RESUMO
Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is chronic inflammatory skin disorder. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays a role in inflammatory reactions. The soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE) acts as a decoy to inhibit interactions of RAGE. Aim: To determine serum sRAGE levels in children with AD. Material and methods: AD diagnosis was made according to Hanifin and Rajka criteria. Disease severity was scored by the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Skin prick testing (SPT), total immunoglobulin E (Ig E) and eosinophil counts were analysed. The sRAGE levels were determined using ELISA technique. Results: The children, aged 0.4 to 2.0 years with AD (n = 65) were investigated in two groups according to the presence (AD+/Atopy+ [n = 40]) or absence (AD+/Atopy- [n = 25]) of SPT positivity. The comparisons were made with a healthy control group matched for age and sex. The medians (interquartile range) of sRAGE levels in patient and control groups were 8.43 (1.04-18.37) and 14.09 (6.35-28.64), respectively (p < 0.001). The medians (interquartile range) of sRAGE levels in AD+/Atopy+, AD+/Atopy- and control groups were 8.5 (3.1-17.27), 7.75 (1.04-18.37) and 14.09 (6.35-28.64), respectively (p = 0.004). Correlation analysis failed to reach significance with the disease severity sRAGE levels, total IgE levels and eosinophil counts. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the association of sRAGE levels with AD and disease severity in childhood. Serum sRAGE levels are decreased in AD but not correlated with disease severity. sRAGE levels may be important in the AD disease process.
RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrated carbon 60 fullerene (C60HyFn) on ram semen quality during cryopreservation. Three ejaculates from each of seven Akkaraman rams were collected using an artificial vagina during the nonbreeding season and pooled. Pooled semen samples were divided into 10 equal parts and diluted with tris + egg yolk extender not containing (control) and containing 100, 200, 400, and 800 nM and 1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 µM C60HyFn at 37°C. After addition of 5% glycerol and an equilibration process for 3 hours, the samples were frozen in 0.25-mL straws in an automatic freezing device at -140°C and stored in a liquid nitrogen container. Straws were thawed 24 hours after freezing and analyzed immediately with no incubation period. Motility, kinematic parameters, abnormality, vitality, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), and oxidative stress levels were analyzed in thawed semen. Compared with the control, 200, 400, and 800 nM and 1 and 5 µM C60HyFn doses increased motility and HOST values and decreased the dead sperm rate. When compared with the control, addition of C60HyFn significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels (between 200 nM and 40 µM doses) and significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (between 800 nM and 40 µM doses) and catalase (between 1 and 40 µM doses) activities. In conclusion, results of this study show that the C60HyFn nanoparticles are nontoxic to ram semen and their supplementation in the extender is beneficial to sperm motility and membrane integrity after freeze-thawing.