Secondary damage after acute spinal cord compression injury (SCCI) exacerbates initial insult. Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-jB)-p65 activation is involved in SCCI deleterious effects. Agmatine (Agm) showed neuroprotection against various CNS injuries. However, Agm impact on NF-jB signaling in acute SCCI remains to be investigated. The present study compared the effectiveness of Agm therapy and decompression laminectomy (DL) in functional recovery, oxidative stress, inflammatory and apoptotic responses, and modulation of NF-jB activation in acute SCCI rat model. Rats were either sham-operated or subjected to SCCI at T8-9, using 2-Fr. catheter. SCCI rats were randomly treated with DL at T8-9, intraperitoneal Agm (100 mg/kg/day), combined (DL/Agm) treatment or saline (n = 16/group). After 28-days of neurological follow-up, spinal cords were either subjected to biochemical measurement of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers or histopathology and immuno-histochemistry for NF-jB-p65 and caspase-3 expression (n = 8/group). Agm was comparable to DL in facilitating neurological functions recovery, reducing inflammation (TNF-a/interleukin-6), and apoptosis. Agm was distinctive in combating oxidative stress. Agm neuroprotective effects were paralleled with inhibition of NF-jB-p65 nuclear

Objectives: Unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is an established rat model for stoke studies. It induces focal cerebral ischemia, prior to necrotic and apoptotic loss of tissue in a circumscribed cortical area, paralleled by temporary motor impairment. Methods: Here we examined tissue samples from the peri-infarct zone of rats that had survived unilateral MCAO for up to 90 min. With immunohistochemistry we stained sections for proliferation markers Ki 67 and PCNA and for intermediate filament protein nestin. Electron microscopy was employed to assess ultrastructural changes. Results: All MCAO animals developed pronounced lesions in the motor cortex. Numerous cells in the immediate peri-infarct area and scattered cells which seem to have migrated into the infarcted lesion stained positively for Ki 67 and PCNA. Electron microscopy revealed that cells in the lesion site proliferate along the blood vessels. Most of these cells had the ultrastructural features of fibrillary astrocytes while some of the cells were clearly neurons. Endothelia were in part fenestrated. Some of the surrounding cells showed immunostaining for PCNA, indicating proliferation. Oligodendroglia and myelination could not be seen in the lesion site. Single neuronal contacts exhibited the ultrastructural features of synapses. Reformation of cortical layers could not be observed. Conclusions: We concluded that in spite of extensive proliferation; neuronal and glial regeneration occurs after MCAO only to a small extent. Revascularization seems to be an important initial step. The observed functional recovery of experimental animals may be due to neuronal plasticity in young rats rather than structural regeneration.

Background: Alzheimer`s disease (AD) shares Pathophysiological features with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The nuclear receptor peroxisome Proliferator-activated receptor GAMMA (PPAR ϒ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism and suppress inflammatory gene expression. Aim and hypothesis The potential therapeutic role of PPAR ϒ on cognitive impairment and visuospatial memory in insulin resistance-induced AD using Pioglitazone; a PPAR ϒ agonist. Methods AD was induced in 6 weeks old male rats by adding 6mg/L copper sulphate to drinking water for 8 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=10). (1) Normal control group on plain water, (2) AD control group, (3) Fructose drinking induced insulin resistance (IR) AD group, (4) Pioglitazone-treated group received orally (10mg/kg/day) at a volume of 2 ml/kg/day for the last 12 weeks of the 16 weeks period. Groups (3),(4) received 10% fructose solution in drinking water for 16 weeks after developing AD.Cognitive functions were assessed using discrimination index (DI) in object recognition test (ORT) and escape latency in Morris water maze(MWM) test. PPAR ϒ was investigated for its role on ϒ-secretase and α secretes as well as glucose homeostasis. Results PPAR ϒ level was significantly elevated in IR-induced rats. However, Pioglitazone treatment was associated with restoration of PPAR ϒ level to approximately normal values. Moreover, IR produced significant reduction in DI and prolongation of escape latency. Activation of PPAR ϒ through Pioglitazone showed significant improvement in IR-induced dysfunctions in cognitive function and visuospatial memory in ORT and MWM tasks. Conclusion PPAR ϒ agonists have a therapeutic potential in AD

Background and objectives: Rectal bleeding is a frequent symptom in young people and often over- investigated.Rectal bleeding is defined as bleeding from lower gastrointestinal tract, which means bleeding from a place distal to ligament of Treitz. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of different causes of rectal bleeding in young patients. Methods: Four hundred and seventy patients with rectal bleeding were selected in out-patient department were referred to gastroenterology units of Hawler and Rizgary Hospital in Erbil. Patients with suspected upper GI source of bleeding excluded from the study. All patients were subjected to colonoscopy after preparation of the gut and the findings were recorded. When it was necessary, biopsy samples were also taken. Diagnosis was based on colonoscop- ic findings. Results: The total number of patients was 470. Their mean age + SD were 31.96 + 7.65 years, the median was 32 years, ranging from 12 to 46 years, more than one third of patients had hemorrhoids, either alone (35.7%), or with other finding, (45%) of patients had hemorrhoid with or without other diseases, (8.3%) had inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal tumor (4.7%), also 21.3% of patients found to be normal. Conclusions:Haemorrhoids were the main cause of bleeding per rectum, followed by evidence of inflammatory bowel disease. The incidence of colorectal tumor was low (4.7%). Though most findings were benign, colonoscopy should be strongly considered for this patient group with non urgent rectal bleeding.