Comparison of Platelet-Rich Plasma-Impregnated Suture Material with Low and High Platelet Concentration to Improve Colonic Anastomotic Wound Healing in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the impact of using suture material impregnated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in different platelet concentrations on colonic anastomotic wound healing in rats. METHODS: A total of 24 Sprague Dawley female rats were separated into 3 groups (n = 8 for each) including the control group (CON; standard vicryl suture repair), the low platelet concentrate PRP group (L-PRP; suture material impregnated with PRP containing average 2.7-fold (range, 2.0 to 3.1) higher amount of platelets vs. control), and the high platelet concentrate PRP group (H-PRP; suture material impregnated with PRP containing average 5.1-fold (range, 4.8 to 5.4) higher amount of platelets vs. control). Rats were sacrificed on the postoperative 7th day for analysis of colonic anastomosis region including macroscopic observation, measurement of anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP), and the hydroxyproline levels and histopathological findings in colon tissue samples. RESULTS: Total injury scores were significantly lower in the L-PRP and H-PRP groups than those in the control group (median (range) 13.00 (7.00) and 11.50 (6.00) vs. 15.50 (4.00), p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). ABP values (180.00 (49.00) vs. 124.00 (62.00) and 121.00 (57.00) mmHg, p < 0.001 for each) and tissue hydroxyproline levels (0.56 (0.37) vs. 0.25 (0.17) and 0.39 (0.10) µg/mg tissue, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) were significantly higher in the L-PRP group as compared with those in the control and H-PRP groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings revealed PRP application to colonic anastomosis sutures to promote the anastomotic healing process. The platelet concentration of PRP seems to have a significant impact on the outcome with superior efficacy of L-PRP over H-PRP in terms of bursting pressures and collagen concentration at the anastomotic site.

Endometrial Flushing Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Interleukin 2 Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Leiomyoma and Endometrioma: Comparison with Healthy Controls.

Introduction An important open question in the literature is whether endometrial receptivity marker levels are different in infertility related diseases than healthy women. The aim of the study is to compare the levels of interleukin two (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) during the implantation window in the endometrial flushing fluid of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometrioma, leiomyoma patients with healthy controls. Material and Methods In this case control study, after obtaining endometrial flushing fluids at mid-luteal phase of ovulatory women with PCOS (n = 20), endometrioma (n = 19), leiomyoma (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20), IL-2 and TNF-α levels were measured using ELISA kits in BioTek ELISA devices. Results Mean TNF-α levels (ng/mL) were similar for the PCOS (305.6, p = 0.220) and the leiomyoma group (246.3, p = 0.502) compared to healthy patients (261.1). However, the levels were higher in the endometrioma group (338.2, p = 0,004) than the control group (261.1) in a statistically significant way. Mean IL-2 levels (ng/mL) were significantly lower in the PCOS (290.9, p = 0.0005), the leiomyoma (282.9, p = 0.0002) and the endometrioma patients (229.5, p = 0.0009) than the control group (416.0). Conclusion Relative to the control group, endometrial flushing fluid TNF-α levels were significantly higher in endometrioma patients and IL-2 levels were significantly lower in PCOS, leiomyoma and endometrioma patients. In benign gynecological diseases, endometrial markers related to infertility seem to show differences in endometrial flushing fluid. Future studies might identify the reference values for these markers, and endometrial markers can be used to diagnose gynecologic disorders causing infertility.

The diagnostic significance of signal peptide-complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein-1 levels in pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially life-threatening disorder. Patients with PE often have nonspecific symptoms, and the diagnosis is often delayed. AIM: The aim of our study was to investigate the role of signal peptide-complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1) used in the diagnosis of PE. METHODS: The study was designed prospectively. A total of 57 patients who were admitted to emergency service with clinically suspected PE were included in the study. The patients diagnosed with PE were defined as PE group (n = 32), and the patients with undetectable embolism on computerized tomographic pulmonary angiography were defined as non-PE group (n = 25). Twenty-five age- and sex-matched healthy cases were chosen for the study. Routine biochemical analysis, complete blood count, D-dimer, SCUBE1, and arterial blood gas analysis were performed early after admission. RESULTS: Mean SCUBE1 levels were higher in the PE group (0.90 ng/mL) than in the non-PE (0.38 ng/mL) and control groups (0.47 ng/mL) (P < 0.01). A cutoff point of 0.49 ng/mL for SCUBE1 indicated 100% sensitivity and 64% specificity in patients with PE. Mean D-dimer levels were not different between PE and non-PE groups (P = 0.591). A multivariable logistic regression analysis (with dichotomous PE groups as the response variable; age, gender, chest pain, syncope, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, D-dimer, neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio, and SCUBE1 variables as predictors) showed that the significant and independent predictors of PE diagnosis were SCUBE1 and chest pain. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that serum SCUBE1 measurement might be used as a diagnostic biomarker in PE.

The Protective Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate Against Distant Organ Damage After Severe Skin Burns--Experimental Study Using a Rat Model of Thermal Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, has potent antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to examine the possible preventative effects of EGCG against internal organ injury due to large-surface skin burns in a rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study design involved three groups of rats: a sham group and two groups with 25-30% full-thickness burns: (a) the sham group without burns or treatment (n=18); (b) the control burn group (burns+sterile saline, n=18); and (c) the burn treatment group (burns+treatment with EGCG, n=18). EGCG was administered intraperitoneally immediately after the thermal injury, and daily in 100 µmol/kg doses. Kidney and lung tissue samples were taken to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) after the first, third and seventh post-burn days. RESULTS: In the EGCG-treated burn group, SOD and GPX activity were significantly higher than in the burn control group. Additionally, MDA and TNF-α levels were significantly lower in the EGCG-treated burn group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, it might be anticipated that EGCG treatment may be beneficial in burn injury cases.

