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Objectives: This study investigated the effects of 18bglycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on neuronal damage in brain tissue caused by global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in C57BL/J6 mice. Methods: In this study we used 40 C57BL/J6 mice and they were randomly divided into four equal groups (n=10). Shamoperated (SH), I/R, GA (100 mg/kg/day/orally), and I/R+GA. Tissue samples were taken for the determination of biochemical and histological changes at the end of 10th day. Brain samples were processed by routine tissue techniques and embedded in paraffin. 5-Im thick sections of tissues were cut, mounted on slides, stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E). For immunohistochemical analysis, we used Caspase-3 for determination apoptosis. Sections were examined under a Leica DFC280 light microscope by Leica Q Win and Image Analysis System (Leica Micros Imaging Solutions Ltd.; Cambridge, U.K). Biochemical analysis (TBARS, SOD, CAT, GPx ve GSH) was performed by spectrophotometric methods. Results: Cerebral I/R significantly induced oxidative stress via an increase in lipid peroxidaitons (decrease TBARS levels) and a decrease in elements of the antioxidant defense systems (CAT, GPx, SOD, GSH).With histopathological evaluation, we detected focal ischemia areas in cerebral cortex, vascular congestion, mononuclear cell infiltration, shrinkage of the cytoplasm, and extensively dark pyknotic nuclei were observed in the neurons. I/R+GA group, histopathological findings were significantly decreased compared with I/R group. Conclusion: In conclusion, the global I / R causing histological damage and oxidative stress in brain tissue, however GA application eliminates the toxic effects. As a result, GA application were found to be protective against I / R-induced toxic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) and cisplatin (CiSP) exposure via the activation of TRPM2 cation channels in glioblastoma (DBTRG-05MG) cell line. The cells were divided into four groups as control, AgNPs (100 μg/ml for 48 h), CiSP (25 μM for 24 h), and CiSP + AgNPs. We found that the cytotoxic, oxidant and apoptotic actions of CiSP were further stimulated through the activation of TRPM2 (via ADP-ribose and H 2 O 2 ) in the cells by the treatment of AgNPs. The actions were decreased in the cells by the treatments of TRPM2 antagonists (ACA and 2APB). The apoptotic actions of AgNPs were induced by the stimulation of propidium iodide positive DBTRG-05MG rate, caspase -3, caspase -8, and caspase -9 activations, although their oxidant actions were acted by the increase of mitochondrial membrane depolarization, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial oxygen free radicals (ROS), and cytosolic ROS, but the decrease of total antioxidant status, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase. The accumulation of cytosolic free Ca 2+ and Zn 2+ into mitochondria via the activation of TRPM2 current density and activity accelerated oxidant and apoptotic actions of AgNPs in the cells. We found that the combination of AgNPs and CiSP was synergistic via the stimulation of TRPM2 for treatment of DBTRG-05MG cells. The combination of AgNPs and CiSP showed a favorable action via the stimulation of TRPM2 in the treatment of glioblastoma tumor cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To evaluate paraoxonase (PON), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), CRP, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP levels in patients with head and multiple organ traumas., Material and Methods: The study included 29 male patients undergoing treatment for head and multiple organ traumas. Blood sample analysis was performed on the first, third, and seventh days after trauma., Results: The mean age, duration of hospitalization in the intensive care unit, and intubation period of the study sample was 45 years (range: 9 to 81 years), 4.29 days, and 2.94 days, respectively. One patient died, and 13 underwent surgical intervention. Comparison of PON, TAS, TOS, and CRP levels showed statistically significant differences between the first day and the third and seventh days, although no such differences were seen in HDL levels. A moderately positive correlation was observed between CRP/ AST, CRP/ALT and CRP/GGT, while a moderately negative correlation was seen between CRP/ALP., Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that some oxidative parameters may play a significant role in the prognosis and follow-up of intensive care patients. Moreover, biochemical markers can provide important information about patient response to trauma.

