Effects of Bioactive Pulp-capping Materials on Cell Viability, Differentiation, and Mineralization Behaviors of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells In Vitro.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of bioactive pulp-capping materials on human dental pulp stem cell (hDPSC) behavior in terms of cell viability and bioactivity via mineralization potential. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Nanoparticles of 58S5 bioactive glass (nBG) powder were elaborated by a sol-gel process. Primer hDPSCs were cultured with experimental nBG, Biodentine, TheraCal LC, and ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) extracts. Cell viability was measured for 1, 3, and 7 days by water-soluble tetrazolium salts (WST-1) assay. Expression of mineralization-related marker genes (dentin sialophosphoprotein [DSPP] and osteocalcin [OCN]) was quantified by a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Detection of DSPP protein expression in hDPSCs was also assessed by western blotting. Alizarin red staining was used to detect the formation of mineralized nodules, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was quantified by a photometric method (days 7 and 14). All data were statistically analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post-hoc test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The cell viability of hDPSCs in all groups decreased except for nBG, and the lowest cell viability was determined in TheraCal LC at all incubation times. nBG and MTA showed significantly higher ALP activity than the control group. The tested materials elevated the calcium nodule form of hDPSCs except for TheraCal LC. The highest DSPP expression was seen in nBG for both incubation times. CONCLUSION: nBG promotes differentiation and mineralization of hDPSCs at a higher rate than other bioactive pulp-capping materials tested.

Dexpanthenol and ascorbic acid ameliorate colistin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Colistin is a potent antibiotic which is mainly preferred in the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacilli. However, due to the increased risk of acute kidney injury following its use, the clinical application is limited. This nephrotoxicity is known to be induced by oxidative stress and related inflammation. In this study on rats, potent antioxidants Dexpanthenol (DEX) and Ascorbic acid (Vit C) have been administered in combination with Colistin to find out whether they would weaken Colistin's nephrotoxic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inflammation biomarkers were studied with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and oxidative stress biomarkers were studied with different photometric methods in blood and tissue samples taken after treatment with DEX and Vit C in rats with colistin nephrotoxicity. In addition, inflammation and necrosis in the kidney tissues were examined pathologically. RESULTS: It has been observed in the serum and tissue samples that DEX and Vit C decrease oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers, therefore acting as nephroprotective agents. CONCLUSIONS: These compounds have been found to ameliorate the nephrotoxic effects of Colistin, which were demonstrated in the rats treated with Colistin, as well as the combinations.

Integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral treatments decrease oxidative stress caused by HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: Several chronic illnesses, including HIV infection are associated with oxidative stress. In addition to HIV itself, some antiretrovirals also increase oxidative stress while decreasing viral replication. To investigate the alterations in oxidative stress parameters and thiol-disulphide homeostasis in people living with HIV who were receiving integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty treatment-naive adult people living with HIV were prospectively enrolled in the study. Sera were collected from patients twice: at the beginning of antiretroviral therapy (group 1) and 6 months later (group 2). Thirty age-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study as the control group (group 3). Serum levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidative status (TOS) were determined using an automated measurement method. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels were measured spectrophotometrically. CD4+ T-cells were counted flow cytometrically. A mathematical equation was used to calculate the oxidative stress index (OSI) and determine disulfide levels (DIS). RESULTS: TOS, OSI, MDA, and PC levels were significantly increased in treatment-naive people living with HIV than in those receiving ART (p<0.001). Total and native thiol were significantly lower in both HIV-infected groups than in the control group (p<0.001). PC and MDA levels were significantly higher in both HIV-infected groups than in the control group (p<0.001). In correlation analysis, MDA and age were negatively correlated, whereas TAS was positively correlated with CD4+ T-cell count in treatment-naive people living with HIV. Age was positively correlated with TOS (r:0.421, p:0.023) in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral treatments decrease the oxidative stress caused by HIV infection and may be a good therapeutic option in people living with HIV.

Investigation of DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in synthetic cannabinoid users.

