Antimicrobial Activity of Various Extracts of Ocimum Basilicum L. and Observation of the Inhibition Effect on Bacterial Cells by Use of Scanning Electron Microscopy

The antimicrobial activities of chloroform, acetone and two different concentrations of methanol extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. were studied. These extracts were tested in vitro against 10 bacteria and 4 yeasts strains by the disc diffusion method. The results indicated that the methanol extracts of O. basilucum exhibited the antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms. While the chloroform and acetone extracts had no effect, the methanol extracts showed inhibition zones against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and two different strains of Escherichia coli. The cells of microorganisms, which were treated and untreated with plant extracts, were observed by using the scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the treated cells were damaged.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia hydaspica</Emphasis> R. Parker prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury by attenuation of oxidative stress and structural Cardiomyocyte alterations in rats

Background

The use of doxorubicin (DOX) an anthracycline antineoplastic agent is withdrawn due to its cardio-toxic side effects. Oxidative stress has been recognized as the primary cause of DOX induced cardiotoxicity. We have investigated whether polyphenol rich ethyl acetate extract of Acacia hydaspica (AHE) can attenuate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity via inhibition of oxidative stress.

Methods

AHE was administered orally to rats once daily for 6 weeks at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. DOX (3 mg/kg b.w. i.p., single dose/week) was administered for 6 weeks (chronic model). The parameters studied to evaluate cardioprotective potential were the serum cardiac function biomarkers (CK, CKMB, AST and LDH), hematological parameters, cardiac tissue antioxidant enzymatic status and oxidative stress markers, and histopathological analysis to validate biochemical findings.

Results

Chronic 6 week treatment of DOX significantly deteriorated cardiac function biomarkers and decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, whereas significant increase in oxidative stress biomarkers was noticed in comparison to control group. AHE dose dependently protected DOX-induced leakage of cardiac enzymes in serum and ameliorated DOX-induced oxidative stress; as evidenced by decreasing lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂ and NO content with increase in phase I and phase II antioxidant enzymes. Doxorubicin treatment produced severe morphological lesions, leucopenia, decrease in red blood cell counts and hemoglobin concentrations. AHE co-treatment protected the heart and blood elements from the toxic effects of doxorubicin as indicated by the recovery of hematological parameters to normal values and prevention of myocardial injuries in a dose dependent way. The protective potency of AHE (400 mg/kg b.w) was equivalent to silymarin.

Conclusion

Results revealed that AHE showed protective effects against DOX induce cardiotoxicity. The protective effect might attribute to its polyphenolic constituents and antioxidant properties. AHE might be helpful in combination therapies as safer and efficient.

     

Evaluation of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence and line immunoassay methods′: four years′ data from Turkey

The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), directed against intracellular antigens, is a hallmark of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay is among the most commonly used routine methods for ANA detection as the screening test. The objective of the study was to evaluate ANA patterns in a 4‐year period retrospectively. All 19 996 serum samples that were sent to the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology of the tertiary Hospital by any hospital department between 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2013 with a request to test for ANA, anti‐ENA or both were included in the study. Of these samples, 4375 (21.9%) were ANA‐IIF‐positive and 15621 (78.1%) were ANA‐IIF‐negative. The presented ANA‐positive samples consisted of 2392 (54.67%) homogenous, 818 (18.70%) speckled, 396 (9.05%) centromere, 242 (5.53%) nucleolar, 213 (4.87%) nuclear dots, 178 (4.07%) cytoplasmic (except for actin and golgi), 24 (0.55%) actin, 9 (0.21%) golgi, 53 (1.21%) nuclear membrane and 50 (1.14%) mixed pattern. Totally 7800 samples were examined by LIA. Of these samples, 3440 were positive and 4307 were negative with IIF and LIA. In addition, 22 samples were detected as IIF‐positive but LIA‐negative, whereas the rest 31 samples were IIF‐negative but LIA‐positive. ANA patterns in 22 IIF‐positive samples were homogenous (9), speckled (5), golgi (4), cytoplasmic (3) and nucleolar (1). SSA/Ro‐52, SSB/La and Scl‐70 positivity were detected in 31 IIF‐negative/LIA‐positive samples by LIA. The present study comes forward with its overall scope, which covers 4‐year data obtained in tertiary hospital located in the western part of Turkey.     

Carcinosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with nephrolithiasis: a case report of each tumor type

Both squamous cell carcinoma and carcinosarcoma of the renal pelvis are uncommon. We report on two cases, one carcinosarcoma and one squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. In the patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the left kidney, the tumor was neither detectable on preoperative radiological evaluation nor grossly visible in the surgical specimen. This patient, a 56-year-old man, presented with left lumbar pain, hematuria, fever, 4-5 kg weight loss, and untreated nephrolithiasis of the left kidney that had been diagnosed 20 years earlier. The second patient, an 87-year-old woman, also had a long history of left kidney nephrolithiasis and presented with left lumbar pain and hematuria. Both patients underwent nephrectomy for removal of the non-functioning hydronephrotic left kidney. In both cases, microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed squamous metaplasia and dysplasia in the pelvicalyceal mucosa, and islands of atypical squamous cells in the renal parenchyma. In the second case, the kidney also showed sarcomatous changes in the pelvis.     

