Resterilized Mesh in Repair of Abdominal Wall Defects in Rats

A variety of negative opinions about repeated usage of relatively expensive resterilized synthetic meshes have been considered. It had been stated that resterilized polypropylene meshes inhibits fibroblastic activity, decreases proliferative activity, and increases apoptosis in human fibroblast culture, in vitro. The purpose of this study is the in vivo evaluation of the resterilized mesh repairs of abdominal hernia defects in rat models of incisional hernia by comparing primer repair and original mesh repairs. The rats (n = 22) were separated into three groups. While the abdominal defect was repaired by primary suture in the control group (CG), the defects were repaired by original mesh (OG) or resterilized mesh (RG) in mesh-repaired groups. After 21 days, the rats were evaluated for tissue tensile strengths, tissue hydroxyproline levels, tissue inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis. Although the tensile strengths in OG and RG were significantly higher than those of CG (p <. 05 and p <. 05), there was no significant difference between two groups. The tissue hydroxyproline levels in OG and RG were also higher than those of CG. The difference was not significant between the two groups. The inflammation and fibrosis indexes in OG and RG were significantly higher than those of CG (p <. 0001 for both), but there was no difference between groups. While the apoptosis index in OG and RG was also higher than that of CG (p <. 0001 for both), there was no significant difference between OG and RG. The usage of resterilized mesh in abdominal wall repair did not reduce the tissue tensile strength, did not affect the tissue hydroxyproline levels, did not decrease the fibrosis, and did not increase the tissue inflammation and apoptosis. In conclusion, usage of resterilized meshes in abdominal wall defects was as safe as sterilized meshes.     

The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Colonic Anastomosis in Rats With Peritonitis

The aim of this study is to investigate the healing effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on colonic anastomoses in the presence of experimentally induced peritonitis. Thirty-two rats were allocated randomly into short-term anastomosis (STA), short-term anastomosis + HBO treatment (STA+HBO), long-term anastomosis (LTA), and long-term anastomosis + HBO (LTA+HBO) treatment groups. The STA and LTA groups were administered fluid resuscitation and antibiotics for 3 and 7 days, respectively, whereas the HBO treatment groups received additional HBO therapy for 3 and 7 days, respectively. The rats were reoperated on the third and the seventh days of anostomoses for evaluation. The bursting pressures in STA+HBO and LTA+HBO therapy groups were significantly higher than those in groups with anastomoses alone (p <. 001 and p <. 01). HBO therapy did not affect the fibrotic index neither in STA nor in LTA groups (p >. 05 for both); however, it was significantly higher in LTA+HBO group than that in STA+HBO group (p <. 05). The hydroxyproline level was significantly higher in LTA group than in STA group (p <. 05), yet HBO therapy did not affect the hydroxyproline levels in STA or LTA groups (p >. 05 for both). It is concluded that hyperbaric oxygen treatment has positive effects on colonic anastomotic healing in case of peritonitis.     

A platinum blue complex exerts its cytotoxic activity via DNA damage and induces apoptosis in cancer cells

Here, we describe the characteristics of a Pt‐blue complex [Pt₄(2‐atp)₈(H₂O)(OH)] (2‐atp: 2‐aminothiophenol) as a prodrug for its DNA‐binding properties and its use in cancer therapy. The nature of the interaction between the Pt‐blue complex and DNA was evaluated based on spectroscopic measurements, the electronic absorption spectra, thermal behavior, viscosity, fluorometric titration, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Our results suggested that the compound was able to partially intercalate DNA and appeared to induce both single‐ and double‐stranded breaks (DBS) on DNA in vitro, but no DSBs in cells. The ability of the compound to induce DNA damage was dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. There was also elevated formation of ROS and SOD expression in response to drug treatment in cell culture. The complex was found to be more cytotoxic to cancer cells in comparison with noncancer controls using WST‐1 assay. The mean of cell death was determined to be apoptosis as assessed via biochemical, morphological, and molecular observations, including DNA condensation/fragmentation analysis, live cell imaging microscopy, TUNEL analyses, and increase in the levels of pro‐apoptotic genes such as Bag3, Bak, Bik, Bmf, and Hrk. Hence, the Pt‐blue complex under study grants premise for further studies.     

