Effect of cold atmospheric plasma/NO gas application with different exposure times on healing in wounds with tissue loss in diabetic rats.

Applications of cold atmospheric plasma/nitric oxide (CAP/NO) gas have recently garnered popularity when treating impaired wound healing in patients with diabetes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of NO gas application for 60 and 120 s on wound healing in diabetic rats. A dorsal excision 3 cm in diameter was performed in 15 diabetic rats; these rats were categorized into the following 3 groups: DC (untreated diabetic control); DNO/60 (exposure to 200 ppm NO gas for 60 s/day); and DNO/120 (exposure to 200 ppm NO gas for 120 s/day). Wound contraction on days 0, 3, 7, 11, and 14 and wound contraction rate between days 0 and 14 were evaluated. On day 14, tissue samples were collected for histopathologic assessment of inflammation, epithelial regeneration, angiogenesis congestion, and collagen fiber organization. Normality of distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and intergroup comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test (NPar Test) and the Kruskal-Wallis test (non-parametric ANOVA). Wound contraction during treatment days 7-14 was significantly greater in the NO-treatment groups than in the DC group (p<0.05). The NO60 s and NO120 s groups showed a significantly higher wound contraction rate than the DC group (p=0.033, p=0.049, respectively). Significant differences were noted between the control and NO groups in terms of inflammation (p<0.05) and between the control group and DNO/60 and DNO/120 groups in terms of collagen organization (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). Evaluation of epithelialization revealed significant intergroup differences between the control and NO treatment groups (p<0.01). In this study, the application of NO once a day for 60 seconds and 120 seconds in diabetic wounds contributed equally to wound healing.

Closure of transcatheter ventricular septal defect using LifetechTM Konar-MF Occluder in children weighing less than 10 kilograms: mid-term results, a tertiary single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter closure of medium and large ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in young children is limited due to the use of over-sized devices that can cause hemodynamic instability and arrhythmia. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of the device in the mid-term in children weighing less than 10 kg whose transcatheter VSD was closed only with the Konar-MFO device. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 70 children whose transcatheter VSD was closed between January 2018 and January 2023, 23 patients weighing less than 10 kg were included in the study. Retrospectively, the medical records of all patients were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 7.3 (4.5-26) months. 17 of the patients were females, 6 of them were males, F/M: 2.83. The average weight was 6.1 (3.7-9.9) kg. The mean the pulmonary blood flow/ systemic blood flow (Qp/Qs) was 3.3 (1.7-5.5). The mean defect diameter was 7.8 mm (5.7-11) for the left ventricle (LV) side, and 5.7 mm (3-9.3) for the right ventricle (RV) side. Based on the utilized device dimensions, the measurements on the LV side were recorded as 8.6 mm (range 6-12), while those on the RV side were recorded as 6.6 mm (range 4-10). Antegrade technique was applied to 15 (65.2%) patients and retrograde technique was applied to 8 (34.8%) patients in the closure procedure. The procedure success rate was 100%. The incidence of death, device embolization, hemolysis, or infective endocarditis was zero. CONCLUSIONS: Perimembranous and muscular VSDs in children under 10 kg can be successfully closed under the management of an experienced operator with the Lifetech Konar-MFO device. This is the first study in the literature to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the device in children under 10 kg in whom only Konar-MFO VSD occluder device is used for transcatheter VSD closure.

Use of ABO blood groups and co-morbidities as predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the mortality relationship between COVID-19 and ABO blood groups and comorbid diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether ABO blood groups and comorbid diseases can be used as a prognostic factor for hospitalization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 18 years presenting to the adult emergency COVID-19 outpatient clinic. COVID-19 patients were divided into four stages according to their clinical status: mild, moderate, severe, and critical. Those with the comorbid disease were classified as Group I, and those without comorbid disease were classified as Group II. RESULTS: Of the 384 patients included in the study, 190 (49.5%) were male and 194 (50.5%) were female, with a mean age of 47.3 ± 18.4 years. The clinical data of the patients were scanned from the hospital automation system. Although the risk of transmission was higher, especially in people with A blood type, this rate was lower in the O blood group. The clinical course of the disease was more severe and the mortality rates were higher in the AB blood group (p < 0.001). In the hospital, 35 people who were treated for COVID-19 disease died. CONCLUSIONS: Certain ABO blood types and comorbid diseases were important risk factors for COVID-19 and were associated with mortality. We found that some ABO blood groups and comorbid diseases are associated with COVID-19 and may be important risk factors. While the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is high in blood group A, we think that the clinical course of COVID-19 may be more severe and the death rate higher in blood group AB.

