Morphological assessment in pinealectomy and foetal pineal gland transplantation in rats: Part I

Summary The effects of pineal gland, an endocrine organ known to affect the physiology of various organs and systems including the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis, on the morphological characteristics of target organs were investigated in rats after pinealectomy and foetal pineal gland transplantation to a subpial cortical area close to the pinealectomized region.It was demonstrated that weight gain was significantly slower in pinealectomized male rats (p<0.01); pituitary gland weight was lower in the pinealectomized group (p<0.01) and transplantation had no effect on the weight of this organ; weight of adrenal gland and testis were lower after pinealectomy (p<0.01) but restored back to control levels after transplantation; the mitotic activity in seminiferous tubules increased with pinealectomy and returned back to control indexes after transplantation.Research on hypothalamic catecholaminergic content revealed a diminished histofluorescence in pinealectomized rats which showed a potentiated restoration after transplantation.The innervation of the pineal gland was studied by anterograde and retrograde injections of Wheat Germ Agglutinin Horse Radish Peroxidase from superior cervical ganglion and pineal gland, respectively. It was demonstrated that cell bodies were traced both at the transplanted tissue and hypothalamus.In view of these data, the multifunctional and a probable high level homeostatic harmony regulator essence of pineal gland is discussed.The paper has been awarded the 1993 Upjohn prize for Neurosurgical Research of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.     

The effect of alternate-day low dose prednisolone on bone age in children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome

Radius, ulna, short bones (RUS), carpal (CARP) bone age (BA), tibial corticodiaphyseal (C/D) ratio and trabecular aspect were assessed in 19 children with steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome and 15 age matched healthy children. Both RUS and CARP BA were significantly lower than in the controls. Trabecular aspect and tibial C/D ratio did not show any statistical significance. There was a positive correlation between HSDS and RUS BA delay (r=−0.476, p<0.05); CARP BA delay and RUS BA delay (r=0.563, p<0.01) and RUS BA and CARP BA (r=0.891, p<0.001). In conclusion, RUS and CARP BA are both retarded and positively correlated in steroid dependent nephrotic children.     

Delay of cranial bone regeneration by CO2 and Nd-YAG laser application: an experimental study related to craniosynostosis

In this study we have investigated the negative influence of CO₂ and Nd-YAG laser irradiation on rapid cranial regeneration and whether it has any use in certain types of craniosynostosis. Twenty-two newborn rats were used in the study. Both CO₂ and Nd-YAG laser irradiation, which was applied to free bony edges after, suturectomies, resulted in a significant decrease in skull regeneration. Histopathological examinations revealed severe degeneration caused by both types of laser energies.     

Poly(D,L-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone)/hydroxyapatite composites as bone filler: an in vivo study in rats

In this study, a novel composite bone substitute was implanted in animal models (rats) and their in vivo characteristics were examined. A D,L-lactide and E-caprolactone copolymer (Mw: 80,000; Mn:40,000, and PI:2.00) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of the respective dimers using stannous octoate as the catalyst. The final ratio of D,L-lactide to epsilon-caprolactone obtained by 1NMR was 60/40. Hydroxyapatite (HA) powder was loaded in the copolymer. The HA/copolymer ratio was 60/40 (w/w). These composites were easily shaped by hand. Animal tests were performed on mature wistar rats (n=30). Defects were created on the proximal, the thickest part of the femur. The bone defects of the first group were filled with polymer/HA composite, the second group filled with only HA and the third group was left empty. Histologic examination of bone tissues showed new bone formation around the yellow-green polymer/HA composite material in the first group of animals whereas no evidence of new bone growth was observed in other groups.     

Role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of mucormycosis

Several problems in the management of life-threatening mucormycosis remain unresolved, necessitating new methods of management. Four patients with histopathologically proven rhinocerebral mucormycosis were treated with high cumulative doses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). All had multiple predisposing factors for mucormycosis, particularly leukemia and neutropenia. Two patients refractory to fluconazole therapy were treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The improvement in clinical manifestations was closely related to neutrophil recovery, and all patients were alive at the end of therapy. In addition to surgical debridement and antifungal therapy, G-CSF seems to have played a role in their survival.     

Ossifying fasciitis

A case of ossifying fasciitis occurring in the left femoral region of a 57-year-old male is reported. The patient complained of pain in his left lower extremity which was the site of previous catheterization. During a left femoropopliteal by-pass, a firm and cylindric mass measuring 5 x 3 x 2.5 cm in size was found and extracted from the left groin. Histologically, a reactional lymph node and an irregularly shaped lesion extended into the perinodal fat tissue which is composed of proliferating fibroblasts with occasional mitotic activity. Within this fibroblastic proliferation, immature woven bone composed of osteoid with calcification and chondroid differentiation were seen. Metaplastic bone is an uncommon finding in cases of nodular fasciitis, parosteal fasciitis, cranial fasciitis and florid reactive periostitis. Ossifying fasciitis is known as an uncommon variant of nodular fasciitis. It is an uncommon post-traumatic benign lesion of subcutaneous tissue with an unclear etiology of ossification which is neither related with a bony structure nor contains any muscle tissue. This lesion has been reported only once previously, in the femoral region after a trauma history of catheterization.     

