Coumarins are a vast group of natural compounds and some of them possess antioxidant activities. The comparison of the antioxidant activity of some coumarins with various chemical molecular structure has not been investigated in previous studies. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) -induced hepatic injury by coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) and coumarin derivatives, esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin), scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin), and 4-methylumbelliferone (7-hyroxy-4-methyl) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) were evaluated for oxidative stress in hepatic injury. Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected in plasma as a biomarker of hepatic injury. Significantly elevated levels of MDA and lowered levels of SOD and CAT activities were observed in liver of rats exposed to CCl(4), when compared to control values. Similarly, administration of CCl(4) increased LDH and GGT levels in serum. Pre-treatment of rats with esculetin (35 mg kg(-1), orally) and scoparone (35 mg kg(-1), orally) significantly prevented CCl(4)-induced decrease in MDA levels and increase in SOD and CAT, whereas 4-methylumbelliferone (35 mg kg(-1)) and coumarin (30 mg kg(-1)) had no effect against CCl(4)-induced rise in serum enzymes. Esculetin and scoparone also showed protective properties as was evidenced in reduced LDH and GGT levels in serum. The results of this study indicate that the chemical structures of coumarins play an important role in the prevention of oxidative stress.

The higher levels of serum Nt pro-BNP in preeclamptic women may be an indicator of high left-ventricular filling pressure, and indicate left-ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUNDPreeclampsia and its association with thrombophilia remain controversial, due to inconsistent results in different studies, which include different ethnic groups, selection criteria, and patient numbers. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between thrombophilia and preeclamptic patients in our region.METHODSIn a prospective case-control study, we compared 100 consecutive women with preeclampsia and eclampsia (group 1) with 100 normal pregnant women (group 2). All women were tested two months after delivery for mutations of factor V Leiden, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and prothrombin gene mutation as well as for deficiencies of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III.RESULTSA thrombophilic mutation was found in 42 (42%) and 28 (28%) women in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P=0.27, OR 1.5, 95%CI 1.0–2.2). The incidence of Factor V Leiden mutation (heterozygous), prothrombin mutation (heterozygous), prothrombin mutation (homozygous), MTHFR mutation (homozygous) was not statistically significant in group 1 compared with group 2 (P>0.05). Also, deficiencies of protein S, protein C, and antithrombin III were not statistically significant in group 1 compared with group 2 (P >0.05).CONCLUSIONThere was no difference in thrombophilic mutations between preeclamptic patients and normal pregnant women in our region. Therefore, we suggest that preeclamptic patients should not be tested for thrombophilia.

Objective:To share our first experience with laparoscopic pectopexy, a new technique for apical prolapse surgery, and to evaluate the feasibility of this technique.Materials and Methods:Seven patients with apical prolapse underwent surgery with laparoscopic pectopexy. The lateral parts of the iliopectineal ligament were used for a bilateral mesh fixation of the descended structures. The medical records of the patients were reviewed, and the short-term clinical outcomes were analyzed.Results:The laparoscopic pectopexy procedures were successfully performed, without intraoperative and postoperative complications. De novo apical prolapse, de novo urgency, de novo constipation, stress urinary incontinence, anterior and lateral defect cystoceles, and rectoceles did not occur in any of the patients during a 6-month follow-up period.Conclusion:Although laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy has shown excellent anatomical and functional long-term results, laparoscopic pectopexy offers a feasible, safe, and comfortable alternative for apical prolapse surgery. Pectopexy may increase a surgeon's technical perspective for apical prolapse surgery.

This study investigated correlations between mortality, stroke subtype and stroke severity with serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) and S-100 protein levels prior to the treatment of patients admitted to the emergency department and diagnosed with ischaemic stroke. Pretreatment serum samples were collected from patients (n = 90) to determine OPG and S-100 protein levels. Age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n = 16) served as controls. Compared with controls, OPG and S-100 protein levels were significantly higher in the cardioembolic and atherothrombotic stroke groups. Within the stroke group, OPG levels were significantly higher in the cardioembolic and atherothrombotic stroke groups compared with the transient ischaemic attack (TIA) group. S-100 protein levels were significantly higher in the atherothrombotic stroke group than in the lacunar stroke and TIA groups, and in the cardioembolic stroke group compared with the lacunar stroke group. Serum OPG and S-100 protein levels were significantly higher in patients who died compared with survivors. In predicting stroke subtype and severity, although both OPG and S-100 protein levels were indicators, S-100 protein was more valuable for mortality prediction.