Protective effect of sildenafil citrate on contralateral testis injury after unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate prevention of contralateral testicular injury with sildenafil citrate after unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion. METHODS: Thirty-seven adult male rats were divided into four groups: sham operated (group 1, n = 7), torsion/detorsion + saline (group 2, n = 10), torsion/detorsion + 0.7 mg of sildenafil citrate (group 3, n = 10) and torsion/detorsion + 1.4 mg of sildenafil citrate (group 4, n = 10). Unilateral testicular torsion was created by rotating the right testis 720º in a clockwise direction for 2 h in other groups, except for group 1, which was served as sham group. After torsion (2 h) and detorsion (2 h) periods, rats were killed. RESULTS: The level of reduced glutathion (GSH) (p<0.05) and the activities of catalase (p<0.01) and glutathione peroxidase (p<0.05) in the contralateral testis from group 2 were significantly lower and nitric oxide (NO) (p<0.05) level in the contralateral testis were significantly higher than those of group 1. Administration of low-dose sildenafil citrate (group 3) prevented the increases in malondialdehyde and NO levels and decreases in glutathione peroxidase activities and GSH values induced by testicular torsion. However, administration of high-dose sildenafil citrate (group 4) had no effect on these testicular parameters (p>0.05). Histopathological changes were detected in groups 2, 3 and 4. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that biochemically and histologically torsion/detorsion injury occurs in the contralateral testis following 2-h torsion and 2-h detorsion and that administration of low-dose sildenafil citrate before detorsion prevents ischemia/reperfusion cellular damage in testicular tissue

Efficacy of vitamin E and selenium for the prevention of intra-abdominal adhesions in rats: uterine horn models

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the efficacies of vitamin E and selenium, both individually and in combination, for the prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions in rats. METHODS: Forty-seven female rats were divided into five groups. The sham animals (S group, n = 7) were given only laparotomies and intraperitoneally received 0.9% NaCl (2 ml). In the 40 other rats, abrasions of the left uterine horn were performed, followed by intraperitoneal administration of either 2 ml 0.9% NaCl (C group), 10 mg vitamin E (vitamin E group), 0.2 mg/kg selenium (Se group) or 10 mg vitamin E with 0.2 mg/kg selenium (vitamin E + Se group), with 10 animals in each treatment group. RESULTS: Adhesion formation was significantly reduced in animals in the Se and vitamin E + Se groups (p<0.05). Tissue catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities did not significantly differ between the groups. However, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and reduced glutathione levels were slightly increased in the vitamin E, Se and vitamin E + Se groups. In the vitamin E group, malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly lower than in the C group (p<0.05), but no significant differences were present among the S, C, Se and vitamin E + Se groups. Levels of nitric oxide were significantly higher in the C group than in the other groups (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal administration of selenium or combined vitamin E and selenium appears to be effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesion formation in rat models through the reduction of lipid peroxidation products

Serum ghrelin levels in inflammatory bowel disease with relation to disease activity and nutritional status

Ghrelin possesses various biological activities-it stimulates growth hormone (GH) release, plays a major role in energy metabolism, and is one of the hormones that affects body composition. It also plays a role in modulating immune response and inflammatory processes. In this study we aimed to determine whether serum ghrelin levels had correlation with markers associated with disease activation. We also investigated any probable relationship between serum ghrelin level and nutritional status. Serum levels of ghrelin and its relationship with disease activity and nutritional status were evaluated in 34 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 25 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and 30 healthy controls. Serum ghrelin levels, serum IGF-1 and GH levels, and markers of disease activity (sedimentation, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen) were measured in all subjects. Body composition and nutritional status was assessed by both direct (by anthropometry) and indirect (by bioimpedance) methods. Serum ghrelin levels were significantly higher in patients with active UC and CD than in those in remission (108 +/- 11 pg/ml vs. 71 +/- 13 pg/ml for UC patients, P < 0.001; 110 +/- 10 pg/ml vs. 75 +/- 15 pg/ml for CD patients, P < 0.001). Circulating ghrelin levels in UC and CD patients were positively correlated with sedimentation fibrinogen and CRP and was negatively correlated with IGF-1, BMI, TSFT, MAC, fat mass (%), and fat free mass (%). This study demonstrates that patients with active IBD have higher serum ghrelin levels than patients in remission and high levels of circulating ghrelin correlate with the severity of disease and the activity markers. Ghrelin levels in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients show an appositive correlation with IGF-1 and bioelectrical impedance analysis, body composition, and anthropometric assessments. Finally, we arrived at the conclusion that ghrelin level may be important in determination of the activity in IBD patients and evaluation of nutritional status

