Summary Inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to play an important role in the induction and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in the recent studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 in the late phase of AP. The study was conducted on 40 male Wistar Albino rats. The animals were divided randomly into four equal groups. AP was induced by the infusion of 3% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct (in groups I and II). Starting on day 20 prior to the induction of AP, rats in group I received daily dose of 100 mg/kg of curcumin, dissolved in 9% ethanol via an intragastric tube. The same procedure was repeated for 6 days following the onset of AP. Group III was infused only on saline solution. Group IV (curcumin control group) received 9% ethanol via an intragastric tube, during the experimental period (totally 26 days). All the animals were sacrificed on day 6 after the collection of blood samples and serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were determined. Tissue samples were taken from pancreas, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs, spleen and the kidneys for histopathological evaluation. Serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in the group, which received curcumin (group I), were determined to be significantly lower than those of the untreated group (group II) (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of total histopathological scores in the treatment group versus untreated group. Curcumin has been shown to markedly reduce serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in the late phase of AP, but failed in the prevention of tissue injury.

Fetuin-A is synthesized in the liver and is secreted into the bloodstream. Clinical studies suggest involvement of fetuin-A in metabolic disorders such as visceral obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and fatty liver. Curcumin is extracted from the rhizome Curcuma longa and has been shown to possess potent antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of curcumin treatment on serum fetuin-A levels as well as hepatic lipids and prooxidant-antioxidant status in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 was fed control diet (10 % of total calories from fat). Groups 2 and 3 were given curcumin (100 and 400 mg/kg bw/day, respectively ) by gavage for 8 weeks and were fed control diet. Group 4 was fed with HFD (60 % of total calories from fat). Groups 5 and 6 received HFD together with the two doses of curcumin, respectively. Curcumin treatment appeared to be effective in reducing liver triglycerides and serum fetuin-A levels. These findings suggest that the reduction of fetuin-A may contribute to the beneficial effects of curcumin in the pathogenesis of obesity.

Long term ASA pretreatment could prevent and/or ameliorate certain hematological, serological and histological alterations caused by cerulein-induced AP.

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We demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of chronic curcumin supplement on biochemical parameters, neurological scores and apoptosis following ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory condition that results from the digestion of pancreatic tissue by its own enzymes released from the acinar cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol on oxidative damage, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and tissue injury involved with AP induced in a rat model using sodium taurocholate (n = 60). There were three treatment groups with 20 rats per group. Groups I and II received 3% sodium taurocholate solution, while group III underwent the same surgical procedure yet did not receive sodium taurocholate. In addition, group II received 30 mg/kg resveratrol solution. Rats were sacrificed at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h time points following the induction of AP. Blood and pancreatic tissue samples were collected and subjected to biochemical assays, Western blot assays, and histopathologic evaluations. Resveratrol did not reduce trypsin levels and prevent tissue damage. Resveratrol prevented IκB degradation (except for 6 h) and decreased nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1) (except for 24 h), and levels of TNF-α, IL-6 (except for 24 h), and iNOS in the pancreatic tissue at all time points (P < 0.05). Serum nitric oxide (NO) levels were reduced as well (P < 0.05). Thus, we concluded that resveratrol did not reduce trypsin levels and did not prevent tissue injury despite the reduction in oxidative damage and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels detected in this model of AP.

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The aim of study was to evaluate a case of granulomatous conjunctivitis, clinically and pathologically, in the right eye of a 2-year-old, female ostrich. A mass measuring 5 cm x 3 cm x 4 cm was removed surgically from the eye of the ostrich. Morexella phenylpyruvica was recovered from the mass. On histopathological examination, hyperplasia or squamous metaplasia in some area of conjunctival palpebra, and a granulomatous inflammation in the submucosa were observed. The lesion was described as a granulomatous conjunctivitis caused by M. phenylpyruvica. The lesion was located in the lower eyelid conjunctiva and was not only restricted to the gl. lacrimalis, but also present in the connective tissue. After excision of the mass, the ostrich was treated with topical and systemic antibiotics and corticosteroid. The ostrich recovered fully and the function of the eye appeared to be normal.