Protective effect of rutin on mercuric chloride-induced reproductive damage in male rats

This study investigated the effects of rutin against reproductive damage caused by toxic mercury in male rats. Thirty-five Sprague Dawley rats were used. Control group was injected with saline for 7 days. The rutin-100 group received 100 mg/kg/b.w. rutin for 7 days. Mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) group received 1.23 mg/kg/b.w. of HgCl₂ for 7 days. Mercury chloride + rutin-50 group received 50 mg/kg/b.w. rutin and HgCl₂ 1.23 mg/kg/b.w. for 7 days. HgCl₂ + rutin-100 group received 100 mg/kg/b.w. rutin and HgCl₂ 1.23 mg/kg/b.w. for 7 days. It was detected that HgCl₂ treatment increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions, necrosis and degeneration of spermatogonium, dead and abnormal sperm percentages; tubular walls thinning; and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and sperm motility. It was determined that rutin application reduced testicular damage caused by HgCl₂. In conclusion, rutin administration may treat HgCl₂ toxicity in testes.     

Tocilizumab challenge: A series of cytokine storm therapy experiences in hospitalized COVID-19 pneumonia patients

To recognize the period of exaggerated cytokine response in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, and to describe the clinical outcomes of using tocilizumab as a treatment option. The data of 12 adult COVID-19 pneumonia patients who were followed in the inpatient clinics of Biruni University Medical Faculty Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey) were retrospectively analyzed. Diagnostic tests, laboratory examinations, clinical findings, and computed tomography of the thorax imaging results were evaluated. A dramatic laboratory and clinical improvement was observed in 83% (10 out of 12) of patients after tocilizumab. In 17% (2 out of 12) of our patients, short-term ventilator support was required in the intensive care unit. The longest hospital stay was 18 days. However, in the end, all of our patients were discharged home with good health. Although arterial oxygen saturations (87.58 ± 3.12%) dropped in room air in the pre-tocilizumab period, post-tocilizumab they normalized in all patients (94.42 ± 1%). None of them had fever after tocilizumab treatment and the levels of C-reactive protein (13.08 ± 12.89) were almost within normal limits. Eosinophil values were quite low at the time of diagnosis (10 ± 17.06), but increased significantly post-tocilizumab (155.33 ± 192.69). There is currently no proven treatment for COVID-19 induced by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Based on our experience with twelve adult COVID-19 pneumonia patients, we can say that tocilizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor, is more beneficial in preventing the damage caused by excessive cytokine response in the body if administered at the right time and provides clinical and radiological recovery.     

Evaluation of the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a condition that consists of several disorders, and the individual impact of these disorders on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is still not clear in a combined diagnosis of MS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of MS on advanced fibrosis in patients with MAFLD.Methods: We recruited the patients from our gastroenterology out-patient clinic who were being followed up for MAFLD. MAFLD was diagnosed with liver biopsy in all patients. The frequency of MS and other metabolic parameters were also compared between groups with advanced fibrosis and groups in which fibrosis was not as advanced.Results: In total, we enrolled 424 biopsy-proven MAFLD patients to the study. In univariate analysis, individuals with greater age, body mass index (BMI), higher aspartate transaminase (AST), MS, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension, enlarged waist circumference (WC), diabetes mellitus (DM), and women had significantly increased risk for fibrosis. In multivariate analysis, it was found that DM, greater age, higher BMI, and increased AST were seen more commonly in MAFLD patients with advanced fibrosisConclusion: Greater age, a higher BMI, higher AST and a diagnosis of diabetes were more commonly associated with advanced fibrosis. However, DM was found to be the strongest predictive factor of advanced fibrosis in our cohort (OR: 2.495). Multivariate analyses did not indicate a significantly common occurrence of MS in the advanced fibrosis group, despite its important role in MAFLD pathophysiology.     

Evaluation of adrenomedullin and endothelin-1: Are they factors in the adaptation of maternal vascular system in normotensive pregnancy

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to analyse the role of adrenomedullin (AM) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the adaptation of the maternal vascular system in normotensive pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty-eight pregnant women, who were normotensive throughout the duration of their pregnancy, were recruited into the study. Plasma levels of AM and ET-1 at each trimester were measured and the AM/ET-1 ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Our experiment showed a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of AM in the first trimester for the study group (n=28) compared with the non-pregnant control group (n=16). There was also a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of ET-1 in all three trimesters (P<0.05) and a significant increase in the AM/ET-1 ratio in all three trimesters (P<0.05) for the study group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: An alteration in vascular equilibrium between AM and ET-1, favouring AM, may be a reason why the physiological adaptation of the maternal vascular system to pregnancy occurs during normotensive pregnancy.     

The ameliorating effects of vitamin E on hepatic antioxidant system and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in fenvalerate-exposed iodine-deficient rats

This study investigated the effects of vitamin E (VE) on hepatic antioxidant system and drug-metabolizing enzymes in fenvalerate (FEN)-exposed iodine-deficient (ID) Wistar rats. ID was produced by perchlorate containing drinking water. VE was introduced by a loading dose of 100?mg/kg/d, i.g. for the first three days in the last week of feeding period; then with a single maintenance dose of 40?mg/kg on the 4th day. During last week, FEN groups (F) received 100?mg/kg/d, i.p. FEN. VE alone did not significantly affect thyroid hormones and antioxidant parameters; however, significantly increased total cytochrome P450 (38%) and cytochrome b5 levels (36%). In all ID groups, plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels increased markedly, but remained at control level in vitamin E plus FEN receiving iodine-deficient group (IDVF) group. Glutathione peroxidase activity showed marked increases in F (19%) and FEN-exposed iodine-deficient group (IDF, 48%) groups. FEN treatment significantly increased total cytochrome P450 (28%) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels (36%), as well as 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (120%), 7-penthoxyresorufin O-deethylase (139%) and glutathione S-transferase (15%) activities and decreased total glutathione concentrations (28%) versus control. Overall results suggest that vitamin E has ameliorating effects on the measured parameters in ID and/or FEN exposure.     

