Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibition provides protection against lung injury in a rat paraquat toxicity model

Objectives

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used herbicide. Exposure to PQ at toxic doses can result in fatal acute lung injury. Inhibition of the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme alleviates inflammation and necrosis in various pathologies. Here we aimed to evaluate the effects of PARP inhibition on PQ-induced lung damage in a rat experimental model.

Methods

Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were allocated into three groups: sham, PQ and PQ + 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) that is a PARP inhibitor, groups. Experimental lung injury was induced by administration of 15 mg/kg PQ intraperitoneally in PQ and PQ + 3-AB groups. 3-AB (10 mg/kg twice per day) was administered to the PQ + 3-AB group for four consecutive days. The animals were killed on the fifth day following PQ administration. Lung tissue and blood samples were collected and stored until analysis.

Results

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neopterin levels, tissue oxidative stress parameters, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β) levels and histological injury scores in the PQ + 3-AB group were significantly lower than in the PQ group (P < 0.05, PQ vs. PQ + 3-AB). Total antioxidant capacity in the PQ + 3-AB group was significantly higher than in the PQ group (P < 0.05, PQ + 3-AB vs. PQ).

Conclusion

Our results suggested that the use of PARP inhibitors following PQ toxicity might be useful for minimizing lung injury due to paraquat toxicity.

     

Factors Influencing Chemotherapy Goal Perception in Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients

Cancer patients who start receiving chemotherapy have difficulty in understanding the state of their disease, the prognosis, and the purpose of treatment. We used a survey to evaluate the extent of perception of chemotherapy goal among cancer patients. Two hundred sixteen cancer patients who received chemotherapy for the first time participated in the study. The presence of depression and anxiety was assessed using the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HAD). The consistency between the patients’ perception of the chemotherapy goal and the physician’s perception was described as “right,” and the inconsistency was described as “wrong.” Among the patients who participated in the survey, 53.2 % (n?=?115) were receiving adjuvant treatment and 46.8 % (n?=?101) were receiving palliative treatment for metastatic disease. The rate of right and wrong perception of the chemotherapy goal was 51.9 % (n?=?108) and 32.2 % (n?=?67), respectively, and the rate of confused patients was 18.9 % (n?=?41). The level of education was shown to be the only parameter involved in accurate perception of the treatment purpose (hazard ratio (HR)?=?0.444, p?=?0.025, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.219–0.903). In this study, there was a 51.9 % consistency between the physician’s perception and that of the patient regarding the purpose of treatment. We demonstrated that the level of education was the unique factor in accurate perception of chemotherapy goal among cancer patients.     

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of erythromycin on aseptic inflammation of temporomandibular joint in rabbit: a scintigraphic and histopathologic study

Abstract – This article investigates the anti‐inflammatory effects of erythromycin (EM) on aseptic inflammation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space using by Tc‐99 m HIG scintigraphy and histopathology. In this experimental study, 33 adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups. The animals in the first group were treated with EM 25 mg kg^?1; the animals in the second group were treated with methylprednisolone (MP) 2 mg kg^?1 and the animals in the third group were given saline solution (control group). Each drug was given by intraperitoneal injection twice a day for 7 days. Two hours after the last injection, carrageenan was injected into right TMJ of rabbits for aseptic inflammation. After carrageenan injection, each rabbit was given an intravenous injection of 111 Mbq (3 mCi) Tc‐99 m human HIG, and scanning was performed 4 h later. Later, all animals were killed and TMJ and periarticular tissues were resected. Histopathologically, the distance between synovial surface epithelium (SSE) and muscle layer (ML) in each section was measured by using SAMBA 200 Cell image processor with software. Scintigraphically, when lesion activity/adjacent region activity (L/N) was evaluated there was a significant difference between the control group and the other two groups (P < 0.05 for EM and MP). However, no significant difference was found between the EM and MP groups. Histopathologically, the mean distance between SSE and ML in the sections was found longer in the control group (78.6 ± 10.7 μm) than in the EM (44.38 ± 18.26 μm) and MP (44.05. ± 18.25 μm) groups. We think that administration of EM, which is a well‐known macrolid antibiotic, might be very effective in the treatment of aseptic inflammation of TMJ space. Because corticosteroid administration has many side effects, EM may be a preferable drug in the treatment of inflammation of TMJ.     

The impact of joint line restoration on functional results after hinged knee prosthesis

Background:

Hinged knee prosthesis is an effective treatment method as a salvage procedure in marked ligamentous insufficiency and severe bone defects. Joint line determination and restoration are difficult due to large bone defects and distorted anatomy. We evaluated the impact of joint line alteration on the outcome in rotating hinge knee arthroplasty (RHKA).

Materials and Methods:

35 patients who had rotating hinged knee prosthesis applied between 2008 and 2013 were evaluated in this retrospective study. The patients were studied radiologically and clinically. Five patients were lost to followup and two patients died, leaving a total of 28 (7 male, 21 female) patients for final evaluation. The average age of the patients was 66.19 ± 8.35 years (range 52–83 years). The patients were evaluated clinically with Knee Society knee and functional score and patellar score. The joint line positions were evaluated radiographically with femoral epicondylar ratio method. The outcomes were also evaluated according to age, body weight and gender. Student''s t-test, independent t-test, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used in the statistical analysis.

Results:

The mean Knee Society knee and functional score significantly improved from preoperative 19.52 ± 11.77 and 12.5 ± 15.66 respectively to 72.46 ± 14.01 and 70.36 ± 9.22 respectively postoperatively (P < 0.001). The mean range of motion of the knee improved from 55.95° ± 25.08° preoperatively to 92.14° ± 13.47° postoperatively (P < 0.001). Joint line position was restored in 20 patients (71.4%). Joint line alteration did not affect Knee Society Scores (KSSs) in contrast to patellar scores. Additionally, KSS was better in the patients with body mass index ≤30 at followup (P = 0.022 and P = 0.045).

Conclusion:

RHKA is an effective salvage procedure for serious instability and large bone defects. Restoration of the joint line improves the patellar score although it had no effect on the clinical outcome.     

Is retrograde flexible nephrolithotripsy feasible for calyceal diverticular stone?

The aim of this study is to manage the calyceal diverticular (CD) stone, several treatment options were applied but it is still a challenging condition of endourology. In this retrospective study, we aim to report the results of our patients with CD stones treated with retrograde flexible nephrolithotripsy (RFNL). A total of 47 patients (55 procedures) who underwent RFNL by a single surgeon for CD stones from January 2004 to March 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. The demographic properties and initial complaints of those patients have been recorded along with their comorbidities and previous history of stone management. Moreover, the size and number of the stones, the duration of the surgery, fluoroscopy time, stone-free rate (SFR) and postoperative complications of the patients have been evaluated. The mean age was 41.8 years (range 16–71). Of the study population, 31 (65.9 %) were male. Mean stone size was 21.1 (7–52) mm whereas in 3 (6.4 %) of the cases the stones could not be reached. Mean duration of the surgery was 92.8 (57–163) min whereas mean fluoroscopy time was 35.9 (14–103) s. After 3 months of follow-up period, the SFR was 85.1 %. No major complications occurred. RFNL with holmium laser and nitinol basket catheter application is a feasible and successful procedure in the management of CD stones. With its high success rates, low incidence of complications and minimal morbidity when compared with other treatment options, RFNL has the potential of becoming the preferred treatment option in the minimally invasive management of patients with CD stones.