Effects of sunitinib and bevacizumab on VEGF and miRNA levels on corneal neovascularization

Aim: To evaluate the effects of sunitinib (0.5?mg/ml) and bevacizumab (5?mg/ml) on VEGF-A, VEGFR-2 and microRNA (miRNA) levels on corneal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: In this study, CNV was induced by silver nitrate application to the cornea, and 40 Albino male rats were equally divided into four subgroups:

Group 1 (sunitinib): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 0.5?mg/ml sunitinib eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

Group 2 (bevacizumab): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 5?mg/ml bevacizumab eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

Group 3 (control): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, normal saline eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

Group 4 (vehicle): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 1% DMSO eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n?=?10).

After two weeks from the silver nitrate application, corneas were evaluated by hand-held biomicroscope for their vascularization status. Then, corneas were excised and the expression levels of VEGFR-2, VEGF-A and the common miRNA markers for neovascularization (miR-15?b, miR-16, miR-23a, miR-126, miR-188, miR-210, miR-221, miR-222, miR-410 and miR-423) were evaluated by real-time PCR.

Results: It was seen that the CNV was decreased in sunitinib- and bevacizumab-administered groups compared to the control and DMSO groups. Also, in comparison with the control group; VEGF-A expression was downregulated by nearly 0.75 times in sunitinib group and nearly 0.52 times in bevacizumab group. VEGFR-2 expression was downregulated by 0.89 times in sunitinib group and 0.68 times in bevacizumab group, compared to the control group. miR-15?b, miR-16 and miR-126 levels were statistically lower in sunitinib and bevacizumab groups, but miR-188 and miR-410 levels were two-fold higher compared to the control group. The miR-210 level was found higher only in sunitinib group compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant changes in miR-23a, miR-221, miR-222 and miR-423 levels among the groups.

Conclusion: Topical application of bevacizumab (5?mg/ml) and sunitinib (0.5?mg/ml) decreases the levels of VEGFR-2 and VEGF-A in CNV. Further studies are needed for detailed analysis of genes which are targeted by up- or downregulated miRNAs in this study.     

Effects of paracetamol and etodolac on plasma adrenaline levels of rats

Adrenaline, which is released from the adrenal medulla, is an important compound in the reaction of sympathetic nerve system. This hormone can increase the body’s normal metabolic rate up to 100 %, and thus improves the effectiveness of the whole body. It has been considered to be involved in the control of inflammation. Therefore, we investigated whether there are effects of paracetamol and etodolac on adrenaline levels of rats after oral administration. The rats were divided into three subgroups while analysing the effects of adrenaline on paracetamol and etodolac. The first group was the control, second group was composed of rats given paracetamol, and third group was composed of rats given etodolac. In order to measure adrenaline plasma concentration, we have used the high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. According to the result of the analysis, there are statistically important differences at adrenaline levels between control group and rats-applied drugs. Obtained results showed that although adrenaline level in the paracetamol-applied group decreased, adrenaline level in the etodolac-applied group increased. It is concluded that different effects of etodolac and paracetamol on circulating adrenaline levels can be related to their different effects on inflammation, COX enzymes, prostaglandins, etc. Also we can suggest usage of paracetamol instead of etodolac in patients with cardiovascular system diseases.     

An extremely rare manifestation of Behcet’s disease: urethrovaginal fistula

Behcet’s disease (BD) is a rare chronic, relapsing, multisystemic disorder characterized by mucocutaneous, ocular, vascular and central nervous system manifestations. However, the etiopathogenesis of the disease remains unknown, and diagnosis is basically dependent on clinical manifestations. Sometimes BD may be diagnosed with rare clinical entities. Herein, we presented an extremely rare case of urethrovaginal fistula which has been diagnosed as manifestation of BD. After surgical treatment of fistula, there was no complication in 6 months following surgical repair and the follow-up period has been going on.     

Laparoscopic Anterior Resection: New Anastomosis Technique in a Pig Model

Background and Objectives:

Bowel anastomosis after anterior resection is one of the most difficult tasks to perform during laparoscopic colorectal surgery. This study aims to evaluate a new feasible and safe intracorporeal anastomosis technique after laparoscopic left-sided colon or rectum resection in a pig model.

Methods:

The technique was evaluated in 5 pigs. The OrVil device (Covidien, Mansfield, Massachusetts) was inserted into the anus and advanced proximally to the rectum. A 0.5-cm incision was made in the sigmoid colon, and the 2 sutures attached to its delivery tube were cut. After the delivery tube was evacuated through the anus, the tip of the anvil was removed through the perforation. The sigmoid colon was transected just distal to the perforation with an endoscopic linear stapler. The rectosigmoid segment to be resected was removed through the anus with a grasper, and distal transection was performed. A 25-mm circular stapler was inserted and combined with the anvil, and end-to-side intracorporeal anastomosis was then performed.

Results:

We performed the technique in 5 pigs. Anastomosis required an average of 12 minutes. We observed that the proximal and distal donuts were completely removed in all pigs. No anastomotic air leakage was observed in any of the animals.

Conclusion:

This study shows the efficacy and safety of intracorporeal anastomosis with the OrVil device after laparoscopic anterior resection.     

