Diphenyl diselenide prevents hepatic alterations induced by paraquat in rats

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)₂ on paraquat (PQ) induced alterations in rats liver. Adult male Wistar rats received (PhSe)₂ at 10 mg kg(-1), by oral administration (p.o.), during five consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last (PhSe)₂ dose, rats received PQ at 15 mg kg(-1), in a single intraperitoneally injection (i.p.). Seventy-two hours after PQ exposure, animals were sacrificed by decapitation for blood and liver samples obtainment. Histological alterations induced by PQ exposure, such as inflammatory cells infiltration and edema, were prevented by (PhSe)₂ administration. Moreover, (PhSe)₂ prevented hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) induced by PQ and was effective in reducing the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in liver, which was enhanced by PQ exposure. (PhSe)₂ also was effective in protecting against the reduction in ascorbic acid and non-protein thiols (NPSH) levels induced by PQ. The inhibition of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, in rats exposed to PQ, was normalized by (PhSe)₂ pre-treatment, whereas the inhibition of catalase (CAT) activity was not prevented by (PhSe)₂. The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) inhibition, induced by PQ administration, was also prevented by (PhSe)₂ pre-treatment. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were not modified by PQ and/or (PhSe)₂ administration. Therefore, (PhSe)₂ pre-treatment was effective in protecting against the hepatic alterations induced by PQ in rats. This protective effect can involve the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of (PhSe)₂.

Selection of medical technology students in a hospital-based program

This article describes a process for selection of medical technology students into a hospital-based program. The process uses a weighting method for selection criteria and numerical ranking of applicants by a point system. Tools developed by the selection committee are discussed: Pre-Interview Rating Form, Interview Rating Form, Interview Rating Form Score Sheet, and Interview Questions Sets. The structured selection interview is described in detail. The process might easily be adapted to other hospital-based allied health programs.