Therapeutic effects of cinnamon bark oil on sciatic nerve injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cinnamon bark essential oil (CBO) on analgesia, motor activity, balance, and coordination in rats with sciatic nerve damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups as simply randomized. The right sciatic nerve (RSN) of the Sham group was explored. Only vehicle solution was applied for 28 days. The RSN of the sciatic nerve injury (SNI) group was explored. Damage was created by unilateral clamping, and vehicle solution was applied for 28 days. The RSN of the sciatic nerve injury+cinnamon bark essential oil (SNI+CBO) group was explored. SNI was created by unilateral clamping and CBO was applied for 28 days. In the experiment study, motor activity, balance, and coordination measurements were made with rotarod and accelerod tests. A hot plate test was performed for analgesia measurements. Histopathology studies were carried out with the sciatic nerve tissues. RESULTS: In the rotarod test, there was a statistically significant difference between the SNI group and the SNI+CBO group (p<0.05). According to the accelerod test findings, there was a statistically significant difference between the SNI group with the Sham and SNI+CBO groups. In the hot plate test, there was a statistically significant difference between the SNI group with the Sham and SNI+CBO groups (p<0.05). In comparison to the Sham group and the SNI group, the SNI+CBO group was shown to have the greatest expression level of vimentin. CONCLUSIONS: We have concluded that CBO can be used as an adjuvant treatment in cases of SNI, increased pain, nociception, impaired balance, motor activity, and coordination. Our results will be supported by further studies.

Effects of agomelatine on rat liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy.

Primary or metastatic hepatic malignancies are common. Partial hepatectomy (PH) is the primary treatment for both benign and malignant hepatic neoplasms; it also is used for living donor liver transplantation. The regenerative potential of the liver after PH is 70-80% in humans. We investigated the protective and therapeutic effects of agomelatine (AGM) on rat liver regeneration following PH. We used 32 rats distributed equally into four groups: group 1, sham control; group 2, PH group; group 3, administered 20 mg/kg AGM orally once/day for 7 days following PH; group 4, administered 20 mg/kg AGM orally once/day 3 days before and 7 days following PH for 10 days. Liver samples were analyzed for antioxidants and free radicals. Tissue samples were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to assess histopathological status and stained immunohistochemically for Ki-67. We found that PH reduced antioxidant enzymes and increased tissue reactive oxygen species, whereas AGM treatment had the opposite effect on these parameters. Our biochemical and histopathological findings were consistent. PH caused sinusoid congestion and dilation. Intensity of Ki-67 immunostaining of hepatocytes was increased in group 2, whereas these were reduced in group 4. Intensity of Ki-67 immunostaining of hepatocytes was increased in group 2, whereas it was reduced in the group 4 compared to group 1. We found that AGM was hepatoprotective following PH due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties.

Protective effect of short-term thymoquinone administration on the central nervous system in cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the potential beneficial effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on brain tissue based on biochemical and histopathological analyses in cisplatin (CIS) treated rats with central nervous system (CNS) neurotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 rats in each group (n:8). Group 1: (Control), saline was administered for 3 days at a volume of 0.5 ml per day intraperitoneal (i.p.). Group 2: (CIS Group), one dose of CIS was administered (7 mg/kg i.p.). Group 3: (TQ Group), TQ was given at a dose of 5 mg/kg per day for 3 days (i.p.). Group 4: (CIS+TQ Group), one dose of 7 mg/kg was initiated half an hour before administration of CIS and one dose of 5 mg/kg per day was administered TQ i.p. for 3 days. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in the CIS group compared to the control group. Degenerative changes observed in the CIS+TQ group were found to be milder than in the CIS group. In the CIS+TQ group, a statistically significant decrease in the severity of caspase-3 immunoreactivity was found when compared to the CIS group. It was found that the severity of neurofilament immunoreactivity monitored in neuronal extensions was similar in all groups. In the CIS+TQ group, the severity of tau protein's immunoreactivity was similar to that of the CIS-group. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained in our study, beneficial effects were obtained in reducing neurotoxicity with short-term TQ application in rats treated with CIS treatment.

Effects of molsidomine on retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits.

