Quantitative ultrasound techniques and biochemical markers to assess liver steatosis and fibrosis in newly diagnosed acromegaly.

PURPOSE: The liver is known to be protected from steatosis under the influence of high GH/IGF-1. Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) increase in liver steatosis and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to use quantitative ultrasound techniques and biochemical markers to assess liver steatosis and liver fibrosis in newly diagnosed acromegaly. METHODS: This single-center, cross-sectional study included 23 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly and 46 age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)-matched controls. Liver steatosis was assessed using tissue attenuation imaging (TAI), and stiffness, indicative of fibrosis, was assessed by shear wave elastography (SWE). Serum IGFBP7 and CK18 were studied by ELISA. RESULTS: The acromegaly group had significantly lower liver steatosis (p = 0.006) and higher liver stiffness (p = 0.004), serum IGFBP7 (p = 0.048) and CK18 (p = 0.005) levels than the control group. The presence of fibrosis (p = 0.012) was significantly higher in the acromegaly group than in the control group. Moreover, CK18 was positively correlated with liver stiffness, WC, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, and triglyceride. In the acromegaly group, liver steatosis was negatively correlated with GH level. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that BMI (p = 0.008) and CK18 (p = 0.015) were independent risk factors for increased liver stiffness. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was an increased presence of liver fibrosis independent of liver steatosis in newly diagnosed acromegaly. Serum CK18 appears to be a potential marker of increased liver fibrosis in acromegaly.

The Syntheses of Chromium Aluminum Carbide (Cr2AlC) MAX Phase and Cr2CTx MXene and Investigation of Their Antimicrobial Properties.

Chromium aluminum carbide (Cr2AlC) MAX phase and Cr2CTx (MXene-Cr) were synthesized by the pressureless sintering method and hydrothermal method, respectively. In addition to this, the free radical scavenging activities (FRSA) of MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr compounds were tested and compared with ascorbic acid and trolox as standard compounds. The obtained FRSA results of MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr were 42.82 and 59.64%, respectively, at 100 mg/L concentration. MXene-Cr showed a 66.90% inhibitory effect on α-amylase at 200 mg/L. The DNA nuclease activity of compounds was determined to be extremely satisfactory at 50, 100, and 200 mg/L concentrations. Moreover, the prepared MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr were investigated for antimicrobial activity against six bacterial and two fungal strains by the broth microdilution method. Compounds provided more significant inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr almost completely inhibited microbial cell viability at a 25 mg/L concentration. Additionally, MXene-Cr showed 89.86% and 87.01% antibiofilm activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, while the antibiofilm activity of the MAX-Cr phase was over 90%.

Green Synthesis of CuO Nanoparticles Using Agaricus bisporus Extract as a Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were synthesized using a rapid, eco-friendly, cost-effective, efficient, and biological method employing aqueous Agaricus bisporus extract as a capping and reducing agent. The formation of CuONPs was checked by UV-vis spectroscopy and was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), dynamic light scattering spectroscopy (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and surface area and porosimetry analyzer. The characterization results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles had a spherical-like appearance and a crystal structure with 40-100 nm particle size. The green synthesized CuONPs were found to be an excellent and sustainable heterogeneous catalyst (TOF up to 29700 h-1 ) for the Suzuki C-C coupling of aryl halides with phenylboronic acid in a very short reaction time (10 minutes). Moreover, the easily recovered catalyst can be reused five times with just a negligible reduction in catalytic behavior.

Glycerol group substituted bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindoline (BPI) complexes: synthesis, characterization and investigation of their biological properties.

