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Background/Aims: Cytokine secretion is known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, and levels of proinflammatory cytokines are increased in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between levels of proinflammatory cytokines in CRF patients and degree of depression. Methods: 31 patients on hemodialysis, 31 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and 31 conservatively managed chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients were enrolled in this study. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and ‘elevated symptoms of depression’ were defined as a BDI score ≧17. IL-6 and TNFα cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Results: ‘Elevated symptoms of depression’ occurred in 37 of 93 patients (40%). IL-6 and TNFα levels were not significantly different among CRF patients with and without elevated depressive symptoms (p = 0.937 and p = 0.414, respectively). When analyzed by treatment subgroup, proinflammatory cytokine levels were not significantly different in patients with and without elevated symptoms of depression. Conclusion: In patients with CRF, elevated symptoms of depression were not associated with increased cytokine levels.

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Objective: Cisplatin (DDP, cis-diamminedichloroplatinium II) is one of the most potent chemotherapeutic antitumor drugs, but is able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and it also inhibits the activity of antioxidant enzymes in renal tissue. In the present study, we investigated the preventive effect of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. doses of vitamin E (VE), and 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg b.w. doses of vitamin A (VA) combination on malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in cisplatin-induced toxicity in rat kidneys. Our literature survey indicated a lack of any experimental study showing the beneficial effect of VA on cisplatin-induced MDA, NO, GSH and SOD changes. For this reason, we hoped that this study would provide a unique contribution in that respect. Materials and Methods: 59 Wistar rats (11 to replace prematurely lost animals) were used. 48 evaluable rats were divided into 8 groups (n = 6 in each group): control group, DDP alone (5 mg/kg b.w.) group, 3 VE combination treatment groups of VE100+DDP, VE200+DDP, and VE400+DDP, and 3 VA combination treatment groups of VA25+DDP, VA50+DDP, and VA100+DDP. Kidney MDA, GSH, NO levels and SOD activities were determined for the assessment of oxidant-antioxidant balance. Results: While in the DDP group the tissue levels of MDA and NO were found to be significantly higher than in the control group, GSH levels and SOD activities were significantly lower. MDA and NO levels were found to be significantly lower and GSH levels and SOD activities significantly higher in the VE200+DDP and VE400+ DDP groups when compared with the DDP alone group. MDA and NO levels were found to be significantly lower in the VA50+DDP and VA100+DDP groups when compared with the DDP alone group. However, identical comparisons with the DDP alone group showed significantly higher GSH levels and SOD activities in the VA25+DDP, VA50+DDP, and VA100+DDP groups. Among the VE100+ DDP, VE200+DDP, and VE400+DDP groups, and VA25+ DDP, VA50+DDP, and VA100+DDP groups, MDA and NO levels decreased and GSH levels and SOD activities increased steadily and significantly as the doses of VE and VA increased. Conclusion: These vitamins would be effective in protecting against cisplatin-induced tissue damage in rat kidneys. It is possible that the toxic effect of cisplatin is somehow minimized by a compensatory mechanism involving VE and VA via induction of antioxidant enzyme activities following intraperitoneal injection of DDP.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis among psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients without any cardiovascular disease (CVD) or traditional cardiovascular risk factors through measurement of endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and correlated with disease-related risk factors. Twenty patients with PsA according to classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis and 20 age- and sex-matched controls were included. Patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease were excluded. Carotid IMT was measured using two-dimensional carotid ultrasonography (USG). Endothelial function was determined by measuring flow-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilatation (FMD %) and nitrate-induced dilatation (NID %) using brachial artery USG. Additionally, serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level was obtained using ELISA methodology. In this cross-sectional study, FMD % was significantly more decreased among PsA patients versus control group [mean 11 % (median (range) %10.5 (8-15 %)] and mean 13.2 % [median (range) 12, 8 % (8.1-17.6 %), respectively; p = 0.01]. There was no significant difference in NID %, ADMA level and mean IMT or maximum IMT results. FMD % did not show a significant correlation with clinical and laboratory data of PsA patients. This study showed that endothelial dysfunction may be present in PsA patients with no CVD and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The study findings lend support to the previous reports that suggested a potential relationship between PsA and atherosclerotic disorders.