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<br><b>Introduction:</b> Postoperative peritoneal adhesions that form after abdominal surgery still continue to exist as an unresolved health problem.</br> <br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study is to examine whether omega-3 fish oil has a preventive effect on postoperative peritoneal adhesions.</br> <br><b>Material and methods:</b> Twenty-one female Wistar albino rats were separated into 3 groups (sham, control and experimental), each consisting of 7 rats. In the sham group, only laparotomy was performed. In both the control and experimental group rats, the right parietal peritoneum and cecum were traumatised to form petechiae. Following this procedure, the abdomen was irrigated with omega-3 fish oil in the experimental group. The rats were re-explored on the 14<sup>th</sup> postoperative day and any adhesions were scored. Tissue samples and blood samples were taken for histopathological and biochemical analysis.</br> <br><b>Results:</b> None of the rats that were administered omega-3 fish oil developed macroscopic postoperative peritoneal adhesions (P = 0.005). The omega-3 fish oil formed an anti-adhesive lipid barrier on the injured tissue surfaces. Microscopic evaluation revealed diffuse inflammation with excessive connective tissue and fibroblastic activity in the control group rats, while foreign body reactions were common in the omega-3 rats. The mean amount of hydroxyproline in samples from injured tissues was significantly lower in the omega-3 rats than in the control rats (P = 0.004).</br> <br><b>Conclusion:</b> Intraperitoneal application of omega-3 fish oil prevents postoperative peritoneal adhesions by forming an anti-adhesive lipid barrier on injured tissue surfaces. However, further studies are needed to determine whether this adipose layer is permanent or will be resorbed over time.</br&gt.

Introduction: Postoperative peritoneal adhesions formed after abdominal surgery still continue to exist as an unresolved health problem., Aim: The aim of the present study is to examine whether omega -3 fish oil has a preventive effect on postoperative peritoneal adhesions., Methods: Twenty-one female Wistar-Albino rats were separated into 3 groups (sham, control, and experimental group), each consisting of 7 rats. In sham group, only laparotomy was performed. Both in control and experimental group rats; the right parietal peritoneum and cecum were traumatized to form petechiae. Following this procedure, unlike the control group, the abdomen was irrigated with omega-3 fish oil in the experimental group. Rats were re-explored on the 14th postoperative day and adhesions were scored. Tissue samples and blood samples were taken for histopathological and biochemical analysis., Results: None of the omega-3 fish oil given rats developed macroscopically postoperative peritoneal adhesion (P=0.005). Omega-3 fish oil formed an anti-adhesive lipid barrier on injured tissue surfaces. Microscopic evaluation revealed diffuse inflammation with excessive connective tissue and fibroblastic activity in control group rats while foreign body reactions were common in omega-3 given rats. The mean amount of hydroxyproline in samples from injured tissues was significantly lower in omega-3 given rats than in control rats. (P=0.004)., Conclusion: Intraperitoneal application of omega-3 fish oil prevents postoperative peritoneal adhesions by forming an anti-adhesive lipid barrier on injured tissue surfaces. However, further studies are needed to determine whether this adipose layer is permanent or will be resorbed over time.

