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Surgical knife has been extensively used in surgery for a number of years and is the most widely used surgical instrument in the world at present. Manual removal of the blade can be difficult, particularly when the scalpel is wet. Percutaneous injuries during changing the scalpel blade may lead to serious and potentially fatal infections from blood borne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and others including cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and parvovirus B19. In addition to the risk of illness and death after an exposure, psychological trauma and long-term disability are of great concern. Many devices have been developed in an effort to facilitate the removal of the blade from the scalpel, and to render the removal procedure less dangerous. But there is no device to both remove and install the blade at the same time. In particular, the present invention relates to a scalpel blade changer that enables a blade to be removed from a scalpel and retained in the remover and at the same time to install the blade on to the scalpel handle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Cholestatic liver diseases are characterized by impaired hepatocellular secretion of bile, resulting in intracellular accumulation of bile acids which result in a shift in the oxidant/prooxidant balance in favor of increased free radical activity and injury of different tissues including liver and intestine. The aim of this research was to study protective effect of lipoic acid (LA) as a potent antioxidant in cholestasis induced hepatic and intestinal injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups each containing fifteen rats as follows: sham operation (SO) (control), bile duct ligating (BDL), and BDL+LA (25 mg/kg). After fourteen days hepatic and intestinal tissue sampled and blood serum sampled for pathologic and biochemical studies. RESULTS: Levels of SOD and GPx antioxidant enzymes were higher in BDL+LA group comparing to BDL group, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and pathologic scores in liver and intestine were lower in BDL+LA group comparing to BDL group significantly, but there is no significant difference in concentrations of total bilirubin between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed the protective potential of LA with liver and intestine damage. Despite improvements in operative technique and the development of potent, broad-spectrum antibiotics, biliary tract surgery in patients with obstructive jaundice is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates In summary, our results show that BDL induced hepatic and intestinal injury were significantly attenuated by LA administration and the administration of LA could effectively diminish this damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nephrotoxicity is an important side-effect of treatment with Methotrexate (MTX). Pentoxifylline (PTX) is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent. We hypothesized that pentoxifylline may affords renal protection by downregulating TNF-α as well as by improving cellular anti-oxidant activity. Materials and Methods: Forty five male Wistar rats were assigned to 3 groups of 15 animals each: Group 1: control group (0.9% saline). Group 2: MTX; injected with 20 mg/kg MTX intraperitoneally (i.p.). Group 3: MTX+PTX injected i.p. MTX (20 mg/kg) + PTX (50 mg/kg) i.p. PTX was administered since 3 days before MTX administration and continued for 6 days. After 6 days rats were anesthetized and serum sampled and renal tissue removed for biochemical and histological evaluation. Results: Data showed that glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were lower in PTX+MTX group comparing to MTX group significantly (p<0.05). Renal tissue injury index and percent of TUNEL positive cells, renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, serum BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), creatinine (Cr) and TNF-α levels were higher in MTX group comparing to MTX+PTX group significantly (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study, the increased level of tissue MDA and serum TNF-alpha; level together may be suggested that the underlying mechanism is related to direct toxicity of MTX rather than blockage in folate synthesis in kidneys. PTX administration also attenuated renal tissue injury and number of apoptic cells and suppressed the elevation of BUN and Cr levels. However, further studies are essential to elucidate the exact mechanisms of MTX-induced renal toxicity, and protection and the effect of PTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fracture rate of third-generation ceramic liners is greatly reduced compared with first- and second-generation liners because of improvements in the design and manufacturing process. Fractures of the alumina-bearing couple are rare for the same reason.This article describes a case of a fracture of an alumina-bearing couple delta ceramic liner without trauma history that was treated with ceramic-on-polyethylene revision total hip arthroplasty. A 57-year-old man was admitted to the hip ward because of an alumina-bearing couple delta ceramic liner fracture. He underwent hip replacement by anterior approach 18 months previously in the same center because of left hip primary osteoarthritis. He received a 54×36-mm modular press-fit cup ceramic alumina-bearing couple delta insert. Probable causes of such fractures are manufacture production failure and edge loading based on cup inclination, but in our patient, inacceptable range of motion, failure of the locking mechanism during implantation insertion, or cracking were possible causes of fracture.Although the fracture rate of third-generation alumina-bearing couples is low, we believe that it may not be possible to eliminate the actual risk of alumina head fracture. Patients should be informed about the potential for this complication before receiving an alumina-bearing couple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development emergent subfields have been rapidly evolving, and their popularity increased in recent years. Sustainable development is a broad concept having numerous sub-concepts including, but not limited to, circular economy, sustainability, renewable energy, green supply chain, reverse logistics, and waste management. This polymorphism makes decision-making in this field to be an abstruse task. In this perplexing circumstance, the presence of VUCA conditions makes decision-making even more challenging. By taking advantage of artificial intelligence tools and approaches, this paper aims to study with a concentration on sustainable development-related decision-making under VUCA phenomena elements using bibliometric and network analyses which can propose numerous novel insights into the most recent research trends in this area by analyzing the most influential and cited research articles, keywords, author collaboration network, institutions, and countries that finally provides results not previously fully comprehended or assessed by other studies on this topic. In this study, an extensive systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis are conducted using 534 research articles out of more than 3600. From the content analysis part, four clusters have been found. The decision parameters, presumptions, and research goal(s) for each model are pointed out too. The findings contribute to both conceptual and practical managerial aspects and provide a powerful roadmap for future research directions in this field, such as how real-life multidimensionality can be considered in sustainable development-related decision-making, or what are the effects of the VUCA in sustainable development considering the circular economy and waste management intersection., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The profound advances in the biomolecular sciences over the last decades have enabled similar advances in biomedicine. These advances have increasingly challenged our abilities to deploy them in an equitable and ethically acceptable manner. As such, it has become necessary and important to teach biomedical and scientific ethics to our students who will become the researchers, medical professionals, and global citizens of the future. As advances in the biosciences and medicine are made, developed, and used across the globe, our survival on an endangered planet requires global dialog and consensual action. To that end, a group of us from around the world have come together to describe the differing foundations of our ethical beliefs, and how ethical issues in biomedicine and in science are described and confronted in our countries. We hope to show the commonality in our beliefs and practices and to encourage readers from around the world to contribute to a continuing discussion through a new section of the journal, The Global Ethics Corner. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(5):385-395, 2017., (© 2017 The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)