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the adult as well as in the neonate, with limited options for treatment and significant dysfunctionality., Aim: To investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in HIE patients., Methods: Patients who had HIE for at least 6 mo along with significant dysfunction and disability were included. All patients were given Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs at 1 × 10 6 /kg intrathecally, intravenously, and intramuscularly twice a month for two months. The therapeutic effects and prognostic implications of MSCs were evaluated by multiple follow-ups. Functional independence measure (FIM), modified Ashworth, and Karnofsky scales were used to assess any side effects, neurological and cognitive functions, and overall outcomes., Results: The 8 subjects included in the study had a mean age of 33.25 ± 10.18 years. Mean HIE exposure and mean post-HIE durations were 45.63 ± 10.18 and 19.67 ± 29.04 mo, respectively. Mean FIM score was 18.38 ± 1.06, mean modified Ashworth score was 43.5 ± 4.63, and mean Karnofsky score was 20. For the first 24 h, 5 of the patients experienced a subfebrile state, accompanied by mild headaches due to intrathecally administration and muscle pain because of intramuscularly administration. Neurological and functional examinations, laboratory tests, electroencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed to assess safety of treatment. Mean FIM score increased by 20.88 ± 3.31 in the first month ( P = 0.027) and by 31.38 ± 14.69 in 12 mo ( P = 0.012). The rate of patients with an FIM score of 126 increased from 14.58% to 16.57% in the first month and 24.90% in 12 mo., Conclusion: Multiple triple-route Wharton's jelly-derived MSC administrations were found to be safe for HIE patients, indicating neurological and functional improvement. Based on the findings obtained here, further randomized and placebo research could be performed., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Microglia as the primary immune cells of brain act protective effects against injuries and infections in the central nervous system. Inflammation via excessive Ca 2+ influx and oxygen radical species (ROS) generation is a known factor in many neurodegenerative disorders. Importantly, the Ca 2+ permeable TRPM2 channel is activated by oxidative stress. Thus, TRPM2 could provide the excessive Ca 2+ influx in the microglia. Although TRPM2 expression level is high in inflammatory cells, the interplay between mouse microglia and TRPM2 channel during inflammation is not fully identified. Thus, it is important to understand the mechanisms and factors involved in order to enhance neuronal regeneration and repair. The data presented here indicate that TRPM2 channels were activated in microglia cells by interferon-gamma (IFNγ). The IFNγ treatment further increased apoptosis (early and late) and cytokine productions (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) which were due to increased lipid peroxidation and ROS generations as well as increased activations of caspase -3 (Casp-3) and - 9 (Casp-9). However, selenium treatment diminished activations of TRPM2, cytokine, Casp-3, and Casp-9, and levels of lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial ROS production in the microglia that were treated with IFNγ. Moreover, addition of either PARP1 inhibitors (PJ34 or DPQ) or TRPM2 blockers (2-APB or ACA) potentiated the modulator effects of selenium. These results clearly suggest that IFNγ leads to TRPM2 activation in microglia cells; whereas, selenium prevents IFNγ-mediated TRPM2 activation and cytokine generation. Together the interplay between IFNγ released from microglia cells is importance in brain inflammation and may affect oxidative cytotoxicity in the microglia. Graphical abstract Summary of pathways involved in IFNγ-induced TRPM2 activation and microglia death through excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS): Modulator role of selenium (Se). The IFNγ causes the microglia activation. Nudix box domain of TRPM2 is sensitive to ROS. The ROS induces DNA damage and ADPR-ribose (ADPR) production in the nucleus via PARP1 enzyme activation. ADPR and ROS-induced TRPM2 activation stimulates excessive Ca 2+ influx. ROS are produced in the mitochondria through the increase of free cytosolic Ca 2+ (via TRPM2 activation) by the IFNγ treatment, although they are diminished by the TRPM2 channel blocker (ACA and 2-APB) and PARP1 inhibitor treatments. The main mechanism in the cell death and inflammatory effects of IFNγ is mediated by stimulation of ROS-mediated caspase (caspase -3 and - 9) activations and cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) via TRPM2 activation, respectively. The apoptotic, inflammatory, and oxidant actions of IFNγ are modulated through TRPM2 inhibition by the Se treatment.

