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This study confirms the evidence of myocardial hypoperfusion after severe scorpion envenomation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the oxidative profiles of three thyroid disorders: Graves' disease (GD), Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Malondialdehyde levels (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were examined in the plasma of 52 patients (29 untreated HT, 16 untreated GD, and 7 PTC who underwent surgical therapy). Results were compared with those of 30 healthy controls and among the three groups of patients. The GD, HT, and PTC patients exhibited increased plasma MDA levels and SOD activities compared with the controls (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.001, respectively). CAT activities significantly increased only for the PTC and HT patients (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), whereas GPx activities significantly decreased only in the GD and PTC (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The comparison among the three groups of patients has shown increased MDA level and SOD activity for the PTC patients as compared to the GD patients (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with HT, PTC patients exhibited significant higher MDA level, SOD, and CAT activities and a significant lower GPx activity (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). No significant discrepancies were noted between the GD and HT patients. Our results have clearly shown an oxidative profile that is highly disturbed for the PTC patients as compared to those of autoimmune disorders. Future studies are needed to determine whether or not the oxidative stress has a prognostic value in this pathology.

The aim of this study is to investigate the improving effects of selenium (Se) on cerebrum and cerebellum impairments induced by methimazole (MMI) in suckling rats. Animals were randomly divided into four groups of six each: group I served as control which received standard diet; group II received only MMI (250 mg L(-1)(,) orally); group III received both MMI (250 mg L(-1), orally) and Se (0.5 mg kg(-1) of diet); group IV served as a positive control and received Se (0.5 mg kg(-1) of diet) as sodium selenite (Na(2)SeO(3)). Treatments were started from the 14th day of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. In the MMI-treated group, plasma-free thyroid hormone levels (FT(3) and FT(4)), protein, DNA and RNA contents in cerebrum and cerebellum decreased when compared to control. Co-treatment with Se ameliorated these parameters. In the MMI-treated group, antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) significantly decreased, while malonaldialdehyde (MDA) levels in cerebrum and cerebellum increased. Co-administration of Se through the diet restored these parameters to near normal values. The biochemical modifications are correlated histologically with the abnormal development of an external granular layer, indicating a delay of granular cells migration towards the molecular layer in the MMI-treated group. Our results showed that Se improved cerebrum and cerebellum MMI-induced damages in suckling rats. Moreover, we concluded that Se is an important neuroprotective element that may be used as a dietary supplement against brain impairments.

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