Analgesic effects of acetaminophen,diclofenac and hyoscine N-butylbromide in second trimester pregnancy termination: a prospective randomized study

Objectives: This prospective, randomized study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of acetaminophen, diclofenac and hyoscine-N-butylbromide (HnBB) in cases of second trimester pregnancy termination.

Methods: In 60 women with indications for second trimester pregnancy termination, three analgesic agents were randomized into three groups: group 1, acetaminophen; group 2, diclofenac; and group 3, HnBB. A visual analog scale (VAS) used for the evaluation of pain perception. The primary outcome of the study was mean VAS score during the procedure and last VAS score before the completion of termination. The secondary outcomes were the induction-to-abortion interval, the percentage of aborted cases within the first 24?h and finally the need for parenteral analgesia.

Results: Demographic characteristics were similar among the groups. The mean VAS and last VAS scores before termination did not differ among the groups (p?=?0.3 and 0.2, respectively). The need for parenteral analgesia did not differ among the groups (p?=?0.3). Although a shorter induction-to-abortion interval and greater number of cases with successful termination before 24?h were found in the HnBB group, the differences were not statistically significant (p?=?0.6 and 0.5, respectively).

Conclusions: Our study did not demonstrate a difference in pain perception among second trimester pregnancy termination cases using acetaminophen, diclofenac and HnBB.     

Intraocular antibody synthesis against rubella virus and other microorganisms in Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis

Introduction  

Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis (FHC) is a common intraocular disease of uncertain etiology that has recently been related to rubella virus (RV) infection.     

Sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic hand eczema in the Turkish population

IntroductionHand eczema can cause considerable psychosocial disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and difficulties at work, and it may also cause sexual dysfunction.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate sexual function in patients with hand eczema and to find out whether concomitant depression has an additional negative effect on sexual function in these patients.Main Outcome MeasuresSexual functions were evaluated in hand eczema patients.MethodsNinety-one female (43 patients vs. 48 controls) and 79 male (45 patients vs. 34 controls) subjects were enrolled in the study. Hand eczema severity index was used to determine severity of hand eczema. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were used to assess sexual function. Quality of life was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Diagnosis of depression was made based on the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, while the Hamilton Depression Rate Scale was used for grading depression.ResultsAmong 43 female subjects with hand eczema, 26 had depression (60.46%); of the 45 male patients, 11 had depression (24.44%). FSFI total score was found to be significantly decreased in female patients with both eczema and depression compared with controls (20.84 ± 9.19 vs. 24.04 ± 3.40, P < 0.05). FSFI total score was found to be significantly decreased in female patients with both eczema and depression compared with those without depression (20.84 ± 9.19 vs. 22.23 ± 5.82, P < 0.05). IIEF total score was also found to be significantly decreased in male patients with or without depression compared with controls (52.36 ± 14.83 vs. 59.88 ± 5.65 vs. 62.03 ± 11.04, P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe results of the study demonstrated that patients with hand eczema had sexual dysfunction, and concomitant depression had an additional negative effect on sexual dysfunction. Patients with hand eczema should be evaluated with regard to sexual function and depression to provide a better quality of life. Ergün M, Türel Ermertcan A, Öztürkcan S, Temeltaş G, Deveci A, and Dinç G. Sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic hand eczema in the Turkish population.     

CCopeY: A Mixed-Methods Coproduced Study on the Mental Health Status and Coping Strategies of Young People During COVID-19 UK Lockdown

PurposeExploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s mental health is an increasing priority. Studies to date are largely surveys and lack meaningful involvement from service users in their design, planning, and delivery. The study aimed to examine the mental health status and coping strategies of young people during the first UK COVID-19 lockdown using coproduction methodology.MethodsThe mental health status of young people (aged 16–24) in April 2020 was established utilizing a sequential explanatory coproduced mixed methods design. Factors associated with poor mental health status, including coping strategies, were also examined using an online survey and semi-structured interviews.ResultsSince the lockdown, 30.3% had poor mental health, and 10.8% had self-harmed. Young people identifying as Black/Black-British ethnicity had the highest increased odds of experiencing poor mental health (odds ratio [OR] 3.688, 95% CI .54–25.40). Behavioral disengagement (OR 1.462, 95% CI 1.22–1.76), self-blame (OR 1.307 95% CI 1.10–1.55), and substance use (OR 1.211 95% CI 1.02–1.44) coping strategies, negative affect (OR 1.109, 95% CI 1.07–1.15), sleep problems (OR .915 95% CI .88–.95) and conscientiousness personality trait (OR .819 95% CI .69–.98) were significantly associated with poor mental health. Three qualitative themes were identified: (1) pre-existing/developed helpful coping strategies employed, (2) mental health difficulties worsened, and (3) mental health and nonmental health support needed during and after lockdown.ConclusionPoor mental health is associated with dysfunctional coping strategies. Innovative coping strategies can help other young people cope during and after lockdowns, with digital and school promotion and application.     