Sixth, seventh and eighth year students' knowledge levels about greenhouse effect, ozone layer and acid rain

The aim of this study is to investigate second stage primary school (6th, 7th and 8th year) students’ knowledge levels about three important environmental topics, namely, the greenhouse effect, the ozone layer and acid rain. The study was carried out with 204 6th, 7th and 8th year students (11-14 year olds) in Turkey. A 25- item scale developed by Khalid (1999) was used as a data collection instrument. The instrument was adapted to the Turkish language and culture, was validated and its reliability co-efficiency was determined. The results of the study showed that 6th, 7th and 8th year students have a very low level of knowledge about the greenhouse effect, the ozone layer and acid rain. The results of this study can be used by experts of environmental education to focus on starting the teaching of environmental topics – like greenhouse effect, ozone layer and acid rain – thoroughly from the primary school to develop more environmentally sensitive citizens.peer-reviewe

İlaç kullanmayan majör depresif bozukluk ve panik bozukluğu hastalarında idrar neopterin düzeyi

Objective: To measure urinary level of pterine which takes place in synthesis of monoamine in major depressive disorder and panic disorder patiens and compare results with healthy group. Methods: Fourteen patients with panic disorder, 26 patients with major depressive disorder and 20 healthy volunteers were included to the study. Beck Depression İnventory, Beck Anxiety İnventory, Panic-Agoraphobia Scale, State-Trait Anxiety İnventory were applied to patients in order to evaluate severity of disorders. Results: Measurement results of neopterin levels were 199.6±90.8 μmol/creatinine in depressive disorder group, 182.9±68.0 μmol/creatinin panic disorder group and 181.4±202.8 μmol/creatinin in control group (p=0.030). Neopterin level in depressive disorder is significantly higher than control group (p=0.015). Conclusion: Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is cofactor of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzymes in synthesis of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine from tyrosine and tryptophan. Rise in plasma levels of neopterine means activation in BH4 synthesis and reduc-tion in monoamine levels. According to the results our study, changes in neopterine and BH4 levels may have influence in appearing depressive disorder more than panic disorder

Vascular resection and reconstruction in pancreatic tumors

Objective: We aimed to to present our patients who underwent pancreaticoduodectomy with vascular resection and reconstruction for borderline pancreatic tumor. Materials and methods: The retrospective study included six patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection due to locally advanced disease over a 2- year period. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, imaging findings, exploration findings of surgery, types of resections, perioperative complications, postoperative hospital stay were recorded. Results: The patients were cosisted of 2 females and 4 males. Tumor location was in the head of the pancreas in 4 (66.7%) patients and in the body in 2 (33.3%) patients. Vasculary reconstruction was achieved by end-to-end anastomosis in 2 (33.3%) and primary closure in 4 (66.7%) cases. The hospital stay of the patients was 11 to 35 days. Intraoperative and postoperative blood product transfusion was not required in 3 of the cases. One patient was reoperated on the second postoperative day due to bleeding in the gastroduodenal anostomosis line and the bleeding was controlled. None of the patients developed pancreatic fistula. Conclusions: In cases of pancreatic cancer with vascular invasion, vascular resection- reconstruction is inevitable to provide a negative surgical margin. Vascular resection and reconstruction can be performed safely similar to standard pancreatic surgery

High admission levels of &#947;-glutamyltransferase predict poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous intervention