Luteal phase support in intrauterine insemination cycles: a prospective randomized study of 300 mg versus 600 mg intravaginal progesterone tablet

Vaginal progesterone (P) has been suggested to be used for luteal phase support (LPS) in controlled ovarian stimulation (COH)–intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles, however, no concensus exists about the best P dose. Therefore, considering the fecundability rate as the primary end point, our main objective was to find the optimal dose of P in COH–IUI cycles, comparing the two groups of women, each of which comprised of 100 women either on 300?mg or 600?mg of intravaginal P tablets, in a prospective randomized study design. The mean age of the women, duration of infertility, basal and day of hCG injection hormone levels in the female and sperm parameters were similar in the two study groups. Also, duration and dose of gonadotropin given, number of follicles, endometrial thickness, the total, ongoing and multiple pregnancy rates were comparable in both groups. We, therefore, claim that 300?mg of intravaginal micronized P should be the maximum dose of LPS in IUI cycles.     

Higher Level of Obesity Is Associated with Intensive Personal Care Assistance in the Nursing Home

Objectives

To examine whether higher obesity level was associated with extensive staffing assistance (from 2 or more persons) for completing activities of daily living (ADL) among older nursing home residents.

Surface roughness and adherence of Candida albicans on soft lining materials as influenced by accelerated aging

AIM: Candida albicans (C. albicans) has been widely associated with the etiology of denture-related stomatitis and has been found on soft denture lining materials. The aim of this study was to examine the surface roughness and adherence of C. albicans to saliva coated and non-coated soft lining materials by subjecting them to an in vitro accelerated aging test. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Samples were prepared from three soft lining materials (Visco Gel, Ufi Gel P, Molloplast B). Surface roughness measurements and adhesion of C. albicans were examined before and after an aging process. The stimulated human whole saliva was used to assess its effect on adhesion. RESULTS: The aging process promotes the surface roughness of soft lining materials. The aging surface roughness of Visco Gel was significantly higher than Ufi Gel P and Molloplast B. No significant difference was observed between non-aged and uncoated materials, but aged and uncoated soft lining materials showed a greater adherence of C. albicans. No significant difference was observed between non-aged and saliva coated materials, but aged and saliva coated soft lining materials showed a greater adherence of C. albicans. CONCLUSIONS: Candidosis induced by C. albicans is the most common fungal infection. Awareness of susceptibility of soft lining materials to the adherence of C. albicans is an important factor in their selection. The use of soft lining materials with smooth surfaces minimizes the adherence of C. albicans.     

Assessment of macular capillary perfusion in patients with inactive Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To assess macular capillary perfusion in patients with inactive Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease by using optical coherence...     

Hypovitaminosis D in obese and overweight schoolchildren

Aim: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D hypovitaminosis among obese and overweight schoolchildren.Design: A cross−sectional population based sample.Methods: In a cross−sectional study, 301 students (177 girls and 124 boys) aged 11−19 years were selected by multistage stratified sampling design. Subjects were classified according to their body mass index as obese, overweight and normal. Serum 25−hydroxyvitamin D (25−OHD), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in late winter months. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25−OHD 20 ng/ml.Results: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was found as 65% in all students. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 12% and insufficiency in 53% of all students. Vitamin D deficiency in female students was about two times more common than in males. In obese and overweight schoolchildren with hypovitaminosis D, serum 25−OHD levels decreased as BMI increased. There were no correlations between serum 25−OHD and ALP and iPTH levels.Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common in obese and overweight schoolchildren, especially in girls. Obesity could be a risk factor in terms of hypovitaminosis D in adolescents. Vitamin D supplementation should be administered particularly to adolescent girls.Conflict of interest:None declared.