Lactoferrin in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Peripheral Blood during Experimental Gingivitis

Objectives Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron binding protein and stored in the specific granules of granulocytes. It is released by degranulation following granulocyte activation. A positive correlation was previously reported between periodontitis and LF titers of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and blood. The purpose of this study was to examine alterations of GCF and blood levels of LF (LF-GCF and LF-BL, respectively), employing the experimental gingivitis model. Methods Twelve systemically healthy volunteers, aged 19–21, were selected. Pre-experimental phase of hygiene was followed by a 14-day experimental gingivitis phase in which subjects refrained from all oral hygiene procedures. After that subjects resumed optimal plaque control for 21 days of recovery period. At days 0 (baseline), 14 and 35 gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and blood samples were collected and plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing pocket depth scores were recorded. LF levels were measured with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results PI, GI, BOP and LF-GCF increased significantly after 14 days of experimental gingivitis period and decreased significantly after reinstitution of oral hygiene measures (P<.05). LF-BL appeared to follow the same pattern. Significant negative correlation was detected between the level of LF-BL and BOP at day 14 (P<.05), whereas significant positive correlation was noticed between LF-BL and clinical scores PI, GI and BOP at day 35 (P<.05). Conclusions LF-BL followed the same pattern with LF-GCF and clinical scores during the experimental gingivitis and recovery periods, although alterations of the LF-BL appeared statistically insignificant.PubMe

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for the Discrimination of Benign and Malignant Breast Masses; Utility of ADC and Relative ADC

Purpose: To determine the contribution of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and relative ADC (rADC) values to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses. Materials and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of patients with benign or malignant breast masses diagnosed either by histopathological findings or by follow-up imaging were evaluated retrospectively. Histopathological analyses were performed for 71 lesions (80.7%) while the remaining were followed up every six months for one year. DWI was performed using b-values of 0 and 1000 sec/mm2, and ADC and rADC were calculated and compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to evaluate the parameter’s optimal threshold and diagnostic value. Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: Eighty-eight lesions from a total of 81 patients, aged between 16 and 73 (mean age 42 ± 11.3) years were obtained and evaluated. Pathological results of 34 (38.6%) out of 71 lesions were malignant and 37 lesions (42%) were benign. Seventeen (19.3%) lesions remained stable at one-year follow-up and were accepted as benign breast masses. Mean ADC values of benign and malignant lesions were 1.584 × 10–3mm2/sec and 0.884 x 10–3mm2/sec (p < 0.05), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of ADC were 88% and 87%, respectively at a cut-off value of 1.04 x 10–3mm2/sec. Mean rADC was 0.931 for benign lesions and 0.557 for malignant lesions (p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity were 82% and 83% at a cut-off value of 0.639. No prominent superiority of rADC over ADC is identified in the differentiation of breast masses. Conclusion: ADC and rADC values derived from DWI can be equally useful in clinical setting to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses

ANTINEPHROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY OF PERSEA AMERICANA (AVOCADO) AND VIBURNUM OPULUS (GUELDER ROSE) AGAINST ETHYLENE GLYCOL-INDUCED NEPHROLITHIASIS IN RATS

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a severe health problem causing morbidity. Chemolisis, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), retrograde ureterorenoscopy (URS), and open and laparoscopic surgery are used for treatment with various success rates. Medical treatments with fewer complications were investigated thoroughly. Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effects of Persea americana (avocado) leaves and Viburnum opulus (guelder rose) fruits on nephrolithiasis in an animal model and used 42 rats. The groups received both low and high doses of Persea americana leaves and Viburnum opulus fruit ethanol extracts orally for 28 days. These two plants have been used for years in Turkey for their nephrolithiatic effect. Results: Avocado and guelder rose increased the urine volume and urine citrate levels, decreased urine cystine and oxalate levels, and lowered the crystal deposits in kidney tissue. Avocado and guelder rose also prevented oxidant damage and crystal formation in kidney tissue samples. Conclusion: The two plants that have been used for years for nephrolithiasis treatment in Turkey can safely be used for kidney stones