Introduction: The direct protective effects of resveratrol against oxidative stress have been demonstrated in neuroglial cells, the mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. The aim of this research was to study the effect of resveratrol on AL induced cerebral injury in rat., Methods: We divided the groups as follows with 10 animals each: a) Group I - served as control receiving normal drinking water and diet ad libitum. b) Group II - animals were administered aluminum at a dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight for a period of 6 weeks daily through oral gavage. c) Group III - animals were administered aluminum at a dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight and resveratrol at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally for a period of 6 weeks daily. After 6 weeks rats were anesthetized and decapitated. Brains were removed immediately and frozen in liquid nitrogenRESULTS: The levels of SOD and GPx antioxidant enzymes were decreased in all of the groups receiving aluminium, but it was less severe in resveratrol treated group. SOD and GPx levels in aluminium + resveratrol group were higher than in the aluminum group (p < 0.05). MDA level, as an index of lipid peroxidation, increased significantly in all of the groups receiving aluminium. MDA level was lower in aluminium + resveratrol group compared to aluminum group and the difference was significant (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: This study suggests that resveratrol is effective in preventing AL induced toxicity by reducing MDA production in cerebral tissue. Resveratrol also attenuated SOD and GPx suppression in cerebral tissue significantly. Our findings provide the rationale for further studies directed to understanding the mechanism of resveratrol in preventing neurodeterioration (Tab. 1, Ref. 35).

Buerger's disease, also called thromboangiitis obliterans, is a recurrent and an uncommon vaso-occlusive inflammatory disease, which typically affects small and medium-sized arteries, veins and nerves of the upper and lower extremities. Mesenteric and multisystem involvement of two or more organs is extremely rare. Here we report the case of a 39-year-old male heavy smoker who had undergone four repetitive laparotomies and multiple small bowel resections for ischaemic involvement of Buerger's disease. He had below-the-knee amputation of the right leg and finger of the left hand because of that disease before bowel involvement. Histopathological findings revealed that the arteries and veins of the resected small intestine were occluded with organised thrombi. Inflammatory cell infiltration was recognised mainly in the intima of distal branches of mesenteric artery. These findings were compatible with previous findings in histopathological examinations of amputated extremities.