We investigated the effect of molsidomine (MOL) on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rabbits were assigned to four groups: group 1, sham; group 2, I/R; group 3, MOL treatment for 4 days after I/R; group 4, MOL treatment for 1 day before I/R and 3 days after I/R. Retinal I/R was produced by elevating the intraocular pressure to 150 mm Hg for 60 min. Seven days after I/R, the eyes were enucleated. Retinal changes were examined using histochemistry. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) also were measured. We found a significant increase in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer of group 3 compared to the other groups. In groups 3 and 4, caspase-3 stained cells in the ganglion cell layer were decreased compared to group 2. We found a significant increase in caspase-3 stained cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) of group 2 compared to the other groups. We found a significant increase in caspase-3 stained cells in group 3 compared to group 4 in the INL. The MDA level in group 2 was significantly higher than group 1 and MOL significantly decreased MDA levels in groups 3 and 4. We found that MOL protected the retina from I/R injury by enhancing antioxidative effects and inhibiting apoptosis of retinal cells.

Protective and therapeutic effects of molsidomine on radiation induced neural injury in rats.

We investigated the protective and therapeutic effects of molsidomine (MOL) in a rat model of whole brain radiotherapy (RT). Forty female rats were divided into five groups of eight: group 1, control; group 2, 15 Gy single dose RT (RT); group 3, 4 mg/kg MOL treated for 5 days (MOL); group 4, 4 mg/kg MOL for 5 days, 10 days after RT treatment (RT + MOL); group 5, 4 mg/kg MOL treatment for 5 days before RT treatment and for 5 days after RT treatment (MOL + RT). All rats were sacrificed on day 16. Neurodegenerative changes in the brain and tissue levels of oxidants and antioxidants were evaluated. The oxidative parameters were increased and antioxidant status was decreased in group RT compared to groups MOL + RT and RT + MOL. Histopathological examination showed that treatment with MOL after RT application and treatment with MOL before RT treatment decreased neuronal degeneration. No difference in neuronal appearance was found between groups RT + MOL and MOL + RT. MOL treatment protected the nervous system of rats and may be a treatment option for preventing RT induced neural injury.

Clinical features, outcome and cost of hyponatremia-associated admission and hospitalization in elderly and very elderly patients: a single-center experience in Turkey.

PURPOSE: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder in hospitalized patients. Clinical features, outcome and cost of hyponatremia-associated admission and hospitalization in elderly and very elderly patients are not well known. METHODS: Elderly (>64 years) patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) and hospitalized between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010, were evaluated. Hyponatremia was defined as serum sodium level below 135 mmol/L. Hyponatremic patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 150, 65-74 years old) and group 2 (n = 103, >74 years old). RESULTS: A total of 4,960 patients above 65 years of age admitted to ED and hospitalized were included. Prevalence of ED in group 1 and group 2 was 4.1 % (150/3,651) and 7.8 % (103/1,309), respectively (p < 0.001). Vomiting and diarrhea were the most important complaints. A total of 111 (43.8 %) patients were being treated with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers. Mortality, morbidity and hospital cost increased in parallel to decrease in serum Na(+) level and increase in age. Group 2 subjects had not only higher intensive care need (p < 0.01) and mortality rates (p < 0.01), but also higher hospital cost burden (p < 0.05) compared to group 1. Alzheimer's disease was one of the most common co-morbidity in patients, particularly in group 2 (5.3 % vs. 21.3 %, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia-associated hospitalization is an important and potentially lethal condition in elderly and very elderly patients. Clinicians should be careful when prescribing RAS blockers and diuretics in elderly patients.

Serum retinol binding protein 4 level is related with renal functions in Type 2 diabetes.

AIM: We aimed to evaluate the metabolic parameters and diabetes complications which would probably affect the serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels in Type 2 diabetic individuals. In addition to serum RBP4 concentration, the levels of its ligands, serum retinol and transthyretin (TTR) were also considered in this evaluation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum RBP4, retinol, and TTR levels were measured in 53 Type 2 diabetic subjects and 30 body mass index (BMI)- matched controls. The molar ratios of RBP4 to retinol and RBP4 to TTR were compared. RESULTS: While the RBP4 values were similar to those in the control group in Type 2 diabetic patients, the molar ratio of RBP4 to TTR was found to be higher than that of the control group. The serum RBP4 levels in patients who had retinopathy and macrovascular disease were similar to those in patients who did not. However, the RBP4 levels, molar ratios of RBP4 to retinol and RBP4 to TTR in micro- macroalbuminuric patients were found to be significantly higher than in normoalbuminuric subjects and controls. There was no correlation between the RBP4 levels and the patients' age, BMI, duration of diabetes, LDL, triglyceride, serum creatinine, and glycated hemoglobin values. Micro-macroalbuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate were independent determinants for increased serum RBP4 levels. CONCLUSION: According to the data obtained from this study, diabetic retinopathy and cardiovascular complications do not affect the serum RBP4 level in Type 2 diabetes. Renal functions rather than the metabolic factors of diabetes determine the RBP4 level and its relation with its ligands.