Antioxidant effect of propolis against exposure to propetamphos in rats

In the present study, each group comprised six animals, and a total of 30 female. Wistar Albino rats weighing 200-250g were used. The first group served as the control group. Group 2 received propolis at a concentration of 100mg/kgbw/day in drinking water. Groups 3 and 4 were administered propetamphos at doses of 7.5 and 15.0mg/kgbw/day, respectively, in drinking water. Group 5 was treated with propetamphos at a dose of 15.0mg/kgbw/day, in association with 100mg/kgbw/day propolis in drinking water. Treatment was continued for 28 days, and at the end of this period, blood and tissue (liver, kidney and brain) samples were collected. Plasma and tissue MDA levels and erythrocyte and tissue SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities were measured. In conclusion, the administration of propolis was concluded to exhibit antiradical and antioxidant effect, and thereby to result in the alleviation of oxidative stress.     

Natural coagulation inhibitory proteins and activated protein C resistance in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thromboembolic events are a rare but significant complication of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of natural coagulation inhibitors and activated protein C resistance in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Fifty patients (29 male, 21 female) without venous thrombosis history and 37 healthy controls were included in the study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, thrombocyte count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen concentration, von Willebrand factor antigen, factor VIII activity, activated protein C resistance, functional levels of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S were measured. Patients and controls with activated protein C resistance were further studied using a polymerase chain reaction assay for factor V Leiden mutation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and the controls in terms of antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, factor (F) VIII and Willebrand factor levels. The mean thrombocyte counts, fibrinogen levels, and Willebrand factor levels were found to be significantly higher in patients who were in the active period of the disease than in controls and patients in remission. No significant difference was observed in those showing activated protein C resistance and factor V Leiden mutation between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of inherited thrombophilic defects, in particular activated protein C resistance and natural coagulation inhibitor deficiency, is uncommon in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease in both active and remission periods. As a result, a controlled study in inflammatory bowel disease patients with thrombosis history is recommended.     

Thoracic firearm injuries in children: management and analysis of prognostic factors

Objective: Thoracic firearm injuries (TFI) have become increasingly prevalent in children. Our purpose is to assess the injury pattern, Injury Severity Score (ISS), length of hospital stay (LOS), management and outcome of children with TFI with respect to the type of injury and to evaluate the value of ISS for predicting injury severity and the eventual need for thoracotomy, as well as the rate of morbidity and mortality. Methods: Between January 1987 and June 2002, 110 children (88 boys and 22 girls) ≤16 years of age with firearm injuries to the chest were evaluated. The children were divided in four groups according to cause of injury. An ISS was calculated for each child. Those children who died before admission were excluded from the study. The relationship between ISS and prognostic factors was analyzed in all four groups. Results: The mean age was 11.1±3.0 (range 3–16) years. Eighty-eight (80%) were male and 22 (20%) were female. The causes of firearm injuries were high-velocity gunshot wounds (HVGSW) in 52 (47.2%), low-velocity gunshot wounds (LVGSW) in 23 (20.9%), shotgun wounds (SGW) in 18 (16.3%), and explosives wounds (EW) in 17 (15.4%). Lung injury occurred in 72 (65.5%) patients. Tube thoracostomy was sufficient in 76.3% (84 of 110) for thoracic injury. The morbidity rate was 16.3% (18/110) and the mortality rate was 4.5% (5/110). Mean ISS was 16.62±8.2 (range 4–48). Fifty-eight patients (52.7%) had an ISS ≤16, while 31 (28.2%) had a score between 17 and 25, and 21 (19.1%) had a score greater than 25. The need for thoracotomy, as well as the rate of morbidity and mortality were significantly higher in children for those with an ISS >25. SGW and EW groups had a significantly higher ISS. The mean LOS was 10.84±4.7 days (range 4–42). The value of LOS was significantly higher in children with SGW and EW. Conclusion: The majority of TFI in children can be treated successfully by tube thoracostomy if there are no gross pulmonary lacerations and airway injuries. SGW and EW were commonly associated with higher ISS and LOS. The ISS was found to be an independent predictor of the need for thoracotomy, as well as for rates of morbidity and mortality.     

The effect of hyperemesis gravidarum on the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test screening and gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective: To clarify the effect of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) on the 75?g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted via an evaluation of the hospital database medical records of 700 pregnant women. Of these, 60 were included in the study group as a result of hospitalization due to HG, 41 were excluded, and the remaining 599 formed a control group. The body mass index (BMI), urine ketone levels, and ages of all participants were separately recorded, both in the initial examination and during the 75?g OGTT.

Results: At initial examination, no significant differences in maternal age and BMI were observed between the two groups. There was a significant decrease in BMI after 75?g OGTT in the study group. No significant difference in fasting serum glucose levels was found between the two groups, but significant differences in first and second hour serum glucose levels were observed.

Conclusions: HG may improve in many women in the late second trimester, and loss of fatty tissue may affect the 75?g OGTT screening results. The appropriate cutoff value of 75?g OGTT for HG should be reevaluated following future, larger, studies.     

