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Purpose: This study aims to show the diagnostic value of Serum Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances in pediatric appendicitis. Method: Eighty-five pediatric patients hospitalized in the pediatric surgery ward with acute appendicitis and a control group of 50 pediatric patients with unspecific abdominal pain were included in this prospective case-control study. Forty-five patients whose pathology specimens confirmed acute appendicitis made up the final appendicitis group. Results: Patients with appendicitis had higher Serum Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (p<0.001) levels than the control group. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, areas under the curve were 0.654 for Serum Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances. Conclusion: Serum Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances test of patients with appendicitis provides limited accuracy in the diagnosis of appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype is closely associated with the risk assessment of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and the monitoring of treatment processes. Particularly, high levels of small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) and low levels of large buoyant low-density lipoprotein (lbLDL) are critical in determining Pattern B. This study aims to determine the lipid phenotype using the Association Rule Mining (ARM) method, based on concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, apoproteins, and sdLDL. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case-control study utilized analytical research methods. Numerical variables were expressed as mean, standard deviation, median, and min-max values. Statistically significant differences were observed between the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) size categories in terms of triglycerides (TG), LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), sdLDL, and lbLDL distributions. ARM was employed to detect the lipoprotein phenotype. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the LDL size categories in distributions of TG, LDL, HDL, ApoB, ApoE, sdLDL, and lbLDL (pTG<0.001, pLDL=0.03, pHDL<0.001, pApoB=0.016, pApoE=0.004, psdLDL<0.001, and plbLDL<0.001). The ARM method revealed that the probability of phenotype B is 100% for sdLDL values in the range of 15.5-109 and lbLDL values in the range of 0-31.5. Conclusion: This study introduces a contemporary approach for detecting lipoprotein phenotypes using ARM, further substantiating the strong correlation between atherogenic phenotypes and sdLDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-acupuncture is widely used in gynecology. Adnexal torsion is an important threat to ovarian reserves in women of reproductive age. This is the first study to investigate whether electro-acupuncture is beneficial in protecting ovarian reserves in case of adnexal torsion resulting in reperfusion injury. Thirty-two female Wistar Albino rats were randomized into four groups: the first group — sham operation, the second group — torsion/detorsion model, the third group — pre-acupunture + torsion/detorsion + post-acupuncture, and the fourth group — torsion/detorsion + post-acupuncture. The acupoints used were CV4 and bilateral SP6, Ex-CA1, Kid3, and ST36. In the third group, the acupoints were needled for two weeks before torsion, continuing for a further two weeks after torsion. In the fourth group, needling began after torsion and was maintained for two weeks. Both histological and biochemical parameters indicating ovarian reserves showed that electro-acupuncture applied to the above points exhibited an ameliorating effect on ovaries injured during ischemia/reperfusion. Electro-acupuncture may be capable of protecting against and preventing ischemia/reperfusion injury in case of ovarian torsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (Cis) is an important chemotherapeutic agent used in cancer treatment. Males exposed to Cis were reported to exhibit testicular toxicity. Cis-induced testicular toxicity is mediated by oxidative stress, inflammation, testosterone inhibition and apoptosis. Accordingly, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential protective roles of infliximab (IFX), which is an anti-TNF-α agent, and of white tea (Camellia sinensis), which is known to possess antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, against Cis-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Rats were randomly assigned into five groups as follows: control group, Cisplatin (7 mg/kg) treatment group, Cisplatin (7 mg/kg) + infliximab (7 mg/kg) treatment group, cisplatin + white tea (WT) treatment group, and Cisplatin+ WT+IFX combined treatment group. In the present study, Cis exposure reduced the sperm count. It also increased testicular oxidative stress as well as the levels of inflammatory and apoptotic markers. Histopathological assays supported the biochemical findings. Treatment with IFX and/or WT restored testicular histology, preserved spermatogenesis, suppressed oxidative stress and apoptosis, and significantly ameliorated Cis-induced damage. It was concluded that white tea and infliximab could potentially serve as therapeutic options for the protection of testicular tissue against the harmful effects of Cis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. The host defense mechanisms are responsible for inflamatuar and destructive reactions in periodontitis. Celastrol is one of the most promising components of the plant in Eastern and Southern China that has a long history of use in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions., Aim: The aim of this animal study was to inspect the preventive or restrictive effects of celastrol on periodontitis-related inflammatory host response and alveolar bone loss., Methods: 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups: control, experimental periodontitis (Ep), and experimental periodontitis-celastrol (Ep-Cel). Periodontitis was induced by placing ligatures sub-paramarginally around the mandibular first molars of the rats in the Ep and Ep-Cel groups and maintaining the ligatures for 15 days. For 14 days following the ligature placement, celastrol administration (1 mg/kg BW day) for the Ep-Cel group and vehicle injection for the control and Ep groups was carried out. At the end of the experiment, mandibula and gingiva samples were obtained after the euthanasia. Alveolar bone loss was measured on serial histological slices; Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1β levels were measured on gingiva samples by ELISA., Results: Systemic celastrol administration significantly restricted the alveolar bone loss that was higher in rats with periodontitis. (p < 0.05) Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1β levels that were high in the gingiva of the rats with periodontitis were found significantly lower in rats administered celastrol. (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Celastrol restricted periodontitis-related alveolar bone loss by suppressing the inflammatory response., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Meltem Zihni Korkmaz reports financial support was provided by Research Fund of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University., (© the Author(s).)

Objective: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely related to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Alterations in HDL-C subclass distribution and HDL-associated enzyme activities may be more important than total HDL levels for the progression of CAD. We intended to investigate the relationship of HDL-C subclass distribution and HDL-associated enzyme activities with CAD., Method and Results: Our study included 101 patients with stable coronary artery disease, and 64 healthy subjects. Serum levels of HDL lipoprotein-associated-phospholipase A2 (HDL-LpPLA2), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), and HDL subfraction distribution were measured. We found increased small HDL (sHDL) subfractions in patients with one-vessel disease (P < 0.001). We also found a reverse correlation between total HDL-C levels and affected vessel number (P < 0.05). Plasma HDL-Lp PLA2 enzyme level was higher in each vessel disease category compared to the control group (P < 0.001). However, PON1 enzyme activity in patients with CAD was not statically significant. Plasma sHDL, HDL-Lp PLA2 enzyme and Lp(a) were significantly different between subjects with CAD and control participants., Conclusions: We demonstrated decreased sHDL particles and a lower cardioprotective HDL-LpPLA, enzyme activity in all patient subgroups compared to controls. Measurement of total HDL-C level only may not be sufficient to predict CAD risk.