Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Pterostilbene Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Suppression of COX-2

Background: The incidence of cerebral ischemia disease leading cause of death in human population worldwide. Treatment of cerebral ischemia remains a clinical challenge for researchers and mechanisms of cerebral ischemia remain unknown. During the cerebral ischemia, inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress plays an important role. The current investigation scrutinized the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory role of pterostilbene against cerebral ischemia in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rodent model and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods: The rats were divided into following groups viz., normal, sham, MCAO and MCAO + pterostilbene (25 mg/kg) group, respectively. The groups received the oral administration of pterostilbene for 30 days followed by MCAO induction. The neurological score, brain water content, infarct volume and Evan blue leakage were estimated. Hepatic, renal, heart, inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators were estimated.Results: Pterostilbene treatment significantly (p < 0.001) improved the body weight and suppressed the glucose level and brain weight. Pterostilbene significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the hepatic, renal and heart parameters. Pterostilbene significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the level of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased the level of malonaldehyde (MDA), 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Pterostilbene significantly (p < 0.001) inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory parameters such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxidase synthase (iNOS) and prostaglandin (PGE2). Pterostilbene significantly (p < 0.001) down-regulated the level of metalloproteinases (MMP) such as MMP-2 and MMP-9. Pterostilbene suppressed the cellular swelling, cellular disintegration, macrophage infiltration, monocyte infiltration and polymorphonuclear leucocyte degranulation in the brain.Conclusion: In conclusion, Pterostilbene exhibited the neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia in rats via anti-inflammatory mechanism.

Study of etiology, clinical profile and predictive factors of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis of liver

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the potentially lethal complication of liver cirrhosis and is defined as infected ascites in the absence of any recognizable secondary cause of infection. Majority of the SBP cases are caused by organism from the gastrointestinal tract mainly aerobic gram-negative organisms- Escherichia coli being the most common etiological agent.Methods: It was a prospective observational study done over a period of 1 year in a tertiary care hospital. 50 patients from medical and gastroenterology wards were included in the study. Patients above 12 year of age with diagnosed cirrhosis of liver and documented evidence of SBP were included. Pregnant females, patients who refused to give consent, patients with a documented evidence of intra-abdominal source of infection or patients with ascitis due to non-hepatic causes were excluded.Results: The high serum bilirubin and creatinine levels were associated with higher mortality rate. Hepatic encephalopathy is associated with worse outcome. The outcome of the patient in relation to the grades of ascitis, liver enzymes, prothrombin time, international normalised ratio (INR), Child pugh grades, ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leucocyte count, ascitic fluid culture and blood culture were not statistically significant.Conclusions: A high index of suspicion should exist for SBP in patients with cirrhosis and ascitis. Serum creatinine and bilirubin levels are strong predictors of mortality. Hepatic encephalopathy has a strong association with mortality in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Antioxidants the Powerful New Weapons in the Fight Against Periodontal Diseases

The human inflammatory periodontal diseases are amongst the most common of chronic diseases. The predominant inflammatory cell (96%) within the healthy connective tissue and epithelium of the gingiva is polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL). Periodontopathic bacteria in the gingivomucosal tissue may functionally activate PMNLs leading to an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Chronic inflammation subjects the nearby cells to elevated levels of free radicals (ROS) due to extracellular release from phagocytic cells. Antioxidants block the process of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals. In doing so, the antioxidant themselves become oxidized. Because of this, there is a constant need to replenish our antioxidant resources.