Investigation of the Effects of Thymoquinone and Dental Pulp-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Tibial Bone Defect Models.

The thymoquinone obtained from Nigella sativa increases osteoblastic activity and significantly reduces the number of osteoclasts, thereby accelerating bone healing. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells isolated from various tissues are considered a potential cell source for bone regenerative therapies. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of thymoquinone, a current and novel agent, in combination with mesenchymal stem cells derived from the dental pulp in promoting bone healing. In the study, 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were used. The rats were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 7 rats: the control group (group 1) (n=7), thymoquinone group (group 2) (n=7), stem cell group (group 3) (n=7), stem cell+thymoquinone group (group 4) (n=7). A bone defect of 4 mm in diameter and 5 mm in length was created in the left tibial bones of all rats with a trephine bur. In group 1, no procedure was applied to the defect area. Group 2 was applied thymoquinone (10 mg/kg) with oral gavage. In group 3, stem cells were used locally to the defect area. In group 4, stem cells and thymoquinone (10 mg/kg) was applied to the defect area. All rats were killed on the 28th day of the experiment. Tibia tissues extracted during sacrifice were histomorphologically examined in a fixative solution. Significant differences were found in terms of new bone formation and osteoblastic activity values in the "thymoquinone" (P<0.05), "stem cell" (P<0.05), and "stem cell+thymoquinone" (P<0.05) groups compared to the "control" group. In addition, while there was no significant difference in the "thymoquinone" group compared to these stem cell+thymoquinone group in terms of osteoblastic activity (P>0.05), the difference in terms of new bone formation was found to be significantly lower. No significant differences among the other groups were observed in new bone formation and osteoblastic activity (P>0.05). According to the results of our study, stem cell+thymoquinone treatment for bone defects is not only more effective than thymoquinone or stem cell treatment alone but also induces greater development of bone trabeculae, contributes to the matrix and connective tissue formation, and increases the number of osteoblasts and osteocytes involved in bone formation.

The evaluation of the effect of long-term antihypertensive drug usage on bone density with dental volumetric tomography.

Background: HT is a systemic disease that presents with persistent high blood pressure, which has become an important health problem due to its cause of serious complications and high prevalence in the community. Aim: This study aims to examine the bone mineral density (BMD) of male patients using different groups of antihypertensive drugs for long terms with dental volumetric tomography. Material and Methods: The study was carried out using the data of patients who applied to the Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry and underwent the Dental Volumetric Tomography (DVT) scan for any reason. The patients included in the study were divided into 4 groups according to their antihypertensive use; Group 1: 60 patients who never used hypertensive medication before, Group 2: 60 patients who received Calcium Channel Blocker treatment for over 5 years, Group 3: 60 patients who received Beta Blocker treatment for over 5 years, Group 4: 60 patients who received ACE inhibitor treatment for over 5 years. Radiomorphometric measurements were made on the DVT data and the DVT-Mandibular Index Inferior, DVT-Cortical Index, Hounsfield Unit-Cortical and Hounsfield Unit-Spongios values were calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann Whitney test with Bonferroni correction, the One-Way ANOVA and Post-Hoc Tukey test were used in the study. Results: A significant increase in DVT-CI and a significant decrease in HU-CORTIKAL, HU-SPONGIOS and DVT-MII values were observed in the patients using Calcium Channel Blocker medication. These findings pointed to osteoporosis. In addition, no statistically significant difference in the use of antihypertensive drugs in the Beta Blocker and ACE Inhibitor groups compared to the Control Group were found. Conclusions: The long term use of Calcium Channel Blocker group antihypertensive drugs should be considered as a risk factor for osteoporosis in men. Key words:Antihypertensive drug, Osteoporosis, Radiomorphometric index, Mandible, Dental volumetric tomography, Bone mineral density.

Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common cause of hypoxemic respiratory failure and death in critically ill patients, and there is an urgent need to find effective therapies. Preclinical studies have shown that inhaled halogenated agents may have beneficial effects in animal models of ARDS. The development of new devices to administer halogenated agents using modern intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators has significantly simplified the dispensing of halogenated agents to ICU patients. Because previous experimental and clinical research suggested potential benefits of halogenated volatiles, such as sevoflurane or isoflurane, for lung alveolar epithelial injury and inflammation, two pathophysiologic landmarks of diffuse alveolar damage during ARDS, we designed an animal model to understand the mechanisms of the effects of halogenated agents on lung injury and repair. After general anesthesia, tracheal intubation, and the initiation of mechanical ventilation, ARDS was induced in piglets via the intratracheal instillation of hydrochloric acid. Then, the piglets were sedated with inhaled sevoflurane or isoflurane using an ICU-type device, and the animals were ventilated with lung-protective mechanical ventilation during a 4 h period. During the study period, blood and alveolar samples were collected to evaluate arterial oxygenation, the permeability of the alveolar-capillary membrane, alveolar fluid clearance, and lung inflammation. Mechanical ventilation parameters were also collected throughout the experiment. Although this model induced a marked decrease in arterial oxygenation with altered alveolar-capillary permeability, it is reproducible and is characterized by a rapid onset, good stability over time, and no fatal complications. We have developed a piglet model of acid aspiration that reproduces most of the physiological, biological, and pathological features of clinical ARDS, and it will be helpful to further our understanding of the potential lung-protective effects of halogenated agents delivered through devices used for inhaled ICU sedation.

Relation Between the Incidence of Carotid Artery Calcification and Systemic Diseases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of carotid artery calcifications detected in panoramic radiographs of patients aged 60 or older with isolated systemic diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 2018 to December 2019, 867 panoramic radiographs of patients, who applied to Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry for various dental reasons, were collected for examination. Of these 867 panoramic radiographs, 444 panoramic radiographs were included in this study. Medical data were collected from the archival records of the dental school. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 240 female (54.1%) and 204 male (45.9%) patients. Their mean age was 66 ± 7.3 (range: 60-92) years. Only 39 (8.8%) of the 444 patients had atherosclerotic plaques. Of the 39 patients with carotid artery calcification, 13 (33.3%) were male and 26 (66.7%) were female. As a result of statistical analysis, carotid artery calcification compared to other systemic diseases was found to be significantly more common in patients with hypertension (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Carotid artery calcifications detected coincidentally in standard panoramic radiographs of dental patients may be important markers for preventing serious risks such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and death. The relationship between carotid artery calcifications found on dental panoramic radiographs and hypertension was significant. Therefore, it seems that detection of carotid artery calcifications on panoramic images of hypertension patients must be considered by dentists.

Evaluation of the effect of long-term use of antidepressants in the SSRI group on bone density with dental volumetric tomography.

AIM: The present study aims to employ dental volumetric tomography to examine bone mineral density among men that used antidepressants in the SSRI group for a long time. METHOD: The present study was conducted through the utilisation of data related to patients that presented to the Faculty of Dentistry of Dicle University and had a dental volumetric tomography (DVT) scan for any reason. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the use of antidepressants: Group 1 included 68 patients as the control group, and Group 2 consisted of 68 patients that used antidepressants. Radiomorphometric measurements were performed on DVT data: DVT-Mandibular Index (DVT-MI), DVT-Cortical Index (DVT-CI), Hounsfield Unit (HU) CORTICAL, and HU SPONGIOSIS values were calculated. RESULTS: The group of patients that used antidepressants exhibited a significant increase in DVT CI and a significant decrease in HU CORTICAL, HU SPONGIOSIS and DVT MI values. These findings were suggestive of osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Long-term use of antidepressants should be taken into consideration as a risk factor for osteoporosis in men.