Relation between carotid intima-media thickness, serum paraoxonase levels and severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

NTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a significant effect on the development of cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) enzyme levels and severity of OSA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 120 cases were included in the study with 30 cases in each group, as follows: Group 1 (AHI 30/h). Blood samples of the patients were taken to measure serum PON1 activity. Carotid IMT of all patients included in the study was measured by means of echocardiography using vascular probe and results were recorded. RESULTS: With regard to carotid IMT, a statistically significant increase was detected as severity of OSA increased (p < 0.001). A positive relationship was detected between IMT level and total oxygen desaturation time, oxygen desaturation index and SpO2 time < 90 % (p < 0.01). When the groups were compared, a statistically significant decline was observed in serum PON 1 level as severity of OSA increased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study indicate that PON1 and carotid IMT might be used as indicators of vascular damage in patients with OSA. Depending on the severity of OSA, measurement of PON1 enzyme activity in conjunction with carotid IMT may help us in predicting the cardiovascular risk in patients with OSA (Tab. 4, Fig. 2, Ref. 27).

The Effect of Adipose Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction on Flap Viability in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Renal Disease.

BACKGROUND: The presence of chronic renal disease(CRD) concurrently with diabetes mellitus(DM) increases the flap failure. Adipose derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is known to enhance skin flap viability in both healthy and diabetic individuals. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of SVF on skin flap viability in rats with DM and CRD. METHODS: 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four groups as follows: group I (control), group II (diabetes mellitus), group III (chronic renal disease), and group IV (diabetes with chronic renal disease).Two dorsal flaps were elevated. Flaps on left side of all groups received 0.5 cc of SVF, while same amount of plasma-buffered saline (PBS) was injected into right side. On postoperative day 7, flaps were harvested for macroscopic, histopathologic and biochemical assessments. Areas of flap survival were measured macroscopically. Blood level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured after injection of SVF. RESULTS: Macroscopically, SVF has significantly improved flap viability (p < 0.05). Flap viability percentage was lower in DM and CRD groups when compared with healthy control group. In respect of new capillary formation, there was a statistically significant difference between SVF injected flaps and PBS injected sides (p < 0.05). Similarly, VEGF levels were higher in all study groups and there was a significant difference in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that injection of SVF increased flap viability via endothelial differentiation and neovascularization. In vivo function of stem cells might be impaired due to uremia and diabetes-related microenviromental changes.

Effect of Subcutaneous Topical Ozone Therapy on Second-Degree Burn Wounds in Rats: An Experimental Study.

Burns are one of the most severe traumas, causing coagulative destruction of the skin. The use of various products that accelerate wound healing in patients with burns may affect rates of patient survival and reduce complications. We studied the effects of subcutaneous ozone injection on second-degree burn wounds in an animal model. For this study, 72 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided randomly into the following three groups: control group, silver sulfadiazine group, and ozone group; each group was then divided randomly into two subgroups (day 7 or day 14 examination and euthanized). Superficial partial-thickness burns were created on the lower back. In the control group, subcutaneous 0.9% serum saline was injected daily into the burn area. In the silver sulfadiazine group, burns were dressed daily with silver sulfadiazine. In the ozone group, subcutaneous ozone was injected daily into the burn area. We performed tissue hydroxyproline level measurements and histopathological evaluations. When groups were compared in terms of weight change, no significant difference was found between day 7 and day 14. With regard to tissue hydroxyproline levels, the ozone group had significantly higher levels on both days 7 and 14 (P < .001). In histopathological evaluations, we determined that wound healing in the ozone group was significantly higher than in the other groups. We found that subcutaneous ozone therapy was more effective than silver sulfadiazine in the healing process of second-degree burn wounds and could be safely used in the treatment of burn wounds.

Synthesis, molecular modeling and evaluation of novel N'-2-(4-benzylpiperidin-/piperazin-1-yl)acylhydrazone derivatives as dual inhibitors for cholinesterases and Aß aggregation.

To develop new drugs for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, a group of N'-2-(4-Benzylpiperidin-/piperazin-1-yl)acylhydrazones was designed, synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and aggregation of amyloid beta peptides (1-40, 1-42 and 1-40_1-42). The enzyme inhibition assay results indicated that compounds moderately inhibit both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. ß-Amyloid aggregation results showed that all compounds exhibited remarkable Aß fibril aggregation inhibition activity with a nearly similar potential as the reference compound rifampicin, which makes them promising anti-Alzheimer drug candidates. Docking experiments were carried out with the aim to understand the interactions of the most active compounds with the active site of the cholinesterase enzymes.