In this study, a glycerol group substituted bis(2-pyridylamino)isoindoline (BPI-OH) ligand and its metal complexes (M = Pt, Cu and Co) were synthesized. Characterization of all new compounds was carried out using FT-IR, NMR, UV-Vis, and mass spectroscopy. Various biological activities of BPI derivatives were also tested. The antioxidant activities of BPI-OH, Pt-BPI-OH, Cu-BPI-OH, and Co-BPI-OH were 87.52 ± 4.62%, 98.05 ± 5.61%, 92.20 ± 5.12%, and 89.27 ± 4.74%, at 200 mg L-1 concentration respectively. BPI derivatives displayed perfect DNA cleavage activity and plasmid DNA was completely broken at all tested concentrations. The antimicrobial and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) activities of the compounds were investigated and BPI derivatives showed good APDT. E. coli cell viability was inhibited at 125 and 250 mg L-1. BPI-OH, Pt-BPI-OH, Cu-BPI-OH, and Co-BPI-OH also successfully inhibited the biofilm formation of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the antidiabetic activity of BPI derivatives was studied. This study also evaluates the binding affinities of four compounds (BPI-OH, Pt-BPI-OH, Cu-BPI-OH, and Co-BPI-OH) to various residues of DNA using hydrogen bond distance measurements and binding energies. The results show that the BPI-OH compound forms hydrogen bonds with residues in the major groove of DNA, while BPI-Pt-OH, BPI-Cu-OH, and BPI-Co-OH compounds form hydrogen bonds with residues in the minor groove. The hydrogen bond distances for each compound range from 1.75 to 2.2 Angstroms.

Boron-based magnesium diboride nanosheets preparation and tested for antimicrobial properties for PES membrane.

Antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics for current bacterial infection treatments is a medical problem. 2D nanoparticles, which can be used as both antibiotic carriers and direct antibacterial agents due to their large surface areas and direct contact with the cell membrane, are important alternatives in solving this problem. This study focuses on the effects of a new generation borophene derivative obtained from MgB2 particles on the antimicrobial activity of polyethersulfone membranes. MgB2 nanosheets were created by mechanically separating magnesium diboride (MgB2) particles into layers. The samples were microstructurally characterized using SEM, HR-TEM, and XRD methods. MgB2 nanosheets were screened for various biological activities such as antioxidant, DNA nuclease, antimicrobial, microbial cell viability inhibition, and antibiofilm activities. The antioxidant activity of nanosheets was 75.24 ± 4.15% at 200 mg/L. Plasmid DNA was entirely degraded at 125 and 250 mg/L nanosheet concentrations. MgB2 nanosheets exhibited a potential antimicrobial effect against tested strains. The cell viability inhibitory effect of the MgB2 nanosheets was 99.7 ± 5.78%, 99.89 ± 6.02%, and 100 ± 5.84% at 12.5 mg/L, 25 mg/L, and 50 mg/L, respectively. The antibiofilm activity of MgB2 nanosheets against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was observed to be satisfactory. Furthermore, a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was prepared by blending MgB2 nanosheets from 0.5 wt to 2.0 wt %. Pristine PES membrane also has shown the lowest steady-state fluxes at 30.1 ± 2.1 and 56.6 L/m2h for BSA and E. coli, respectively. With the increase of MgB2 nanosheets amount from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%, steady-state fluxes increased from 32.3 ± 2.5 to 42.0 ± 1.0 and from 15.6 ± 0.7 to 24.1 ± 0.8 L/m2h, respectively for BSA and E. coli. E. coli elimination performance of PES membrane coated with MgB2 nanosheets at different rates and the membrane filtration procedure was obtained from 96% to 100%. The results depicted that BSA and E. coli rejection efficiencies of MgB2 nanosheets blended PES membranes increased when compared to pristine PES membranes.

A fungal functionalized magnetized solid phase extractor for preconcentrations of Pb(II), Mn(II), and Co(II) from real samples.

Due to increasing industrialization and overpopulation, the amount of toxic metals is increasing in the environment, including air, soil, water, and food. Solid phase extraction is an efficient and ideal technique to preconcentrate the toxic metals before their measurements by analytical instruments. Russula brevipes was immobilized on γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles and employed as a SPE sorbent to preconcentrate the trace level of Pb(II), Mn(II), and Co(II). To investigate the extraction conditions, significant experimental parameters were examined in details. LODs were calculated as 0.022, 0.015, and 0.024 ng mL-1 for Pb(II), Mn(II), and Co(II), respectively. The biosorption capacities of R. brevipes immobilized γ-Fe2O3 were calculated as 43.1 mg g-1 for Pb(II), 54.9 mg g-1 for Mn(II), and 49.7 mg g-1 for Co(II). Pb(II), Mn(II), and Co(II) in food samples at trace levels were preconcentrated by applying the developed method.

