Curcumin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Mitigating Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Evidence from an Experimental Rat Study.

BACKGROUND Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas and causes tissue damage through oxidative stress. We aimed to investigate the protective value of curcumin in CO poisoning. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-four female Spraque Dawley rats were divided into 4 subgroups: controls (n=6), curcumin group (n=6), CO group (n=6), and curcumin+CO group (n=6). The experimental group was exposed to 3 L/min of CO gas at 3000 ppm. Curcumin was administered intraperitoneally at a dosage of 50 mg/kg. Hippocampal tissues were removed and separated for biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, nitric oxide (NO) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were assayed spectrophotometrically, and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured using the ELISA technique. Tissue Bcl-2 levels were detected by the immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS Tissue CAT and SOD activities and NO levels were significantly lower, and MDA and serum ADMA levels were higher in the CO group than in the control group (P<0.001). The curcumin+CO group had higher CAT activities (P=0.007) and lower MDA than the CO group (P<0.001) and higher ADMA levels than the control group (P=0.023). However, there was no significant difference observed for tissue SOD activity or NO levels between these 2 groups. In the curcumin+CO group, the Bcl-2 level was higher than that in the CO group (P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS The positive effect of curcumin on CAT activities, together with suppression of MDA levels, has shown that curcumin may have a protective effect against CO poisoning.

Comparison of the Effects of Neostigmine and Sugammadex on Colonic Anastomotic Strength in Rats.

BACKGROUND: After colorectal surgery, anastomotic leakage is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. There are many factors affecting anastomotic leakage. It is known that agents such as neostigmine that is used to reverse neuromuscular blockade have certain effects on anastomosis. In our study, in which we planned to test this hypothesis, we aimed to compare the possible effects of different doses of sugammadex and neostigmine on colon anastomosis strength in a colonic resection anastomosis model in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult Wistar albino male rats were divided into five groups as control (group C), Sugammadex 16 mg/kg (group SL), sugammadex 96 mg/kg (group SH), neostigmine 0.3 µmol/kg (group NL), and neostigmine 1.5 µmol/kg (group NH). The transverse colons of all rats were resected, and colonic anastomosis was performed. Appropriate drug doses according to the groups were given on the postoperative seventh day, and tissue hydroxyproline (TH) level and anastomotic bursting pressure were measured. RESULTS: Anastomotic bursting pressure values were statistically significantly different between the groups (P = 0.001). The bursting pressure in group SH was significantly higher compared with group C, group NL, and group NH. The hydroxyproline values were statistically significantly different between the groups (P = 0.015). According to the post hoc test results, the difference was between group SH and group C (P = 0.007). There were no significant differences between the other groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of intra-abdominal adhesion rates between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that low and high doses of neostigmine had no variable effect on anastomosis, but high dose of sugammadex (96 mg/kg) had an increasing effect on intestinal anastomosis strength.

Internal Jugular Vein Catheterization: The Landmark Technique versus Ultrasonography Guidance in Cardiac Surgery.

Background Central venous catheterization is an invasive procedure that must be performed during cardiovascular surgery. The addition of ultrasound guidance to the catheterization technique has shown effectiveness in reducing complications because it allows for the visualization of anatomical variations prior to intervention and the continual visualization of the needle during the placement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of needle-guiding ultrasound for internal jugular venous cannulation. Method Patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery at Hitit University, department of cardiovascular surgery, from January 2014 to June 2018, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: those with catheterization with ultrasound guidance (Group U) and those with catheterization performed with the anatomic landmark technique (Group L). Results A total of 584 cases were investigated. The success of the procedure and complication rates for both methods were compared. Central vein catheterization with ultrasonography produced success and complication rates significantly better than those for catheterization using the landmark technique (p=0.04 and p=0.00001, respectively). Conclusion This study demonstrated that the use of ultrasonography for internal jugular vein catheterization for patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery significantly reduced the complication rates as compared to those of patients where the landmark technique was used for catheterization.

Experimental study on prophylactic effects of vardenafil in ischemia-reperfusion model with intestinal volvulus injury in rats.

