 1995 to January 2000). Survival was reported by the Kaplan-Meier method, and log rank analysis was used to determine significance. Statistical analyses of clinical data were performed using analysis of variance and chi2 analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 57 recipients met criteria for pulmonary hypertension with a mean pulmonary artery pressure of greater than or equal to 30 mm Hg. There were 15 patients with PPH and 40 patients with SPH. There were 6 patients who had SLTs and 9 patients who had BLTs in the PPH group; and there were 9 patients who had SLTs and 21 patients who had BLTs in the SPH group. We found a survival advantage for PPH patients who underwent BLTs at all time points up to 4 years (100% vs 67%; p < or = 0.02). There was no clear advantage to SLTs or BLTs for SPH. At 4 years there was a trend toward improved survival with SLTs (91% vs 75%) in SPH patients with a mean pulmonary artery pressure less than or equal to 40 mm Hg (p < or = 0.11) with equivalent survival (80%) in patients with a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than or equal to 40 mm Hg. There was also a trend toward improved survival in patients with a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than or equal to 40 mm Hg (PPH and SPH) with BLTs (88% vs 62%; p = 0.19). The incidence of rejection, infection, and other complications was comparable between SLTs and BLTs in each group.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that BLT is the procedure of choice for PPH. The procedure of choice is less clear for SPH. Patients with SPH and a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 40 mm Hg may benefit from a BLT and those with a mean pulmonary artery pressure less than or equal to 40 mm Hg may do better with an SLT; however, no clear advantage is seen.

Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (WT1) is expressed in primary breast tumors despite tumor-specific promoter methylation

We analyzed Wilms' tumor suppressor 1 (WT1) expression and its regulation by promoter methylation in a panel of normal breast epithelial samples and primary carcinomas. Contrary to previous reports, WT1 protein was strongly expressed in primary carcinomas (27 of 31 tumors) but not in normal breast epithelium (1 of 20 samples). Additionally, the WT1 promoter was methylated in 6 of 19 (32%) primary tumors, which nevertheless expressed WT1. The promoter is not methylated in normal epithelium. Thus, although tumor-specific methylation of WT1 is established in primary breast cancer at a low frequency, other transcriptional regulatory mechanisms appear to supercede its effects in these tumors. Our results demonstrate expression of WT1 in mammary neoplasia, and that WT1 may not have a tumor suppressor role in breast cancer.

Analysis of the humoral response to the flagellin protein of Borrelia burgdorferi: cloning of regions capable of differentiating Lyme disease from syphilis

Selected regions of the Borrelia burgdorferi flagellin gene (fla) that exhibit high or low homology with related genes from other bacterial species were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. Purified fusion proteins were assayed for antibody reactivity in a microtiter plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with sera from Lyme disease patients as well as syphilitic and normal sera. Immunoglobulin G antibody from Lyme disease patient sera reacted predominantly with the central portion of the protein. The region of the flagellin protein encompassing amino acids 64 to 311 detected nearly all of the immunoglobulin G-positive Lyme sera and only reacted with 1 of 26 syphilis patient serum samples. In contrast, 12 of 26 syphilis patient serum samples and 2 of 47 normal serum samples reacted with the amino terminus of the flagellin protein, whereas 4 of 26 syphilis patient serum samples and 7 of 47 normal serum samples reacted with the carboxyl terminus. The central region containing amino acids 64 to 311 may be employed diagnostically to differentiate antibodies to B. burgdorferi from antibodies to Treponema pallidum. In addition, this region also was recognized by immunoglobulin M in the Lyme patient sera, indicating its potential usefulness as a marker for early Lyme disease.

