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Study design:Experimental study.Objectives: To determine the neuroprotective effects of zinc and melatonin on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries of rabbits.Setting: The Experimental Research Centre of Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.Methods:Twenty-four male rabbits underwent spinal cord ischemia by clamping the thoraco-abdominal aorta for 20 min. Twenty minutes before the aortic clamping, animals received zinc, melatonin or a combination of both. Neurological examination of the animals was performed three times during reperfusion period. The animals were killed 24 h after reperfusion. Spinal cord samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological evaluation.Results:Pre-treated animals with zinc, melatonin or combination displayed better neurological outcomes than the I/R group (P<0.05). Zinc, melatonin and combined treatment prevented spinal cord injury by reducing apoptosis rate (P<0.05) and preserving intact ganglion cell numbers (P<0.05). Zinc pre-treatment protected spinal cord by preventing malondialdehyde (MDA) formation (P=0.002), increasing glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P=0.002) and decreasing xanthine oxidase enzyme activity (P=0.026) at molecular level. Melatonin treatment also resulted with MDA formation (P=0.002), increased GPx activity (P=0.002) and decreased xanthine oxidase activity (P=0.026).Conclusion:The results of the study showed that prophylactic zinc and melatonin use in spinal cord I/R not only suppressed lipid peroxidation by activating antioxidant systems but also had significant neuroprotective effects by specifically improving the neurological and histopathological situation.Spinal Cord (2007) 45, 722-730; doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3102035; published online 13 February 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of cancer in the female reproductive system. Geraniol is acyclic monoterpene alcohol derived from essential oils of aromatic plants. This study aimed to investigate the apoptosis pathway of geraniol on Ishikawa cells. The cytotoxic effects of Geraniol on Ishikawa cells were determined by an MTT test. Ishikawa cells were seeded on cover slips, the IC50 dose was applied, and the cells were incubated with antibodies against Bax, Bcl-2, and TUNEL Assay. mRNA expression analysis of apoptosis-related genes was determined by RT-qPCR with an IC50 dose of Geraniol. The IC50 dose of Geraniol decreased Bcl-2 staining significantly, but it significantly increased Bax staining and TUNEL positive cells. A significant increase in the Bax, caspase3, caspase-8, cytochrome C and Fas genes and a significant decrease in the Bcl-2 gene was observed when the IC50 dose group was compared to the cells in the control group based on their mRNA expression levels.Analysis of expression of genes whose products are involved in apoptosis suggests the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway. more...

Study Design: Experimental Study., Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of iloprost and piracetam on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rabbit., Settings: The Experimental Research Center of Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey., Methods: A total of 24 rabbits were divided into four groups of six rabbits each, as follows: group 1 (n = 6) sham, laparotomy only; group 2 (n = 6) I/R; group 3 (n = 6) I/R+iloprost; and group 4 (n = 6) I/R+piracetam. I/R was established in groups 2, 3 and 4. Subsequently, they were followed up neurologically for 24 h until the rabbits were killed; biochemical and histopathological examinations of samples from the spinal cord were carried out., Results: Neurological examination results were significantly better in the iloprost and piracetam groups compared with the I/R group (P < 0.05). Neuroprotection was achieved with iloprost and piracetam by suppressing malondialdehyde (P < 0.05), increasing glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05) and decreasing the xanthine oxidase level. In histopathological assessment, iloprost and piracetam groups were statistically different from the I/R group in terms of the number of apoptotic neurons in gray matter and white matter, as well as in terms of degenerated neurons and glial cells (P < 0.05). No statistical difference was determined between the four groups in the number of degenerated glial cells (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: This study has shown that iloprost and piracetam have neuroprotective effects in I/R injury both neurologically and histopathologically because of inhibition of lipid peroxidation. more...

Background: It was aimed to investigate the effects of experimental diabetes on TGF beta1 expression and tunica intima and media thickness in abdominal and thoracic aorta., Methods: Fourteen three months old female rats were divided into two groups, non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic group. Hematoxylin-Eosin and Verhoeff's Van Gieson elastic staining and TGF beta1 immunohistochemistry staining were performed. Abdominal and thoracic intima and media thickness of aortas were measured with the oculometer., Results: Evaluation of intima and media thickness measurements showed no significant statistical differences between non-diabetic and diabetic groups. TGF beta1 expression increased significantly in thoracic diabetic (TD) group., Conclusion: The 60 day duration of diabetes is not sufficiently enough time for the development of pathological changes that could lead to thickening in aortic intima-media layers. TGF beta1 expression was negative in the abdominal aorta that can predispose to the development of atherosclerosis, which could develop overtime. This finding may be interpreted as an appropriate basis for the development of atherosclerosis. In the thoracic aorta TGF beta1 may coordinate cellular events such as tissue repair (Fig. 5, Ref. 23). more...

A new neuroimplant system, namely the Tulgar implant, developed to solve the practical problems encountered with the presently available implants, was tested as a spinal cord stimulator in ten sheep. The response of living tissue and technical performance of the new system were evaluated. Electrodes implanted in the low thoracic (T9-10) vertebral levels by means of hemilaminectomy were subcutaneously connected to the passive coil receiver element located in the anterior-inferior chest wall for 28 days. Laboratory parameters including hematology, biochemistry, and microbiology were investigated over the study, and histopathologic examinations were done by the end of study. Animal tests showed that the new system could reliably be implantable in the living tissue. Intra-operative radicular stimulation of the right dorsal root in T13-L1 levels, by means of burst mode of signals, resulted in observable contractions of hip muscles in the right upper leg. more...