Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of the Effect of Sildenafil Citrate, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E on Wound Healing in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine the impact of sildenafil citrate, vitamin A (Vit A), vitamin C (Vit C) and vitamin E (Vit E) on wound healing in a rat model of diabetes (n = 100). Methods: Diabetes was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of alloxan. After anaesthesia, a standard wound was created on the back of each rat using a 10-mm sterile punch. The rats were randomly divided into 10 groups (n = 10 in each), as follows: normal saline, glibenclamide, insulin, sildenafil, Vit A, Vit C, Vit E, Vit A + sildenafil, Vit C + sildenafil, Vit E + sildenafil daily for 15 days. The rats were sacrificed after being anaesthetized 3, 7 and 15 days later. Wounded skin tissue samples were collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: On the 7th day, epithelial regeneration was completed in groups 8 and 9. Angiogenesis was insufficient in group 2. In terms of connective tissue proliferation, partially matured connective tissue was observed in group 4. On the 15th day of the study, groups 8, 9 and 10 had mature connective tissue. However, group 1 still had exudate-containing neutrophils. Immunohistochemically, on the 3rd day, the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) reactivity was intense in macrophages and neutrophils surrounding the wound edges in groups 4, 8, 9 and 10. The level of iNOS reactivity was moderate in group 6 and less distinct in groups 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. Conclusion: Sildenafil citrate, together with Vit A and Vit C, is beneficial in wound healing of diabetic rats.

Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in obsessive compulsive disorder.

AIM: Recent research implicated place of an immune mechanism in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite increasing evidence involvement of cytokine release in OCD, results of the studies are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of the cytokines; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in OCD patients. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were measured in 31 drug-free outpatients with OCD, and 31-year age and sex-matched healthy controls. TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations in blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Both TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels showed statistically significant increases in OCD patients compared to controls (P < .000, P < .001, resp.). In addition, the age of onset was negatively correlated with TNF-alpha level (r = -.402, P = .025) and duration of illness was weakly correlated with IL-6 levels (r: .357; P: .048) in patients group. CONCLUSION: OCD patients showed increases in TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels compared to the healthy controls. This study provides evidence for alterations in the proinflammatory cytokines which suggest the involvement of the immune system in the pathophysiology of OCD.

Considerations for gastrointestinal cannulation (rumen, duodenum and ileum) in sheep with a ruminal, a simple t-type and a modified t-type cannula.

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of simultaneous application of three cannulations and to test the effectiveness of a modified T-type cannula compared to simple T-type cannula. A ruminal, a simple T-type and a modified T-type duodenal and an ilial cannula were used in sheep. No complication was encountered in ruminal cannulation. Although no grafts were used, leakage of digesta was not seen for at least five months in T-type cannula and seven months in modified T-type cannula after surgery. Fibrous tissue grew between the serosa of the intestine and the peritoneum. No erosion of the tissue between intestine and body wall was observed after slaughter. Especially ilial digesta was easily obtained from modified T-type cannula.

Serum trace elements status of rabbits supplemented with Nigella sativa, vitamins C and E, and selenium against damage by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine.

In this study, we investigated the effects of Nigella sativa, vitamins C and E, and selenium on the levels of trace elements in the serum of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-injected rabbits. The rabbits were separated into one control and three experimental groups, each consisting of eight rabbits. MNNG was administered to all rabbits at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Group A received a suspension of N. sativa, group B received a combination of vitamins C and E and selenium, and group C received MNNG without any additional treatment. Group D did not receive any treatment and acted as control. The concentrations of serum zinc, copper, and iron were determined for groups A, B, C, and D. The zinc levels were 155.3+/-25.8, 304.7+/-14.22, 117.2+/-27.9, and 87.0+/-8 ng/dL for groups A-D, respectively; copper was measured at 234.8+/-31.9, 214.3+/-14.2, 196.5+/-19.3, and 359.2+/-19.9 ng/dL and iron levels were 276.3+/-10.71, 260.8+/-7.15, 211.2+/-13.47, and 223.4+/-9.5 ng/dL, in the stated group order. There were statistically significant differences between groups (p<0.05). The results obtained in this work may be of use for monitoring and preventing the nocive effects of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and similar carcinogens.