Primary empty sella syndrome with visual field defects

A patient with an enlarged, asymmetric sella turcica and visual field defects suggestive of a pituitary or parasellar tumor underwent extensive roentgenographic and pituitary function studies. No abnormalities in pituitary luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, ACTH, prolactin or vasopressin secretion were detected. Growth hormone secretion was provoked by arginine infusion but not by hypoglycemia. Pneumoencephalography revealed air in the sella turcica, and no evidence of tumor. Thus, an enlarged sella turcica in a patient with visual field defects but normal pituitary function may suggest the presence of an “empty sella syndrome.”     

L-carnitine alleviates sciatic nerve crush injury in rats：functional and electron microscopy assessments

Several studies have demonstrated that L-carnitine exhibits neuroprotective effects on injured sciatic nerve of rats with diabetes mellitus. It is hypothesized that L-carnitine exhibits neuro-protective effects on injured sciatic nerve of rats. Rat sciatic nerve was crush injured by a forceps and exhibited degenerative changes. After intragastric administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine for 30 days, axon area, myelin sheath area, axon diameter, myelin sheath diameter, and numerical density of the myelinated axons of injured sciatic nerve were similar to normal, and the function of injured sciatic nerve also improved signiifcantly. These ifndings suggest that L-carnitine exhibits neuroprotective effects on sciatic nerve crush injury in rats.     

Pentoxifylline has favorable preventive effects on experimental chronic pancreatitis model

Abstract

Background: To investigate the protective efficacy of pentoxifylline through biochemical parameters and histopathological scores in a caerulein- and alcohol-induced experimental model of chronic pancreatitis in rats.

Methods: A model of chronic pancreatitis with caerulein and alcohol was created in female rats of the genus Sprague Dawley. Pentoxifylline was administered in doses of 25?mg/kg (low dose) and 50?mg/kg (high dose) as a protective agent. Each group contained 8 animals. The groups were: group 1 (control group); caerulein?+?alcohol, group 2 (low-dose pentoxifylline group); caerulein?+?alcohol?+?pentoxifylline 25?mg/kg, group 3 (high-dose pentoxifylline group); caerulein?+?alcohol?+?pentoxifylline 50?mg/kg, group 4 (placebo); caerulein?+?alcohol?+?saline, group 5 (sham group); only saline injection.Rats were sacrificed 12?h after the last injection, and TNF-α, TGF-β, MDA, and GPx concentrations were measured in blood samples. The histopathologic examination was conducted by a pathologist who was unaware of the groups.

Results: The biochemical results of the treatment groups (group 2 and group 3) were statistically significantly lower compared with the control group (group 1) (p?<?.05). The difference between the low-dose treatment group (group 2) and high-dose treatment group (group 3) was significant in terms of biochemical parameters (p?<?.05). The difference between group 2 and the control group was not significant in terms of histopathologic scores (p?>?.05), whereas the difference between the group 3 and the control group was statistically significant (p?<?.05).

Conclusions: As a result, pentoxifylline, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, was shown to have protective efficacy in an experimentally generated model of chronic pancreatitis.     

Associations between the articular eminence inclination and condylar bone changes, condylar movements, and condyle and fossa shapes

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to determine the inclination and height of the articular eminence with respect to the condylar bone changes, condyle shape, fossa shape and condylar movements in patients with and without temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods

The associations between the eminence inclination and the condylar bone changes, condylar movements, condylar shape and fossa shape were evaluated in patients with TMJ disorders and control patients without TMJ disorders. The measurements of the articular eminence inclination were established on central sagittal slices of the TMJ. The central coronal slices were used to determine the condyle and fossa shapes. The types of movements of the condyles were determined on open-mouth images, and mandibular hypermobility or hypomobility was noted for each joint.

Results

There were no significant differences in the eminence inclination and height with respect to the condylar bone changes and condylar movements in the TMJ disorder group. However, there was a significant association between the eminence inclination and the fossa shape in the TMJ disorder group and significant associations between the eminence inclination and both the condyle and fossa shapes in the control group. The articular eminence inclination was steeper in the control group than in the TMJ disorder group.

Conclusions

The eminence inclination was steeper in the control patients than in the patients with TMJ disorders, and was not correlated with the condylar bone changes or condylar movements.     

