A Protective Effect of Commercial Green Tea on Ibuprofen Induced Changes in Renal Function Tests of Adult Rats

Background: Nephrotoxicity of ibuprofen is a growing international public health problem in the wake of excessive use of the drug for the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases in both adults and pediatric patients. Objectives: To present an overview of the protective effect of the green tea on ibuprofen-induced changes in the biochemical markers of the adult rat kidneys. Methods: It is an experimental study conducted in the department of Anatomy, Army Medical College Rawalpindi. The investigation was led on 30 male and non-pregnant female Sprague Dawley rodents of 9-11 weeks old enough and going in weight from 200-330 gm. The animals were divided into three groups consisting of 10 animals each; group A served as control, each animal in group B was given ibuprofen at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day and each animal in group C was given both green tea at a dose of 1ml/100g/day and Ibuprofen 120mg/kg body weight for a period of 9 weeks. Ibuprofen manufactured by Abbot Laboratories (Pvt.) Limited was utilized. Green tea was obtained from local market. Data was collected at the end of experimental period and was analyzed using SPSS version 22. One Way ANOVA was exerted, afterwards by post-hoc Tukey test to find out intergroup differences for quantitative variables. The results were depicted as mean ± standard deviation (mean ± SD). A p value < 0.05 was believed significant. Results: Green tea administration had a significantly favorable effect on serum urea (mg/dl) (Group A=21.9 ± 2.8, Group B=93.2 ± 3.9, Group C=36.4± 3.0; p<0.001) and serum creatinine (mg/dl) (Group A=0.9 ± 0.22, Group B=2.4± 0.52, Group C=0.97 ± 0.3; p<0.001). Conclusions: Green tea had ameliorative effects on the ibuprofen-induced changes in the biochemical markers of the adult rat kidneys.

Stratification of White Matter Hyperintensities in Young and Middle Age Adults Using Hydrogen Magnetic Resonance H-Mr Spectroscopy

Objective: The objective of this study was to stratify white matter hyperintensities on the basis of neuronal integrity in young and middle age adults by comparing the level of N-acetyl aspartate and creatine ratios in white matter hyperintensity lesions and normal appearing white matter using hydrogen magnetic resonance (H-MR) spectroscopy at 1.5 Tesla(T) Methods: Fifty consecutive patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria aged 18-50yrs who were referred for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the brain at the Radiology department of Aga Khan University Hospital over a six month period between January and June 2011 were included in the study. These patients had undergone routine MRI brain using the department protocol and were found to have white matter hyperintensities ≥5mm and no other intra-axial abnormalities. The patients underwent MR spectroscopy of the white matter hyperintensity lesions and a corresponding region of normal appearing white matter at 1.5 Tesla. Ratios of N-acetyl aspertate/creatine were compared for the white matter hyperintensity lesions and normal appearing white matter. The NAA/creatine ratios of the white matter hyperintensities and normal appearing white matter were analyzed and inferences made regarding neuronal integrity, clinical presentation and location of the white matter lesions. Results:Fifty patients, 25 male and 25 female were included in the final analysis. Thirty nine (78%) patients showed lower levels of NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter hyperintensities compared to normal appearing white matter. Eleven (22%) patients showed higher levels of NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter hyperintensities compared to normal appearing white matter. Paired T test showed a statistically significant difference between the NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter hyperintensity lesions compared to normal white matter(p value of Forty seven (94%) sampled lesions were in the subcortical and deep white matter compared to 3(6%) lesions in the periventricular location. There was no statistically significance difference in the ratios of NAA/creatine between the periventricular and deep white matter lesions. Forty seven (94%) of the study patients presented with headache . Twelve (24%) presented with dizziness. No correlation was found between the levels of NAA/creatine ratios and clinical presentation. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that white matter hyperintensities in young and middle age adults are associated with actual neuronal destruction. These patients should be investigated to define the aetiology and if possible interventions to reverse or prevent further neuronal damage.