Establishing a link between the chemical composition and biological activities of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from the Turkish flora utilizing in vitro, in silico and network pharmacological methodologies.

OBJECTIVES: Five solvent extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water (70%), and water) of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from Turkey were evaluated for chemical and biological properties. METHODS: Antioxidant activities, inhibitory properties against key enzymes involved in the etiology of chronic diseases were tested, as well as cytotoxic effects on different cell lines. Chemical characterization was also carried out to determine the most abundant compounds of each extract. RESULTS: The highest total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in the water extract while highest TFC in ethanol/water extract. The most abundant compounds in the extracts were hyperoside (69041.06 mg kg-1), isoquercitrin (46239.49 mg kg-1), delphindin-3,5-diglucoside (42043.81 mg kg-1), myricetin (21486.61 mg kg-1), and kaempferol-3-glucoside (21199.76 mg kg-1). Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations confirmed the structural stability and dynamic conformational integrity of these complexes over a period of 100 ns. In network pharmacology, A total of 657 unique target genes were screened: 52 associated with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), 85 with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), and 130 with fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2), identifying crucial gene interactions for these proteins. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted, revealing significant interactions and pathways such as the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptors (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications and T- helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation, among others. This elucidation of complex networks involving key genes like AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1), MYC proto-oncogene (MYC), tumor protein 53 (TP53), Interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) provides a promising foundation for the development of targeted therapies in the treatment of non-communicable diseases. CONCLUSION: These results show that G. italicus could be a natural source of potent antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors which need to be further explored for the development of biopharmaceuticals.

Exploring Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Properties of Glaucium acutidentatum Hausskn. & Bornm. from Turkey Flora: A Novel Source of Bioactive Agents to Design Functional Applications.

The present study was performed to determine the chemical constituents, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of the aerial parts of Glaucium acutidentatum Hausskn. and Bornm. (family Papaveraceae). Methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared by maceration, homogenizer-assisted extraction (HAE) and infusion. Results showed that the highest total phenolic and flavonoids contents were obtained from the methanol extracts obtained by HAE (53.22 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g) and maceration (30.28 ± 0.51 mg RE/g), respectively. The aporphine, beznyltetrahydroisoquinoline, and protopine types of Glaucium alkaloids have been tentatively identified. Among them, glaucine was identified in all extracts. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, organic acids and fatty acids were also detected. Methanolic extract obtained using the HAE method displayed the highest anti-DPPH (41.42 ± 0.62 mg TE/g), total antioxidant (1.20 ± 0.17 mmol TE/g), Cu2+ (113.55 ± 6.44 mg TE/g), and Fe3+ (74.52 ± 4.74 mg TE/g) reducing properties. The aqueous extracts obtained by infusion and HAE methods exerted the best anti-ABTS (103.59 ± 1.49 mg TE/g) and chelating (19.81 ± 0.05 mg EDTAE/g) activities, respectively. Methanolic extract from HAE recorded the highest acetylcholinesterase (2.55 ± 0.10 mg GALAE/g) and α-amylase (0.51 ± 0.02 mmol ACAE/g) inhibition activities, while that obtained by maceration showed the best butyrylcholinesterase (3.76 ± 0.31 mg GALAE/g) inhibition activity. Both extracts revealed the best tyrosinase inhibitory activity (25.15 ± 1.00 and 26.79 ± 2.36 mg KAE/g, p ≥ 0.05). G. acutidentatum maceration-derived aqueous extract showed selective anticancer activity against cells originating from human hypopharyngeal carcinoma. In conclusion, these findings indicated that G. acutidentatum is a promising source of alkaloids and phenolic compounds for variable pharmaceutical formulations.

Screening for Chemical Characterization and Pharmacological Properties of Different Extracts from Nepeta italica.