Objective: Liver failure following ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major concern in liver surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate combination pretreatment with melatonin (MEL) and dexamethasone (DEX) on liver I/R model. Male Wistar rats (n = 60) were assigned to 5 groups of 12 animals each: (1) Sham: laparotomy without I/R; (2) I/R: hepatic I/R; (3) I/R+MEL: hepatic I/R+melatonin injected intraperitoneally (20 mg/kg); (4) I/R+DEX: hepatic I/R+ dexamethasone injected intravenously (10 mg/kg); (5) I/R+MEL+DEX: hepatic I/R+ melatonin injected intraperitoneally+dexamethasone injected intravenously. The liver was subjected to ischemia by clamping the portal triad for 30 minutes and then reperfused for 6 hours after ischemia by removing the clamps., Results: The levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased after hepatic I/R in all groups. Levels of GPx and SOD were higher in I/R+MEL+DEX group compared to I/R, I/R+MEL and I/R+DEX groups and they were significantly higher in I/R+MEL group compared to I/R and I/R+DEX groups (p < 0.05). Levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, hepatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), liver injury index, and apoptotic index increased after hepatic I/R. Levels of ALT, AST, tissue MDA, tissue injury index and apoptotic index were lower in I/R+MEL+DEX group compared to those in I/R, I/R+MEL and I/R+DEX groups, and in I/R+MEL they were significantly lower than in I/R+DEX group (p < 0.05). TNF-α level was lower in I/R+MEL+DEX group compared to other groups and it was significantly lower in I/R+DEX group than in I/R+MEL and I/R groups (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Combination therapy with melatonin and dexamethasone had better results in decreasing the liver injury compared to when each of them was administered alone (Tab. 3, Ref. 58).

Introduction: Tendons are vulnerable to various types of acute or chronic injures. Different methods have been investigated to achieve better healing. Phenytoin is a drug which could stimulate fibroblasts to produce collagen. This experimental study was performed to assess the effect of phenytoin on tendon healing in a rat model of tendon rupture., Methods: Thirty healthy rats were divided into 3 groups, 1) Sham group; 2) Tendon rupture; 3) Tendon rupture+phenytoin (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) for 21 days. On 21st day after tendon injury, the rats were anesthetized and tendon tissue was sampled for studying by light and electron microscopy., Results: Qualitative and quantitative microscopic comparisons of the repair tissues of both groups were made on the 21st day. The results obtained from light and electron microscopy studies showed that tendon tissue healing was significantly better in phenytoin group compared to the control group (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Systemic administration of phenytoin may have a positive effect on tendon healing by increasing fibroblast quantity, fibrillar collagen synthesis, vascularity, and suppressing inflammation (Tab. 2, Ref. 25).

Gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumours are a group of tumours originating from the mesenchymal stem cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Digestive tract Schwannomas are rare mesenchymal tumours occurring most frequently in the stomach. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with gastric Schwannoma located at the posterior wall of the antrum.

Objective: To study the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment on renal and lung injury following renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)., Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were assigned to three groups of 10 rats each. The first group was sham-operated, the second was subjected to renal I/R (30 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion). The third group was subjected to renal I/R and treated with EPO in two doses: the first dose 1 h prior to ischemia (1,000 U/kg) and the second dose 6 h after ischemia (1,000 U/kg)., Results: The renal and lung tissue injury index, tissue serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine (Cr) were higher in the renal I/R group compared to the renal I/R + EPO group; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Kidney and lung tissue glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels were higher in the renal I/R + EPO group than the renal I/R group; the difference was also statistically significant (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The data showed that EPO pretreatment could be effective in reducing renal and lung injury following renal I/R and could improve the cellular antioxidant defense system. Hence EPO pretreatment may be effective for attenuating renal and lung injury after renal I/R-induced injury during surgical procedures, hypotension, renal transplantation and other conditions inducing renal I/R., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global health problem.The prevalence of viral hepatitis is higher in dialysis patients than in the general population because of the opportunity for exposure during the dialysis procedure. Immunization is the most effective way to prevent transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hence the development of acute or chronic hepatitis B. It is well established that patients with end-stage renal disease including dialysis-dependent patients, have an impaired immune response to hepatitis B vaccine. End stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients have lower seroconversion rates compared with the subjects with intact renal function. Moreover, even after the completion of vaccination schedule anti-hepatitis B (anti-HBs) titers of responder dialysis, patients are low and decline logarithmically with time. The impaired efficacy of HBV vaccine in patients with ESRD has been attributed to numerous factors such as immune compromise because of uremia and some other factors. One approach to improve the immunogenicity of existing HBV vaccines is adjuvantation, and it's very important to find more effective adjutants for improving HBV vaccine efficacy. In this paper we have a brief review on recently known new ways for improving HBV vaccine efficacy.

