The antidiabetic thiozolidinediones (TZDs) a class of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) ligands has recently been the focus of much interest for their possible role in regulation of inflammatory response. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of pioglitazone in experimental models of inflammation in rats. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti inflammatory effect of TZDs (pioglitazone 3mg/Kg) on acute, sub acute and chronic model of inflammation by using egg-albumin and formalin–induced paw edema in 72 rats, relative to reference drugs Dexamethasone 5mg/Kg and Piroxicam 5mg/Kg. In each inflammation model, 24 rats were allocated into four subgroups, each containing six rats representing control, two standards, and test groups. All treatments were given (I.P) 30 minutes before induction of inflammation and the increase in paw edema was measured at certain time intervals by using vernier caliper. Pioglitazone produced nonsignificant reduction (P>0.05) of egg albumin-induced acute inflammation of the rat hind paw, while significantly produced time-related reduction of formalin-induced sub-acute and chronic inflammation of the rat hind paw. In conclusion, pioglitazone possesses anti-inflammatory activity in the animal models of sub-acute and chronic inflammations. Key Words:  Pioglitazone, PPAR-γ, anti-inflammatory activity

Chronic inflammation can induce proliferative events and posttranslational DNA modifications in prostate tissue through oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the changes in serum levels of TNF-α, malomdialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) patients with different stages of malignant prostatic cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). One hundred males (age range of 58-72 years) with different stages of malignant PCa were recruited from the Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Teaching Hospital in Baghdad during the period from September 2010 to April 2011. The patients were categorized according to the 4 disease stages (I, II, III, and IV); 25 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 25 normal healthy subjects were considered as comparator groups. Blood samples were taken from all subjects for analysis of TNF-α TAS and MDA levels. The results showed significant differences between the four stages of PCa patients in all parameters; however, highly significant difference was observed in stage IV compared to control and BPH patients. In conclusion, TNF-α and total antioxidant status could be utilized for marking the advanced stages of malignant PCa.    Key words: Malignant Prostate cancer, Inflammation, TNF-α, Oxidative stress

No abstract

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) mostly associated with renal and hepatic adverse effects, and the adjunct use of compounds with potent protective effects, like silymarin, may be one of the choices to avoid these effects. This project was designed to evaluate the protective effect of silymarin against the suspected renal and hepatic injury induced with long term use of NSAIDs; 220 patients with osteoarthritis were randomized into 5 groups and treated with either silymarin 300mg/day alone, piroxicam 20mg/day alone, meloxicam 15mg/day alone or the combination of each of them with silymarin for 8 weeks. The renal and hepatic functions were evaluated before starting treatment and after 8 weeks including assessment of serum levels of urea, creatinine and the activities of the hepatic enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamic-oxalic acid transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic acid transaminase (GPT). The results indicated that using NSAIDs alone produced elevation in the markers of renal and hepatic damage that can be successfully prevented or reversed when silymarin adjunctly used with them. In conclusion, silymarin when co-administered with the NSAIDs (piroxicam or meloxicam) decreases their renal and hepatic toxicities in OA patients. Key words: Silymarin; Piroxicam, Meloxicam; Nephroprotection; Hepatoprotection

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of radiation therapy on the oxidative stress, biochemical and hematological parameters in women with breast cancer. 95 women were studied, 20 healthy control women and 75 had breast cancer.Malondialdehyde and glutathione (in erythrocytes and plasma), biochemical parameters (total plasma proteins, plasma albumin, uric acid and plasma calcium) levels, and hematological parameters (hemoglobin, white blood cell counts, platelets counts) all parameters were measured pre- and post radiation therapy for 4 weeks.The result of this study indicates that the incorporation of radiation therapy as a way to destroy malignant cells, in addition to their therapeutic benefits, it may lead to further increase in the oxidative stress burden of cancer, manifested by increase in MDA production and glutathione depletion. Which may affect directly or indirectly some biochemical and hematological parameters as indicated by lowering plasma protein especially albumin, increases in plasma calcium level, and decreases in hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets levels.These changes should be considered during radiation therapy and before administration of anticancer drugs or any other drugs because it may affect both the beneficial as well as the toxicity of these drugs.