The effects of water immersion and restraint stress on the expressions of apelin,apelin receptor (APJR) and apoptosis rate in the rat heart

Apelin has been identified as an endogenous ligand of the orphan G-protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJR). These receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system and periphery and play a role in the regulation of fluid and glucose homeostasis, feeding behavior, vessel formation, cell proliferation and immunity. We aimed to investigate whether water immersion and restraint stress have effects on apelin and APJR expression and apoptosis in heart tissue of male Wistar rats. The cardiac tissues were obtained from control, water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) and apelin antagonist (F13A) + WIRS groups of rats and embedded in paraffin wax. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to localize apelin, APJR and TUNEL immunopositive cells. H-SCORE was used for semi-quantitative determinations. Apelin protein levels were determined by Western blot in the cardiac tissues and plasma corticosteroid levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Apelin immunolocalization was found especially in endothelial cells and mast cells and faintly in cardiomyocytes, APJR immunostaining was shown in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes, and TUNEL reaction was observed in endothelial cells and in some fibroblasts. Apelin expression was significantly increased in the WIRS and F13A + WIRS groups compared to the control group. The APJR reaction was similar in all groups. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the F13A + WIRS group than that of the control group. Our study showed that WIRS for 6 h increased plasma corticosterone levels and cardiac apelin expression in rats. The increased levels of apelin inhibited stress-induced apoptosis in heart. These results may be important for the therapeutic approach to a variety of stress-related heart disease.     

Remote loading of curcumin-in-modified β-cyclodextrins into liposomes using a transmembrane pH gradient

Curcumin (CRM) is a natural polyphenol with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer therapeutic properties. However, CRM therapeutic potential is limited by low water solubility and bioavailability. Intraliposomal remote loading describes the retention of drugs in liposome cores in response to transmembrane pH gradient. The current study describes for the first time the remote loading of CRM into liposomes using secondary (E-βCD) and tertiary (D-βCD) amino-modified β-cyclodextrins (βCDs) as carriers and solubilizers. βCDs were chemically modified to prepare the ionizable weak base functional group followed by forming a guest-host complex of CRM in the modified βCDs hydrophobic cavities via a solvent evaporation encapsulation technique. These complexes were then actively loaded into preformed liposomes, composed of DPPC/cholesterol (65/35 molar ratio) via pH gradient. The formation of CRM-βCDs inclusion complexes was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and NMR spectroscopy. The complex stoichiometric ratio was determined to be 1 : 1 of CRM-βCDs based on Job''s plot which was also confirmed by the modified Benesi–Hildebrand equation with increasing probability of forming the 1 : 2 ratio of CRM-βCDs. The apparent formation constants (K_f) of 51.6, 100.9 and 55.4 mM⁻² were determined for CRM-βCD, CRM-E-βCD, and CRM-D-βCD complexes, respectively. Liposome size, charge and polydispersity index indicate the presence of a homogeneous population before and after active loading. The encapsulation efficiencies of CRM-βCD complexes into pH gradient preformed liposomes were 16.5, 51.1, and 41.7 for CRM-βCD, CRM-E-βCD, and CRM-D-βCD, respectively, showing more than 5 fold increase compared to normal liposomes. The current study provides a novel remote loading approach utilizing chemically modified cyclodextrins to incorporate hydrophobic drugs into liposomes.

The current study provides a novel remote loading approach utilizing chemically modified cyclodextrins to incorporate hydrophobic drugs into liposomes.     

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia is characterized by stable incidence and improved survival that is restricted to patients managed in leukaemia referral centres: a pan‐Canadian epidemiological study

Timely diagnosis and care are major determinants of the outcome in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), a malignancy whose incidence may be increasing. The Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) and health system represent valuable settings to study APL epidemiology. We analysed the CCR, which contains data on all Canadians with APL. To provide clinical information lacking in the CCR, we obtained data from five leukaemia referral centres during a similar time period. Between 1993 and 2007, there were 399 APL in Canada. Age‐standardized incidence was 0·083/100 000 and was stable over time. The early death (ED) rate was 21·8% (10·6% in patients <50 years old and 35·5% for those aged >50 years), with no improvement over time. Five‐year overall survival (OS) was 54·6% (73·3% in patients <50 years; 29·1% older patients). In the referral cohort, 131 patients were diagnosed between 1999 and 2010. ED was 14·6% and 2‐year OS was 76·5%. Within this cohort, ED and OS improved over time, although advanced patient age remained an adverse determinant of OS. In Canada, APL incidence is unexpectedly low and temporally stable. ED was higher than reported in clinical trials, but similar to reports from other registries. In contrast, ED was lower in referral centres and improved with time.     

Putty Index for Tripoding

Precise orientation and transfer of the selected path of insertion and removal is a critical step in cast removable partial denture prosthesis design. An easy technique for registering the same is described using addition silicon putty and a used diamond disk.     

Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity

Primary malignant melanoma of the nose and paranasal sinus mucosa is a rare disease and seen in less than 1% among all melanomas. Malignant melanomas have 2 origins: cutaneous and mucosal. The mucosal form has a worse prognosis because of its aggressiveness compared with that of the cutaneous form. Mucosal melanomas often occur at a rate of 2% to 3% among all melanomas and are typically found in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Generally, it is more common in males and in those older than 50 years. In this study, 4 patients were observed at the Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine; 2 of them were a 64-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman who had a malignant melanoma originating from the nasal septal mucosa, 1 patient was a 72-year-old woman whose malignant melanoma originated from the inferior turbinate, and 1 patient was a 77-year-old woman with a sinonasally located melanoma. The conditions of these patients were discussed under the light of literature instructions.     

Two-suture fish-mouth end-to-side microvascular anastomosis with fibrin glue

The most decisive step during free tissue transfers and replantation surgery may be respected as microvascular anastomosis. The conventional end-to-side anastomosis technique with simple interrupted sutures is well established and proven to be successful. On the other hand, conventional technique can be time consuming and can cause vascular thrombosis, vessel narrowing, and foreign-body reactions. Search for a more rapid and secure alternative to conventional technique is carried on. In this study, we defined a new technique for end-to-side anastomosis with fish-mouth incisions and application of fibrin glue and compared our results with those we obtained with conventional end-to-side anastomosis. We evaluated end-to-side anastomosis of carotid arteries of a total number of 64 Wistar-Albino rats. In control group (n = 32), conventional anastomoses with 8 to 10 sutures were performed. In experimental group (n = 32), fish-mouth incisions were applied first on the recipient artery, followed by performing anastomosis with only 2 corner sutures and applying commercially available fibrin glue. Time taken to perform the anastomosis was significantly shorter with the experimental group (P = 0.001), whereas early and late patency and aneurysm rates were comparable to those achieved with control group. Histological evaluation did not point out any significant differences between the groups. We have defined a rapid and safe alternative technique of end-to-side anastomosis with the use of fibrin glue. This method may be an alternative especially where multiple anastomoses are required or where it is difficult to approach anastomotic line, as it is easily performed, rapid, safe, and not involving any complex equipments.     

Canalicular adenoma of the palate

ABSTRACT: Canalicular adenomas are uncommon, benign epithelial neoplasm of the salivary glands that usually involve the upper lip and the buccal mucosa of elderly people. Differential diagnosis of the canalicular adenoma versus adenocarcinoma is important because it may result in unjustified radiotherapy or extensive and aggressive surgery. Despite the benign nature of canalicular adenomas, complete surgical removal and a regular clinical follow-up are recommended. The current study describes the diagnostic procedures, surgical management, and follow-up of a canalicular adenoma involving the palate of a 79-year-old man.