Vitamin D supplementation alleviates diabetic complications by increasing the amount of irisin in testicular tissues and blood of rats with experimental diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is an important endocrinological disease that has an increasing incidence in the world and affects all biological tissues including testicles. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the histological and biochemical effects of vitamin D on irisin, apoptosis, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) in testicular tissues of rats with experimental diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 41 male Wistar rats, 8-10 weeks old, weighing between 200-220 g, were included in the study as the following groups: control group (n=7; no treatment), sham group [only sodium citrate buffer (SCB)] [n=7; single dose 0.1 Molar (M) SCB given intraperitoneally (i.p)], vitamin D group (n=7; 50 IU/day given orally), diabetes group [n=10; single dose 50 mg/kg Streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 0.1 M SCB and given i.p (tail vein blood glucose level above 250 mg/dl after 72 hours)] and diabetes+vitamin D group [n=10, single dose 50 mg/kg STZ, dissolved in 0.1 M SCB and given i.p (tail vein blood glucose level above 250 mg/dl after 72 hours) and when diabetes occurs, oral vitamin D administration of 50 IU/day)]. At the end of the 8 weeks experiment, blood was drawn from the tail vein of all rats, they were sacrificed and testicular tissues were taken. While the amount of irisin in the blood and testicular tissue supernatants was analyzed with the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method, TAS and TOS measurements were analyzed with the REL method, testicular tissues were analyzed histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and with the TUNEL method. RESULTS: When the diabetes group was compared with the control and sham groups, it was reported that the amounts of blood and tissue supernatant irisin and TAS significantly decreased and the TOS was significantly increased; a statistically significant increase in irisin and TAS of blood and tissue supernatants and a significant decrease in TOS were detected when diabetes+vitamin D and diabetes groups were compared among themselves. Similar results were obtained in the immunohistochemical studies. Tissue expressions of irisin decreased in the diabetes group compared to the control and sham groups, while the application of vitamin D increased the tissue expressions of irisin. Additionally, when the numbers of apoptotic cells were compared, it was reported that apoptotic cells in the diabetes group increased significantly compared to the control and sham groups, and vitamin D administration significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, vitamin D administration to diabetic rats decreased the number of apoptotic cells and increased the amount of irisin. Vitamin D had an effective role in maintaining the physiological integrity of rat testicular tissues, so vitamin D may be a potent agent to be used in the treatment of diabetes in the future.

Evaluation of the angulation of the nasal septum deviation as an anatomical variation for increased frequency of antral pseudocyst: a cone-beam computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine whether degree of the nasal septum deviation (NSD) can affect the frequency of antral pseudocyst (AP) formation by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was included 466 CBCT images. The NSD were categorised into four groups according to the degree: control group (no NSD, 0°-2°), group A (2°-9°), group B (9°-15°), and group C (≥ 15°). The predictor variables were demographic factors (patient's age and gender) and anatomic factors (different degrees of nasal septum angulation). The outcome variable was presence of AP. RESULTS: Of the 466 cases, 242 (51.9%) had no NSD, 66 (14.2%) had an angle of 2°-9°, 111 (23.8%) had an angle of 9°-15°, and 47 (10.1%) had an angle of over 15°. The prevalence of AP was 2.04 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37 to 3.03; p = 0.001) times higher in the presence of NSD. Significant increases in presence of AP occurred with NSD in group A (2.37 times higher; p = 0.003) and group B (2.07 times higher; p = 0.003) compared to control by univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no sufficient evidence to suggest that NSD is a definitive aetiological factor for AP development, our findings indicated that NSD increased the risk of AP formation.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS AND PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE.

