4-Methlycatechol prevents NGF/p75(NTR)-mediated apoptosis via NGF/TrkA system in pancreatic β cells

In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether 4-methylcatechol (4-MC) could serve as an autocrine antiapoptotic agent by increasing nerve growth factor (NGF) in β cells of hyperglycemic rats. Rats were divided into four groups: the first group was given citrate buffer and saline, the second group was administered 4-MC, the third group received streptozotocin (STZ), and the fourth group was given both 4-MC and STZ. 4-MC (10 μg/kg) was administered by daily intraperitoneal injection for 10 days before the animals were rendered hyperglycemic by administration of STZ (75 mg/kg). With 4-MC pretreatment on hyperglycemic rats the following results were noted: (i) Increase in plasma glucose, β cell apoptosis and caspase-8 activation was prevented. (ii) Reduction of NGF⁺ and tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA)⁺ β cell number was blocked. (iii) p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR)⁺ β cell number was increased. These data suggest that 4-MC might exert its antiapoptotic actions through NGF/TrkA system which may block NGF/p75^NTR activation in pancreatic β cells of hyperglycemic rats.     

The Influence of Zinc Supplementation on the Pancreas of Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on somatostatin and insulin peptide expressions and biochemical parameters. Six- to 6.5-month-old female Swiss albino rats weighing 150–200 g were used. The animals were divided into four groups: group I: control (intact) animals; group II: control animals given zinc sulfate; group III: streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals; group IV: STZ-induced diabetic animals given zinc sulfate. Fasting blood glucose and glutathione levels were measured at 0, 1, 30 and 60 days. On day 60, the pancreas tissue and blood samples were taken from the animals. Zinc supplementation caused a decrease in hyperglycemia, as well as weight increase. Zinc sulfate treatment did not affect the number of somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in the pancreas. More insulin-immunoreactive cells were observed in the pancreatic islets of the diabetic + zinc sulfate group than in the diabetic group, although it was not statistically significant. The results show that zinc supplementation may prevent diabetes in experimental animals.     

Therapeutic efficiency of Atosiban, an oxytocin receptor blocking agent in the treatment of experimental endometriosis

Purpose

The current study investigated the potential therapeutic efficiency of atosiban, an oxytocin receptor antagonist, in an experimental endometriosis model.

Methods

Endometriosis was surgically induced in 35 female rats during estrus. Four weeks after this procedure, relaparotomy was performed. The viability and dimensions of the endometriosis foci were recorded. Rats were then randomly divided into three groups. In the first group (n?=?8), a daily dose of 0.2?ml 0.9?% NaCl was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) (control cases). In the second and third groups (n?=?8 and n?=?8), 0.5?mg/kg/day i.p. atosiban and 1?mg/day i.p. diltiazem were given, respectively. At the end of the treatment, laparotomy was performed, and the dimensions of the endometriosis foci were recorded. The endometrial implants were processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies. The volumes of endometriotic implants were measured, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed, and compared between the groups.

Results

After the treatment with atosiban, volumes of endometriotic implants decreased significantly. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression levels were significantly reduced in the atosiban and diltiazem groups compared with the control group.

Conclusions

In a rat endometriosis model, atosiban, an agent used for the first time for the medical treatment of endometriosis, has shown significant therapeutic efficiency.     

Incidence and treatment results of laryngopharyngeal reflux in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined as the movement of gastric content towards the larynx and the pharynx and it may cause respiratory symptoms or difficulty in their control. We aimed to find the frequency of LPR in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and to investigate its effect on COPD symptoms and the results of its treatment. At baseline 30 (20 male, 10 female, mean age: 65 ± 10 years) COPD patients completed LPR and COPD symptom questionnaires and 13 (44%) were diagnosed with LPR based on laryngeal examination. Patients with LPR were given 2 months of PPI treatment, after which LPR and COPD symptom questionnaires, laryngeal examinations and pulmonary function tests were repeated. Following the treatment, significant improvements in COPD symptom index, LPR symptom index and laryngeal examination findings were observed in patients with LPR (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.0001, respectively). Treatment of LPR resulted in a significant improvement in the symptoms of COPD.     

The Role of Zinc Sulfate and Metallothionein in Protection Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damage in Rats

In this study, the effects of zinc sulfate against ethanol-induced acute gastric damage in rats were investigated, morphologically and biochemically. In addition, the present investigation has demonstrated the distribution of metallothionein stimulated by zinc in gastric mucosal tissues, immunohistochemically. The gastric damage was induced by intragastric administration of 1 ml absolute ethanol per rat. Rats received zinc sulfate (100 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days 2 hr prior to the administration of absolute ethanol. Acute ethanol exposure caused degenerative morphological changes, a decrease in metallothionein immunreactivity; an increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, and a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in gastric mucosa. On the other hand, zinc sulfate administration to ethanol-treated rats caused a significant reduction in the histological damage, an increase in metallothionein immunreactivity, a decrease in LPO levels, and an increase in GSH levels in gastric mucosa. As a result, the present study indicates that zinc sulfate has a protective effect against ethanol-induced acute gastric damage. In addition, we might say that the zinc given as exogenous protection against acute gastric damage has a protective effect both by stimulation of metallothionein synthesis and through GSH as well as having antioxidative potential.     

