Changes In Various Hormone Levels In The Rabbit Traumatic Facial Nerve Injury Model

WOS: 000493730200005Objectives: We aimed to look into potential associations between specific biomarkers and trauma to Cranial Nerve VII (CNVII) in a rabbit model, focusing on whether endocrine studies have potential as biomarkers in this context. Methods: 30 adult New Zealand rabbits with intact facial muscles were used for the research. Each animal underwent identical surgery by the same surgeon. The facial nerve divisions were exposed by incising below the level of the mandible. After dissection of the skin and subcutaneous layers, the buccal division of CNVII was located with the nerve stimulator and microscopic dissection and a section of nerve 10mm long was excised in each case from the buccal branch of CNVII. Blood samples were drawn 8 weeks and 12 weeks after nerve injury had been surgically induced. The samples from day 1, week 4 and week 8 were tested for the following levels: Testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, free T3 and T4, Cancer antigen 19-9 (Ca19-9), folate, TPSA, FPSA, FSH, LH, CA15.3, CAE, AFP and prolactin. Results: The levels of free T3 and T4 as well as testosterone, were down at 4th week, but at 8 weeks each had increased. Ca19-9 levels were also above the baseline. At 4 weeks, whilst oestrogen had markedly risen, progesterone had fallen. The statistical significance of the change in levels of free T3 and T4, testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone and FPSA was evaluated. For the group of animals with induced paralysis, the association between the lesion and testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, free T3 and T4, Ca19-9, and folate levels were strong and at the level of statistical significance. Conclusion: There were statistically significant alterations in the serum levels of free T3 and T4, testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone and FPSA at the 4 and 8 week intervals post surgically-induced CNVII injury. It is likely that rabbit pathophysiology resembles human pathophysiology in nervous injury, hence these six biomarkers may be of value in managing trauma or idiopathic degeneration of CNVII in humans. The authors hope this study will pave the way for future research in this area

The Effect of N-butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate on Wound Healing in the Head and Neck Region

WOS: 000493732700005Objective: The study compares the histological appearances of an induced open wound injury as it heals in rabbits, where healing was assisted by either Batticon (a topical antiseptic solution), or Glubran (a surgical glue). Materials And Methods: The study protocol was first approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Cukurova University. Twenty-eight rabbits with a weight of between 3 and 4kg, of female sex, were subjected to handling every day for a fortnight preceding the experimental injury so that they could be behaviourally assessed. Seven of the 28 rabbits acted as controls, with the 21 others put into one of 3 groups, depending on the day they were to be sacrificed. For the control animals, a portion of the external ear was excised and examined histologically alongside the intervention group animals, to allow comparisons to be made. The intervention group underwent exposure of a 1cm2 area of epidermis bilaterally. The resulting open injury was then treated on one side with topical antisepis using Batticon and on the other with the Glubran tissue glue. At days 2, 4 and 6 post-surgery, the rabbits were sacrificed and sections of the open wound were viewed with the electron microscope. The control group was also examined histologically for comparison. Results: The sections from ears treated with Glubran had electron microscopic appearances indicative of more extensive regeneration than those where Batticon was used at days 2, 4 and 6. Conclusion: The results of the study show that N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Glubran) is suitable for the treatment of open injuries to the head or neck

The Correlation of Serum Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Level in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Purpose. Growth differentiation factor-(GDF-) is a prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular disorders (CVD). GDF-15 level was not studied in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) before. In this study, we investigated serum GDF-15 levels in OSAS patients and compared them with healthy controls. Material and Methods. Polysomnographically, confirmed forty consecutive OSAS patients (20 men and 20 women) and forty consecutive healthy controls (23 men and 17 women) were enrolled in the study. The samples in each group had similar demographic characteristics and body mass index (BMI) values. Results. In the study, no significant correlation was found about GDF-15 levels of OSAS group and healthy controls. However, there was a significant statistical correlation between age and GDF-15 level. In correlation analysis, there was not any significant correlation between age and BMI. Conclusion. Although various developing biomarkers have been studied in cardiovascular disorders, GDF-15 levels have attracted a widespread interest as predictors of cardiovascular risk. GDF-15 level has not been evaluated previously in patients with OSAS. A significant statistical correlation was found between age and GDF-15 level. To reveal close relation between OSAS and GDF-15, further studies are needed with combination of GDF-15 and other biomarkers in OSAS