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Introduction Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and nitric oxide (NO) show their mechanism of action reciprocally, the balance between these molecules contributes to the tight regulation of airways tone and function. Objectives The aim of this study to determine the serum levels of ADMA and NO in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and establish whether their level vary in relation to forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), to assess their role in pathophysiology of COPD. Materials and Methods This study consisted of 58 patients with COPD and 30 healthy subjects. Serum ADMA and NO levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the colorimetric method, respectively. Results Serum ADMA levels were significantly higher, however, NO levels were lower in patients with COPD compared with controls. ADMA levels were inversely correlated with NO levels. Serum ADMA and NO were significantly correlated with FEV1. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that serum ADMA and NO were independently and significantly associated with the presence of COPD. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that COPD was positively associated with ADMA, additionally COPD and ADMA were independently and inversely associated with NO. NO levels were decreased, ADMA levels were increased compliant with progression of COPD stages. Conclusion While circulating ADMA is higher, NO is lower in COPD and both show a strong correlation to the degree of airflow limitation. ADMA seems to be a possible new marker of prognosis of COPD and can be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This aim of the study is to investigate whether there are possible plasma urotensin-II (U-II) and neurokinin B (NKB) level changes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or not and plasma urotensin-II (U-II) and neurokinin B (NKB) level changes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and to evaluate whether there is any relationship between these changes and the pathogenesis of these diseases. Methods: This is a prospective case-control study. Three groups were formed from randomly admitted patients with AMI, stable CAD, and controls. Biochemical parameters and U-II and NKB levels were measured. Patients with congestive heart failure, chronic hepatic and renal failure, severe cardiac valve disease, and severe pulmonary hypertension were excluded from the study. The normality of the data was evaluated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. We compared the three groups with one-way ANOVA and Tukey test (Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test). Results: Compared with controls (n=31) and CAD patients (n=32), AMI patients (n=32) had lower U-II and NKB levels. In cases of stable CAD, U-II and NKB levels were similar. A positive correlation was found between U-II and NKB (r=0.720; p=0.000). U-II and NKB were poorly correlated with left ventricle ejection fraction but not with C-reactive protein. Conclusion: We found that U-II and NKB levels were lower in patients with AMİ in than those with CAD or the control group. According to our findings, the decreased U-II and NKB levels were related to complicated atherosclerotic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: To determine whether macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in patients with hepatitis B (HB) are different than in normal individuals and whether the HB surface antigen (HBs Ag) level and viral load are correlated with each other and with the two aforementioned parameters. Materials and methods: Sera were obtained from 52 chronic active HB (CAHB) patients and 33 healthy controls, and their MIF and MCP-1 levels were measured. Statistical analyses were performed. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The MIF and MCP-1 values of the control group were increased compared to those of the CAHB group. The MIF and MCP-1 levels were negatively correlated with HBs Ag levels and viral loads. The MIF and MCP-1 levels were positively correlated. The HBs Ag levels and the log10 of the viral loads were positively correlated. Conclusion: We conclude that the negative correlation of MIF and MCP-1 with viral load and HBs Ag levels may be due to T-cell deficiency, antinuclear antibody seropositivity, and/or inhibition of chemokine ligand 2 receptors by viral antigens. More studies with a greater number of subjects are needed to evaluate the potential role of MIF and MCP in CAHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional disorder of the bowel, has been thought to result from immune activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MMIF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in IBS patients. Materials and methods: We enrolled 30 IBS patients and 30 healthy controls. The MMIF and MCP-1 