Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats detorsioned after experimental ovarian torsion.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate whether hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) could ameliorate ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model of ovarian torsion-detorsion. Methods: Twenty-seven rats were divided among four groups: surgical sham rats (S) (n = 6) underwent identical anaesthesia and surgical incisions to other groups (n = 7 per group) but with no ovary intervention; torsion rats (T) underwent laparotomy, ovarian torsion, relaparotomy and sacrifice after three hours; torsion and detorsion rats (T/DT) underwent laparotomy, ovarian torsion (three hours), relaparotomy and detorsion, and sacrifice after one week; torsion, detorsion, hyperbaric oxygen rats (T/DT/HBOT) underwent laparotomy, ovarian torsion, relaparotomy and detorsion, and sacrifice after one week during which HBOT was provided 21 times (100% oxygen at 600 kPa for 50 min). In all groups blood collection for markers of oxidative stress or related responses, and ovary collection for histology were performed after sacrifice. Results: When the T/DT, and T/DT/HBOT groups were compared, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a marker of oxidative damage to DNA) and malondialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation) levels were lower in the T/DT/HBOT group. Anti-Mullerian hormone levels were higher in the T/DT/HBOT group compared to the T/DT group. In addition, oedema, vascular occlusion, neutrophilic infiltration and follicular cell damage were less in the T/DT/HBOT group than in the T/DT group. Conclusions: When biochemical and histopathological findings were evaluated together, HBOT appeared reduce ovarian ischaemia / reperfusion injury in this rat model of ovarian torsion-detorsion.

Effects of electroacupuncture at ST36 and BL20 on the diabetic rat testis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 and BL20 on the testicular tissues in a rat model of diabetes and to explore the mechanisms of action. METHODS: A total of 34 male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to a control group (n = 10), diabetes (D) group (n = 12) or diabetes + acupuncture (DA) group (n = 12). To model diabetes, rats in groups D and DA received an intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in citrate buffer (pH = 4.5; 0.1 M) after 2 weeks of high-fat diet administration. Under xylazine/ketamine anesthesia, stainless steel needles (30 mm × 0.25 mm) were inserted bilaterally at ST36 and BL20. The needles were connected to an EA device via cables, and EA was applied for 30 min (15 Hz frequency and 0.2-1 mA intensity) twice a week for 5 weeks. RESULTS: The effects of EA at ST36 and BL20 on blood glucose levels and body weight, biochemical parameters, histopathological, morphometric and immunohistochemical findings, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis were evaluated. A significant decrease was detected in DA versus D groups in blood glucose levels, basement membrane thickness and apoptotic cell/tubule indices. In addition, there was a significant increase in the Johnsen scores, seminiferous tubule diameters, serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone, proliferation indices, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) immunoreactivities. CONCLUSION: EA had multiple positive effects on blood glucose homeostasis and testicular structure/function in this rat model of diabetes. EA may be effective at preventing or eliminating histopathological damage in the diabetic testis.

Efficacy of combination therapy with biofeedback and dapoxetine in lifelong premature ejaculation treatment: a prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction that significantly affects the quality of life of the patient and their partner. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy with biofeedback-guided pelvic floor exercise therapy (BFT) and dapoxetine 30 mg. METHODS: Sixty-five patients diagnosed with lifelong PE were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups as BFT, dapoxetine 30 mg and a combination of BFT and dapoxetine 30 mg. The patients were compared with the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) pre-treatment and post-treatment 1st and 3rd months. RESULTS: The mean IELTs of the patients in Group 1 were 40 s in pre-treatment, 115 s at the end of the 4th week and 140 s at the end of the 12th week. The IELT values of the patients in Group 2 were 40 s in pre-treatment, 145 s in the 4th week and 170 s in the 12th week. The IELT values were calculated in Group 3 as 42.5 s in pre-treatment, 185 s in the 4th week and 205 s in the 12th week When the IELT was statistically compared between the groups at 1st and 3rd months, the duration in the combination group was found to increase significantly (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with BFT and dapoxetine 30 mg in lifelong PE treatment is a good alternative with a low side effect profile and acceptable continuous efficiency.

