Investigation of the effect of sildenafil on flap survival in a diabetic rat model.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of sildenafil citrate in order to improve the distal necrosis of randomized flaps in diabetic rats, and to explore new methods to reduce distal necrosis encountered in flap surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study in rats. The rats were first divided into three groups: Control(C), Diabetes(D), and Sildenafil(S). Streptozotocin 40mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally to the rats in groups D and S that would develop diabetes. Two days after the procedure, blood glucose was measured from the tail vein of the rats, and the rats with a blood glucose level of 250mg/dL and above were considered diabetic. 7×3cm McFarlane flap was randomly planned on the back of the rats. In the flaps, ischemia was measured at the 30th minute with Na fluorescein, flap necrosis was measured on days 4 and 7, and specimens were collected from the critical zone and distal zone regions for histological examination. RESULTS: The comparison of ischemia and necrosis regions, ischemia was found to be more significant in groups D and S compared to group C (P<0.05). In the comparison of necroses on days 4 and 7, it was determined that necrosis occurred significantly (P<0.05) less in group S compared to the other groups. It was determined that necrosis in group D was significantly (P<0.05) higher on days 4 and 7 compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: The distal circulation is affected worse in randomized flaps in diabetes. Sildenafil citrate significantly increased the flap viability (P<0.05).

Evaluation by different mechanisms of the protective effects of vitamin B12 on methotrexate nephrotoxicity.

Methotrexate is used for cure of many cancer types. It has many side effects. For this reason, obtaining a nephroprotective agent is obligatory. In the study, our aim is to determine probable effects of Vitamin B12 on MTX caused kidney damages in rats. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including 8 animals in each group. Control group, VitB12 group (3 µg-kg-ip B12 throughout 15 days), MTX group (at the 8th day of experiment, a single dose of 20 mg-kg-ip MTX), Vit B12 + MTX group (3 µg-kg-ip B12 throughout 15 days and at the 8th day of experiment, a single dose of 20 mg-kg-ip MTX) Animals were anesthetized and kidney tissues were removed to evaluate biochemically, immunohistochemically and histopathologycally. There were histopathological deteriorations, rises of apoptotic cells, expressions of heat shock proteins, endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation markers in the MTX group. In the MTX group, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Catalase (CAT) levels decreased, but Total Oxidant Status TOS, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin-6 (IL6) levels increased. In addition, there was amelioration in kidney tissue in Vit B12 + MTX group compared to the MTX group. We suggest that Vit B12 can be used to reduce the toxic effects of MTX.

Thymoquinone is a protective agent that reduces the negative effects of doxorubicin in rat testis.

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin (DOX) is used for treatment of many cancer types. Thymoquinone (THQ) is a powerful antioxidant agent used for reducing side effects of several drugs. The aim of this study is to determine possible therapeutic effects of THQ on doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity in rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into five groups (n = 8): control, THQ, olive oil, DOX (a single dose of 15 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) on seventh day of the experiment), and DOX + THQ (10 mg/kg THQ per day and 15 mg/kg DOX i.p. on seventh day). Animals were euthanized, and testis tissues were evaluated histopathologically. Caspase 3 and HSP90 immunostaining were performed to determine the expression levels of these proteins among groups. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine, 5'-triphosphate nick-end labeling method was used for evaluation of apoptotic index. Moreover, serum testosterone levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) in testicular tissue were measured by ELISA assay. RESULTS: The DOX group had histopathological deterioration compared to the control group. There was an increase in apoptotic index, caspase 3 and HSP90 expressions in the DOX group. While TAS level of the DOX group decreased, TOS level increased when compared with the other groups. Serum testosterone levels in the DOX group decreased compared to the control group. However, there was improvement in testicular tissue in DOX + THQ group compared to the DOX group. There was a decrease in apoptotic index, caspase 3, and HSP90 expressions in DOX + THQ group compared to the DOX group. Testosterone level of DOX + THQ significantly increased compared to the DOX group. CONCLUSION: We suggest that THQ can be used as a protective agent to reduce the toxic effects of DOX.