Protective effects of anise in prevention of cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.

The aim of this study is to determine the protective efficacy of anise in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. In this study, 28 Wistar Albino rats, weighing 250-300 grams (g), were used. Four groups were formed with 7 rats in each group. Group 1 (n=7): Control group, Group 2 (n=7): Anise group, 5 mL/kg/day of anise aqueous extract prepared according to Gamberini's protocol was given orally by gavage for 30 days. Group 3 (n=7): Cerebral ischemia reperfusion (CIR) group, at the beginning of the experiment, 30 minutes of cerebral ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion were induced and the animals were sacrificed by exanguination. Group 4 (n=7): Anise+ CIR group, After administering 30 days of anise's aqueous extract, CIR was induced and the study was terminated. TOS values of the Anise+ CIR group was significantly lower than that of the CIR group (p<0.05). Il-6 and TNF-α values of the CIR group were significantly higher than the Anise+ CIR group (p<0,05). Our study revealed that anise ameliorates oxidative damage and inflammation due to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, by reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, Il-6).

Sonographic gastric content evaluation in patients undergoing cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a serious complication and causes mortality and morbidity. The study aimed to assess the gastric content of patients undergoing cataract surgery by performing bedside ultrasonography. The secondary aim was to conduct a survey of hospital staff about fasting for cataract surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This single-center, cross-sectional study included 65 patients who underwent cataract surgery. The quantitative and qualitative measurements of the gastric content and antral area were performed by gastric ultrasonography in the right lateral decubitus position. The incidence of risk to the stomach was defined according to different threshold levels: content >0.8 ml/kg and 1.5 ml/kg and cross-sectional antral area >340 mm2. A questionnaire was provided to anesthesiologists and ophthalmologists about fasting for cataract surgery. RESULTS: The mean age was 69.48 ± 11.10 years. The mean gastric antrum cross-sectional area (CSA) was 11.08 ± 6.42 cm2. The predicted gastric volume was 103.39 ± 94.79 ml and 1.37 ± 1.20 ml/kg. The antral area CSA and gastric volume/kg decreased as the fasting time increased. About 98.5% of the patients exceeded the high-risk stomach antral cut-off CSA defined as 340 mm2. Gastric content exceeded 0.8 ml/kg in 58.33% of patients and exceeded 1.5 ml/kg in 41.67% of patients. Gastric content in patients was found to be 65.0% solid, 20.0% liquid, and 15.0% empty. All seven ophthalmologists did not apply fasting protocols for cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: Point of care ultrasonography is a useful, noninvasive tool in determining gastric content and volume. As majority of the patients presented with a full stomach for cataract surgery, we recommend that ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists follow preoperative fasting guidelines for cataract surgery.