The effects of prenatal and neonatal exposure to electromagnetic fields on infant rat myocardium

Introduction: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have adverse effects as a result of widespread use of electromagnetic energy on biological systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to EMF on rat myocardium by biochemical and histopathological evaluations

Late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis: A case reports

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are the most common neurodegenerative childhood-onset disorders characterized by autosomal recessive inheritance, epileptic seizures, progressive psychomotor deterioration, visual failure, and premature death. At least seven subtypes of childhood-onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses have been identified of which the late-infantile-onset forms are genetically the most heterogeneous. We present a five-year-old girl with late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis who presented with progressive psychomotor retardation, ataxia and epilepsia. Palmitoyl protein thioesterase activity was very low and a homozygous mutation was identified in CLN2 gene. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 155-7

The effects of obstructive jaundice on the brain: An experimental study

The study aims to evaluate the alterations in the brain due to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation resulting from obstructive jaundice. Forty-one Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Simple laparotomy was performed in the sham group (n = 5). In the remaining 36 rats, the common bile duct (CBD) was found and ligated. They were divided into six groups. Group I, Group II, and Group III were sacrificed at the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day of ligation, respectively. In Group Id, Group IId, and Group IIId ligated bile ducts were decompressed at the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day, respectively. One week after decompression these rats were also sacrificed and samples were taken. After the CBD ligation, serum levels of bilirubin and malondialdehyde were found to be increased progressively in parallel to the ligation time of the CBD. After decompression these values decreased. In electron microscopy evaluation, the damage was found to be irreversible depending on the length of the obstruction period. In Group II, the damage was mostly reversible after the internal drainage period of 7 days. However in Group III, the tissue damage was found to be irreversible despite the decreased values of oxidative stress and bilirubin. Ultrastructural changes in brain tissue including damage in the glial cells and neurons, were found to be irreversible if the CBD ligation period was >7 days and did not regress even after decompression. It is unreliable to trace these changes using blood levels of bilirubin and free radicals. Therefore, timing is extremely critical for medical therapies and drainage

The effects of selenium against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

It is known that the brain tissue is extremely sensitive to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and therefore, brain ischemia and consecutive reperfusion result in neural damage and apoptosis. The proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) are produced during neurological disorders including cerebral ischemia. On the other hand, nerve growth factor (NGF), which is essential for the differentiation, survival and functions of neuronal cells in the central nervous system, regulate neuronal development through cell survival and cell death signaling. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) on prefrontal cortex and hippocampal damage in rats subjected to cerebral IR injury. Selenium was injected intraperitoneally at the doses of 0.625 mg/(kg day) after induction of IR injury. Prefrontal cortex and hippocampal damage was examined by cresyl-violet staining. Apostain and caspase-3 immune staining were used to detect apoptosis. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and NGF levels were also evaluated. Histopathological evaluation showed that treatment with selenium after ischemia significantly attenuated IR-induced neuronal death in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal CAI regions of rats. Apoptotic cells stained with apostain and caspase-3 were significantly decreased in treatment group when compared with the IR group. Additionally, treatment with selenium decreased the TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta levels and increased the NGF levels in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal tissue of animals subjected to IR. The present results suggest that selenium is potentially a beneficial agent in treating IR-induced brain injury in rats. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Effect of ferulic acid on testicular damage caused by torsion-detorsion in rats

Testicular torsion is twisting of the spermatic cord around its axis, which impairs blood flow and causes ischemia and formation of free radicals. Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid of the hydroxycinnamic family that is found in the seeds and leaves of plants; it is present in substantial amounts in fruits and vegetables. We investigated the protective effect of ferulic acid on experimental testicular torsion in rats. Animals were divided randomly into five groups: control, ethyl alcohol, torsion, torsion-detorsion, and torsion-detorsion + ferulic acid. Histopathology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin, and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Tissues were assessed using TUNEL, active caspase-3, myeloperoxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase immunostaining. Biochemical changes were assessed using assays for superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione. Ferulic acid reduced the levels of free radicals and increased the levels of antioxidants. Ferulic acid also reduced histopathological changes and germ cell differentiation in the testis following torsion-detorsion. Ferulic acid should be investigated further as a potential treatment for sequelae of torsion-detorsion injury

Topical Application of Calcium Channel Blockers to Reduce the Progression of Experimentally Induced Myringosclerosis and Tympanosclerosis

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of topically applied calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) to reduce the progression of experimentally induced myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis

Structural deteriorations of the human peritoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A transmission electron microscopic study

In previous studies, changes in the surface of the peritoneum during laparoscopic surgery are well defined. Nevertheless, almost all of these studies were performed on rodents via scanning electron microscopy. In the present study, structural alterations of the mesothelial cells of peritoneum were examined during laparoscopic cholecystectomy using transmission electron microscopy

Neuroprotective effects of ketorolac tromethamine after spinal cord injury in rats: an ultrastructural study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrathecally administered ketorolac tromethamine on ultrastructural changes of the spinal cord in spinal cord-traumatised rats