Quercetin attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular damage in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of quercetin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages, testicular apoptosis and oxidative stress in male rats. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was treated with only quercetin, group 3 was treated with only CCl4 and group 4 received CCl4 + quercetin. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and testicular apoptotic cell index, along with some histopathological damages when compared to the control group. However, administration of CCl4 together with quercetin provided statistically significant improvements in LPO level, abnormal sperm rate, the degree of histopathological lesions and testicular apoptotic cell index when compared to only CCl4 group. In addition, improvements observed in absolute and relative weights of reproductive organs, sperm motility and concentration, and testicular GSH-Px and CAT activities in group 4 were statistically insignificant when compared to only CCl4 group. In conclusion, quercetin has antiperoxidative effect, and its oral administration attenuates the CCl4-induced some damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the LPO

Effectiveness of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced damages on male reproductive system

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the likelihood of detrimental effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on male reproductive system through oxidative stress mechanism and also protective effects of cinnamon bark oil (CBO). For this purpose, 28 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, seven rats in each. Group 1 received only olive oil daily; group 2 was treated with 100 mg kg 1 CBO daily; group 3 was treated with only 0.25 ml kg 1 CCl4 weekly; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily CBO. All administrations were made by intragastric catheter and maintained for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular oxidative stress markers and testicular apoptosis were examined. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, testicular catalase (CAT) activity, sperm motility and concentration, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages compared with the control group. However, significant improvements were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, LPO level, apoptotic index and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with CBO when compared to group given CCl4 only. The findings of this study clearly suggest that CBO has protective effect against damages in male reproductive organs and cells induced by CCl4

Left Atrial Function Is Improved in Short-Term Follow-Up after Catheter Ablation of Outflow Tract Premature Ventricular Complexes

Background: Association of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and efficacy of catheter ablation treatment have been demonstrated in studies. The role of left atrial (LA) mechanics in the etiopathogenesis of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) as well as changes in LA mechanics with catheter ablation have not been studied before. Methods: A total number of 61 patients (Mean Age 43 ± 3) with idiopathic outflow tract (OT) PVCs undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were enrolled. ECG, 24 h Holter, and echocardiographic evaluation with left ventricular (LV) diastolic functions and LA volumetric assessments were performed before and three months after RFCA. Results: Along with a marginal increase in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), improvement in diastolic functions and left atrial mechanics were observed in the study (LVEF 53 ± 7 versus 57 ± 6, p < 0.01) in short-term follow-up. The frequency of LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) decreased with catheter ablation (n = 5 to 0, p = 0.02). The overall LA function improved. Left atrium passive and overall emptying fraction (LAEF) increased significantly (0.32 ± 0.04 to 0.41 ± 0.04, p < 0.05 and 0.62 ± 0.04 to 0.65 ± 0.004, p < 0.05, respectively). Active LAEF decreased significantly (0.29 ± 0.005 to 0.24 ± 0.006, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study are indicative of "PVC-induced atriomyopathy" which responds to RFCA in short-term follow-up. Atrial dysfunction might play a role in symptoms and etiopathogenesis of LVSD

The effect of stress-induced cortisol increase on the sense of ankle proprioception

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of stress-induced cortisol increase on the sense of ankle proprioception. Patients and methods: Between April 2016 and May 2016, a total of 60 students (30 males, 30 females; mean age: 19.2±1.5 years; range, 19 to 20 years) from İnönü University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Freshmen were included in the study. Separate measurements were made for the right and left ankle to make ankle proprioception measurements a month before the committee exam during their relaxed period using a device designed with digital inclinometer. The sense of ankle proprioception was measured at 10° dorsiflexion (DF), 11° plantar flexion (PF), and 25° PF angles with open eyes and closed eyes using active reproduction test. Salivary samples were taken for stress assessment and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I) was conducted. The same tests were repeated on the day of committee exam. Results: Test results showed no statistically significant difference between the right and left ankle proprioception measurements of 10° DF, 11° PF, and 25° PF angles with open eyes (p>0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was found between the right and left ankle proprioception scores at the same angles with closed eyes (p<0.05). According to the Wilcoxon analysis conducted for the comparison of the relaxed and stressed periods of cortisol and STAI-I inventory, a statistically significant difference was found (p<0.05). The Spearman’s Rho analysis showed no significant correlation between the right and left ankle proprioception scores and cortisol and STAI-I with open eyes, while there was a statistically significantly positive direction and low correlation between the same angles with closed eyes. Conclusion: Our study results show that the increase in the stress-related cortisol is negative for the ankle proprioception sense. © 2019 by Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Wpływ składu gazu osłonowego na mikrostrukturę i odporność na ścieranie powłok wytworzonych techniką PTA