levels of all patients and controls were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: Serum MMIF and MCP-1 levels were markedly higher in IBS patients than in controls. White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion: These results show that alterations in MMIF and MCP-1 affect the proinflammatory process. They also suggest that MMIF and MCP-1 may play a substantial role in IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to research whether gensini scoring of white blood cells and their subgroups and hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Htc), erythroscyte and their computational tests are related, through retrospectively evaluating complete blood cell counts of patients who underwent coronary angiography with coronary artery disease (CAD) early diagnosis. Files of 267 patients, 113 women and 154 men over the age of 18, who came to Namık Kemal University Research and Practice Hospital in August 2011 and January 2012 and underwent coronary angiography with CAD early diagnosis, were scanned retrospectively. Patients were grouped as angio-negative (ANG) and angio-positive (APG) according to coronary angiography results. Gensini Scoring was done in APG patients according to angiography results. Hemogram values studied before coronery angiography as well as age, gender and other diseases of patients in both groups were recorded. When ANG and APG erythrocytic parameters were compared, Hb and Htc values did not differ significantly between groups while a significant difference was observed in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values. White blood cell count, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were significantly higher in APG compared to ANG. Eosinophil and basophil values and thrombocytic parameters did not differ significantly between groups. A positive correlation was observed between Gensini Score and MCV, MCH, WBC (leukocyte), neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte. Consequently, our findings suggest that erythrocyte has a role in CAD pathogenesis like other blood cells or factors in CAD pathogenesis might affect erythrocyte morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate glucose screening and oral glucose tolerance test results, and to assess the prevalence of gestational diabetes in pregnant patients admitted to our hospital. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Sema Hospital in İstanbul, Turkey. The study subjects were recruited between January 2006 and August 2009. A glucose challenge test (GCT) was given to 1681 pregnant women and based on the results 494 went on to take an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was made according to the criteria defined by the National Diabetes Data Group. Results: Out of the 1681 pregnant women tested, 58 were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Pregnant women with GDM had GCT results greater than or equal to 145 mg/dL. While the percentage of GCT false positives was 87.8% when the cut-off value was taken to be 140 mg/dL, it was calculated to be 84.3% when the cut-off value was taken to be 145 mg/dL. For the 140 mg/dL cut-off value of GCT, specificity was 100% and sensitivity was 4.3%, and for the 145 mg/dL cut-off value of GCT, specificity was 98.3% and sensitivity was 28.3%. Conclusion: The prevalence value in this study was calculated at 3.45%. Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM had GCT results higher than 145 mg/dL. When the cut-off value was increased from 140 mg/dL to 145 mg/dL, a decrease was observed in false positives, and an increase was observed in sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAim:Our purpose was to investigate the possible roles of nitrite levels and the activity of paraoxonase (PON), xanthine oxidase (XO) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. Methods:Serum samples were taken from 43 patients with PEX and 41 control subjects. The serum PON, XO and ADA activities and nitrite levels were assayed by spectrophotometric methods. Results:The PON, ADA and XO activities and nitrite levels (means ± standard deviation) were 81.72 ± 42.56 U/ml, 19.75 ± 5.72 U/l, 0.16 ± 0.09 U/l and 94.23 ± 27.72 μmol/l in the PEX group, respectively. In the control group, the PON, ADA and XO activities and the nitrite levels were 111.02 ± 43.51 U/ml, 15.21 ± 3.93 U/l, 0.13 ± 0.06 U/l and 61.96 ± 19.05 μmol/l, respectively. The serum PON activity was significantly lower in the PEX group when compared with the control group. The serum XO and ADA activities and nitrite levels were significantly higher in the patients with PEX when compared with the control subjects. Conclusion:Decreased PON (an antioxidant enzyme) activity as well as increased ADA and XO activities and nitrite levels indicate that oxidative stress is increased and purine metabolism is altered in PEX syndrome.Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the oxidant/antioxidant status and protein oxidation in pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Methods: The activity of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) were measured in 50 patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and in 55 healthy controls. Results: There was significant difference in the SOD activity in PEX group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, MDA and PC levels were significantly higher in patients than in the controls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Decrease in SOD activity and the higher levels of MDA and PC indicate increased oxidative stress. Our results suggest a possible role of oxidative stress in pathology of PEX syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate effects of melatonin on sodium selenite-induced cataract formation. Methods: Twenty-three Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomized into three groups. Group 1(n = 9), injected with selenite (s.c.) on postpartum day 10; group 2 (n = 7), injected with selenite (s.c.) on day 10 plus melatonin (i.p.) on days 8–15; group 3 (n = 7), saline-injected controls. Development of cataract was assessed weekly under a dissection microscope. Rat lenses and serums were analyzed for antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); oxidative stress indicators xanthine oxidase (XO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation; and protein carbonyl (PC), a marker of protein oxidation. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen in cataract development by the three groups. All rats developed dense nuclear cataract in group 1. Dense nuclear cataract was not observed in group 2: five of seven rats developed minor cataracts, while the other two had clear lenses. In control rats (group 3), all lenses remained clear. In selenite group (group 1), lens and serum levels of MDA, PC, and XO were significantly higher and levels of SOD and CAT were significantly lower than those in control group (p < 0.001). In selenite+melatonin group (group 2), lens and serum levels of MDA, PC, and XO significantly decreased and levels of SOD and CAT significantly increased when compared with selenite group. Conclusions: Studies with the rat selenite cataract model strongly support the activity of melatonin as an endogenous antioxidant and anticataract agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. The exact role of the leukocytes in the pathogenesis of RAS is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the oxidative system in neutophils of RAS patients. A total of 26 patients and 22 sex and age matched healthy control subjects were analyzed by measuring intracellular oxidant/antioxidant enzymes and related parameters; myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase (AD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Statistically significant increases in the activities of SOD, CAT and levels of MDA, NO were detected in the neutrophils of patients. There was no significant difference in MPO, AD and XO activities of neutrophils. Although the functions of neutrophils were normal, there may be an oxidative stress affecting neutrophils in RAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the primary target of organophosphorus insecticides (OPs), increasing evidence regarding their secondary effects suggests that OPs disturb homeostasis of insects by generating free radical intermediates that trigger lipid peroxidation. We therefore investigated alterations in lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, in conjunction with AChE activity as biochemical stress indicators in greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) larvae for OPs methyl parathion (MP) and ethyl parathion (EP). The effects of MP and EP were first investigated by rearing the young larvae on an artificial diet containing 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ppm of each insecticide. Second, the mature larvae were injected with 0.05, 0.5, 5, 50, and 500 ng of insecticides for determining the changes in biochemical stress responses. The diet with lowest level of MP significantly decreased the activities of all measured enzymes, whereas it increased MDA content. However ALT and AST were significantly higher in the larvae reared with the diet with high levels of MP than in control larvae. All tested levels of MP resulted in a decrease in AChE activity. The lowest level of EP in diet (0.01 ppm) significantly increased ALT activity, whereas it reduced that of AChE. This insecticide at 0.1 ppm resulted in reduced AST activity, but 1 ppm in diet elevated AST activity and MDA content. EP at 0.1 ppm and higher levels in the diet reduced ALT activity. All dietary EP levels significantly decreased AChE activity. ALT, AST, and AChE were lower in larvae fed with the diet containing 100 ppm ethyl parathion compared with larvae on control diet. MP at 50 ng per larva increased ALT and AST activities from 35.42 ± 0.74 and 26.34 ± 0.83 to 203.57 ± 1.09, and 122.90 ± 1.21 U/g, respectively, when the mature larvae were injected. All injected doses of... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Brief episodes of ischemia followed by periods of reperfusion generate a powerful protective mechanism in cell, tissue or organ, which increase the resistance to further ischemic damage. This is known as ischemic preconditioning, and has not been investigated in testis. The present experiments were undertaken to determine whether early phase of ischemic preconditioning is evident in rat testis. Materials and Methods: Surgery was conducted under thiopental (60 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) anesthesia in male Wistar rats. Surgical procedures were performed through a midline incision. Group 1 was designed as a sham group. In group 2, which served as the ischemia group, the animals were subjected to unilateral testicular torsion by rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction. Then, this testis was maintained in the torsion position by fixing with a silk suture to the scrotal wall for 90 min. In groups 3 and 4, 5 or 10 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion was introduced, respectively, to induce single cycle ischemic preconditioning. In group 5, which served as the multiple cycle preconditioning group, 3 cycles of 10 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion were applied prior to 90 min ischemia. Both ipsilateral and contralateral testes were removed from the rats at the end of the experimental periods, and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels, xanthine oxidase (XO), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured. Both testes were also evaluated histologically, assessing interstitial edema, congestion, hemorrhages, rupture of tubules and Leydig cell proliferation. Results: 90 min ischemia produced a marked increase in MDA level in left testis. However, all ischemic preconditioning protocols used in this study did not show any significant modification in MDA, NO levels or XO, MPO and SOD activities. Histological grading scale was also similar in ischemia and preconditioning groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that there are no protective effects with ischemic preconditioning in rat testis as showed by biochemical analysis and histological examinations. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to research the protective effect of omega (w)-3 fatty acids on doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group I was used as control and only saline was given by intragastric gavage. Group II received doxorubicin at the dose of 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally in 28th day. Group III was given w-3 fatty acids at the dose of 400 mg/kg daily by intragastric gavage for 30 days and received doxorubicin at the dose of 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally in 28th day. At the end of the 30 day experimental period, the serum, liver and kidney tissue specimens taken from animals under general anesthesia. GSH and MDA levels in serum and GSH and MDA levels and SOD and GSH-PX activities in liver and kidney tissues were measured spectrophotometrically. In our study, a significant increase in MDA levels of rats given doxorubicin was observed and a significant decrease in the levels of GSH and SOD and GSH-Px activities in serum, liver and kidney tissues were determined compared with control group. In addition, a significant decrease was observed in MDA levels of rats given w-3 fatty acids with doxorubicin and a significant increase was determined in the levels of GSH and SOD and GSH-Px activities in serum, liver and kidney tissues, compared with doxorubicin group. We concluded that w-3 fatty acid had favorable effects in rat liver and kidney tissues by preventing oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bu çalışma, antikanser ilaç olan doksorubisinin yol açtığı akut karaciğer ve böbrek hasarı ve bu hasara karşı omega (w)-3 yağ asitlerinin koruyucu etkisini araştırmak amacı ile planlandı. Çalışmada 24 adet Sprague-Dawley cinsi erişkin erkek sıçan 8'er hayvandan oluşan 3 gruba ayrıldı. I. grupdaki sıçanlar kontrol grubu olarak alındı ve sadece intragastrik gavaj yoluyla serum fizyolojik verildi. II. grupdaki sıçanlar doksorubisin grubu olarak alındı ve 28. günde 30 mg/kg tek doz doksorubisin intraperitoneal olarak verildi. III. grupdaki sıçanlar ise doksorubisin ve w-3 yağ asiti grubu olarak alındı ve günlük 400 mg/kg dozunda w-3 yağ asiti intragastrik gavaj yoluyla 30 gün boyunca ve 28. günde de 30 mg/ kg tek doz doksorubisin intraperitoneal olarak verildi. 