Determination of oxidative stress parameters and DNA fragmentation on post-thawed buck semen in the presence of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficiency of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum on freezing of buck semen. Twenty ejaculates were collected using an electro-ejaculator and split into six groups. While FCS additive was not used in A1, A2 and A3 groups, 10% FCS was added to B1, B2 and B3 groups. These groups were then edited according to whether the buck or ram SP was involved. The design of the groups was done as follows: Group A1 (control 1), group A2 without buck SP, group A3 containing ram SP instead of buck SP. Groups B1 (control 2), B2 and B3 were the FCS added forms of these groups. Progressive sperm motility percentages in Group A1 and Group B2 were found to be higher when compared to the lowest Group B3. There were no significant differences between the groups in neither the levels of reactive oxygen species nor the enzyme and glutathione activities. In conclusion, the lack of statistical difference between the groups suggested that despite the supplements used but only when the buck spermatozoa structure was healthy, the cell could preserve acrosome, DNA and the integrity of membrane.     

An independent indicator of erectile dysfunction is C-reactive protein/albumin ratio

Research has found that, instead of passive lipid-accumulated vascular damage, atherosclerosis which is the primary cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) can be seen as an active inflammatory cycle and that inflammation has a central role in the entire atherosclerotic process. As an inflammatory marker, serum C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) may link to ED and ED severity. The CAR, demographic features and other criteria of 198 patients with ED who visited our outpatient clinic during March 2019–April 2020 were prospectively evaluated. The research also included healthy control subjects without systemic or infectious diseases. The mean difference of CAR between ED and no ED was statistically significant (0.55 ± 0.27 and 0.79 ± 0.49, p = .002 respectively). On the basis of the ROC analysis, CAR has a good ED diagnostic value with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.63 (95% CI:0.541–0.714) and better diagnostic performance to distinguish ED severity (AUC:0.73, 95% CI:0.620–0.842). Additionally, mean CAR gradually increased with increasing severity of ED (for all p < .001). The CAR has been described as an independent ED indicator in the multivariate analysis (p = .001OR = 8.934; 95% CI:2.449–32.583). Increased CAR is associated with ED severity and increased ED risk. For CAR predicting ED and ED severity, a considerable cut-off point was identified.     

The Effect of Tizanidine on Chronic Vasospasm in Rats

Summary ? Background. Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has remained a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with SAH. Excitatory neurotransmitters are gathered in the extracellular space during ischemia due to cerebral vasospasm and initiate or stimulate a series of pathophysiological biochemical processes which consequently lead to neuronal death. Tizanidine (Sandoz compound DS 103–282, 5-chloro-4,2 (2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino)-2,1,3-benzothiazol hydrochloride) is a centrally-acting muscle relaxant and a selective α 2 adrenoreceptor agonist which shows its effect by stimulating presynaptic α 2 adrenoreceptors in central ASPergic and GLUergic system by inhibiting aspartic acid and glutamic acid release. In this study, the effect of Tizanidine on vasospasm was evaluated.  Methods. We used a femoral artery vasospasm model in rats which has been described by Okada et al. 60 rats were examined in three groups. The first group was used as control group (Control) (n=20), in the second group subarachnoid hemorrhage was performed (SAH) (n=20), in the third group Tizanidine was administered in addition to SAH (SAH+Tizanidine administration) (n=20). Animals in SAH+Tizanidine administration group received 0,3 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for 7 days. Seven days after the experiment, after perfusion-fixation, 10 mm segments of both femoral arteries were removed and the femoral artery was prepared for light microscope examination, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and for morphometric analysis.  Results. There was a statistically significant difference between the electron, scanning and light microscopic observations and morphometric analysis of SAH+Tizanidine administration group and SAH group, and no statistically significant difference between SAH+Tizanidine administration group and control group.  Conclusion. This study has disclosed that Tizanidine administration before the vasospasm reduces ultrastructural and morphometric vasospastic insult significantly. However, the clinical application of Tizanidine as a protective and therapeutic agent in cerebral vasospasm needs further studies including the employment of clinically more relevant SAH models.     

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant properties of Cyclotrichium niveum, Thymus praecox subsp. caucasicus var. caucasicus, Echinacea purpurea and E. pallida

The dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of Cyclotrichium niveum (CN) and Thymus praecox subsp. caucasicus var. caucasicus (TP), Echinacea purpurea (EPU), and E. pallida (EPA) along with the essential oils of CN and TP were assessed for their anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and antioxidant activities. AChE inhibition was estimated using spectrophotometric method of Ellman. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferrous ion-chelating power tests. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of CN and TP were also tested. CN essential oil was found to contain isomenthone (56.21%) and pulegone (19.76%). The ethyl acetate (83.11–87.98%) and dichloromethane (73.45–84.02%) extracts of CN showed the highest AChE inhibition. The ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of TP exerted significant DPPH scavenger effect. The water extracts of CN and TP and the chloroform extract of the aerial parts of EPU displayed the highest ferrous ion-chelating effect. The leaf and flower essential oils of TP had the best FRAP.