Diabetes education: a chance to improve well-being of Turkish people with type 2 diabetes

To examine the influence of diabetes education on well-being, 255 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited according to whether they attended a diabetes education program (n=126) or not (n=129). In patients who had participated in the program, the mean anxiety score was significantly lower, whereas positive well-being and general well-being scores were significantly higher than for patients who had not participated. Factors related to lower well-being included: being female, taking insulin, not attending a diabetes education program and having HbA(1c) level greater than 8%. The odds of having better well-being were two-fold higher in patients participating the diabetes education program compared with those who had not. Diabetes education has a crucial role in improving the well-being of patients with type 2 diabetes. All patients with diabetes should be encouraged to attend a diabetes education program.     

Analysis of NKX3.1 expression in prostate cancer tissues and correlation with clinicopathologic features

This study aimed to analyze NKX3.1 expression in tissue samples of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and in three different prostate cancer categories. The correlation of NKX3.1 expression with clinical and pathologic features of patients having undergone radical prostatectomy also was investigated. NKX3.1 expression was determined in tissue samples obtained from four different histopathological categories: (1) from patients treated with transurethral prostatectomy for BPH (n = 26), (2) localized prostate cancer patients subjected to radical prostatectomy (n = 38), (3) biopsy samples from prostate cancer patients who were metastatic at the initial admission (n = 10), and (4) tissue samples of prostate cancer patients administered antiandrogens, but who had undergone transurethral prostatectomy for infravesical obstruction (n = 11). Standard immunohistochemical staining was performed using an antiserum raised against recombinant human NKX3.1. Staining was seen in all categories of prostatic tissues. Immunohistochemistry staining scores were lower in prostate cancer patients. The staining scores were significantly higher in patients with BPH compared to metastatic or localized prostate cancer patients. Staining scores of patients with BPH and of those under antiandrogen therapy were similar. No significant correlation was found between NKX3.1 expression and tumor volume, Gleason sum scores, the presence of extraprostatic extension, tumor stage, or serum PSA. NKX3.1 expression is significantly decreased in prostate cancer patients when compared to BPH. However, the decline of NKX3.1 expression was not correlated with prostate cancer progression and was not associated with advanced stage. Thus, NKX3.1 expression is not a clinically valuable prognostic factor.     

Melatonin attenuates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in nitric oxide synthase inhibited rats

Recent studies show that melatonin reduces the blood pressure (BP) and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced damage. This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on the renal I/R injury in rats given the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). After right nephrectomy, I/R was induced by occlusion of the left renal vessels for 60 min, followed by 24h reperfusion. The administration of melatonin significantly attenuated BP in NOS-inhibited hypertensive rats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a stable metabolite of the free-radical-mediated lipid peroxidation cascade, were found to be significantly higher in the I/R group (3.48+/-0.2mg/l serum) than in the control group (2.69+/-0.2mg/l serum). L-NAME (40 mgkg(-1) for 15 days)+I/R significantly increased the MDA levels compared to I/R alone. Melatonin administration to L-NAME rats significantly reduced the MDA values resulting from I/R. We also demonstrated that I/R, and especially L-NAME+I/R, lead to structural changes in the kidney and that melatonin attenuates these changes. These results suggest that melatonin reduces BP and I/R injury in NOS inhibited rats by L-NAME.     

Size Estimation of People Who Inject Drugs and Their Geographical Distribution in Dogonbadan,Iran, During 2018: a Mapping Method

The aim of this cross-sectional study was investigation of geographical distribution and size estimation of people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Dogonbadan, Iran, in 2018 using geographical mapping method. Data was obtained through interviewing primary and secondary key informants as well as field team observations. Population size was estimated by median in Stata software (version 14). GIS software (version 10.6.1) was used to prepare the density and distribution maps of the hotspots. We identified 52 hotspots of drug users; injection of drugs occurred in 31 of the hotspots. The prevalence of injecting drugs was 232.4 per 100,000 adults, while it was 21.9 and 441.8 among females and males, respectively. A large number of identified hotspots are not covered by harm reduction services. Increasing outreach teams, equipping of harm reduction centers, and moving them to the nearest location to hotspots are suggested.

     

Abdominal confluence of lymph trunks: detectability and morphology on heavily T2-weighted images

OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to evaluate the detectability, configuration, location, and dimensions of the cisterna chyli on heavily T2-weighted images obtained with a single-shot fast spin-echo technique and to determine whether the disorders that have the potential to affect the abdominal lymphatic drainage could change the cisternal dimensions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thin-collimated axial and coronal images that were originally obtained for MR cholangiopancreatography in 125 patients were reviewed by three observers individually for the presence of abdominal lymphatic confluence. The configuration, location, and dimensions of hyperintense ductal or saccular structures immediately anterior to the vertebral bodies below the diaphragma were recorded. The differences between the mean values of the diameters of the cisterna chyli obtained in the control group and in groups in which lymphatic drainage was expected to be abnormally high were compared using a one-way analysis of variance test. RESULTS: Abdominal confluence of the lymphatics was shown in 96% of patients. The most common configuration of the cisterna chyli was tubular (42.5%). It was located at the level of L1-2 in 33% of cases and at the midline in 70%. Mean longitudinal, anteroposterior, and transverse diameters of the duct were 33.45 +/- 1.74 (SD) mm, 5.23 +/- 0.13 mm, and 5.23 +/- 0.15 mm, respectively. No significant difference was found in the mean values of antero-posterior, transverse, and longitudinal diameters of the cisterna chyli in the control group and in the groups expected to have an increased flow into the cisterna chyli. CONCLUSION: Abdominal confluence of lymphatics seems to be present on most of the heavily T2-weighted images. Its morphologic details and extensions can be visualized on images reconstructed with a maximum-intensity-projection algorithm. Any disorder does not necessarily lead to dilatation of these lymphatic structures.