The effects of royal jelly on liver damage induced by paracetamol in mice

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of royal jelly against paracetamol-induced liver damage. The study was conducted in 90 female Swiss Albino mice, and six groups were established. While the first group was maintained as control, Groups 2–6 were administered 200 mg/kg RJ for 1 day, 200 mg/kg RJ for 7 days, 400 mg/kg PAR for 1 day, 200 mg/kg RJ plus 400 mg/kg PAR for 1 day and 200 mg/kg RJ for 7 days and then second 400 mg/kg PAR on the 7th day, orally, respectively. It was shown that PAR significantly increased serum ALT, AST, ALP, liver MDA levels and significantly decreased liver GSH-Px activity, when compared to the control group (Group 1). On the other hand, meaningful changes were observed in the biochemical parameters of the group which was administered long-term RJ (Group 6). The aforementioned parameters which were statistically significant were determined to have drawn closer to values of the control group, and among these, the existing statistical differences for MDA level and GSH-Px activity between the trial group (Group 6) and the control group disappeared (Group 1). Compared to the pathological changes observed in the liver parenchyma, remark cords, sinusoids and hepatocytes in the group which was administered paracetamol alone (Group 4), lesions were determined to be less severe particularly in the group (Group 6) which received royal jelly for 7 days prior to paracetamol. In conclusion, the administration of royal jelly as a hepatoprotective agent for 7 days against paracetamol-induced liver damage was determined to exhibit marked protective effect on liver tissue.     

Late clinical characteristics of infants with retinopathy of prematurity and treated with cryotherapy

AIM: To describe the clinical characteristics and late results of patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with “6h cryotherapy”. METHODS: Out of 1252 infants screened for ROP, 52 patients were treated with temporal 6h cryotherapy from 1997 to 2005 were recalled to our clinic. Among these 23 patients were available and 46 eyes of 23 infants were included to evaluate for visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment, nystagmus, retinal examination (abnormal branching of retinal vessels, retinal thinning, latis degenerations, tortuosity of vessels, straightening of temporal vessels, narrowing of the angle of vessel in the juxtapapillary entrance, pigment changes, macular heterotopia), optic atrophy and optic disc cupping, axial length at birth and axial length at 1y. RESULTS: The median age at examination was 7 (5-18)y. In 32.6% of patients, the visual acuity was ≤20/200 and the mean best corrected visual acuity was 20/35 as measured with a Snellen chart. Mean spherical refractive error was -1.76±2.69 D. The degree of myopia at the last examination was found to be correlated with the elongation of the eye in the first year of life. Exotropia was present in 17.4% (n=8) of infants and esotropia in 13% (n=6). The most common retinal abnormality was abnormal branching of retinal vessels (82.6%) followed by retinal thinning (52.2%). CONCLUSION: The late clinical outcomes of infants with ROP treated in our clinic with cryotherapy seems to comparable with results of laser treatment.     

EFFECT OF PONTIC FRAMEWORK DESIGN ON THE FRACTURE RESISTANCE OF IMPLANT-SUPPORTED ALL-CERAMIC FIXED PARTIAL DENTURES

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture resistance of implant-supported all-ceramic fixed partial dentures, which have three different pontic designs.

Material and Methods:

Two implants were placed in a metal model simulating mandibular left second premolar and mandibular left second molar. Thirty standardized 3-unit all-ceramic fixed partial dentures with biconvex, convex or concave pontic designs were fabricated using IPS e.max system (n=10). Afterwards, specimens were centrally loaded on the pontics until failure with a universal testing machine. Results were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests at 5% significance level.

Results:

The fracture resistance values of all-ceramic fixed partial dentures designed with biconvex, convex or concave pontics were 349.71, 438.20 and 300.78 N, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the fracture resistances of the groups (p>0.05), except for convex and concave groups (p<0.05 and p=0.009, respectively).

Conclusions:

Convex design showed the best mechanical properties as demonstrated by the high values of fracture resistance.     

The relation of sexual function to migraine-related disability,depression and anxiety in patients with migraine

Background

Depression and anxiety are two phenomena that affect quality of life as well as sexual function. Depression and anxiety levels are reported to be high in migraine sufferers. We aimed to understand whether sexual function in women with migraine was associated to migraine-related disability and frequency of migraine attacks, and whether this relationship was modulated by depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Methods

As migraine is more commonly seen in females, a total of 50 women with migraine were included. The diagnosis of migraine with or without aura was confirmed by two specialists in Neurology, according to the second edition of International Headache Society (IHS) International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II) in 2004. Migraine disability assessment scale score, female sexual function index scores, Beck depression inventory score and Beck anxiety inventory scores.

Results

Mean MIDAS score was 19.3 ± 12.8, and mean number of migraine attacks per month were 4.3 ± 2.7. Mean Female Sexual Function Index score was 20.9 ± 5.9 and 90% of patients had sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was not related to MIDAS score or frequency and severity of attacks. No relationship between sexual function and anxiety was found, whereas severity of depressive symptoms was closely related to sexual function. Depressive symptoms affected all dimensions of sexual function, except for pain.

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunction seemed to be very common in our patients with migraine, while not related to migraine related disability, frequency of attacks and migraine severity or anxiety. The most important factor that predicted sexual function was depression, which was also independent of disease severity and migraine related disability. While future larger scale studies are needed to clarify the exact relationship, depressive and sexual problems should be properly addressed in all patients with migraine, regardless of disease severity or disability.