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between admission levels of serum y-glutamyltransferase and poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction. INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion injury caused by free radical release and increased oxidative stress is responsible for the pathophysiology of the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Serum &#978;-glutamyltransferase is an established marker of increased oxidative stress. METHODS: The study population consisted of 80 patients (64 men and 16 women, mean age = 67.5 + 6.6 years) with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 0/1 flow pre-procedurally. The patients were divided into two groups according to thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades that were assessed immediately following primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The two groups (group 1 and group 2) each consisted of 40 patients with thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 0-1 and thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 2-3, respectively. RESULTS: Admission pain to balloon time, &#978;-glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme levels of group 1 patients were significantly higher than those of group 2 patients. Pain to balloon time, &#978;-glutamyltransferase, peak creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, low left ventricular ejection fraction and poor pre-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade were significantly associated with poor myocardial perfusion by univariate analysis. However, only pain to balloon time and &#978;-glutamyltransferase levels showed a significant independent association with poor myocardial perfusion by backward logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated as 4.92 for pain to balloon time and 1.13 for &#978;-glutamyltransferase. CONCLUSION: High admission &#978;-glutamyltransferase levels are associated with poor myocardial perfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly in patients with prolonged pain to balloon time

High admission levels of γ-glutamyltransferase predict poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous intervention

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between admission levels of serum y-glutamyltransferase and poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction. INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion injury caused by free radical release and increased oxidative stress is responsible for the pathophysiology of the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Serum &#978;-glutamyltransferase is an established marker of increased oxidative stress. METHODS: The study population consisted of 80 patients (64 men and 16 women, mean age = 67.5 + 6.6 years) with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 0/1 flow pre-procedurally. The patients were divided into two groups according to thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades that were assessed immediately following primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The two groups (group 1 and group 2) each consisted of 40 patients with thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 0-1 and thrombolysis in myocardial perfusion grades 2-3, respectively. RESULTS: Admission pain to balloon time, &#978;-glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme levels of group 1 patients were significantly higher than those of group 2 patients. Pain to balloon time, &#978;-glutamyltransferase, peak creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, low left ventricular ejection fraction and poor pre-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade were significantly associated with poor myocardial perfusion by univariate analysis. However, only pain to balloon time and &#978;-glutamyltransferase levels showed a significant independent association with poor myocardial perfusion by backward logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated as 4.92 for pain to balloon time and 1.13 for &#978;-glutamyltransferase. CONCLUSION: High admission &#978;-glutamyltransferase levels are associated with poor myocardial perfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly in patients with prolonged pain to balloon time

The relationship between L-arginine/ADMA ratio and coronary collateral development in patients with low glomerular filtration rate

Background: It is yet to be established which factors are responsible for differences among patients with the same degree of coronary artery disease in terms of coronary collateral development (CCD). Methods: Patients who had a greater than or equal to 95% stenosis in at least one epicardial coronary artery were classified into two groups according to their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level. Afterwards, the degree of CCD was evaluated according to their plasma concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and GFR levels. Results: Rentrop grade 2&#8211;3 was found more frequently in patients with GFR > 60 mL/min than in patients with GFR < 60 mL/min (68.6% vs 41.4%, p = 0.032). Then we divided patients into four groups according to their GFR levels and Rentrop grades; whereas we did not find any significant difference for L-arginine or ADMA levels (respectively p = 0.629 and p = 0.076), we did find a statistically significant difference between groups for L-arginine/ /ADMA ratio (p = 0.003) and this statistically significant difference was evident between patients with GFR 60 mL/min and Rentrop 2&#8211;3 (1.23 vs 1.69, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that L-arginine/ADMA ratio was the only variable which had a significant effect on CCD (OR = 1.016; 95% CI 1.001&#8211;1.031, Wald = 4.565; p = 0.033). Conclusions: These results showed that CCD was poor in patients with GFR < 60 mL/min, presumably because of the adverse effect of decreased L-arginine/ADMA ratio on endothelial cells and angiogenesis. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 1: 29&#8211;35