Melatonin modulates inflammatory response and suppresses burn-induced apoptotic injury

Introduction: Melatonin, the principal secretory product of the pineal gland, has antioxidant functions as a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Objectives of the present study were to investigate the effect of melatonin against inflammatory response, burn-induced oxidative damage and apoptotic changes of rat liver. Methods: Melatonin (10 mg /kg, i.p.) was applied immediately after 30% of total body surface area (TBSA) burns on male Wistar rats. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of an oxidative stress was quantified by thiobarbituric method. Hepatic TNFα and IL-10 as inflammatory markers were assayed by ELISA. Using light immunоchistochemistry the expression Ki67 proliferative marker was investigated. Results: Hepatic MDA and TNF-α levels increased significantly following burns without any change in IL-10 level. Intracellular vacuolization, hepatic cell degeneration and apoptosis occurred in rats after burns. The number of apoptotic cells was increased whereas no significant increase in Ki67 proliferative marker. Melatonin decreased the MDA and TNF-α content and increased the IL-10 level. It also limited the degenerative changes and formation of apoptotic cells in rat liver but did not increase expression of the marker of proliferation. In conclusion, our data show that melatonin relieves burn-induced hepatic damage associated with modulation of the proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance, mitigation of lipid peroxidation and hepatic apoptosis

The Concept of the Self in Explaining Post-1989 Bulgarian Physicians’ Emigration

This article presents the results of the methodological and empirical efforts for exploring and understanding the emigration of Bulgarian physicians, after 1989. The study applies a biographical approach through a conceptual framework, which utilizes concepts from social theory and social anthropology. Using in-depth interviewing as the main research tool, complemented by a secondary data gathering technique, the study offers an explanation of the migration decision as generated in a conflict of the migrant’s understanding of his/her self and of the desired relation of the self to society on one hand and the migrant’s understanding of his/her society on the other. The concept of the self (self-identity, self-consciousness) proves effective in explaining the migration decision

Lowering Bulgarian physicians` emigration - potential for immediate action

The best human resources for every healthcare system are its own. There should be active polices at all levels of the system for their preservation. Findings of a study of Bulgarian physicians' emigration (1991 - 2004) to be presented in the paper reveal that low-cost and immediate steps for lowering migration potential could be made by taking advantage of human resources management at level healthcare facility. The paper also discusses an attempt to `meet` healthcare managers and human resources professionals and acquaint them with the benefits of their cooperation. An idea is suggested of how to effectively develop team work between the two professional groups

Melatonin attenuates oxidative stress and modulates inflammatory response after experimental burn trauma

Introduction. Thermal injury activates an inflammatory response. Melatonin possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of the present work was to study melatonin effects on the inflammatory response under conditions of oxidative stress during the early stage of thermal injury. Materials and methods. We used 24 white male rats of Wistar breed, randomly divided into three experimental groups. Group one was the control, group two was inflicted with burn trauma, and group three was inflicted with burn trauma, with melatonin application following the thermal injury. Melatonin was applied twice in doses of 10 g/kg b.m. immediately after the burn trauma and again at 12 hours. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis-factor-α (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory mediator, and of interleukin-10 (Il-10), an anti-inflammatory mediator, were examined and their ratio was calculated. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, were also estimated. Results. Thermal trauma significantly increased plasma TNF-α levels (ð\u3c0.01) and TNF-α /IL-10 ratio but did not change IL-10 ones. Plasma MDA concentrations were significantly elevated as well (ð\u3c0.0001). Melatonin application significantly reduced TNF-α (ð\u3c0.05), increased IL-10 (ð\u3c0.05), down-regulated TNF-α/IL-10 ratio and changed MDA concentrations (ð\u3c0.01). In conclusion, our results show that local alteration induces oxidative stress and inflammatory response with TNF-α /IL-10 disbalance. Melatonin modulates this response and attenuates oxidative stress in experimental burn injury

UREA AND SERUM PROTEINS IN CIRCUMSCRIBED PROFOUND BURN ON COMBINED TREATMENT

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FREE RADICAL OXIDATION AND ERYTHROCYTE AGGREGATION AFTER THERMIC INJURY EFFECT OF ALPHATOCOPHEROL

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EFFECT OF LIPID PEROXIDE OXIDATION ON ERYTHROCYTE FLEXIBILITY IN BURNS AND ALPHA-TOCOFEROL TREATMENT

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