Purpose: To investigate the association between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Design: This study is a retrospective study that conducted during 7 consecutive years with a median 119.5 months follow-up. Subjects and Method: Patients who underwent thyroidectomy in Dokuz Eylül University Hospital during 7 consecutive years were included. Patients' demographics, biochemical, radiological, and pathological results were retrospectively assessed. Results: Four hundred sixty nine patients were evaluated. Among 469 patients who underwent thyroidectomy, 132 (28.1%) were malignant, while 182 patients were diagnosed with HT (38.8%). PTC was ranked first at 92.4% (n: 122). The prevalence of HT was 54.9% in patients with PTC and 33.1% in patients without PTC diagnosis (p<0.001). Younger age and the presence of HT were independently associated with PTC. The presence of HT was associated with increased risk of development of PTC (OR: 2.2, %95 CI: 1.4-3.5, p<0.001) but not with TNM stage or recurrence. Lymph node metastasis at presentation was the strongest predictor of recurrence (OR: 13.9, CI: 3.5-54.6, p<0.001). Conclusions: HT was an independent risk factor for development of PTC. According to our findings, HT patients (particularly with nodular HT) should be observed carefully and thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy (TFNAB) should be encouraged if necessary.

Basal blood concentrations of some orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones in obese and nonobese individuals according to blood groups.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a serious public health problem associated with excessive food intake. Regulation of food intake in highly organized organisms is under the control of a large number of orexigenic and anorexigenic molecules. Therefore, the main purpose of this study has been to determine the relationship between obesity and some of the circulating orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides that have a role in appetite control and to determine whether the concentrations of these molecules differ according to blood groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 400 individuals of whom 100 were obese women, 100 obese men, 100 healthy men and 100 healthy women. Obese women and men were divided into 4 groups, according to their blood groups. In the control group, healthy women and healthy men were similarly divided into 4 blood groups. Each blood group within the groups, therefore, had 25 participants. RESULTS: When leptin, nesfatin-1, obestatin and neuropeptide-Y, ghrelin and galanin levels of the control group and obese participants were compared, regardless of blood groups, leptin, nesfatin-1, obestatin and neuropeptide-Y were significantly higher, whereas only the ghrelin levels were significantly lower in obese patients. When the amounts of these hormones were measured according to gender, the situation was similar. When leptin, nesfatin-1, obestatin and neuropeptide-Y values of the control and obese participants' blood groups were compared with each other; these hormones were high in all blood groups; however, leptin levels in A blood group, nesfatin-1 levels in AB and O blood group, obestatin levels in AB blood group, neuropeptide-Y levels in A, B, AB blood groups were significantly higher. When the ghrelin levels of the blood groups in the control group and obese participants were compared, it was only significantly lower in the AB blood group. The ghrelin levels in the other blood groups of the obese individuals were again low, but not significantly so. When the distribution of hormones according to gender was evaluated, a situation parallel to the above results was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Leptin, nesfatin-1, obestatin and neuropeptide-Y and galanin levels of obese individuals were significantly higher than the control values, whereas the ghrelin values were significantly lower regardless of blood groups. Also, these hormones in blood partly varied with ABO blood groups. These different concentrations of hormones in ABO blood groups might be related with stimulation or suppression of appetite in human. However, further studies in other ethnic groups are needed to confirm these results.

Molecular communication between Apelin-13, Apelin-36, Elabela, and nitric oxide in gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that affects from 3.8% to 6.9% of pregnancies worldwide, causing significant mortality and unfavorable obstetric outcomes, such as delivery trauma and macrosomia risk. The fundamental processes of this metabolic disorder that first appeared during pregnancy are still unknown. Tissue hormones, particularly adipokines, have aided in understanding the pathophysiology of numerous disorders in recent years. This study aims to determine if Apelin-13 (APLN-13), Apelin-36 (APLN-36), Elabela (ELA), and nitric oxide (NO) molecules have all a part in the pathophysiology of GDM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 pregnant control women and 30 pregnant women who had been diagnosed with GDM in the second trimester and whose body mass index and age were compatible with each other. Blood samples were collected from 60 participants during the second trimester (30 control pregnant women and 30 GDM pregnant women) and postpartum (17 controls vs. 14 GDM). In these blood samples, the amounts of APLN-13, APLN-36, ELA, and NO were studied using the ELISA method. In addition, the participants' glucose, lipid profiles, and other parameters were obtained from the hospital record files. At postpartum, 29 pregnant women (13 control and 16 pregnant women with GDM) dropped out of the study without explanation. RESULTS: In the second trimester and postpartum plasma of mothers with GDM, APLN-13, APLN-36, NO, and ELA molecules were found to be significantly higher (< 0.05), compared to those of the control mothers, while APLN-13, APLN-36, NO values were significantly lower (0.05). While APLN-13, APLN-36, NO amounts in mothers with GDM were positively correlated with glucose amounts, they were negatively correlated with ELA amounts. Similarly, the triglyceride amounts in mothers with GDM were positively correlated with APLN-13, APLN-36 and NO, while they were negatively correlated with the ELA amounts. Due to gestational diabetes, APLN-13, APLN-36, NO, glucose, and triglyceride increased, and ELA decreased. CONCLUSIONS: It is predicted that the glucose increase in GDM is because Apelins reduce glucose transport to erythrocytes by inhibiting the sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT) and that the increase in triglyceride and NO may be associated with high glucose levels in GDM. As a result, we believe that the above-mentioned chemicals may cause GDM Pathology by triggering one another.