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) among youth has become an important public health problem. Several life-threatening side effects of SC have been reported, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, renal, metabolic, ophthalmologic, and pulmonary effects, besides skin toxicity and hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Given that high levels of SC can lead to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, it has been aimed in this study to investigate the effects of SC in aspects of primary DNA damage, plasma total oxidant status (TOS)/total antioxidant status (TAS), thiol-disulfide homeostasis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) level, and cytokine levels (interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)) of 40 SC users (SCUs) in Turkey. RESULTS: Mean plasma TOS levels were significantly higher in the SCUs group than in the healthy group (HG). Similarly, mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage, plasma TOS, MPO activity, disulfide, oxidative stress index levels, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the SCU group than in the HG, whereas plasma TAS, total, and native thiol levels were significantly lower in the SCU group than in the HG. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that SC can cause increase in oxidative stress and in inflammatory processes in addition to its potential for DNA damage. Additional studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations should be held to understand more specific outcomes of SC use.

Comparison of Single Antigen Bead-Based, Cell-Based, and Solid Phase-Based Crossmatch Methods.

AIM: Antibody assessment during pretransplantation term is important to detect donor specific antibodies. These donor-specific antibodies are determined by various crossmatch methods (flow cytometric [FCXM], complement-dependent cytotoxic [CDCXM], and Luminex [LMXM]). Recently, single antigen bead (SAB) assays have been used for the assessment of hypersensitized patients. The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity and specificity of the 3 crossmatch methods in reference to the SAB method. METHOD: In this study, 69 hypersensitized patients with high class I and/or class II panel reactive antibodies were tested using the flow cytometric SAB method. Serum samples were cross-matched by 3 crossmatch methods with the cells of a volunteer healthy individual, and the results were evaluated according to HLA and cross-reactive epitope groups (CREGs). RESULTS: Sensitivity was found to be better with T FCXM (0.91) and class I LMXM (0.87). Specificity of peripheral blood lymphocyte CDCXM method (1.0) was found to be better than the other 2 methods (0.33 and 0.57, respectively). Sensitivity of class II LMXM (0.88) was found to be better than the others (0.42 for B CDCXM and 0.82 for B FCXM, respectively). The specificity of the B CDCXM, B FCXM, and class II LMXM was similar (0.44, 0.44, and 0.33, respectively). CREGs results were similar to HLA results. CONCLUSION: Although CDCXM has high specificity for the detection of anti-HLA antibodies, it has low sensitivity. To increase sensitivity, FCXM or LMXM methods may be used with the CDCXM test. These results will be beneficial for laboratories and clinicians during graft survival and patient health assessment.

Investigation of Anti-HLA Antibodies of Highly Sensitized Patients by Single Antigen Bead and C1q Tests.

PURPOSE: The single antigen bead (SAB) test contributes to conventional cellular and solid phase crossmatch tests in renal transplantation. However, the determination of anti-HLA antibodies of the patients may not reflect the pathologic features of these antibodies. Highly sensitized patients produce antibodies against a number of HLAs; therefore, their transplantation chance decreases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate SAB and C1q test results of highly sensitized patients. METHOD: In this study, 33 end-stage renal failure patients with >80% panel reactive antibody were included. Of the patients, 58% (n = 19) were female, and 42% (n = 14) were male. The mean age was 46.2 ± 12.4. All of the serum samples were inactivated by heat before use. SAB and C1q tests were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: We obtained statistically significant results between the positive bead counts and raw mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values of 2 tests (P < .01 for class I and II). There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 tests in terms HLA-A, -C, -DR, and -DP MFI values, whereas HLA-B and -DQ MFI values were similar for the 2 tests. CONCLUSION: The difference of raw MFI values between the 2 tests may be due to the fact that the C1q test detects only IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies, whereas the SAB test can detect all IgG subtypes. We considered that anti-HLA-B and -DQ antibodies have high complement-fixing features; these antibodies should be investigated selectively due to the similarity of anti-HLA-B and -DQ antibody MFI values in the 2 tests.

A Comparative Study: Flow Cytometry, Complement-dependent Cytotoxicity, and Luminex Methods.

