Treatment with crocin suppresses diabetic nephropathy progression via modulating TGF-ß1 and oxidative stress in an experimental model of pinealectomized diabetic rats.

One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic nephropathy (DN). Uncontrolled hyperglycemia leads to histopathologic alterations in the kidney that prevent normal renal function. This study aimed to explore the effects of crocin treatment via virtue of its numerous beneficial properties in streptozotocin-induced pinealectomized diabetic rats. The pinealectomy procedure was conducted on the first day of the study. On the 30th day following pinealectomy, streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in Wistar rats for induction of diabetes. Diabetes was confirmed on the 3rd day following STZ administration by determining the glucose levels. Daily crocin treatment intraperitoneally for 15 days (50 mg/kg) ameliorated impaired renal oxidant/antioxidant balance, reduced TGF-ß1 immuno-staining around tubules, and promoted improvement of renal architecture. Moreover, crocin administration improved altered renal function parameters, including serum Cr and BUN, and also increased creatinine clearance. In conclusion, the protective effects of crocin on diabetic nephropathy might be associated with its powerful antioxidant properties, its ability to improve tissue antioxidant status, and its ability to prevent inflammatory pathways.

The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Muscle Pain, Sprint Performance, and Flexibility in Recovery From Squat Exercise in Young Adult Women.

CONTEXT: Kinesio taping (KT) is a taping technique extensively used in rehabilitation of sports injuries; however, the effect of KT on delayed-onset muscle soreness is not entirely clear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of kinesio tape on the quadriceps femoris on muscle pain, flexibility, and sprint performance after squat exercise. DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 19 female university students (age 21.0 ± 1.2 y, weight 53.0 ± 4.6 kg, height 164 ± 4 cm). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressure-pain threshold for quadriceps femoris was recorded using pressure algometry. Quadriceps femoris flexibility was measured as the range of motion of knee flexion with a stainless steel goniometer. Sprint-speed measurements were conducted using photocells placed at 0 and 20 m. All participants completed both conditions (KT application and no KT application) after a 1-wk washout period. Measurements were taken at baseline and 48 h postexercise. For the KT condition, KT was applied immediately before the exercise protocol and remained on the skin for 48 h. RESULTS: Squat exercise reduced flexibility and increased pain and sprint time compared with baseline. KT application resulted in similar sprint time and muscle pain as the no-KT condition but maintained flexibility compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: KT application immediately before squat exercise has no effect on muscle pain and short sprint performance but maintains muscle flexibility at 2 days of recovery.

The Effects of Different Anaesthetic Techniques on Surgical Stress Response During Inguinal Hernia Operations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the effects of 3 different kinds of anaesthesia on stress response induced by surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients aged between 25-70 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II group to undergo inguinal herniography were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups of 20. Group 1 received general anaesthesia with sevoflurane/air/remifentanil, patients in Group 2 received total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol/air/remifentanil and Group 3 received spinal anaesthesia induced by hyperbaric bupivacaine, adjoined by remifentanil sedation. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate and SpO2 values were recorded preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively at certain periods. Cortisol, leptin and glucose levels were preoperatively detected. Intervals were as; 15 minutes prior to the induction of anaesthesia, at intraoperative first hour and at the postoperative third and twenty-forth hours. RESULTS: MAP and heart rate values were similar in the inhalational anaesthesia and TIVA groups but relatively higher in the spinal anaesthesia group. Blood glucose levels were elevated, insulin levels were decreased in all groups, at the intraoperative first hour. Biphasic variation in blood leptin levels was observed in all groups, as the levels were lower than the preoperative control values at the intraoperative first and postoperative third hours and significantly higher at the postoperative twenty-forth hour. There was a significant decrease in cortisol level percentage change in the TIVA group at the intraoperative 1st hour, increasing in the other groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that TIVA supresses the stress response induced by surgery better by lowering cortisol levels, leading to a lower increase in blood glucose levels and a lower decrease in blood insulin levels when compared to others. Furthermore, leptin levels were increased at the postoperative twenty-forth hour. The lower increase at the postoperative twenty-forth hour in the TIVA group can be correlated with the anaesthetic agent.