Nicotine-induced purposeless chewing in rats: possible dopamine receptor mediation

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nicotine to rats induced purposeless chewing. The response induced by different doses of the drug (0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) seems to be dose dependent, with a maximum effect at 0.01 mg/kg and then decreasing at a higher dose (0.1 mg/kg). Pre-treatment of animals with the nicotine antagonist mecamylamine (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg, 30 min) and the D-2 receptor antagonist sulpiride (12.5-100 mg/kg, 90 min), but not the D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 (0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg, 30 min), decreased the chewing induced by nicotine (0.01 mg/kg). When animals were pre-treated with propranolol (5 and 10 mg/kg) 60 min, reserpine (2.5 mg/kg) 18 h or α-methyl-p-tyrosine (α-MPT; 250 mg/kg) 60 min before nicotine, the effect of the drug was reduced. However, reserpine (2.5 mg/kg) at 18 h plus α-MPT (250 mg/kg) 60 min prior to nicotine completely inhibited the drug response. Pre-treatment of animals with phenoxybenzamine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg i.p., 60 min) or atropine (5 and 10 mg/kg) did not change the nicotine response significantly. It is concluded that nicotine- induced purposeless chewing is mediated through dopaminergic and nicotinic mechanisms.     

Efficacy of epinephrine‐free articaine compared to articaine with epinephrine (1:100 000) for maxillary infiltration,a randomised clinical trial

The selection of local anaesthetic in dental practice is essential to the patient′s comfort and the success of the treatment. Many patients prefer anaesthesia even for short treatments. Articaine is a local anaesthetic commonly used for dental practice. The duration of the effect of articaine on the nerve fibres is not yet precisely reported. This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 4% articaine with and without epinephrine in treatment of occlusal caries. Thirty healthy patients were included in this randomised double‐blind study. Each subject received 4% articaine with and without epinephrine (1:100 000). Maxillary infiltration was used for occlusal caries of the maxillary premolars on right and left sides. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was performed in the innervation area of the infraorbital nerve, and pulp vitality test was performed on restoration‐free canines. Duration of anaesthesia was longer when articaine with epinephrine was used. Articaine without epinephrine showed faster recovery of sensory blockade compared to articaine with epinephrine. The epinephrine‐containing agent, when compared to the plain articaine solution, showed significantly stronger and longer anaesthetic efficacy on the soft tissue by all parameters of QST. Articaine with epinephrine caused a more reliable pulpal analgesia. A pain‐free treatment of the soft tissue up to 15 minutes can be performed under the vasoconstrictor‐free anaesthetic without causing long‐lasting numbness. Epinephrine‐containing articaine delivers a longer, more effective anaesthesia and is preferable for caries treatments and longer invasive treatments of the soft tissue.     

Effect of dopamine infusion on thyroid hormone tests and prolactin levels in very low birth weight infants

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dopamine on thyroid hormone tests and prolactin (PRL) and to assess requirement for L-thyroxin (LT4).

Methods: The infants (n?=?102) were divided into three groups (Group 1; received no dopamine, Group 2 received ≤25?mg/kg cumulative dose and Group 3; received >25?mg/kg cumulative dose). Blood samples were taken at 6–8 days (timepoint 1), 13–15 days (timepoint 2), and 4–6 weeks of life (timepoint 3).

Results: Respiratory distress syndrome was higher in group 2 and 3. Patnet ductus arteriosus was higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Duration and cumulative dose in group 3 were higher than group 2. There was no difference between thyroid hormones that were taken after stopping infusion at timepoint 3 among all groups. No therapy with LT4 was needed. PRL levels were higher at timepoint 1 in group 1 than compared to group 2 and 3 (p?p?>?0.05). This difference was disappeared at following timepoints.

Conclusions: The release of TSH, FT3, FT4 and PRL were not inhibited and prophylactic thyroid hormone treatment was not required in VLBW infants receiving dopamine infusions.     

Intrauterine upper extremity thrombosis successfully treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, enoxaparin and collagenase

Intrauterine ischemia of the limbs is a rare condition involving thrombosis and ischemia of the extremities before birth. The clinical presentation depends on the extremity affected as well as the timing of thrombosis. Very few cases with extremity hypoperfusion and gangrene due to intrauterine thrombosis have been reported in the literature, and therefore there is no consensus on the optimal therapeutic strategy for such cases. Presented here is a case of a newborn with intrauterine brachial arterial thrombosis of the right upper extremity who was successfully treated by a combination of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, enoxaparin and collagenase application followed by surgery.     

Beneficial Effect of Etanercept on Hyperoxic Lung Injury Model in Neonatal Rats

Purpose: To determine whether prophylaxis with etanercept, an anti-inflammatory drug, would decrease the severity of lung injury in a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); Materials and Methods: Rat pups were divided into three groups: pups exposed to room air (group 1; n = 10), to hyperoxia + placebo (group 2; n = 9), and to hyperoxia + etanercept (group 3; n = 8). Lung morphology was assessed by alveolar surface area percentage, which is a measure of alveolar size. The severities of lung inflammation and antioxidant capacity were assessed by quantifying tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) from lung homogenate; Results: The percentage of alveolar surface areas were significantly higher in group 3 compared to group 2 (p = .004) and similar in both group 1 and group 3 (p = .21). The mean level of lung MDA was significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 and group 3 (p < .05 for both). Lung homogenate SOD activities in group 3 was significantly higher than group 2 (p < .001). Furthermore, group 3 pups had lower levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in lung homogenate than that in group 2 (p < .05 for both) but similar in both group 1 and group 3; Conclusion: Etanercept has favorable effects on alveolarization as well as inflammation and oxidative stress markers in a neonatal rat model of BPD.     