Plants from the Nepeta genus have been proved to possess different pharmacological properties, among which are antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cytotoxic effects. Nepeta italica is a medicinal plant traditionally used for its analgesic effects, and in the present study, the phytochemical composition and biological effects of hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), ethanol, ethanol-water, and water extracts of the aerial parts were investigated for determining phenolic composition, antioxidant effects, and anti-inflammatory effects in isolated mouse colon specimens exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Polar extracts were the richest in terms of phenolic compounds, especially rosmarinic acid. In parallel, ethanol, ethanol-water, and water extracts were also the most effective as scavenging/reducing and enzyme inhibition agents, especially towards cholinesterases and α-glucosidase, and in inhibiting the LPS-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) gene expression in mouse colon. This poses the basis for future in vivo investigations for confirming the protective effects of polar extracts of N. italica against inflammatory bowel diseases.

Unraveling the chemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic potential of different extracts from Astragalus caraganae.

Six extracts (water, ethanol, ethanol-water, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n-hexane) of Astragalus caraganae were studied for their biological activities and bioactive contents. Based on high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), the ethanol-water extract yielded the highest total bioactive content (4242.90 µg g-1 ), followed by the ethanol and water extracts (3721.24 and 3661.37 µg g-1 , respectively), while the least total bioactive content was yielded by the hexane extract, followed by the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts (47.44, 274.68, and 688.89 µg g-1 , respectively). Rutin, p-coumaric, chlorogenic, isoquercitrin, and delphindin-3,5-diglucoside were among the major components. Unlike the dichloromethane extracts, all the other extracts showed radical scavenging ability in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay (8.73-52.11 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g), while all extracts displayed scavenging property in the 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay (16.18-282.74 mg TE/g). The extracts showed antiacetylcholinesterase (1.27-2.73 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g), antibutyrylcholinesterase (0.20-5.57 mg GALAE/g) and antityrosinase (9.37-63.56 mg kojic acid equivalent [KAE]/g) effects. The molecular mechanism of the H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress pathway was aimed to be elucidated by applying ethanol, ethanol/water and water extracts at 200 µg/mL concentration to human dermal cells (HDFs). A. caraganae in HDF cells had neither a cytotoxic nor genotoxic effect but could have a cytostatic effect in increasing concentrations. The findings have allowed a better insight into the pharmacological potential of the plant, with respect to their chemical entities and bioactive contents, as well as extraction solvents and their polarity.

Youtube as an Information Source During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: Evaluation of the Turkish and English Content.

INTRODUCTION: YouTube is an important online source of information and has two billion users globally. Its viewing numbers tend to increase exponentially in extraordinary global situations. Our aim in this study was to review and evaluate the contents of the most frequently viewed YouTube videos during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  Methods: In this qualitative study, contents of the most frequently viewed Turkish and English YouTube videos regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were examined and scored with modified DISCERN, medical information and content index (MICI), and video power index (VPI) during April 2020. RESULTS: The mean DISCERN score of Turkish videos was similar to that of English videos (2.55±1.40 and 2.43±1.25, respectively). The total MICI score tended to be higher in Turkish videos. News channels released 86.9% of all 168 videos and 65.2% of all 23 misleading videos. When the descriptive characteristics of videos were compared in terms of their content category, average view counts, view ratios, and VPIs of misleading videos were higher than those of the useful videos. Only, the likes ratio of useful videos was higher than that of the misleading videos. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is no peer-review system on YouTube, people can almost release every type of video. It is very important for the content of videos that are released through news channels to be accurate because the important messages can be spread among people in society through them. In our study, especially some Turkish videos included many different rumors and faulty statements. During the extraordinary situations such as the pandemic, the videos of official health authorities and international institutions should be more visible on YouTube.

Platelet-Rich Plasma May Offer a New Hope in Suppressed Wound Healing When Compared to Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in wound healing suppressed by corticosteroid in rats. METHODS: Forty rats were separated into four groups. To disrupt the wound-healing processes, intraperitoneal single dose 10 mg/kg methylprednisolone was administered to all rats with the exception of Sham-S group. Then, full-thickness incision was performed to the abdominal skin of all animals, and PRP or MSCs were applied to the incision line except the Sham-S and Sham-M group animals. Ten days later, all animals were sacrificed to investigate: tissue collagenization, inflammation, and re-epithelialization grades histopathologically; and tissue hydroxyproline (HP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α levels biochemically. RESULTS: Collagenization (p = 0.003) and inflammation grade (p = 0.002) values were higher in PR group. Tissue HP level value was found to be high in MC group (p < 0.001). Tissue IL-1β level value of Sham-M group was lower than those of other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study revealed that PRP could improve the histopathological grades in wound healing which was suppressed by corticosteroid in rats, while MSCs could show their therapeutic effects via biochemical route. These positive effects were more salient in PR group.

