Interaction between grapefruit juice and diazepam in humans

Grapefruit juice has been reported to markedly improve the bioavailability of triazolam, midazolam, terfenadine, cyclosporine and several dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers including felodipine, nifedipine, nitrendipine and nisoldipine. Because these drugs are metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 isozyme (CYP) 3A4, the inhibitory effect of grapefruit juice is thought to results from inhibition of CYP3A4. In this study, our aim was to investigate the effects of grapefruit juice on plasma concentrations of diazepam. Eight healthy male and female subjects participated in this study. Oral (5 mg) diazepam was administered with either 256 mi water and grapefruit juice. Blood samples were collected for a 24 h period, and whole blood concentrations of diazepam were measured enzyme immunoassay. The mean AUC((0-24)) of diazepam was increased 3.2-fold (P < 0.001) and C-max was increased 1.5-fold (P < 0.05) by the grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice postponed the t(max) of diazepam from 1.50 h to 2.06 h (P < 0.01)

Pulmonary function, aerobic capacity and related variables in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the cardiopulmonary functions and exercise performance of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate the relationship between these parameters and disease activity, spine mobility and quality of life (QoL). Patients and methods: Forty-five patients with AS (group 1; 33 males, 12 females; mean age 43.1±12.1 years; range 22 to 70 years) and 30 control subjects (group 2; 23 males, 7 females; mean age 42.8±10.0; range 23 to 70 years) were included in the study. Disease activity was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and spinal mobility measures with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). The Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Questionnaire and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) were used. The pulmonary function test (PFT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were performed. Results: There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in terms of mean age. The peak expiratory flow value in PFT was significantly lower in group 1 (p<0.05). In group the duration of CPET was significantly shorter, and maximum work load and metabolic equivalent were significantly lower than in group 2 (p<0.001). Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) in peak responses, work and heart rate were significantly lower in group 1. The duration of CPET and maximum work were negatively correlated with age and BASMI (p<0.001). VO2max was negatively correlated with age, MASES and ASQoL (p<0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in PFT parameters between the groups. On the other hand, CPET parameters were significantly lower in the AS group. While CPET parameters are affected by spinal mobility, declining aerobic capacity affects QoL. © 2019 Turkish League Against Rheumatism

Effects of Music on Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by diffuse musculoskeletal system pain and painful tender points in certain areas of the body. The aim of the investigation was to determine the effects of music on pain in fibromyalgia patients. This randomized clinical trial was carried out with 37 fibromyalgia outpatients as an experimental group (n = 21) and control group (n = 16) at a University Hospital Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Clinic between 1 June and 1 December 2014. The research instruments used were descriptive characteristics questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), music CD which includes water and wave sounds recommended by the Turkish Psychological Association for psychological relaxation, and pain evaluation form. According to the findings, the average age of patients was 43.59 years +/- 10.30, 94.6 % were women and 81.1 % were married. The fibromyalgia patients had the disease ranged from 1 month to 20 years, the average of disease duration was 23.6 +/- 45.5 months, and the average of pain intensity was 6.89 +/- 1.64 on the VAS. Average pain was reported in the experimental group in VAS on day 1 (5.45 +/- 2.73), day 7 (4.57 +/- 2.71), and day 14 (4.14 +/- 2.45), and significant reduction in pain in the listening music group was seen (p = 0.026). A repeated measure analysis of variance controlling for differences between days demonstrated a significant decrease in pain between day 1 and day 14 (p = 0.022). There was no significant decrease in pain among control group participants. The effect of music has been found to control pain in fibromyalgia patients. Music therapy should be suggested in pain management for fibromyalgia patients as an non-pharmacologic nursing intervention

Role of phenolic compounds in nitric oxide Synthase activity in colon and breast adenocarcinoma

PubMed ID: 20874429Cancer chemopreventive agents are designed to reduce the incidence of tumorigenesis by intervening at one or more stages of carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of resveratrol (RES) and tannic acid (TA), which are chemopreventive agents, on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels that are effective for development of cancer in colon and breast cancer cell lines. The CaCo-2 (human colon carcinoma cell line) and MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7; human breast adenocarcinoma cell line) cells were grown in the laboratory. RES and TA were used to treat CaCo-2 and MCF-7 cells. Nitric Oxide Synthase Assay Kit was used to determine the NOS enzyme activity of CaCo-2 and MCF-7. Statistical differences between control and RES- and TA-treated cells were calculated using the Student's t-test for double comparison. It was observed that NO activity was generally decreased in CaCo-2 and MCF-7 cells, in which RES and TA were applied. Results suggest that the phenolic compounds RES and TA have different effects on NOS enzyme activity of the colon and breast cancer cells. Copyright 2010, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc

Comparative Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, and Dental Pulp as Sources of Cell Therapy for Zone of Stasis Burns