Laboratory evidence on a direct correlation between acute central serous chorioretinopathy and tenascin C, metalloprotein 1, BAX, BCL2, subfatin and asprosin.

PURPOSE: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is an eye disease of unknown etiology that presents with reduced visual acuity, choroidal thickening (distance between Bruch's membrane and the chorioscleral border), and subretinal fluid leakage. In the present study, the goal was to investigate the role of the interrelated tenascin C, metalloprotein-1, BAX, BCL2, subfatin and asprosin molecules in the pathogenesis of CSCR. METHOD: Thirty CSCR patients and 30 controls were included. CSCR was diagnosed by optical coherence tomography imaging. A 5mL blood sample was collected from all participants after overnight fasting. Compounds in the blood samples were studied with the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: Patients with CSCR were found to have macular thickening (P: 0.08) and statistically significantly reduced visual acuity (P: 0.034) compared to controls. With regard to serum parameters, there were statistically significant increases in tenascin C, metalloprotein-1, BAX, BCL2, subfatin and asprosin levels compared to controls. We found a positive correlation between macular thickness and tenascin C (r+0.670, P<0.001), metaloprotein-1 (r+0.714, P<0.001), BAX, BCL2 (r+0.771, P<0.001), subfatin and asprosin levels and a negative correlation between visual acuity and tenascin C (r+0.605 P<0.001), metaloprotein-1 (r+0.704, P<0.001), BAX, BCL2 (r+0.738, P<0.001), subfatin and asprosin levels. CONCLUSION: The molecules studied herein were negatively correlated with visual acuity and positively correlated with macular thickness, suggesting that these molecules might have a role in the pathogenesis of CSCR. Thus, we predict that these molecules could be new candidates for the diagnosis and follow-up of CSCR in the future.

A new method for the preconcentrations of U(VI) and Th(IV) by magnetized thermophilic bacteria as a novel biosorbent.

This paper proposes the use of Anoxybacillus flavithermus SO-15 immobilized on iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) as a novel magnetized biosorbent for the preconcentrations of uranium (U) and thorium (Th). The SPE procedure was based on biosorption of U(VI) and Th(IV) on a column of iron oxide NPs loaded with dead and dried thermophilic bacterial biomass prior to U(VI) and Th(IV) measurements by ICP-OES. The biosorbent characteristicswere explored using FT-IR, SEM, and EDX. Significant operational factors such as solution pH, volume and flow rate of the sample solution, amounts of dead bacteria and iron oxide nanoparticles, matrix interference effect, eluent type, and repeating use of the biosorbent on process yield were studied. The biosorption capacities were found as 62.7 and 56.4 mg g-1 for U(VI) and Th(IV), respectively. The novel extraction process has been successfullyapplied to the tap, river, and lake water samples for preconcentrations of U(VI) and Th(IV).

Preconcentrations of Ni(II) and Pb(II) from water and food samples by solid-phase extraction using Pleurotus ostreatus immobilized iron oxide nanoparticles.