In this study, SAE 1020 steel surfaces were separately alloyed with preplaced high-carbon-ferro-chromium (FeCr), ferro-molybdenum (FeMo) and ferro-titanium (FeTi) powders by using plasma transferred arc (PTA) heat source. By using three different types of shielding gas compositions during the alloying process, the study investigated the effects of modified shielding gas composition on the microstructure, hardness, and abrasive wear resistance of specimens. The most homogenous microstructure and the highest wear resistance was obtained in the gaseous environment which included 3% of H2. Increasing this rate to 5 % in the shielding gaseous composition caused gaps and pores in the microstructure and caused a decrease in the wear resistance. The x-ray examinations of the specimens identified ferro-molybdenum and ferro-titanium solid solutions, ferrit, austenite and martensite phases in their microstructure as the first phase and FeC, Cr7C3, Cr3C2, Fe3C, Fe7C3, MoC and TiC phases as the second phase. As a result, it was concluded that changes in shielding gas composition in surface alloying process affected specimens’ microstructure and abrasive wear properties.Powierzchnie stalowe SAE 1020 były oddzielnie stopowane z wcześniej nałożonymi proszkami wysokowęglowego żelazo-chromu (FeCr), żelazo-molibdenu (FeMo) i żelazo-tytanu (FeTi) za pomocą techniki PTA. Dzięki zastosowaniu trzech różnych typów gazu osłonowego w trakcie procesu wytwarzania stopu, badano wpływ modyfikacji składu gazu osłonowego na mikro- strukturę, twardość i odporność na ścieranie próbek. Najbardziej jednorodną mikrostrukturę i najwyższą odporność na ścieranie otrzymuje się w środowisku gazowym, które zawiera 3% H2. Zwiększenie zawartości H2 do 5% w składzie gazu osłonowego spowodowało powstanie luk i porów w mikrostrukturze oraz spadek odporności na ścieranie. Badania dyfrakcji rentgenowskiej próbek pozwoliły zidentyfikować roztwory stałe żelazo-molibdenu i żelazo-tytanu, ferryt, austenit i martenzyt jako pierwszą fazę w ich mikrostrukturze, oraz FeC, Cr7C3, Cr3C2, Fe3C, Fe7C3, MoC i TiC jako drugą fazę. W związku z tym stwierdzono, że zmiany w składu gazu osłonowego w procesie stopowania wpłynęły na mikrostrukturę próbek i właściwości ścierne

The evaluation of the effect of vaginal delivery and aging on anal sphincter anatomy and function

PubMed ID: 29859264Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of vaginal delivery and aging on anal sphincter anatomy and function. Method: Asymptomatic thirty women were included in this prospective study. Group 1 included 10 women (age range: 18–50) who had never been pregnant. Group 2 included 10 women (age range: 18–50) who had vaginal delivery. Group 3 included 10 women over 50 who had vaginal delivery. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of resting and squeeze pressures. It was found that sphincter thickness showed statistically significant difference between the group 1 and group 3, and also group 2 and group 3. There was not statistically significant difference between the group 1 and group 2 in terms of sphincter thickness. There was a positive correlation between the age and sphincter thickness in all groups. In terms of sphincter thickness and pressure findings there was a positive correlation between the squeeze pressure and external anal sphincter thickness only in group 3. Conclusion: The vaginal delivery did not have a negative influence on the structure and function of the anal sphincter in asymptomatic women. However, it was found that anal sphincter thickness changed strongly in a positive manner with aging. © 2018 Elsevier Masson SA

Corrigendum to “the authors apologize about their article: The evaluation of The effect of vaginal delivery and aging on anal sphincter anatomy and function” (Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction (2018) 47(7) (309–315), (S2468784718300990), (10.1016/j.jogoh.2018.05.013))

The list of the authors was incomplete. As the article was produced from the doctoral thesis of the corresponding author. The author list should have included the co-advisor Murat Ögetürk The corrected author list is: Mahmut Çay, Aymelek Çetin, Mustafa Ateş, Işıl Köleli, Deniz Şenol, Evren Köse, Dinçer Özgör, Arife Şimşek, Davut Özbağ, Murat Ögetürk Murat Ögetürk correct affilation is: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, 23000, Elazığ, Turkey And the new reference of the article is: Çay M, Çetin A, Ateş M, Köleli I, Şenol D, Köse E, Özgör D, Şimşek A, Özbağ D, Ögetürk M The evaluation of the effect of vaginal delivery and aging on anal sphincter anatomy and function - J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2018; 47: 309–315 For the authors, Dr Mahmut Çay © 2018 Elsevier Masson SA

Effect of the powder particle size on the wear behavior of boronized AISI 304 stainless steel

In this study, the AISI 304 steel specimens were boronized with nanoboron of the size of 10-50 nm and commercial Ekabor 3 powders (<1400 μm) at 950°C to 1000°C for 2 h and 4 h. Boronized steel specimens were characterized via SEM, microhardness and XRD analyses. Abrasive wear behavior of the specimens, boronized at different temperatures and treatment durations, were examined. The fixed ball micro-abrasion tests were carried out using the abrasive slurry, prepared with different SiC powder particle sizes on the boronized specimens at different rotational speeds. The specimens boronized with nanoboron powders exhibited a higher hardness and abrasive wear resistance than the samples boronized with the Ekabor 3 powders. © Carl Hanser Verlag, München