Investigation of the Efficacy of Bevacizumab Treatment in An Experimental Rat Model of Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH), a condition that develops over time, is characterized by inflammation, angiogenesis, and membrane development. As the population's average age increases, the incidence of cSDH is expected to grow. While surgery is the primary treatment technique, medicinal therapy options are being explored for high-risk patients. Currently, the most effective therapy combination is dexamethasone (Dex) and atorvastatin (Ato); however, it is associated with an increased risk of mortality. This study explored the effects of bevacizumab (Bev), a vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist, on cSDH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five rats were divided into four groups (n = 18): sham, control hematoma, Dex-Ato, and Bev. Two separate autologous blood injections into the subdural space were used as the model. Weight was monitored for all rats to assess changes in their overall health. The control group was given i.p. saline, the Dex-Ato treatment was given by gavage, and the Bev treatment was given i.p. On seventh, 14th and 21st days six rats from each group were sacrificed and analyzed, while 23 rats were excluded from the experiment. RESULTS: The maximum immunological response to cSDH was observed on day 14. Hematoma volume decreased over time in all groups. Dex-Ato and Bev were both found effective, while Dex-Ato caused weight loss. CONCLUSION: Bev had similar effects to the Dex-Ato group and was well tolerated by rats. Given that cSDH is a disease of the elderly and vulnerable populations, Bev may be a viable alternative that can shed light on the disease's etiology for future research.

Time-related variations in viability of random pattern skin flaps: An experimental study in rats.

Chronobiological variations are in the fabric of life. The first ideas regarding the possible effects of circadian rhythm on surgical outcomes were published in the early 2000s. Some studies support and oppose this idea. The lack of experimental evidence in a controlled setting has led to this study. This study aimed to explore the chronobiological implications of surgical outcomes. The rats were divided into four groups. A random pattern dorsal skin flaps were elevated in all groups at six h intervals. Flap necrosis rates and melatonin, oxidant, and antioxidant factors were studied. Flap survival was better in the 06:00 h group. The flap necrosis was higher in the 18:00 h group. Some of the biochemical parameters displayed circadian variations. As an independent variable, the time of surgical intervention changed the flap survival rates. It should be noted that the study was held in a nocturnal animal model thus the pattern of flap survival can be in reversed fashion in a clinical scenario. This study is the first experimental evidence for "Chronosurgery" in a controlled setting. Further studies in all aspects of surgical disciplines are required.

Correlation of serum subfatin, cthrc1, ctrp3, ctrp6 levels with disease indices in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate novel biomarkers from the C1q TNF superfamily and evaluate their role in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases with the goal of identifying an effective biomarker to measure clinical disease activity and assess treatment efficacy. METHODS: Sixty-one Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpa) patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The serum biomarkers subfatin, CTHRC1, CTRP3, CTRP6, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α and the disease indices BASDAI, BASFI, MASES, and ASDAS-ESR/CRP were evaluated and compared. The patients were then classified, and their serum biomarkers were assessed according to their ASDAS scores and their treatment regimens. RESULTS: Among the studied biomarkers, none showed a significant difference between the patients and the healthy controls. Although the difference was not statistically significant, the median values of serum subfatin, CTHRC1, CTRP3, CTRP6, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α were all found to be lower in the AxSpa patients than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, once the patients were classified regarding their disease activity, no correlation between the study biomarkers and levels of clinical disease indices was observed. Finally, biological treatments were found to affect the serum concentration of these biomarkers regardless of the level of disease activity. CONCLUSION: Novel adipokines and known modulators of inflammation, circulating subfatin, CTHRC1, CTRP3, CTRP6, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α levels may play a role in assessing treatment efficacy, especially in those treated with TNF-inhibitors. However, we failed to demonstrate a correlation between clinical disease activity and serum biomarker levels.

Association Between Umbilical Cord Levels of Glypican-1, Glypican-3, Syndecan-1, WISP1, Leptin and Birth Weight of Small, Appropriate, and Large for Gestational Age Infants.