Exercise capacity as an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes among nondiabetic and diabetic patients

Introduction

To investigate if decreased exercise capacity is an independent risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in diabetics and nondiabetics.

Material and methods

The association of decreased exercise capacity (EC) during a treadmill exercise sestamibi stress test with MACE was investigated in 490 nondiabetics and 404 diabetics. Mean follow-up was 53 months.

Results

Nondiabetics with a predicted EC < 85% had a higher prevalence of myocardial ischemia (34% vs. 19%, p = 0.0002), 2- or 3-vessel obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (31% vs. 13%, p = 0.016), myocardial infarction (MI) (17% vs. 7%, p = 0.0005), stroke (8% vs. 2%, p = 0.002), death (11% vs. 3%, p = 0.0002), and MI or stroke or death at follow-up (32% vs. 11%, p < 0.001) compared to nondiabetics with a predicted EC ≥ 85%. Diabetics with a predicted EC < 85% had a higher prevalence of myocardial ischemia (48% vs. 32%, p = 0.0009), 2- or 3-vessel obstructive CAD (54% vs. 28%, p = 0.001), MI (32% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), stroke (22% vs. 6%, p < 0.001), death (17% vs. 9%, p = 0.031), and MI or stroke or death at follow-up (65% vs. 27%, p < 0.001). Stepwise Cox regression analysis showed decreased EC was an independent and significant risk factor for MACE among nondiabetics (hazard ratio 3.3, p < 0.0001) and diabetics (hazard ratio 2.7, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Diabetics and nondiabetics with decreased EC were at increased risk for MACE with nondiabetics and decreased EC at similar risk as diabetics with normal EC.     

Investigation of rosemary herbal extracts (Rosmarinus officinalis) and their potential effects on immunity

The discovery of new curative drugs and the consumption of natural dietary ingredients with the ability to exhibit immunomodulatory activity is urgently needed to decrease the risk of chronic diseases among the population. Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic plant that has been traditionally and medicinally used as a carminative, antispasmodic, painkiller, circulatory tonic, to stimulate hair growth and to improve memory dysfunction. This study aimed to assess the potential effects of rosemary solvent extracts on human immune function. Science Direct, Web of Science, Wiley, Elsevier, PubMed, Scopus, and the Google scholar search engines were used to retrieve relevant information included combinations of “rosemary” or “R. officinalis” with “immune function,” “immunity,” “immune system,” “anti‐inflammatory,” “inflammation,” or “health benefit.” A number of studies have been found a stimulatory effect of rosemary and its active compounds on the immune system in vitro and animal study, but there is a lack of evidence in humans for supporting this. The results demonstrated the potential of rosemary and its main active components as dietary ingredients with immunomodulatory functionality. Human studies should be performed and a double‐blind randomized controlled trial would be ideal.     

Stellate ganglion ischemia on the prevention of pulmonary vasospasm during bilateral carotid artery ligation: The first experimental study

Fatal pulmonary edema and hemorrhage are significant complications of endovascular treatment in steno-occlusive carotid artery disease; a rational mechanism has not been adequately examined in the literature so far. We investigated if cervical sympathetic ganglia ischemia prevents pulmonary vasospasm on the prognosis of bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL). Twenty-three adult New Zealand rabbits (4.2 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (G1, n = 5), the sham group (G2, n = 6), and the BCCAL group (G3, n = 12). Common carotid arteries were dissected bilaterally in G2/G3, and permanent BCCAL was applied to only in G3. All animals were followed for 3 weeks and decapitated under general anesthesia. Histopathological changes in stellate ganglia and severity of pulmonary vasospasm-related lung edema and hemorrhage were investigated. Results were analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test. Two animals of G3 dead within three weeks and the remainder were sacrificed three weeks later. Subpleural petechial foci and an endotracheal bloody fluid collection were grossly observed in the lungs. Histopathologically, pulmonary artery vasospasm, perivascular and subintimal edema, interalveolar hemorrhage, and alveolar wall destructions were observed with less ischemic-degenerated neuron density-determined stellate ganglia animals. Neurodegeneration of stellate ganglia may have a beneficial effect on the prevention of lung injury during steno-occlusive carotid artery disease.