Retinopathy remains an important complication of diabetes. This work was carried out to evaluate the protective effects of genistein from diabetic retinopathy in rat. Fifteen adult male albino rats were divided into two groups; Group I: control (n=5) and Group II: streptozotocin induced diabetic group (n=10), which is equally divided into two subgroups; IIa (diabetic vehicle control) and IIb (diabetic genistein-treated). Specimens were taken from the retina 12 weeks post induction, processed and examined using light, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural techniques. Blood samples were assayed for the levels of glucose. In comparison with the diabetic non-treated group, the histological changes in macro and microglial glial cells reactivity and retinal blood capillaries were improved in genistein-treated groups. In addition, GFAP and iNOS expressions in the retina and the blood glucose level were reduced. Genistein ameliorates the histological changes of diabetic retinopathy reaching healing features, which resemble that of a normal retina

Background: Worldwide, consistent survival benefit for chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a golden goal for concerned researchers. Nexavar® (sorafenib) is the only approved agent that achieved touchable successes in this regard. Thus, there is a pressing medical need for new promising drugs to improve HCC therapy. Aims: our designed lactosaminated albumin conjugate of doxorubicin (L-HSA–DOXO) that rapidly and preferentially accumulates in the liver is compared, for the first time at its MTD, with doxorubicin and sorafenib, not only for antitumor efficacy but also for overall survival. Methods: HCC was induced in male Wistar rats with N-nitrosodiethylamine added to drinking water (100 mg/L) for 8 weeks. Endpoints were antitumor efficacy, tolerability and overall survival. Results: L-HSA–DOXO proved to be superior at least over doxorubicin in the majority of assessed endpoints. Circulating AFP-L3% was diminished in L-HSA–DOXO (14.5%) and sorafenib (18.4%) groups compared to DENA (31.1%) and doxorubicin (29.5%) groups. This superiority was further confirmed by Western blot analyses of some novel HCC biomarkers. Survival study reinforced consistent benefits of both L-HSA–DOXO and sorafenib. Conclusions: L-HSA–DOXO shows at least comparable activity to sorafenib which clinically achieves only ∼3 months overall survival benefit. Combination of these two agents could act beneficially or synergistically via two different modes of action to fight HCC.

Background Low vitamin D status has been associated with vitiligo. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy has improved vitamin D balance in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; however, few data are available on such effect in vitiligo and the relationship of vitamin D levels with disease severity and repigmentation. Objective To investigate the influence of NB-UVB phototherapy on vitamin D status in vitiligo patients. Patients and methods The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in 28 vitiligo patients before and after exposure to 24 sessions of NB-UVB treatment. Baseline vitamin D levels of patients were compared with those of 20 age and sex-matched healthy participants. Clinical response was evaluated using the vitiligo area scoring index (VASI) scoring system. Results Insufficient vitamin D levels (o75 nmol/l) were found in 78.6% of vitiligo patients, compared with 15% of controls. The mean serum vitamin D value was significantly lower than that in controls (Po0.001). After phototherapy, a significant increase in vitamin D was observed (Po0.001). The increase in vitamin D was negatively correlated with baseline vitamin D levels. However, there was no significant correlation between vitamin D levels and vitiligo area severity index (VASI) score. Conclusion NB-UVB therapy improves low vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients, which may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.

Background Low vitamin D status has been associated with vitiligo. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy has improved vitamin D balance in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; however, few data are available on such effect in vitiligo and the relationship of vitamin D levels with disease severity and repigmentation. Objective To investigate the influence of NB-UVB phototherapy on vitamin D status in vitiligo patients. Patients and methods The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in 28 vitiligo patients before and after exposure to 24 sessions of NB-UVB treatment. Baseline vitamin D levels of patients were compared with those of 20 age and sex-matched healthy participants. Clinical response was evaluated using the vitiligo area scoring index (VASI) scoring system. Results Insufficient vitamin D levels (o75 nmol/l) were found in 78.6% of vitiligo patients, compared with 15% of controls. The mean serum vitamin D value was significantly lower than that in controls (Po0.001). After phototherapy, a significant increase in vitamin D was observed (Po0.001). The increase in vitamin D was negatively correlated with baseline vitamin D levels. However, there was no significant correlation between vitamin D levels and vitiligo area severity index (VASI) score. Conclusion NB-UVB therapy improves low vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients, which may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.

Background Low vitamin D status has been associated with vitiligo. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy has improved vitamin D balance in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; however, few data are available on such effect in vitiligo and the relationship of vitamin D levels with disease severity and repigmentation. Objective To investigate the influence of NB-UVB phototherapy on vitamin D status in vitiligo patients. Patients and methods The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in 28 vitiligo patients before and after exposure to 24 sessions of NB-UVB treatment. Baseline vitamin D levels of patients were compared with those of 20 age and sex-matched healthy participants. Clinical response was evaluated using the vitiligo area scoring index (VASI) scoring system. Results Insufficient vitamin D levels (o75 nmol/l) were found in 78.6% of vitiligo patients, compared with 15% of controls. The mean serum vitamin D value was significantly lower than that in controls (Po0.001). After phototherapy, a significant increase in vitamin D was observed (Po0.001). The increase in vitamin D was negatively correlated with baseline vitamin D levels. However, there was no significant correlation between vitamin D levels and vitiligo area severity index (VASI) score. Conclusion NB-UVB therapy improves low vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients, which may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.

Background Low vitamin D status has been associated with vitiligo. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy has improved vitamin D balance in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; however, few data are available on such effect in vitiligo and the relationship of vitamin D levels with disease severity and repigmentation. Objective To investigate the influence of NB-UVB phototherapy on vitamin D status in vitiligo patients. Patients and methods The serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in 28 vitiligo patients before and after exposure to 24 sessions of NB-UVB treatment. Baseline vitamin D levels of patients were compared with those of 20 age and sex-matched healthy participants. Clinical response was evaluated using the vitiligo area scoring index (VASI) scoring system. Results Insufficient vitamin D levels (o75 nmol/l) were found in 78.6% of vitiligo patients, compared with 15% of controls. The mean serum vitamin D value was significantly lower than that in controls (Po0.001). After phototherapy, a significant increase in vitamin D was observed (Po0.001). The increase in vitamin D was negatively correlated with baseline vitamin D levels. However, there was no significant correlation between vitamin D levels and vitiligo area severity index (VASI) score. Conclusion NB-UVB therapy improves low vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients, which may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.

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