Chemopreventive and Antitumor Efficacy of Curcumin in a Spontaneously Developing Hen Ovarian Cancer Model.

We investigated the effect of daily dietary curcumin intake on the development and progression of spontaneous ovarian cancer in a galline (hen) model, as the chicken is the only nonhuman animal in which ovarian cancer spontaneously develops with a high prevalence. At the end of 12 months, ovarian cancer had spontaneously developed in 39% (35/90) of control hens not fed curcumin (n = 90). In comparison, it spontaneously developed in 27% (24/90) and 17% (15/90) of hens given curcumin at 25.8 (n = 90) and 53.0 mg/day (n = 90), respectively (P = 0.004). This represented significant dose-dependent reductions in overall ovarian cancer incidence in the 25.8 and 53.0 mg/day curcumin-fed groups (31% and 57%, respectively). Daily curcumin intake also reduced ovarian tumor sizes (P = 0.04) and number of tumors (P = 0.006). Evaluation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemopreventive and antitumor effects of curcumin revealed that NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways were significantly inhibited but that the nuclear factor erythroid 2/heme oxygenase 1 antioxidant pathway was induced by curcumin intake in a dose-dependent manner in ovarian tissues (P < 0.05). Sequencing of the Ras family genes (KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS) revealed less frequent KRAS and HRAS mutations in ovarian tumors in the curcumin-fed animals. In conclusion, our results demonstrated for the first time that daily curcumin intake leads to a significant and dose-dependent reduction in spontaneous ovarian cancer incidence and tumor growth, indicating a tremendous role for curcumin as a chemopreventive strategy for ovarian cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 11(1); 59-67. ©2017 AACR.

Boomerang-shaped vs. shield-shaped chondroperichondrial cartilage grafts for type 1 tympanoplasty in children: A study of 121 patients.

Many techniques and graft materials have been used for the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane. We conducted a retrospective study to compare anatomic and functional outcomes of type 1 tympanoplasty that we performed with boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial cartilage grafts (BSGs) and shield-shaped chondroperichondrial cartilage grafts (SSGs) in pediatric patients. Our study population was made up 121 patients-61 boys and 60 girls, aged 7 to 16 years (mean: 12.4)-who had undergone a type 1 tympanoplasty. Patients were divided into two groups according to the grafting technique used; there were 59 patients in the BSG group and 62 patients in the SSG group. Ear examinations were performed at postoperative months 3, 6, 12, and 24, and pure-tone average (PTA) for air-conduction threshold values and air-bone gaps (ABGs) were evaluated at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz at the same visits. We also investigated the impact of the graft material on functional graft success and intergroup differences (if any) in surgical success. Mean postoperative follow-up periods were 30.5 and 30.2 months in the BSG and SSG groups, respectively. We found that the success rates for tympanic membrane reconstruction were not significantly different in the two groups (91.5 and 88.7%). Postoperatively, the mean PTA and ABG values in both groups at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were significantly lower than the preoperative values (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean PTA values between the two groups at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. However, the extent of the decrease in PTA values in the BSG group at 3 months was significantly greater than that of the SSG group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean ABG values between the two groups at 3, 6, and 12 months, but at 24 months, the value was significantly higher in the BSG group (p < 0.05). Finally, the extent of the decrease in ABG in the BSG group at both 3 and 6 months was significantly greater than that of the SSG group (p < 0.05). We conclude that the BSG procedure is a reliable and safe method of performing pediatric tympanoplasty.

ERRATUM: Correction of funding statement in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section. Effectiveness of thymoquinone, zeolite, and platelet-rich plasma in model of corrosive oesophagitis induced in rats.

[This corrects the article on p. 396 in vol. 92, PMID: 28580343.].