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in a Turkish population and impact on perinatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of vitamin D deficiency on perinatal results in primigravida. METHODS: One-hundred fifty-two healthy nullipar women were included in the study. Pregnant women with serum vitamin D levels <15ng/ml were defined as Group I and ≥15 ng/dl were defined as Group II; data were evaluated retrospectively. Type of delivery, gestational age at birth, birth weight, intensive care of the newborn, peri-and postpartum complications were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS for Windows (version 16.0 ). Categorical variables were assessed using chi-squared test. The numeric variables were analyzed using Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: 44.6% of pregnant women were found to have vitamin D deficiency. The mean serum vitamin D levels for Groups I and II were 10.8 ± 3.8 and 23.8 ± 13.3 ng/ml, respectively. SGA deliveries were detected in 16.66% and 4.87% of the primigravidas with and without vitamin D deficiency, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that maternal vitamin D deficiency is related with an increased risk of SGA delivery. Further studies are needed to explain the relationship with vitamin D deficiency and poor perinatal outcomes.

Clinical biochemistry laboratory rejection rates due to various types of preanalytical errors.

INTRODUCTION: Preanalytical errors, along the process from the beginning of test requests to the admissions of the specimens to the laboratory, cause the rejection of samples. The aim of this study was to better explain the reasons of rejected samples, regarding to their rates in certain test groups in our laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This preliminary study was designed on the rejected samples in one-year period, based on the rates and types of inappropriateness. Test requests and blood samples of clinical chemistry, immunoassay, hematology, glycated hemoglobin, coagulation and erythrocyte sedimentation rate test units were evaluated. Types of inappropriateness were evaluated as follows: improperly labelled samples, hemolysed, clotted specimen, insufficient volume of specimen and total request errors. RESULTS: A total of 5,183,582 test requests from 1,035,743 blood collection tubes were considered. The total rejection rate was 0.65 %. The rejection rate of coagulation group was significantly higher (2.28%) than the other test groups (P < 0.001) including insufficient volume of specimen error rate as 1.38%. Rejection rates of hemolysis, clotted specimen and insufficient volume of sample error were found to be 8%, 24% and 34%, respectively. Total request errors, particularly, for unintelligible requests were 32% of the total for inpatients. CONCLUSIONS: The errors were especially attributable to unintelligible requests of inappropriate test requests, improperly labelled samples for inpatients and blood drawing errors especially due to insufficient volume of specimens in a coagulation test group. Further studies should be performed after corrective and preventive actions to detect a possible decrease in rejecting samples.

Effect of epigallocatechin gallate on ischemia-reperfusion injury: an experimental study in a rat epigastric island flap.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol derived from green tea, is known to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of EGCG against ischemia reperfusion injury in the epigastric artery island flap model in rats. The experiment was designed with two groups (control n=40, experiment n=40) of rats with epigastric artery island flaps. Each main group was randomly divided into five sub-groups to apply ischemia at different time intervals (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours). Thirty minutes prior to reperfusion, 100 µmol/kg of EGCG was injected intraperitoneally, and this injection was repeated after 12 hours and continued as a daily injection. Similarly, 2 ml of sterile saline was administered to the rats in the control groups. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels, together with neutrophil counts, were measured in the tissues taken from the distal portions of the flaps 24 hours after reperfusion. Additionally, flap necrosis was examined on the seventh day after reperfusion. Superoxide dismutase levels were significantly lower in all control groups, and Malondialdehyde and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha levels were significantly higher in all control groups. Glutathione peroxidase levels were found to be significantly lower in the control groups after 0, 3, 9 and 12 hours of ischemia. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups undergoing 0, 3, 9 or 12 hours of ischemia with regard to the neutrophil count. Partial flap necrosis occurred in the 9-hour ischemia groups, and significantly lower rates of necrosis were observed in the experimental groups compared to the control groups. The findings of our study showed that EGCG has a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury in skin flaps in the epigastric island flap model.

Cardiovascular risk factors in young male adults: impact of physical activity and parental education.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess whether choices of physical activity, smoking status, and parental education and income were correlated with the health status of young adult males which are important for preventive health policy. METHODS: 491 18-29-year old males from lower socioeconomical districts in Turkey participated in this study. Information about demographic characteristics, parental education, household income, smoking status, and physical activity was obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire. BMI and metabolic parameters (serum lipid profile) were assessed. RESULTS: Mean total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels were in the normal range. The physically active group displayed a better lipid profile. No relationship was found between parental education and serum lipids. Smoking was slightly correlated with household income (r=103, p=0.022). CONCLUSION: Young adult males who participate in relatively high levels of physical activity are at lower CHD risk than less active ones. The present study also showed that lower socioecnomic status does not always correlate with higher levels of cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, data supports that while family history cannot be changed, HDL levels can be modulated by lifestyle factors as in other populations and that with the determined benefits of increasing physical activity and thus, HDL levels, policy reform in schools to promote physical activity are warranted.