The present study explores the biosorption potential of Pleurotus ostreatus immobilized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for solid-phase extractions of Ni(II) and Pb(II) ions from the water and food samples. It was characterized using FTIR, FE-SEM/EDX before and after analyte ions biosorption. Important operational parameters including the effect of initial pH, the flow rate of the sample solution and volume, amount of biomass and support material, interfering ions, best eluent, column reusability were studied. The biosorption capacities of fungus immobilized iron oxide nanoparticles were found as 28.6 and 32.1 mg g-1 for Ni(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were achieved as 0.019 and 0.062 ng mL-1 for Ni(II), 0.041 and 0.14 ng mL-1 for Pb(II), respectively. The proposed method was validated by applying to certified reference materials and successfully applied for the preconcentrations of Ni(II) and Pb(II) ions from water and food samples by ICP-OES.

Development of Hypericum perforatum oil incorporated antimicrobial and antioxidant chitosan cryogel as a wound dressing material.

In this study, a herbal infused oil (Hypericum perforatum, HP) incorporated chitosan (CS) cryogel as a wound dressing material was produced in order to be used in wound healing process. The main strategy is to combine the traditional perspective of using medicinal oils with polymeric scaffolds manufactured by an engineering approach to fabricate a potential tissue engineering product that provides both new tissue formation and wound healing. The scaffolds manufactured by cryogelation were soft, spongy, highly porous, physically stable, elastic and could be easily cut in any desired shape. Physicochemical, mechanical and morphological analyzes were used to characterize the produced cryogels. Young modulus of the plain chitosan cryogel was about 21 kPa whereas it increased with increasing HP oil content and became 61 kPa for 20% HP oil ratio. Further, the antimicrobial studies, antioxidant and DNA cleavage effects were investigated. Samples including the highest ratio of oil (CS4) showed the highest DPPH scavenging activity as 69.9%. In addition, 20% HP oil loaded chitosan cryogel demonstrated single strain DNA cleavage activitiy at 500 µg/mL concentration. Antimicrobial studies were applied against seven strains. The lowest activities were obtained against E. hirae and B. cereus, the highest against E. coli and L. pneumophila. This study concluded that the newly developed HP oil loaded chitosan cryogel scaffolds with unique antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are promising candidates to be used in tissue engineering applications as wound dressing for exudative and long-term healing wounds.

Does regression in treatment-induced liver fibrosis reflect noninvasive tests? Assessing treatment results of hepatitis B patients who took potent antiviral drugs for 5 years.

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease may be reversed through treatment, and it is crucial to have a definitive diagnosis of liver fibrosis for this treatment. Aims: In this study, we aimed to determine whether regression of liver fibrosis in naive patients undergoing strong antiviral therapy is reflected in noninvasive tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We systematically reviewed and monitored medical records of patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy for patient qualification. We selected patients with a liver fibrosis score of two or more who had not previously received antiviral treatment. We used previously described formulas to compute the indirect indicators of fibrosis for the patients and noted the values of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), age-platelet index (API), fibrosis index-based 4 factor (FIB-4), AST-platelet ratio index (APRI), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PLT). RESULTS: We found a significant difference between the three measurements for APRI, AAR and FIB-4 scores and MPV and PLT distributions in patients who were administered entecavir and tenofovir (Friedman P < 0.05). In the post-hoc binary comparison for both entecavir and tenofovir, we found significant differences between the baseline measurements and the 3rd- and 5th-year measurements in terms of APRI, AAR, FIB-4, MPV, and PLT. CONCLUSION: Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for the treatment and follow-up of hepatitis B but may not be appropriate in all cases. Non-invasive tests may be effective in monitoring antiviral therapy. We demonstrated that non-invasive tests improved with antiviral therapy, which may be a reflection of treatment-regression in liver histopathology.