Objective: To study the potential effect of Methotrexate (MTX) on lipid peroxidation and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) two important endogenous anti-oxidant enzymes., Methods: Twenty healthy male Newzland rabbits weighting 1500-1800 g were divided into two groups. One group was considered as the MTX groups and the other was considered as control group. Rabbits had free access to food and tap water. Rabbits in MTX group received a single dose of MTX, 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, a similar volume of saline was administered to control group. After 6 days rabbits were uteinized and spinal tissue excised for biochemical studies., Results: GPX and SOD activities in spinal tissue in rabbits of MTX group significantly reduced after MTX administration compared to control group(P = 0.002 vs 0.18). An increase in the tissue MDA level was seen in the MTX group, suggesting increased lipid peroxidation. Levels of MDA were significantly higher in MTX group compared to control group (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: Our data suggests that MTX treatment induces oxidative tissue damage on the spinal tissue, as assessed by increased lipid peroxidation and decreased GPX and SOD levels, so decreasing oxidative stress by anti-oxidant agents may play a key role in attenuating spinal cord injury.

Objective: To study the attenuating effect of Dexpanthenol (Dxp) provitamin B5 on neuronal damage after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion., Methods: This was a randomized, controlled experimental study conducted at the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran, from April to September 2008. Male wistar rats were divided into 4 groups randomly (n=13): 1- sham group, Group 2 :two hours occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA) and 24 hours reperfusion. Group 3: two hours occlusion of MCA and 24 hours reperfusion + Dxp (250mg/kg) since 3 days before ischaemia. Group 4: two hours occlusion of MCA and 24 hours reperfusion which had received Dxp (500mg/kg) since 3 days before ischaemia. Glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were studied in brain tissue and numbers of cornu ammonis (CA1 and CA3) pyramidal neurons were studied with light microscopy., Results: The GSH levels were significantly higher in groups 3 and 4 as compared with group 2. In group 3 and group 4 animals, the MDA levels were significantly lower than in group 2 (P < 0.05). Numbers of CA1 and CA3 neurons were completely normal in appearance in the group 1. The surviving neurons in the CA1 and CA3 subfield were markedly decreased in number, in group 2 (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Our pathologic and biochemical study has proven positive effect of Dxp on protection of cerebral tissue after I/R. The present findings correlate with previous studies on the protective effects of Dxp against cell and tissue injury by I/R.

Percutaneous injuries to surgical staff carry a reciprocal risk for patients, with potential for infection transmission from provider to patient. The operating room is the highest-risk setting for this mode of transmission because open wounds are susceptible to contamination, and injury to the hands of surgical staff resulting in bleeding is not uncommon. The traditional scalpel (surgical knife) has been extensively used in surgery for a number of years and would be the most widely used surgical instrument in the world at present. A conventional surgical scalpel comprises a reusable, sterile handle having a tang at one end on which a replaceable slotted blade is mounted. The handle is intended to be used repeatedly, but the blade is normally discarded after each instance of use. Removal devices are designed to protect the user and downstream staff from accidental injury when removing a scalpel blade from a reusable handle. Passing tray and single-handed scalpel blade remover. It is a primary object of the present invention (Patent No. 62851- 40294) to reduce or substantially eliminate the risk of changing scalpel blades. It is a further object of the present invention to simplify the removal of a scalpel blade from its handle.

