BackgroundPrevious reports assessing the neuroprotective role of nonselective Nitric Oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion are contradictory. The aim of this work was to examine the potential benefits of L-NAME on rats subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.MethodsThe study involved 30 adult male Wistar rats divided into three groups 10 rats in each: First group was sham-operated and served as a control, a ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group of rats infused with 0.9% normal saline intraperitoneally 15 minutes prior to 30 minutes of left common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion and a test group infused with L-NAME intraperitoneally 15 minutes prior to ischemia. Neurobehavioral assessments were evaluated and quantitative assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO) metabolites and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in both serum and the affected cerebral hemisphere were achieved.ResultsRats’ neurological deficit and TAC were significantly decreased while NO and MDA were significantly increased in the I/R compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Alternatively in the L-NAME group, neurological deficit and TAC were significantly improved while NO and MDA were significantly decreased compared to I/R group (P < 0.001).ConclusionsL-NAME pretreatment for rats undergoing cerebral ischemia/reperfusion significantly improves neurological deficit while reducing oxidative stress biomarkers in the affected cerebral hemisphere.

No abstract

Aim of the work: The aim of the present work was to correlate between serum level of leptin, matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13), interleukin-1b (IL1b), tumour necrosis factor (TNFa), nitric oxide (NO) and functional impact in obese patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Patients and methods: The study included 84 obese patients suffering from primary KOA. The knees were examined; pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lequesne's index for functional impact calculated. Serum leptin, MMP13, IL1b, TNF-a and NO were assessed.Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.64 ± 7.7 years. They were 72 females and 12 males (F:M = 6:1) with a mean BMI of 35.29 ± 4.8. Sixty patients had knee effusion which was bilateral in 54 (64.3%), unilateral in 6 (7.2%) while 24 (28.6%) did not have any effusion. Knee deformities were present in 60 (71.4%) patients. Female patients were only significantly higher than males regarding Lequesne's index (15.08 ± 4.4 vs 11 ± 3.4, p = 0.003). Patients with knee deformity had significantly higher VAS (9.12 ± 1.3 vs 6.96 ± 0.46, p = 0.001), IL1b (621.1 ± 98.8 vs 503.9 ± 74.6 pg/ml, p = 0.001), TNF-a (115.4 ± 29.1 vs 87.4 ± 4.4 pg/ml, p = 0.001), NO (67.32 ± 5.7 vs 59.2 ± 2.2 lmol/L, p = 0.001), MMP13 (33.98 ± 2.24 vs 30.1 ± 1.7 ng/ml, p = 0.012) and leptin (13.2 ± 1.6 vs 10.4 ± 0.6, p = 0.004) than those without. The VAS, Lequesne index, IL1b, TNF-a NO, MMP13 and leptin were significantly higher in patients with bilateral knee effusion (p < 0.0001 for all) compared to those with unilateral effusion or without. Leptin significantly correlated with BMI, VAS, Lequesne's index, IL1b, TNFa, NO and MMP13 (p < 0.0001 for all).Conclusion: Leptin plays a key role in obese patients with knee OA. It significantly correlates with knee pain, functional impairment, inflammatory cytokines and cartilage degradation.

No abstract

No abstract