Management of antimicrobial therapy in emergency department admissions and hospitalizations for firearm injuries: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Firearm injuries (FI) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Antibiotic use, supported by guideline recommendations for preventing post-injury infections in FI cases, encounters uncertainties regarding the selection of anti-microbial agents and associated outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Injury Severity Scores (ISS) for FI cases presented to the emergency department. METHODS: We empirically revised antimicrobial treatment protocols based on culture results and mortality rates. In the study, 164 firearm injury cases, admitted to the emergency department in 2022 and subsequently hospitalized in clinics and intensive care units (ICU), were evaluated. Cases included in the study were categorized into four groups based on ISS: mild, moderate, severe, and profound injury severity. The study compared the timing of hospital presentation following the injury, hospital length of stay, tissue or blood culture positivity, empirical treatment administered, antimicrobial revision based on culture results, need for ICU admission, mortality status, and ISS among the cases. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Variables in trauma patients were compared among various groups using Pearson Chi-Square tests. Binary logistic regression tests were performed to identify independent risk factors. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included 164 patients, all of whom were male. The mean age was calculated as 28.9±4.51 years. The average hospital length of stay was 25.54±21.81 days. Eighty-three patients (50.6%) required intensive care. Tissue cultures were obtained from 79 patients (48%). Bacterial growth was observed in 45 of these 79 patients (57%). The appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment rate, assessed among patients who received empirical treatment followed by culture-based antibiotic sensitivity testing, was 48.9%. It was observed that empirical antibiotic regimens were appropriate in 80% of cases in the mild group and 16.7% in the profound severe group (p=0.005). Our study compared the relationship between hospitalization duration and ISS groups. It was observed that hospitalization duration was significantly shorter in the mild group compared to the other groups (p=0.003, p=0.000, p=0.000). It was also observed that the need for ICU admission was higher in groups with higher ISS, indicating a correlation between higher ISS and increased ICU requirements (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, for cases of firearm injuries, we believe empirical antimicrobial therapy should be initiated with narrow-spectrum agents such as beta-lactam + beta-lactamase inhibitor or third-generation cephalosporin + nitroimidazole in the mild group, considering the lack of Pseudomonal activity.

Evaluation of Triglyceride-Glucose Index Elevation as a Biomarker and Risk Factor in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Insulin resistance is associated with increased levels of IGF-1. IGF-1 has been shown to increase the risk of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) is a marker of insulin resistance. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Two tertiary care academic hospitals. METHODS: The study included 53 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (Group 1) and 48 healthy volunteers (Group 2). Laryngeal cancer patients were divided into two groups according to their stage. Stages I and II were named Group 1A, and Stages III and IV were called Group 1B. The TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting Triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The effect of the TyG index on laryngeal cancer was investigated on the parameters of sex, age, body mass index, and stage of the disease. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, and BMI between the groups. The TyG index of group 1 (4.75 ± 0.33) was significantly higher than that of group 2 (4.59 ± 0.15). The TyG index value of group 1B (4.84 ± 0.31) was significantly higher than both group 1A (4.61 ± 0.32) and group 2 (4.59 ± 0.15). There was no significant difference between the TyG index values of group 1A (4.61 ± 0.32) and group 2 (4.59 ± 0.15). CONCLUSION: The TyG index may be a promising laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma biomarker. People with a higher TyG index may have a higher incidence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and a higher risk of progression.

RNAi-mediated silencing of SOD1 profoundly extends survival and functional outcomes in ALS mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition, with 20% of familial and 2-3% of sporadic cases linked to mutations in the cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. Mutant SOD1 protein is toxic to motor neurons, making SOD1 gene lowering a promising approach, supported by preclinical data and the 2023 FDA approval of the GapmeR ASO targeting SOD1, tofersen. Despite the approval of an ASO and the optimism it brings to the field, the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of therapeutic SOD1 modulation can be improved. Here, we developed a chemically stabilized divalent siRNA scaffold (di-siRNA) that effectively suppresses SOD1 expression in vitro and in vivo. With optimized chemical modification, it achieves remarkable CNS tissue permeation and SOD1 silencing in vivo. Administered intraventricularly, di-siRNASOD1 extended survival in SOD1-G93A ALS mice, surpassing survival previously seen in these mice by ASO modalities, slowed disease progression, and prevented ALS neuropathology. These properties offer an improved therapeutic strategy for SOD1-mediated ALS and may extend to other dominantly inherited neurological disorders.