Effectiveness of thymoquinone, zeolite, and platelet-rich plasma in model of corrosive oesophagitis induced in rats.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), thymoquinone, and zeolite in corrosive esophageal burns was investigated in a rat model. METHODS: Four groups were comprised as containing 10 rats in each group. For group I, oesophagitis was induced and no other procedure was performed (control group). For group II, oesophagitis was induced and thymoquinone was administered for 1 week via oral gavage once a day (thymoquinone group). For group III, oesophagitis was induced for 1 week via oral gavage once a day (PRP group). For group IV, oesophagitis was induced and zeolite was administered for 1 week via oral gavage once a day (zeolite group). On the 10th day, the rats were sacrificed under anaesthesia and venous blood sampling was performed from the vena portae. The oesophaguses were totally excised. Biochemically, interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 were examined from venous blood. Inflammation score was evaluated histopathologically in oesophageal tissue that was collected. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference among groups in terms of IL-1, IL-6, MCP levels, compared to the control group; median IL-1, IL-6, MCP levels of thymoquinone, PRP, and zeolite groups were statistically significantly lower. There was a statistically significant difference among groups in terms of inflammation scores, compared to group I; median inflammation scores of groups II, III and IV were statistically significantly lower thymoquinone. CONCLUSION: PRP, and zeolite exhibited positive effect on recovery in oesophagitis by reducing inflammation in the involved segment.

Mastalgia Due to Degenerative Changes of the Spine.

BACKGROUND: Mastalgia is a common and enigmatic condition; the cause and optimal treatment are still inadequately defined. Cervical radiculopathy, which is the result of cervical nerve root pathology often caused by spaceoccupying lesions such as cervical disc herniation, spondylosis, or osteophytosis, is frequently encountered in physical therapy. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of vertebral pathologies in patients with non-cyclic mastalgia and the efficacy of conservative treatment of these pathologies on relieving breast pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients were included in the study, all with breast pain continuing throughout the day and lasting at least three months. Breast and axillary physical examinations, mammographic and/or ultrasonographic evaluations were normal in all the patients. The patients' pain levels were scored using a visual analog scale (VAS). Cervical and thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all the participants. RESULTS: Among 96 patients that had pathological findings on magnetic resonance imaging (96%), 49 women had diffuse annular bulging of the cervical spine, and 47 had cervical disc protrusion. Additionally, 12 patients had thoracic disc protrusion. At the end of the three-month period, the patients who were given only conservative treatment returned for follow-up evaluations. According to the VAS scores, five patients had mild to moderate improvement, 55 showed significant improvement, and 29 achieved complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that if none of the known causes of breast pain are found in a patient, the patient should be evaluated for vertebral pathologies.

The effects of scalpel, harmonic scalpel and monopolar electrocautery on the healing of colonic anastomosis after colonic resection.

PURPOSE: In our study, the effects of harmonic scalpel, scalpel, and monopolar electrocautery usage on the health and healing of colon anastomosis after resection was investigated. METHODS: In this study, 120 female albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups each containing 40 rats. Group A, resection with scalpel; group B, resection with monopolar electrocautery; group C, resection with harmonic scalpel. The groups were divided into 4 subgroups consisting of 10 rats and analysed in the postoperative 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Anastomotic bursting pressures, hydroxyproline levels and histopathological parameters were surrogate parameters for evaluating wound healing. RESULTS: The tissue hydroxyproline levels did not show any significant difference between the groups and subgroups. The mean bursting pressure of group A on the 5th day was significantly higher than groups B and C (P < 0.001). When the fibroblast and fibrosis scores were evaluated, scores of group C on the 5th day were significantly higher than the other groups, but the results of bursting pressures and biochemical parameters did not support the fibroblast and fibrosis scores. There were not any significant differences between the groups in other histopathologic parameters. CONCLUSION: The use of monopolar electrocautery needs more attention since the device causes tissue destruction. The obliterating effect of harmonic scalpel on luminal organs is an important problem, especially if an anastomosis is planned. Despite the disadvantages of scalpel, its efficacy on early wound healing is better than the other devices.

Effect of ankaferd blood stopper in experimental peritoneal adhesion model.

