Ultrastructural evaluation of the effects of cinnamon on the nervus ischiadicus in diabetic rats

To investigate the effects of oral cinnamon supplementation on the nervus ischiadicus at the electron microscopical level in rats. This study was performed between 2004-2006 in Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey in 15 adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were divided into 3 groups: control [C] [n=5], diabetic without cinnamon [D] [n=5], and diabetic with cinnamon [D-C] [n=5]. Diabetes was induced with intraperitoneal alloxan administration. All diabetic rats were treated with human insulin. All rats were fed with standard pellet chow. The D-C group rats were fed with standard pellet chow plus Cinnamomum cassia at the dose of 400 mg/kg. All rats were sacrificed after 3 months and we obtained the nervus ischiadicus of all rats. Contrast stained thin sections evaluated by Jeol-TEM-1010 electron microscope, were not statistically different in both groups and photo samples were obtained. Mean blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and lipid profile were not statistically different in both groups. Marked detachment of myelin lamellae at Schmidt-Lanterman clefts, lysis in cristae mitochondrialis and degenerative changes, severe dispersion of organelles in neurolemma, mesoaxon region, and remarkable edema at the endoneurium were found in diabetic rats. On the contrary, mesoaxon, nucleus, nucleolus and myelin sheet were almost of normal appearance at the ultra-structural level in the D-C group. Cinnamon extracts may have beneficial effects on the development of diabetic neuropathy in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Evaluation of effects of memantine on cerebral ischemia in rats

To evaluate the effects of memantine on infarct size in cerebral ischemia and on neurological outcome after temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion [MCAO] and reperfusion in rats. In this study, performed between 2002-2004 in Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey, 30 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Cerebral ischemia was constituted by the intraluminal filament method with a 4-0 nylon suture. Reperfusion was started after 2 hours of MCAO. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups as control and memantine. Saline 0.9% [0.5 ml/kg] and memantine [30 mg/kg] were administered via nasogastric intubations. Three coronal slices of 2 mm thickness were obtained from cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem, and were stained with a 2% solution of triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Transparent sheets were placed over each section and the areas of the brain and infarct were measured. Forty-five slices from each group [total 90] were obtained. Percent of ischemic area [%] in cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem level in memantine was lower than those of the control group [p=0.0001]. In addition, we determined an improvement in neurological score at 24th and 72nd hours in the rats that have been given memantine. The memantine group showed significantly better recovery than the control group [p=0.0001]. We concluded that memantine may decrease ischemic area in experimental cerebral ischemia in rats and it seems that memantine may be beneficial in cerebral ischemia

6-year prospective surveillance study for healthcare associated infections in a neurology unit

To assess the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections [HAIs] in a neurology unit in a university hospital. The study was carried out prospectively at Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey [1050-bed] between 1st January 1999 and 31st December 2004. Active surveillance for HAIs was performed by the infection control team, using the criteria proposed by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention [CDC] and National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System [NNIS] methodology. During the 6-year follow up period, 219 HAIs episodes were detected in 203 patients out of 3323 in patients. The mean length of stay of patients with HAI was 28 +/- 5 days, while that of patients without infections was 11 +/- 1 days. Eighty-two patients died with HAIs, while 1330 died in the patients without infections. The overall incidence rates [HAI/100] and incidence densities [HAI/1000 days of stay] of HAIs were 6.6% and 4.4/1,000 patients-days. The most common HAIs by primary site were urinary tract infection [44.2%] and decubitus infection [30.4%]. The most prevalent microorganisms were Escherichia coli [27%], Klebsiella species [14%], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [13%], Enterobacter species [12%], coagulase-negative Staphylococci [10%] and Staphylococcus aureus [7%]. The results may contribute to observe the magnitude and characteristics of HAIs and to plan and evaluate policies and guidelines of infection control in neurology units