Toxic element (As, Cd, Pb and Hg) biodistribution and blood biomarkers in Barbaresca sheep raised in Sicily: One Health preliminary study.

The health of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected. Adopting a One Health approach means intervening promptly to prevent the main diseases that affect animal health to guarantee the safety of livestock production. Exposure to toxic trace elements in sheep can lead to increased accumulation in different biological substrate, developing both acute and chronic diseases in humans and livestock. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioaccumulation of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in Sicilian Barbaresca sheep using the following biological substrates: milk, blood and fleece. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used for As, Cd and Pb, and a direct mercury analyser (DMA-80) was used for Hg determination. In addition, the role of the haematological parameters as possible indicators of different biodistribution was evaluated. A statistically significant value was observed from our analysed metals in the substrates: arsenic (p < 0.001), cadmium (p < 0.01), lead (p < 0.001) and mercury (p < 0.0001). The correlation analysis showed a relationship between milk and blood for arsenic (p < 0.0001) and lead (p < 0.0001), and no correlation for the metals was observed between milk/blood and the haematological parameters analysed for the low concentration observed in the present study comforting the final consumer.

Comparison of menstrual cycle irregularities among young women based on coronavirus disease 2019 infection status: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that has emerged recently has significantly affected and continues to affect our lives. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 virus has significant effects on women's health due to gender-related physiological differences. The aim of this study was to compare the menstrual cycle status of young women according to their status of having had coronavirus disease 2019. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 young women aged between 18 and 25 years who received at least one dose of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. The study data were collected as a survey on the online platform. RESULTS: The descriptive characteristics of young women who had had and had not had coronavirus disease 2019 were distributed homogeneously between the groups (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in terms of menstrual cycle patterns (p>0.05). The mean scores from the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and its subscales and the mean scores from the COVID Stress Scale and its subscales were similar in both groups, and no statistically significant difference was identified (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although menstrual cycle irregularities due to coronavirus disease 2019 have been reported, these effects are usually observed during the pandemic. A decrease in stress and anxiety with the end of the pandemic may explain the return of the menstrual cycle to normal.

Genetic ablation of Sarm1 attenuates expression and mislocalization of phosphorylated TDP-43 after mouse repetitive traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly when moderate-to-severe and repetitive, is a strong environmental risk factor for several progressive neurodegenerative disorders. Mislocalization and deposition of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) has been reported in both TBI and TBI-associated neurodegenerative diseases. It has been hypothesized that axonal pathology, an early event after TBI, may promote TDP-43 dysregulation and serve as a trigger for neurodegenerative processes. We sought to determine whether blocking the prodegenerative Sarm1 (sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1) axon death pathway attenuates TDP-43 pathology after TBI. We subjected 111 male Sarm1 wild type, hemizygous, and knockout mice to moderate-to-severe repetitive TBI (rTBI) using a previously established injury paradigm. We conducted serial neurological assessments followed by histological analyses (NeuN, MBP, Iba-1, GFAP, pTDP-43, and AT8) at 1 month after rTBI. Genetic ablation of the Sarm1 gene attenuated the expression and mislocalization of phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) and accumulation of pTau. In addition, Sarm1 knockout mice had significantly improved cortical neuronal and axonal integrity, functional deficits, and improved overall survival after rTBI. In contrast, removal of one Sarm1 allele delayed, but did not prevent, neurological deficits and neuroaxonal loss. Nevertheless, Sarm1 haploinsufficient mice showed significantly less microgliosis, pTDP-43 pathology, and pTau accumulation when compared to wild type mice. These data indicate that the Sarm1-mediated prodegenerative pathway contributes to pathogenesis in rTBI including the pathological accumulation of pTDP-43. This suggests that anti-Sarm1 therapeutics are a viable approach for preserving neurological function after moderate-to-severe rTBI.

