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We investigated using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry ovarian damage caused by nonylphenol (NP) and the protective effect of melatonin treatment of NP induced ovarian damage. We used 21 female rats divided randomly into three groups: control, NP and melatonin + NP. Histopathological examination of the ovaries, and counting and classification of follicles were performed using Masson's trichrome staining. Expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected in the ovaries using immunohistochemistry. Melatonin had an ameliorative effect on NP induced follicular atresia and absence of corpora lutea. More follicles were observed in the ovaries of animals treated with melatonin prior to treatment with NP. AMH immunoreactivity was significantly lower in the NP group than in the melatonin + NP group. NP increased immunostaining for Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3. Melatonin significantly reduced the increased expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 due to NP exposure. We found that pretreatment with melatonin is beneficial for protecting the ovaries from damage by NP.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used drug for the treatment of cancer,but its clinical use is limited by its liver toxicity. Administering DOX with an antioxidant has become a strategy for preventing the side effects of DOX. Although selenium (Se) is an important trace mineral, data concerning the effect of Se on DOX induced liver tissue are lacking. We investigated the mechanism of DOX hepatotoxicity and the protective effect of different doses of Se on Dox induced liver damage. Female Wistar albino rats were divided into eight equal groups. Se was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to rats at doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg 0.5 h after injection i.p. of 5 mg/kg DOX on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Liver histopathology was assessed to determine the dose at which Se may best inhibit Dox induced liver toxicity. Also, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression levels and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) activity were determined using immunohistochemistry. We found that DOX caused liver damage and increased TNF-α, IL-1β and PCNA levels. Se prevented structural damage to liver tissues. Our findings reinforce the protective effects of Se in rat liver.

Although it is generally regarded appropriate to start chemotherapy promptly after a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the optimal time from diagnosis to treatment (TDT) is unknown. A total of 689 patients diagnosed with DLBCL and treated with ≥ 1 cycle of CHOP-R with curative intent during 2003-2008 in British Columbia were identified: 347 (50%) TDT ≤ 4 weeks, 277 (40%) TDT 5-8 weeks, 65 (10%) TDT > 8 weeks. For the respective TDT groups, 5-year OS estimates were 61%, 74%, 63% (p = 0.006); 5-year PFS 57%, 70%, 61% (p = 0.006); and 5-year DSS 64%, 80%, 77% (p <0.001). In multivariate analysis, TDT >8 weeks was associated with worse OS (HR 1.20 (95% CI 1.03, 1.41), p = 0.020), PFS (HR 1.33 (95% CI 1.15, 1.54), p < 0.001), and DSS (HR 1.40 (95% CI 1.10, 1.78), p = 0.006). Clinicians should endeavor to initiate curative chemotherapy as soon as possible after a diagnosis of DLBCL is established.