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Previous reports revealed that increased oxidative stress with up‐regulated inflammatory proteins and apoptotic factors have serious implications in busulfan‐induced chemo‐brain and testicular damages. Hence, we investigated the potential reversal effects of kolaviron (KV), a neuro‐active extract rich in flavonoids with proven anti‐oxido‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic properties, on busulfan‐induced oxidative damage, inflammatory proteins, and apoptosis in the brains and testes of male rats. In the treatment‐regimen, animals in groups 1 and 2 had saline (10 ml/kg/p.o./day) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 10 ml/kg/p.o./day), group 3 received KV extract (200 mg/kg/p.o./day), group 4 was given busulfan (50 mg/kg/p.o./day) and animals in group 5 were pretreated with busulfan (50 mg/kg/p.o./day) successively for 56 days in addition to KV extract (200 mg/kg/p.o./day) from days 29–56. Non‐spatial memory function was valuated with a novel‐object recognition memory test. Thereafter, testicular and brain oxidative/antioxidant status, proinflammatory‐ and apoptotic‐related proteins, testicular enzymatic markers were evaluated respectively. Kolaviron extract improved cognitive function by increasing exploration of novel‐object of busulfan‐treated rats. Kolaviron extract reversed busulfan‐mediated increased malondialdehyde, 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine, and decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione‐peroxidase in brains and testes as well as the testicular enzyme markers. Increased brain and testicular weights, and TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and NF‐κβ productions due to busulfan administration were also reduced by the extract. The reduced testicular B‐cell lymphoma‐2, sperm mitochondrial cytochrome‐C, and membrane potential, increased DNA fragmentation, caspases ‐3 and ‐9 levels were also profoundly reversed by KV. Additionally, KV extract ameliorated busulfan‐induced testicular histopathological changes in rats. Conclusively, KV extract reverses busulfan‐induced neuroendopathobiological derangements via oxidative stress inhibition, down‐regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic mediators in rats' brains and testes. Practical applications: Busulfan is an orally effective chemotherapy drug widely used for cancer treatment. It has been reported that chronic usage of busulfan increases the tendency for carcinogenic and teratogenic activities with severe side effects on the functions of the gonads and other body organs such as brain, popularly regarded as chemo‐brain. When taken over a prolonged period of time, busulfan causes sterility in animals and destroyed spermatogonial stem cells along with the seminiferous tubules and sperm morphology of animals as well as memory impairments. The findings from the study revealed that KV extract prevent busulfan‐induced cognitive and testicular impairments following kolaviron supplementation. Thus, the findings from this scientific investigation suggest that KV extract could improve the quality of reproductive life and cognitive functions of male patients during busulfan chemotherapy, particularly during prolonged therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 78-year-old woman with a history of intractable otitis media presented with a fever, hearing impairment, thigh pain, and a skin rash. She had renal dysfunction, positive myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody, otitis media, and multiple nodules in both lungs. She was diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, and interstitial nephritis, which was confirmed in a kidney biopsy specimen. Induction therapy with rituximab and avacopan without glucocorticoids promptly resolved her fever and thigh pain and improved her auditory acuity and nodule in the right lung. The patient experienced no adverse effects with rituximab or avacopan.

Angiogenesis is implicated in diverse pathological conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis, and retinal neovascularization. In the present study, we investigated the effects of modified rice bran hemicellulose (MRBH), a water-soluble hemicellulose preparation from rice bran treated with shiitake enzymes, on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis in vitro and its mechanism. We found that MRBH significantly inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) co-cultured with human dermal fibroblasts. We also observed that MRBH dose-dependently suppressed the VEGF-induced proliferation and migration of HUVECs. Furthermore, examination of the anti-angiogenic mechanism indicated that MRBH reduced not only VEGF-induced activation of VEGF receptor 2 but also of the downstream signaling proteins Akt, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. These findings suggest that MRBH has in vitro anti-angiogenic effects that are partially mediated through the inhibition of VEGF signaling.