Ghrelin prevents the development of dermal fibrosis in bleomycin-induced scleroderma.

BACKGROUND: Scleroderma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by widespread fibrosis of the skin and the internal organs. Ghrelin is a polypeptide hormone produced by various tissues and inflammatory cells. In experimental studies, ghrelin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, in addition to its metabolic actions. AIM: To evaluate the potential preventive effects of ghrelin on a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced scleroderma. METHODS: This study involved five groups of BALB/c mice (n = 7 in each group). Mice in the control group received 100 µL/day of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) subcutaneously, while the other four groups were given 100 µg/day of BLM (dissolved in 100 µL PBS) subcutaneously. Three of the BLM-treated groups received intraperitoneal doses (10 ng/kg/day) of acylated, nonacylated or total ghrelin. Animals were killed at the end of the fourth week, and blood and tissue samples were collected for further analysis. Dermal thickness, serum levels of transforming growth factor-ß1, numbers of inflammatory cells on the dermal layer and numbers of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells were determined. RESULTS: BLM increased dermal thickness, numbers of inflammatory cells on the dermal layer and activity of the myofibroblastic cells. Application of acylated, nonacylated and total ghrelin decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the activity of the myofibroblastic cells, and reduced dermal fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, it appears that ghrelin has an antifibrotic action, in addition to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that have been documented previously. The pathogenic and therapeutic roles of ghrelin in scleroderma should be evaluated by further studies.

The effect of different suture materials on the safety of colon anastomosis in an experimental peritonitis model.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this experimental study was to compare the safety of different suture materials in a left colonic anastomosis in the presence of peritonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. First, left colonic injuries were created in all groups for the peritonitis model. After 24 hours, coated polyglactin 910 and silk suture were used in Group I rats, polydioxanone and silk suture were used in Group II rats, and coated polyglactin 910 plus antibacterial suture and silk suture were used in Group III rats during colonic anastomosis. Tissue hydroxyproline, anastomotic bursting pressure, and histopathologic findings on the anastomosis line were evaluated on the 10th postoperative day by performing a relaparatomy. RESULTS: The mean bursting pressure values were 198 ± 11.37, 220 ± 17.7, and 244 ± 9.52 in Groups I, II, and III, respectively (Group I vs. II, p < 0.035; I vs III, p < 0.002; and II vs III, p < 0.021). The mean hydroxyproline levels were 1.21 ± 0.58, 1.47 ± 0.44, and 2.11 ± 0.32 in Groups I, II, and III, respectively (Group I vs II, p < 0.338; I vs III, p < 0.011; and II vs III, p < 0.025). When histopathologic findings of the groups were compared, the healing score of the intestinal tissue was higher in Group III than in Group I (p < 0.015), whereas there were no statistically significant differences among Groups I vs II and II vs III (p < 0.081 and p < 0.095, respectively). CONCLUSION: Antibacterial suture usage increased anastomosis safety in the presence of peritonitis in resection and primary anastomosis.

Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp Deletion in Chronic Cervicitis and Cervix Cancers.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been implied in many diseases including cancer and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the 4977 bp deletion of the mtDNA and chronic cervicitis or cervix cancer in patients. The study included a group of patients with chronic cervicitis or cervix cancer, and a control group consisting of individuals without any cervical tissue disease. A total of 72 subjects in an East Turkish population were included in the study. Of these, 35 had chronic cervicitis, 21 had cervix cancer and 16 served as the control group. Isolation of mtDNA was performed from the tissues of these patients and then mtDNA deletions were studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the cancer groups, there were 9.5% heteroplasmic and homoplasmic deletions. There were no homoplasmic deletions in the cervicitis and control groups, but the frequencies of heteroplasmic deletions were 80.0 and 31.2%, respectively. Chronic inflammation leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be the cause of the high mtDNA 4977 bp deletion frequencies in cancer and cervicitis. The older age of the cancer patient may suggest that ageing in addition to long time exposure to ROS may lead to deletions and subsequently cancer. This is the first study to investigate the relationship of the mtDNA 4977 bp deletion to chronic cervicitis and cervix cancer.