30 günlük deney süresi sonunda tüm sıçanlardan genel anestezi altında kan, karaciğer ve böbrek doku örnekleri alındı. Hayvanlardan alınan kan örneklerinde GSH ve MDA düzeyleri, karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında GSH ve MDA düzeyleri ile SOD ve GSH-Px aktiviteleri spektrofotometrik olarak ölçüldü. Çalışmamızda, sadece doksorubisin verilen sıçanların serum, karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında, MDA düzeyleri kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı derecede artarken, GSH düzeyi ile GSH-Px ve SOD aktiviteleri kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak azaldı. Doksorubisin ile birlikte w-3 yağ asidi verilen sıçanların serum, karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında MDA düzeyleri doksorubisin verilen grubu göre anlamlı derecede azalırken, GSH düzeyi ile GSH-Px ve SOD aktiviteleri anlamlı derecede arttı. Sonuç olarak omega-3 yağ asitlerinin sıçan karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında doksorubisinin neden olduğu oksidatif hasarı önleyerek olumlu etki gösterdiği tespit edildi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Although influenza A causes flu epidemics every year, in 2009 the virus named influenza A H1N1 caused a pandemic. Mortality rates were reported higher than expected due to secondary infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate cytopenia which is one of the hematologic complications in patients who present with flu symptoms and are positive for influenza A H1N1. Method: 503 patients presenting at our Pediatrics Clinic with flu symptoms in November and December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed for epidemiologic and hematologic findings. The diagnosis of H1N1 was made with antigen tests studied on the nasopharyngeal swab. Result: 269 cases were male and 234 were female. Mean age of the patients was 8.8 years (six months- 17 years). 149 of 503 cases (29.6%) were positive for influenza A and 354 cases (70.4%) were negative. Sixty-three (42%) of positive cases underwent full blood count. Nine (14.3%) of these had leucopenia, 12 (19%) had neutropenia and 10 (15.9%) had lymphopenia. Hemogram was performed on 120 cases who were negative for influenza A. Only three (2.5%) of these had leucopenia, 2 cases (1.7%) had neutropenia and 1 case (0.8%) had lymphopenia. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.004, p<0.001, p<0.001). None of the cases had anemia or thrombocytopenia. Cytopenia resolved in the follow-up with the disappearance of symptoms and there was no permanent morbidity in any of the cases. Conclusion: Influenza A H1N1 infection leads to leucopenia but does not cause permanent cytopenia. Key words: Influenza A, H1N1, cytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Our purpose was to investigate the possible roles of nitrite levels and the activity of paraoxonase (PON), xanthine oxidase (XO) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome., Methods: Serum samples were taken from 43 patients with PEX and 41 control subjects. The serum PON, XO and ADA activities and nitrite levels were assayed by spectrophotometric methods., Results: The PON, ADA and XO activities and nitrite levels (means +/- standard deviation) were 81.72 +/- 42.56 U/ml, 19.75 +/- 5.72 U/l, 0.16 +/- 0.09 U/l and 94.23 +/- 27.72 micromol/l in the PEX group, respectively. In the control group, the PON, ADA and XO activities and the nitrite levels were 111.02 +/- 43.51 U/ml, 15.21 +/- 3.93 U/l, 0.13 +/- 0.06 U/l and 61.96 +/- 19.05 micromol/l, respectively. The serum PON activity was significantly lower in the PEX group when compared with the control group. The serum XO and ADA activities and nitrite levels were significantly higher in the patients with PEX when compared with the control subjects., Conclusion: Decreased PON (an antioxidant enzyme) activity as well as increased ADA and XO activities and nitrite levels indicate that oxidative stress is increased and purine metabolism is altered in PEX syndrome.

Purpose: To determine the concentration of hydroxyproline (Hyp) in aqueous humor and serum samples of patients with and without pseudoexfoliation (PEX)., Patients and Methods: Aqueous humor and serum Hyp levels were measured in cataract patients. Patients were divided into PEX and control groups. Samples were obtained from 27 cataract patients with PEX and 25 cataract patients without PEX. Patients had no elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma. Hyp concentration was determined spectrophotometrically., Results: Mean Hyp concentration in the PEX aqueous (0.86+/-0.27 mg/L) and serum (40.8+/-6.14 mg/L) samples was significantly higher than that measured in the control aqueous (0.56+/-0.2 mg/L) and serum (34.51+/-6.82 mg/L) samples, respectively (P<0.001, P=0.001). No significant correlation could be found between aqueous humor and serum Hyp concentrations., Conclusions: The higher levels of Hyp could be a sign of increased collagen turnover in PEX syndrome.

