The Effect of High Dose Methylprednisolone on Experimental Ovarian Torsion/Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Purpose: Aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of high dose methylprednisolone on experimental ovarian torsion-detorsion injury in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (ischemia group, 8 rats) were subjected to left adnexal torsion for 2 h but received no treatment. Group 2 (methylprednisolone group, 8 rats) were subjected to left adnexal torsion for 2 h and received methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally) at the end of a 2-hour ischemic period followed by 24-hour reperfusion. Group 3 (control group, 6 rats) underwent a sham operation with no adnexal torsion and no treatment. Results: Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), total oxidant status (TOS) and tissue MDA levels were increased in Group 1 rats; total antioxidant status (TAS) levels and oxidative stress index (OSI) were significantly decreased compared with rats in Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). MDA, IMA, TOS and tissue MDA levels were lower and TAS levels and OSI were higher in Group 3 compared to Group 2. Ovarian damage scores in Group 1 were significantly higher compared with Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that high dose methylprednisolone reduces ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Characterization of interlayer Cs+ in clay samples using secondary ion mass spectrometry with laser sample modification.

Ultraviolet laser irradiation was used to greatly enhance the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) detection of Cs(+) adsorbed to soil consisting of clay and quartz. Imaging SIMS showed that the enhancement of the Cs(+) signal was spatially heterogeneous: the intensity of the Cs(+) peak was increased by factors up to 100 for some particles but not at all for others. Analysis of standard clay samples exposed to Cs(+) showed a variable response to laser irradiation depending on the type of clay analyzed. The Cs(+) abundance was significantly enhanced when Cs(+)-exposed montmorillonite was irradiated and then analyzed using SIMS, which contrasted with the behavior of Cs(+)-exposed kaolinite, which displayed no Cs(+) enhancement. Exposed illitic clays displayed modest enhancement of Cs(+) upon laser irradiation, intermediate between that of kaolinite and montmorillonite. The results for Cs(+) were rationalized in terms of adsorption to interlayer sites within the montmorillonite, which is an expandable phyllosilicate. In these locations, Cs(+) was not initially detectable using SIMS. Upon irradiation, Cs(+) was thermally redistributed, which enabled detection using SIMS. Since neither the illite nor the kaolinite is an expandable clay, adsorption to inner-layer sites does not occur, and either modest or no laser enhancement of the Cs(+) signal is observed. Laser irradiation also produced unexpected enhancement of Ti(+) from illite and kaolinite clays that contained small quantities of Ti, which indicates the presence of microscopic titanium oxide phases in the clay materials.

Prevalence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension in a Turkish population (Trabzon city).

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Trabzon city, Turkey, using standardized diagnostic criteria, and to evaluate associated factors. METHODS: A total of 3000 eligible study subjects were selected. Of those, 2646 subjects participated in the study. Individuals aged > or =20 years were selected from their family health cards and were invited to the health station. Anthropometric and demographic data were obtained for each subject. Plasma glucose was measured by an autoanalyser. People without previously diagnosed diabetes were categorized according to WHO diagnostic criteria as follows. Diabetes: a fasting plasma glucose (FPG)> or =140 mg/dl or 2-h plasma glucose > or =200 mg/dl after a 75-g oral glucose load. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetes in those > or =20 years of age was 6.0% (n=160). Among diabetic subjects, 69 were newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and FPG were higher in diabetic subjects than in non-diabetic subjects. The prevalence of diabetes showed significant association with increased age (P<0.0001). The overall prevalence of obesity was 19.2%. The combined prevalence of both overweight and obesity was 60.6%. The prevalence of obesity was 27.4% among women and 10.7% among men (P<0.0001). Prevalence of diabetes increased with degree of obesity (P<0.0001). The rate of obesity in diabetic subjects was 35.6%. In the study population as a whole, the prevalence of obesity increased with age, being highest in the 50-59 years age group, but lower again in the 60+ age group. Prevalence of SBP> or =140 mmHg was 12.0% and of DBP> or =90 mmHg was 8.2%.

Thyroid function tests in pregnant women with and without goiter in the eastern Black Sea region.

Maternal thyroid function was investigated in 29 pregnant women with goiter and 51 pregnant women without goiter in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, which is an endemic goiter area. Ten women with goiter and 10 healthy women without goiter were used as controls in the study. In all of the pregnant women, increased concentrations of total and free thyroxine, total and free tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine-binding globulin were found. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels showed a decrease in pregnant women without goiter compared with non-pregnant women without goiter.

Relationships between serum free fatty acids and zinc, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a research note.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between serum free fatty acids (FFA) and zinc, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Forty eight children with ADHD (33 boys, 15 girls) were included in the patient group and 45 healthy volunteer children (30 boys, 15 girls) constituted the control group. The mean serum FFA level in the patient group was 0.176 +/- 0.102 mEq/L and in control group, 0.562 +/- 0.225 mEq/L (p < .001). The mean serum zinc level of patient group was 60.6 +/- 9.9 micrograms/dl and that of the control group, 105.8 +/- 13.2 micrograms/dl (p < .001). A statistically significant correlation was found between zinc and FFA levels in the ADHD group. These findings indicate that zinc deficiency may play a role in aetiopathogenesis of ADHD. Although we observed decreased FFA levels in ADHD cases, it is necessary to determine whether this condition is a principal cause of ADHD or is secondary to zinc deficiency.