Retention of luting agents used for implant-supported restorations: A comparative In-Vitro study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the retention of different luting agents used with implant-supported restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 custom metal frameworks and copings were prepared and divided into six different luting agent groups (n = 15/group): polycarboxylate cement (PC), resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC), two self-adhesive resin cements (SARC), copper-ion zinc-phosphate cement (CZPC), and non-eugenol temporary resin cement (TRC). After sandblasting with 50 µm Al2O3, the copings were cemented on frameworks and stored in artificial saliva for 48 h at 37°C and thermocycled between 5-55°C for 37,500 cycles. Samples were subjected to tensile testing by a universal testing machine, and data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The differences between the retention values of types of cement were significant (P < 0.05). The maximum retention value was calculated for CZPC (755,12 ± 55 MPa) while the lowest value was for TRC (311,7 ± 61 Mpa). CONCLUSION: Neither of the tested cement had superiority over another to ensuring retention. The types of cement presented were meant to be a discretionary guide for the clinician in deciding the amount of the desired retention between castings and abutments.

Investigation of the effects of Aloe barbadensis on rat ovaries: a preliminary study.

Effects of Aloe barbadensis, a type of Aloe vera, on ovaries were investigated during pregnancy. A. vera gel, a commercial and nontherapeutic form of A. barbadensis, was used for this purpose. Three groups (one control and two test groups) of female Wistar albino rats with no prior births were studied. Group I was administered 25 mg (140 mg/kg) of A. barbadensis/day both orally and through gavage. A. barbadensis was contained in capsules with 500 mg of soybean oil; therefore Group II was administered 500 mg of soybean oil. Group III was the control group. All three groups were given normal food and water ad libitum. The substance had been administered for 20 days until birth. Ovaries were examined histologically. Vascular increase and the hyperemic form of ovary in the group administered A. barbadensis were notable. Decrease in primary follicle numbers, increase in secondary follicle numbers, and diminishment of secondary follicle diameters occurred in ovaries. The histological changes imply an angiogenesis effect of A. barbadensis and an effect like that of follicle-stimulating hormone in ovaries.

Protective effects of L-arginine on rat terminal ileum subjected to ischemia/reperfusion.

OBJECTIVES: Studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) may play a major role in sustaining mucosal integrity; however, NO has been also implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-related tissue injury. We investigated the effects of L-arginine and NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the acetylcholine-induced contractile response of ileum and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Histopathological changes were also evaluated in ileal preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar Albino rats were subjected to mesenteric ischemia (30 min) followed by reperfusion (3 hours). Four groups were designed: sham-operated control; I/R; I/R and L-arginine pretreatment; and I/R and L-NAME pretreatment. After reperfusion, ileum specimens were collected to determine the parameters mentioned above. RESULTS: Following reperfusion, a significant decrease in acetylcholine-induced contractile response, an increase in lipid peroxidation, a decrease in GSH content, and mucosal damage of the ileal preparations were observed. We showed that decreased contractility, increased lipid peroxidation, and reduced GSH content have been reversed by L-arginine but not by L-NAME. Mucosal injury was significantly lowered in the L-arginine group. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with L-arginine exerted a protective effect in intestinal I/R injury, which was mediated in part by regulating MDA and GSH levels, consequently ameliorating impaired contractile response and mucosal injury.

Erythropoietin stimulates wound healing and angiogenesis in mice.

Erythropoietin exerts hematopoietic effects by stimulating proliferation of early erythroid precursors. Nonhematopoietic effects of erythropoietin have also been shown. It may act as a new angiogenic factor in wound healing. This study aimed to investigate the effect of systemic administration of recombinant human erythropoietin on wound healing in mice. Dorsal incisional wounds were performed in mice, which were then divided into two groups; a group treated for 7 days with recombinant human erythropoietin, and a control group. Sacrificing animals on day 7, the wound tissues were collected for analysis of wound breaking strength, malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, hydroxyproline, an index of reparative collagen deposition, reduced glutathione levels, and for histological evaluation. The immunohistochemical determination of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which is believed to be the most prevalent angiogenic factor throughout the skin repair process, was also studied. The treatment significantly increased wound breaking strength by decreasing malondialdehyde and increasing hydroxyproline levels on day 7 after wounding. No statistically meaningful change was observed in reduced glutathione content. VEGF was immunostained significantly more on wound tissue of treated animals compared to the control group. Recombinant human erythropoietin treatment may be effective in wound healing due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation, deposition of collagen, and VEGF expression in wound area.

Protective effect of melatonin on contractile activity and oxidative injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion of rat ileum.