AIM: The cell-based flow cytometric and bead-based Luminex crossmatch methods have been used alongside the standard complement-dependent cytotoxic crossmatch (CDCXM) test to detect donor specific anti-HLA antibodies. In this study, it was aimed to compare flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXM), CDCXM, and Luminex donor-specific crossmatch (LM-XM) tests for pre-transplant assessment of patients who applied to Tepecik Education and Research Hospital for kidney transplantation from related or deceased donors. METHOD: HLA tissue typing of 1120 patients were tested using the sequence specific oligonucleotide probe method with low resolution. FCXM and LM-XM were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The CDCXM test was performed according to the standard procedure. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, United States). P < .05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: FCXM, CDCXM, and LM-XM tests were performed on 58.2% (n = 652), 91% (n = 1019), and 55.4% (n = 620) of 1120 patients. There were statistically significant differences between FCXM/CDCXM, LM-XM/CDCXM, and FCXM/LM-XM (P < .0001), although there was also a moderate correlation between them (for class I, r = .599, r = .693, and r = .507; for class II, r = .546, r = .471, and r = .495, respectively). The results obtained according to donor type were compatible with the total study group. CONCLUSION: The utilization of FCXM and/or LM-XM tests together with the CDCXM method before kidney transplantations from related and/or deceased donor may facilitate the determination of target cells of donor-specific antibodies or their antibody class, which may increase the success of transplantation.

Effects of subcutaneous melatonin implants and short-term intravaginal progestagen treatments on estrus induction and fertility of Kivircik ewes on seasonal anestrus.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of estrus induction and fertility by using subcutaneous melatonin (MEL, T1) and short-term intravaginal medroxyprogesteronacetate plus pregnant mare serum gonadotropin treatments (sMAP+eCG, T2) in ewes on seasonaly anestrus. In this study, 105 mature clinically healthy Kivircik ewes in anestrus season and 4 rams were used. After synchronization applications, ewes exhibiting estrus signs were hand-mated with rams known to be fertile. Blood samples were collected at different times in order to determine progesterone (P4) concentrations. Results showed that estrus manipulation protocols induced significant improvement in pregnancy rate. All the fertility results obtained with the sMAP+eCG or MEL groups were similar, in seasonal anestrus. The efficacy duration of P4 in the MEL group was longer than that in short-term progestagen group. Plasma P4 concentrations was significantly different between the first (I) and last (III) measurement days (p0.01). Increase in P4 concentration in T2 group was faster than that in T1 group, and blood P4 concentrations at higher levels could successfully be achieved by using any of the protocols in this study during the seasonal anestrus. In conclusion, according to the results obtained, the hormone application groups received very high estrus response. In addition, the twin ratio was found to be higher in T1 group compared to those determined in the other groups (T2 and Control group). Furthermore, plasma P4 concentrations and high birth rates were obtained in ewes in T1 and T2 groups. These procedures can be considered a good alternative to traditional procedures due to its flexibility under field conditions.

Effects of melatonin implantation on the fertility potentials of Kivircik and Charollais ewes and rams during the non-breeding season.

This study examined the effect of melatonin implantation during the non-breeding season on the reproductive performance of ewes and the testicular dimensions of rams. In seasonally anestrus Kivircik and Charollais ewes and rams were subjected to melatonin. Estrus response was significantly higher in treated than control ewes of both breeds (p<0.001). The pregnancy rate was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the control than in the treated animals. The twinning rate was significantly lower in melatonin implanted Kivircik than Charollais ewes (p<0.05). The testicular dimensions after 42 days of melatonin treatment increased in both breeds. Scrotal length (SL) increased in Kivircik and Charollais rams (p<0.01). The increase in scrotal circumference (SC) was more marked in the Charollais (P<0.01) than in the Kivircik rams. There was a large increase in testicular volume (TV) in both Kivircik (p<0.01) and Charollais (p<0.001) rams. This study shows that melatonin implants can be applied to induce estrus in ewes approximately four months earlier than breeding season. Melatonin implantation in the non-breeding season significantly increased testicular dimensions in Kivircik and Charollais rams thus increasing their reproductive potential.

Leucemia inhibitory factor; investigating the time-dependent effect on viability of vitrified bovine embryos.

Leucemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is involved in various reproductive processes, including sperm development, regulation of ovulation, as well as blastocyst formation, hatching and implantation in embryos. Moreover, LIF has also been shown significantly to enhance the blastocyst formation rates of bovine embryos, a finding that remains controversial. Our purpose was to investigate time-dependent effect of LIF on bovine embryo culture, especially in terms of addition timing. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in five different groups. In this study, 100 ng/ml LIF was added to the culture medium were as follows; control: SOF alone, group A: at day 0 (fertilization day), group B: at day 4 post-insemination (p.i.), group C: at day 4 to 7 (p.i. before vitrification) and group D: at day 8 (p.i. after thawing). Addition of LIF to the culture medium at day 4 significantly increased the percentage of blastocyst rate when compared day 0, day 4 at 6/7 and control group (41.8% versus 24.3%, 19.7%, 34.6%). In conclusion, the addition of LIF only on day 4 (p.i.) to the culture medium was found to be beneficial for bovine embryonic development based on several measures, including blastocysts rate, re-expansion rate and cellular cryotolerance after vitrification.