BACKGROUND: Many factors are affecting intrauterine growth. The role of Wingless-type (Wnt) inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1), a novel adipokine and placental proteoglycans in intrauterine growth, is not known. We aimed to measure umbilical cord blood levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, WISP1, and placental proteoglycans [glypican-1 (GPC1), glypican-3 (GPC3), and syndecan-1 (SDC1)] which are thought to have an important role in fetal growth and investigate their relation with birth weight. METHODS: Full-term neonates were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study and classified as appropriate for gestational age (AGA), small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) according to their birth weight. Umbilical cord blood levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, WISP1, GPC1, GPC3, and SDC1 were measured. RESULTS: Leptin levels were higher in LGA newborns compared to AGA and SGA newborns, while WISP1, GPC1, GPC3, and SDC1 levels were not different between the three groups. Leptin and GPC1 levels were higher in infants of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to infants of non-diabetic mothers, while WISP1, GPC3, and SDC1 were not different between the groups. Leptin was positively correlated with insulin, birth weight, and maternal weight. While there was a strong correlation between the WISP1, GPC1, GPC3, and SDC1 levels; there was no correlation between the birth weight, maternal weight, glucose, insulin, and WISP1, GPC1, GPC3, and SDC1 levels. CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord blood levels of GPC1, GPC3, SDC1, and WISP1 were not different between SGA, AGA, and LGA infants. The significance of serum levels of these adipokines and proteoglycans remains to be elucidated.

Could ferritin, vitamin B12, and vitamin D play a role in the etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome?

Introduction. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) comprises general body pain, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. Vitamin B12 (VB), vitamin D (VD), and iron deficiencies lead to similar complaints. First, this study aimed to evaluate the VB, VD, and ferritin levels of patients with FS. Second, it aimed to investigate whether there was a relationship between these parameters and FS severity. Material and methods. The study included 58 female patients with FS and 58 healthy females as a control group. The patients completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), fatigue questionnaire, Pittsburgh sleep quality scale, and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). This study examined the VD, VB, and ferritin levels of the patient and control groups. Results. The VB (240.0 [110.0-394.0] vs 291.0 [210.0-609.0] pg/ml, p<0.001), VD (12.5 [3.0-45.0] vs 20.0 [5.0-54.0] ng/ml, p=0.013), and ferritin levels (21.2 [4.0-86.0] vs 32.0 [7.1-120.0], ng/ml, p=0.009) of the FS patients were determined to be significantly lower than those of the control group. A negative correlation was determined between the number of tender points and VB, VD, and ferritin levels. In the regression analysis, we found low ferritin levels (odds ratio [OR] 1.036, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.015-1.058, p<0.001) and VB (OR 1.010, CI 1.002-1.018, p=0.010) to be an independent risk factor for FS. Conclusions. There may be a relationship between VB, VD, and ferritin levels and the number of tender points in patients with FS. Levels of iron and VB may play a vital role in FS etiopathogenesis. However, VD levels may not be a risk factor for FS etiopathogenesis.

The relationship of serum visfatin levels with clinical parameters, flow-mediated dilation, and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background/aim: Atherosclerotic heart diseases can occur at an early age in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) values are reliable markers for early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with AS. We aimed to investigate the relationship between visfatin levels and indirect markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with AS. Materials and methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed with AS and 42 age, sex, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were included in the study. Visfatin levels, FMD, and cIMT were measured using appropriate methods. Results: Visfatin levels of the patients were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.001). FMD values in patients with AS were significantly lower (p = 0.007) whereas cIMT were significantly higher than the controls (p = 0.003). There was a negative relationship between FMD with visfatin levels (p = 0.004), BASDAI (p = 0.010), and BASFI (p = 0.007). There was a positive relationship between cIMT with visfatin (p = 0.005), BASDAI (p < 0.001), and BASFI (p < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between visfatin with BASDAI (p < 0.001), and BASFI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Visfatin levels are increased and associated with impaired FMD and increased cIMT in patients with AS. Increased visfatin levels may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in AS.

A novel marker relationship between carotid intima media thickness and disease activity score-28 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Human endothelial cell-specific molecule-1.

Background/aim: Human endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) is a marker of vascular endothelial dysfunction that may be used in the evaluation of inflammatory-associated atherosclerotic lesions. Endocan may be a marker for the evaluation of atherosclerosis and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Materials and methods: We included 39 RA patients assessed according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatology 2010 diagnostic criteria and recruited 30 age- and sex-matching healthy subjects for the control group. Results: Endocan values were 14.11 ± 3.27 for the RA patients and 12.10 ± 2.92 for the controls. The endocan values of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P = 0.009). In the correlation analysis, endocan showed a significantly positive correlation with disease activity score-28 (r = 0.386, P = 0.029) and carotid intima­media thickness (cIMT) (r = 0.419, P = 0.008). Linear regression analysis revealed that there was an independent relationship between endocan and cIMT (P = 0.029). Conclusion: Endocan can be a marker for early atherosclerosis and disease activity in RA patients.