Effects of Core Training in Physical Fitness of Youth Karate Athletes: A Controlled Study Design.

This study aimed to analyse the impact of an 8-week core strength training (CST) programme in youth karate practitioners on core endurance, agility, flexibility, sprinting, jumping, and kick performance. This study followed a randomized parallel design. Twenty-nine participants (age: 12.86 ± 0.81 years old; height: 152.55 ± 10.37 cm; weight: 42.93 ± 8.85 kg) were allocated to a CST programme (n = 16) performed thrice weekly or to a control group (n = 13) only performing the sport-specific (karate) training. Participants were assessed three times (baseline, mid and post-intervention) for the following tests: (i) flexor endurance test (FET); (ii) back extensor test (BET); (iii) lateral musculature test (LMT); (iv) flexibility; (v) chance of direction (COD); (vi) countermovement jump (CMJ); (vii) back muscle strength (BMS); (viii) horizontal jump (LJ); (ix) sprint test; and (x) karate kick test (KKT). Between-group analysis revealed significant advantages for the CST group on the FET (p < 0.001), BET (p < 0.001), LMT (p < 0.001), 20 m sprint (p = 0.021) and KKT for right (p < 0.006) and left (p < 0.020) legs. No significant differences were found between groups in the remaining physical fitness variables (p > 0.05). The within-group changes revealed significant improvements in the CST group at flexibility (p = 0.002), COD (p < 0.001), CMJ (p < 0.001), BMS (p < 0.002), 20 m sprint (p = 0.033), and KKT (p < 0.001). In addition, within-group changes in the control group were also significant in flexibility (p = 0.024) and right kick (p < 0.042). We conclude that the CST programme improves core endurance and karate kick performance; however, it is not effective enough for other physical performance parameters in KR practitioners.

Is biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training superior to pelvic floor muscle training alone in the treatment of dysfunctional voiding in women? A prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and PFMT alone on voiding parameters in women with dysfunctional voiding (DV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients in group 1 (34 patients) were treated with biofeedback-assisted PFMT, and the patients in group 2 (34 patients) were treated with PFMT alone for 12 weeks. The 24-hour frequency, average voided volume, maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), average urine flow rate (Qave), post-void residual urine volume (PVR), and the validated Turkish Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) symptom scores were recorded before and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: At the end of treatment sessions, the Qmax and Qave values of the patients in group 1 were significantly higher than those in group 2, and the PVR in the patients in group 1 was significantly lower than those in group 2 (p=.026, .043, and .023, respectively). The average UDI-6 symptom scores of the patients in group 1 were significantly lower than those in group 2 (p=.034). Electromyography activity during voiding, in group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2 (41.2 vs. 64.7, respectively, p=.009). CONCLUSION: Biofeedback-assisted PFMT is more effective than PFMT alone in improving clinical symptoms, uroflowmetry parameters, and EMG activity during voiding.

The importance of the glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib.

Aim: To show the prognostic significance of the glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients & methods: A total of 150 patients with advanced HCC who were treated with sorafenib in our center between January 2011 and December 2019 were included in the study retrospectively. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, prognostic nutritional index and GLR were analyzed to assess their prognostic value using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: In univariate analysis before and after PSM, albumin-bilirubin grade, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, prognostic nutritional index, AFP level and GLR were found to be significantly associated with both progression-free and overall survival. In multivariate analysis before and after PSM, GLR, albumin-bilirubin grade and AFP were determined to be independent prognostic factors for progression-free and overall survival. Conclusion: The GLR prior to sorafenib treatment is a new prognostic biomarker that may predict survival in advanced HCC.

Bilateral and ipsilateral peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscles in elite judokas.

