Effects of curcumin and melatonin on bone formation in orthopedically expanded suture in rats: A biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical study.

OBJECTS: To investigate the effects of curcumin (CUR) and melatonin (MEL) on new bone formation following rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in rats. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: For this study, 24 12-week-old adult male Wistar albino rats from the Animal Laboratory at Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, were used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into the following 3 groups (n = 8 each): only expansion (OE), expansion plus MEL (MEL) and expansion plus CUR (CUR). CUR and MEL were given to the rats during the study period. After the sacrifice of the animals, biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. RESULTS: Serum bone alkaline phosphatase levels in the MEL group were statistically (P = .007) higher than in the OE group. Serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in the CUR and MEL groups were significantly higher than in the OE group (P = .007 and P = .021, respectively). Inflammatory cell infiltration, new bone formation and capillary intensity parameters did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between the groups (P = .865, P = .067 and P = .055, respectively). The immunohistochemical findings revealed that IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α H scores showed considerable differences between the groups (all P < .001). The highest IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α H scores were found in the OE groups rather than in the other groups (P < .001). CONCLUSION: CUR and MEL treatments may be effective in accelerating new bone formation and beneficial in preventing relapse following the RME procedures.

Evaluation of stress and pain during rapid maxillary expansion treatments.

The purpose of this study was to use salivary cortisol levels, pressure pain threshold (PPT) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) to assess stress, anxiety and pain during the expansion and retention phase of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in children and investigate to whether this parameters are associated with gender or skeletal maturity stages. STAIC was used to assess the anxiety levels of the children. Salivary samples were collected for stress hormone determination. Visual Analog Scale was used for pain determination. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured by using algometer. Data collection was performed a week before RME treatment (T0), at the day of the expansion appliance was bonded (T1), at the days of 1st, 4th, 7th, 14th, 25th, 36th activations of expansion screw (T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7) and after the retention period of 3 months (T8). The results of this study showed that the differences were statistically significant within-day (P < 0·001) and within-hours (P < 0·001) in cortisol levels during treatment. PPT levels were statistically significant within sex differences and skeletal maturity stages (P < 0·05). State-trait anxiety scale scores were similar with respect to gender (P > 0·05). There were statistically significant differences of state-trait anxiety levels between pre and post-treatment stages (P < 0·05). The maximum number of patients reporting pain were days at T3 and T4. From day T5 the percentage of patients reporting pain then gradually reduced. Based on the findings of this study, it has been shown that RME leads to changes in patients' state-trait anxiety and cortisol levels.

The protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on oxidative stress in rat liver exposed to the 900 MHz electromagnetic field.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of rats exposed to the 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF). EMF of cellular phones may affect biological systems by increasing free radical, which appear mainly to enhance LPO, and by changing the antioxidative activities of liver, thus leading to oxidative damage. CAPE, an active component of propolis extract, exhibits antioxidant properties and several studies suggest that supplementation with antioxidant can influence EMF exposure induced hepatotoxicity. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 10), 900 MHz EMF (n = 10) and 900 MHz EMF + CAPE (n = 10). CAPE was injected intraperitoneally for 30 days before exposure to EMF. Liver tissue was removed to study the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase (XO) and the levels of LPO. The activities of XO, CAT and level of LPO increased in the 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) group compared with the control group, although XO, CAT activities and LPO levels were decreased by 900 MHz EMF + CAPE administration. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px decreased in the 900 MHz EMF group compared with the control group, although their levels were increased by EMF + CAPE administration. It can be concluded that CAPE may prevent the 900 MHz EMF-induced oxidative changes in liver by strengthening the antioxidant defense system by reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities.