The biocompatibility of a ginger-containing herbal toothpaste on developing zebrafiish embryos

The biocompatibility of toothpaste in an oral cavity should be approved by clinical trials. Nowadays, herbal toothpaste is increasing in popularity due to its natural ingredients. Being genetically similar to humans, zebrafish are used in potential toxicity testing. The zebrafish embryotoxicity test is a fast and straightforward method to study chemical toxicity during embryogenesis. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate if there was any biocompatibility of the toothpaste on zebrafish embryos. Methods: Adult AB strain zebrafish were used according to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocols. Normally dividing, spherical embryos were exposed to herbal toothpaste with ginger (Gumgumix, Turkey) (50 mg/L) and conventional toothpaste (Signal, Expert Protection, Bulgaria) (50 mg/L) in well plates containing 20 embryos, having four replicates. Developmental effects, mortality, and hatching rates were evaluated for 72h. Results: Zebrafish embryos exposed to conventional toothpaste had a higher mortality rate than those exposed to herbal toothpaste; they hatched later and delayed in development. There was no difference between herbal toothpaste and the control group regarding mortality and hatching rates (p > 0.005). Conclusion: The herbal toothpaste showed higher biocompatibility on zebrafish embryos compared to the conventional toothpaste under the condition of this study

The effect of different storage conditions on the migration of chemicals from polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate bottles to water

Objective: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) bottles have been used widely in the last years for the consumption of water and the increased use of these chemicals has raised many concerns regarding their adverse effects on health. Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are the main endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can migrate from these plastics into potable water. Materials and Methods: The concentrations of phthalate and BPA were measured in water samples that were stored in PET and PC bottles at different storage conditions. The method of ELISA was used for the determination of phthalate and BPA levels. A standard curve is obtained from the standards prepared at known concentrations of phthalate, BPA, according to their absorbance at 450 nm. The BPA levels of the samples were obtained through the calculation of the absorbance values acquired using the standard curve. Results: Different storage and heating processes applied on the samples significantly increased the levels of BPA and phthalate. One year of storage led to a statistically significant increase in phthalate levels when compared to the control group. Both BPA and phthalate levels detected in the water samples were higher than the control group depending on the storage conditions including exposure to high temperatures, sunlight and outdoor conditions. Conclusion: Our results indicate the necessity to establish the environmental conditions that must be ensured during the production, transportation and storage processes of the bottles, on a legal basis with legal regulations

Determination of bisphenol a and phthalate levels in wastewater samples

Objective: The use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, and paint manufacturing increas daily. The water treated in wastewater treatment plants is used in many areas such as irrigation of parks and gardens, and reinforcement of underground water resources. However, whether the treatment process eliminates EDCs in wastewater is not exactly known, and determining this as well as the amounts of these chemicals in treated water are important in terms of protecting the environment and human health. The aim of the study was to determine BPA and phthalate concentrations in the influent and effluent flow samples obtained from wastewater treatment plants. Materials and Methods: BPA and phthalate concentrations were measured in influent and effluent flow samples using the enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. BPA and phthalate measurements were performed as competitive measurements of BPA and total phthalates in samples using specific monoclonal antibodies. Results: BPA and phthalate levels were measured respectively as 7.69 μg/L and 78.27 μg/L in the influent water samples and 3.17 μg/L and 25.56 μg/L in the effluent water samples. The concentration of BPA and phthalates in the effluent samples decreased significantly compared to the influent water samples. Conclusion: This study is believed to shed light on the importance of monitoring BPA and phthalate concentrations in wastewater treatment plants and inspections for detecting other EDCs in wastewater

Chard extract increased gastric sialic acid and ameliorated oxidative stress in valproic acid-administered rats

Valproic acid, one of the most used drugs for epilepsy patients, has some known side effects. Chard extract has many pharmacological activities. The study aims to evaluate whether valproic acid might interfere with oxidative metabolism in gastric tissue and whether chard ameliorates these effects. The Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=8); control, chard-given control, valproic acid, and chard-given valproic acid. The aqueous extracts of chard leaves were given 1 h before the administration of valproic acid for 7 days. On the 8th day, the animals were sacrificed under anesthesia and gastric tissues were homogenized. When compared to the control group, valproic acid significantly increased malondialdehyde and catalase activity, while superoxide dis- mutase activity decreased. Chard administration increased glutathione and, sialic acid levels and decreased malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity in the valproic acid group. Based on these findings, since chard increased gastric sialic acid levels, we may suggest that chard may protect gastric mucosa may be through its antioxidant effects

Doğum analjezisinde sürekli infüzyon ve hasta kontrollü analjezi yönteminin kombine spinal epidural ile epiduralanaljezi tekniklerinde klinik etkinliklerinin karşılastırılması

Çalısmamızda dogum analjezisinde sürekli infüzyon ile hasta kontrollü analjezi yönteminin kombine spinal epidural (KSE) ile epidural (EP) analjezi tekniklerinde klinik etkinliklerini karsılastırmayı amaçladık. Etik kurul onayı ile, vajinal dogum yapması planlanan gebelik haftası 36. ile 42. haftalar arasında, tek fetus, verteks presentasyonu olan 60 primigravid gebe çalısmaya alındı. Olgular rastgele iki gruba ayrıldı (Grup 1: KSE grubu, Grup 2: EP grubu). KSE grubundaki gebelere 2.5 mg hiperbarik bupivakin ile 25 µg fentanil, toplam volüm 1ml olacak sekilde verildi. Her iki grupta da kullanılmak üzere bupivakain (0.5 mg/ml) ile fentanil (1.5 µg/ml) içeren EP infüzyon solüsyonları hazırlandı. Agrının derecesi vizüel analog skala (VAS) kullanılarak degerlendirildi. EP grubundaki gebelere hemen, KSE grubundaki gebelere ise intratekal dozun analjezik etkisinin geçip VAS 4 oldugunda %0.125 bupivakain + 50 µg fentanil 10 ml yükleme dozu ve hemen ardından 10 ml/saat bazal hız olacak sekilde EP infüzyon baslandı. Iki gruptaki gebelerin ihtiyaç duyduklarında 10 ml bolus doz uygulayabilmeleri saglandı. Maternal ve fetal hemodinamik monitorizasyon yapıldı. Gebelere analjezi baslangıç dozu verildikten sonra agrının tamamen kaybolma süresi kaydedildi. Dogumun 1., 2. dönem süreleri, EPinfüzyon süresi, total EPinfüzyon miktarı, tüketilen bupivakain miktarları, ek bolus doz gereksinimi, travayda ve postpartum dönemde gelisen yan etkiler kaydedildi. KSE grubunda analjezinin baslama süresi EP gruba göre çok kısaydı. KSE grubunda özellikle dogumun 1. evresinde servikal dilatasyonda hızlı artma ve dogumun süresinde kısalma gözlendi. KSE grubunda annenin hemodinamisi daha iyi korundugu hipotansiyonun olmadıgı, infüze edilen lokal anestezi (LA) miktarlarının çok düsük oldugu ve anne memnuniyetinin EPgruba oranla daha fazla oldugu gözlendi. Dogum analjezisinde sürekli infüzyon ile birlikte hasta kontrollü analjezi yönteminde KSE analjezinin EPanaljeziye oranla daha güvenilir bir yöntem oldugunu söyleyebiliriz.Our aim was to compare the clinical efficacies of combined spinal-epidural analgesia and epidural analgesia techniques performed with the continuous patient controlled infusion method in labor analgesia. Following approval of the local ethics committee, 60 primigravid singleton pregnant women between 36 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, with vertex presentation and planned to give vaginal birth were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. (Group 1: Combined spinal epidural analgesia (CSE) group and Group 2: Epidural analgesia (EP) group). Participants in CSE group were given a total volume of 1 ml, which is composed of 2.5 mg hyperbaric bupivacain and 25 µg fentanyl. EP infusion solutions were prepared with bupivacaine (0.5 mg/ml) and fentanyl (1.5µg/ml) for use in both groups. The degree of pain was assessed by using visual analogue scale (VAS).A10 ml loading dose consisting of 0.125% bupivacaine and 50 µg fentanyl was applied in the EP group. The CSE group received this dose when the VAS score reached 4 after the disapearance of the effect of intrathecal dose. EP infusions with a basal flow rate of 10ml/hr were given immediately after bolus doses. The pregnant women in both groups were able to apply themselves a bolus dose of 10 ml when needed. Maternal and fetal hemodynamic parameters were monitored. The period of time from the first application of analgesia until total dissappearance of the pain was recorded in all subjects. The durations of the first and second stages of labor, durations of EP infusions, total amounts of EP infusions, consumed bupivacaine amounts, any need for further bolus doses, adverse effects in the intrapartum and postpartum periods were recorded. Initiation time of analgesia in subjects of CSE group was much shorter than the EP group. Especially, more rapid dilatation of cervix in the first stage of labor and a shorter labor time were observed in CSE group. Better preserved maternal hemodynamics without hypotension, lower amounts of infused local anesthetics and better patient satisfaction were also observed in theCSEgroup compared with the EPgroup. We can comment that CSE analgesia technique performed with continuous patient controlled infusion method is a more reliable method than EPanalgesia technique in labor analgesia

D-galaktoz ile oluşturulmuş yaşlanma modelinde doku faktörü aktivitesinin ve sialik asit miktarının değerlendirilmesi

D-galaktoz ile oluşturulmuş yaşlanma modelinde doku faktörü aktivitesinin ve sialik asit miktarının değerlendirilmes