OBJECTIVE: To examine bilateral and ipsilateral peak torque values of quadriceps (Q) and hamstring (H) muscles in elite judokas. METHODS: 16 elite male judokas were tested in concentric isokinetic strength of the quadriceps (Q) and hamstrings (H) muscles at 60° and 180° sec-1. Variables comprised average peak torque and the traditional H/Q, Q/Q, H/H ratios. Asymmetries between legs and differences between isokinetic muscle strength ratios were examined using paired t-tests and Cohen's d. RESULTS: In right (Rs) and left (Ls) extremity peak torque values, no significant difference was found between 60° and 180° sec-1 angular velocities (p>0.05). In peak torque values between PLs and NPLs, significant difference was found only in extension (Ex) phase at 60° sec-1 angular velocity p=0.001). (Significance was identified between (Q/Q) and (H/H) muscle ratios at 60° sec-1 (p=0.029). No significant difference was found in ipsilateral strength ratios at 60° and 180° sec-1 angular velocity (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Ex knee strength of PLs was high, particularly at low angular velocities, leading to differences of bilateral asymmetry in the Q muscle group. Regarding ipsilateral strength ratios, there were no differences in the H and Q muscle groups at both angular velocities, indicating that both legs were similar in terms of ipsilateral asymmetry.

Inspiratory muscle training improves pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle strength in healthy male smokers.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength of both healthy smokers and nonsmokers. Forty-two healthy males (16 in the IMT smokers group [IMTS], 16 in the IMT nonsmokers group [IMTN], and 10 in the placebo group) participated in the present study. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, IMTS and IMTN underwent 4 weeks of 30 breaths twice daily at 50% (+5% increase each week) of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), while the placebo group maintained 30 breaths twice daily at 15% MIP using an IMT device. The data were analyzed with repeated measures for one-way analysis of variance, 3 × 2 mixed factor analysis of variance, and least significant difference tests. Respiratory muscle strength (MIP and maximal expiratory pressure [MEP]) and pulmonary functions significantly improved after a 4-week period (between the pre and posttests) in the IMTN and IMTS groups (p < 0.05). The mean difference and percentage differences showed significant alterations in the respiratory muscle strength, forced and slow pulmonary capacities, and pulmonary volume between the IMTN and IMTS groups (p < 0.05). There were significant changes in the expiratory muscle strength (MEP), slow vital capacity (SVC), and forced pulmonary measurements (forced expiratory volume after 1 s and maximal voluntary ventilation) between IMTN and IMTS groups in favor of smokers (p < 0.05). These results show that greater improvements occurred in smokers after IMT. Increased respiratory muscle strength may be the underlying mechanism responsible for this improvement. Additionally, the benefits of IMT were greater in smokers than nonsmokers. This difference between smokers and nonsmokers may potentially be explained by higher influence of exercise on smokers' lung microbiome, resulting in greater reversal of negative effects.

Metabolic signatures of Huntington's disease (HD): (1)H NMR analysis of the polar metabolome in post-mortem human brain.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 5-10 persons per 100,000 worldwide. The pathophysiology of HD is not fully understood but the age of onset is known to be highly dependent on the number of CAG triplet repeats in the huntingtin gene. Using (1)H NMR spectroscopy this study biochemically profiled 39 brain metabolites in post-mortem striatum (n=14) and frontal lobe (n=14) from HD sufferers and controls (n=28). Striatum metabolites were more perturbed with 15 significantly affected in HD cases, compared with only 4 in frontal lobe (p<0.05; q<0.3). The metabolite which changed most overall was urea which decreased 3.25-fold in striatum (p<0.01). Four metabolites were consistently affected in both brain regions. These included the neurotransmitter precursors tyrosine and l-phenylalanine which were significantly depleted by 1.55-1.58-fold and 1.48-1.54-fold in striatum and frontal lobe, respectively (p=0.02-0.03). They also included l-leucine which was reduced 1.54-1.69-fold (p=0.04-0.09) and myo-inositol which was increased 1.26-1.37-fold (p<0.01). Logistic regression analyses performed with MetaboAnalyst demonstrated that data obtained from striatum produced models which were profoundly more sensitive and specific than those produced from frontal lobe. The brain metabolite changes uncovered in this first (1)H NMR investigation of human HD offer new insights into the disease pathophysiology. Further investigations of striatal metabolite disturbances are clearly warranted.

