Protective Effects of the Nuclear Factor Kappa B Inhibitor Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate on Experimental Testicular Torsion and Detorsion Injury

Testicular torsion results with the damage of the testis and it is a surgical emergency. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a low-molecular-weight antioxidant and potent inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PDTC to testicular torsion-detorsion (T/D) injury. Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four groups. A sham operation was performed in group I. In group II, torsion is performed 2 hours by 720 degree extravaginally testis. In group III, 4 h reperfusion of the testis was performed after 2 h of testicular torsion. In group IV, after performing the same surgical procedures as in group III, PDTC (100 mg/kg, intravenous's) was administered before 30 min of detorsion. The testes tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT) level was evaluated. Histological evaluations were performed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Testicular tissue MDA levels were the highest in the T/D groups compared with treatment group. Administration of PDTC prevented a further increase in MDA levels. Significant decrease occurred in CAT and SOD levels in treatment group compared with the control group. The rats in the treatment group had normal testicular architecture. The results suggest that PDTC can be a potential protective agent for preventing the biochemical and histological changes related to oxidative stress in testicular injury caused by testis torsion.

estimation of cerebral asymmetries in schizophrenia by the Cavalieri principle

To demonstrate hemispheric asymmetry in patients with schizophrenia using a cheap, simple stereologic method on the basis of standard CT scans of the brain. To demonstrate hemispheric asymmetry, standard CT scans of 30 schizophrenic patients [14 males, 16 females] were compared with 39 [13 male, 26 female] control subjects at Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey in 2005. Brain volumes were investigated by using a cheap, simple stereologic method, namely, Cavalieri. In patients with schizophrenia, we found that as age increases, right and left hemisphere volumes decrease. However, in the control group there was no relationship found between age and hemisphere volumes. In the control group, the left hemisphere was significantly bigger in males compared to females. There was a significant difference in both right and left hemisphere volumes between the control group and the schizophrenic group. In the schizophrenic group, a significant difference was observed in right hemisphere volumes between genders [p = 0.002], while there was no difference in the control group. There was a difference in left hemisphere volumes between genders in both groups. Right and left hemispheric volumes of the schizophrenic group were smaller than those of control group. Cerebral asymmetry is an arguable subject for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The method that we used in this study will be useful in estimating hemispheric volumes

protective effect of N[G]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and insulin on nitric oxide inhibition and pathology in experimental diabetic rat liver

To determine on protective role of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester L-NAME, and insulin on the liver in streptozotocin STZ induced diabetic rats. This study was performed in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey in 2007. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups. These were untreated, diabetic control, STZ+insulin, STZ+L-NAME and STZ+insulin+L-NAME induced groups. The STZ was intraperitonally injected into 3 groups, and includes insulin, L-NAME, and their joint administrations as protective agents. The blood glucose and nitric oxide NO levels were determined. The tissue samples were obtained at the end of the fourth week. The liver tissue distortions were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The serum glucose level was significantly higher in diabetic control p = 0.000, than the untreated group. Nitric oxide level was significantly lower in STZ+L-NAME p = 0.000 than the untreated group. The focal pseudo lobular structures without vena centralis increased portal fibrillary necrosis, and bile duct stenosis with coagulation necrosis of the peripheral hepatocytes were more observed in diabetic group than the protective agent groups. In addition, insulin, and L-NAME lead to hepatocyte regeneration; and minimal mononuclear cell infiltration was noted. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester inhibits NO level in STZ+L-NAME induced group. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester either alone, or with insulin combination significantly attenuates the liver morphological disarrangements in STZ induced diabetic rats