PURPOSE: Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is an herbal extract attained from 5 different plants. It has the therapeutic potential to be used for the management of external hemorrhage and controlling gastrointestinal bleedings. To date, the safety of ABS for intraperitoneal usage is not clear. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness and safety of using intraperitoneal ABS in an experimental peritoneal adhesion model. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar Albino rats were used in the study. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: saline, ABS, and control. On the 10th day, all rats were euthanized. The adhesions were evaluated by Nair's macroscopic adhesion classification, and pathologically evaluated with Zühlke's microscopic adhesion classification. RESULTS: macroscopic and microscopic comparison between the ABS and saline groups did not show any differences but both the ABS and saline groups were superior when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: ABS was found equally effective with saline on the abdominal adhesions and to no effect on postoperative adhesion formation.

Oval Window Temperature Changes in an Endoscopic Stapedectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Following the initial use of endoscopes in otology, the pros and cons of these instruments have been questioned increasingly. These instruments cause an increase in temperature that needs to be investigated. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the temperature increase caused by endoscopes and light sources in the perilymph by performing a stapedotomy in an animal model under anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: The study was performed in a guinea pig model. METHODS: In the animal model, a simulated otologic stapes surgery was performed at room temperature. The body temperatures of the guinea pigs were monitored; the temperature increase caused by the 0-degree rigid endoscopes with diameters of 3 and 4  mm as well as the light sources, including halogen, light-emitting diode (LED), and xenon lamps, were monitored following the stapedotomy to measure and document the continuous temperature increase in the perilymph using sensors placed at the oval window. RESULTS: Rigid endoscopes cause a temperature increase in the tympanum regardless of their diameter when used with xenon and halogen light sources. The LED light caused a relatively small temperature increase. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic instruments used in the stapes operation caused a temperature increase in the oval window. The authors concluded that this heat could easily be transmitted to the cochlea by the perilymph, which has obstructed contact with the outer environment following stapedomy, resulting in neurosensorial damage.

In vivo nephroprotective efficacy of propolis against contrast-induced nephropathy.

PURPOSE: Contrast agents administered in diagnostic imaging or interventional procedures of clinical radiology may cause contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Preventive measures against CIN involve pharmaceutical pretreatments, such as N-acetylcystein (NAC) or calpain, but alternative medicines can also be helpful. This study aims to assess the prospects of a natural compound, propolis, as a potential nephroprotector against a specific contrast agent, diatrizoate. METHODS: In vivo experiments were performed on 35 male rats in five groups: control, diatrizoate alone, and pretreatments with propolis, NAC, or calpain one hour before diatrizoate administration. Three days later, blood and renal tissue samples were collected and quantitatively processed for determining induced changes in critical biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), as well as serum creatinine and plasma urea. RESULTS: Diatrizoate increased creatinine (113%), urea (400%), and MDA (162%) levels and decreased GSH (-71%), SOD (-69%), GSH-Px (-77%), and CAT (-73%) levels. Evaluating the response of each pretreatment provided sufficient evidence that propolis was as effective as either NAC or calpain, but consistently more prominent in restoring the MDA, GSH, SOD, and GSH-Px levels close to their normal range. This outcome demonstrated the nephroprotective effect of propolis against CIN. CONCLUSION: Propolis protects renal tissue against toxicity, free radicals, and other adverse effects induced by diatrizoate. This function is most likely exerted through the antioxidant and antitoxic activities of propolis.

Treatment of Large Tympanic Membrane Perforations: Medial to Malleus Versus Lateral to Malleus.

The perforation size affects the success of tympanic membrane (TM) reconstruction, in addition to the surgical technique used. Large TM perforations present a surgical challenge. The perforation size has been reported to be a prognostic factor, and poorer results are obtained with large versus small perforations. We aimed to evaluate patients who had undergone tympanoplasty for large perforations at our clinic using either the underlay or over-underlay technique and to compare the results in terms of re-perforation, retraction, lateralization, and improvement of hearing. Of 302 patients with chronic otitis media, 114 who had a perforation that involved over 50 % of the pars tensa were enrolled in the study. The underlay technique was used in 61 patients, and the over-underlay technique in 53 patients. In the underlay group, the preoperative mean perforation size was 30.11 ± 5.35 mm(2) (range 20.00-52.00 mm(2)) (n = 61). In the over-underlay group, the preoperative mean perforation size was 31.41 ± 8.65 mm(2) (range 22.00-48.00 mm(2)) (n = 53). The graft success rate of tympanoplasty performed using the underlay technique was 89.1 % in 61 patients. Seven (10.9 %) patients had graft failure. The graft success rate with the over-underlay technique in 53 patients was 90.5 %. Five (9.5 %) patients had graft failure in this group. Three graft lateralizations (5.6 %) and two retractions (3.8 %) were observed at 12 months postoperatively in the over-underlay group. However, in the underlay group, no graft lateralization but five retractions (8.2 %) were observed at 12 months. The graft-take rates and hearing improvement results in both groups were successful and compatible with those in the literature.