The Level of Hopelessness and Psychological Distress among Abused Women in A Women's Shelter in Turkey

Hopelessness prevents abused women from participating in social life and increases the risk of suicide. The aim of this study was to determine the level of hopelessness and psychological distress among abused women admitted to shelter in a conservative country. The sample included 40 abused women. A questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale and the General Health Questionnaire were used to collect data. Chi-square, the Pearson correlation analysis test, and variance analysis were performed. Half of the women experienced moderate and severe hopelessness. Higher levels of hopelessness were found to be associated with higher psychological distress. Women had problems with decision-making, concentrating on a job, felt unhappiness, and depression. The results of the study would be useful in designing training programs for nurses, social workers and counselors as well as policy makers who assist women facing domestic violence to provide better physiological and psychological care for sheltered women in conservative countries.     

Quality of life assessments with SF 36 in different musculoskeletal diseases

The aim of this study is to evaluate comparatively the life quality of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KO), shoulder impingement syndrome(SIS), fibromialgia(FM), or osteoporosis(OP) using SF 36 and establish the impact of these diseases on quality of life (QoL). A total of 193 patients with one of the above-mentioned different diagnoses completed SF 36 scale. The diseases were compared to each other with SF 36 subgroups scores. There were significant differences among patients with KO and SIS,SIS and FM with respect to all SF 36 subgroups scores. According to these assessments, QoL of KO and FM patients was worst than that of SIS. The QoL scores of KO patients were worse than those of FM patients considering the physical function, while QoL scores of FM patients were lower than those of KO patients with respect to their general well-being. Scores of physical function and pain in KO patients were lower than those of OP patients. In domains of social functioning, emotional role, energy, pain, and general health condition QoL of FM patients was worse than that of OP patients. Quality of life of SIS patients was less affected than the patients of the other disease groups. In spite of their young age, FM patients appear to be the group with the worst quality of life scores.     

Location of Golgi membranes with reference to dividing nuclei in syncytial Drosophila embryos.

The role of cytoskeletal elements in thecellularization of syncytial Drosophila embryos is becoming evident; however,the distribution and role of organelles such as the Golgi complex, essential formembrane biogenesis, remain unknown. We have cloned a Golgi-membrane-associatedpolypeptide, beta-COP, from Drosophila. Immunocytochemical studies of syncytialDrosophila embryos with anti-Drosophila beta-COP antibody reveal that Golgimembranes are spatially segregated from the rapidly dividing nuclei. In earlyembryos, the Golgi membranes are located in the embryonic cortex and nuclei areconfined to the core. This distribution of Golgi membranes may serve inpreparation of the embryonic cortex for the accommodation of nuclei upon theireventual migration to the cortex and in biogenesis of the excessive plasmamembrane needed for cellularization of syncytial embryos.     

Amplified human MYC oncogenes localized to replicating submicroscopic circular DNA molecules.

Amplification of genes can sometimes be detected by molecular hybridization but not by cytogenetic methods, suggesting that in some cases the units of amplification may be too small to be detected by light microscopy. The experiments reported here investigate whether submicroscopic amplification units are present in early passages of the human tumor cell lines HL-60 and COLO 320. The results show that such cells do contain submicroscopic, extrachromosomal, supercoiled circular molecules harboring MYC genes. The molecules in HL-60 are approximately 250 kilobase pairs (kbp), while those in COLO 320 are 120-160 kbp. The extrachromosomal molecules in HL-60 are shown to replicate semiconservatively and approximately once in one cell cycle. We propose that these submicroscopic elements are precursors of double-minute chromosomes, the usual extrachromosomal manifestation of gene amplification, since both are structurally similar and replicate autonomously.     

Carnosine and taurine treatments diminished brain oxidative stress and apoptosis in D-galactose aging model

D-galactose (GAL) has been used as an animal model for brain aging and antiaging studies. GAL stimulates oxidative stress in several tissues including brain. Carnosine (CAR; β-alanil-L-histidine) and taurine (TAU; 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) exhibit antioxidant properties. CAR and TAU have anti-aging and neuroprotective effects. We investigated the effect of CAR and TAU supplementations on oxidative stress and brain damage in GAL-treated rats. Rats received GAL (300 mg/kg; s.c.; 5 days per week) alone or together with CAR (250 mg/kg/daily; i.p.; 5 days per week) or TAU (2.5 % w/w; in rat chow) for 2 months. Brain malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined. Expressions of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bax and caspase-3 were also evaluated in the brains by immunohistochemistry. GAL treatment increased brain MDA and PC levels and AChE activities. It decreased significantly brain GSH levels, SOD and GSH-Px but not GST activities. GAL treatment caused histopathological changes and increased apoptosis. CAR and TAU significantly reduced brain AChE activities, MDA and PC levels and elevated GSH levels in GAL-treated rats. CAR, but not TAU, significantly increased low activities of SOD and GSH-Px. Both CAR and TAU diminished apoptosis and ameliorated histopathological findings in the brain of GAL-treated rats. Our results indicate that CAR and TAU may be effective to prevent the development of oxidative stress, apoptosis and histopathological deterioration in the brain of GAL-treated rats.