Short Communication: Correlation of Thermographic Ocular and Auricular Temperatures with Rectal Temperature in Anesthetized Dogs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of both ocular and auricular thermographic temperatures with rectal temperatures and to determine the advantage of infrared thermography in clinical practice due to its ease of measurement. Animals. This study was designed as a pilot study and conducted on 6 mongrel male dogs during routine castration surgeries at the Kastamonu Municipality Temporary Animal Care Center. Methods: Rectal temperatures and ocular-auricular thermographic images were taken from 6 dogs anesthetized (xylazine HCl 1 mg/kg and ketamine HCl 15 mg/kg) during routine neutering surgeries. Data were analyzed by Bland-Altman for correlation between rectal-ocular and rectal-auricular temperatures. Results: Rectal temperatures were significantly higher than orbital and auricular temperatures. In the correlation test, no significant difference and correlation were found between the measurements. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that the use of thermography was more advantageous than the waiting times of the digital thermometer used to record rectal temperatures. In addition, the noninvasive nature of thermography increased its acceptability in all dogs. The findings from this pilot study were considered to be at a level that could provide a basis for future studies.

Can tumour budding change the future of pulmonary adenocarcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary adenocarcinoma shows different prognosis even in the same pathological subtype and stage. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the relationship between tumour budding and known prognostic values and clinicopathological features in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. METHODS: In this study, there have been 77 patients diagnosed with primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma. In the evaluation process, the number of budding between 0 and 4 is accepted as low budding (Bd1), the number of budding between 5 and 9 is considered as medium budding (Bd2), and the number of budding above 10 is considered as high budding (Bd3). RESULTS: According to the findings of the study, it can be seen that there is a statistical difference between tumour budding and stromal fibrosis (p < 0.001). The presence of pleural invasion, lymph vascular invasion and perineural invasion in patients with Bd3 is found to be statistically higher than the patients with Bd1 (p = 0.048) (p = 0.041) (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Tumour budding has been associated with pleural invasion, lymph vascular invasion, perineural invasion, and stromal fibrosis. This study is the first to show the relationship between tumour budding and stromal fibrosis in pulmonary adenocarcinomas. The role of tumour budding in lung cancers remains to be clarified.

Repeated mild traumatic brain injury triggers pathology in asymptomatic C9ORF72 transgenic mice.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that represent ends of the spectrum of a single disease. The most common genetic cause of FTD and ALS is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene. Although epidemiological data suggest that traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a risk factor for FTD and ALS, its role in exacerbating disease onset and course remains unclear. To explore the interplay between traumatic brain injury and genetic risk in the induction of FTD/ALS pathology we combined a mild repetitive traumatic brain injury paradigm with an established bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic C9orf72 (C9BAC) mouse model without an overt motor phenotype or neurodegeneration. We assessed 8-10 week-old littermate C9BACtg/tg (n = 21), C9BACtg/- (n = 20) and non-transgenic (n = 21) mice of both sexes for the presence of behavioural deficits and cerebral histopathology at 12 months after repetitive TBI. Repetitive TBI did not affect body weight gain, general neurological deficit severity, nor survival over the 12-month observation period and there was no difference in rotarod performance, object recognition, social interaction and acoustic characteristics of ultrasonic vocalizations of C9BAC mice subjected to repetitive TBI versus sham injury. However, we found that repetitive TBI increased the time to the return of the righting reflex, reduced grip force, altered sociability behaviours and attenuated ultrasonic call emissions during social interactions in C9BAC mice. Strikingly, we found that repetitive TBI caused widespread microglial activation and reduced neuronal density that was associated with loss of histological markers of axonal and synaptic integrity as well as profound neuronal transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa mislocalization in the cerebral cortex of C9BAC mice at 12 months; this was not observed in non-transgenic repetitive TBI and C9BAC sham mice. Our data indicate that repetitive TBI can be an environmental risk factor that is sufficient to trigger FTD/ALS-associated neuropathology and behavioural deficits, but not paralysis, in mice carrying a C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion.

