The first histopathological evidence of trimetazidine for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy

Aim: We aimed to investigate the prophylactic effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) against contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in rat kidneys. Methods and results: 28 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 7 rats each (control (C), contrast media (CM) TMZ, trimetazidin?+?contrast media groups (TMZ?+?CM). The administration of TMZ solution was done on d2, d3 and d4. Fifth day, contrast media was administered at a single dose. On d6 scarification was performed. The oxidant/antioxidant parameters were measured and histopathological scores were performed in kidney tissues. Most of the histopathological scores were significantly higher in the CM group as compared to other groups. Moreover, the scores of the TMZ?+?CM and C groups were not statistically different. CM group, had significantly higher levels of MDA compared to the C and CM?+?TMZ groups (562.82?±?38.15 vs. 419.15?±?49.01 and 507.34?±?14.16 01?nmol/mg protein respectively) (p?0.001). CM group had significantly lower levels of SOD as compared to C, CM?+?TMZ and TMZ groups (p?0.05). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study for the first time, histopathologically demonstrated the effectiveness of TMZ for the prevention of CIN.     

Fasting during ramadan: A religious factor as a possible trigger or exacerbator for eating disorders in adolescents

Culture‐based contributors play a role in eating disorders (EDs). Here, we present one such factor that may play a role in triggering ED's in adolescents: Fasting during the holy period of Ramadan. Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking, which starts from dawn lasting until sunset. For the past 2 years, we have noticed an increase in patients with disordered eating patterns that have applied to Hacettepe University, Division of Adolescent Medicine during or shortly after Ramadan. We document six of these patients, three of which were diagnosed with an ED and three that did not meet full criteria. We argue that the possible effects of a drastic change in ones diet such as that which occurs during Ramadan, play an important role in triggering ED's in adolescents with a predisposition or may exacerbate an eating pathology. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:905–910)     

Functional recruitment of red blood cells to rat brain microcirculation accompanying increased neuronal activity in cerebellar cortex

Scanning laser-Doppler flowmetry (SLDF) combines laser-Doppler flowmetry and laser scanning to provide images of cerebral blood flow (CBF) with high spatial and temporal resolution. We investigated the contribution of single vascular elements to the local increase of CBF accompanying increased neuronal activity in halothane-anesthetized rats. CBF was examined in the cerebellar cortex under control conditions and in response to electrical stimulation of parallel and climbing fibers. At rest, arterioles contributed 9%, venules 11-13% and small vessels (< 20 microm) 8-14%, while the background constituted 64-72% of the total SLDF signal. During activation the background signal decreased to 55-60% while the signal from arterioles increased to 11-12%, from venules to 14-15% and from small vessels to 14-19%. The signal increase in small vessels that did not give any laser-Doppler signal at rest was due to functional recruitment of red blood cells to the capillary bed. We conclude that functional recruitment may be an integral part of the hemodynamic response accompanying neuronal activity.     

Impact of the Expanded Program of Immunization against hepatitis B infection in school children in Malaysia

The implementation of the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in 1989 has dramatic impact on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in school children in Malaysia. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of HBV infection in 190,077 school children aged 7–12 years from 1997 to 2003 showed a steady decline of HBV surfacce antigen (HBsAg) prevalence rate from 2.5% for children born in 1985 to 0.4% among school children born in 1996. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 0.6%, 0.7% in males and 0.6% in females. Over 92.7% of school children had been vaccinated with HBV vaccine, in which 93.7% were vaccinated under the EPI and 6.3% on voluntary basis. The school children vaccinated under EPI had a 0.4% HBsAg carrier rate, which was significantly lower than school children vaccinated on a voluntary basis (HBsAg carrier rate 1.3%) and non-vaccinated school children (HBsAg carrier rate 2.7%), suggesting that HBV vaccination of infants was the most effective measure in preventing vertical transmission of HBV in the hyperendemic region.     

