Comparison of hyperbaric oxygen and ozone treatment for ischemia/re-perfusion injury in an experimental testicular torsion model.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare the effects of medical ozone (MO) therapy and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in an experimental testicular torsion model by measuring the oxidant and antioxidant markers and examining the histopathological tissue damage findings. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats are used and are divided into four groups; (1) sham group (SG), (2) only ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) by testicular torsion, (3) HBO administered group, and (4) MO administered group. No torsion was conducted in the SG. In all other groups, rats underwent testicular torsion followed by detorsion to create an I/R model. After I/R, HBO was injected in the HBO group, and in the MO group, intraperitoneal ozone was applied. At the end of 1 week, testicular tissues were obtained for biochemical analyzes and histopathological examinations. Biochemically, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured for oxidant activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were measured for antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the testicles were evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: Both HBO and MO have significantly decreased MDA levels, compared with sham and I/R groups, resulting in decreased oxidation effects. The antioxidant GSH-Px levels in the HBO and MO groups were significantly higher than in the sham and I/R groups. In addition, the antioxidant SOD levels in the HBO group were significantly higher than sham, I/R, and MO groups. Therefore, the antioxidant effect of HBO was observed to be superior to MO, specifically considering SOD levels. Histopathologically, there was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The study may extrapolate that both HBO and MO are antioxidant agents that can be used in testicular torsion. HBO treatment might improve the cellular antioxidant capacity due to increased antioxidant marker levels more than MO therapy. However, further studies are needed with a larger sample size.

Vascular function and arginine and dimethylarginines in gentamicin-induced renal failure: a possible effect of heme oxygenase 1 inducer hemin.

Increased oxidative stress and disturbance in nitric oxide bioavailability lead to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complication in renal disease. Gentamicin (GM), a commonly used antibiotic, exhibits a toxic effect on renal proximal tubules. Prevention of its nephrotoxicity is important. Therefore, we investigated whether heme oxygenase 1 HO-1) induction influenced kidney and vascular function in GM-administered rats. GM (100 mg·kg-1·day-1; i.p.) was given to rats alone or together with hemin (20 mg·kg-1 on alternate days; i.p.) for 14 days. Plasma and kidney l-arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) as well as kidney 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured. Histopathological examinations of kidney and relaxation and contraction responses of aorta were also examined. GM increased serum SDMA, urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels and caused histopathological alterations in the kidney. GM elevated HO-1 protein and mRNA expressions, 4-HNE level, and MPO activity and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and l-arginine levels in the kidney. Decreased relaxation and contraction were detected in the aorta. Hemin restored renal oxidative stress and inflammatory changes together with vascular dysfunction, but did not affect SDMA, BUN, or creatinine levels. We conclude that HO-1 induction may be effective in improving renal oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction mediated by GM.

P-selectin, endocan, and some adhesion molecules in obese children and adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

There is increasing evidence for a direct relationship between the vascular system and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to investigate endocan and adhesion molecules such as P-selectin derived from the endothelium and platelets in obese children and adolescents with NAFLD. One hundred obese patients and 40 lean controls were enrolled. The obese subjects were divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of fatty liver. Blood samples were assayed for endocan, P-selectin, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1. Obese patients with NAFLD presented higher ALT and insulin levels, as well as more profound dyslipidemia when compared with their counterparts without NAFLD. Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were found increased in both obese groups, regardless of NAFLD. In obese subjects with NAFLD, decreased P-selectin levels (51.6 ± 4.14 ng/mL) were detected as compared with the obese (72.3 ± 4.23) and control (74.2 ± 6.97) subjects. Furthermore, circulating P-selectin levels were closely associated with endocan levels (r = 0.852, p < 0.001). Childhood obesity leads to vascular inflammation and therefore may cause a predisposition to atherosclerosis at an early age. The possible outcome of decreased P-selectin levels with NAFLD development must be further investigated.

Evaluation of turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (TINIA) and HPLC methods for glycated haemoglobin determination.

BACKGROUND: Various factors may affect the accuracy of hemoglobin (Hb) A1c measurements that are widely used to monitor glycemic control in diabetic patients. This study was aimed to compare the values of HbA1c obtained by two different methods, Roche Tina-quant second and thirdgeneration HbA1c assays based on the turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (TINIA), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) cation-exchange method used by Arkray Adams HA-8160 analyzer. METHODS: Measurements of HbA1c were carried out in blood samples from 2,917 patients using above-mentioned methods. Linear regression was used for the correlation analysis and linear equations. Bland-Altman plots were performed from method comparison data using MedCalc statistical software. RESULTS: For the low control, the second generation Tina-quant assay had within-run and between-run CVs 0.8% and 0.9%; for the high control within-run and between-run CVs were 1% and 0.96%, respectively. HPLC method for the low control had within-run CV 1% and between-run CV 1.3%; for the high control within-run CV was 0.6% and between-run CV was 0.9%. CONCLUSION: There was a good concordance between the results of TINIA and HPLC methods (y = 1.091x - 0.363; r(2) = 0.96).

Bone turnover markers and vitamin D status in postmenopausal Turkish women.

The aim of this study was to examine some biochemical markers of bone metabolism such as C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTx), procollagen I N-peptide (PINP), 25 hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], parathormone (PTH), and alkaline phosphatase (total- and bone-ALP) in postmenopausal Turkish women, and to evaluate the influence of dietary factors on these parameters. This cross-sectional study comprised 70 postmenopausal and 25 premenopausal subjects from a similar socio-economical status. The postmenopausal group was further stratified with regard to vitamin plus calcium supplementation. A fasting blood sample was obtained for the biochemical analysis of bone markers. Ca, P, tALP, and CTx levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal women free of supplementation than those in premenopausal period; whereas 25(OH)D concentrations were below the reference value in both groups. Supplementations of vitamin and calcium resulted in significantly lower levels of PINP in the postmenopausal group (p = 0.017). A significant association was found between plasma 25(OH)D level and frequency of fish consumption. Dietary strategies to fortify calcium and vitamin D intake should be considered to decrease the complications due to D hypovitaminosis after the onset of menopause.