Radioprotective role of amifostine on osteointegration of titanium implants in the tibia of rats.

BACKGROUND: Titanium is the most widely used metal for bone integration, especially for cancer patients receiving ionizing radiation. This study aimed to investigate the amifostine administration that would reduce the effects of radiation on bone healing and osseointegration in rat models. OBJECTIVES: It is aimed that the application of amifostine in rats receiving radiotherapy treatment will reduce the negative effects of ionizing radiation on the bone. METHODS: Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one healthy and four experimental groups. In three consecutive days, two experimental groups of rats (AMF-RT-IMP and RT-IMP) were exposed to radiation (15 Gy/3 fractions of 5 Gy each). Then the titanium implants were inserted into the left tibia. Before the radiotherapy process, a 200 mg/kg dose of amifostine (AMF) was administered to the rats in the AMF-IMP and AMF-RT-IMP groups. Twenty-eight days after the screw implant, all rats were sacrificed, and their blood samples and tibia bones were collected for analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated an accelerated bone formation and a more rapid healing process in the screw implants in the AMF-IMP, AMF-RT-IMP, and AMF-RT groups than in the RT-IMP group. Also, bone-implant contact area measurement and inflammation decreased with amifostine treatment in the implants subjected to irradiation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in the present study suggested that amifostine prevents the losses of bone minerals, bone integrity, and implant position from ionizing-radiation when given before exposure.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in pregnant women in Turkey: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Urinary incontinence is a common complaint in pregnant women. The prevalence of urinary incontinence increases as the week of gestation progresses. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in pregnant women, types of urinary incontinence during pregnancy, and the prevalence of urinary incontinence by trimesters in Turkey. STUDY DESING: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis study. The publications meeting the inclusion criteria were searched between the dates September 1-30, 2022. A search was done in the PubMed and ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Ovid, EBSCO CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane Library databases. The methodological quality of the studies was examined with the checklist developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: Twenty articles were included in this study. According to the study results, the estimated urinary incontinence prevalence in pregnant women was 35 % (95 % CI: 0.288-0.423 Z:-3.984, p = 0.000, I2: 96.574), urinary incontinence was most frequently observed in the third trimester, and its estimated prevalence was 32 % (95 % CI:0.230-0.419 Z:-3.428, p = 0.001, I2: 96.400). Considering types of urinary incontinence during pregnancy, the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence was found in 10 studies, and according to the combined results of these studies, the estimated prevalence of stress urinary incontinence during pregnancy was 29 % (95 % CI:0.223-0.365, Z:-5.077, p = 0.000, I2: 94.678). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that pregnancy increased the probability of urinary incontinence. While it is determined to be mostly experienced in the third trimester, approximately-one-third of pregnant women experience stress urinary incontinence. PROSPERO Registration no: CRD42022338643.

The effect of massage on the bilirubin level in term infants receiving phototherapy.

BACKGROUND: Massage has positive physiological effects on infants. Infant massage increases the excretion of waste products such as bilirubin from the body by accelerating the flow of the blood, lymph, and tissue fluids. PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of infant massage on hyperbilirubinemia in newborns receiving phototherapy. METHODS: The study population consisted of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a public hospital in Istanbul between October 2021 and January 2022 with a need for phototherapy. Sixty-one newborns who met the study criteria were randomized and divided into two as the experimental (n=30) and control (n=31) groups. All infants were followed up for 3 days, and phototherapy was applied twice a day. In addition to phototherapy, infant massage was applied to the experimental group for 10 min just before the phototherapy. The bilirubin level was measured 2 h after the end of phototherapy for both groups. Moreover, diapers were changed 8 times a day, every 3 h, in both groups. RESULTS: The groups were homogeneous in terms of descriptive data, and no significant difference was observed between the groups (p>0.05). When bilirubin levels were compared, there was a significant decrease in bilirubin levels in the experimental group starting from the third day (p =.000). The frequency of defecation on the second and third days increased significantly in the experimental group (p =.000). CONCLUSION: Infant massage can increase the frequency of defecation and help decrease bilirubin levels in newborns diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia.