Surgical success of boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial graft in pediatric chronic otitis media cases.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal the success of boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial graft (BSCPG) in pediatric chronic otitis media cases. METHODS: A total of 43 pediatric patients (age 7-16 years) who had undergone type 1 tympanoplasty with the diagnosis of chronic otitis media between March 2010 and March 2013 were included in this retrospective study. The main outcome measures were the graft success rate and level of hearing improvement. RESULTS: Graft intake success rate was 90.7%. Mean preoperative and postoperative air-bone gap values were 20.51 ± 4.34 dB SPL and 9.32 ± 5.64 dB SPL, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean preoperative and postoperative pure tone average values were 28.6 ± 3.52 and 12.24 ± 5.22 respectively (p < 0.001). Air-bone gap was improved to ≤ 10 dB in 38 (88.37%) patients during the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial grafting technique seems to be a successful alternative in the management of pediatric chronic otitis media cases. It has relatively higher grade graft success rate.

Effects of the Oral Nutritional Supplement Containing Arginine, Glutamine, and Hydroxymethylbutyrate (Abound®) on Healing of Colonic Anastomoses in Rats.

We evaluated the effects of the oral nutritional supplement containing arginine, glutamine, and hydroxymethylbutyrate (Abound®) on healing of colonic anastomoses in experimental rat model. Seventy Wistar-Albino male rats were divided into seven groups. Colon transection and anastomosis were performed in all groups except for the sham group. In groups 2 and 5, rats were fed with standard rat chow after the operation. Oral nutritional supplement was added to standard nutrition for 3 days postoperatively in group 3 and 7 days in group 6 and preoperative 7 days plus postoperative 3 days in group 4 and preoperative 7 days plus postoperative 7 days in group 7. Bursting pressures were measured, adhesions were evaluated, and tissue samples were taken for measurement of tissue hydroxyproline levels and for histopathological examination. The usage of oral nutritional supplement had positive effects on bursting pressures, tissue hydroxyproline levels, and histopathological findings of anastomoses, but feeding with oral nutritional supplement both preoperatively and postoperatively had no additive effect on these parameters when compared with the groups that were fed only postoperatively. The mixture of arginine, glutamine, and hydroxymethylbutyrate may be safely used for achieving better healing results after colonic anastomoses.

Orally administered lycopene attenuates diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats by modulating Nrf-2/HO-1 and Akt/mTOR pathways.

Hepatocarcinogenesis is one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers. We studied the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by lycopene in rats. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of DEN followed by promotion with phenobarbital for 24 successive wk. The rats were given lycopene (20 mg/kg body weight) 3 times a week orally for 4 wk prior to initiation, and the treatment was continued for 24 consecutive wk. Lycopene reduced incidence, number, size, and volume of hepatic nodules. Serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and malondialdehyde (MDA) considerably increased and hepatic antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione decreased in DEN-treated rats when compared with the control group. Lycopene significantly reversed these biochemical changes and increased the expression of NF-E-2-related factor-2)/heme oxygenase-1, and it decreased NF-κB/cyclooxygenase-2, inhibiting the inflammatory cascade and activating antioxidant signaling (P < 0.05). Lycopene also decreased DEN-induced increases in phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), phosphorylated p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1, phosphorylated 4E-binding protein 1, and protein kinase B (P < 0.05). Lycopene is an active chemopreventive agent that offers protection against DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by inhibiting NF-κB and mTOR pathways.