DNA integrity in patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is successfully applied for a wide variety of diseases. However, recent studies in humans undergoing (HBO) therapy have revealed that HBO is able to induce oxidative DNA damage especially in lymphocytes while the biological significance of this outcome is still not clear. HBO mediated DNA damage in lymphocytes has been determined by using the alkaline version of the comet assay in order to detect DNA strand breakages in patients undergoing HBO therapy. Blood samples were obtained from 100 voluntary patients and were drawn by venipuncture before and immediately after the first session of HBO treatment. The DNA damaging effect of HBO has also been evaluated in the fifth session of HBO therapy. DNA strand breakages were significantly increased after the first session of HBO treatment. However the elevated DNA strand breaks returned to their normal levels in lymphocytes after two hours of in vitro incubation. The elevated DNA strand breaks consistently decreased and reached to the baseline levels after the fifth session of HBO therapy. The results of this study, conducted in patients undergoing HBO therapy, support the existence of the previously reported cellular adaptive response against HBO mediated oxidative DNA damage in experimental studies.     

Effects of in vivo antioxidant enzyme activities of myrtle oil in normoglycaemic and alloxan diabetic rabbits

In this study we aimed to evaluate the in vivo effects of myrtle oil (myrtii oleum) on the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, the levels of malondialdehyde in liver tissues as an index of lipid peroxidation and nitrite–nitrate levels in normoglycaemic and alloxan-induced diabetic and MO-treated rabbits. In our previous study, we assumed that MO with a dose of 50 mg/kg, possesses a hypoglycemic activity and this activity was independent from the effects of insulin. Myrtle oil exerts its hypoglycemic activity by enhanced glycolysis, glycogenesis and decreased glycogenolysis. What is more glucose load data strongly suggest that MO treatment produces hypoglycemia mainly by reducing intestinal absorption of glucose, so MO could be an -glycosidase enzyme inhibitor which had a hypoglycaemic effect only on alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits on the fourth hour and on orally glucose loaded group. The major finding of this new study is that, MO may not offer any protection against oxidative stress during acute studies in normoglycemic and diabetic groups. Although the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities did not change during acute studies in diabetes + MO group, there was a significant change at the end of 21 days. There is a very limited knowledge about MO and its effects on diabetes. Therefore, we tried to explain the mechanism that might underlie the protective effects of MO with this paper.     

Effect of smoking on retina nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer complex

Purpose: The aim of this study is to show the effects of smoking on retina layers, especially retina nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer complex (GCIPL).

Materials and methods: Participants smoking for more than 10 years at least 1 pack of cigarettes a day and a control group, both including participants between ages of 20 and 50 years with no other systemic or ocular diseases were studied. After normality tests, an independent sample t test was used to analyze the differences in age, sex, spherical equivalent (SE), intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), GCIPL and RNFL values between the groups.

Results: There were 44 participants in each group. There were 32 (62.5%) men and 12(37.5%) women in smokers and 36 (77.88%) men and 8 (22.22%) women in control group. Mean ages were 39.85?±?8.41 and 38.66?±?10.47 years, mean spherical equivalent (SE) values were ?0.15?±?0.4 and 0?±?0.29 dioptries in smokers and control groups, respectively. The IOP, AXL, GCIPL and RNFL values were 17.58?±?3.41?mmHg, 23.69?±?0.56?mm, 84.3?±?5.83?μm and 92.3?±?3.51?μm in the smokers group and 18.5?±?2.91?mmHg, 23.45?±?0.72?mm, 86.11?±?8.02?μm and 97.66?±?8.23?μm in the control group. The inferior, superior, nasal and temporal values of RNFL quadrants were 123.18?±?26.14, 117.05?±?5.51, 64.95?±?8.67 and 63.5?±?6.88?μm in the smokers group and 130.81?±?11.8, 123.55?±?11.03, 72.44?±?9.84 and 58.44?±?7.48?μm in the control group. There were no significant difference of age, sex, SE, IOP, AXL and GCIPL values between the smokers and control groups (p?>?0.05). The mean RNFL was significantly thinner in the smokers group compared to controls (p?=?0.03, independent t test). Inferior and superior quadrants of RNFL decreased in smokers group (p?=?0.01 and p?=?0.03, respectively) but temporal and nasal quadrants did not seem to be changed (p?=?0.96 and p?=?0.07, respectively).