Laser biostimulation of wound healing: bioimpedance measurements support histology

Laser biostimulation in medicine has become widespread supporting the idea of therapeutic effects of photobiomodulation in biological tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the biostimulation effect of laser irradiation on healing of cutaneous skin wounds, in vivo, by means of bioimpedance measurements and histological examinations. Cutaneous skin wounds on rats were subjected to 635 nm diode laser irradiations at two energy densities of 1 and 3 J/cm² separately. Changes in the electrical properties of the wound sites were examined with multi-frequency electrical impedance measurements performed on the 3rd, 7th, 10th, and 14th days following the wounding. Tissue samples were both morphologically and histologically examined to determine the relationship between electrical properties and structure of tissues during healing. Laser irradiations of both energy densities stimulated the wound healing process. In particular, laser irradiation of lower energy density had more evidence especially for the first days of healing process. On the 7th day of healing, 3 J/cm² laser-irradiated tissues had significantly smaller wound areas compared to non-irradiated wounds (p?<?0.05). The electrical impedance results supported the idea of laser biostimulation on healing of cutaneous skin wounds. Thus, bioimpedance measurements may be considered as a non-invasive supplementary method for following the healing process of laser-irradiated tissues.     

Successful sleeve lobectomy of pediatric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an uncommon solid tumor that was originally described in the lung. A 4‐year‐old girl was admitted to hospital with urticarial rash. On chest radiographs, an opacity was seen in the inferior zone of the left lung, and computed tomography showed a mass in the left lower lobe. Left lower sleeve lobectomy was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed as IMT. Sleeve resection is the best option in lesions located in the mainstem bronchus or secondary carina. Herein, we present a rare case of IMT of the lung that was successfully treated with sleeve lobectomy. There have been fewer than 15 childhood cases of IMT reported in the literature, and the present 4‐year‐old patient is one of the youngest.     

Prognostic implication of myocardial texture analysis in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Abnormal myocardial acoustic properties have been reported in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between quantitative ultrasonic textural alterations of myocardium and clinical outcome in IDC. METHODS: Baseline clinical and echocardiographic variables were obtained from 28 patients with IDC. By using a videodensitometric approach, quantitative myocardial texture analysis was performed on images obtained from septum and posterior wall (PW). Cyclic variation (CV) index of mean gray level (MGL) was calculated according to the formula: (MGLdiast-MGLsyst)/MGLdiastx100. All patients were followed for an average of 11+/-5 months for the occurrence of cardiac death or repeated hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure. RESULTS: During follow-up, 10 patients experienced cardiac events (6 cardiac deaths and 4 heart failure events). The CV indexes of both septum and PW were significantly lower in patients with cardiac events than those of event free patients (6.8+/-9.6% vs. 13.6+/-8.2%, P<0.05 and 5.3+/-6.4% vs.15.7+/-7.2% P<0.001, respectively). Univariate analysis defined the following variables as predictors of outcome: PW-CV index (chi2=13.0, P=0.0003), transmitral E/A ratio (chi2=12.5, P=0.0004), symptom status (chi2=8.7, P=0.003), and septum-CV index (chi2=4.7, P=0.03). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that the PW-CV index (chi2=7.5, P=0.006) and E/A ratio (chi2=6.5, P=0.01) were the independent predictors of outcome. The event-free survival rate of patients with PW-CV index <11% was significantly lower than those with an index > or = 11 (35.7% vs. 92.8%, P=0,001). CONCLUSION: The assessment of severely depressed CV index provides valuable prognostic information in patients with IDC.     

Tissue Doppler properties of the left atrial appendage in patients with mitral valve disease

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the left atrial appendage (LAA) tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) with the classical LAA function parameters in patients with mitral valve disease. METHODS: Twenty patients who had pure mitral regurgitation (group 1), 20 patients who had pure rheumatic mitral stenosis (group 2), and 20 healthy patients (group 3) were included in this study. All the cases were sinus rhythm. In order to determine the LAA functions, LAA late filling (LAALF), and late emptying (LAALE) flow velocities and LAA fractional area change (LAAFAC) were measured. LAA tissue Doppler evaluations were obtained from the PW Doppler, which was placed on the LAA lateral wall in a transverse basal short-axis approach. LAA late systolic (LAALSW) and late diastolic (LAALDW) wave velocities were obtained from TDI records transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). RESULTS: There were no significant differences among groups 1, 2, and 3 in terms of age, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, gender, and heart rate. No differences were observed between group 1 and the control group with respect to LAALE, LAALF, and LAAFAC. LAALE velocity and LAAFAC were significantly decreased in group 2 than group 1. LV diastolic diameter was significantly greater, whereas LAALSW and LAALDW velocities were significantly decreased in group 1 compared with group 3. There were no differences between groups 1 and 2 regarding to LAALSW and LAALDW velocities. LAALE, LAALF, LAALSW, LAALDW velocities, and LAAFAC were significantly decreased in group 2 than group 3. CONCLUSION: The TDI method may detect the LAA systolic dysfunctions, which cannot be detected using classical methods, on tissue level in patients with mitral regurgitation. In addition, the deterioration of the LAA functions at tissue level in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis was also detected.