Hemostasis vs. epidural fibrosis?: A comparative study on an experimental rat model of laminectomy

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological and biochemical impact and effectiveness of two hemostatic agents, Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) and Microporous Polysaccharide Hemospheres (MPH), on epidural fibrosis in an experimental rat laminectomy model. Material and methods Twenty adult Wistar albino rats were divided into MPH-treated (n=6), ABS-treated (n=6) and control (n=8) groups. Laminectomy of the lumbar spine was performed in all animals and treatment groups were exposed to MPH and ABS while closure was applied in control group as per usual. Epidural fibrosis was evaluated in all groups macroscopically, histopathologically, biochemically and with electron microscopy four weeks later. Results Statistically, it was found that MPH-treated group had significantly less epidural fibrosis compared to ABS-treated and control groups. Conclusion We compared two hemostatic agents for their propensity to cause adhesions in the present study. Our results show that MPH significantly reduces epidural scar formation and dural adhesion in a rat model of laminectomy while ABS increases postoperative fibrosis

The Relationships of Leptin, Adiponectin Levels and Paraoxonase Activity with Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Females Treated with Psychiatric Drugs

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate serum leptin, adiponectin and paraoxonase1 levels in adult females receiving pharmacotherapy for various psychiatric disorders. METHODS: The study group consisted of 32 obese females (mean age 40.53 ± 11.00 years, mean body mass index 35.44 ± 5.33 kg/m²) who were receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders, and the control group included 22 obese females (mean age 35.95 ± 9.16 years, mean body mass index 30.78 ± 3.33 kg/m²) who were free of psychiatric disorders. Analyses were performed using a bioelectrical impedance device. Fasting blood samples were obtained for complete blood count and various biochemical tests, including determination of leptin, adiponectin and paraoxonase1 activity. RESULTS: Body mass index, waist and hip circumference, body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assesment of insulin resistance, alanine transaminase, aspartate tarnsaminase, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the study group than in controls. Although body weight was positively correlated with leptin levels in both groups, body weight was negatively correlated with adiponectin levels in the control group and positively correlated with adiponectin levels in the study group. In the study group, body mass index and hip circumference correlated positively with leptin levels, hip circumference correlated positively with adiponectin levels, and waist to hip ratio correlated positively with paraoxonase levels. In the control group, body mass index as well as waist and hip circumferences were positively correlated with leptin levels. Weight, body mass index, and hip circumference were also negatively correlated with the adiponectin/leptin ratio in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study indicates a higher risk for obesity-related disorders, particularly metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in patients treated with psychiatric drugs

Paraoxonase and Arylesterase Activities, Lipid Profile, and Oxidative Damage in Experimental Ischemic Colitis Model

Objective. In the present study, since PON1 is known as an HDL-associated antioxidant enzyme that inhibits the oxidative modification of LDL and oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of mesenteric ischemia, we investigated the changes in PON1 activity and lipid profile in an experimental ischemic colitis model. Methods. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups: the control group (N = 15) and the experimental group (N = 25). All animals were anesthetized with ether and ketamine anesthesia to undergo a midline laparotomy. Ischemic colitis was induced by marginal vessel ligation in the splenic flexura (devascularization process). A sham laparotomy was performed in the control group. All animals were sacrificed on the seventh postoperative day. Oxidative stress marker (malonyldialdehyde, MDA), lipid profile, and paraoxonase (PON-1) and arylesterase activities were determined. Histopathological evaluation was done under light microscopy, after sectioning and staining with hematoxyline and eosin. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, and P 0.05).Conclusions. PON1 and arylesterase play an important role in the pathophysiology of ischemic colitis

The Effect of Nasal Packing on Oxidative Stress in Septoplasty Operation

Objective:To evaluate the effects of nasal septal surgery and type of nasal packing used on local and systemic oxidative stress.Methods:Fifteen patients who were scheduled for septoplasty under local anaesthesia with isolated septal deviation were included in the study. Venous blood samples were collected preoperatively, postoperatively upon anterior nasal packaging, immediately after nasal packaging was removed and 2 hours following removal of nasal packaging. At the start of the incision and just after removal of the nasal packaging 2x2-mm sized nasal mucosal samples were taken. Malonylaldehyde (MDA) was measured as a parameter of local oxidative stress, and glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as parameters of the local antioxidant system. Systemic MDA, catalase and nitric oxide were measured.Results:GSH and SOD levels decreased postoperatively in the septal mucosa just after nasal package removal, whereas MDA increased significantly (p<0.001). Systemic MDA levels decreased in comparison to preoperative levelsbetween the phases, however NO and catalase levels increased (p<0.05, p<0.01).Conclusion:Local oxidative stress occurs after septoplasy operation but no biochemical effect is observed systemically. Local oxidative stress is influenced by surgical intervention, surgical technique and packing material. New comparative studies are required between study groups with no nasal packaging

