Preservation of root cementum: a comparative evaluation of power-driven versus hand instruments.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three distinct periodontal treatment methods in comparison with hand instrumentation on residual cementum of periodontal diseased teeth. Cementum can influence the activities of periodontal cells and may play an important regulatory role in periodontal treatment. The ideal method for periodontal therapy involves removal of biofilm, calculus and endotoxin while preserving root cementum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight caries free, single-rooted teeth in patients diagnosed with severe chronic periodontitis were treated using four different methods prior to extraction. The teeth were instrumented subgingivally at one approximal site either by hand curettes (HC), piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers (U), piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers following air polishing (U + AP) or air polishing (AP) alone. Following extraction of teeth, instrumented and non-instrumented sites were analysed with a dissecting microscope and SEM for measurement of the amount of and surface characteristics of residual cementum. RESULTS: The percentage of coronal cementum remaining following subgingival instrumentation was 84% for U, 80% for U + AP, 94% for AP and 65% for HC. Although subgingival instrumentation of apical portions of the cementum demonstrated 6% less retained cementum in comparison with coronal portions, the amount of retained cementum with AP was still significantly greater than with HC. SEM results found the smoothest root surfaces were produced by the HC followed by the AP, while root surfaces instrumented by U or U + AP presented grooves and scratches. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that AP was superior to U devices in preserving cementum, whereas HC were the most effective instruments in removing cementum.

Therapeutic effects of melatonin and quercetin in improvement of hepatic steatosis in rats through supression of oxidative damage.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a cause of cirrhosis, is characterized by fatty infiltration of the liver, inflammation, hepatocellular damage and fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of melatonin and quercetin on CCl4-induced steatosis characterized by fatty infiltration of the liver, inflammation, hepatocellular damage and fibrosis. METHODS: Rats were divided into 5 groups: Ethanol, Olive oil, CCl4, CCl4+Melatonin (CCl4+Mel), CCl4+Quercetin. Rats were sacrificed and livers were removed for being evaluated by histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical methods. RESULTS: In CCI4 group, vacuolization, vascular congestion, haemorrhage, necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration were identified. The mean tissue MDA level was increased, whereas GSH level and SOD and CAT activities were decreased in comparison with ethanol and olive oil groups. MDA levels were decreased in CCI4+Quercetin and CCI4+Mel groups versus CCI4 group. CAT activity of CCI4+Mel group was higher than that of CCI4 and CCI4+Quercetin groups. The mean tissue GSH level of CCI4+Mel group versus CCI4 group was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: By the means of histopathological examination, we suggest that both agents are beneficial against necrotic and apoptotic cell death during steatosis. Thus, melatonin and quercetin might be beneficial in the improvement of hepatic steatosis by supporting conventional therapy in humans (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 53).

Effects of beta-glucan on protection of young and aged rats from renal ischemia and reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the leading causes of acute renal failure which is a common clinical event leading to development of chronic kidney disease and a high mortality; especially in elderly people. ß-glucans are glucose polymer groups with free-radical scavenger, macrophage activator, and immune defense inducer functions. We designed this study to determine the possible protective effects of ß-glucan against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury comparatively in young and aged rats. METHODS: Rats were assigned to the following groups: Young and aged sham, young and aged ischemia-reperfusion, young and aged ß-glucan, young and aged ischemia-reperfusion+ß-glucan. At the end of the experiment, following collection of blood samples, rats were sacrificed and kidneys were removed for histopathological and biochemical examination. RESULTS: Mean tissue histopathological damage scores of young ß-glucan group was lower than that of young ischemia-reperfusion group, and of aged ß-glucan group was lower than that of aged ischemia-reperfusion group. Urea and creatinine levels of young and aged of sham group and ß-glucan administered groups were all lower than those of ischemia-reperfusion and ß-glucan+ischemia-reperfusion groups. Oxidative stress indexes of ischemia-reperfusion groups were increased however ; oxidative stress indexes of ß-glucan administered to young and aged rats were lower than those of ischemia-reperfusion groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ß-glucan is effective to protect kidneys from ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative damage, especially in young rats (Fig. 6, Ref. 45).