Morphine as an opioid is an important drug in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Several stress factors via generation of nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress (OS) are responsible for the adverse effects of morphine-induced analgesia, addiction, and antinociceptive tolerance, including altered Ca 2+ concentration, inflammation, OS, and release of apoptotic factors. TRPM2 is a Ca 2+ -permeable cation channel and it is activated by OS and NO. Hence, adverse effect of morphine addiction may occur via the OS and NO-induced TRPM2 activation. Because of the unclear etiology of morphine-induced adverse effects in the hippocampus, investigating the involvement of TRPM2 and NO synthetase (NOS) activations in the treatment of morphine-induced OS, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation is a major challenge. The hippocampal neuron of TRPM2 wild-type (TRPM2-WT) and knockout (TRPM2-KO) mice were divided into control, morphine, NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) + morphine, and TRPM2 channel blockers (ACA and 2-APB) + morphine. The morphine-induced increases of apoptosis, neuron death, OS, lipid peroxidation, caspase-3 and caspase-9, neuroinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6), and Ca 2+ levels in the hippocampal neuron of TRPM2-WT mouse were decreased by the L-NAME, ACA, and 2-APB treatments, although cell viability, neuron count, and reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase levels were increased by the treatments. However, the effects of morphine were not observed in the hippocampus of TRPM2-KO mice. Taken together, our data show that neurodegeneration adverse effects of morphine were induced by activation of TRPM2, and excessive generations of NO and OS. Thus, inhibition of TRPM2 may modulate morphine-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampus.

Hypoxia (HYPX) induced-overload Ca 2+ entry results in increase of mitochondrial oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in several neurons. Ca 2+ permeable TRPM2 channel was gated by ADP-ribose (ADPR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), although its activity was modulated in HYPX-exposed neurons by resveratrol (RSV). The aim of this study was to evaluate if a therapy of RSV can modulate the effect of HYPX in the TRPM2 expressing SH-SY5Y neuronal and HEK293 (no expression of TRPM2) cell lines. The SH-SY5Y and HEK293 cells were divided into four groups as control, RSV (50 μM and 24 hours), and HYPX and RSV + HYPX. For induction of HYPX in the cells, CoCl 2 (200 μM and 24 hours) incubation was used. HYPX-induced intracellular Ca 2+ responses to TRPM2 activation were increased in the SH-SY5Y cells but not in the HEK293 cells from coming H 2 O 2 and ADPR. RSV treatment improved intracellular Ca 2+ responses, mitochondrial function, suppressed the generation of cytokine (IL-1β and TNF-α), cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS in the SH-SY5Y cells. Intracellular free Zn 2+ , apoptosis, cell death, PARP-1, TRPM2 expression, caspase -3 and -9 levels are increased through activating TRPM2 in the SH-SY5Y cells exposed to the HYPX. However, the values were decreased in the cells by RSV and TRPM2 blockers (ACA and 2-APB). In SH-SY5Y neuronal cells exposed to HYPX conditions, the neuroprotective effects of RSV were shown to be exerted via modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and death through modulation of TRPM2 channel. RSV could be used as an effective agent in the treatment of neurodegeneration exposure to HYPX.

Aim: To elucidate the characteristics of kyphoplasty in correlation with spinal metastasis., Material and Methods: Data of patients treated by kyphoplasty between January 2017 and December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative prophylactic antibiotics and low-molecular-weight heparin injections were performed. Postoperative follow-up was conducted at least 24 hours after the procedure. All patients were treated under sedoanalgesia. Bone biopsies were collected from all patients., Results: One hundred ninety-nine vertebra fractures were treated in 130 patients. The mean age of the patients was 65.27 ± 8.79 years (18?90 years) and 66 patients were male (50.7%). Forty-five patients had osteoporosis, six patients showed malignancy, and osteomyelitis was found in three patients, while the others? presentations were secondary to trauma. Most commonly, the L1 (n=59), Th12 (n=45), and L2 (n=34) levels were found to develop vertebral fractures. Forty patients had multiple levels of vertebral fracture, with a higher rate of osteoporosis (n=24; 60%). Three patients showed undiagnosed oncologic disease with an initial diagnosis of acute fracture following minor trauma, while the primary oncologic diagnosis was established by bone biopsy taken during the routine procedure in each procedure (e.g., plasmacytoma, lymphoma, adenocarcinoma of the lung). None of the patients developed an infection due to kyphoplasty, permanent neuromotor deficit, or mortality. The mean postoperative hospital length of stay was 1.6 days., Conclusion: Bone biopsy should be performed to diagnose early spinal metastases. Although an accurate bone biopsy may not be obtained from some patients, particularly from those with osteoporosis, performing bone biopsy during the procedure does not cause time loss or any other complications, and protects the surgeon from possible medicolegal problems.

Aim: To reveal difficulties in differential diagnosis of some cases of cerebrovascular events (CVEs) and malignant primary brain tumors (MBTs) even a multidiciplinary evaluation in grand rounds., Material and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the patient archives from January 2017?December 2019. The records of 572 patients discussed in these meetings were examined. A total of 8 patients having a challenge in differential diagnosis were detected., Results: This study has included 8 cases in which neurology-neurosurgery-neuroradiology clinicians have difficulty in differentiating CVE and MBT. In the present study, three patients were evaluated with a preliminary diagnosis of hemorrhagic CVE in the emergency room. Since degradation products of hemoglobin have prevented advanced imaging methods to diagnose in two patients, these patients have been followed closely. The correct diagnosis could be made through the scan performed during control follow-ups The preliminary diagnosis of seven patients was CVE, but they received the MBT diagnosis during the follow-up. One patient was thought to have MBT initially; however, he/she was diagnosed with CVE after an advanced examination and close follow-up., Conclusion: Despite developing medical imaging methods and diagnostic studies, there are still some difficulties in making differential diagnosis of CVEs and MBTs. In some patients, further examination and imaging methods may be needed such as magnetic resonance imaging-spectroscopy (MRI-S), perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (Per-MRI), digital substratioangiography (DSA). Despite all these neuroradiological examinations and multidiciplinary evaluation, distinction between CVE and MBT may be difficult, and medicolegal problems may be encountered.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dipyrone, an indispensable analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-spasmodic used in emergency departments, on nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells in vitro . After surgical biopsy, primary cell cultures were prepared from intact intervertebral disc tissues. Dipyrone was administered to the cultures in the experimental groups except for the control group. The data obtained were statistically evaluated. The proliferation was identified to be suppressed via MTT analysis. The gene expression profile of the intervertebral disc cells in the dipyrone-treated groups was significantly changed. The expression of chondroadherin, cartilage oligo matrix protein, interleukin-1β and metalloproteinase (MMP)-19 genes were decreased, but MMP-13 and MMP-7 genes expressions were increased, as determined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. AO/PI staining revealed that no apoptotic or other type of cell death was detectable after administration of dipyrone does not mean that the drug is innocuous. The occurrence of cellular senescence and/or the halt of cell proliferation may also be important mechanisms underlying the adverse inhibitory effects of dipyrone. Therefore, prior to administering dipyrone in clinical practice, all possible adverse effects of this drug should be considered.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of etanercept (ETA), a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, on human cell cultures prepared from intact intervertebral disc tissue. ETA is used as a treatment for cases of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis accompanied by moderate or severe joint pain. ETA was applied to primary cell cultures [annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus (NP) from intact intervertebral disc tissue]. Cell cultures without ETA treatment served as the control group. Morphological and quantitative molecular analyses of the two groups were performed. The number of viable cells and cell proliferation decreased in the ETA-treated cultures as compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, in the treatment group, the chondroadherin gene, an NP-specific marker, was not expressed after 24 h. By contrast, the cartilage oligo matrix protein was expressed 24, 48 and 72 h post-ETA treatment, while its expression was significantly lower than that in the control group. In addition, the expression of interleukin-1β, as well as matrix metallopeptidase-7 and -19, was markedly decreased. Overall, the cell proliferation and gene expression in the ETA-treated cells were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05). These results suggest that the treatment duration and dosage of TNF inhibitors, which are used to suppress active inflammation, should be considered in the clinical setting. These biological agents may delay the healing of intervertebral disc tissue damage by slowing cell proliferation and altering gene expression via anabolic and catabolic pathways.

