Silibinin as a promising treatment for diabetes: Insights into behavioral and metabolic changes in an animal model.

Diabetes mellitus is causing serious health problems in the chronic period. Silibinin is a flavonoid obtained from the milk thistle (Silybum marianum), which is among the herbal ethnopharmacological administrations. In studies with silibinin, it has been reported that it increases the activity of pancreatic beta cells and insulin sensitivity and has a hyperglycemia-reducing effect. However, behavioral parameters have not been evaluated together with insulin levels and liver function tests. Our aim in this study was to examine the effects of silibinin on insulin secretion, anxiety-like behaviors, and learning in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat diabetes model. Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 4 groups. Control: Saline solution, Diabetes: STZ 45 mg/kg, S 100: STZ 45 mg/kg + Silibinin 100 mg/kg, S 200: STZ 45 mg/kg + Silibinin 200 mg/kg. Administrations were continued for 21 days. On the 21st day, open field and elevated plus maze as unconditional anxiety tests; Barnes maze for learning and memory; and rotarod test for locomotor activity were conducted. Following behavioral tests, blood samples were taken under anesthesia. Blood glucose levels and ALT values were measured. Insulin levels were measured with an ELISA plate reader. Silibinin shortened the time to find the correct hole. Silibinin prevented the decrease in insulin due to STZ, exhibited a hyperglycemia-reducing effect and decreased the elevation of ALT.

Example of digital exhibition in anthropology and medical education.

Technology brings new opportunities in terms of education and research, and global pandemics such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic require online education-style approaches. Visualisation is of great importance in digitised education. In this study, materials that are of interest to the disciplines of anthropology, dentistry and medicine were selected from the skeletal materials and presented in a virtual exhibition. The mandible samples were digitised by photogrammetric method, and the exhibition was made navigable by using the Unity game engine program. In the exhibition, information on dental and bone physiology and palaeopathology, as well as the mandibles of the skeletons obtained from the excavation area, and information on individuals are presented on informative boards. The exhibition can be visited online with the link provided. In this study, the opinions of 30 students, who visited the exhibition from Faculty of Medicine 3rd-5th classes, were asked to complete an online questionnaire. Results of this questionnaire show that students would like to see more of such digital education methods. Digitising educational presentations enables these exhibitions to transcend physical boundaries and reach a global audience. In addition, the images can be easily examined by anyone who visits and can be evaluated for educational purposes.

The effects of oral carvacrol treatment against H2O2 induced injury on isolated pancreas islet cells of rats.

Pancreatic islet transplantation is an alternative treatment of insulin replacement therapy in diabetes mellitus, but the islets are exposed to many chemical, mechanical damages, and oxidative stress before transplantation. Carvacrol is a well-known essential oil for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiinflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of carvacrol against H 2O 2 induced cellular injury on isolated pancreas islets. After carvacrol (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg/day) treatment, the pancreas islets were isolated by enzyme digestion. The isolated islets were incubated within 0, 150 and 300 µM H 2O 2 containing medium at +4°C for 15 min. Then, the islets were examined with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide mixture stains for viability. A number of islets were stored for lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and DNA fragmentation analysis. The cell viability ratio of Carvacrol 20 mg/kg/day group was increased in comparison to control and vehicle (DMSO) groups. Additionally, carvacrol application protected the cells from lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation induced by H 2O 2. H 2O 2 caused tissue injury and DNA fragmentation. There was only one DNA fragmentation band from islet cells of 20 mg/kg/day carvacrol treated group, however there were more than one bands from control and DMSO groups. In conclusion, carvacrol treatment ameliorates islet cell injury induced by H 2O 2. However, the dose of carvacrol is important and our results suggest that 20 mg/kg/day dose is more effective than doses of 40 or 80 mg/kg/day.