Salivary Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Allergic Rhinitis

Objective: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Using saliva as a diagnostic material is a non-invasive, simple method. Analysis of ECP in saliva was shown as an alternative diagnostic contribution in patients with asthma. In this study we aimed to assess a possible association between the levels of salivary ECP and the diagnosis of AR by comparing serum ECP and salivary ECP levels.Methods: Thirty-five allergic rhinitis patients (study group) sensitive to Dermatophagoides farinae (D2) in skin prick test (SPT) and 35 nonallergic, SPT negative, healthy volunteers (control group) were included in the study. Salivary ECP, serum ECP and specific IgE D2 levels were measured.Results: Distribution of age and gender were similar in the study and the control groups (p>0.05). Serum specific IgE D2 levels were significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (p<0.001). ECP levels in saliva and serum did not show any significant difference in between study and control groups (p=0.738; p=0.796, respectively). No significant difference was found between the levels of ECP in between the serum and the saliva of study and control groups. (p=0.504; p=0.589, respectively). There was no significant correlation between saliva and serum ECP levels of both groups.(r=-0.191/ p=0.114).Conclusion: Serum and saliva ECP levels seem close to each other and were comparable in both groups, but we did not find any correlation between them Although we hypothesized that saliva ECP may be used as a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of AR, it seems that this parameter is not helpful in diagnosis of AR

A novel approach for preventing esophageal stricture formation: olmesartan prevented apoptosis

Accidentally ingested corrosive substances can cause functional and structural damage to the esophageal tissue resulting in stricture formation. It has been reported that the administration of olmesartan (OLM) can have anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and antiapoptotic effects on injured tissue. The aim of our study was to check if OLM could prevent formation of scars in the corrosive esophageal burn model. Fifty-one Wistar Albino rats were divided into six groups: Control, Sham, OLM, Sham + OLM, Burn, and Burn + OLM. Olmesartan (5 mg/kg) was given by gavage once per day for 21 consecutive days after injury. The morphology of the esophagus was assessed after Masson trichrome staining, and apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferased UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The serum nucleosomes (as an indicator of apoptosis), serum p53 protein, and esophageal tissue p53 protein levels of each group were measured by immunoassays. Muscularis mucosa damage, submucosal collagen deposition, and tunica muscularis injury in the Burn + OLM group decreased significantly compared with the Burn group (p &lt; 0.05). Similarly, the number of apoptotic cells in the Burn + OLM group decreased compared with the Burn group (p &lt; 0.05). Serum levels of nucleosomes and p53 and tissue of p53 protein did not differ between the groups. Exogenously administered OLM can effectively prevent the occurrence of esophageal strictures caused by corrosive esophageal burns. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2014, Vol. 52, No. 1, 29–35

Maternal serum preptin levels in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of Gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder that occurs during pregnancy that increases both maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. It was investigated whether there is a change in circulating levels of preptin, a new peptide secreted from pancreatic beta cells, due to GDM in pregnant women. The relationship between serum preptin levels with insulin and other metabolic parameters was also evaluated in these subjects. Methods: Eighty-five patients diagnosed as GDM and 89 healthy pregnant women with 75 mg oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was assessed in terms of serum preptin levels. Results: The serum preptin levels of the GDM group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p=0.001; p < 0.01). For the cutoff value of preptin measurement of 335.3 ng/L, the sensitivity was 97.65%, specificity was 87.64%, positive predictive value was 88.3% and negative predictive value was 97.5%. The risk of developing the disease is 294.273 times higher in patients with preptin level of 335.3 and above. Conclusions: We think that the reason for the increase in serum preptin levels in GDM is probably the response to glucose. The current results indicate that preptin plays an important role in elucidating the pathology of GDM. In addition, the search for a practical marker for the diagnosis of GDM suggests that the measurement of preptin level is promising

Comparison of Anastomosis Safety in Colonic Dissections Using Scalpel, Scissors and Cautery in Rats: Experimental Study

Objective:Postoperative anastomotic leakage is still an issue in modern surgery. Re-hospitalization due to postoperative anastomosis leakage prolongs hospital stay and re-operations increase the cost. There is still no consent on how to dissect the intestines. The objective of the present study is to analyze the safety of colonic anastomoses after dissections using scalpel, scissors and cautery in rats.Method:There were 4 groups of 32 Wistar Hannover adult rodents. Each group consisted of 8 animals: group 1: sham, group 2: scalpel, group 3: scissors, group 4: cautery. Anastomosis was done over a single layer. Bursting pressure (BP) was measured at day 7. Tissue and blood samples were taken for the evaluation of biochemical and histopathological parameters.Results:Statistically significant disparity was seen among the sham, scalpel, scissors and cautery groups regarding the mean BP average, mean hydroxyproline levels and fibrosis distributions.Conclusion:Cautery is the best choice for hemostasis; however, when considering tissue healing, scalpel and the scissors were found to be safest alternatives

Relationships Among Some Biochemical Parameters, Trace Elements and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Aim:The aim of the present study was to determine levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), malondialdehyde and some biochemical parameters in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with healthy pregnant women, and to evaluate the relationships among these parameters.Materials and Methods:The patients consisted of 56 pregnant with GDM. The control group consisted of 60 healthy pregnant women. Plasma malondialdehyde, blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol were measured by biochemical methods. The concentrations of serum Fe, Cu and Zn were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Results:The levels of blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol, levels of plasma malondialdehyde, levels of serum Fe and Cu in women with GDM group were found higher than those in healthy pregnant women. However, levels of serum Zn were significantly lower in GDM pregnants than those in the healthy pregnant women. There were significant negative correlations between LDL-cholesterol and Cu levels of GDM subjects. Additionally, there were significant negative correlation between LDL-cholesterol and plasma malondialdehyde levels. However, there were significant positive correlations between serum Fe and plasma malondialdehyde levels.Conclusion:Our findings emphasize the significant deficiencies of Zn levels and the significant elevation of malondialdehyde, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in women with GDM. Therefore, supplementation with Zn element involved in the antioxidative system may increase antioxidative enzyme activities, and consequently, an improvement in fetal and maternal complications may be expected