Comparison of sexual performance and testicular characteristics of melatonin treated Kivircik and Charollais rams during the non-breeding season / Comparação de desempenho reprodutivo e características testiculares de carneiros Kivircik e Charollais tratados com melatonina durante a estação não reprodutiva

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of melatonin implantation on basic testicular characteristics and reproductive performance of Kivircik and Charollais rams and ewes during the non-breeding season. In this study, 8 Kivircik and 6 Charollais rams were used. Rams were implanted with 54 mg melatonin according to the manufacturer's instructions. At melatonin implantation and at ram introduction the reproductive performance and testicular characteristics were evaluated. Throughout the experimental period, rams were permanently kept outdoors under conditions of natural day length and at ambient temperature. The effects of exogenous melatonin treatments on the reproductive performances of rams and ewes, estrus response, pregnancy rate, litter size and twinning rate of ewes were evaluated in all groups. Libido values were significantly higher in Charollais rams compared to Kivircik rams (P<0.001). Testicular volume (TV) was increased in both ram breeds. Scrotal length (SL) was also increased in both Kivircik and Charollais rams (P<0.01). In conclusion, we showed that the treatment of rams with slow release melatonin implants increased scrotal diameters and testicular volumes in both Kivircik and Charollais rams. Furthermore, melatonin implantation improved the reproductive performances of ewes naturally mated with these melatonin implanted rams during non-breeding season.(AU)

Esse estudo foi conduzido para investigar os efeitos de implantação de melatonina em características testiculares básicas e desempenho reprodutivo de carneiros Kivircik e Charollais durante a estação não reprodutiva. Nesse estudo, oito carneiros Kivircik e 6 Charollais foram utilizados. Foi implantado 54 mg de melatonina nos cordeiros de acordo com as instruções do produtor. Ao implantar a melatonina e à introdução do carneiro, foram avaliados o desempenho reprodutivo e as características testiculares. Ao longo do período experimenta, os cordeiros foram mantidos em ambiente externo sob condições de luz e ritmo circadiano naturais e à temperatura ambiente. O efeito de tratamento com melatonina exógena no desempenho reprodutivo de carneiros e ovelhas, resposta estral, taxa de prenhez, tamanho de ninhada e taxa de gemelaridade foram avaliados em todos os grupos. Valores de libido foram significativamente maiores em Charollais comparados a Kivircik (P<0.001). Volume testicular (VT) estava aumentado em ambas as raças. Comprimento escrotal (CE) também estava aumentado tanto em Kivircik quanto em Charollais (P<0.01). Conclui-se que o tratamento de carneiros com implantes de liberação lenta de melatonina aumentou diâmetro e volume testiculares tanto em carneiros Kivircik quanto em Charollais. Ademais, implantação de melatonina melhorou o desempenho reprodutivo de ovelhas naturalmente cruzadas com esses carneiros implantados com melatonina durante o período não reprodutivo.(AU)

Serum obestatin and omentin levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and accounts for almost 45% of all new patients requiring renal replacement therapy. Omentin and obestatin, two novel proteins were suggested to be associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, we postulated that they may also have an association with diabetic nephropathy which is known to be an independent cardiovascular risk factor. In order to investigate such an association we compared serum omentin and obestatin levels in type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (NA) and macroalbuminuria (MA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 81 type 2 diabetic patients were separated into two groups according to their proteinuria status; patients with NA (n = 39) and patients with MA (n = 42). Two groups were compared in terms of serum omentin and obestatin levels. RESULTS: While s erum omentin levels did not differ among two groups (P = 0.407), serum obestatin levels were significantly higher in MA group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that higher serum levels of obestatin were associated with macro albuminuria suggesting that obestatin may have a role in underlying pathogenic mechanisms that leads to diabetic nephropathy.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of thymoquinone on ceruleine induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on ceruleine induced acute pancreatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 14 male Wistar albino rats were divided into 2 groups as follows: (1) normal saline-treated group and (2) thymoquinone- treated groups. For achieving acute pancreatitis, intraperitoneal (IP) cerulein, a stable cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue, was applied in a 50 mcg/kg dose 2 times in one-hour interval in total. One hour after last ceruleine injection, IP 2 ml/kg isotonic saline solution was applied to the saline group and IP 5 mg/kg TQ was applied. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation 12 h after the last injection of last medication. Blood samples were taken, and serum interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), amylase, lipase pancreatic, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and pancreatic Schoenberg scores were determined. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated for each group. Results are given as mean ± SD. A value of p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. SPSS for Windows v15.0 was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The increased serum amylase, lipase levels and histopathological scoring of pancreatic tissue showed that acute pancreatitis was present in both groups. Furthermore, serum IL-1ß level was significantly reduced in TQ administered group (p < 0.05). Although serum TAC level was high and TOS level was low, those changes were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, OSI index, which was driven from TOS/TAC, was significantly low in TQ groups (p < 0.05). Although TQ partially ameliorated the acute pancreatitis in terms of histopathological evaluations, the main effect of it was brought about by reducing the hemorrhage in acute pancreatitis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, it was shown that TQ can reduce the inflammation and has a positive effect on the oxidative status of organism in inflammatory cases such as acute pancreatitis. This is consistent with partial amelioration of acute pancreatitis in rats given TQ (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 31).