Preventive effect of fucoxanthin administration on intra-abdominal adhesion: An experimental animal study.

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of intra-abdominal adhesion (IAA) is previous abdominal surgery and mortality. IAA can cause serious complications such as chronic abdominal pain, ileus, and infertility. Approximately 3% of all laparotomies are related to adhesions. IAA reduces the quality of life of the patient, causes morbidity, and increases health expenditures. In this study, we aimed to investigate the preventive effect of fucoxanthin (Fx) on IAA in the intra-abdominal surgical adhesion model that experimentally created in rats. METHODS: This study used 21 Sprague-Dawley rats divided into three groups. After anesthesia, the abdomen was opened, the cecum and right abdominal wall were damaged with a sterile toothbrush until petechiae bleeding was seen. No additional action was taken to the control group. In the sham group, 5 cc saline solution was released into the peritoneum before the abdomen was closed. In the Fx group, 35 mg/kg Fx was instilled intraperitoneally and the abdomen was closed. On the 21st post-operative day, all subjects were anesthetized with standard anesthesia. Macroscopic adhesions were quantitatively evaluated according to the Mazuji classifica-tion. The cecum anterior wall and parietal peritoneum were excised for pathological sampling. A pathologist, unaware of the groups, evaluated inflammation, fibroblastic activity, and vascular proliferation. In addition, serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 levels were measured. RESULTS: No rat was lost during the study period. Congenital adhesion was not observed in any of the subjects at the first laparo-tomy. Adhesion was significantly less macroscopically in the Fx group compared to the control and sham group (p<0.001 and p<0.001). Fibroblastic activity was found to be significantly less in the Fx group compared to the sham and control groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001). Vascular proliferation was found to be significantly less in the Fx group than in the sham and control groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The inflammation score was significantly lower in the Fx group compared to the other two groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The inflam-mation score in the sham group was lower than the control group and was statistically significant (p<0.001). TNF-α level was found to be statistically significantly lower in the Fx group compared to the sham and control groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001). CONCLUSION: As a result of experimental study, we can say that Fx is effective in preventing IAAs and decreases the level of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine.

Oxidative stress values of tumor core, edge, and healthy thyroid tissue in thyroid masses.

PURPOSE: Reactive oxygen radicals play an important role in tumor formation, progression, and invasion. In this study, the aim was to investigate the relationship between the oxidative stress values of tumor core, edge, and healthy thyroid tissue in thyroid tumors. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with thyroid tumor, 24-malignant, and 27-benign, were included in this study. Samples, measuring 5 × 5 × 5 mm, were taken from the tumor core, edge, and healthy thyroid tissue of the participants. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were examined. The oxidative stress values of core, edge, and healthy thyroid tissue of all tumors (n = 51) were compared according to the localization. The participants were divided into two groups as malignant (Group 1: Differentiated thyroid cancers) and benign (Group 2: Multinodular goiter). The groups were compared according to tissue localizations. RESULTS: The TOS value of tumor edge was significantly higher than the values of tumor core and healthy thyroid tissue. The OSI value of tumor edge was significantly higher than the values of tumor core and healthy thyroid tissue. There was no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of TAS, TOS, and OSI values of tumor core. The OSI values in tumor edge and healthy thyroid tissue were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of TAS and TOS values of tumor edge and healthy thyroid tissue. CONCLUSION: The oxidative stress values of tumor edge were significantly higher than the tumor core and healthy thyroid tissue values. The oxidative stress values of tumor edge and healthy thyroid tissue were significantly higher in malignant thyroid tumors compared to benign thyroid tumors.

