THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ALLOPURINOL IN FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN RATS.

Background: Hyperuricemia is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aim: We therefore aimed at evaluating the influence of allopurinol on the course of NAFLD in rats. Study Design: We divided 21 mature albino Sprague Dawley rats into three groups: controls (n = 7, normal diet for 12 weeks); NAFLD rat models (by feeding water containing 30% fructose for first 8 weeks) treated with allopurinol subsequently for the next 4 weeks (n = 7); and similar case treated with placebo (saline) subsequently for the next 4 weeks (n = 7). Methods: We compared the histopathological scores, IL-1 and IL-2 immunoexpression levels across the groups. Liver histopathological score was determined by observing the steatosis (the percentage of liver cells containing fat): <25% = 1+, 25% - 50% = 2+, 51% - 75% = 3+, >75% = 4+; inflammation and necrosis: 1 focus per low-power field = 1+; and 2 or more foci = 2+. The number of liver IL-1 and IL-2 positive cells was measured by systematically scoring at least 100 hepatocyte cells per field in 10 fields of tissue sections by a magnification of 100. Results: Xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and lipid peroxidation was significantly different in the allopurinol group compared to the saline group (XO; 0.098 ± 0.006 mU/mg vs. 0.162 ± 0.008 mU/mg, p = 0.01, 0.116 ± 0.040 nmol malondialdehyde/mg versus 0.246 ± 0.040 nmol malondialdehyde /mg, p = 0.01). The allopurinol group had lower histopathological scores, IL-1 and IL-2 immunoexpression levels in the liver compared to the saline group (2.13 ± 0.35 against 5.45 ± 0.24, p = 0.003, IL-1; 5.76 ± 0.43 against 12.85 ± 3.26, p = 0.023, IL-2; 8.55 ± 1.14 against 56.23 ± 7.12, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Allopurinol has a therapeutic role against the progression of NAFLD of the rats.

Eye care in intensive care in COVID-19 era: a prospective observational study from Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: There has been an increase in intensive care applications due to respiratory failure of COVID-19 infection. Management of respiratory failure includes a range of additional interventions, including high-flow nasal oxygen, noninvasive and invasive ventilation and prone position. These interventions contain risk factors for the development of ocular complications. This study aimed to elucidate the ocular pathologies that occurred in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who completed 24 hours in the intensive care unit were included in the study. Age, gender, duration of hospitalization before intensive care unit, comorbid diseases and APACHE 2 scores of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care unit were recorded. SOFA scores, presence of sedation and muscle relaxant, oxygen therapy (conventional oxygen therapy, high flow nasal oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation) and presence of prone position were recorded. All patients were evaluated daily for ocular findings. Routine eye care protocol was applied to all patients. RESULTS: Seventy patients were followed for a total of 596 days in the intensive care unit. Pathological ocular findings were observed during hospitalization in 59 of the patients followed. The incidence of chemosis in patients who underwent IMV was significantly higher compared to other methods (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that despite our routine eye care protocols, invasive mechanical ventilation applications predispose corneal surface damage in patients followed up in the intensive care unit with COVID-19 infection.

SCREENING OF PROP-1, LHX2 AND POU1F1 MUTATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH ECTOPIC POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND.

OBJECTIVE: Ectopic posterior pituitary gland (EPP) is usually characterized by an abnormal pituitary stalk and hypoplasia of the anterior hypophysis. The genetic mechanisms involved in the development of EPP remain uncertain. The aim of this study is to determine whether mutations in the three genes, PROP-1, LHX2, and POU1F1, are associated with the risk for and the characteristics of EPP. METHODS: In the Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of "Dr. Behcet Uz" Children's Hospital, 27 patients with EPP were submitted to sequencing analyses of the PROP-1, LHX2, and POU1F1 genes. RESULTS: Growth hormone, thyrotropin, corticotropin, gonadotropin, and vasopressin deficiency were observed in 22 (81.5%), 23 (85.2%), 17 (63%), 14 (51.9%), and two (7.4%) patients. Thirteen patients (48.1%) presented with hyperprolactinemia. Fourteen patients (51%) had a history of birth dystocia, and 12 cases (42.1%) had a history of breech presentation. Central nervous system abnormalities included five cases with corpus callosum agenesis, one case with schizencephaly, and one case with Chiari type 1 malformation. We identified a homozygous p.S109* mutation in exon 2 in one male patient with EPP and two different PROP1 gene polymorphisms (A142T or c.109+3 G>A polymorphism) in thirteen patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PROP1 gene abnormalities might explain the genetic mechanisms involved in the development of EPP.