Comparison of the effects of acarbose and metformin use on ovulation rates in clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of metformin and acarbose on insulin resistance, hormone profiles and ovulation rates in patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Thirty clomiphene citrate-resistant patients were selected randomly and divided into two groups. Group I was treated with 100 mg/day clomiphene citrate and 300 mg/day acarbose 100 mg/day orally, for 3 months. Group II was treated with clomiphene citrate 100 mg/day and metformin 1700 mg/day orally, for 3 months. Serum fasting insulin and glucose, FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin and total testosterone levels plus body mass index (BMI) were measured before and after treatment. Follicle growth was followed by transvaginal ultrasonography. RESULTS: LH:FSH ratio and total testosterone concentrations decreased (P<0.05) and ovulation rates increased in both groups. Reduction in weight and BMI was only significant in the acarbose group. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment modalities were effective in the treatment of insulin resistance and improving ovulation rates. Increase in the number of eumenorrhoeic and normoinsulinaemic cases and decrease in the number of insulin-resistant cases were significant in both groups (P<0.05). Ovulation rate was greater in the metformin group in the second month of therapy (P<0.05). Acarbose was found to be a safe and effective agent that could be used in cases with clomiphene-resistant PCOS.     

Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Prevalence on the Basis of Different Diagnostic Criteria

Study ObjectiveExisting literature on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MBS) in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is inconsistent, likely because of the application of differing diagnostic criteria. The objective was to assess the prevalence of MBS in adolescents with PCOS depending on the PCOS diagnostic criteria used.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA retrospective chart review of female patients (N = 37), ages 11-22 years, diagnosed with PCOS between January 2013 and December 2017. Patients were included only if they had received screening allowing comparison across all PCOS diagnostic criteria: National Institutes of Health, Rotterdam, Androgen Excess Society, Amsterdam, Endocrine Society, and the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES). The presence of MBS was established using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. The proportion of patients having MBS was then calculated for each PCOS diagnostic criteria subgroup.Interventions and Main Outcome MeasuresFor the entire study cohort, MBS was present in 17/37 patients (45.9%). The highest prevalence of MBS was among the subgroup of patients meeting the PES PCOS diagnostic criteria (13/25; 52.0%), whereas the lowest prevalence was in the subgroup meeting the Amsterdam PCOS criteria (6/15; 40.0%). Those diagnosed using the PES criteria also had the highest percentage of patients with 3 or more risk factors for MBS.Results and ConclusionThe prevalence of MBS varied according to the specific PCOS diagnostic criteria and was highest when PES guidelines were used. The PES criteria are adolescent-specific and have thus refined the diagnosis of PCOS for this population. Our results highlight the importance of validated adolescent-specific PCOS diagnostic criteria.     

Inflammatory marker YKL-40 levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a diagnosis of exclusion and presents with unexplained pruritus, abnormal liver function tests, and increased serum bile acid levels, particularly in the third trimester of pregnancy. Serum YKL-40 levels are increased in liver diseases and our aim was to investigate YKL-40 levels in pregnant women with ICP. 40 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and 40 healthy pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum YKL-40 levels were measured in both groups and correlation analysis were performed between the YKL-40 and other liver function tests. Serum YKL-40 concentrations were higher in the intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy group than in the control group (103.46?±?53.03 vs. 57.60?±?30.30?ng/ml, p?=?.002). The cutoff YKL-40 serum concentration was 84.80?ng/ml for the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. There was no correlation between fasting bile acids and YKL-40 levels. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the YKL-40 levels and aspartate aminotransferase (r?=?0.22, p?=?.04) and alanine aminotransferase (r?=?0.24, p?=?.02). Raised YKL-40 levels might support the evidence on inflammatory processes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.     

