Ameliorative Effects of Proanthocyanidin on Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Introduction. Several natural products have been reported to have beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, particularly from a preventative perspective. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the efficiency of proanthocyanidin (PA), a natural product derived from grape seed, on renal dysfunction and injury induced by I/R of rat kidney. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, I/R, I/R+PA. Rats were given PA (100 mg/kg/day peroral) 7 days prior to I/R. All rats except sham-operated underwent 60 min of bilateral renal ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. After reperfusion, kidneys and blood were obtained for evaluation. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl content, and nitrite/nitrate level (NO_x) were determined in the renal tissue. Serum creatinine (S_Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined in the blood. Additionally, renal sections were used for histological grade of renal injury. Results. PA significantly reduced the I/R-induced increases in S_Cr, BUN, and AST. In addition, PA markedly reduced elevated oxidative stress product, restored decreased antioxidant enzymes, and attenuated histological alterations. Moreover, PA attenuated the tissue NO_x, levels indicating reduced NO production. Conclusions. The pretreatment of rats with PA reduced the renal dysfunction and morphological changes, ameliorated cellular injury, and restored renal antioxidant enzymes caused by renal I/R.     

Dehiscence and fenestration in patients with different vertical growth patterns assessed with cone-beam computed tomography

Abstract Objective: To test the null hypothesis that the presence of alveolar defects (dehiscence and fenestration) was not different among patients with different vertical growth patterns. Materials and Methods: A total of 1872 teeth in 26 hyper-divergent (mean age: 24.4 ± 4.8?years), 27 hypo-divergent (mean age: 25.1 ± 4.5?years), and 25 normo-divergent (mean age: 23.6 ± 4.1?years) patients with no previous orthodontic treatment were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. Axial and cross-sectional views were evaluated with regard to whether dehiscence and/or fenestration on buccal and lingual surfaces existed or not. For statistical analysis, the Pearson chi-square test was used at a P < .05 significance level. Results: According to the statistical analysis, the hypo-divergent group (6.56%) had lower dehiscence prevalence than the hyper-divergent (8.35%) and normo-divergent (8.18%) groups (P = .004). Higher prevalences of dehiscence and fenestration were found on buccal sides in all vertical growth patterns. While fenestration was a common finding for the maxillary alveolar region, dehiscence was a common finding in the mandible in all groups. Conclusion: The null hypothesis was rejected. Although the prevalence of fenestrations was not different, significant differences for dehiscences were found in patients with different vertical growth patterns.     

Resonance frequency analysis of orthodontic miniscrews subjected to light-emitting diode photobiomodulation therapy

The aim of this prospective experimental study was to evaluate the effect of light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation therapy (LPT) on the stability of immediately loaded miniscrews under different force levels, as assessed by resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Sixty titanium orthodontic miniscrews with a length of 8 mm and a diameter of 1.4 mm were implanted into cortical bone by closed flap technique in each proximal tibia of 15 New Zealand white adult male rabbits (n = 30). The animals were randomly divided into irradiated and control groups under different force levels (0, 150, and 300 cN). OsseoPulse? LED device (Biolux Research Ltd.) 618 nm wavelength and 20 mW/cm(2) output power irradiation (20 minutes/day) was applied to the miniscrews for 10 days. The RFA records were performed at miniscrew insertion session (T1) and 21 days after surgery (T2). Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for statistical evaluation at P < 0.005 level. It was found that initial primer stability of all miniscrews was similar in all groups at the start of the experimental procedure. Statistically significant differences were found for changes in implant stability quotient (ISQ) values between LED-photobiomodulated group and the control (0 cN, P = 0.001; 150 cN, P < 0.001; and 300 cN, P < 0.001). Significant increase was found in ISQ values of LPT applied miniscrews under 0 cN (+11.63 ISQ), 150 cN (+10.50 ISQ), and 300 cN (+7.00 ISQ) force during observation period. By the increase of force levels, it was determined that ISQ values decreased in non-irradiated control miniscrews. Within the limits of this in vivo study, the present RFA findings suggest that LPT might have a favourable effect on healing and attachment of titanium orthodontic miniscrews.     

Comparison of different methods for measurement of electrolytes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit

Objectives:

To investigate whether electrolyte levels measured by using blood gas analyzers (ABG) and auto-analyzers (AA) are equivalent and can be used interchangeably.