Sealer area associated with cold lateral condensation of gutta-percha and warm coated carrier filling systems in canals prepared with various rotary NiTi systems.

AIM: To compare the area of sealer surrounding root fillings completed by two coated carrier systems (Thermafil Obturator and System GT Obturator) and the cold lateral compaction technique, following root canal preparation with two different NiTi rotary systems (Profile ISO and System GT). METHODOLOGY: Sixty extracted human mandibular premolars were instrumented with ProFile ISO 0.06 taper and System GT instruments (n = 30 each). The teeth were divided into four subgroups (n = 15) for filling as following: group 1: ProFile + Thermafil Obturator, group 2: ProFile + Cold Lateral Compaction, group 3: System GT + GT Obturator, and group 4: System GT + Cold Lateral Compaction. In all groups the canals were prepared to a final size of 40, 0.06 taper in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and Topseal was used as a sealer. Horizontal sections were obtained every 1 mm up to 12 mm from the apical foramen. Sections were digitally photographed under a stereomicroscope and the images were transferred to an IBM-compatible PC for image analysis. The cross-sectional area of the root canal and the area filled by sealer were calculated for each section and compared statistically both at all levels and by grouping the data as apical, middle and coronal segments; using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni correction and chi-square tests (P = 0.05). RESULTS: In the apical third (1-4 mm), the GT Obturator (group 3) had significantly less area of sealer (P < 0.05), while the difference between groups 1 and 2 was not significant (P > 0.05). For the middle and coronal thirds, both coated-carrier systems had significantly less area of sealer compared with their laterally compacted counterparts (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the combined use of ProFile + Thermafil Obturator and System GT + GT Obturator, significantly less area of sealer occurred than that achieved with both NiTi preparation systems followed by cold lateral compaction.

Ghrelin immunohistochemistry of gastric adenocarcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland.

Ghrelin (G-HH) synthesized in several tissues including salivary and stomach glands stimulates appetite in humans by modulating neuropeptide Y neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Loss of appetite is one of the most important symptoms of stomach cancer. We conducted a study using immunohistochemistry to determine whether salivary glands and stomach cancer tissues produce ghrelin. We determined that negative ghrelin immunohistochemistry discriminates tumors from normal tissues and may therefore further our understanding of the clinically important problem of reduced food intake and anorexia in cancer patients. Radioimmunoassay analyses confirmed that cancer cells do not produce a G-HH peptide, whereas normal cells yield this peptide.

Dicofol resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus: resistance and stability of resistance in populations from Antalya, Turkey.

Resistance against dicofol was investigated in the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus. Higher resistance levels were detected by leaf residual bioassays than by topical bioassays, both done using a Potter spray tower, in almost all populations of T cinnabarinus examined from Antalya, Turkey. For instance, the resistance level at LC95 was 17.5-fold in topical bioassays but 58.9-fold in leaf residual bioassays for the population collected from greenhouses in the Topçular district. There were differences of resistance levels at LC95, ranging between 2.6- and 23.9-fold using topical bioassays and between 5.0- and 58.9-fold in residual bioassays, in populations collected from greenhouses from various districts. Populations from cotton showed lower resistance levels against dicofol than populations from greenhouses. Resistance to dicofol at LC50 as indicated by topical and residual bioassays increased 19.7- and 100.7-fold, respectively, in a colony from the laboratory strain of T cinnabarinus selected with dicofol alone for 16 cycles. However, the dicofol resistance at LC50 increased 19.4- and 52.0-fold in another colony selected in rotation with dicofol and tetradifon for six and eight cycles, respectively. The changes in resistance to dicofol 5 months after the selection ceased were as follows: in the colony selected for dicofol alone, using topical and residual bioassays, the resistance levels at LC50 decreased to 11.7- and 99.1-fold, respectively, and in the colony selected in rotation with dicofol and tetradifon to 10.8- and 15.8-fold, respectively.