This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of heparin and methylprednisolone in the treatment of ischaemic reperfusion (IR) injury of the testis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated equally into three groups of eight animals each. The left testes were rotated 720° for 2 h in the rats in the torsion-detorsion group. Rats in the treatment groups underwent the same surgical procedure as the torsion-detorsion group but were also given methylprednisolone (group II) or heparin (group III) by an intraperitoneal route 30 min prior to detorsion. Left orchiectomy was performed in all rats from each experimental animal at 2 h after detorsion, and the tissue was harvested for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and nitric oxide (NO) and the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase. Additional tissue was evaluated using histopathological and immunohistochemical changes. PC and MDA levels were significantly reduced in the treated groups compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in NO level or SOD, GSH-Px and catalase activity among the treatment groups. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings supported biochemical changes. It is concluded that pre-treatment with methylprednisolone or heparin protects the testis in ischaemic reperfusion injury caused by testicular torsion-detorsion.

Intrapleural streptokinase is an effective and safe adjunct in facilitating drainage in early and late stage II empyemas. A tendency of decreased rate of drainage besides persisting fever and respiratory symptoms, despite fibrinolytic treatment may be a clue for early surgical intervention.

Background/Aim:In the present study, we aimed to compare the potential protective effects of thymoquinone and melatonin by using equivalent dose, on oxidative stress-induced ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury in the intestinal tissue of rats.Materials and Methods:The study was performed using 32 male Wistar–Albino rats (weighing 180–200 g) randomly divided into four groups: Group I, sham group; Group II, IR group; Group III, IR with melatonin group; and Group IV, IR with thymoquinone group. After laparotomy, ischemia and reperfusion were performed for 60 and 120 min, respectively, on all the groups. Intestinal tissue sections were stained using routine histological methods and examined under the light microscope. In addition, the sections were immunohistochemically stained using the TUNEL method for determination of apoptosis. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the intestinal tissue were also measured.Results:The IR group had significantly elevated tissue SOD activity, GSH-Px activity, and MDA levels compared with the sham group. Administration of thymoquinone and melatonin efficiently reduced these increases. Statistically significant number of apoptotic cells was observed in the intestinal tissue of IR group rats compared with the sham group. Treatment with thymoquinone and melatonin markedly reduced the number of apoptotic cells.ConclusionThe effects of melatonin and thymoquinone on IR-induced oxidative stress in rat intestines were similar. Our findings suggest that melatonin and thymoquinone protect against IR-induced injury to intestinal tissues.