Background/Aim:Toxicity with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a major problem in uremic patients. Treatment with peritoneal dialysis (PD) exacerbates AGE formation as a result of bioincompatibility of the conventional peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF). The presence of glucose degradation products (GDPs) in PDF is the main cause of its bioincompatibility. Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide with a powerful antiglycation/antioxidant activity. In an attempt to improve PDF biocompatibility, we evaluated the effect of carnosine in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) incubated with PDF or GDPs in vitro. Methods: HPMC were incubated for short or prolonged time with PDF in the presence or absence of carnosine. Similarly, HPMC were incubated in the same condition but with a combination of GDPs. Following the incubation, cells were tested for their viability, protein carbonyl content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Results: Results demonstrated a significant protective effect of carnosine to HPMC in both acute and chronic conditions with PDF or GDPs as judged by the enhancement of cell viability, preserved protein from modification and decreased ROS production. Conclusion: Carnosine enhanced HPMC viability against the toxic effect of GDPs probably through protection of cellular protein from modification and from ROS-mediated oxidative damage. The salutary effect of carnosine may render it a desirable candidate for improving PDF biocompatibility and reducing AGE complications in PD patients.

Background/Aims: Several studies have implicated reactive carbonyl compounds (RCOs), especially those derived from lipid peroxidation, in the development of complications frequently associated with hemodialysis (HD) treatment. However, there is still much unknown regarding the nature and concentration of RCOs in HD patients. This study was designed to evaluate the level of toxic aldehydes in the plasma of HD patients and to determine the extent to which these aldehydes contribute to RCO toxicity among these patients. Methods: 15 aldehydes of the alkanal, alkenal and 4-HO-alkenal type were measured in the plasma of 17 HD patients and 20 healthy controls. In addition, protein modification markers such as carbonyl content (CO), free thiol (SH) and residual free amino groups, as well as amyloid fibrils were also determined. Results: 11 of the 15 aldehydes were significantly elevated in the HD group when compared with the controls. Correlation studies in the HD group revealed high relationships between total alkenals plus total 4-HO-alkenals versus CO, total alkanals versus NH₂, total aldehydes versus SH, and total 4-HO-alkenals versus fibril. Conclusion: The increased levels of alkanals, alkenals and 4-HO-alkenals of lipid peroxidation in the plasma of HD patients may greatly contribute to the toxicity of RCOs. The pattern of modification of plasma protein by each group of aldehydes may provide new evidence on the in vivo mechanisms of toxicity triggered by these aldehydes on their target molecules.

The present study was carried outinHaWija District and surrounding villages. Three villages were chosen (Al-Kadhemia,Sader A1-Naher, A1-Ameniea). The high incidence rate of cutaneous leishmaniasis was during the Winter months (December 1996 to March 1997). The total positive cases were 227 ( 111 males and 116 females). The highest incidence rate was among childeren fiom 1-10 years old. Intralesional mannitol solution was shown to be more effective ( 93.89% ) than Hypertonic Sodium Chloride 7% (HSCS) ( 87.50% ) but almost identical to pentostam ( 96.20% ). Most of lesions were cured in first and second injection, in all three treated groups but few of them needed the third injection. In all three treated groups, the scar was absent or minimum afier healing. None of the control lesions cured-within 6-8 Weeks. It is concluded that 20% rnannitol is aneffective local method of treatment for acute cutaneous leishmaniasis. The efficacy of 20% of mannitol is identical to pentostam and greater than 7% “ HSCS”. i