Methotrexate (MTX), a folate antagonist agent, is mainly used in treatment of malignant tumors and auto immune diseases and affects not only tumor cells, but also gastrointestinal mucosa. The present study was undertaken to determine whether lipoic acid (LA) could ameliorate methotrexate-induced oxidative intestine injury in rabbits. Twenty-one rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups: Group 1 (control group), Group 2 (received 20 mg/kg MTX), Group 3 (received MTX plus LA 75 mg/kg orally). On the 6th day rabbits were anesthetized and intestinal tissue sampled for pathologic and biochemical assessment. The intestinal tissue injury index and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were lower in MTX+LA group as compared to the MTX group, and tissue glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were higher in MTX+LA group than in the MTX group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that co-administration of LA with MTX is associated with reduction in oxidative injury and tissue damage in the intestine. We suggest that lipoic acid may have a protective role in the MTX-induced oxidative injury.

Objective: Lipoic acid (LA) is an effective anti-oxidant agent that can scavenge free radicals in biological systems. The aim of this research was to study the probable protective effect of LA in spinal ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury., Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats, weighing 230-285 g, were assigned randomly into 3 groups (10 animals in each group): sham spinal I/R, and spinal I/R + LA. The spinal I/R + LA rats received LA 100 mg/kg subcutaneously 3 days prior to ischemia induction and 3 days after. The induction of ischemia lasted for 30 min., Results: At 72 h postoperatively, the neurological status was worse in the I/R group than the sham group (p < 0.05). The neurological status of animals in the LA-treated group appeared better than the I/R group (p < 0.05). In the I/R group, tissue glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly less compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In the LA-treated group, tissue GPx and SOD levels were higher compared to the I/R group (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: LA pretreatment reduced neurologic injury in the rats, most probably by maintaining the oxidant/anti-oxidant ion balance during spinal cord ischemia. Reperfusion may have contributed to the protective effects seen in the LA pretreatment., (Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Among numerous modalities applied for evaluation of kidney diseases, Doppler ultrasonography (DU) provides information about the hemodynamic status of the kidneys. Meanwhile, the variability in DU parameters of the right and left kidney is a matter of controversy. The aim of this study was to determine whether any difference exists between the DU indices of the right and left kidney., Methods: Retrospectively, we collected DU findings of 25 healthy potential renal transplant donors. All donors underwent renal DU and multidetector computed tomographic angiography before donor nephrectomy. DU indices, including peak systolic volume (PSV), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and acceleration time (AT), were recorded., Results: The median age of the donors was 27 (range 23-39) years. The median PSV, RI, EDV, and AT for the right kidney were 29 cm/sec, 0.59, 10.9 cm/sec, and 50 msec, respectively. For the left kidney, the median PSV, RI, EDV, and AT were, respectively, 26.8 cm/sec, 0.60, 10.6 cm/sec, and 43 msec. Among the DU indices, median PI of the right kidney was significantly different from that of the left kidney (1.02 versus 0.95, P = 0.01)., Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study revealed that right kidney DU indices, except for PI, may not differ from those of the left kidney.

Liver failure is still a significant clinical problem after transplantation surgery, tissue resections (the Pringle manoeuvre) and haemorrhagic shock. The restoration of blood flow to an ischaemic region leads to tissue injury at a greater rate than the original ischaemic insult, an event termed "ischaemia-reperfusion injury" (I/R). Despite advances in surgical techniques, I/R still poses a problem of clinical importance. In this research, we studied the effect of simvastatin pretreatment on liver and lung injury induced by hepatic I/R. Rats were subjected to 30 min of ischaemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Simvastatin (10 mg/kg) was administered orally from three days before the operation. After the reperfusion time, serum ALT, AST, LDH and TNF a levels were studied and liver and lung tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL to detect apoptotic cells. Serum aminotransferase activity and LDH and TNFalpha levels were increased markedly by hepatic I/R, and these were suppressed significantly by simvastatin. The tissue injury index and the number of apoptotic cells via TUNEL staining in the liver and lungs were higher in the I/R group than in the I/R + simvastatin group. These results suggest that simvastatin ameliorates I/R-induced liver and lung tissue damage by inhibiting the level of inflammation and the apoptotic pathways. Simvastatin administration may therefore provide protection against the adverse effects of I/R injury in liver transplantation.