Analysis of the First Year Publishing Experience and the Future Goals

[J Interdiscipl Histopathol 2014; 2(1.000): 1-2

Morphometric analysis of the sternum in Avian species

The anatomy of the sternum in avian species differs according to their movement and particularly flight capability, as well as species and habitat. Various studies aimed at the examination and measurement of the sternum in avian species have been carried out. However, to the authors' knowledge, no study on the correlation between sternal measurements and movement style has been published previously. In this study, the sternums of certain avian species including the red falcon (Buteo rufinus), rooster (Gallus domesticus), drake (Anas platyrhynches), bald ibis (Geronticus eremita), pigeon (Columba livia), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), eagle owl (Bubo bubo), goose (Anser anser) and turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) were investigated as 3 different habitant groups (I- flying, II- swimming and III- walking). Data analysis revealed a correlation between movement style and sternum measurements in avian species. In the swimming birds that were examined, the width (W) of the sternums was greater than the height (H), and W/H ranged between 1.56 and 1.95 mm. In contrast, the height of the sternum was greater than the width in walking birds and W/H was between 0.50 and 0.68 mm. In the flying birds the width and height of the sternum were approximately equal and W/H ranged between 0.96 and 1.35 mm

Examination of the effects of abrasive powder amount added to the minimum quantity-lubrication system on the cutting process

In machining operations, the cutting process is negatively affected due to the high temperature occurring between the cutting tool and the workpiece. The heat generated in the environment should be removed from the cutting point with a chip. In this study, the surface roughness of the processed surfaces and the changes in cutting forces depending on the abrasive powder added to the minimum-quantity-lubrication (MQL) system and cutting speed were examined. In the experiments, 1.2379 cold-work tool steel hardened to 59 HRC hardness was used; a cubic boron nitride (BN) cutting insert, which is resistant to turning operations at high hardness, was chosen as the cutting insert; and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were used as abrasive powder. When the experiment results were examined, the best average surface roughness obtained was 0.888 mm in the experiment where the cutting speed applied was 160 m/min and volumetric nanofluid concentration applied was 4%. When the resultant cutting forces were examined, it was observed that the change in the abrasive powder amount did not have as much effect on the resultant cutting forces as surface roughness did. Therefore, it was revealed that the nanofluid-doped MQL system applications are needed to increase surface quality with a lubrication effect rather than a cooling effect

The Incidence and Extent of Mullerian Metaplasias in Ovarian Surface Epithelial Tumors

Objectives: Most ovarian surface epithelial tumors emerge from a background of Mullerian metaplasias. The incidence and extent of Mullerian metaplasias were examined in ovarian surface epithelial tumors. Methods: The incidence of Mullerian metaplasias was evaluated according to the presence of the metaplasias in all cases. The extent of these metaplastic changes was scored from (1+) to (4+) according to the extended area in all tumoral slide sections. Results: Ciliated cell metaplasia was found in 80.4 % of benign tumors, 100 % of borderline tumors and 93.3 % of malignant tumors. Eosinophilic cell metaplasia was present in 13 % of benign tumors, 70 % of borderline tumors and 93.3 % of malignant tumors. Clear cell metaplasia was observed in 17.4 % of benign tumors, 20 % of borderline tumors and 40 % of malignant tumors. While ciliated cell metaplasia was more frequent and extensive in benign tumors, eosinophilic and clear cell metaplasias were more frequent and extensive in borderline and malignant tumors (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the incidence and extent of Mullerian metaplasias in ovarian surface epithelial tumors may not be homogeneous. This should be taken into account when their biological significances and relation with tumorigenesis are investigated. [J Interdiscipl Histopathol 2012; 1(1.000): 16-22

Genetic parameter estimates for lamb growth traits and greasy fleece weight at first shearing in Turkish Merino sheep

The aim of the current study was to estimate genetic parameters for birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG) and greasy fleece weight at first shearing (GFW), which are essential to design a selection programme for Turkish Merino sheep. Data and pedigree information of Turkish Merino sheep used in this study were collected at Marmara Animal Breeding Research Institute from 1996 to 2001. Genetic parameters were estimated with single- and two-trait analyses using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) with animal models. Estimates of direct heritability were 0.08 for BW. 0.12 for WW, 0.25 for YW, 0.11 for ADG and 0.08 for GFW. Estimates of maternal heritability were 0.09, 0.04, 0.03 and 0.04 for BW, WW, YW and ADG, respectively. Estimates of maternal permanent environmental variance as a proportion of phenotypic variance were 0.19, 0.08 and 0.09 for BW, WW and ADG, respectively. Estimates of direct genetic correlations among growth traits were positive and ranged from 0.56 to 0.98. GFW had a moderate to high positive direct genetic correlation with BW, WW and ADG but not with YW (0.19). Estimates of the correlation between direct and maternal genetic effects were negative and ranged from -0.63 to -0.92 for growth traits. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved