We aimed to detect the protective effect of trapidil in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury due to ovarian torsion and detorsion. Thirty-two pubertal New Zealand albino rabbits were used. Adnexal torsion was created by rotating the left adnexa including the tubal and ovarian vessels in a 360 degrees clockwise direction. Adnexal detorsion was done by untwisting the adnexa. In the IR group, left oopherectomy was performed after 3 h of adnexal torsion and 3 h of adnexal detorsion. In the study group, a 3-h adnexal torsion was performed and trapidil was administered intraperitoneally as a single dose of 40 mg/kg, 1 h before detorsion. The left oopherectomy was performed after a 3-h adnexal detorsion. In the sham group, sham operation was performed followed by left oopherectomy. In the control group, normal ovarian tissue was evaluated. Catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of ovarian tissue were determined for each group. The values of SOD and GSH-Px activities in the IR group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, the MDA level was significantly higher in the IR group (P < 0.01). The trapidil-administered group showed significant increase in the levels of GSH-Px (P < 0.05), catalase (P < 0.05), SOD (P < 0.05), and decreased MDA levels (P < 0.05) compared to those in the IR group. The study has shown that trapidil treatment prevents ischemia induced oxidative damage in the ovarian tissues of rabbits.

Telomerase is one of the key enzymes responsible for the proliferative immortality of the majority of cancer cells. We recently introduced a new telomerase inhibitor, a 13-mer oligonucleotide N3' --> P5'-thio-phosphoramidate lipid conjugate, designated as GRN163L. This compound inhibits telomerase activity in various tumor cell lines with IC(50) values of 3-300 nM without any cellular uptake enhancers. GRN163L demonstrated potent and sequence specific anti-cancer activity in vivo in multiple animal models. This compound was able to significantly affect not only the growth of primary tumors, but also the spread and proliferation of metastases. GRN163L is currently in Phase I and Phase I/II clinical studies in patients with solid tumors and CLL, respectively.

Telomerase activity in bronchial lavage is a highly sensitive diagnostic biomarker for malignancy and a potential complementary diagnostic technique to cytological examination in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of telomerase activity for discrimination of malignant and benign pleural effusions.Pleural effusions were collected from 109 consecutive patients in whom the diagnosis was confirmed with cytological and/or histological examinations. Cytological samples were classified as malignant (n=63) and benign (n=46). Telomerase activity was determined with the polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay.Telomerase activity was detected in 52 (82.5%) and nine (19.6%) samples from the malignant and benign groups, respectively, which was a significant difference. The sensitivity rate of cytological examination when combined with telomerase activity (92.1%) was significantly greater than that of cytological examination alone (53.9%). The sensitivity and specificity of telomerase activity were 82.5 and 80.4%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of telomerase activity was 81.6%.Telomerase activity is a highly sensitive diagnostic biomarker for malignancy and may be used as an adjunct to cytological findings in determining malignant pleural effusions. Eur Respir J 2003; 22: 422-426.

These results indicate that telomerase activity may be a promising marker for TCC but the technical aspects of the technique must be improved before it is used in routine clinical practice as a standard method. False-negative results obtained using gross hematuric urine should be carefully reevaluated and cell pellets should be washed again and diluted before analysis.