Objective: This study investigated effect of zaprinast and avanafil on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenic protein (BMP) 4 and 7, and vitamin D 3 levels against the negative effect of dexamethazone. Method: Rats were randomly divided into four groups ( n  = 6). Control: Empty a syringe was immersed and removed subcutaneously. Dexamethasone (DEX): 120 µg/kg DEX was injected subcutaneously once a day for 28 days. DEX + zaprinast and DEX + avanafil groups: 10 mg/kg zaprinast and avanafil were administrated to rats in addition to the same procedure in the DEX, respectively. VitaminD 3 , VEGF, BMP4 and 7 levels by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and angiogenesis by histopathological/immunohistochemical were evaluated. Results: BMP4 values in the DEX were lower than the other groups ( p  < .05). DEX + zaprinast and DEX + avanafil exhibited an increase in all the parameters compared to the control and DEX ( p  < .05). However, these were not significant for the DEX + zaprinast ( p  > .05). Also, there was a significant increase in angiogenesis in the DEX + zaprinast and DEX + avanafil. Conclusion: Zaprinast and significantly avanafil induced vitamin D 3 , BMP4 and 7 levels by increasing angiogenesis in renal.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of vardenafil, tadalafil, and udenafil from phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5Is) on bone morphogenic-protein (BMP)2 and 4 levels, along with angiogenesis in ovariectomized rat's kidney., Method: Rats were randomly divided into five groups ( n  = 10). Sham: abdomen was opened, and closed. OVX: ovaries were removed. OVX + vardenafil, OVX + tadalafil, and OVX + udenafil groups: ovaries were removed and closed, and after 6 months from postoperative, 10 mg/kg of vardenafil, tadalafil, and udenafil were administrated as daily a single-dose for 60 days, respectively. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations were performed for angiogenesis, and biochemical analysis for vascular endothelial growth-factor (VEGF), VitaminD 3 , BMP2 and 4 levels in rat's kidney., Results: VEGF, BMP2 and 4, VitaminD 3 , and angiogenesis were high in the all inhibitor groups compared with the sham and OVX ( p  < .05). However, BMP4 levels were only high in the OVX + tadalafil group ( p  < .05)., Conclusion: The results indicated that vardenafil, udenafil, and especially tadalafil increased VEGF, BMP2, and VitaminD 3 levels.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between diabetes (DM) and nitrite, nitrate and MDA levels and effect of melatonin and pentoxifylline., Methods: Sixty mice were randomly divided into four groups. Control: no action; Diabetes group (DM): after fasting-blood-glucose (FBG) was measured, 150 mg/kg alloxane was applied intraperitoneally three-times every other day; Diabetes + Melatonin (DM + MLT) and Diabetes + Pentoxifylline groups (DM + PTX): following the same procedures with DM, 10 mg/kg melatonin and 50 mg/kg pentoxifylline were administered subcutaneously six days, respectively. Following FBG analysis, brain tissues were taken under the anaesthesia. Nitrite, nitrate and MDA levels were measured., Results: In the all groups with alloxane, FBG were higher than in before application ( p  < .05). Also, FBG, nitrite, nitrate and MDA levels in the DM + MLT and DM + PTX groups were lower than in the DM ( p  < .05)., Conclusions: Nitrite and nitrate may be related to etiopathogenesis of DM, and pentoxifylline and especially melatonin relatively decrease nitrite, nitrate and lipid peroxidation.

Background: Some biomarkers have been reported to be related to the prognosis of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are sparse data regarding the prognostic value of serum calprotectin in COVID-19 patients., Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum calprotectin level and clinical severity of COVID-19 disease in hospitalized patients., Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional cohort study included 80 consecutive hospitalized patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The study population was divided into two groups as patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) and patients hospitalized but not in the ICU. The serum calprotectin levels, other laboratory, and clinical parameters were compared between groups., Results: The mean age of the patients was 66.5 ± 15.7 years. Of the patients, 42 were in the ICU and 38 were not. Serum calprotectin level and acute-phase reactants such as C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, fibrinogen, and white blood cell were significantly higher in ICU patients than in non-ICU patients. ROC curve analysis identified that serum calprotectin level was a predictor for ICU requirement with an area under the curve of 0.641 (p = 0.031). Logistic regression analysis revealed that serum calprotectin was a significant determinant for whether or not patient required the ICU., Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that serum calprotectin level seems to be a useful biomarker that can predict the severity of COVID-19 disease. Serum calprotectin is a significant predictor of ICU requirement in patients with COVID-19., (© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.)