Evaluation of the Relation between Vitamin D and Serum Omentin and Vaspin Levels in Women.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem seen worldwide. Adipokines released from adipose tissue play important roles in the control of appetite and satiety, modulation of body fat distribution, regulation of insulin sensitivity and secretion, control of blood pressure, and regulation of endothelial functions and inflammation. The aim of the present study is to investigate how vitamin D levels affect serum vaspin and omentin levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study design. A total of 77 female volunteers were included in the study, and they were divided into 3 groups according to vitamin D levels. Relation of vitamin D with serum vaspin and omentin levels was determined in these groups. RESULTS: Serum omentin, vaspin and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels differed significantly between the groups (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). Omentin levels correlated significantly and negatively with the vitamin D and vaspin levels, but there was a significant positive correlation between omentin and PTH (r=-0.626, p<0.001; r=-0.867, p<0.001; r=0.461, P<0.001, respectively). A significant positive correlation was detected between vaspin levels and vitamin D, whereas omentin and PTH levels correlated negatively and significantly (r=0.374, p<0.001; r=-0.867, p<0.001; r=-0.374, p=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D may affect the release of adipokines from the adipose tissue, and this effect may be in a negative or positive manner. This effect of vitamin D may probably be mediated via vitamin D receptors exhibited in the adipose tissue, or via mechanisms not identified yet. The results of this study suggested that there was a significant, positive correlation between serum vitamin D levels and vaspin, whereas a significant, negative correlation between vitamin D levels and omentin. Further studies on larger series are needed in order to confirm these results.

Oxidative Status and DNA Damage Following Analgesic Treatment in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: This study is designed to investigate the effect of three different analgesics, used to treat pain in AP, on oxidative stress, DNA damage in mononuclear leukocytes, and on oxidative status. METHODS: This parallel design randomized controlled trial is composed of three treatment arms, intravenous paracetamol, intravenous dexketoprofen, and intravenous tramadol. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis within the study period in the ED. Seventyseven of them were included in the study; 26 patients for the paracetamol group, 24 patients for the dexketoprofen group, and 27 patients for the tramadol group. The mean age of study subjects was 52.73 ± 15.38 and 66% (n = 51) of them were men. At the beginning of the study (before treatment), mean levels of DNA damage, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly higher and TAS was significantly lower in the acute pancreatitis groups than in the control group. DNA damage and OSI in HAPS-positive patients were found to be significantly greater than HAPS-negative patients (p = 0.046). DNA damage and oxidative stress were compared between the three groups. There were no differences between the groups in terms of DNA damage (p = 0.42) and also for the oxidatif stress parameters (OSI,TAS,TOS had p-values of p = 0.26, p = 0.78, p = 0.35, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference between the effects of paracetamol, dexketoprofen, and tramadol, which are commonly used to manage acute pain in AP, on DNA damage in human T-lymphocytes and on serine parameters of oxidative status.