Treatment modalities of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients over 65 years of age: A two-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted with the aim of making the contribution to a decision for treatment and determination of the modalities in patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma which increasingly become widespread in the geriatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one patients aged over 65 years diagnosed with lymphoma and treated in Bezmialem Vakif University Medical Faculty Hospital and Haseki Training and Research Hospital between 2008 and 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Finally, 63 patients for whom data could be reached were included in the study. RESULTS: Examining the results, histological diagnoses of our patients were as follows: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (50.8%), follicular lymphoma (23.8%), marginal zone lymphoma (12.7%), mantle cell lymphoma (4.8%), T-cell lymphoma (4.8%), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (1.6%) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (1.6%). Stages at the time of diagnosis were early stage by 33.3% and late stage by 66.7%. Of the patients, 36.5% had a low-intermediate and 63.5% a high-intermediate International Prognostic Index score. According to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scoring, 34.9% of the patients have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 2-4. Activities of daily living score of 33.3% patients was under 5. Looking at the responses to treatment, the complete response was found in 50.8%, partial response in 4.8%, stable disease in 1.6% and progressive disease in 9.5% of the patients. The mean follow-up duration of patients was found as 25.2 months and disease-free survival after remission as 20.2 months. CONCLUSION: We found that we have achieved a complete remission in more than half of our patients (50.8%). Based on this, treatment should aim remission in elderly patients.

Acute glufosinate-based herbicide treatment in rats leads to increased ocular interleukin-1ß and c-Fos protein levels, as well as intraocular pressure.

Glufosinate is a common herbicide with neurotoxic effects, leading to seizures, convulsions and memory loss. Glufosinate indirectly induces glutamate toxicity by inhibiting glutamine synthesis in astrocytes. Here, we studied the acute toxic effects of a glufosinate-based herbicide in rat optic nerve at three doses (40, 80 or 120 µM, equal to 714 or 21 mg/kg bw/day). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, glucose, calcium, as well as creatinine concentrations were analyzed after 24, 48 and 72 h treatment. Intraocular pressure (IOP) (expressed as the average of both eyes) was measured with a rebound tonometer. Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and c-Fos expression were determined by immunohistochemistry. The results established that the glufosinate-based herbicide significantly increased IL-1ß and c-Fos immunopositivity in the optic nerve (p < 0.05), concomitant with increased IOP. These results suggest that commercial formulations of glufosinate acutely affect the optic nerve.

Effects of fasting during the month of Ramadan on renal function in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
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BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to examine the impact of fasting during the month of Ramadan on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (-ADPKD) patients with normal to near-normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of patients with ADPKD, the majority of whom had normal or near-normal GFR. Patients were divided into two groups: the fasting group (FG) and the nonfasting group (NFG). Assessments in the NFG were performed 1 week before and 1 month after Ramadan, while FG patients were assessed on the last day of fasting in addition to the abovementioned visits. The following parameters were checked at each visit: blood pressure (BP), weight, sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, glucose, lipid profile, bicarbonate, urine density, 24-hour urine volume, 24-hour urine protein, GFR, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Kidney function tests were carried out on the 7th day of fasting in the FG for the identification of early kidney damage. RESULTS: Of the overall group of 54 patients, 23 were in FG (19 female) and 31 were in NFG (18 female). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, ADPKD duration, and presence of hypertension. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values of FG and NFG were 86.4 ± 18.5 and 66.1 ± 36.5 mL/min/1.73m2, respectively. During the follow-up period, no significant changes occurred in BP, weight, creatinine, 24-hour urine volume, NGAL, KIM-1, or GFR in either group (p > 0.05), while 24-hour urinary protein was significantly decreased in FG (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A fasting duration of ~ 17 hours a day did not affect renal function negatively in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease due to ADPKD. Also, no significant changes occurred in acute renal failure markers.
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The Effect of Pycnogenol on Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats.

