Evaluation of the usage of YouTube videos about Histology and Embryology as an educational material.

The use of YouTube videos for educational purposes has been increasingly popular. The quality and accuracy of the information level of these videos should be checked by expert trainers. This study aims to evaluate the content, quality and functionality of YouTube videos on Histology and Embryology and to measure their educational usefulness. In the study, searches were performed using the keywords "Histology" and "Embryology" in the YouTube search tab. Quality and content were evaluated using the Video Power Index (VPI), modified DISCERN scale, JAMA and the Global Quality Scale (GQS). Videos were categorized by educational usefulness. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. A statistically significant high correlation was observed between modified DISCERN scores and JAMA scores (r = 0.757, p < 0.001) and between modified DISCERN scores and GQS scores (r = 0.743, p < 0.001). A statistically significant high correlation was also determined between JAMA and GQS scores (r = 0.632, p < 0.001). GQS scores were weakly, negatively and significantly correlated with the number of comments (r = -0.302, p < 0.05) and dislikes (r = -0.325, p < 0.05). Based on GQS, the useful and non-useful videos differed significantly in terms of views, likes, dislikes, comments counts and days since upload (p < 0.05). Modified DISCERN and JAMA scores also differed significantly between the useful and non-useful videos (p < 0.001). Educational videos published for Histology and Embryology education on the internet will be more beneficial if they are prepared by expert educators from reliable information sources, by the current literature, and by scoring systems such as DISCERN, JAMA and GQS.

Leptin Accelerates Endothelial Wound Healing: Role of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression.

BACKGROUND: The endothelium is crucial for the control of vascular homeostasis and plays a role in angiogenesis. Leptin, a protein released mainly by adipose tissue, plays a key role in the regulation of energy balance and angiogenesis. We aimed to investigate the changes of endothelial nitric oxide synthetase expression on human umbilical vein endo- thelial cells wound healing model after leptin treatment. METHODS: In this study, 5 groups were planned as Group 1: control (untreated), Group 2: treated with 0.1 ng/mL leptin, Group 3: treated with 1 ng/mL leptin, Group 4: treated with 10 ng/mL leptin, and Group 5: treated with 100 ng/mL leptin. Closure rates of wound areas were calculated by the Image J program after 24 hours of leptin treatment. The WST-1 assay was used to calculate the cell viability. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed for endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and H-Score was calculated. RESULTS: The closure rates of wound areas were calculated as 80.24%, 89.73%, 87.40%, 90.73%, and 93.70%, respectively. When all groups treated with leptin were comparedwith the control group, there was a statistically significant difference (P < .05). The WST-1 results showed that the most increasing levels of viable cells were found in the groups treated with 0.1 ng/mL leptin and 100 ng/mL leptin when compared to the control group. H-Score values of each group were calculated as 284.8 ± 15.22, 288.6 ± 8.41, 291 ± 8.16, 295.2 ± 11.60, and 308.8 ± 4.32, respectively. The difference between the control group and the group treated with 100 ng/mL leptin was statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in human umbilical vein endo- thelial cells increased depending on the leptin dose and the highest increase was in the group treated with 100 ng/mL leptin.

Reduction of cisplatin ototoxicity in rats by oral administration of pomegranate extract.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the oral administration of pomegranate extract (PE) as a protective agent against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. The study included a prospective, controlled animal study Group 1 (n = 6), received no cisplatin or PE, and group 2 (n = 6) received cisplatin at 8 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days. Group 3 (n = 6) received not only cisplatin at 8 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days, but also received PE (100 µL/day) via gavage for 5 days prior to the cisplatin injection and for 3 days concomitantly with the cisplatin injections. To measure cisplatin ototoxic effects, "distortion product otoacoustic emissions" (DPOAE) were analyzed 3 days before and after the cisplatin injections. Histological changes in the cochleas were observed by light microscopy. Compared with group 3, the DPOAE amplitudes of group 2 decreased significantly. Among the groups, there was a statistically significant difference in basal and mid turn external ciliated cells (ECC) number, but there was no statistically significant difference in apical turn. Differences in stria vascularis (SV) changes were statistically significant between the groups, and the median score for SV injury was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 3. Differences in the median scores for SGC changes being significantly greater in group 2 than in group 3. In conclusion, these results indicated that oral administration of PE afforded statistically significant protection to the cochlea in rats from cisplatin toxicity, and thus, oral experimental dose of PE administration may have a protective effect against cisplatin ototoxicity in rats.

Protective effect of a potent antioxidant, pomegranate juice, in the kidney of rats with nephrolithiasis induced by ethylene glycol.

PURPOSE: We aimed to study the protective effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) on ethylene glycol (EG)-induced crystal deposition in renal tubules, renal toxicity, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor-kappaB activities in rat kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six rats were divided into four equal groups: Control, EG, EG + 50 microL PJ/d (PJ50), and EG + 100 microL PJ/d (PJ100). Rats were sacrified on days 10 and 45. Tissue sections were evaluated under light and polarized microscopy for the presence and degree of crystal deposition and toxicity in the kidneys. Crude extracts of the cortex were used to determine reduced gluthatione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. RESULTS: In the EG group, crystal depositions were more evident and mild crystalization was observed in proximal tubules on day 10; severe crystalization and granulovacuolar epithelial cell degeneration were observed on day 45. There was limited or no crystal formation in the EG + PJ-given groups. There were completely normal renal and tubular structures in the control group. There was no significant difference between the four groups in serum levels of sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine in any sampling time. Hyperoxaluria, a marked increase in MDA and NO levels, and decrease of GSH were observed in the EG-given groups compared with the others. There were marked iNOS and p65 expressions in only the EG-given rats compared with control and PJ groups, immunohistochemically. CONCLUSION: This experiment shows the protective effect of PJ in the EG-induced crystal depositions in renal tubules.

Pyrolidium dithiocarbamate prevents shockwave lithotripsy-induced renal injury through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in rats.

PURPOSE: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is commonly used for treatment of renal stones. Free oxygen radicals are involved in the pathophysiology of renal injury due to SWL. We investigated the protective effect of pyrolidium dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an antioxidant and nuclear factor kappa-B (NFkappa-B) inhibitor, against renal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight rats were divided into three groups: group 1, controls; group 2, SWL (15 kW, 1500 pulses); and group 3, SWL + pyrolidium dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (100 mg/kg/day given intraperitoneally 1 day before and 5 days after SWL). The rats were sacrificed and their kidneys were removed on days 7 and 35 after SWL. Samples were fixed in formaldehyde solution, and renal tissues were examined for proximal tubular injury under light microscopy. iNOS activity and active subunit of NFkappa-B, p65, were evaluated immunohistochemically using rat monoclonal antibodies interpreting results semiquantitatively. RESULTS: There were significant differences between SWL and control groups on days 7 and 35, considering histological changes under light microscope (p < 0.02). There was significant decrease in necrosis and fibrosis in PDTC group compared to SWL group. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and p65 on days 7 and 35 were at basal levels as seen with immunohistochemical staining. There were high concentrations of iNOS and p65 in the SWL group (P < 0.02). No significant difference in concentrations was seen between the control and the PDTC groups (P > 0.02). CONCLUSION: We found that curcumin decreased the expression of iNOS, p65, and serum nitric oxide levels, and helped prevent interstitial, glomerular, tubular epithelial, and endothelial cellular injury. We believe that PDTC could be used, particularly in high-risk patients, as a protective agent against renal injury due to SWL.