The effect of preemptive magnesium sulfate on postoperative pain in patients undergoing mastectomy: a clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of preemptive magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) infusion on perioperative hemodynamics and postoperative analgesia in female patients who underwent mastectomy were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II female patients aged 18 years and over who underwent mastectomy were randomized into 2 groups, including 34 individuals each. The study group (Group I) was given 50 mg/kg MgSO4 in 250 ml isotonic 30 minutes before the induction, and the control group (Group II) was given 250 ml of normal isotonic solution. Standardized anesthesia was applied. Perioperative oxygen saturation, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse (HR), sedation scores (ss) in the recovery unit, Verbal Numeric Rating Scale (VNRS), need for rescuer fentanyl, and analgesic needs in the surgical period were evaluated. RESULTS: Demographic variables were similar. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the MAP, HR, and oxygen saturation values measured at entry, post-intubation, 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th minutes, and after extubation. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of VNRS scores in the recovery unit and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th hours during the postoperative surgical period (p=0.0001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.004, 0.021, respectively). The need for rescue analgesics in the first 2 hours of recovery was found to be lower in the study group (p=0.005). The need for postoperative analgesics in the surgical period was not statistically significant (p=0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive use of MgSO4 reduces postoperative VNRS scores without affecting hemodynamic parameters during induction and maintenance of general anesthesia.

Health needs and access to health care: the case of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Turkey is a principal destination and transit country for refugees from diverse countries. Turkey currently hosts Syrian refugees and provides free access to shelter, education and health care. The aim of this study is to determine the health needs and document the healthcare services available to Syrian refugees in Turkey. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: An examination of the scientific literature, reports and government policies about refugees in Turkey was performed. In addition, literature focussing on the understanding and development of the healthcare needs and systems in crisis situations in Turkey was analysed. RESULTS: The Turkish government has made several regulations for Syrian refugees, which allow them to benefit from emergency care units and primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centres in Turkey's 81 provinces free of charge; the financial costs of these benefits are covered by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. Effectiveness of healthcare services for refugees is limited by language barriers, mobility of the refugees and some legal restrictions. Mental health and rehabilitation services are relatively weak because of the inadequate number of qualified practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: The current migration rules in Turkey do not enable refugees to access all human rights. Because the number of refugees has increased, there has been a subsequent increase in the financial and human resources needed for healthcare services. Multidynamic refugee-friendly systems, the provision of preventive health care (including primary and secondary prevention opportunities) and increasing the number of national and international organisations may help improve the health of refugees.

Association between radionuclides (210Po and 210Pb) and antioxidant enzymes in oak (Quercus coccifera) and mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus).

The activity levels of naturally occurring radionuclides Polonium-210 and lead-210 in different subjects including plant species have direct or indirect impact on human beings. High levels of ionising radiation cause oxidative stress and the interaction between antioxidative defense and radionuclides is not well established in plant systems. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of oxidative stress caused by 210Po and 210Pb in two Mediterranean plants; Quercus coccifera and Pistacia lentiscus. We analysed the constitutive and seasonal levels of 210Po, 210Pb, lipid peroxidation levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities in the field-collected samples. The highest activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were detected in both plants in summer and Q. coccifera had higher levels than that of P. lentiscus. SOD and APX activity trends were different between oak and mastic; as compared to P. lentiscus, Q. coccifera efficiently used the two major components of antioxidative defense. Lipid peroxidation levels were low in both plants in all seasons except that of spring which were in good agreement with high antioxidant enzyme activities. In conclusion, we found that high 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in oak and mastic did not interfere with their growth and life cycles. The ability of both plants for survival and adaptation to Mediterranean environmental constraints provided an additional advantage for coping radionuclide induced oxidative stress as well.

