Psychoimmunological effects of dioscorea in ovariectomized rats: role of anxiety level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anxiety levels in rats are correlated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in the brain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dioscorea (wild yam), a Chinese medicine, on emotional behavior and IL-2 levels in the brain of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One month after ovariectomy, female Wistar rats were screened in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test to measure anxiety levels and divided into low anxiety (LA) and high anxiety (HA) groups, which were then given dioscorea (250, 750, or 1500 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 27 days and were tested in the EPM on day 23 of administration and in the forced swim test (FST) on days 24 and 25, then 3 days later, the brain was removed and IL-2 levels measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to sham-operated rats, anxiety behavior in the EPM was increased in half of the OVX rats. After chronic dioscorea treatment, a decrease in anxiety and IL-2 levels was observed in the HA OVX rats. Despair behavior in the FST was inhibited by the highest dosage of dioscorea.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results show that OVX-induced anxiety and changes in neuroimmunological function in the cortex are reversed by dioscorea treatment. Furthermore, individual differences need to be taken into account when psychoneuroimmunological issues are measured and the EPM is a useful tool for determining anxiety levels when examining anxiety-related issues.</p

An Analysis of a Historical Mansion that has Come Down to the Present Day from the Time of the Transformation of a City into a Neighborhood, and the Effects of this Transformation on the Mansion and City: The Kadirbeyzade Mansion in Old Gümü?hane

The city of Old Gümü?hane was founded on a sloping ground with rich silver mines in the Eastern Black Sea Region. Because of the loss of its socio-economic power in time, it moved to a valley of 1150 m altitude which is 4 kilometres away from its original place of foundation and which is close to the express way. In its place of foundation, the city was called as Argyropolis and Canca respectively. After the onset of the migration of the population from the city, it was called Eski?ehir and Old Gümü?hane respectively; and when it lost its status as a city and reduced to the status of a neighbourhood it was called as Süleymaniye. A close look at the architectural character of the city which transformed into a neighborhood showed that especially a certain mansion among the civil architectural examples had some different characteristics from other historical buildings and had a considerable effect on the civil architectural examples that were built after it. However, it is well-known that the mansion shows the characteristics of buildings in other cities. In other words, it is an imitation of a house in another city (it was found that the house by which it was affected is in one of the cities on the route of the Silk Road). It is interesting that such a building affected other buildings which were built after it especially in terms of the façades and that its identity is so dominant. The main aims of this study are to identify the characteristics of the mansion that affected other buildings, the characteristics of other historical buildings, and the common and different characteristics of the buildings. Furtheremore, the fact that it still maintains its effect although the city transformed into a neighborhood in the historical process, and that the mansion still stands while most of similar examples disappeared in time reveal its importance more clearly. The mansion has come down to the present day but has now been in a very poor condition. It is necessary that the building survey, reconstitution and restoration projects of the mansion be made and the house be handed down the next generations in the context of sustainability.UrbanismArchitectur

What is the protective effect of krill oil on rat ovary against ischemia-reperfusion injury?

Ozkan, Zehra Sema/0000-0001-9185-3663; EREL, Ozcan/0000-0002-2996-3236WOS: 000460180500012PubMed: 30484932Aim In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of krill oil (KO) against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury on rat ovary. Methods This study was conducted with 32 Wistar Albino rats. Rats were divided into four groups, with eight rats in each group-as follows: Sham group, I/R group, I/R + low dose KO group (50 mg) and I/R + high dose KO group (500 mg). The histopathological and follicle counts were performed on the right ovary. The total antioxidant status, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index were evaluated on the left ovary. And also serum N-thiol level, serum T-thiol level, serum disulfide (SDS) level, serum disulfide/N-thiol and serum disulfide/T-thiol ratios were evaluated too. Results A statistically significant difference was determined between the I/R group and all the other groups for all parameters. There was significant difference between KO groups and the Sham group for the parameters of serum N-thiol, serum T-thiol, SDS, serum disulfide/N-thiol and serum disulfide/T-thiol. SDS, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index were determined to be the highest in the I/R group and the lowest in the low dose KO group. The total antioxidant status values were found to be the highest in the high dose KO group and the lowest in the I/R group. Follicle counts and histological injury scores showed no significant difference between Sham and KO groups. Conclusion This study demonstrated that KO has beneficial effects on decreasing the injury after I/R on rat ovary.Krkkale University Scientific Research Commission [2018/003]This research was funded by Krkkale University Scientific Research Commission (Project number: 2018/003). The authors are grateful to the staff members of Krkkale University for their valuable support

