Effects of agmatine sulphate on facial nerve injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of agmatine sulphate on facial nerve regeneration after facial nerve injury using electron and light microscopy. METHODS: The study was performed on 30 male Wistar albino rats split into: a control group, a sham-treated group, a study control group, an anastomosis group, and an anastomosis plus agmatine sulphate treatment group. The mandibular branch of the facial nerve was dissected, and a piece was removed for histological and electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Regeneration was better in the anastomosis group than in the study control group. However, the best regeneration findings were seen in the agmatine sulphate treatment group. There was a significant difference between the agmatine group and the others in terms of median axon numbers (p < 0.004) and diameters (p < 0.004). CONCLUSION: Agmatine sulphate treatment with anastomosis in traumatic facial paralysis may enhance nerve regeneration.

Effects of local simvastatin on periosteal distraction osteogenesis in rabbits.

Our aim was to evaluate the effect of local simvastatin on the formation of new bone using a new design of periosteal distractor. The distractors were placed between the periosteum and bone at the inferior border of the mandible of 20 New Zealand rabbits. In the first group (n=10) simvastatin was applied locally to the distraction zone. The other 10 rabbits served as controls. The formation of new bone was evaluated with digital direct radiography, computed tomography (CT), and histomorphometric analyses. New bone formed in all rabbits, but more formed in the experimental group according to histomorphometric variables. However, other measurements did not differ significantly between the groups. The new design of the periosteal distraction device was successful in causing new bone to form. Local simvastatin made no significant contribution to the procedure.

Comparative study of the osseous healing process following three different techniques of bone augmentation in the mandible: an experimental study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the osseointegration of three different bone grafting techniques. Forty-eight mature New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into three groups of 16 each. Horizontal augmentation was performed on the corpus of the mandible using three different techniques: free bone graft (FBG), free periosteal bone graft (PBG), pedicled bone flap (BF). The animals were sacrificed at postoperative weeks 1, 3, or 8. Specimens were decalcified for histological examination, and histomorphometric measurements were performed. The histological evaluation demonstrated bony fusion between the grafts and the augmented mandibular bone after 8 weeks in all groups. At week 8, the bone volume was significantly greater in the BF group than in the FBG (P<0.001) and PBG (P=0.001) groups, and also the trabecular thickness was significantly greater than in the FBG (P=0.015) and PBG (P=0.015) groups. Trabecular separation was significantly lower in the BF group than in the FBG group at week 8 (P=0.015). BF demonstrated greater osseous healing capacity compared to FBG and PBG. The preserved vascularization in BF improves the bone quality in mandibular bone augmentations.

Protective effect of ethyl pyruvate on liver injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diabetes Mellitus, leading to an increase in oxidative stress, can cause liver damage. Our aim was to investigate the antioxidant effects of Ethyl Pyruvate (EP) on the liver tissue in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were separated into four equal groups. Groups were assigned as follows: (1) Non-diabetic group; (2) EP-treated non-diabetic group; (3) diabetic group; and (4) EP-treated diabetic group. In order to induce diabetes mellitus, 45 mg/kg b.w. streptozotocin was administered intraperitoneally to the rats in groups 3 and 4. On the 3rd day, blood glucose was assessed. Rats with blood glucose levels higher than 300 mg/dl were considered to be diabetic. The EP solution was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. twice daily for 14 days to the rats in groups 2 and 4. The other rats were simultaneously given the same amount of Ringer's lactate solution intraperitoneally. Liver tissue was obtained for malondialdehyde (MDA) analyses and histopathological examination. RESULTS: In group 4, Total Antioxidant Status (TOS) and MDA levels were significantly lower as compared to group 3. Also, morphological abnormalities occurred in group 3 when compared with non-diabetic groups (groups 1 and 2), whereas the disorders resulting from diabetes improved significantly in group 4. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that EP has protective effects against diabetes-induced liver injury.