Discussion: Smoking may affect RNFL thickness but not GCIPL.     

In vitro genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of some paraben esters on human peripheral lymphocytes

Parabens (PBs) are p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester compounds commonly employed as antimicrobial preservatives, mainly in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of some paraben esters (butyl paraben, propyl paraben, isobutyl paraben, and isopropyl paraben) on human peripheral lymphocytes, using in vitro sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosome aberration (CA), and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) tests. Lymphocyte cultures were treated with four concentrations of PBs (100, 50, 25 and 10?µg/mL) for 24 and 48?h. Paraben esters significantly induced MN formations as compared to solvent control. Furthermore, butyl paraben and propyl paraben increased MN formations a concentration-dependent manner at 24 and 48?h. PBs increased the CA at 24 and 48?h. However, this increase was not meaningful for butyl paraben and isopropyl paraben at 48?h when compared with solvent control. Butyl, isobutyl, and isopropyl paraben significantly increased the SCE at 24 and 48?h. However, propyl paraben did not induce SCE meaningfully in both treatment periods. A significant decrease in the cytokinesis-block proliferation index and mitotic index was observed in cells exposed to all concentrations of PBs at 24 and 48?h. However, proliferation index was not affected at all concentrations of PBs after 24?h treatment, although it was decreased at the highest concentration of PBs at 48?h. It is concluded that all of the paraben esters used in this study have highly genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on human lymphocytes cells in vitro.     

β-Glucan and Dark Chocolate: A Randomized Crossover Study on Short-Term Satiety and Energy Intake

Aim: The aims of this study were to adapt a traditional recipe into a healthier form by adding 3 g of oat β-glucan, substituting milk chocolate to dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, and to examine the effect of these alterations on short-term satiety and energy intake. Materials and Methods: Study subjects (n = 25) were tested in a randomized, crossover design with four products closely matched for energy content. Four different versions of a traditional recipe including milk chocolate-control (CON), oat β-glucan (B-GLU), dark chocolate (DARK) or oat β-glucan and dark chocolate (B-GLU + DARK) were given to subjects on different test days. After subjects were asked to report visual analog scale (VAS) scores on sensory outcomes and related satiety for four hours ad libitum, lunch was served and energy intake of individuals was measured. Results: VAS scores indicated that none of the test foods exerted an improved effect on satiety feelings. However, energy intake of individuals during ad libitum lunch was significantly lower in dark chocolate groups (CON: 849.46 ± 47.45 kcal versus DARK: 677.69 ± 48.45 kcal and B-GLU + DARK: 691.08 ± 47.45 kcal, p = 0.014). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that substituting dark chocolate for milk chocolate is more effective in inducing satiety during subsequent food intake in healthy subjects.     

Asian American Women and Alcohol-Related Problems: The Role of Multidimensional Feminine Norms

Increasing rates of heavy episodic drinking (HED; four or more drinks in one sitting) and alcohol use disorders among young adult Asian American women signify the need to identify the risk and protective factors for HED and alcohol-related problems in this demographic. Multidimensional feminine norms, or the beliefs and expectations of what it means to be a woman, are theoretically relevant factors that may help elucidate within-group variability in HED and alcohol-related problems. The present study examined associations between nine salient feminine norms, HED, and alcohol-related problems among 398 second-generation Asian American college women. Our findings reveal that certain feminine norms are protective of HED and alcohol-related problems, while others are risk factors, even when controlling for well-established correlates of HED and alcohol-related problems, such as perceived peer drinking norms. The results elucidate the importance of multidimensional feminine norms and their relationship to HED and alcohol-related problems among the increasingly at-risk group, Asian American college women.