Protective effect of valproic acid on ischemia-reperfusion induced spinal cord injury in a rat model.

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects of valproic acid (VPA) on rat spinal cord tissue in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury model created by abdominal aorta occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley rat (male sex) weighing 190-260 g divided into four experimental groups: control only underwent laparotomy, sham group, pre-IR injury (200 mg/kg dose), and post-IR injury (300 mg/kg) VPA. We measured serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-18, Total Oxidant Status (TOS) and Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), and serum Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) ratio, and tissue expression of Bax and Bcl2, Caspase3, and Bax/Bcl2 ratio. RESULTS: Serum IL-18 was higher in the sham than the control group(P = 0.001), and there were declines in the pre-IR treatment (P = 0.002) and the post-IR treatment when compared to sham (P = 0.001). Despite these reductions, IL-18 expression levels in both the pre- and post-IR treatment groups were higher than in the control group (P = 0.001 & P = 0.003). The favorable effects of pre-IR VPA administration on immunohistochemical biomarkers were superior to post-IR VPA administration. CONCLUSIONS: Comparative analyses between prophylactic VPA administration and post-IR interventions revealed congruence in their anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic ramifications. VPA can reduce spinal cord IR injury in an aortic occlusion model of rats.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Measured With Ocular Ultrasonography in Acute Attack of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate intracranial pressure changes by measuring ONSD before and after treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective analysis, in which 56 COPD in acute exacerbation and 50 volunteers. COPD severity was determined by the Dyspnea Scale of Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC). Measurements were made with ocular ultrasonography and linear probe in both eyes. RESULTS: Both the right and left ONSDs were higher in the patient compared to the control (P = .017) and regressed after the treatment (P = .021). In the ROC analysis for the predictability of COPD, right eye ONSDs showed a predictive potential for COPD with %75.7 specificity and %68.1 sensitivity at 0.455 cut-off (AUC: 0.727; P = .0001; %95CI: 0.609-0.833). Similar to the right eye, the left ONSD presented %74.4 specificity and %67 sensitivity at 0.505 cut-off value (AUC: 0.718; P = .0001; %95CI: 0.608-0.841). CONCLUSION: The ONSD measurement that was with the help of ocular ultrasonography can be a useful diagnostic tool for symptomatic COPD presenting with an acute attack.

The antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of crocin pretreatment on global cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury induced by four vessels occlusion in rats.

AIMS: Cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is a process in which oxidative and apoptotic mechanisms play a part. Neuroprotective agents to be found could work out well for the efficient and safe minimization of cerebral IR injury. Crocin is a strong antioxidant agent; however the influence of this agent on the experimental cerebral ischemia model has not been studied extensively and thus it is not well-known. The objective of our study was to investigate the antioxidant, antiapoptotic and protective effects of crocin on the global cerebral IR induced by four-vessel occlusion. MAIN METHODS: A total of 30 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were equally and randomly separated into three groups as follows: sham, IR and IR+crocin (40mg/kg/day orally for 10days). 24h after electrocauterization of bilateral vertebral arteries, bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 30min and reperfused for 30min. Oxidative stress parameters (TAS, TOS, OSI), haematoxylin and eosin staining, caspase-3 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expressions and TUNEL methods were investigated. KEY FINDINGS: There was a significant difference between the IR and sham groups by means of OSI level, histopathological scoring, caspase-3, HIF-1α and TUNEL-positive cell parameters. We have also observed that pre-treatment with crocin reduced these parameter levels back to the baseline. SIGNIFICANCE: The data obtained from the present study suggest that crocin may exert antiapoptotic, antioxidant and protective effects in IR-mediated brain injury induced by four-vessel occlusion. To the best of our knowledge, this would be the first study to be conducted in this field.

Interleukin 18--binding protein ameliorates liver ischemia--reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effect of interleukin 18-binding protein (IL-18BP) on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced liver injury in experimental rat models. Liver is one of the most affected organs from I/R process. IL-18 is an important proinflammatory cytokine, which may induce some events such as production of reactive oxygen substances and release of various cytokines. IL-18BP acts as an inhibitor of IL-18. The relationship between IL-18 and IL-18BP has an important place in inflammatory process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were equally divided into three groups as follows: sham: Hepatic pedicle dissection was done, but hepatic pedicle clamping was not used. I/R: Sixty minutes of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion were applied. IR + IL-18BP: Recombinant human IL-18BP (100 µg/kg) was administered 30 min before the surgery. Hepatic pedicle was clamped during 60 min of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion was achieved. RESULTS: Liver enzyme levels were significantly lower in the IR + IL-18BP group, when compared with the I/R group. Serum and tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and IL-18 were considerably lower in the IR + IL-18BP group, when compared with the I/R group, but hepatic interferon-γ and IL1ß levels were not significant. Serum oxidative stress index level was significantly higher in the I/R group, when compared with the IR + IL-18BP group. In immunostaining, it was observed that pathologic changes were lower in IR + IL-18BP group than the I/R group. CONCLUSIONS: IL-18BP exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and protective effects in I/R-mediated hepatic injury via regulating some liver enzyme activities and cytokine levels. Additionally, these effects have been verified by histomorphologic examination and oxidative stress markers.

An unusual infection of cervicofacial area caused by dental pathology: flesh-eating syndrome.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) of the cervicofacial area is highly rare, but physicians should be familiar with the presentation of this situation owing to the suddenness of its beginning, the rapidness of its spread, and ending with high mortality and morbidity. In this article, 5 patients with NF admitted to emergency department with dental pathology history were discussed with a review of the literature. The purpose of this case series is to raise awareness about NF of the cervicofacial area caused by dental pathologies. Five patients admitted to our emergency department between January 2012 and March 2015 and diagnosed as having cervicofacial NF were identified. All patients had dental pathologies. The parameters of the study were patients' age, sex, complaints, self- and family histories, physical examinations' findings, routine laboratory-computed tomographic findings, treatment, and complications. Two of the patients were older than 70 years. One of the patients was healthy but he lost time because of an inappropriate treatment. These 3 patients died. The remaining patients were discharged at the end of the prolonged and intensive treatment. Necrotizing fasciitis should always be remembered in the diagnosis of the infection of the cervicofacial area. Because of difficulty in its diagnosis, a delay in the treatment may result in a horrific outcome.