Effect of dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination prophylaxis on intraocular pressure spikes after intravitreal bevacizumab injection

AIM: To evaluate the effect of topical dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination prophylaxis on short term intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in patients who had intravitreal bevacizumab injection.METHODS: One hundred and fifty one eyes of 151 patients which were followed up in retina clinic in Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital were evaluated in this study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consists of 75 patients who had topical dorzolamid-timolol medication two hours before injection; while Group 2 consists of 76 patients without prophylaxis. Demographic data, IOP measurements prior to the injection and one, thirty and sixty minutes and twenty-four hours after the injection were recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).RESULTS:There were no significant difference between two groups in age, gender distrubition and indications for injections. The mean IOPs in Groups 1 and 2 prior to the injection (T0) were 17.84±0.43 and 18.15±0.43 mm Hg, one minute after the injection (T1) were 29.75±1.6 and 34.44±1.59 mm Hg, 30min after the injection (T30) were 20.06±0.6 and 21.71±0.59 mm Hg respectively. The mean IOPs were 18.26±0.56 mm Hg in Group 1 and 19.78±0.56 mm Hg in Group 2 sixty minutes after the injection (T60). All IOP values after the injection were compared between two groups, there was a significant difference between two groups only on T1; one minute after the injection (P=0.04). There were a statiscially significant difference between the baseline values and other recorded values; except on T60, in Groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: After intravitreal bevacizumab injection; we observe a transient IOP elevation which normalizes about one hour after intravitreal injection. In patients who had topical dorzolamid-timolol combination prophylaxis before injections, a significant decrease is seen in IOP spikes due to this injection. The appropiate approach will monitor IOP after intravitreal injection and evaluate the using prophylactic antiglaucomatous drugs before the injection in patients with ganglion nerve cell damage.     

The effects of chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) extract on the kidney tissue,serum urea and creatinine levels of diabetic rats

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) extract on serum urea and creatinine concentrations and on kidney tissue in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. The extract was administered to rats at a dose of 2 g/kg every day for 28 days, 14 days after animals were made diabetic. On day 42, kidney tissue and blood samples were examined. Significant degenerative changes in kidney tissue of diabetic rats were observed, but in the group given chard extract, the morphology of kidney tissue was found to be nearly the same as the controls. Serum urea and creatinine levels significantly increased in the diabetic groups, but the chard extracts significantly reduced serum urea and creatinine levels. It is concluded that the extract of this plant may reduce serum urea and creatinine levels and confer a protective effect on the kidney of diabetic rats.     

Effects of vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium on gastric fundus in cadmium toxicity in male rats

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic metal. It has an indirect role in the generation of various free radicals. Antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium are important for preventing the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of acute cadmium and/or antioxidants on serum lipid metabolism, tissue glutathione, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, and ghrelin and metallothionein production in the gastric fundus mucosa of rats. Cd (2 mg/kg/day CdCl(2)) was administered to rats for 8 days, intraperitoneally. Vitamin E (250 mg /kg/day) + vitamin C (250 mg/kg/day) + sodium selenate (0.25 mg /kg/day) were administered to rats orally at the same time. The animals were treated by antioxidants 1 h prior to treatment with Cd every day. Gastric tissue homogenates were used for protein and glutathione and LPO levels. Phospholipid and total lipid levels were determined in serum. Gastric fundus sections examined for histopathological changes and by immunohistochemistry for expression of ghrelin and metallothionein. In the group treated with Cd, degenerative changes such as discontinuity in the surface epithelium were observed. The degenerative changes induced by Cd were decreased in the group given vitamin E + vitamin C + selenium. There was no significant change in ghrelin- and metallothionein-immunoreactive cells in fundus mucosa. Stomach glutathione levels insignificantly decreased in the Cd groups, but in the Cd group given antioxidant, stomach glutathione levels were significantly increased. Serum phospholipid and total lipid levels were significantly increased in the Cd groups. On the other hand, treatment with antioxidants reversed these effects. These results indicate that antioxidants partly prevent the toxicity of Cd in rat gastric fundus.     

The Importance of Family History in Breast Cancer Patients in Primary Care Setting: a Cross-sectional Study

Screening recommendations of physicians are important for women to raise awareness about their risk factors and to promote appropriate screening behaviors. However, it seems challenging for primary care physicians (PCPs) to balance disease prevention and diagnosis, treatment. The objective of this study was to describe physicians’ breast cancer consultancy practice including family history, cancer prevention issues for the women they care. This cross-sectional study included 577 women aged above 45 years, free of breast cancer, during their visits to their PCPs. Nearly half of the women reported their visit to PCPs for an annual examination during the year. Among them, 36.1% had first-degree relatives with cancer and 7.3% with breast cancer. But they reported to be asked about family history of cancer and informed about cancer prevention issues 35.1 and 26.4%, respectively. Cancer still seems to be a hard issue to be discussed, even with women visiting PCPs for annual examination. Asking first-degree relative with breast cancer can give PCPs the chance of determining women with increased risk and support women’s appropriate understanding of their own risk in relation to their family history. This routine can make shared-decision making for developing person-centered approach for breast cancer screening possible. Further studies are needed for better understanding of loss of consultancy leadership of physicians for breast cancer.