AIM: An experimental study was performed to evaluate the effects of Vardenafil on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in an experimental volvulus model by histochemical and biochemical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided in five groups (n = 7). In Group 1, a 5 cm segment of small intestine 2 cm proximal to cecum was excised to have a control group. In the second group, 5 cm segment of small intestine 2 cm proximal to cecum was rotated 360° clockwise direction and sutured with 4/0 polyglactin to generate an experimental model of volvulus. At the end of 2 h of ischemia, the same intestinal segment was sampled. In group 3, after achieving ischemia similar to group 2, two hours of reperfusion injury was obtained by removing the sutures. Rats in Group 4 received vardenafil after 1.5 h of ischemia and then 2 h of reperfusion. And finally, in Group 5, vardenafil was administered 2 h before laparotomy and 5 cm of intestine was removed without I/R injury. Intestinal segments were evaluated for total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) with biochemical and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Serum TOS levels and OSI were not significantly different between groups (p = 0.910, P = 0,43 respectively). The serum TAS level was decreased in group 3 as compared to vardenafil groups 4 and 5, without a statistical significance (p = 0.428). In histopathologic analysis, we found that vardenafil, partially reduced I/R injury. The villus structure was preserved but, congestion and inflammation were moderate. CONCLUSION: Vardenafil partially reduced I/R injury histopathologically on intestine. Our study shows that it does not have statistically antioxidant effect on intestinal I/R injury in experimental model of volvulus. However, effects of vardenafil in I/R injury of liver, kidney, heart, testis, over and brain which were cited in literature were not confirmed with I/R injury on intestine.

Dexmedetomidine acts as an oxidative damage prophylactic in rats exposed to ionizing radiation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on oxidative injury caused by ionizing radiation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experimental study. SETTING: Department of radiation oncology and research laboratory of an academic hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-eight rats were randomized to 4 groups (n=7 per group). Group S rats were administered physiologic serum; group SR rats were administered physiologic serum and 10 Gy external ionizing radiation. Groups D100 and D200 were administered 100 and 200 µg/kg dexmedetomidine intraperitoneally, respectively, 45 minutes before ionizing radiation. MEASUREMENTS: Liver, kidney, lung, and thyroid tissue and serum levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase [GPX], superoxide dismutase, and catalase) and oxidative metabolites (advanced oxidation protein products, malondialdehyde, and nitrate/nitrite, and serum ischemia-modified albumin) were measured 6 hours postprocedure. MAIN RESULTS: In group SR, IR decreased antioxidant enzyme levels and increased oxidative metabolite levels (P<.05). In plasma, antioxidant enzyme levels were higher and oxidative metabolite levels were lower in groups D100 and D200 than in group SR (P<.01). In tissues, hepatic and lung GPX levels were higher in groups D100 and D200 than in group SR (P<.001). Renal and thyroid GPX levels were higher in D200 than in group SR (P<.01). Thyroid superoxide dismutase levels were higher in groups D100 and D200 than in group SR (P<.01). Renal, lung, and thyroid catalase levels were higher in group D200 than in group SR (P<.01). Hepatic, renal, and lung advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde levels were lower in groups D100 and D200 than in group SR (P<.01). Hepatic, renal, and lung nitrate/nitrite levels were lower in group D200 than in group SR (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine preserves the antioxidant enzyme levels and reduces toxic oxidant metabolites. Therefore, it can provide protection from oxidative injury caused by ionizing radiation.

The comparison of the effects of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia and intravenous propofol anesthesia on oxidative stress in one lung ventilation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare the effects of sevoflurane and propofol on one lung ventilation (OLV) induced ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) by determining the blood gas, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and malonyldialdehyde (MDA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-four patients undergoing thoracic surgery with OLV were randomized in two groups (sevoflurane Group S, propofol Group P). Anesthesia was inducted with thiopental and was maintained with 1-2.5% of sevoflurane within the 40/60% of O2/N2O mixture in Group S. In Group P anesthesia was inducted with propofol and was maintained with infusion of propofol and remifentanil. Hemodynamic records and blood samples were obtained before anesthesia induction (t 1), 1 min before two lung ventilation (t 2), 30 min after two lung ventilation (t 3), and postoperative sixth hours (t 4). RESULTS: Heart rate at t 2 and t 3 in Group P was significantly lower than that in Group S. While there were no significant differences in terms of pH and pCO2, pO2 at t 2 and t 3 in Group S was significantly lower than that in Group P. IMA levels at t 4 in Group S were significantly lower than those in Group P. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane may offer protection against IRI after OLV in thoracic surgery.