Background: The pathophysiology of alopecia areata (AA) has not been clearly defined; however, it appears as a tissue-restricted autoimmune disease mediated by T lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical studies have shown peri- and infra-follicular inflammatory infiltrate which damages hair follicles. We analyzed the role of lipid peroxidation and oxidant-antioxidant enzymes in the pathogenesis of AA., Material/methods: Twenty-four patients with AA and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We analyzed serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and the serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in patients with AA and control subjects., Results: The levels of MDA and NO (nitrite/nitrate) and the activity of XO in serum of patients with AA (0.76+/-0.34 nmol/ml, 14.88+/-6.40 nmol/ml, and 0.34+/-0.10 U/ml, respectively) were significantly higher than those of controls (0.35+/-0.09 nmol/ml, 10.71+/-1.75 nmol/ml, 0.11+/-0.03 U/ml; p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). The SOD activity (12.95+/-2.16 U/ml) in the serum of patients with AA was significantly lower than that of controls (14.89+/-2.29 U/ml, p<0.05)., Conclusions: Increased lipid peroxidation in AA may be related to an increase in NO level and XO activity and a decrease in SOD activity. These results suggest that lipid peroxidation and alterations in the oxidant-antioxidant enzymatic system may play a role in the pathogenesis of AA.

Oxygen-derived free radicals impair cell membrane functions and induce circulatory disturbances, and free radicals, such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and peroxynitrite, have been suggested to play important roles in the pathogenesis of major burn injuries. The present study investigated the effects of thermal injury on erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status and investigated the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a new antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, in rats subjected to thermal injury. Burn injury caused a remarkable increase in erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, levels of nitric oxide (NO), and activities of antioxidant enzymes and xanthine oxidase (XO). The treatment with CAPE decreased both activity of burn-induced XO activity and levels of NO in the erythrocytes. In conclusion, CAPE treatment resulted in decreased erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in thermal injury and helped to prevent oxidative damage by decreasing activity of XO and levels of NO.

Background/aims: This study was designed to determine the effects of different surgeons on the experimental anastomosis studied in rats., Methodology: Sixteen Wistar-albino rats were equally separated into two groups. The rats operated on by the first surgeon were coded Group 1 and operated on by the other surgeon were coded Group 2. Both surgeons were trained on the gastrointestinal surgery. The procedure of the study were standardized and dictated to the surgeons. Bursting pressure and tissue hydroxyproline content were determined as parameters of the anastomotic strength and healing on the seventh day postoperatively., Results: The bursting pressures were measured with a digital manometer and anastomotic lines were removed to measure tissue hydroxyproline level. While hydroxyproline value in the first group was 105.60 +/- 9.43 microg/mg dry tissue, it was found to be 104.02 +/- 17.26 microg/mg dry tissue in the second group and this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.521). The bursting pressure was determined as 240.71 +/- 11.65 mmHg in the first group, 190.75 +/- 14.09 mmHg in the second group and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). The anastomotic resistances to intraluminal pressure were found statistically different whereas tissue hydroxyproline levels were normal between the groups., Conclusions: These results make us to consider mechanical differences occur related to the surgeons in the studies performed with the same technical detail.

Background/aims: This study was designed to determine whether there exists a difference between in vivo and in vitro measurements of bursting pressure (BP) of experimental intestinal anastomosis studied in Wistar-albino rats., Methodology: In the first group (n=8), the BP was measured using in vivo method without detaching the adhesions around the anastomosis. BP was determined with digital manometer, and then anastomotic region was removed to measure tissue hydroxyproline (HP) levels. In the second group (n=8), the BP was measured with in vitro method after the segment of intestine including the anastomosis was dissected and isolated. The isolated specimen was then submerged in a normal saline bath. BP was determined with a digital manometer and anastomotic region was removed to measure tissue HP levels., Results: While HP value in the first group was 105.60 +/- 9.43 microg/mg dry tissue, it was found to be 121.11 +/- 16.26 microg/mg dry tissue in the second group and this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.195). The BP was determined as 240.71 +/- 11.65 mmHg in the first group, 144.71 +/- 16.41 mmHg in the second group and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). The anastomotic resistances to intraluminal pressure were found to be statistically different whereas tissue HP levels were normal between the groups., Conclusions: These results make us consider that mechanical changes occur about the isolated anastomotic line and dissection of adhesions weakens the anastomosis.