Cardiopulmonary effects of Intralipid infusion in critically ill patients

Cardiopulmonary effects of 500 ml of 20% iv fat emulsion (Intralipid) infusion in two groups of patients who required mechanical ventilation were evaluated in our Critical Care Center. Group 1 included ten patients void of signs or symptoms of sepsis. Group 2 consisted of ten patients exhibiting clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms of sepsis. Data were measured before and immediately after Intralipid infusion and when serum lipemia cleared. Intralipid infusion precipitated a significant increase in venous admixture (Qsp/Qt) from 13.7 +/- 3.6 (SEM) to 18.0 +/- 6.5% and from 22.0 +/- 4.8 to 25.8 +/- 7.0% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) increased from 22.7 +/- 4.2 to 29.2 +/- 8.1 mm Hg and 26.4 +/- 6.8 to 28.0 +/- 4.0 mm Hg in groups 1 and 2, respectively. When serum lipemia cleared, Qsp/Qt and MPAP returned to preinfusion levels. We conclude that Intralipid infusion increases pulmonary artery pressure and venous admixture in critically ill patients. These changes are temporary and coincidental with serum lipemia rather than presence or absence of sepsis. Adequate levels of oxygenation should be confirmed during Intralipid infusion in patients with borderline oxygenation.

Use of sodium nitroprusside in post-coronary bypass surgery. A plea for conservatism

In 292 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, seven patients developed sodium nitroprusside (SNP) toxicity in the postoperative period. Duration of infusion varied between 26 to 160 hrs and total SNP dose ranged from 1.8 to 12 mg/kg body weight. All patients were critically ill and required ventilatory support in the postoperative period. Tachyphylaxis to SNP requiring increase of SNP dose for control of hypertension, and loss of consciousness were the major signs of toxicity. Other commonly described signs of SNP toxicity were absent in those patients. Discontinuation of SNP therapy and treatment with sodium thiosulfate was followed by improvement in four patients. Three patients who failed to regain consciousness later died because of hemodynamic, pulmonary and/or renal complications. Our observation suggests that recommended doses of SNP may be toxic in unstable post-CABG patients. We recommend that the dose and duration of SNP infusion be minimized in critically ill patients.

Hemangioma of the median nerve: a report of two cases

Two cases of intraneural hemangiomas are described. Both lesions produced compression of the median nerve and required multiple excisions. In one case, interfascicular nerve dissection failed to produce a cure, while the other patient remains free of recurrence after excision of the involved median nerve and sural nerve grafting.

The use of prostacyclin in preventing occlusion of microvascular anastomoses by platelet thrombus: an experimental study in rats

A pilot study was carried out to assess the value of Prostacyclin in presenting the occlusion of microvascular anastomoses by platelet thrombus using the femoral vein of the rat as the experimental model. This study showed a much higher patency rate in those anastomoses bathed in a solution of Prostacyclin compared with the control group. The difference was statistically significant. The use of Prostacyclin to prevent platelet thrombus occlusion in man requires investigation but may be limited by the short half-life of the solution.

Involvement of T- and B-lymphocytes in the immune response to the protein exotoxin and the lipopolysaccharide antigens of Vibrio cholerae

The immune response at the level of individual immunocytes to the somatic lipopolysaccharide antigen derived from whole Vibrio cholerae and to the purified protein exotoxin from this organism were studied in terms of the role of T- and B-lymphocytes. By adoptive cell transfer studies with irradiated recipient mice, it was shown that normal spleen cells from normal syngeneic mice could readily transfer the capability of responding to both types of cholera antigens. However, when the spleen cells were depleted of T-cells with anti-theta serum and complement, antibody responsiveness to the LPS antigen, but not to exotoxin, could be achieved in recipients. Furthermore, by appropriate transfer of either bone marrow, thymus, or thymus-marrow cell mixtures to irradiated mice, it was shown that the response to the cholera somatic antigen was relatively independent of thymus cells, whereas the response to exotoxin required "helper" T-cells. The role of thymus and bone marrow cells in the intestinal tract in immune responses to the somatic and toxic antigens of cholera vibrios requires further investigation. Further studies should also provide additional information not only concerning the mechanism of the immune response to these antigens in terms of basic mechanisms of antibody formation, but also should provide valuable information in terms of anticholera immunity per se.