Surgical anatomy of the pudendal nerve and its branches in South Africans

Dissection of the pudendal nerve (PN) and its branches in 71 cadavers revealed anatomic variations not previously described. Knowledge of this variation is necessary to prevent nerve injury resulting in sexual of sensory dysfunction. Because descriptions vary, this study re-evaluated the anatomy of the PN as implicated in perineal procedures in South Africans. The course of the PN from the gluteal region into the perineum was dissected in an adult sample of both sexes and of African and European ancestry. Distances between PN and branches to applicable landmarks were measured. Basic descriptive statistics and comparisons were carried out between groups. In 5/13 African females, the inferior rectal nerve (IRN) entered the gluteal region separately and in 12/13 cases it passed medial to the ischial spine with the PN. The dorsal nerve of the clitoris or penis (DNC/DNP) was closer to the bony frame in those of European ancestry. The IRN branches were more superficial in females, but deeper in males of European ancestry. In African females, a PN block and Richter stitch should be placed more medial. Outside-in transobturator tape procedures might endanger the DNC/DNP in obese individuals. In females of European ancestry the IRN branches are compromised during ischioanal abscess drainage. In males of European ancestry, the dorsal penile nerve block might be less effective. Predictions should be verified clinically.http://www.nature.com/ijir2015-12-31hb201

Experimental and theoretical approaches on mechanical evaluation of Y123 system by Lu addition

Turkoz, Mustafa Burak/0000-0002-4127-7650; Yildirim, Gurcan/0000-0002-5177-3703; Ozturk, Ozgur/0000-0002-0391-5551WOS: 000321913000034This work is the continuation of a systematic study on the characterization of the Lu-added Y123 bulk superconducting materials prepared by the nitrate compounds and derivatives at 970 degrees C for 20 h. In this part, the effect of Lu inclusions on the physical and mechanical properties of the Y123 superconductors is examined with the aid of microhardness measurements performed at various applied loads in the range of 0.245-2.940 N. The microhardness measurement results allow us to determine the important mechanical characteristics such as Vickers microhardness, elastic (Young's) modulus, yield strength and fracture toughness values being responsible for the potential industrial applications. It is found that all the properties given above are strongly dependent upon the Lu concentration in the Y123 matrix. Especially, Vickers microhardness (H-nu) values of the samples studied in this work are found to suppressed considerably with the enhancement of the Lu addition in the system due to the degradation in the connectivity between superconducting grains. Moreover, the H-nu values of the pure Y123 sample are observed to increase with increasing the applied load whereas those of the Lu-doped superconducting materials are obtained to decrease with the load. In other words, the pure sample exhibits the reverse indentation size effect (RISE) behavior while the others obey the indentation size effect (ISE) feature, confirming the degradation in the mechanical properties with the Lu inclusions in the Y123 matrix. In addition, the microhardness measurement results are estimated using the 5 different models such as Meyer's law, proportional sample resistance model, elastic/plastic deformation model, Hays-Kendall (HK) approach and indentation-induced cracking (IIC) model. According to the results obtained from the simulations, of the mechanical analysis models, the Hays-Kendall (HK) approach is determined as the most successful model for the description of the mechanical properties of the Lu-doped superconducting materials (exhibiting the ISE behavior) where both the both the reversible (elastic) and irreversible (plastic) deformations are produced. On the other hand, the IIC model is found to be superior to other approaches for the pure sample (presenting the RISE feature) where the irreversible deformation becomes more and more dominant compared to the reversible deformation

The sacrospinous ligament: conveniently effective or effectively convenient?

The sacrospinous ligament has been used for over 50 years as a convenient structure for treating vaginal vault and more recently, uterine prolapse. The procedure has evolved over the years and its efficacy has been hotly debated with invariable comparisons made to abdominal sacral colpopexy. Mesh surgery has introduced a newer dimension to the debate. This review is an attempt to clarify the anatomy, reflect on various techniques and offer a critique on the current ‘status’ of the sacrospinous ligament

Orthotopic and heterotopic ovarian tissue transplantation

Transplantation of ovarian tissue is, at present, the only clinical option available to restore fertility using cryopreserved ovarian tissue. More than 30 transplantations of cryopreserved tissue have been reported, and six babies have been born, worldwide, following this procedure. Despite these encouraging results, it is essential to optimize the procedure by improving the follicular survival, confirming safety and developing alternatives. Here, we review the different factors affecting follicular survival and growth after grafting.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe