BACKGROUND: The effects of diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic derived compound, on the viability and cell signaling- like the downstream signaling through cytochrome c, caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) during an oxidative-stress induced injury were studied using H2O2 treated neuronal-differentiated PC12 cells by a nerve growth factor. METHODS: To evaluate the toxicity of the DADS itself, the viability of the differentiated PC12 cells treated with several concentrations of DADS was evaluated with 3, (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. To evaluate the protective effect of the low concentration of DADS from oxidative stress, the viability of the cells (DADS pretreated vs. not pretreated) was evaluated following the exposure to 100 micro M H2O2. Additionally, the expression of caspase-3, PARP, and cytochrome c was examined using western blot analyses. RESULTS: The viability was not affected at low concentrations of DADS, up to 20 micro M, but, over this concentration, it was decreased. Compared with the cells treated with only 100 micro M H2O2, the pretreatment with low concentrations of DADS before exposure to 100 micro M H2O2 increased the viability and induced the inhibition of caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, and cytochrome c release. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that low concentrations of DADS shows neuroprotective effects by affecting the downstream signaling through cytochrome c, caspase-3, and PARP pathway and may be a new potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cytochromes c ; Cytochromes* ; Garlic ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Oxidative Stress ; PC12 Cells*

PURPOSE: Total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection (CLND) is a treatment modality of choice for thyroid cancer. Hypocalcemia is the most common complication after total thyroidectomy. The aim of the current study was to determine the association between surgery-related clinical factors and postoperative hypocalcemia. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed for 101 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with CLND for papillary cancer from June 2013 to June 2014. Correlation between clinicopathologic factors and postoperative hypocalcemia was analyzed. RESULTS: Based on the postoperative day-2 calcium, 56 patients (55%) developed hypocalcemia and 45 patients (45%) were normal. No significant differences in histopathologic (tumor size, tumor focality, histologic type, number of retrieved lymph nodes, metastatic lymph node, thyroiditis, retrieved parathyroid gland) findings were observed between the hypocalcemia group and normal calcium group. Mean value of the postoperative day-0 parathyroid hormone (PTH) was significantly lower in the hypocalcemia group (hypoca1cemia group: 14.3+/-9.4 pg/mL; normal group: 25.0+/-16.4 pg/mL; P<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, postoperative PTH was a factor significantly affecting postoperative hypocalcemia (OR 0.93; CI: 0.90-0.97; P<0.001). In ROC analysis, the cut-off value of PTH was 19.965 (sensitivity 79%, specificity 58%), and area under the curve (AUC) was 0.709 (95% CI: 0.607-0.811). CONCLUSION: Postoperative PTH was a factor predicting hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy with CLND. Use of postoperative PTH as a screening tool for prediction of postoperative hypocalcemia would be useful in management of patients with hypocalcemia.
Calcium ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia* ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mass Screening ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy* ; Thyroiditis