Free radicals derived from molecular oxygen have been reported to be responsible for changes in motility and mucosal damage observed in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Melatonin has been considered as an antioxidant that prevents injuries resulted from I/R in various tissues. The present study was designed to determine the effect of melatonin on the contractile responses of acetylcholine (Ach) and KCl, on malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and to assess histopathological changes in the smooth muscle of terminal ileum subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. The intestinal ischemia-reperfusion was induced by occlusion of superior mesenteric artery of rat for 30 min, followed by a period of reperfusion for 3 h. Melatonin at doses of 10 or 50 mg/kg was administered via the tail vein in 5 min prior to reperfusion. Following reperfusion, segments of terminal ileum were rapidly taken and transferred into isolated organ bath and responses to Ach and KCl were recorded. Samples of terminal ileum were also taken for measuring the MDA and GSH levels. EC50 values of these contracting substances were seriously reduced in the ischemia-reperfusion group compared to that of the sham-operated control group. The decreased contraction response to Ach and KCl was significantly ameliorated by a dosage of 50 mg/kg of melatonin, while not by a dosage of 10 mg/kg. Similar pattern of the effect was observed in the tissue levels of MDA and GSH as well as in histological improvement. Melatonin appeared to be restoring the amounts of tissue MDA and GSH back to about control levels. These results suggest that the high dose of melatonin not only physiologically but also biochemically and morphologically could be useful to normalize contractility injured by oxidative stress in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.

Beneficial effects of melatonin on reperfusion injury in rat sciatic nerve.

Studies have shown that ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) produces free radicals leading to lipid peroxidation and to damage of the nervous tissue. Melatonin, a main secretory product of the pineal gland, has free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties and has been shown to diminish I/R injury in many tissues. There are a limited number of studies related to the effects of melatonin on I/R injury in the peripheral nervous system. Therefore, in the present study, the protective effect of melatonin was investigated in rats subjected to 2 hr of sciatic nerve ischemia followed by 3 hr of reperfusion. Following reperfusion, nerve tissue samples were collected for quantitative assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), a principal antioxidant enzyme. Samples were further evaluated at electron microscopic level to examine the neuropathological changes. I/R elevated the concentration of MDA significantly while there was a reduction at SOD levels. Melatonin treatment reversed the I/R-induced increase and decrease in MDA and SOD levels, respectively. Furthermore, melatonin salvaged the nerve fibers from ischemic degeneration. Histopathologic findings in the samples of melatonin-treated animals indicated less edema and less damage to the myelin sheaths and axons than those observed in the control samples. Our results suggest that administration of melatonin protects the sciatic nerve from I/R injury, which may be attributed to its antioxidant property.

Electron microscopic immunolocalization of basic fibroblast growth factor in peripheral nerves.

In spite of ample information about the distribution and the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the central nervous system, few data are available concerning the localization of this protein in the peripheral nervous system. In view of the role of bFGF in the regulation of trophic and non-trophic functions, we focused on the presence and precise localization of this growth factor in normal peripheral nerves at the electron microscopic level. The study shows that bFGF is mainly located in the Schwann cells, especially in the nuclei. There is slight labeling in the myelin sheath and in the axon cytoplasm. The study provides morphologic evidence for an association between bFGF expression and Schwann cells. Such as association argues for a role of this peptide in the maintenance or regeneration of peripheral nerves.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of cytochrome oxidase in different parts of the central nervous system: a comparative experimental study.

Cytochrome oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the electron transport chain, is a marker of the functional activity of the cell. In this study; localization of cytochrome oxidase in cerebrum, cerebellum, hippocampus, substantia nigra and choroid plexus of adult rats was investigated using immunohistochemical methods. Neural bodies were immunoreactive while neuroglial cells and axonal areas did not show significant immunostaining. The cerebral cortical substantia grisea region was stained almost homogeneously with cytochrome oxidase. In the cerebellar cortex, immunolabelling was more intense in the granular layer than the molecular layer. There was significant immunostaining in Purkinje cells. White matter, both in cerebrum and cerebellum, did not show immunoreactivity for cytochrome oxidase. Neurones in the hippocampus showed variable immunostaining; some of them were negative while others revealed high immunoreactivity. The neurones in substantia nigra were heavily labelled. Immunostaining for cytochrome oxidase in plexus choroideus epithelial cells was also remarkable. The morphological findings demonstrate the regions which most require and produce energy and reflect the differences in cellular activity in these parts of the central nervous system.

Blister artifact formation due to organic solvent effects on Spurr's epoxy resin semithin sections.

Wrinkles and air bubble artifacts may occur when preparing slides of semithin sections (0.5 microm) from blocks embedded in different resins. More than aesthetically annoying, wrinkles and air bubble artifacts may prohibit study of small structures. Present observations suggest that organic solvent based mounting media may interact with the resin of the section. This sometimes causes wrinkles and air bubble artifacts in the sections that degrade the quality of light microscope images. We compared the quality of semithin sections of several tissues in different resins using various types of mounting media. We observed that sections from Spurr's resin have many more artifacts. In particular, small, 2-10 microm round or oblong blister-like artifacts often plague our Spurr's resin sections. We demonstrate that Spurr's resin sections react with toluene and xylene in organic solvent based mounting media forming blisters, while sections from Araldite and L. R. White do not. We suggest combinations of embedding and mounting media for successful preparation of semithin sections for light microscopy without wrinkles, blisters, or air bubble artifacts.