Thioether excretion of workers exposed to bitumen fumes

Summary The excretion of thioethers was determined in the urine of workers involved in road paving operations and in the preparation of asphalt mixing in an asphalt plant. An occupationally nonexposed group served as control. From the results it was observed that there was no significant difference in urinary thioether levels between the exposed and nonexposed groups, however, smokers of both exposed groups had significantly higher urinary thioether levels than the nonexposed smoking workers. These results suggested that higher urinary thioether excretion could be only due to a difference in smoking behaviour. There were also significant differences in urinary thioether levels between the exposed smoking and nonsmoking workers. The authors suggest that these workers have a low mutagenic/carcinogenic risk and smoking is responsible for the majority of thioether excretion, as has been found by other investigators.     

Comparative morphological differences between umbilical cords from chronic hypertensive and preeclamptic pregnancies

To compare morphological changes in the umbilical cords from chronic hypertensive and preeclamptic patients having normal or pathological umbilical artery Doppler ultrasonographic results. Umbilical cords from 34 normotensive, 31 chronic hypertensive and 70 preeclamptic women with normal and abnormal Doppler flow velocity waveforms (FVW) at 35-40 gestational weeks were studied. Morphological changes in the umbilical cords were examined on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. The total umbilical cord area, total vessel area, and wall thickness of umbilical vessels were measured in systematic random samples using unbiased stereology methods. An ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. In the chronic hypertensive and preeclamptic groups with normal Doppler FVW, the thickness of the umbilical cord vessels remained nearly constant, whereas both the total area and the lumen area were reduced. These changes correlate with the histopathological findings, suggesting a mainly vasoconstrictive effect. By contrast, analysis of the preeclamptic group with pathologic Doppler FVW showed a comparable reduction of all parameters of the umbilical cord. Histopathological findings were related to smaller, contracted smooth muscle cells of the vessel wall, which is suggestive of a predominant hypoplastic mechanism. As a result of reduced uteroplacental perfusion, fetal hypoxia and intrauterine growth retardation become unavoidable in preeclampsia. The histopathological changes in the umbilical cord between the chronic hypertensive and preeclamptic patients depend on the Doppler results. In conclusion, the umbilical artery Doppler FVW indices provide good values for predicting intrauterine growth retardation in preeclamptic patients.     

Changed Bcl:Bax ratio in endometrium of patients with unexplained infertility

Apoptosis has been shown to be an important regulator of endometrial function during the menstrual cycle and implantation. Recently, some possible implantation defects were identified in patients with unexplained infertility. In this study, we investigated the role of spontaneous apoptosis, which is regulated by death regulatory genes, such as Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and isoenzymes of nitric oxide synthases; eNOS and iNOS during the implantation window in women with unexplained infertility. Endometrial samples were evaluated from fertile (n=15) and unexplained-infertile women (n=15) during post-ovulatory 7th or 8th day of their menstrual cycles. Apoptotic cells were detected using the dUTP nick-end labelling assay and Bcl-2, Bax, p53, iNOS and eNOS were assessed immunohistochemically. Reduced apoptotic cells, weak immunoreactivity of p53 and strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 were observed in the unexplained-infertile group compared with the fertile group (p<0.001). Bax intensity was similar in both groups. While weak iNOS immunoreactivity was detected in both groups, moderately increased eNOS immunoreactivity was observed in infertile cases. Spontaneous apoptosis is reduced in the endometrium of unexplained-infertile women, and is associated with the changed Bcl-2:Bax ratio. This finding may be a contributing factor to defective implantation causing infertility in this group of patients.     

Nasal mucosal expression of nitric oxide synthases in patients with allergic rhinitis and its relation to asthma.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) has contradictory roles in the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation in both allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Small amounts of NO produced by constitutive NO synthase (NOS) is anti-inflammatory, whereas large amounts produced by inducible NOS (iNOS) are proinflammatory. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in constitutive endothelial NOS (eNOS) and iNOS expression in nonallergic and allergic mucosa and the possible relation of this to the coexistence of asthma in seasonal AR. METHODS: Seventeen patients (10 women and 7 men) with seasonal AR and 9 nonallergic patients (5 women and 4 men) with nasal septum deviation were enrolled. Inferior turbinate nasal biopsy specimens were obtained in all. Levels of eNOS and iNOS expressed as immunohistochemical scores (HSCOREs) were determined immunohistochemically from the specimens. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD HSCOREs for eNOS in patients with seasonal AR were not significantly different from those of the nonallergic controls (1.85 +/- 0.78 vs 1.63 +/- 0.54; P = .12). On the other hand, the mean +/- SD HSCOREs for iNOS were significantly higher in patients with seasonal AR (1.75 +/- 0.75 vs 0.71 +/- 0.6; P = .004). Furthermore, although eNOS expression was not different between seasonal AR patients with and without asthma, the mean +/- SD HSCOREs for iNOS were significantly higher in the patients with asthma (1.93 +/- 0.78 vs 1.65 +/- 0.55; P = .01). CONCLUSION: Increased expression of iNOS might have a role in the development of allergic inflammation in upper and lower airways and in comorbidity of AR and asthma.     

