Preclinical evaluation of scorzonera sp root extracts and major compounds against acute hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride

WOS: 000419284200007Evaluation of hepatoprotective activities of Scorzonera roots and their major compounds, was aimed in current study. Scorzonera latifolia, S. tomentosa, S. mollis ssp. szowitsii, S. parviflora and S. cana var. jacquiniana roots, methanol-water (80:20) extracts together with chlorogenic acid, scorzotomentosin-4'-O-beta-glucoside, hydrangenol-8-O-beta-glucoside as major compounds isolated from S. latifolia roots were tested for their hepatoprotective activities. Sprague Dawley rats were used for experiment and hepatotoxicity was induced by carbon tetrachloride. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were measured and all results were confirmed by histopathological examination. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels of examined groups were not significant when compared to carbon tetrachloride-treated groups. However histopathological results have revealed that all tested groups have less damage when compared to carbon tetrachloride group except scorzotomentosin-4'-O-beta-glucoside and hydrangenol-8-O-beta-glucoside groups. Scorzonera species displayed moderate hepatoprotective activities against carbon tetrachloride induced acute toxicity. Chlorogenic acid, among tested compounds exhibited higher activity than all tested Scorzonera species as well as other isolated compounds. Therefore chlorogenic acid could be suggested as responsible compound

Prevalence and clinical features of chronic critical illness in the elderly population in Turkey

Objectives: The definition of chronic critical illness in the elderly has not yet been determined. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and clinical features of chronic critical illness in the elderly population in Turkey.Materials and Methods: Data from 16 intensive care units of public and private hospitals in Turkey were evaluated. Patients staying in the intensive care units for at least eight days between 2015 and 2017 and having at least one of the additional criteria were accepted as chronic critical illness and they were divided into two groups by age, those 65 and older and those under 65.Results: The chronic critical illness patient rate in the intensive care units was 10.7%. Of chronic critical illness patients in the intensive care units, 60.9% were 65 years of age and older, and the mortality rate of patients 65 years and older was 70%. The frequencies of ischemic stroke and sepsis, the number of patients with comorbidities, and the mortality rate were higher in patients over 65 years of age, while the frequency of traumatic brain injury, presence of a major wound, tracheostomy, length of hospital stay and cost of care were higher in patients under 65 years of age.Conclusion: We determined that prolonged mechanical ventilation, traumatic brain injury, tracheostomy and major wound presence in intensive care units patients 65 years and older increased hospital stay and costs. More work is needed to define chronic critical illness more clearly in elderly

Re-examining the characteristics of pediatric multiple sclerosis in the era of antibody-associated demyelinating syndromes

Background: The discovery of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG and anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG and the observation on certain patients previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) actually have an antibody-mediated disease mandated re-evaluation of pediatric MS series. Aim: To describe the characteristics of recent pediatric MS cases by age groups and compare with the cohort established before 2015. Method: Data of pediatric MS patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 were collected from 44 pediatric neurology centers across Türkiye. Clinical and paraclinical features were compared between patients with disease onset before 12 years (earlier onset) and ≥12 years (later onset) as well as between our current (2015–2021) and previous (2015) cohorts. Results: A total of 634 children (456 girls) were enrolled, 89 (14%) were of earlier onset. The earlier-onset group had lower female/male ratio, more frequent initial diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), more frequent brainstem symptoms, longer interval between the first two attacks, less frequent spinal cord involvement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lower prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-restricted oligoclonal bands (OCBs). The earlier-onset group was less likely to respond to initial disease-modifying treatments. Compared to our previous cohort, the current series had fewer patients with onset 12 years, initial presentation with ADEM-like features, brainstem or cerebellar symptoms, seizures, and spinal lesions on MRI. The female/male ratio, the frequency of sensorial symptoms, and CSF-restricted OCBs were higher than reported in our previous cohort. Conclusion: Pediatric MS starting before 12 years was less common than reported previously, likely due to exclusion of patients with antibody-mediated diseases. The results underline the importance of antibody testing and indicate pediatric MS may be a more homogeneous disorder and more similar to adult-onset MS than previously thought. © 2022 European Paediatric Neurology SocietyThe authors thank all their colleagues for their help in the follow-up of the patients. Note added in proof: part of the patients in the present cohort were included in the newly published study: Solmaz I, Doran T, Yousefi M, Konuskan B, Oncel I, Vural A, Anlar B. Frequency of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies in pediatric onset multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 Aug 8;68:104097. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104097. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35998500

Re-examining the characteristics of pediatric multiple sclerosis in the era of antibody-associated demyelinating syndromes.

Background: The discovery of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG and anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG and the observation on certain patients previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) actually have an antibody-mediated disease mandated re-evaluation of pediatric MS series. Aim: To describe the characteristics of recent pediatric MS cases by age groups and compare with the cohort established before 2015. Method: Data of pediatric MS patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 were collected from 44 pediatric neurology centers across Turkiye. Clinical and paraclinical features were compared between patients with dis-ease onset before 12 years (earlier onset) and >= 12 years (later onset) as well as between our current (2015-2021) and previous (< 2015) cohorts. Results: A total of 634 children (456 girls) were enrolled, 89 (14%) were of earlier onset. The earlier-onset group had lower female/male ratio, more frequent initial diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), more frequent brainstem symptoms, longer interval between the first two attacks, less frequent spinal cord involvement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lower prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-restricted oligoclonal bands (OCBs). The earlier-onset group was less likely to respond to initial disease-modifying treatments. Compared to our previous cohort, the current series had fewer patients with onset < 12 years, initial presentation with ADEM-like features, brainstem or cerebellar symptoms, seizures, and spinal lesions on MRI. The female/male ratio, the frequency of sensorial symptoms, and CSF-restricted OCBs were higher than reported in our previous cohort. Conclusion: Pediatric MS starting before 12 years was less common than reported previously, likely due to exclusion of patients with antibody-mediated diseases. The results underline the importance of antibody testing and indicate pediatric MS may be a more homogeneous disorder and more similar to adult-onset MS than previously thought