Complications of arteriovenous fistula with polytetraflouroethylen grafts in hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: Vessels with high venous flow rate are needed for the application of hemodialysis in patients needing chronic hemodialysis. The increase in the number of chronic hemodialysis patients has led to an increase in the number of vascular surgical operations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of polytetraflouroethylen (PTFE) graft arteriovenous fistula (AVF) applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Files of 596 patients who received hemodialysis treatment at the Nephrology Unit of the Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan State Hospital between September 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. PTFE grafts and autogenous AVFs applied in 22 patients were analyzed, and demographic data and PTFE graft associated complications of these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: We found that the graft patency duration (months ± standard deviation) and the patency after graft revision were 16 ± 13 and 83.3%. Complications were detected in 14 patients (63%). One patient developed hematoma in early stages. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that even if PFTE graft AVF applications cause significant complications, the procedure has a high patency rate after graft revision.

Evaluation of pre- and post-surgical oxidative stress parameters in patients with pulmonary cystic echinococcus.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid cyst secretes numerous immunomodulatory molecules to the host, and the host reacts these molecules by activating immune response. It is also known that, immune cells generally produce more oxidative products. AIM: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant enzyme using catalase (CAT) and oxidant enzyme using lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels in the serum samples before and after the surgical interventions in patients with pulmonary cystic echinococcus (CE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with pulmonary CE who underwent surgery and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled to the study. Patients were divided in two groups; group 1 (n=40) consisted of patients with pulmonary CE, and group 2 (n=40) consisted of healthy subjects. Before and after surgical interventions serum CAT and LOOH levels were measured. RESULTS: Compared to group 2, group 1 had significantly lower CAT and higher LOOH levels before surgery (both p < 0.001). In group 1; CAT levels were significantly increased and LOOH levels significantly increased after the surgical intervention (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that oxidative stress increased in patients with pulmonary CE, may be consequence of immune response of the host, and these levels decreased after the surgical intervention.

Evaluation of the bilateral cardiac afferent distribution at the spinal and vagal ganglia by retrograde labeling.

The identity of sensory neurons innervating the heart tissue and the extent of information reported to the brain via these neurons are poorly understood. In order to evaluate the multidimensional distribution and abundance of the cardiac spinal and vagal afferents, we assessed the retrograde labeling efficiency of various tracers, and mapped the cardiac afferents qualitatively and quantitatively at the bilateral nodose ganglia (NGs) and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). From the five different retrograde tracers evaluated, Di-8-ANEPPQ yielded reproducibly the highest labeling efficiency of cardiac afferents. We demonstrated specific cardiac afferents at NGs and C4 to T11 DRG segments. Next, the 2D reconstruction of the tissue sections and 3D imaging of the whole NGs and DRGs revealed homogeneous and bilateral distribution of cardiac afferents. The quantitative analyses of the labeled cardiac afferents demonstrated approximately 5-6% of the soma in NGs that were equally distributed bilaterally. The neuronal character of Di-8-ANEPPQ labeled cells were validated by coimmunostaning with pan-neuronal marker Tuj-1. In addition, the cell diameters of labeled cardiac sensory neurons were found smaller than 20 µm, implying the nociceptor phenotype confirmed by co-labeling with TRPV1 and Di-8-ANEPPQ. Importantly, co-labeling with two distinct tracers Di-8-ANEPPQ and WGA-647 demonstrated exclusively the same cardiac afferents in DRGs and NGs, validating our findings. Collectively, our findings revealed the cardiac afferents in NGs bilaterally and DRGs with the highest labeling efficiency reported, spatial distribution and quantitation at both 2D and 3D levels, furthering our understanding of this novel neuron population.