When is the right time to take an emergency surgery decision in Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction?

Background/Objective: Ischemia is a leading cause of morbidity in Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction (MIO) in which the timing of decisions of whether to proceed to surgical or conservative treatment is critical in emergency departments (ED). While advanced technological options are available, patients may be negatively affected by the application of contrast agents or radiation. The use of ultrasound is limited because of the air in the intestines does not allow a good field of vision. While biomarkers can be considered as a good alternative option at this point. In the present study we examine the effect of hemogram and blood gas parameters on early surgical decision-making in MIO patients.MethodInvolved in this observational prospective study were 264 patients diagnosed with MIO who presented to the Department of Emergency Medicine, Ataturk Research and Training Hospital, Katip Celebi University between February 2018 and February 2019. Contrast-enhanced tomography (CECT) and laboratory results of the patients were recorded. Pathology reports of the patients who underwent surgery were collected. Laboratory data were analyzed by comparing CECT and pathology reports.ResultsIn a ROC analysis of the laboratory values of the patients who were diagnosed with ileus, the sensitivity was calculated as 80% and the specificity was 57.7 in values above WBC>10.75 (10⁹/L), 96.6%, and the specificity was 31.1% in N/L > 2.9. For intestinal ischemia, the cut-off values were WBC> 12.6 and N/L > 3.2, Lactate >2.8 mmol/L and B.E < -3.6 mmol/L.ConclusionDiagnoses of ileus are based on the results examinations and imaging methods. More data are needed to support decisions on the timing of surgery in ED. WBC, N/L, Lactate and Base Excess indicate an ischemic segment. When the parameters are evaluated together, they strongly support early surgical decision-making regarding the treatment of intestinal ischemia.     

Adsorption of direct-acting and indirect-acting mutagens by various dietary fibers

The protective effect of dietary fiber on human cancer has received great attention during the last decades. Because dietary fiber constitues a large group of complex polysaccharides with various solubilities, degrees of lignification, chemical compositions and structural arrangements, several mechanisms for their effects have been proposed. In this study, in vitro binding capacities of various dietary fibers (potato fiber and glucomannan) and dietary fiber constituents (pectic acid and cellulose) against indirect mutagen 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo (4,5-f) quinoline (IQ) and direct-acting mutagen sodium azide were investigated. Direct-acting mutagen sodium azide was not adsorbed to the dietary fiber and dietary fiber constituents at 0 C, pH 4.5 and 37 C, pH 7.0. However, indirect-acting mutagen 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo (4,5-f) quinoline (IQ) were sorbed by them in variable ratios at 0 C, pH 4.5 and 37 C, pH 7.0. The differences between the in vitro binding capacities of the samples at two experimental conditions were found to be statiscially significant (P < 0.01). IQ was not released from the dietary fibers and constituents in distilled water.     

Current status of micro/nanomotors in drug delivery

Abstract

Synthetic micro/nanomotors (MNMs) are novel, self-propelled nano or microscale devices that are widely used in drug transport, cell stimulation and isolation, bio-imaging, diagnostic and monitoring, sensing, photocatalysis and environmental remediation. Various preparation methods and propulsion mechanisms make MNMs “tailormade” nanosystems for the intended purpose or use. As the one of the newest members of nano carriers, MNMs open a new perspective especially for rapid drug transport and gene delivery. Although there exists limited number of in-vivo studies for drug delivery purposes, existence of in-vitro supportive data strongly encourages researchers to move on in this field and benefit from the manoeuvre capability of these novel systems. In this article, we reviewed the preparation and propulsion mechanisms of nanomotors in various fields with special attention to drug delivery systems.