Prevention of the harmful effects of free oxygen radicals by using N-acetylcysteine in testicular torsion

PubMed: 31882389Introduction: Testicular torsion is a urological emergency both in childhood and in adult life. Many studies on experimental testicular torsion have demonstrated biochemical and pathological ischemia-reperfusion injury and the efficacy of some drugs have been investigated to prevent this damage. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) promotes glutathione synthesis and acts as a glutathione precursor because of the fact that it increases the glutathione-reductase activity by transporting sulfhydryl groups. Aim: In this experimental study, the authors aimed to investigate the effectiveness of NAC in preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury following testicular torsion and detorsion. Study design: For this experimental study, 36 albino Wistar-male rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham (n = 8), ischemia-reperfusion (n = 8), ischemia-NAC -reperfusion (n = 10), and ischemia-NAC-reperfusion-NAC (n = 10) groups. Two hours of torsion and 4 h of detorsion were created in the left testis. After 4 h of detorsion, the rats were sacrificed. Each tissue was divided into two sections for biochemical and pathological examinations. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the study groups in terms of the total-sulfhydryl level, nitric oxide level, and the malondialdehyde values. Histopathological examination revealed that NAC was effective in preventing reperfusion injury in the testis but ineffective in preventing the reduction in the spermatid count. Discussion: The results of this experimental study support that NAC can histopathologically maintain the structure of seminiferous tubules against ischemis reperfusion injury and prevent damage to the germinative cells. However, it was unable to prevent the reduction in spermatid count. There was no significant difference in the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury between NAC administration during the first hour of ischemia and NAC administration during reperfusion. Although NAC can prevent tissue damage from ischemia reperfusion injury, it is not effective against the reduction in the spermatid count. Conclusion: N-acetylcysteine may be biochemically effective in preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury after testicular torsion and detorsion. NAC is a readily available and easy to use agent that can be used during testicular ischemia.[Formula presented] © 2019 Journal of Pediatric Urology Compan

Epididymal leiomyoma associated with leydig cell hyperplasia: A case report and immunohistochemical study

PubMed: 12775098Leiomyomas are rare soft tissue neoplasms that can affect virtually any part of the male genital tract. Although they have been described in association with other lesions, to best our knowledge coexistence with leydig cell hyperplasia has not been reported before. We present here the clinical, histopathologic and immunhistochemical characteristics of an epididymal leiomyoma associated with leydig cell hyperplasia and an epididymal cyst in a sixty-eight year old man

Physico-chemical characteristic and fatty acids compositions of cottonseed oils [Pamuk Yağlarının Fiziko-Kimyasal Özellikleri ve Yağ Asitleri Kompozisyonu]

In this study, three cotton genotypes of species Gossypium hirsutum L., Cukurova 1518, PAUM 15 and BA 119 were investigated for their some physicochemical properties of oils such as free fatty acids, peroxide value, iodine value, unsaponifiable matter, total carotenoid and tocopherol contents and fatty acids composition in Cukurova region in Turkey. Seed oil content ranged 17.2-19.6% and PAUM 15 was found to be genotype with the highest oil content. The range of other physicochemical properties and their values are as follows; free fatty acids 1.7-2.8%, peroxide value 5.3-6.0 meq O2 kg-1, unsaponifiable matters 2.1-2.3%, iodine value 102-110, total carotenoid content 119-140 mg kg-1, total tocopherol content 887-920 mg kg-1, linoleic acid 52.00-55.82%, palmitic acid 24.85-25.63%, oleic acid 14.06-17.00%, stearic acid 3.01-3.13% in the cottonseed oils. PAUM 15 was determined to be more suitable for food consumption as edible oil due to its highest oil content and quality characteristics than the others genotypes. © Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi

Comparison of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameters Measured by Optic Ultrasonography Before and After Lumbar Puncture in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Patients