Serum and follicular fluid irisin levels in poor and high responder women undergoing IVF/ICSI.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the follicular fluid (FF) and serum levels of irisin in high and poor responders undergoing IVF/ICSI to test whether irisin has a role in the metabolic regulation of energy homeostasis in growing follicle. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty infertile women with PCOS and 20 poor responder participants undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) with GnRH antagonist protocol for IVF/ICSI treatment were allocated. Blood was obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval. The follicular fluid content of mature follicles was collected from both high and poor responder women. Irisin levels were measured by using EIA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between serum and FF-irisin levels in women with PCOS. (11.18 ± 5.14 µg/mL vs. 11.06 ± 4.93 µg/mL, p < 0.96). In contrast, serum levels of irisin in poor responders were significantly higher than in the FF-irisin levels (13.13 ± 4.27 µg/mL vs. 10.09 ± 4.14 µg/mL, p < 0.01). FF-irisin levels of PCOS subjects were positively and significantly correlated with serum levels of irisin (r: 0.81, p < 0.00). Serum irisin was positively associated with serum levels of total testosterone but was negatively associated with HOMA-IR in the overall patient population. FF-irisin levels were also noted to be negatively correlated with HOMA-IR. Although there is no correlation between serum irisin and AMH levels, FF irisin levels were negatively correlated with serum AMH levels in PCOS subjects. Contrary to PCOS group there were no significant correlation between serum and FF-irisin levels in poor responder group (r: 0.21; p < 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first attempt to explore the role of irisin in oocyte development by measuring FF and serum levels of this molecules in patients with poor and high responders undergoing IVF/ICSI.

Contribution of trehalose biosynthetic pathway to drought stress tolerance of Capparis ovata Desf.

Trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic pathway are important contributors and regulators of stress responses in plants. Among recent findings for trehalose and its metabolism, the role of signalling in the regulation of growth and development and its potential for use as a storage energy source can be listed. The xerophytic plant Capparis ovata (caper) is well adapted to drought and high temperature stress in arid and semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean. The contribution of trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic pathway to drought stress responses and tolerance in C. ovata are not known. We investigated the effects of PEG-mediated drought stress in caper plants and analysed physiological parameters and trehalose biosynthetic pathway components, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS), trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP), trehalase activity, trehalose and proline content in drought stress-treated and untreated plants. Our results indicated that trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic pathway contributed to drought stress tolerance of C. ovata. Overall growth and leaf water status were not dramatically affected by drought, as both high relative growth rate and relative water content were recorded even after 14 days of drought stress. Trehalose accumulation increased in parallel to induced TPS and TPP activities and decreased trehalase activity in caper plants on day 14. Constitutive trehalose levels were 28.75 to 74.75 µg·g·FW(-1) , and drought stress significantly induced trehalose accumulation (385.25 µg·g·FW(-1) on day 14) in leaves of caper. On day 14 of drought, proline levels were lower than on day 7. Under drought stress the discrepancy between trehalose and proline accumulation trends might result from the mode of action of these osmoprotectant molecules in C. ovata.

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on iron-induced liver damage in rats

No disponible

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a natural product with potent anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities, and attenuates inflammation and lipid peroxidation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of CAPE on iron-induced liver damage. Rats were divided into four groups and treated for 7 days with saline (control group), 10 µmol kg CAPE/day s.c. (CAPE group), 50 mg iron-dextran/kg i.p. (IRON group) and CAPE and iron at the same time (IRON+CAPE group). Seven days later, rats were killed and the livers were excised for biochemical analysis. The administration of IRON alone resulted in higher myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lipid peroxidation than in the control and CAPE treatment prevented the increase in MPO activity and malondialdeyde (MDA) level. No differences were observed in all four groups with regards to superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities. Our results collectively suggest that CAPE may be an available agent to protect the liver from injury via inhibition of MPO activity (AU)

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on iron-induced liver damage in rats.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a natural product with potent anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities, and attenuates inflammation and lipid peroxidation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of CAPE on iron-induced liver damage. Rats were divided into four groups and treated for 7 days with saline (control group), 10 micromol kg CAPE/day s.c. (CAPE group), 50 mg iron-dextran/kg i.p. (IRON group) and CAPE and iron at the same time (IRON+CAPE group). Seven days later, rats were killed and the livers were excised for biochemical analysis. The administration of IRON alone resulted in higher myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lipid peroxidation than in the control and CAPE treatment prevented the increase in MPO activity and malondialdeyde (MDA) level. No differences were observed in all four groups with regards to superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities. Our results collectively suggest that CAPE may be an available agent to protect the liver from injury via inhibition of MPO activity.