In contrast, the hydrophilic bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), has been reported as a cytoprotective and antioxidant molecule. In this study, we investigated if exposure selleck of rat neurons in primary culture to clinically relevant

concentrations of UCB leads to oxidative injury. The contribution of oxidative stress in UCB neurotoxicity was further investigated by examining whether the reduction of NO production by NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, prevents the disruption of the redox status and neuronal damage. Moreover, we evaluated the ability of glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), the most relevant conjugated derivative in the serum of patients treated with UDCA, to abrogate the UCB-induced oxidative damage. Cultured rat neurons were incubated with 50 or 100 mu M UCB in the presence of 100 mu M human serum albumin, alone or in combination with 100 mu M NAME or with 50 mu M GUDCA, for 4 h at 37 degrees C. Protein carbonyls, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-protein adducts, intracellular glutathione content and cell death were determined. The results

obtained showed that UCB induces protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, while diminishes the thiol antioxidant defences, Elafibranor in vitro events that were correlated with the extent of cell death. Moreover, these events were counteracted by NAME and abrogated in the presence of GUDCA. Collectively, this study shows that oxidative stress is one of the pathways associated with neuronal viability impairment by UCB, and that GUDCA significantly prevents such effects from occurring. These findings corroborate the antioxidant properties of the bile acid and point to a new therapeutic approach for UCB-induced neurotoxicity due to oxidative stress. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The current study was conducted to demonstrate that catheter-directed thrombolysis for upper and lowerextremity deep vein thrombosis

is equally safe in patients with and without cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with acute iliofemoral or brachiosubclavian deep vein thrombosis treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis was identified. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with cancer and without cancer.

Results: Catheter-directed thrombolysis was used to treat 202 limbs in 178 patients (75 limbs in 61 cancer patients LCL161 molecular weight and 127 limbs in 117 patients without cancer). The mean treatment duration for patients with cancer (29.7 +/- 21.2 hours) and without cancer (28.8 +/- 22.2 hours) was similar (P=.7774). Catheter-directed thrombolysis achieved grade III clot lysis in a similar proportion of cancer patients (50 of 75 limbs, 66.7%) and patients without cancer (82 of 127 limbs, 64.6%; P =.7619). Grade II clot lysis also was achieved in equal numbers of patients with (20 of 75 limbs, 26.7%) and without cancer (34 of 127 limbs, 26.8%; P =.9872). Three cancer patients (4.9%) and four noncancer patients (3.