Alteration of Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis in Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is an extra-articular rheumatological disease, characterized by widespread pain and somatic symptoms. The etiology has not yet been clarified. Oxidative stress may play an important role in FMS etiology. Thiol group is a very strong antioxidant. We aimed to investigate whether thiol/disulfide homeostasis in FMS is altered or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 80 female FMS patients and 64 healthy female control individuals were included in this study. Thiol and disulfide values were measured by Erel's novel methods. RESULTS: Native thiol (330.6 ± 46.1 vs. 356.8 ± 55.5 µmol/L, p = 0.005) and native thiol/total thiol (89.4 ± 3.2 vs. 93.3 ± 4.0, p < 0.001) levels of FMS patients were significantly lower when compared to the values of control group. However, disulfide (19.4 ± 6.3 vs. 12.2 ± 6.3 µmol/L, p < 0.001) levels of FMS patients were significantly higher than healthy individuals. A negative correlation was found between the native thiol/total thiol and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) score among the FMS patients. A positive correlation was found between disulfide values and FIQ score among the patients. CONCLUSIONS: In FMS patients, there was a significant correlation between the decrease in the thiol levels and an increase in the disulfide levels with the FIQ scores. We determined that thiol-disulfide rate was deteriorated in FMS patients and it increases in favor of disulfide amounts.

Evaluation of serum thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis by a novel method.

OBJECTIVE: Increased reactive oxygen species may play an important role in Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) etiopathogenesis. The thiol group is a very potent antioxidant. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of oxidative stress in patients with AS by evaluating thiol/disulfide homeostasis. METHODS: In this study, a total of 66 AS patients (27 male, 39 female) and 66 healthy controls (21 male, 45 female) were enrolled. Recently, a novel method for the thiol measurement was found. Thiol and disulfide values were measured by the novel methods. RESULTS: Native thiol (NT) (p<0.001) and native thiol/total thiol (NTT) (p<0.001) levels of AS patients were significantly lower compared to the values of the healthy group. However, disulfide (p<0.001), disulfide/native thiol (DNT) (p<0.001) and disulfide/total thiol (DTT) levels of AS patients were a strongly higher control group. A negative correlation was found between BASFI and NTT. Also, a negative correlation was found between BASDAI and NT, NTT levels. A positive correlation was found between BASFI and disulfide, DNT and DTT levels. A positive correlation was found between BASDAI and disulfide, DNT and DTT levels. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that thiol-disulfide homeostasis deteriorated in patients with AS in favor of disulfide amounts. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis can play roles in the etiology and severity of AS.

Thiol/Disulfide homeostasis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress may play an important role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) etiopathogenesis. The thiol group is a very strong antioxidant. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of oxidative stress in patients with RA by evaluating thiol/disulfide homeostasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 50 female RA patients and 50 healthy female controls were included in this study. Thiol and disulfide values were calculated utilizing novel methods. RESULTS: Native thiol (p < 0.001) and total thiol (p < 0.001) levels of RA patients were significantly lower compared to values in the control group. However, the disulfide (p < 0.001) levels of RA patients were strongly higher than in healthy individuals. A negative correlation was found between thiol and disease activity score-28 among the patients, whereas a positive correlation was found between disulfide and disease activity score-28 among the patients. CONCLUSION: We found that the thiol-disulfide rate deteriorated in RA patients, with the proportion of disulfide increasing. There is a strong correlation between the decrease in thiol levels, increase in disulfide levels and the disease activity scores.

Lectin-like oxidised LDL receptor-1 as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of lectin-like oxidised LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) levels in patients with active BD, possible association of LOX-1 with the oxidised LDL (oxLDL), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels, and to characterise the differences between patients with active BD and those with systemic lupus erythematosus( SLE) in terms of these parameters compared with healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with active BD, 22 patients with SLE as patients controls, and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Significantly lower eNOS ve NO levels were observed in patients with BD and SLE compared with healthy controls. oxLDL, LOX-1 ve ET-1 levels were significantly increased in active periods of patients with BD and SLE compared with healthy control. There was no significant difference in oxLDL levels between subjects with BD and SLE. LOX-1 levels were significantly higher in active periods of patients with BD than in SLE , ET-1 levels were significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial dysfunction parameters are elevated in patients with BD having active disease. The necessary measures should be considered in terms of risk of atherosclerosis in BD, especially for the early identification of endothelial damage by looking at LOX-1 levels.