Methods:

This observational prospective study was conducted in 100 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey, between March and August 2014. Samples for both AA and ABG analyzers were collected simultaneously from invasive arterial catheters of patients. The electrolyte levels were measured by using 2 methods.

Results:

The mean sodium level measured by ABG was 136.1±6.3 mmol/L and 137.8±5.4 mmol/L for AA (p=0.001). The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.561 (p<0.001). The Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement were -9.4 to 12.6 mmol/L. The mean potassium levels measured by ABG was 3.4±0.7 mmol/L and AA was 3.8±0.7 mmol/L (p=0.001). The Bland-Altman comparison limits were -0.58 to 1.24 and the associated Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.812 (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

The results of the 2 analyzing methods, in terms of sodium, were not equivalent and could not be used interchangeably. However, according to the statistical analyses results, by including, but not blindly trusting these findings, urgent and vital decisions could be made by the potassium levels obtained from the BGA, but a simultaneous follow-up sample had to be sent to the central laboratory for confirmation.Electrolytes are very important for the continuation of the physiological functions of the human body. They play vital roles in: regulation of the cell membrane potential, steady process of neurohormonal pathways, energy transformation and the fluid, and acid-base balance in the body. Signs and symptoms of electrolyte disorders may be nonspecific in an intensive care unit (ICU) patient.1-3 The therapies directed for maintaining vital organ functions affect the electrolyte balance. Consequently, electrolyte disorders are more common in critically ill patients than non-critically ill patients.1 The incidence of electrolyte disorders is nearly 25% in ICU patients.2 In recent studies,4-6 it is shown that in ICU patients, serum sodium and potassium levels are significant predictors of mortality. Therefore, prompt and complete correction of electrolyte disorders in ICU patients is vitally important. Under these circumstances, the importance of obtaining the results of serum electrolyte levels at the earliest is obvious. In routine application, serum electrolytes are measured by the indirect ion-sensing (ISE) method using auto-analyzers (AA) located in the central laboratories of hospitals. In this analyzing method, the processing time is longer because of a delay in the transportation of the samples to the central laboratory on account of several reasons.7 Hence, point-of-care (POC) testing methods, such as, arterial blood gas (ABG) analyzers have been increasingly used in the daily assessments of ICU patients. Blood gas analyzers; use the direct ISE method with short processing time that provides time and rapidity to the physician in the patient’s treatment decisions.7,8 The United States Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (US CLIA) accepts a 0.5 mmol/l difference in the measured potassium levels and a 4 mmol/l difference in the measured sodium levels, in the gold standard measure of the standard calibration solution.9 In some recent studies, the data revealed the difference in the electrolyte levels between the ABG and AA results.10,11 Furthermore, there are also studies that suggest that there is no significant difference between these measuring methods.12,13 Physicians want to trust the veracity of the ABG results of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium because, by this method, the delay in reaching the results is surpassed, and risks arising from this delay may be reduced. However, the results of the above-mentioned studies are confusing and still a diagnostic challenge for physicians. On account of the hesitation by the physicians, we decided to investigate whether the sodium and potassium levels measured by using ABG and AA were equivalent. We conducted a prospective study comparing the electrolyte level results measured in the arterial blood samples by 2 different methods. We tried to notice all limitations of previous similar studies and designed our study according to these points. Thereby, we aimed to improve the accuracy of our study results.     

Conservative rehabilitation of missing teeth before placement of implant dentures: clinical reports

Although implant-supported restorations often are preferred for the replacement of missing teeth, their high cost means that they can be given only to patients who can afford them. The clinical reports in this article describe interim conservative restorations made after orthodontic treatment to achieve esthetics, phonation, and function until implant-supported dentures were made. In all cases, the patients who received fiber-reinforced resin composite fixed partial dentures returned for follow-up visits at three-month intervals and reported no complaints during a year of follow-up visits. The desired esthetics can be achieved with temporary conservative treatment until the implant dentures are applied; if this treatment meets the patient's esthetic expectations, the final restoration can be fabricated according to these contours.     

Maxillary sinus lipoma: an unanticipated diagnosis

Subcutaneous tissue gives rise to numerous lesions such as lipoma, the most common benign soft tissue tumors. Lipoma is seen only extremely rarely in osseous units. In addition, craniofacial involvement of intraosseous lipoma may be misdiagnosed as a fibroosseous tumour such as fibrous dysplasia. Here, we present a case of an intraosseous lipoma obviously destroying and invading the maxillary bone.