Introduction: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) symptoms include headache, blurred vision, and papilledema which may lead to permanent vision loss unless diagnosed and treated. Definitive diagnosis of IIH usually requires the measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP) via lumbar puncture (LP) which is an invasive and unwanted technique for patients. In our study, optic nerve sheath diameters (ONSD) were measured before and after lumbar puncture in IIH patients and the relationship of these measurements with ICP changes was evaluated as well as the effect of decreasing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure after a lumbar puncture on ONSD. Thus, we want to investigate whether optic nerve ultrasonography (USG) is a useful tool instead of the invasive LP for the diagnosis of IIH. Methods: A total of 25 patients who applied to the neurology clinics of Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital between May 2014 and December 2015 and were diagnosed with IIH were included in the study. The control group consisted of 22 individuals who applied with complaints other than headaches, visual impairment or tinnitus. Optic nerve sheath diameters were measured from both eyes before and after the LP. After pre-LP measurements were taken, opening and closing CSF pressure was measured. In the control group, ONSD was measured with optic USG. Results: Mean age of the IIH group and the control group was determined as 34.8±11.5 and 45.8±13.3 years, respectively. In the patient group, mean CSF opening pressure was 33.9±8.0 cm H2 O and mean closing pressure was 18.1±4.7 cm H2 O. Mean ONSD measured pre-LP was 7.1±1.0 mm in the right eye and 6.9±0.7 mm in the left eye, while mean post-LP ONSD was 6.7±0.9 mm in the right eye and 6.4±0.8 mm in the left eye. There was a statistically significant difference between ONSD values before and after the LP (p=0.006 for the right eye, p;lt;0.001 for the left eye). In the control group, mean ONSD was 5.4±0.7 mm in the right eye and 5.5±0.6 mm in the left eye, and a statistically significant difference was found between ONSD values before and after the LP (p;lt;0.001 for the right eye and left eye). A significant positive correlation was determined between left ONSD measurements before the LP and CSF opening pressure (r=0.501, p=0.011). Conclusions: In the present study, it was found that ONSD measurement by optic USG significantly displays increased ICP, and decreasing pressure via LP is rapidly reflecting ONSD measurement. Based on these findings, it is suggested that ONSD measurements by optic USG, a non-invasive method, can be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of IIH patients. © 2022 by Turkish Association of Neuropsychiatr

Simple and efficient synthesis of N-alkyl and N-aryl succinimides in hot water

A new, simple synthesis of succinimides is described. The reactions were carried out under the ultimate green conditions excluding both catalyst and organic solvent by applying simple stirring at 100 °C. A wide variety of N-susbstituted succinimides have been prepared in high yields by using succinic acid and primary amines in hot water. Yield of N-alkyl substituted succinimides were found to be higher than those of N-aryl substituted succinimides. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

The protection of resveratrol and its combination with glibenclamide, but not berberine on the diabetic hearts against reperfusion-induced arrhythmias: the role of myocardial K-ATP channel

YASAR, SELCUK/0000-0002-9677-8823; Ozarslan, Talat Ogulcan/0000-0002-2635-7011; Yasar, Selcuk/0000-0002-7529-9751WOS: 000462366900003PubMed: 29457517Context: Cardiovascular dysfunctions such as life-threatening arrhythmias are one of the main reasons of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients Objective: We aimed to investigate the long-term effects of resveratrol, berberine and glibenclamide combinations on the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced arrhythmias in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and to investigate the role of myocardial K-ATP channel in the possible anti-arrhythmic actions of the treatments. Methods: Two days after induction of diabetes, diabetic rats were treated with resveratrol [5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)], berberine (10 mg/kg, i.p) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, i.p) for 6 weeks. On the 43th day, experimental animals were subjected to 6-min ischemia and 6-min reperfusion in vivo. Results: The protein expression of Kir6.2 subunits was downregulated in the diabetic hearts. However, all drug treatments restored the protein expression of Kir6.2 subunits. Resveratrol alone and its combination with glibenclamide decreased the arrhythmia score, the arrhythmic period and the incidence of other types of arrhythmias during the reperfusion period. Conclusions: The combination of resveratrol with glibenclamide may alleviate reperfusion-induced arrhythmias via an underlying mechanism not be only associated with the restoration of the protein expression of Kir6.2 subunits but also associated with the other subunits or ion channels underlying cardiac action potential.Abant Izzet Baysal University Research FundAbant Izzet Baysal University [2015.03.01.823]We would like to thank Abant Izzet Baysal University Research Fund for supporting the study [Project No.: 2015.03.01.823]