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling of Soybean Leaves by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry.

As a relatively recent research field, plant metabolomics has gained increasing interest in the past few years and has been applied to answer biological questions through large-scale qualitative and quantitative analyses of the plant metabolome. The combination of sensitivity and selectivity offered by mass spectrometry (MS) for measurement of many metabolites in a single shot makes it an indispensable platform in metabolomics. In this regard, Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) has the unique advantage of delivering high mass resolving power and mass accuracy simultaneously, making it ideal for the study of complex mixtures such as plant extracts. Here we optimize soybean leaf extraction methods compatible with high-throughput reproducible MS-based metabolomics. In addition, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and direct LDI of soybean leaves are compared for metabolite profiling. The extraction method combined with electrospray (ESI)-FTICR is supported by the significant reduction of chlorophyll and its related metabolites as the growing season moves from midsummer to the autumn harvest day. To our knowledge for the first time, the use of ESI-FTICR MS and MALDI-FTICR MS is described in a complementary manner with the aim of metabolic profiling of plant leaves that have been collected at different time points during the growing season.

Extraction of alkaloids for NMR-based profiling: exploratory analysis of an archaic Cinchona bark collection.

A museum collection of Cinchonae cortex samples (n = 117), from the period 1850-1950, was extracted with a mixture of chloroform-d1, methanol-d4, water-d2, and perchloric acid in the ratios 5 : 5 : 1 : 1. The extracts were directly analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy (600 MHz) and the spectra evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) and total statistical correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY). A new method called STOCSY-CA, where CA stands for component analysis, is described, and an analysis using this method is presented. It was found that the samples had a rather homogenous content of the well-known cinchona alkaloids quinine, cinchonine, and cinchonidine without any apparent clustering. Signals from analogues were detected but not in substantial amounts. The main variation was related to the absolute amounts of extracted alkaloids, which was attributed to the evolution of the Cinchona tree cultivation during the period in which the samples were collected.

The effect of scalp block and local infiltration on the haemodynamic and stress response to skull-pin placement for craniotomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The insertion of skull pins into the periosteum induces not only a haemodynamic response but also an increase in stress hormones. We compared the effects of scalp-nerve block, infiltration anaesthesia, and routine anaesthesia during skull-pin insertion on haemodynamic and stress responses to craniotomy. METHODS: Forty-five ASA I or II patients, scheduled for elective craniotomies, were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental (5 mg kg(-1)), fentanyl (2 microg kg(-1)) and vecuronium (0.1 mg kg(-1)), and was maintained with 50% N2O in oxygen and 1% isoflurane. Five minutes before head pinning, 0.5% bupivacaine was infiltrated at each pin-insertion site in group L. In group S, scalp block was performed by blocking the supraorbital, supratrochlear, auriculotemporal, occipital, and postauricular branches of the greater auricular nerves using 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine. Opioids were used to control haemodynamic responses in group C (the control group). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were recorded at regular intervals before and for 1 h after induction. Blood samples were collected for cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone analysis 5 min before induction and 5 and 60 min after pin-holder insertion. RESULTS: There were significant increases in heart rate and mean arterial pressure during head pinning in groups L and C compared with group S and also at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd minutes after pinning (P < 0.05). In group S, the reduced plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels measured at the 5th and 60th minutes after pinning were significantly lower than those in groups L and C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that scalp block using 0.5% bupivacaine blunts the haemodynamic and stress responses to head pinning better than routine anaesthesia or scalp infiltration with bupivacaine and should be considered in conjunction with general anaesthesia for craniotomy.