Evaluation and Comparison of the Effects of Artesunate, Dexamethasone, and Tacrolimus on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of topical artesunate treatment on peripheral nerve regeneration and compare it with the effects of topical tacrolimus and dexamethasone on nerve regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 6 groups: sham, saline, petrolatum, artesunate, tacrolimus, and dexamethasone. A compression injury was generated in the right sciatic nerve in all groups except the sham group. In the sham group, the nerve was dissected but compression was not applied. In the groups in which compression was applied, the agents were absorbed through resorbable gelatin sponges applied to the injured region. At the end of 4 weeks, walking analysis, electromyographic measurements, and histopathologic examinations were conducted. RESULTS: When the sciatic function index and electrophysiologic measurements were evaluated, artesunate, tacrolimus, and dexamethasone exhibited positive effects on nerve regeneration (P < .05); there were no significant differences among these 3 agents (P > .05). Histopathologic examination showed that artesunate decreased fibrosis scores and inflammation and increased the diameter of myelinated axons; tacrolimus decreased fibroblast scores; and dexamethasone only decreased fibrosis scores (P < .05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the artesunate and dexamethasone groups had more positive immunoreactivity to nerve growth factor than did the saline group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Topical artesunate treatment had a positive effect on peripheral nerve regeneration. There were no relevant differences between the topical forms of dexamethasone and tacrolimus for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Magnetic resonance imaging and fractal analysis findings in temporomandibular joints with disk perforation.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and fractal dimension (FD) values in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of study patients with disk perforation vs control patients. STUDY DESIGN: Of 75 TMJs examined with MRI for characteristics of the disk and condyle, 45 were included in the study group and 30 in the control group. MRI findings and FD values were compared for significance of differences between the groups. The frequency of subclassifications was analyzed for differences between the two forms of disk configuration and grades of effusion. Mean FD values were analyzed for differences among subclassifications of MRI findings and between groups. RESULTS: Examination of MRI variables revealed that the study group had significantly greater frequencies of flattened disks, disk displacement, flattening and combined defects in condylar morphology, and grade 2 effusion (P = .001) Joints with perforated disks had a large percentage of normal disk-condyle relationships (73.3%). Significant differences were discovered between biconcave and flattened disk configuration in the frequencies of internal disk status and condylar morphology. FD values of all patients varied significantly among the subclassifications of disk configuration, internal disk status, and effusion. Mean FD values were significantly lower in the study group with perforated disks (1.07) compared with the control group (1.20, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: MRI variables and FD can be useful in investigating intra-articular TMJ status.

Artesunate: could be an alternative drug to chloroquine in COVID-19 treatment?

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus)-CV-2 (2019-nCov), which showed up in China in December 2019 and spread all over the world, has becomed a serious health problem. An effective, safe and proven treatment has not yet been found. Chloroquine has been recommended by some authors to be used for the treatment of patients infected with this virus however chloroquine may have side effects and drug resistance problems. Artesunate is a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug. Artesunate was thought to be an effective treatment for covid-19 because of its anti-inflammatory activity, NF-κB (nuclear Factor kappa B)-coronavirus effect and chloroquine-like endocytosis inhibition mechanism.

Could Artesunate Have a Positive Effect on the Neurological Complications Related to Infection When It Is Used in the Treatment of COVID-19?

Artesunate is a safe noncytotoxic drug with low side effects which is used in the treatment of chloroquine-resistant malaria. In addition to being an antimalarial drug, artesunate also has immunomodulatory, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral activity. There are in vivo and in vitro studies reporting that artesunate may have a positive effect on the treatment of COVID-19. Artesunate may be effective based on its effect on the anti-inflammatory activity, chloroquine-like endocytosis inhibition mechanism, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathway. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may cause neurological complications in addition to targeting the respiratory system. In this study, we have discussed the possible neuroprotective action mechanisms of artesunate. We think that systemic and intranasal topical artesunate administration may have a positive effect on neurological complications resulting from COVID-19.

Calcifying odontogenic cyst associated with the impacted third molar: a case report.

Calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is a benign, locally aggressive, slow-growing lesion. Its occurrence constitutes about 2% of all odontogenic cysts. The most frequent sign is painless, slow growing swelling. Radiographically it appears as a well-defined unilocular radiolucency. The microscopical features of lesion showed well-delineated cystic proliferation of odontogenic epithelium with ghost cells and fibrous connective tissue wall. In the present study, 42 years old man who has COC associated with the impacted third molar treated with enucleation is reported after 6 months follow-up.