Objective To assess the effect of anabolic steroids on malnutrition of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Design Retrospective analysis of medical records, charts, and computer-generated laboratory and medication data. Setting Peritoneal Dialysis Unit of The Toronto Hospital. Patients Thirteen patients with moderate to severe malnutrition who had received nandrolone decanoate (ND) intramuscularly (IM) for at least three months. Nine of these patients (group A), with a mean age of 59.4 years, received only ND (100 -200 mg IM monthly). Group B consisted of 4 patients (mean age 74.0 years) who, in addition to ND, received intraperitoneal (IP) amino acids. Results In group A, serum albumin, while declining before ND treatment (34.4±3.2 to 31.5±3.35, x±SEM, g/L at -2 and 0 months), showed a progressive and significant (p < 0.001) increase during treatment, sustained up to the third month (36.57±1.51). In group B, serum albumin did not increase significantly (30.25±2.62, 30.75±1.9, and 31.5±4.8, x±SEM, g/L at -2, 0, and +3 months, respectively. In group A, serum creatinine was increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 0 to +3 months (731±185 to 938±92.5 mmol/L). Blood urea, bicarbonate, and total protein levels did not change significantly. In group B, serum creatinine fluctuated considerably with an insignificant trend to rise. Blood urea showed a steady trend to increase without reaching statistical significance. In relation to time 0, bicarbonate levels (28.7±3.3) were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) (27±0.8, 24.6±1.5, and 25±1 mEq/L, at + 1, +2, and +3 months, respectively). Conclusions Nandrolone decanoate alone, in relatively low doses, exerted a definite anabolic effect in 9 malnourished CAPD patients. The lack of a similar effect in 4 patients, who in addition to ND received amino acids IP, could be explained by the low dose of ND, the concurrent acidosis, the severity of malnutrition, and the older age of this group.

Objective To determine whether anabolic steroids are useful in the management of the malnutrition of chronic renal failure. Data Source Original research studies and book chapters about anabolic steroids and their use in uremia and various illnesses associated with malnutrition. We included studies that describe the benefits of anabotic steroids in the treatment of anemia and sexual dysfunction of chronic renal failure. Forty-two such studies were published between 1942 and 1992. Results Anabolic steroids improve the nutritional status and sexual dysfunction of uremic men. In addition, anabolic steroids have a recognized place in the treatment of the anemia of chronic renal failure. Conclusions Based on the findings of noncontrolled studies, one may conclude that anabolic steroids exert a beneficial effect in the malnutrition of renal failure. We believe that their efficacy should be established by controlled studies.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been associated with several complications, such as cardiac dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of the Matricaria chamomilla flower extract (MCE) against the harmful effect of DM on the cardiac muscles of rats. DM was induced in overnight fasted rats through a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). The thirty-six rats were divided into six equal groups. Non-diabetic rats of the first and second groups were treated with vehicle (2 mL/kg b.w.) and MCE (400 mg/kg b.w.), respectively. The third to sixth groups were diabetic rats that received vehicle, glibenclamide (GLB, 5 mg/kg b.w.), and a low and high dose of MCE, respectively, for 10 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin levels were estimated at 0 and 10 weeks. In addition, cardiac damage was assessed by estimating the lipid profile, AST, LDH, CK, CK-MB and cardiac troponin (cTnI) levels in the serum, cardiac and left ventricle hypertrophy indices, and cardiac oxidative stress biomarkers, followed by histopathological studies. GLB and MCE significantly reduced the FBG levels, in comparison with the STZ control rats. The beneficial impacts of MCE at 400 mg/kg were better than GLB in improving the levels of cardiac damage and lipid profile biomarkers of STZ-diabetic rats. Following the MCE medication, the haemodynamic parameters and histopathological alterations in the cardiac tissues of rats improved. In conclusion, MCE exhibited a marked protective activity against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats. Rezumat Diabetul zaharat (DM) a fost asociat cu multe comorbidități, cum ar fi disfuncția cardiacă. Scopul prezentului studiu a fost de a explora efectul extractului de flori de mușețel (MCE) asupra funcției cardiace a șobolanilor cu DM indus experimental printr-o singură doză de streptozotocină (STZ, 45 mg/kg corp, i.p.). Cei treizeci și șase de șobolani au fost împărțiți în șase grupuri. Șobolanii non-diabetici din primul și al doilea grup au fost tratați cu 3% Tween 80 (2 mL/kg corp) și, respectiv, MCE (400 mg/kg corp). Al treilea până la al șaselea grup au fost șobolani diabetici care au primit Tween, glibenclamidă (GLB, 5 mg/kg corp) și diferite doze de MCE, timp de 10 săptămâni. Nivelul glucozei din sânge (FBG) și al insulinei au fost estimate la 0 și 10 săptămâni. În plus, afectarea cardiacă a fost evaluată prin estimarea profilului lipidic, AST, LDH, CK, CK-MB și troponină serică (cTnI), a indicilor de hipertrofie cardiacă, biomarkeri de stres oxidativ cardiac, precum și studii histopatologice. GLB și MCE au redus semnificativ nivelul FBG, în comparație cu șobolanii control STZ. Efectul benefic al MCE în doză de 400 mg/kg a fost superior comparativ cu GLB în ceea ce privește îmbunătățirea profilului lipidic și a biomarkerilor miocardici. De asemenea, s-au normalizat parametrii hemodinamici și s-au ameliorat modificările histopatologice. În concluzie, MCE a relevat efect protector asupra disfuncției cardiace induse de diabet la șobolani.