The polyphenol curcumin has several pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer features. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) control; (2) cisplatin (7 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal as a single dose); (3) curcumin (100 mg/kg via gavage, for 10 days); and (4) cisplatin and curcumin. The cisplatin-treated rats exhibited kidney injury manifested by increased serum urea and creatinine (p<0.05). The kidney tissue from the cisplatin treated rats also exhibited a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p<0.05). The treatment with curcumin prevented a rise in the serum urea, creatinine and MDA levels when compared to the control group kidneys (p<0.05). The analysis the nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and sirtuin (SIRT) proteins (SIRT1, SIRT3 and SIRT4), which play important roles in the resistance to stress and the modulation of the threshold of cell death, showed similar trends (p<0.05). In the cisplatin-only treated rats, the induced renal injury decreased the levels of the NAMPT and SIRT proteins. Conversely, the curcumin increased the levels of the NAMPT and SIRT proteins in the cisplatin-treated rats (p<0.05). These data suggest that curcumin can potentially be used to reduce chemotherapy-induced nephrotoxicity, thereby enhancing the therapeutic window of cisplatin.

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be obtained with a basic hemogram test. These parameters have been found as a predictor of mortality in the general population and in several diseases such as cardiovascular disease.MethodsOur study included 100 patients with newly diagnosed MDD and 100 healthy control patients (who had no depressive symptoms and without heart disease) admitted to our outpatient clinics. Patients with MDD were started on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment and followed up for 3 months. Both MDD and control patients’ laboratory tests and physical, neurological, and psychiatric examinations were performed both at diagnosis and after 3 months of treatment.ResultsIn total, 100 patients with MDD were evaluated and 80 were included in our study. The control group consisted of 91 healthy individuals. The mean age was 44 ± 10.6 years for patients with MDD and 39.8 ± 11.4 years for the control group. There was no significant difference between the age for groups (P = 0.13); 55% of patients with MDD and 33% of the control group was male. NLR levels were found to be 2.55 ± 0.7 and RDW levels were found to be 14.3 ± 2.6 in patients with MDD; NLR levels were found to be 1.41 ± 0.8 and RDW levels were found to be 13.4 ± 1.8 in the control group. RDW and NLR levels were significantly higher in patients with MDD compared to the control group. The significant difference between the levels of RDW and NLR in patients with MDD and the control group was dissolved after SSRI treatment (P < 0.001). RDW [median 14.3, interquartile range (IQR) 2.8 vs. median 13.25, IQR 2.45; P < 0.001] and NLR (median 2.3, IQR 1.1 vs. median 2.0, IQR 1.15; P < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in patients with MDD compared to the control group.ConclusionOur study showed that hematological inflammatory markers might be useful parameters that can be used in patients with MDD for coronary artery disease risk. Specifically, RDW and NLR seem to be more hopeful. Advanced, detailed, and larger studies are needed.

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Inflammation was observed in hemodialysis patients and increases with catheter. Our findings show that a strong relationship among serum NGAL levels, duration of catheter, hs-CRP and TNF-α. NGAL may be used as a new inflammation marker in hemodialysis patients.