Evaluation of pneumatic cavities surrounding temporomandibular joint by cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to detect the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatization in the roof of the glenoid fossa (PRGF) and articular eminence (PAT) by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. MATERIAL AND METHOD: CBCT images of 378 patients (756 TMJ) were analyzed to determine the PRGF and PAT. Twenty-eight patients were excluded due to some reasons such as trauma, degeneration, previous surgical operation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Pneumatization was detected in 297 of 350 patients, but not pneumatization in 53 patients. Age, gender, laterality (unilateral, bilateral) and lacunarity (unilacunar, multilacunar) were recorded. Unilateral types were also noted as right and left localization. Chi-square test was used to evaluate relationship between pneumatization and gender, lacunarity and laterality. RESULTS: PRGF and/or PAT were diagnosed in 491 (70%) TMJ components whom 178 (51%) were male and 172 (49%) were female with mean age of 40.38±18.34 years. In total, 103 (35%) of the patients had unilateral and 194 (65%) patients had bilateral pneumatization. CONCLUSION: CBCT provides reliable and precise images to detect pneumatization surrounding TMJ structure in comparison to 2D images. Evaluation of TMJ components accurately before surgical intervention is crucial to prevent complication or increase the success of therapy.

Effects of iloprost and sildenafil treatment on elabela, apelin-13, nitric oxide, and total antioxidant and total oxidant status in experimental enzyme-positive acute coronary syndrome in rats.

Despite significant advances in medicine, mortality due to cardiovascular disease is not yet preventable. We investigated the amounts of elabela (ELA) and apelin, synthesized by cardiomyocytes, and changes of these compounds in cardiac tissue and circulation after administration of iloprost (ILO) and sildenafil (SIL) in rats with induced myocardial ischemia (MI). We also investigated a connection with circulating troponin-I, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and nitric oxide (NO), and total anti-oxidant (TAS)/total oxidant status (TOS). We established eight study groups of five rats each. Group 1, sham, was given only physiologic serum; group 2, ILO; group 3, SIL; group 4, ILO + SIL; group 5, MI; group 6, MI + ILO; group 7, MI + SIL; group 8, MI + ILO + SIL. Troponin-I, CK, CK-MB and TAS-TOS were investigated using an autoanalyzer. NO, ELA and apelin were analyzed by ELISA. Tissue apelin and ELA expressions and localizations were determined by immunohistochemistry. The MI group compared to the control (sham) group showed that ELA, apelin, troponin-I, CK, CK-MB, NO and TOS levels were elevated significantly. Concentrations of these factors increased in MI, but decreased after ILO and SIL administration. The largest decrease of TOS was identified in the ILO + SIL group. ELA and apelin may be novel indicators of MI and administration of ILO and SIL, individually or together, may be useful for treating MI.

A magnetized fungal solid-phase extractor for the preconcentrations of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) before their quantitation by ICP-OES.

The fungus Bovista plumbea immobilized on γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles is shown to be a novel sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extractions of U(VI) and Th(IV). The biosorbent was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and EDX. The effects of pH value, flow rate and volume of sample, amounts of biomass and support material, eluent type, foreign ions and repeated use of the sorbent on extraction efficiency were investigated. The sorption capacities are 41 and 44 mg g-1, respectively, for U(VI) and Th(IV). The results indicated that B. plumbea immobilized onto γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles can be utilized as a novel material for the preconcentrations of U(VI) and Th(IV) in certified materials and in spiked tap, river and lake waters. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a method for preconcentrations of Th(IV) and U(VI) ions using γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles loaded with the fungus Bovista plumbea.

Immunostaining characteristics of irisin in benign and malignant renal cancers.

We investigated the expression of irisin in renal cancers using immunocytochemistry. Irisin has been reported to exhibit anticancer properties. The study groups consisted of 22 cases each of control renal tissue, oncocytoma, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC), clear cell RCC (Fuhrman nuclear grades 1, 2, 3 and 4) and papillary RCC. We evaluated 10 slides for each of 176 cases. Slides were immunostained for irisin and histoscores were calculated for the prevalence and strength of immunostaining. Fuhrman nuclear grade 1, 2, 3 clear cell RCC and papillary RCC exhibited no irisin immunoreactivity. Irisin immunoreactivity was observed in some Fuhrman nuclear grade 4 RCCs. We found a significant decrease in irisin staining in chromophobe RCC compared to the control. Immunoreactivity in the oncocytoma tissue was comparable to the control group. Irisin immunoreactivity in chromophobe RCC decreased and no immunoreactivity was observed in Fuhrman nuclear grade 1, 2, 3 clear cell RCC and papillary RCC. Immunistochemical screening of irisin in renal oncocytomas and renal cancers may be useful for differential diagnosis.