Trimetazidine has Promising Preventive Effects on Experimental Chronic Pancreatitis Rat Model

Background: It was aimed to evaluate the preventive efficacy of trimetazidine in an experimental chronic pancreatitis rat model.Methods: Chronic pancreatitis model was accomplished with caerulein and alcohol administration. In the study, 40 female Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups containing 8 animals in each. Group 1 (chronic pancreatitis); group 2 (chronic pancreatitis + low-dose trimetazidine group); group 3 (chronic pancreatitis + high-dose trimetazidine group); group 4 (placebo group (chronic pancreatitis + saline)); group 5 (sham group). 24 hours after the last injection, all animals were sacrificed. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-β, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase levels were tested in blood samples. Histopathologic examinations were conducted by a senior pathologist who was unaware of the group allocations.Results: Results of biochemical parameters of the trimetazidine groups (groups 2 and 3) were significantly favorable compared with the chronic pancreatitis group (group 1) (P < .05). The difference between the low-dose- and the high-dose trimetazidine group (group 3) was significant in terms of blood tests (P < .05). The difference between the low-dose trimetazidine group and the chronic pancreatitis group was not significant in terms of histopathologic scores (P > .05); however, the difference was significant between the high-dose trimetazidine group and the chronic pancreatitis group (P < .05).Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this current research is the first study that evaluates trimetazidine’s efficacy in the chronic pancreatitis rat model. Trimetazidine has affirmative preventive properties in the chronic pancreatitis course.     

Protective effects of thymoquinone and methotrexate on the renal injury in collagen-induced arthritis

The goal of this investigation was to study the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and methotrexate (MTX) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. On day 0 under ether anesthesia, the experimental groups were immunized with 0.5 mg native chick collagen II (CII) solubilized in 0.1 M acetic acid and emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Control rats were gavaged with vehicle, whereas CII was administered intradermally. In addition, arthritis treated with TQ group received TQ (10 mg kg(-1) bw by gavage once a week for 3 weeks starting on day 0); and arthritis treated with MTX group received MTX (MTX was suspended in corn oil and administered by gavage at 1 mg kg (-1) bw once a week for 3 weeks starting on day 0). A significant decrease in the incidence and severity of arthritis by clinical and radiographic assessments was found in recipients of therapy, compared with that of controls. The MTX treatment significantly (P<0.01) decreased the elevated serum NO, urea and creatinine in arthritic rats. Likewise, TQ treatment was also able to reduce significantly (P<0.05) serum NO, urea and creatinine levels, but to lesser extent than MTX. The histopathologic abnormalities are consistent with the hydropic epithelial cell degenerations and moderate tubular dilatation in the some proximal and distal tubules. The severity of the degenerative changes in most of the shrunken glomerules and vascular congestion were also observed in arthritic animals. Preventive treatment of TQ and especially MTX significantly inhibited kidney dysfunction and this histopathologic alterations. These studies indicate that TQ can be used similar to MTX as a safe and effective therapy for CIA and may be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.     

Adsorption of direct-acting and indirect-acting mutagens by various dietary fibers

The protective effect of dietary fiber on human cancer has received great attention during the last decades. Because dietary fiber constitues a large group of complex polysaccharides with various solubilities, degrees of lignification, chemical compositions and structural arrangements, several mechanisms for their effects have been proposed. In this study, in vitro binding capacities of various dietary fibers (potato fiber and glucomannan) and dietary fiber constituents (pectic acid and cellulose) against indirect mutagen 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo (4,5-f) quinoline (IQ) and direct-acting mutagen sodium azide were investigated. Direct-acting mutagen sodium azide was not adsorbed to the dietary fiber and dietary fiber constituents at 0 C, pH 4.5 and 37 C, pH 7.0. However, indirect-acting mutagen 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo (4,5-f) quinoline (IQ) were sorbed by them in variable ratios at 0 C, pH 4.5 and 37 C, pH 7.0. The differences between the in vitro binding capacities of the samples at two experimental conditions were found to be statiscially significant (P < 0.01). IQ was not released from the dietary fibers and constituents in distilled water.     

The combination of cytological smears and cell blocks on endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspirates allows a higher diagnostic yield

We compared the diagnostic performances of conventional smears and cell block preparations of tissue samples obtained with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. We retrospectively analysed 451 patients (926 lymph nodes) who had undergone endobronchial ultrasound and for whom both smears and cell blocks were available and compared the diagnostic performances of these techniques when used alone and combined. Cell block preparations showed higher diagnostic performance over smears, but the combination was superior to either alone. The combination of smear and cell block techniques achieved a sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 92.5, 100, 100, 97.7 and 99.4, 95.0, 98.6, and 97.9 % for malignant and benign diseases, respectively. We recommend cell block preparations during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.     

Effect of ankle proprioceptive training on static body balance

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of ankle proprioceptive training on static body balance. [Subjects and Methods] In this randomized-controlled, single-blind study, 59 university students (35 females, 24 males) were randomized into study (n=29) and control (n=30) groups. The study group received a foot and ankle proprioceptive exercise program including stretching, strengthening (plantar and dorsi-flexors, invertor and evertor muscles), and balance board exercises, each with 10 repetitions per session, 5 days a week, for a total of 10 sessions. The control group did not receive any intervention. Static body balance was evaluated by a kinesthetic ability trainer, which showed the balance index scores under both single foot and both feet conditions. This evaluation was repeated at the end of two weeks for both groups. [Results] Outcome measures of the groups were similar at the baseline. Balance index scores of both groups improved at the end of two weeks, and the study group had significantly lower index scores than those of the control group, indicating better balance. [Conclusion] Ankle proprioceptive training had positive effects on static body balance parameters in healthy individuals, and it is worth investigating the effects of this type of training in patients with balance disorders.Key words: Ankle proprioception, Static balance, Sport KAT     

Anger in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Its relations with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and sociodemographic and clinical variables

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to investigate anger and anger levels in women meeting the criteria of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and to determine the relation between anger levels and the severity of PMDD and other variables.

Methods

50 women meeting the criteria of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and 50 healthy controls were included in the study. Sociodemographic, familial and reproductive period characteristics of the women participating in the study were recorded. All subjects were administered the State–Trait Anger Scale and Premenstrual Syndrom Scale scales.

Results

A significant difference was found between the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder group and the healthy control group in terms of Premenstrual Syndrom Scale scores and anger sub scores. When the state trait anger scale scores were examined, it was seen that subscles had higher scores compared to healthy women. In Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder group; there was a positive correlation between Premenstrual Syndrom Scale scores and trait anger, anger-in and anger control scores.

Conclusions

Anger appears to be an important problem that makes life more difficult for subjects with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Wide-scale further studies focused on anger and its relation with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder are needed to develop ways of coping with anger in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.