RESUMEN
Propolis is widely used as a supplementary food product for its health benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of commercial propolis extracts on the liver and kidney. Propolis extracts (250 mg/kgbw/day) were administered orally to adult male Wistar albino rats in solvents of ethanol, propylene glycol, water, and olive oil. Liver enzyme levels were determined biochemically in blood samples, and histopathological examinations were performed on the liver. Damage rate in both kidney tissue in the propolis-ethanol extract group increased significantly compared with the other groups after 30 and 90 days of application (p < .05). According to the results, ethanol, used as a common solvent in propolis products, may adversely affect the liver in long-term use. The data indicate that propolis-olive oil extract may be an essential alternative due to its effective and reliable properties.
RESUMEN
Renal hemangiomas, including the rare subtype of venous hemangioma, are typically non-cancerous, often asymptomatic, and usually discovered incidentally during imaging studies. Here, we report a unique case of a 59-year-old African-American female with a renal venous hemangioma that initially mimicked papillary-type renal cell carcinoma (RCC-pt) on imaging studies. The patient's presentation included a long history of rectal bleeding and an incidental discovery of a hypoattenuating mass in the left kidney during a contrast-enhanced CT scan. Renal MRI revealed a 3.5 cm left renal lower pole mass, presenting as heterogeneously hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2-weighted images, with gradual mild enhancement post-contrast. Subsequent total nephrectomy confirmed the histopathological diagnosis of a venous hemangioma. This case underlines the need for recognizing unique imaging features of renal venous hemangiomas, contributing to the differential diagnosis of T2 dark hypoenhancing renal masses. Correct interpretation may prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and operations, thereby improving patient management and outcomes.