Pycnogenol (PYC), an extract of pine bark, is known to have photoprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. An in vivo study was conducted to evaluate the effects of PYC treatment on wound healing in 48 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, of which 24 were injected with a single dose of alloxan to induce diabetes. Three (3) excisional skin wounds (1.3 cm x 1.3 cm x 2 mm) were created in each healthy and diabetic animal. One (1) wound in each animal was left untreated, 1 was treated daily with a cleanser (ethacridine lactate) and covered with silver sulfadiazine (SSD), and 1 was treated with PYC powder (30 mg). After measuring wound size, 6 animals from both groups were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 and tissue samples were taken for histopathological evaluation of acute and chronic inflammation, granulation tissue, fibroblast maturation, collagen deposition, epithelialization, and neovascularization using a scoring system of 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = abundant. Because the wounds created were not uniform in size within and among the animals, healing was expressed as a percentage of the initial wound size for each animal. Data were compared using 2-way analysis of variance; histopathological lesion scores were reported in median values in univariate analysis, with P <.05 denoting statistical significance. The mean initial wound surface area was 1.69 ± 0.44 cm². On day 21, the average reduction in wound size was lower in diabetic than in healthy rats (47.42% versus 50.91%, P <.0001) and, in both groups combined, the average reduction was 45.73% in untreated, 48.73% in cleanser/SSD-treated, and 58.03% in PYC-treated wounds (P <.0001). Wound size reduction was also significantly different between PYC and the cleanser/SSD treatment depending on the rats' health status (P <.0001): 49.68% and 47.84% using cleanser/SSD and 56.17% and 49.84% using PYC in healthy and diabetic rats, respectively. After 3 weeks, wound size for the healthy rats had decreased more than in the diabetic rats (mean 50.91% versus 47.42%). Although reepithelialization was complete in both groups by day 21, complete neovascularization was evident in the healthy rats but not in the diabetic rats. Overall, compared to the untreated control wounds, treatments with cleanser/SSD and PYC were equally effective in lowering acute and chronic inflammation scores on days 7 and 21. In diabetic rat wounds, collagen deposition and neovascularization scores were higher in wounds treated with PYC than cleanser/SSD-treated wounds (1.5 versus 1.0 and 2.0 versus 1.5, respectively). PYC appears to be a viable option to accelerate wound healing. Further in vivo and human research is warranted.

Protective effect of dexpanthenol against nephrotoxic effect of amikacin: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Amikacin has the largest spectrum among aminoglycosides, its nephrotoxic effect limits its utilization. Our purpose in this study is to review the protective effect of dexpanthenol against the nephrotoxic effect of amikacin, accompanied with histopathological and biochemical parameters. METHODS: 32 rats were randomly separated into four groups with eight in each (amikacin (1.2mg/kg/day), amikacin (1.2mg/kg/day)+dexpanthenol (500mg/kg/day), dexpanthenol (500mg/kg/day) and control). In order to assess the oxidative balance and renal damage between groups, biochemical parameters (total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant stress (TOS), catalase (CAT), paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (ARES), urea, and creatinin) were studied from the blood samples. At the end of the 14th day, renal tissues were reviewed blindly by a pathologist. RESULTS: TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were significantly lower in the group which was administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin compared to the group which only received amikacin (respectively, p=0.001, p=0.002). Antioxidant biochemical parameters (TAS, CAT, PON, and ARES) were significantly higher in the group which was administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin compared to the group administered only with amikacin (respectively, p=0.007, p=0.001, p=0.003, p=0.003). Urea and creatitin values were found to be significantly lower in the group which was administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin compared to the group administered only with amikacin (respectively, p=0.002, p=0.001). Histopathologic changes such as glomerular and tubular epithelium changes and interstitial edema were clearly observed in the group administered only with amikacin, such findings were insignificant in the group administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin. CONCLUSION: It was revealed with biochemical and histopathologic data that nephrotoxic effects created by amikacin administration can be limited with dexpanthenol by using them together, and further advanced clinical studies are required.