Background/aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate serum pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels in Sars-CoV-2 virus infection (COVID-19) patients and to investigate whether PTX-3 predicts the disease prognosis., Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 88 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized due to symptomatic pneumonia between April 15 and August 15, 2020. The patients were divided into two groups as survived patients and non-survived patients. Both groups were compared according to demographic features, comorbid conditions and measurement of the PTX-3 and other laboratory parameters of the patients., Results: Of 88 patients with COVID-19, 59 (67%) were discharged with complete cure and 29 (33%) resulted in death. 46 (52.3%) of the patients were men. PTX-3 median value (IQR) was 3.66 ng/mL (0.9–27.9) in all patients, 3.3 ng/mL (0.9–27.9) in survivors and 3.91 ng/mL (1.9–23.2) in nonsurvivors which was significantly higher (P = 0.045). As a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis the cut-off value of PTX-3 for predicting mortality in patients was 3.73 with 65% sensitivity and 65% specificity (AUC: 0.646, 95% CI: 0.525– 0.767, P = 0.045). Also, we found significant cut-off values with respect to D-dimer, D-dimer/PTX-3, high-sensitivity troponin, high- sensitivity troponin/PTX-3, lymphocyte, PTX-3/lymphocyte, procalcitonin, procalcitonin/PTX-3, CRP, and CRP/PTX-3 (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: In this study, as far as we know, for the first time, we have shown PTX-3 as the new mortality biomarker for COVID-19 disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

Background Urine amino acid analysis is used for the assessment of various diseases. The aim of this study was to estimate the valid biological variation (BV) components (within- and between-subjects) required for the safe clinical application of free urine amino acids. Methods First morning void urine samples were taken from 12 healthy subjects (five females, seven males) once a week for 10 consecutive weeks, and amino acid analysis was performed using an Agilent 6470 triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer instrument. The obtained data were subjected to normality, outlier and variance homogeneity analyses prior to coefficient of variation (CV) analysis. Within- and between-subject BV values (CVI and CVG) of 39 amino acids were determined for all subjects. In addition, the index of individuality (II), reference change value (RCV), imprecision, bias and total error were estimated using BV data obtained from our study. Results The CVI values ranged from 8.9 (histidine) to 36.8% (trans-4-hydroxyprolin), while the CVG values ranged from 25.0 (1-methyl-L-histidine) to 63.3% (phenylalanine). The II value of most amino acids was less than 0.6 and ranged between 0.21 and 0.88. The imprecision, bias and total error ranged between 4.45 and 16.6, between 7.69 and 16.6, and between 18.4 and 43.2, respectively. Conclusions This study, designed according to a rigorous protocol, has the feature of being the first to give information about BV data of urine amino acids. We believe that the reference intervals have a limitation in the evaluation of consecutive results from an individual, so the use of RCV would be more appropriate.

Objectives: Agmatine is a cationic amine resulting from the decarboxylation of l-arginine. Agmatine has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, and anti-depressant properties. In this study, plasma agmatine, arginine decarboxylase, and agmatinase levels were measured during manic episode and remission period in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers and 30 patients who meet Bipolar Disorder Manic Episode diagnostic criteria were included in the study. Additionally, the changes in the patient group between manic episode and remission period were examined. We evaluated the relationship between levels of l-arginine and arginine decarboxylase in the agmatine synthesis pathway, and level of agmatinase that degrades agmatine. Results: Levels of agmatine and l-arginine were significantly increased than control group during manic episode ( p  < .01). All parameters were increased during manic episode compared to remission period ( p  < .05). Agmatinase was significantly decreased both during manic episode ( p  < .01) and remission period ( p  < .05) in comparison to the control group. Arginine decarboxylase levels did not show a significant difference between the groups ( p  > .05). Conclusions: This study indicate that there may be a relationship between bipolar disorder and agmatine and its metabolic pathway. Nonetheless, we believe more comprehensive studies are needed in order to reveal the role of agmatine in etiology of bipolar disorder. Key points Agmantine, agmatinase, l-arginine and arginine decarboxylase levels in BD have not been explored before. Various neuro-chemical mechanisms act to increase agmatine in BD; however, agmatine could have elevated to compensate agmatine deficit prior to the manifestation of the disease as in schizophrenia. Elevated agmatine degradation resulting from excess expression of agmatinase which is suggested to be effective in pathogenesis of mood disorders was compensated by this way. Elevated agmatine may be one of the causes which play a role in mania development. Elevated agmatine levels are also suggested to trigger psychosis and be related with the etiology of manic episode and lead to BD.

Objective: To determine levels of trace elements [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and cobalt (Co)] and heavy metals [arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)] in the plasma of mothers and infants and investigate the relationship between those levels and neural tube defects (NTD)., Methods: A total of 100 neonates diagnosed with NTD and placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey between May 2013 and December 2016 comprised the study group. The control group consisted of 70 healthy neonates not diagnosed with NTD or any other congenital anomalies. For both the groups, mother and infant plasma levels of Cu, Zn, Co, Cd, Se, Hg, As, and Pb were measured and compared. Plasma levels of Cu, Zn, Co, Cd, Se, Hg, As, and Pb were measured and compared between two groups of mothers and infants., Findings: Mother and infant plasma levels of trace elements Zn and Se were determined to be significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group, while Cu levels were significant elevated in the study group (all p values < .05). Plasma levels of heavy metals As, Pb, and Cd were found to be significantly higher in the NTD control group (p < .05 for all). There was no association between maternal infection, maternal smoking status, history of miscarriage, or history of NTD with the development of NTD (p > .05). Differences in maternal age, birth weight, length of gestation, and infant gender for the two groups were also determined not to be statistically significant., Results: High plasma levels of heavy metals As, Pb, and Cd and trace element Cu were identified as risk factors for the development of NTD. At the same time, low plasma levels of trace elements Zn and Se were also found to be risk factors for NTD. However, no association between Hg and Co plasma levels and increased risk for the development of NTD was observed. This study, while being the most comprehensive case study to date investigating the relationship between heavy metals and trace element levels and increased risk of NTD, nonetheless highlights the need for further research in order to make definite statements regarding this relationship.

Objective In stored red blood cells (RBCs), which are used in diseases (e.g., acute blood loss and leukaemia), storage lesions arise by oxidative stress and other factors over time. This study investigated the protective effects of resveratrol and serotonin on stored RBCs. Methods Blood from each donor (n = 10) was placed in different bags containing 70 mL of citrate phosphate dextrose (total volume: 500 mL) and divided into three groups (n = 30): control, 60 µg/mL resveratrol, and 60 µg/mL serotonin. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase, and carbonic anhydrase (CA), and susceptibility to oxidation in RBCs, and pH in whole blood were measured at baseline and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results MDA levels and susceptibility to oxidation were increased in all three groups time-dependently, but this increase was greater in the serotonin group than in the other groups. Activity of GSH-Px, CAT, and CA, as well as GSH levels, were decreased in the control and serotonin groups time-dependently, but were significantly preserved in the resveratrol group. The pH was decreased in all groups time-dependently. Conclusion Our study shows that resveratrol attenuates susceptibility to oxidation of RBCs and protects their antioxidant capacity, and partially preserves CA activity time-dependently.

Oxidative stress had a great importance in development of complications in diabetes. We investigated effects of melatonin and pentoxifylline in diabetic mice. Swiss albino mice (n = 40) were divided into four groups: alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus (DM), alloxan-induced diabetes with melatonin supplementation (DM + MLT), alloxan-induced diabetes with pentoxifylline supplementation (DM + PTX), and control. Glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and susceptibility to oxidation of erythrocytes were measured. MDA levels were higher than control in the DM and DM + MLT. The DM had more MDA level than the DM + MLT and DM + PTX (P < 0.001). After in vitro oxidation, MDA levels of all groups were found higher than the control. However, they were significantly lower than the DM in DM + PTX and DM + MLT (P < 0.001). Although GSH levels of the DM and DM + PTX were less than the control, GSH-Px activity of the DM was lower than the control and DM + PTX (P < 0.05). We suggest that there is increased oxidative stress and compromised antioxidant status of erythrocytes in diabetes; however, it can be effectively prevented by melatonin or pentoxifylline supplementation., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem associated with many factors, and it affects more than 50% of women over 50 years old. In the current study, our purpose was to investigate the effects of phosphodiestarase-5 inhibitors on osteoporosis via the nitric oxide/3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate/protein kinase G signalling pathway. A total of 50 female albino Wistar rats were separated into five groups. The first group was appointed as the healthy control group with no ovariectomy. All animals in the other groups underwent a bilateral ovariectomy. Six months after the ovariectomy, vardenafil, udenafil and tadalafil were given to the third, fourth and fifth groups, respectively, but were not administered to the positive control group (10 mg/kg per day for two months). The bone mineral density values were determined using a densitometry apparatus for all groups pre- and post-ovariectomy as well as after treatment. The levels of nitric oxide, endothelial nitric oxidesynthase, asymmetric dimethylarginine, 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate, protein kinase G, phosphodiestarase-5, pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline, carboxyterminal telopeptide fragments and plasma carboxy terminal propeptide of type I collagen were determined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine, deoxyguanosine and coenzyme Q10 were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Additionally, the right femoral trabecular bone density and the epiphyseal plate were measured in all groups. Angiogenesis was histologically observed in the bone tissue. In addition, we determined that the inhibitors may have caused a positive impact on the increased bone mass density and reduction of bone resorption markers. We also observed the positive effects of these inhibitors on oxidative stress. In conclusion, these phosphodiestarase-5 inhibitors increase angiogenesis in bone tissue and improve the re-formation rate of bone in rats with osteoporosis. Chemical compounds studied in this article Udenafil (PubChem CID: 6918523); Tadalafil (PubChem CID: 110635); Vardanafil (PubCham CID: 110634). Impact statement The results in our study appear to establish the osteoporosis model and provide evidence of the positive effects of three separate PDE5 inhibitors (vardenafil, udenafil, and tadalafil). The positive effects of these PDE5 inhibitors are investigated and demonstrated by the bone mass density and bone resorption markers. These effects are associated with significant demonstrated antioxidant activities. Osteoporosis is a significant major public health problem especially in more aged populations. Advances in identifying and understanding new potential therapeutic modalities for this disease are significant. This study provides such an advance.

It has been reported that many modifications occur with the increase of oxidative stress during storage in erythrocytes. In order to delay these negative changes, we evaluated whether the addition of substances likely to protect antioxidant capacity in stored blood would be useful. Therefore, we investigated the effects of resveratrol, tannic acid, and caffeic acid in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of erythrocytes in stored blood. Donated blood was taken into four CPD containing blood bags. One bag was used as the control, and the others were supplemented with caffeic acid (30 μg/mL), resveratrol (30 μg/mL), and tannic acid (15 μg/mL), respectively. Erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, sensitivity to oxidation, glutathione levels and carbonic anhydrase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities were measured on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. In the control group, erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels and sensitivity to oxidation were increased whereas glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase levels were decreased (p < 0.05). Resveratrol and caffeic acid prevented malondialdehyde accumulation and preserved glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities in erythrocytes. We demonstrated that resveratrol, caffeic acid, and tannic acid in stored blood could decrease the sensitivity to oxidation of erythrocytes in vitro but did not exhibit such effects on CA activity.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of melatonin and propofol in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of erythrocytes in stored bloods., Design and Methods: Donated blood was taken into three citrate-phosphate-dextrose containing blood bags. One bag was used as control, the others were added either melatonin or propofol. Erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity and their sensitivity to in vitro oxidation were measured on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28., Results: In control group, erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels and sensitivity to in vitro oxidation were increased whereas glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels were decreased. Melatonin prevented malondialdehyde accumulation and preserved glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels. Propofol preserved glutathione and glutathione peroxidase levels but did not affect catalase and superoxide dismutase activities., Conclusions: We showed that melatonin in stored blood could prevent lipid peroxidation and increase the resistance of erythrocytes to in vitro oxidation while propofol did not show such effects., (Copyright © 2012 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)