Can Simple Tests Prior to Endoscopy Predict the OLGA Stage of Gastritis?

Gastritis is a progressive disease that evolves from a non-atrophic to atrophic state and progresses through intestinal metaplasia, with some cases leading eventually to gastric cancer. Since gastritis by definition is an inflammatory process of the mucosal lining of the stomach and is usually associated with pain, we aimed to identify any association between the severity of gastritis and pain and a simple inflammatory marker derived from a complete blood count (CBC). This was a prospective cross-sectional study which enrolled 155 consecutive adult patients who underwent an upper endoscopy. Prior to the endoscopy, all patients were given a questionnaire, numerical rating scale (NRS) and complete blood count evaluation. The biopsy was obtained from the gastric mucosa according to the modified Sydney classification and scored with the Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) scoring system. The results showed a significant correlation between NRS and intestinal metaplasia (p < 0.01); moreover, a correlation was also found between the NRS and OLGA stage (r = 0.469, p < 0.001). A nonlinear curve was constructed for OLGA stage estimation according to NRS scores (r2 was found to be 0.442, with p < 0.001). The results also showed a correlation between the neutrophil to the lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and OLGA stage (p < 0.01). No correlation was found between the other gastric parameters and NLR (p > 0.05). Helicobacter pylori positivity did not correlate with NRS and NLR. As a conclusion, pain measured by NRS and NLR, which are simply calculated from the CBC prior to endoscopy, may be used to predict OLGA stages and estimate the severity of gastritis in endoscopy patients

Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in acute lung injury due to blunt lung trauma in rats

WOS: 000455260600010Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of blunt lung trauma performed in experimental rat model on lung tissue and blood as well as proinflammatory cytokines, oxidant-antioxidant enzymes and histopathological parameters after Ngamma-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine administration. Methods: The study included 50 adult male Wistar albino rats (weighing 350 to 400 g). Rats were randomly allocated into four groups. Except in the control, moderate-level pulmonary contusion was created in all other groups. Intraperitoneal saline solution was performed in groups 1 and 2, 25 mg.kg(-1) Ngamma-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in group 3, and 20 mg. kg(-1) N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine in group 4. Blood and lung tissues were studied biochemically and histopathologically. Results: Best outcomes were recorded statistically significantly in groups with administration of Ngamma-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine when malondialdehyde response, mucous and histopathological values were examined. Significant improvement was detected in superoxide dismutase values in the group with administration of competitive nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Ngamma-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Nitric oxide values were substantially decreased in N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine group, while no significance was detected. Conclusion: Free oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation played a role in pulmonary contusion after blunt lung trauma. According to biochemical and histopathological outcomes, effects of inflammation were decreased and protective effects were formed with administration of both Ngammanitro-L-arginine methyl ester and N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine

Effect of defibrotide on platelet function

Defibrotide, a polydeoxyribonucleotide, has been found to modulate endothelial cell function, causing an increase in tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) levels, a decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) levels, and an increase in prostaglandin I-2 (PGI(2)) formation in humans. Defibrotide has no direct anticoagulant effect but has a synergistic action with heparin. A strong antithrombotic effect has been observed in animal models. Thus, defibrotide has a beneficial effect in cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), peripheral obliterative vascular disorder (POVD), stroke, vasculitis, and thromboembolism. Defibrotide also inhibits platelet function and activation. A significant decrease in platelet aggregate formation on the suture line in microarterial anastomosis in rats is one way defibrotide can inhibit platelet function and activation. In humans, a slight prolongation of the lag period in collagen-induced aggregation has been observed. In addition, a slight decrease in the maximum amplitude of the secondary wave of ADP and adrenalin-induced aggregations was also found. Platelet adhesion is diminished, the platelet differential count on formvar membrane is altered, and platelet aggregate formation is significantly inhibited. With an increase in platelet cyclic AMP (cAMP) content and a decrease in malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) and thromboxane B-2 (TXB(2)) formation, the levels of platelet secretion products such as PF-4 and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) in plasma decreased progressively. It was also demonstrated that the C-14-glucose transport defect of the platelet membrane of atherosclerotic patients was partially corrected with defibrotide treatment

Comparison of phenolic components and biological activities of two Centaurea sp obtained by three extraction techniques

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the polyphenol content, total phenolic, total flavonoid, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts obtained from Centaurea amaena Boiss. & Balansa and Centaurea aksoyi Hamzaoglu & Budak. Methods: Both species were subjected to maceration, Soxhlet and ultrasonication extractions with methanol in order to macerated (ME), Soxhlet (SE) and ultrasonicated (UE) extracts. Their phenolic profiles were qualitatively examined by LC-MS. Their antioxidant activities were determined by phosphomolybdenum, beta-carotene bleaching and DPPH assays. Agar diffusion and broth dilution methods were carried out to find the antimicrobial activity of these extracts against fifteen microorganisms. Results: Quercetin, quercetin-3-beta-D-glucoside and protocatechuic acid were the main components of the both extracts obtained by Soxhlet extraction. The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were found in the UE for both species. All the extracts exhibited good total antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activity. UE obtained from C. amaena showed the highest antioxidant activity with the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. The antibacterial activity of UE obtained from C. amaena was better than other extracts and antibacterial activity of C. amaena was also better than C. aksoyi. Discussion: This study confirms that ultrasonic extraction may be an ideal, simple and rapid method to obtain polyphenol-rich extracts have antioxidant as well as antibacterial activity from both Centaurea species especially from C. amaen

A comparative study on biological properties and chemical profiles of different solvent extracts from Centaurea bingoelensis, an endemic plant of Turkey

This study focused on the biological evaluation and chemical characterization of Centaurea bingoelensis, an endemic plant to Turkey. Different solvent extracts (hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), methanol, hydro-methanol, and water extracts) were prepared. The antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities were investigated. The hydro-methanol extract, possessing high phenolic content (41.57 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract), showed highest reducing capacity (136.87 and 82.16 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g extract, for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power, respectively) and radical scavenging potential (70.72 and 76.53 mg TE/g extract, against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl and 2,2' -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), respectively). Ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC/MS/MS) analysis revealed the presence of 67 and 62 compounds in the methanolic and water extracts, respectively. According to the broth microdilution results, DCM and EA extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity with Sarcina lutea being the most sensitive bacterium to the extracts (MIC = 0.19 (DCM) and 0.097 mg/mL (EA)). Most extracts showed promising antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The methanol extract was most toxic against human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells, and also significantly reduced the cell viability of the non-tumoral murine bone marrow stromal (S17) cells. This study has provided valuable scientific data on this endemic plant which can be considered as a promising candidate for the development of novel phyto-pharmaceuticals

Effects of polishing systems on the surface roughness of tooth-colored materials

Background/purpose: Polishing systems may affect the surface characteristics of the tooth-colored restorative materials. In this in vitro study, we evaluated the surface roughness of various tooth-colored restorative materials after polishing them with three different polishing systems