Apoptosis, overload Ca 2+ entry and oxidative stress are induced in neurons by hypoxia. Drug-resistant cancer cells are killed by hypoxic conditions. α-Lipoic acid (ALA) has antioxidant and pro-oxidant functions. The TRPA1 channel is activated by oxidative stress and pro-oxidant ALA may have a regulator role in the TRPA1 activity in the human glioblastoma (DBTRG) cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate if a combination therapy of ALA with a hypoxia can alter the effect of this hypoxia through TRPA1 activation in the DBTRG cells. The DBTRG cells were divided into four treatment groups as control, ALA (50 μM), and hypoxia and hypoxia + ALA. Hypoxia in the cells was induced by CoCl 2 (200 μM). Apoptosis, Annexin V, mitochondrial membrane depolarization (JC-1), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase 3 and 9 values were increased through activation of TRPA1 (cinnamaldehyde) in the cells by the hypoxia induction, although cell viability, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase values were decreased by the treatments. The values were modulated in the cells by TRPA1 blocker (AP18) and ALA treatments. Involvements of TRPA1 activity on values in the cells were also confirmed by patch-clamp and laser confocal microscopy analyses. In conclusion, apoptotic, inflammatory and oxidant effects of hypoxia were increased by activation of TRPA1, but its action on the values was decreased by the ALA treatment. ALA treatment could be used as an effective strategy in the treatment of hypoxia-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation in the neurons., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In the literature, there have been no studies showing clear results on how radio-contrast pharmaceuticals would affect intact disc tissue cells. In this context, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of iopromide and gadoxetic acid, frequently used in the discography, on intact lumbar disc tissue in pharmaco-molecular and histopathological level. Primary cell cultures were prepared from the healthy disc tissue of the patients operated in the neurosurgery clinic. Except for the control group, the cultures were incubated with the indicated radio-contrast agents. Cell viability, toxicity and proliferation indices were tested at specific time intervals. The cell viability was quantitatively analysed. It was also visually rechecked under a fluorescence microscope with acridine orange/propidium iodide staining. Simultaneously, cell surface morphology was analysed with an inverted light microscope, while haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining methodology was used in the histopathological evaluations. The obtained data were evaluated statistically. Unlike the literature, iopromide or gadoxetic acid did not have any adverse effects on the cell viability, proliferation and toxicity (P < 0.05). Although this study reveals that radio-contrast pharmaceuticals used in the discography, often used in neurosurgical practice, can be safely used, it should be remembered that this study was performed in an in vitro environment., (© 2018 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).)

Aim: To design a novel, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based polymeric scaffold that permits the controlled release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 following intervertebral disc administration., Material and Methods: The drug delivery system was composed of two different solutions that formed a scaffold within seconds of coming into contact with each other. Swelling, pH, and temperature tests and analysis of the controlled release of growth factors (GFs) from this system were performed. The release kinetics of the GFs were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation and viability were monitored with microscopy and analyzed using an MTT assay and acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) staining. Chondroadherin (CHAD), hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1?), and collagen type II (COL2A1) gene expressions were determined with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis to show the effects of IGF-1/BMP-2 administration on annulus fibrosus cell (AFC)/nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) cultures. For the statistical evaluation of the obtained data, experimental groups were compared with a post hoc Tukey's test following an analysis of variance., Results: The scaffold allowed for the controlled release of IGF-1 and BMP-2 in different time intervals. It was observed that as the application time increased, the number of cells and the degree of extracellular matrix development increased in AFC/NPC cultures. AO/PI staining and an MTT analysis showed that cells retained their specific morphology and continued to proliferate. It was observed that HIF-1? and CHAD expression increased in a time-dependent manner, and no COL2A1 expression in the AFC/ NPC cultures was observed., Conclusion: The designed scaffold may be used as an alternative method for intervertebral disc administration of GFs after further in vivo studies. Such prototype scaffolds may be an innovative technology in targeted drug therapies after reconstructive neurosurgical interventions.

Aim: To determine the gene expression patterns of nucleus pulposus (NP) in cell cultures obtained from degenerated or intact tissues., Material and Methods: Whereas 12 of the cases were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation and had undergone lumbar microdiscectomy, 12 cases had undergone traumatic intervertebral discectomy and corpectomy, along with discectomy after spinal trauma. NP-specific markers and gene expressions of the reagents of the extracellular matrix in the experimental setup were tested at the 0th, 24th, and 48th hours by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Visual evaluations were simultaneously made in all samples using invert and fluorescence microscopy. Vitality and proliferation analyses were evaluated by UV spectrophotometer. As a method of statistical evaluation, Spearman was used for categorical variants, and the Pearson correlation was used for variants with numerical and plain distribution., Results: No association was found either between the tissue type and times (r=0.000; p=1.000) or between the region that the tissue was obtained from and hypoxia transcription factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) gene expression (r=0.098; p=0.245). There was no correlation between cell proliferation and chondroadherin (CHAD) expression or between type II collagen (COL2A1) and CHAD gene expressions. It was found that CHAD and HIF-1α gene expressions and HIF-1α and COL2A1 gene expressions affected cell proliferation., Conclusion: Cell culture setups are of paramount importance because they may influence the pattern of changes in the gene expressions of the cells used in these setups.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether pharmaceutical preparations with pregabalin (PGB) as an active ingredient, which are widely prescribed by clinicians, exert toxic effects on human primary nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosis (AF). Primary human cell cultures were obtained from intact (n=6) and degenerated (n=6) tissues resected from the two groups of patients. Different doses of PGB were applied to these cultures and cells were subjected to molecular analyses at 0, 24 and 48 h. Cell vitality, toxicity and proliferation were assessed using a spectrophotometer. The expression of chondroadherin (CHAD), a (member of the NP-specific protein family), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and type II collagen (COL2A1) was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that cell intensity increased in a time-dependent manner and cell vitality continued in the cultures without pharmaceuticals. Cell proliferation was suppressed in the PGB-treated cultures independent from the dose and duration of application. PGB was demonstrated to suppress the expression of CHAD and HIF-1α. In contrast, COL2A1 gene expression was not revealed in any experimental group. The present study utilized an in vitro model and the PGB active ingredient used herein may not be representative of clinical applications; however, the results demonstrated that PGB has a toxic effect on NP/AF cell cultures containing primary human intervertebral disc tissue. In summary, the use of pharmacological agents containing PGB may suppress the proliferation and differentiation of NP/AF cells and/or tissues, which should be considered when deciding on an appropriate treatment regime.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of three different formulations of hyaluronic acid (HA): Low molecular weight (MW) Sinovial One ® , medium MW Viscoplus ® and high MW Durolane ® , on chondrocyte proliferation and collagen type II (COL2A1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and chondroadherin (CHAD) expression in primary chondrocyte cultures. Standard primary chondrocyte cultures were established from osteochondral tissues surgically obtained from 6 patients with gonarthrosis. Cell morphology was evaluated using an inverted light microscope; cell proliferation was determined with a MTT assay and confirmed with acridine orange/propidium iodide staining. Levels of CHAD, COL2A1 and HIF-1α expression were assessed using specific TaqMan gene expression assays. The results demonstrated the positive effect of HA treatment on cell proliferation, which was independent from the MW. COL2A1 expression increased in the medium and high MW HA treated groups. It was observed that HIF-1α expression increased in the high MW treated group alone. CHAD expression increased only in the medium MW HA treated group. Evaluation of gene expression revealed that levels of expression increased as the duration of HA application increased, in the medium and high MW HA treated groups. In terms of increased viability and proliferation, a longer duration of HA application was more effective. Taken together, it may be concluded that the administration of medium and high MW HA may be a successful way of treating diseases affecting chondrocytes in a clinical setting.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effect of human Dental Pulp-Neural Crest Stem Cells (hDP-NCSCs) delivery on lesion site after spinal cord injury (SCI), and to observe the functional recovery after transplantation., Methods: Neural Crest Stem Cells (NCSCs) were isolated from human Dental Pulp (hDP). The experimental rat population was divided into four groups (n = 6/24). Their behavioral motility was scored regularly. After 4-weeks, rats were sacrificed, and their spinal cords were examined for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) labeled hDP-NCSCs by immunofluorescence (IF) staining., Results: In early post-injury (p.i) period, the ultrastructure of spinal cord tissue was preserved in Group 4. The majority of cells forming the ependymal region around the central canal were found to be hDP-NCSCs. While the grey-and-white-matter around the ependymal region was composed of e.g. GFP cells, with astrocytic-like appearance. The scores showed significant motor recovery in hind limb functions in Group 4. However, no obvious change was observed in other groups., Conclusion: Cells e.g., mesenchymal (Vimentin+) which express GFP+ cells in the gray-and-white-matter around the ependymal region could indicate the potential to self-renewal and plasticity. Thus, transplantation of hDP-NCSCs might be an effective strategy to improve functional recovery following spinal cord trauma (Fig. 10, Ref. 32).

Aim: To describe a patient with lumbar angiolipoma mimicking schwannoma in the posterolateral side of the spinal canal with expansion of the left lumbar foramen and to discuss the clinical, radiologic, and surgical features of these lesions with literature., Methods: Without language restriction in this paper, the electronic databases; The Cochrane Collaboration the Cochrane, The Cochrane Library (Issue 2 of 12, Feb. 2011), ProQuest, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NLM) and PubMed dating from 1966 September to January Week 2 2017, were searched for comparative experimental studies using the terms: "OR", "AND". On-line literature searches were conducted using the key words "lumbar angiolipoma", "schwannoma ", "spinal angiolipoma", "spinal cord", and "spinal canal". We compared this research with our patient., Results: Bilateral L2 total laminectomy, excision of the tumors and bilateral L2-L3 transpedicular stabilization were performed, and complaints improved prominently. Pathological examination was reported as angiolipoma., Conclusion: The research shows that a probable diagnosis in such tumor cases could be made by sufficient pre-op scanning before surgical operations and although angiolipoma has been rarely seen in lumbar posterolateral space, it can be seen in lumbar region and mimic schwannoma as producing symptoms and signs of spinal cord and nerve root compression.

Purpose: The present study aimed to analyze the researches that are at the experimental phase concerning osteosarcoma treatment. The researches included drug delivery systems which allow controlled release and imbue small interfering-/micro- ribonucleic acid., Methods: Without any language preference, we searched US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Embase, OVID, Cochrane Library database of clinical trials from 1843 to May 25, 2016 and traced all the references of incorporated documents. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and the results are shown as frequency (%)., Results: We haven't encountered any drug delivery system in which Small interfering ribonucleic acid/ micro ribonucleic acid oligonucleotides were embedded successfully against osteosarcoma. There has been only one research in which hairpin-ribonucleic acid was embedded., Conclusion: It was considered that drug delivery system enabling controlled oligonucleotide release in the treatment period of osteosarcoma was not projected for the clinical use. However, it cannot be neglected that the mentioned experimental studies with regard to osteosarcoma treatment establish the basis of target therapies. The method in question looks promising regarding effective treatment of osteosarcoma in the future., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

Background: Use of biodegradable and biocompatible materials in the orthopedic surgery is gaining popularity. In this research, the rate of controlled release of a bilayered prototype biomaterial designed to promote osteoblastic and tenoblastic activity was calculated using pharmacochemical methods., Methods: The first part of the design, composed of a sodium tetraborate, polyvinyl alcohol, and starch based hydrogel, was loaded with bone morphogenic protein-2. The second part which was composed of a sodium tetraborate, polyvinyl alcohol, and chitosan based hydrogel was loaded with bone morphogenic protein-12. Osteochondral and tendon tissue specimens were obtained from patients with a diagnosis of gonarthrosis and primary bone cells and tendon cells cultures were prepared following treatment with collagenase enzyme. Cell samples were collected from the groups by means of an invert light microscope and environmental scanning electron microscope underwent at the 1st and 21st days. The level of osteogenic differentiation was measured by the activity of alkaline phosphatase. For the statistical evaluation of the obtained data, groups were compared with post hoc Tukey test following analysis of variance. Level of significance was accepted to be <0,01., Results: Both osteogenic and tenogenic stimulation were observed in the cultured specimens. In comparison to the control groups, the rate of proliferation of healthy cells was found to be higher in the groups to which the design was added ( p < 0.01)., Conclusions: Our research is a preliminary report that describes a study conducted in an in vitro experimental setting. We believe that such prototype systems may be pioneers in targeted drug therapies after reconstructional surgeries.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of cerebroventricular administration of hyperoncotic/hyperosmotic agents on edematous brain tissue in rats with experimental head trauma., Material and Methods: The study included 54 female Sprague-Dawley rats with weights ranging between 200 and 250 g. Six experimental groups were examined with each group containing 9 rats. All rats were exposed to head trauma, and treatment groups were administered 2 µl of one of the drugs (albumin, mannitol, hypertonic sodium chloride (NaCl), glycerin and dextran) 6, 12 and 24 hours after the trauma via the cerebroventricular route and using a stereotactic device. Rats were sacrificed 48 hours after the trauma, and brain tissues were extracted without damage. Biochemical analyses including reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) were performed on the injured left hemisphere., Results: Compared with the control group, the albumin, mannitol, 3% NaCl and glycerin treatment groups revealed dramatic increases in GSH levels (p < 0.001). Levels of MDA, which is the end-product of brain edema and lipid peroxidation, failed to show a statistically significant decrease, but there was a decreasing trend observed in the inter-group comparisons. NO levels were also decreased in the 3% NaCl treatment group. An analysis of TNF-α and IL-1β, two proinflammatory cytokines associated with the trauma, revealed that IL-1β decreased significantly in all treatment groups (p=0.001), whereas no significant difference was detected in TNF-α levels., Conclusion: Cerebroventricular administration of hyperoncotic/hyperosmotic agents provides substantial effects on the treatment of brain edema.

This study investigated the effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on neuronal damage in brain tissue caused by global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in C57BL/J6 mice. All subjects (n = 40) were equally divided into four groups: (1) sham-operated (SH), (2) I/R, (3) GA, and (4) GA+I/R. The SH group was used as a control. In the I/R group, the bilateral carotid arteries were clipped for 15 min, and the mice were treated with the vehicle for 10 days. In the GA group, mice were given GA (100 mg/kg) for 10 days following a median incision without carotid occlusion. In the GA+I/R group, the I/R model was applied to the mice exactly as in the I/R group, and they were then treated with the same dose of GA for 10 days. Cerebral I/R significantly induced oxidative stress via an increase in lipid peroxidaitons and a decrease in elements of the antioxidant defense systems. However, GA treatment was protective against the oxidative effects of I/R by inducing significant increases in antioxidant defense systems and a significant decrease of lipid peroxidations. Additionally, cerebral I/R increased the incidence of histopathological damage and apoptosis in brain tissue, but these neurodegenerative effects were eliminated by GA treatment. Therefore, the current study demonstrated that GA treatment effectively prevents oxidative and histological damage in the brain caused by global I/R. In this context, GA may be useful for the attenuation of the negative effects of global cerebral I/R and, in the future, it may be a viable and safe alternative treatment for ischemic stroke in humans.