Effects of Nigella sativa on apoptosis and GABAA receptor density in cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurons in pentylenetetrazol induced kindling in rats.

We investigated the effects of Nigella sativa on apoptosis and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor density in cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurons in a pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling model in rats. The PTZ kindling model was produced by injecting PTZ in subconvulsive doses to rats on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22 and 24 of the study into animals of PTZ treated (PTZ) and PTZ + N. sativa treated (PTZ + NS) groups. Clonic and tonic seizures were induced by injecting a convulsive dose of PTZ on day 26 of the study. Rats in the PTZ + NS group were treated also with a 10 mg/kg methanolic extract of N. sativa 2 h before each PTZ injection. Rats in the control group were treated with 4 ml/kg saline. The number of neurons that expressed GABAA receptors in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats in the PTZ and PTZ + NS groups increased significantly. There was no significant difference in the number of GABAA receptors between the PTZ and PTZ + NS groups. GABAA receptor density of the neurons in the cerebral cortex, but not hippocampus, was increased in PTZ group compared to controls. We observed a significant increase in the number of apoptotic neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats of both the PTZ and PTZ + NS groups compared to controls. We observed a significant decrease in the number of the apoptotic neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats in the PTZ + NS group compared to the PTZ group. N. sativa treatment ameliorated the PTZ induced neurodegeneration in the cerebral cortex as reflected by neuronal apoptosis and neuronal GABAA receptor frequency.

Optimal wrist position for long and short axis ultrasound guided radial artery cannulation.

BACKGROUND: The radial artery is the most common site for arterial cannulation. Procedures for improving radial artery cannulation have involved direct visualization of the vessel with ultrasonography (US). The aim of this study evaluate the short axis and long axis radial artery measurements at 0º, 45º, 60º wrist joint angle and find out the optimal wrist joint angle for long and short axis US guided radial artery cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee and the study was performed in accordance with the ethical principles for human investigations, as outlined by the Second Declaration of Helsinki. One hundred fifty-two (90 men and 62 women, 18-48 years of age, mean age: 32.9 ± 6.1) healthy volunteers were recruited. The radial artery distance between skin and height, width, area in short axis and radial artery distance between skin and height was measured in long axis at 0º, 45º, 60º wrist joint angle were measured. Results. Short axis radial artery distance between skin, width, height, area and long axis radial artery distance between skin, height were statistically significantly different among 0º, 45º, 60º (p< 0.05; for all comparisons). Short axis width was statistically significantly increased at 45º compared to at 0º (p< 0.001;). Short axis radial artery distance between skin and height at 45º were statistically significantly decreased than at 0º (p< 0.001; for all comparisons) and long axis skin distance and height at 45º were also statistically significantly decreased than at 0º (p< 0.001; for both comparisons). Short axis radial artery skin distance and area at 60º is statistically significantly decreased than at 45º (p< 0.001; for both comparisons) and also long axis height of radial artery at 60º is statistically significantly decreased than at 45º (p< 0.001;). CONCLUSIONS: Angle increment up to 45º might help clinicians for radial artery cannulation in short axis plane whereas this angle increment maneuver decreased the arterial height in long axis which might be a potential disadvantage for cannulation.

Evaluation of ceruloplasmin levels in patients with pulmonary cystic echinococcus.

AIM: In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum CP levels in the serum samples before and after the surgical interventions in patients with pulmonary cystic echinococcus (CE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with pulmonary CE who underwent surgery and 48 healthy individuals were enrolled to the study. Patients were divided in two groups; group 1 (n=48) consisted of patients with pulmonary CE, and group 2 (n=48) consisted of healthy subjects. Before and after surgical interventions serum CP levels were measured. RESULTS: Compared to group 2, group 1 had significantly higher CP levels at baseline (p <0.001). In group 1, CP levels were significantly decreased after the surgical intervention (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that CP levels increased in patients with pulmonary CE; chronic inflammation may cause these rises, and may be an immune response of the host, and these levels decreased after the surgical intervention.