Dexmedetomidine on the interplay of IL-6 and STAT3 pathways in adrenal gland damage-induced scalding burns in rats.

Scalding burns are a common form of thermal injury that often leads to systemic complications. Pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways have been linked to the pathophysiology of organ damage caused by burns. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist with anti-inflammatory properties, on the interplay of IL-6 and STAT3 pathways in adrenal gland damage following scalding burns in rats. Twenty-eight rats were divided randomly into four groups. Rats in group 1 (n=7, control) were given only 0.9% intraperitoneal (i.p.) NaCl. Rats in group 2 (n=7, DEX) were exposed to 25°C water for 17 s on day 1 and received 100 mcg/kg/day dexmedetomidine i.p. for 3 days; for rats in group 3 (n=7, Burn), boiling water of 94°C was applied inside for 17 s. Rats in group 4 (n=7, Burn+DEX) were exposed to 94°C water for 17 s and received 100 mcg/kg/day dexmedetomidine i.p. for 3 days. Adrenal gland tissues were histopathological examined, and STAT3, IL-6, and TUNEL staining were performed using immunohistochemically. Our results revealed that scalding burns increased IL-6 and STAT3 expression in the adrenal glands of rats. Histological analysis demonstrated that dexmedetomidine administration ameliorated adrenal gland damage and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Our findings suggest that dexmedetomidine protects the adrenal glands in scalding burns. This protection appears to be mediated, at least in part, by its modulation of IL-6 and STAT3 pathways.

Effect of fibromyalgia on demographic, biochemical, metabolic and inflammatory profiles: a single-centre retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to ascertain the disparities in demographic features and biochemical profiles between individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM) and a control group of healthy individuals. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study compared the demographic, biochemical, metabolic, and inflammatory indexes and rates of 174 FM patients diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology 2016 diagnostic criteria between January 2023 and January 2024, and 186 healthy control groups. RESULTS: There was no difference between the FM and control groups in terms of alcohol consumption, marital status, or diabetes mellitus. The smoking rate is higher, and the educational level was found to be lower for FM versus the control. There was no significant difference between FM and controls regarding waist-height ratio, triglyceride-glucose index, plasma atherogenic index, vitamin B12, and folate levels. Monocyte HDL ratio, cardiometabolic index, magnesium, HbA1c, and ferritin levels were significantly higher in the control than in FM (p<0.001, p=0.039, p=0.007, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, systemic immune-inflammatory index, neutrophil-lymphocyte rate, platelet lymphocyte rate, and vitamin D levels were found to be higher in FM compared to control (p=0.001, p=0.032, p=0.003, p=0.030, p=0.003, p<0.001, respectively). A weak positive correlation was observed between the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) score and disease duration, as well as between pain degree and ESR, and pain degree and CRP. The study revealed a weak inverse relationship between Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights fthe association f ibromyalgia with elevated inflammatory markers, altered metabolic parameters, and specific demographic characteristics.

Comparative Analysis of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and TNF-Alpha Inhibitors in Mitigating Cisplatin-Induced Pancreatic Damage Through Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Pathways.

Oxidative stress and inflammation caused by cisplatin, which is frequently used in the treatment of many cancers, damage healthy tissues as well as cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and infliximab (INF) administration on pancreatic endocrine cells in rats treated with systemic cisplatin (CDDP). The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: group 1 (control group), group 2 (EGCG group), group 3 (CDDP group), group 4 (EGCG + CDDP group), group 5 (CDDP + INF group), and group 6 (EGCG + CDDP + INF group). The study's findings demonstrated that EGCG and INF effectively reduced the cellular damage induced by CDDP in histopathologic investigations of the pancreas. EGCG and INF, whether used individually or in combination, demonstrated a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and an increase in glutathione (GSH) levels in the rat pancreas compared to the CDDP group. Immunohistochemically, the enhanced presence of insulin and glucagon positivity in the EGCG and INF groups, along with the absence of TUNEL immunopositivity, indicate that both treatments reduced CDDP-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the observed lack of immunopositivity in TNF-α and 8-OHdG in the groups treated with EGCG and INF, compared to those treated with CDDP, indicates that these substances can inhibit inflammation. EGCG and INF, whether provided alone or together, can potentially reduce the damage caused to pancreatic islet cells by cisplatin. This effect is achieved through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties during the early stages of the condition.

Do We Care Enough About the Presence of Sexual Problems in Diabetic Patients?

Purpose: Sexual health is not only the absence of sexual dysfunction or disability, but also the presence of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality. The current study aims to determine whether all adult patients who have applied for their regular health check-ups due to diabetes mellitus had ever voluntarily expressed their sexual problems to a specialist and whether they were asked about the presence of sexual dysfunction. It also aims to determine how the physicians attach importance to the issue. Patients and Methods: All patients aged 18-65 years with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, who applied to our hospital between the years of January 2021 and 2022, were questioned by filling out a questionnaire for the presence of sexual problems in addition to screening for chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) and routine history and physical examination. Results: The association between the presence of sexual problems and whether patients were questioned about the relevant issue in their previous controls and gender and age factors, educational background, presence of comorbidities, duration of marriage, and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus were examined. In a population of 595 patients, 53.78% of the patients stated that they had sexual problems; however, 9.91% had been questioned about this issue by the physician. It was observed that 6.3% of female and 15.3% of male patients had previously consulted a doctor voluntarily due to their sexual problems. Conclusion: This study presents empirical findings that shed light on the inadequacies in healthcare providers' approach to addressing sexual health concerns among individuals diagnosed with diabetes, as well as the shortcomings in patients' effective communication of these concerns.