Effect of intraperitoneal curcumin instillation on postoperative peritoneal adhesions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of curcumin on adhesion formation in a rat cecum abrasion model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into three groups; the control group received saline, the curcumin group received 10 mg/kg of curcumin after cecal abrasion, and in the sham group the abdominal wall was closed without any abrasion to the cecum. On day 15, adhesions were assessed blindly using a standardized scale, and histopathological samples were taken and examined. RESULTS: There were no incisional hernias or wound dehiscences in any animals of the three groups. A comparison of adhesion scores showed a significant difference between the curcumin (median = 1) and the control group (median = 2; p < 0.05). The grade of inflammation of the curcumin (median = 1) and the sham (median = 0) group was significantly lower than that of the control group (median = 3; p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in the sham (48.3 ± 11.8 µg/mg) and the curcumin (63.8 ± 13.9 µg/mg) group compared to the control group (85.7 ± 22.1 µg/mg; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that curcumin, administered intraperitoneally, was effective in the prevention of peritoneal adhesion formation.

Serum prolidase activity in ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to emphasize the collagen turnover in 2 of the most common chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases by evaluating serum prolidase activity (SPA) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 30 patients who met the modified New York Criteria for the classification of AS, 29 patients who met the 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria for the classification of RA, and 31 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum samples of the patients and the controls were collected and SPA was measured by a spectrophotometric method. The comparison of the SPA in these 3 groups was statistically examined. In both patient groups, the SPA was lower than in the control group. SPA in patients with AS was statistically significantly lower than in the control and RA groups (P < 0.001/P = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was found between the RA and the control groups (P = 0.891). In conclusion, lower SPA is presumably associated with decreased collagen turnover and fibrosis, leading to decreased physical functions in both chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases.

High serum homocysteine levels correlate with a decrease in the blood flow velocity of the ophthalmic artery in highway toll collectors.

Highway workers, such as policemen, automotive service companies, and toll collectors, are placed at risk of the accelerated atherosclerotic process, since recent studies have suggested that exposure to exhaust particles and ambient air pollution increases carotid intima-media thickness and reduces ocular blood flow velocity. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between serum homocysteine, a potential parameter for atherosclerosis, and the ocular blood flow velocity and the resistivity index in highway toll collectors. The peak systolic and end diastolic flow velocities and the resistivity index were measured in 22 toll collectors and 24 control subjects by color Doppler ultrasonography. The resistivity index, which is an indirect measure of the atherosclerotic process, was calculated: resistivity index = (peak systolic velocity - end diastolic velocity)/peak systolic velocity. Serum homocysteine levels were determined by fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatography. In the highway toll collectors, the serum homocysteine level (14.4 +/- 4.8 micromol/l; p < 0.005) and the resistivity index of the ophthalmic artery (0.741 +/- 0.015; p < 0.05) were higher and the ophthalmic blood flow velocity (33.0 +/- 3.0 cm/s; p < 0.001) was lower than those in the controls (10.6 +/- 3.1 micromol/l; 0.728 +/- 0.023; 36.8 +/- 2.2 cm/s; respectively). There were significant correlations between the serum homocysteine level and ophthalmic artery resistivity index in both highway toll collectors (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.005). Exposure to exhaust particles might increase the serum homocysteine level, which in turn could lead to the decreased ocular blood flow and the increased resistivity index.