Effect of dietary restriction on sperm characteristic and oxidative status on testicular tissue in young rats exposed to long-term heat stress.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on oxidative status and sperm parameters in rats exposed to long-term heat stress. Forty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2.5 month, were divided into four groups of 10 with respect to feeding and temperature regimen (room temperature (22 °C)-ad libitum, room temperature-dietary restriction (40%), high temperature (38 °C)-ad libitum, high temperature-dietary restriction). At the end of the 9th week, some oxidants (lipid hydroperoxide, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index) and antioxidants (total antioxidant status, sulfhydryl groups, ceruloplasmin, paraoxonase and arylesterase activities) were measured in the testis tissue. The concentration, motility, volume, abnormal sperm count, acrosome and membrane integrity of epididymal spermatozoon and intratesticular testosterone levels were evaluated. High temperature did not change oxidative and antioxidative parameters except for sulfhydryl groups and ceruloplasmin, yet it impaired all sperm values. Neither sperm values nor oxidative status apart from sulfhydryl groups, ceruloplasmin and arylesterase was affected by dietary restriction in the testis tissue. These results suggest that long-term heat stress does not have a significant effect on testicular oxidative status, while the spermatozoa are sensitive to heat stress in young rats. Dietary restriction failed to improve the sperm quality and oxidative status except some individual antioxidant parameters; conversely, it decreased intratesticular testosterone level in the young rats exposed to long-term heat stress.

Parental anxiety and affecting factors in acute paediatric blunt head injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study is designed to investigate the factors affecting parental anxiety regarding their children with head injury in the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled all consecutive paediatric patients admitted to the university-based ED with the presenting chief complaint of paediatric blunt head injury (PBHI). The parents were asked to respond to the 10-item questionnaire during both presentation and discharge. Anxiety and persuasion scores of the parents were calculated and magnitudes of the decreases in anxiety and persuasion scores were analysed with respect to sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The study sample included 341 patients admitted to the ED. The anxiety and persuasion scores of mothers and fathers were not significantly different from each other on presentation while the extent of decrease in anxiety scores of mothers were significantly smaller than that of the fathers (p=0.003). The parents' education levels had significant impact on anxiety and persuasion scores recorded on presentation. The anxiety and persuasion scores were inversely related to education levels of the parents on presentation (p=0.002 and p=0.000, respectively). In addition, lower education levels were found to be associated with a greater decrease in anxiety and persuasion scores. Neurosurgical consultation also affected the magnitude of the decrease in anxiety and persuasion scores of the parents. The changes in the scores were affected negatively by the parents' age. CONCLUSIONS: Radiological investigations had no significant impact on the decrease in anxiety and persuasion scores of the parents by themselves, while neurosurgical consultation had significant impact on them. Emergency physicians should tailor their strategy to institute effective communication with the parents of children to cut down unnecessary investigations in PBHI.

Resorption of a sequestered cervical disc confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging: long term follow-up. Case report.

In literature cervical disc extrusions are considered by most neurosurgeons a definitive indication for surgery. This approach may stem from a fear of disc fragment migration with neurological deterioration. We report a rare case of cervical disc sequestration with a seldom prognosis which resolved spontaneously in a two-month follow-up on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), emphasizing the efficacy and applicability of conservative treatment in cervical disc herniations. Even with the basic conservative treatment methods we observed the prominent decrease in symptoms and spontaneous total resorption of the sequestered fragment. Conservative treatment in sequestered cervical discs with no neurological deficit can be an alternative therapeutic approach with the guidance of MRI.

Hepatic artery resistance in children with obesity and fatty liver.

OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed whether there is a correlation between hepatic artery resistive index (HARI) and increase of body mass index and hepatosteatosis grading in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) reflecting hemodynamic effects of hepatosteatosis. METHODS: Thirty three healthy children [body mass index(BMI): mean+/- standart deviation(SD), min-max: 20.1+/-1.14(18.5-23.7), 33 overweight [BMI:25.1+/-2.2 (18.5-23.7)] and 66 obese [BMI:31.1+/-2(25.6-40)] adolescents were enrolled into the study. To search the relation of HARI with fatty liver degree, study subjects subdivided into groups according to their degree of fatty liver at ultrasonography(US). RESULTS: Increase of HARI was correlated with increase in BMI (p<0.0001, r=0.533). Increase of HARI was well correlated with increase in degree of fatty liver (p<0.0001, r=0.630). CONCLUSION: The present study results suggest that there are positive correlations of HARI with BMI and hepatosteatosis grade in obese children with NAFLD. HARI may be a candidate parameter to determine early alarming hemodynamic changes in hepatic tissue of obese children with fatty liver before development of severe stages NAFLD.