The comparison of effects of balneotherapy, water-based and land-based exercises on disease activity, symptoms, sleep quality, quality of life and serum sclerostin level in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A prospective, randomized study.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of balneotherapy, water-based exercise (WBE), and land-based exercise (LBE) on disease activity, symptoms, sleep quality, quality of life, and serum sclerostin level (SSL) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Patients and methods: Between January 2019 and January 2020, a total of 60 patients (35 males, 25 females; mean age: 40.9±11.2 years; range, 18 to 55 years) who were diagnosed with AS were randomly divided into the balneotherapy (n=20), WBE (n=20), and LBE (n=20) groups (20 sessions of treatment in groups of five to six patients). The patients were evaluated before treatment and at 4 and 12 weeks using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and SSL were measured. Results: Statistically significant improvements in the BASDAI, BASFI, MASES, BASMI, ASQoL, FSS, and ASDAS-CRP scores were observed in all groups at 4 and 12 weeks of follow-up (p<0.05). A significant improvement in sleep latency was seen in the balneotherapy and WBE groups. Changes in SSL were not statistically significant in any group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Balneotherapy, WBE, and LBE are effective in the treatment of AS, and the beneficial effects may last for at least 12 weeks.

Role of Uremic Toxins on Apoptosis With Varying Periods of Hemodialysis.

Increased apoptotic cell death in uremic patients has been confirmed by a variety of studies. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of uremic toxins and duration of hemodialysis (HD) therapy on apoptosis by means of measuring serum caspase cleaved CK18 (CCCK-18) levels. Seventy chronic HD patients were recruited and divided into three groups with differing periods of HD, from 6 months to 10 years. Twelve healthy subjects served as controls. Serum CCCK-18 level was found significantly higher in HD patient groups (Group 2; 189 ± 71 IU/L, Group 3; 182 ± 65 IU/L, Group 4; 204 ± 111 IU/L) as compared to the control group (122 ± 20 U/L) (P < 0.05). When all hemodialysis patients considered together serum CCCK-18 showed positive correlation with serum uric acid and phosphorus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that apoptosis is enhanced in HD patients, phosphorus and uric acid might play a role in this increment, but duration of HD therapy has no effect on apoptosis.

Apium graveolens Extract Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Induces Apoptosis in the Human Prostatic Carcinoma Cell Line LNCaP.

Apium graveolens has been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of cancer tissues. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of A. graveolens on the human prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCaP. LNCaP cells were treated with increasing concentrations of an ethanolic extract of A. graveolens ranging from 1000 to 3000 µg/mL, and viability was determined after 24 and 48 h using the XTT cell proliferation assay. The levels of cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), one of the best biomarkers of apoptosis, were analyzed. Finally, quantitative gene expression analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a critical mediator of angiogenesis, was performed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A. graveolens extract inhibited cell viability in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. Data from cleaved PARP assays suggested that A. graveolens caused induction of apoptosis in these cells. Treatment of cells with A. graveolens also resulted in downregulation of VEGF expression. This study showed that the antiproliferative effect exerted by an ethanolic extract of A. graveolens is triggered by induction of apoptosis. We also demonstrated that VEGF expression was downregulated by treatment with A. graveolens extract.

Melatonin: is it an effective antioxidant for pulmonary contusion?

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of melatonin on pulmonary contusion (PC) caused by isolated blunt thoracic trauma (BTT) in an experimental rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 49 rats were divided into three groups: control group (CG), trauma group (TG), and melatonin group (MG). PC was induced by isolated BTT for all the groups except the control group. Intraperitoneal melatonin was administered to the MG after trauma. Blood and tissue samples were collected from the groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant capacity and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), arterial blood gas, and other biochemical parameters such as urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase were measured. Lung tissue samples were collected for histopathology. RESULTS: On day 2, blood MDA and total oxidant capacity levels were lower, and TAOC levels were higher in the MG compared with the TG (P < 0.001). Blood pH, PO2, and PCO2 of the MG significantly improved on day 2 compared with the TG (P ≤ 0.001). Compared with the TG, histologic damage scores of the MG decreased on day 2 (P = 0.013). Urea, creatinine, ALT, and aspartate aminotransferase levels of the MG on day 2 were lower than TG parameters (P = 0.01, P = 0.02, P = 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that melatonin can improve the histopathology of PC and distant organs such as liver and kidney by diminishing oxidative stress. All these findings suggest that melatonin may be an effective new therapeutic agent for PC caused by BTT.