Dye functionalized cryogel columns for reversible lysozyme adsorption

In this study, poly (methyl methacrylate–glycidyl methacrylate) [poly(MMA-GMA)] cryogels were prepared by radical cryocopolymerization of MMA with GMA as a functional comonomer. Reactive Green 19 dye was then attached to the cryogel by nucleophilic substitution reaction, and this dye-attached cryogel column was used for lysozyme adsorption. Characterization of the cryogel was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Pore size of the cryogels was 15–30?μm and pores were interconnected structure. Attached amount of Reactive Green 19 to cryogel support was calculated as 106.25?μmol/g cryogel. Lysozyme adsorption studies were carried out by using a continuous system. It was found that the maximum amount of lysozyme adsorption (32?mg/g cryogel) obtained from experimental results was found to be approximately same with the calculated Langmuir adsorption capacity (33?mg/g cryogel). Desorption of adsorbed lysozyme was carried out by using 1.5?M NaCl in pH 4.5 acetate buffer, and desorption yield was found to be 97.4%. Cryogels were very stable, and it was found that there was no remarkable reduction in the adsorption capacity at the end of ten adsorption–desorption cycles. As a result, Reactive Green 19-attached cryogels have great advantages such as easy preparation, rapid adsorption, and desorption, being economic and allowing the direct separation of proteins.     

Immobilization of amyloglucosidase onto macroporous cryogels for continuous glucose production from starch

Poly(methyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) [Poly(MMA-GMA)] cryogels were synthesized using monomers of methylmethacrylic acid and epoxy group bearing GMA via radical cryopolymerization technique. Synthesized cryogels were used for the immobilization of amyloglucosidase to the cryogel surface using epoxy chemistry. Characterizations of the free and immobilized amyloglucosidase were carried out by comparing the optimum and kinetic parameters of enzymes. For this, pH and temperature profiles of free and immobilized preparation were studied and, it was found that, optimum pH of enzyme was not change upon immobilization (pH 5.0), while optimum temperature of the enzyme shifted 10 °C to warmer region after immobilization (optimum temperatures for free and immobilized enzyme were 55 and 65 °C, respectively). Kinetic parameters of free and immobilized enzyme were also investigated and K_m values of free and immobilized amyloglucosidase were found to be 2.743 and 0.865 mg/mL, respectively. V_max of immobilized amyloglucosidase was found to be (0.496 µmol/min) about four times less than that of free enzyme (2.020 µmol/min). Storage and operational stabilities of immobilized amyloglucosidase were also studied and it was showed that immobilized preparation had much more stability than free preparation. In the present work, amyloglucosidase immobilized poly(MMA-GMA) cryogels were used for continuous glucose syrup production from starch for the first time. Efficiency of immobilized enzyme was investigated and released amount of glucose was found to be 2.54 mg/mL at the end of the 5 min of hydrolysis. The results indicate that the epoxy functionalized cryogels offer a good alternative for amyloglucosidase immobilization applications with increased operational and thermal stability, and reusability. Also, these cryogels can be used for immobilization of other industrially valuable enzymes beyond amyloglucosidase.     

Comparison of the Effects of Desflurane and Propofol Anesthesia on the Inflammatory Response and S100β Protein During Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) contributes to the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines that mediate the inflammatory response observed during open heart surgery. In addition to many factors, type of anesthesia management affects immune response and central nervous system in cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of propofol versus desflurane anesthesia on systemic immune modulation and central nervous system on patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Forty patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery with CPB were included in this prospective randomized study. Patients were allocated to receive propofol (n?=?20) or desflurane (n?=?20) for maintenance of anesthesia. The blood samples for IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and S100β were drawn just prior to the operation before the induction of anesthesia, second before cardiopulmonary bypass, third after CPB, fourth 4 h postoperatively at the ICU. Major finding in our study is that S100β levels were lower in propofol group when compared to desflurane anesthesia. And also immune reaction was less in patients exposed to desflurane anesthesia when compared to propofol anesthesia as indicated by lower plasma concentrations of IL-8 and IL-6. Propofol is more preferable in terms of S100β for anesthetic management for CABG.