Microcomputed tomographic analysis of bone microarchitecture after sinus augmentation with hyaluronic matrix: a case–control study

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze trabecular microarchitecture of augmented sinuses with hyaluronic matrix and xenograft by microcomputed tomography, and to investigate whether hyaluronic matrix has an effect on the newly formed bone quality.

Materials and methods

Thirteen patients undergoing maxillary sinus augmentation were included in this split-mouth study. Right and left sinus sites were randomly assigned to test and control group. In test group, the sinus was grafted with hyaluronic matrix and xenograft; in control group, only with xenograft. Four months after augmentation, bone samples were harvested during implant placement and analyzed for the following trabecular microarchitecture parameters using microcomputed tomography: bone volume (BV), total volume (TV), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone surface (BS), specific bone surface (BS/BV), bone surface density (BS/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), trabecular pattern factor (Tb.Pf), and fractal dimension (FD).

Results

There was statistically significant difference only for BS/TV parameter between two groups. BS/TV was higher in hyaluronic matrix group compared with control group.

Conclusions

Addition of hyaluronic matrix to xenograft may enhance bone quality in terms of bone surface density. However, more research investigating the microstructural variation of augmented sinuses is needed with a greater sample.

     

Diurnal leptin secretion is intact in male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and is not influenced by exogenous gonadotropins

Circulating leptin shows a pulsatile secretory pattern along with a nocturnal rise. We have previously shown that circulating leptin concentrations are high in males with untreated idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH). However, circadian leptin secretion in IHH before and after gonadotropin treatment is not known. Thus, we studied 14 adult males with IHH who had no history of previous hormonal therapy, and 12 age- and body mass index-matched healthy men. Plasma leptin concentrations were measured with 1-h intervals for 24 h before and 6 months after gonadotropin treatment. The 24-h mean leptin concentration showed a significant decrease, from 11.78 +/- 1.908 microg/liter at baseline to 10.85 +/- 1.939 microg/liter after 6 months of therapy (z = 3.107; P = 0.002). Before and after treatment, 24-h mean leptin concentrations were also significantly higher in the patient group when compared with controls (4.275 +/- 0.711 microg/liter) (z = 5.938; P = 0.0001). Hourly leptin levels demonstrated a diurnal pattern in hypogonadal patients, a surge in the midday, and a peak just after midnight, and this pattern did not differ before and after treatment. We observed a similar diurnal pattern in the control subjects too. Leptin levels were negatively and significantly correlated with free testosterone and total testosterone levels both before (r = -0.656, P = 0.011; and r = -0.639, P = 0.014, respectively) and after (r = -0.537, P = 0.048; and r = -0.563, P = 0.036, respectively) gonadotropin administration. Our observations suggest that the diurnal rhythm of leptin is intact in males with IHH, and short-term gonadotropin treatment does not effect its diurnal rhythm. Moreover, testosterone produced under the influence of the gonadotropin treatment led to decreases in the leptin levels.     

The Forgotten Variable of Shear Stress in Mitral Annular Calcification: Whole Blood Viscosity

Objective

The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between mitral annular calcification (MAC) and whole blood viscosity (WBV).

Subjects and Methods

A total of 184 patients with MAC and 133 patients without MAC were enrolled in the study. The WBV was calculated with a confirmed formulation using the hematocrit and total plasma protein at a low shear rate (LSR) and high shear rate (HSR). Early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) and late diastolic mitral annular velocity (Aa) were measured using pulse Doppler tissue echocardiography. Pearson''s correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between WBV and mitral annular motion velocities. The effects of different variables on the occurrence of MAC were assessed in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

In patients with MAC, WBV values were significantly higher at HSR (18.04 ± 0.84 vs. 17.25 ± 0.96 208 s^-1, p < 0.001) and at LSR (78.0 ± 14.2 vs. 61.9 ± 17.1 0.5 s^-1, p < 0.001). The WBV at HSR and LSR were significantly correlated with Ea (r = −0.477, p < 0.001; r = −0.385, p < 0.001, respectively) and Aa (r = −0.544, p < 0.001; r = −0.323, p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that WBV of both shear rates was an independent predictor of MAC. Using the ROC curve, a cut-off value of 70.1 for WBV at LSR had a sensitivity of 83.7% and a specificity of 73.7% (AUC 0.785, p < 0.001) and a WBV cut-off value of 17.5 at HSR had a sensitivity of 79.6% and a specificity of 71.4% (AUC 0.761, p < 0.001) for the prediction of MAC.

Conclusion

Patients with MAC had significantly higher WBV, which independently predicted the presence of MAC. WBV had an inverse correlation with mitral annular motion velocities, indicating that a higher WBV may lead to greater limitation in annular motion and, thus, more calcification.Key Words: Mitral valve calcification, Shear stress, Blood viscosity