Lowered serum total L-carnitine levels are associated with obesity at term pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the serum total l-carnitine concentrations of obese and non-obese pregnant women and to identify the role of L-carnitine in both maternal and fetal weight gain during pregnancy. METHOD: This study reviews 118 healthy women with singleton term pregnancy (≥37 weeks). The characteristics of the recruited subjects were analyzed according to their pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The women with pre-pregnancy BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2) had significantly higher serum L-carnitine levels whereas the women with BMI > 29.9 kg/m(2) at term pregnancy had significantly lower serum l-carnitine levels (p = 0.001 for both). The neonates born to women with BMI > 29.9 kg/m(2) at term pregnancy had significantly longer height and wider head circumference (p = 0.001 for both). Serum total L-carnitine levels correlated significantly and negatively with pre-pregnancy body weight, pre-pregnancy BMI, pregnancy body weight, pregnancy BMI and serum triglyceride levels (r = -0.397, p = 0.001; r = -0.357, p = 0.001; r = -0.460, p = 0.001; r = -0.463, p = 0.001 and r = -0.216, p = 0.019, respectively). There was a significant and positive correlation between L-carnitine and HDL values (r = 0.243, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The crucial role of L-carnitine in pregnancy metabolism suggests that nutritional supplementation of this amino acid can be offered to women who are either overweight or obese at the beginning of the pregnancy.

The effect of phototherapy on fecal calprotectin levels.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal calprotectin levels increase in the early stages of necrotizing enterocolitis. Although the effects of several factors on fetal calprotectin have been studied, the effect of phototherapy is not known. In this study, we analyzed the effect of phototherapy on fetal calprotectin levels. METHODS: Ninety breast-fed newborns (46 male, 44 female) who were hospitalized for indirect hyperbilirubinemia and treated with phototherapy were included to the study. Forty-two of them were term and 44 of them were preterm. Newborns treated with phototherapy (n = 53) constituted the phototherapy group (29 preterm, 24 term) and 37 newborns who did not receive phototherapy (19 preterm, 18 term) constituted the control group. Fecal samples were collected 24 hours after phototherapy had been started. Fecal samples (100 mg) were weighed with sensitive scales and preserved at -80°C after buffering with a special solution. All samples were studied at the same time with a fecal calprotectin kit by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant difference between fecal calprotectin levels of term and preterm babies who received phototherapy and babies who did not receive phototherapy. CONCLUSION: There was no effect of 24-hour phototherapy on fecal calprotectin levels in preterm and term newborns.

Long-term alcohol consumption increases pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels via oxidative stress.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between pro MMP-9 (pMMP-9) and oxidative stress in plasma of rat exposed to chronic alcohol consumption. Twenty four rats were divided into four groups. Rats in the control group (n = 6) were subjected to physiologic saline by intragastric (i.g.) route. Group Ethanol (n = 6) was given 1 ml of 80% ethanol (v/v) in distilled water through i.g. route. Group Vitamin E (Vit E), (n = 6) was given vitamin E (100 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) by intra peritonealy. Group Vitamin E + Ethanol (n = 6) was given vitamin E 2 h before the administration of ethanol. At the end of 4 weeks, blood samples were taken and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PCs), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and pMMP-9 levels were measured. Chronic ethanol administration increased the AST, MDA, PCs, TNF-α and pMMP-9 levels when compared to those in control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). Vitamin E treatment was found to decrease lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Also TNF-α and pMMP-9 levels returned to normal by vitamin E treatment. Within all subjects, there was positive correlation between pMMP-9 levels and MDA, PCs levels (p = 0.045, r = 0.454; p = 0.004, r = 0.574, respectively). We conclude that since antioxidant supplementation decreases the alcohol-induced pMMP-9 levels, oxidative stress could be one of the mediators of the generation of MMP-9.

Effects of carvacrol on defects of ischemia-reperfusion in the rat liver.

Many plants found in nature have been used to treat various illnesses. One such plant is oregano (Kekik in Turkish). Health beneficial effects of carvacrol obtained from oregano oil have been shown scientifically. We have investigated the comparative effects of carvacrol in the liver of rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion defect, with silymarin. To test the effects we formed four groups using male Wistar albino rats. Group I was control. The other three groups of animals were administered 60min prior to surgical operation single doses of physiological serum, carvacrol and silymarin, respectively. Group II, III and IV animal were subjected to 45min long liver ischemia and 60min reperfusion. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological analysis following the test. AST and ALT values obtained after biochemical analysis of the serums showed statistically significant difference in group II than the other three groups. A statistical evaluation of the serum AST levels among the groups II, III and IV showed that both groups III and IV which had no difference in between were significantly different in a positive way from group II (p<0.001). As to the serum ALT levels, difference between group II and group III (p<0.001) and group II and group IV (p<0.01) was found significant. No statistical difference was observed in groups I, III and IV for GSH, MDA and CAT levels of the liver. A statistical evaluation of the GSH level in group III and group IV was found to be significantly different from group II (p<0.001) without any difference between them. A similar evaluation for MDA and CAT levels among the revealed no difference between group III and group IV, however, group II showed difference with group II and group IV (p<0.05). Histological findings were in harmony with the biochemical results. We conclude that carvacrol protects the liver against defects caused by ischemia and reperfusion, and carvacrol is not hepatotoxic at the applied dosage.