Introduction: The implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to exert benefits for the survival of the zone-of-stasis. However, the clinical experience indicates the importance of selecting the right source and type of stem cells. Therefore, we planned the current study to perform a quantitative comparison of MSCs isolated from three different sources to provide information useful in selection of the optimal source and to see whether critical mechanisms are conserved between different populations. Methods: The protective effects of MSCs derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue and dental pulp were compared in a rat model of thermal trauma. The stasis zones were evaluated 72 h after the burn using histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and biochemistry. Results: Gross evaluation of burn wounds revealed that the differences between the mean percentages of the calculated necrotic areas weren't statistically significant. Semi-quantitative grading of the histopathological findings revealed that there were no significant differences between damage scores. Immunohistochemical assessment of apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths revealed that the differences between the mean numbers of apoptotic and necrotic cells weren't statistically significant. Myeloperoxidase activity was found to be significantly lower in the adipose tissue group. Biochemical and immunohistochemical assessment of tissue malondialdehyde revealed that the differences between the groups weren't statistically significant. Finally, the number of neo-vessels in the dental pulp group was found to be significantly higher. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that bone marrow, adipose tissue and dental pulp may serve as a universal donor MSC source for the prevention of burn wound progression. © 2018, Copyright © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Comparison of shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings between patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis patients with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder involvement is frequently observed in chronic renal disease (CRD) and hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to compare shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings of stage 4 CRD patients naive to dialysis, hemodialysis patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty hemodialysis patients with shoulder pain (Group 1), 30 hemodialysis patients without shoulder pain (Group 2), 20 patients with stage 4 CRD (Group 3) and 30 healthy controls (Group 4) were enrolled. Urea, creatinine and β2 microglobulin were measured. Thickness, homogeneity and integrity of rotator cuff and presence of effusion were examined by MRI. RESULTS: Supraspinatus tendon was thicker in Group 1 compared to other groups, whereas infraspinatus tendon was thicker in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 4. Although all tendons thickness was higher in Group 3 than Group 4, there was no significant difference. Most effusion areas were present in Group 1, followed by Groups 2 and 3. There was a significant correlation between glomerular filtration rate and thickness of supraspinatus, infraspinatus tendons and between β2 microglobulin and thickness of infraspinatus, subscapularis tendons and total number of areas with effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Increased shoulder tendon thickness and effusion were detected in symptomatic dialysis patients, while greater effusion areas were detected in asymptomatic dialysis patients and in stage 4 CRD patients who do not require dialysis compared to healthy controls

Plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity at acute phase of stroke and stroke subtypes

This study aims at investigating plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity at acute phase of stroke and stroke subtypes. 34 acute stroke patients (21 males, 13 females) and 14 healthy individuals (10 males, 4 females) participated in the study. The plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity was determined by colorimetric assay in conformity with the kit procedure. Plasma nitrite+nitrate levels were determined as 0.83 (0.83-0.83) ?M and 0.89 (0.76-1.12) ?M for the patient group and the control group respectively. As for the patient subgroups, the levels were obtained as 0.83 (0.54-0.83) ?M for large vessel disease and 0.83 (0.83-1.20) ?M for small vessel disease. Nonetheless, there was no statistically significant relationship (p>0.005) among groups. Consequently, in this study, we may assert that plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity does not constitute an important criterion for stroke and stroke subtypes. However, more comprehensive investigations are required to determine definite effect of plasma nitric oxide synthesis activity on stroke and stroke subtypes

Comparison of shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings between patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis patients with healthy controls

BACKGROUND: Shoulder involvement is frequently observed in chronic renal disease (CRD) and hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to compare shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings of stage 4 CRD patients naive to dialysis, hemodialysis patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty hemodialysis patients with shoulder pain (Group 1), 30 hemodialysis patients without shoulder pain (Group 2), 20 patients with stage 4 CRD (Group 3) and 30 healthy controls (Group 4) were enrolled. Urea, creatinine and β2 microglobulin were measured. Thickness, homogeneity and integrity of rotator cuff and presence of effusion were examined by MRI. RESULTS: Supraspinatus tendon was thicker in Group 1 compared to other groups, whereas infraspinatus tendon was thicker in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 4. Although all tendons thickness was higher in Group 3 than Group 4, there was no significant difference. Most effusion areas were present in Group 1, followed by Groups 2 and 3. There was a significant correlation between glomerular filtration rate and thickness of supraspinatus, infraspinatus tendons and between β2 microglobulin and thickness of infraspinatus, subscapularis tendons and total number of areas with effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Increased shoulder tendon thickness and effusion were detected in symptomatic dialysis patients, while greater effusion areas were detected in asymptomatic dialysis patients and in stage 4 CRD patients who do not require dialysis compared to healthy controls. © 2020 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved

The Effect of Decompression on The Treatment of Chronic Constriction Injury in Peripheral Nerve

WOS: 000378899400019Chronic constriction injury (CCI) is a common clinical entity and characterized by allodynia or spontaneous neuropathic pain. Treatment of neuropathic pain is difficult, because a lack of knowledge about the underlying mechanisms and limited effectiveness of the existing drugs. Surgical decompression enables a more radical treatment by releasing the compressed nerve. Beside the pain behaviour morphological changes occur in CCI. Ultrastructural morphological changes at the injury site of the sciatic nerve and in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are believed to play role in the pathogenesis of CCI and in the development of neuropathic pain behaviour in individuals. However, the effects of surgical decompression on the ultrastructure of constricted nerve site as well as in the dorsal root ganglia have not been studied in details. We investigated the effect of nerve decompression on ultrastructure of rat sciatic nerve and DRG by light and transmission electron microscopic methods. For this aim, CCI was established on the rat sciatic nerve with four loose ligatures. Surgical decompression was held at 1st, 3rd and 5th the weeks after CCI by removing the ligatures. Our results suggest that the efficacy of decompression was superior when applied one week after compression. The results of the study verify the need for early surgical decompression to prevent irreversible damage of the peripheral nerve and DRG