Histological and Biochemical Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Liver during an Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammation in the liver is an extraintestinal manifestation that is frequently seen during inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The authors investigated histopathologycal, ultrastructural and antioxidant effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on liver during trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease. Thirty-two BALB/c mice were divided (n?=?8) as follows: control; Dex (dexmedetomidine) (30?μg/kg) for 6 days; TNBS 150?μL, TNBS?+?ethanol (50% w/v) intrarectally; TNBS?+?Dex. The histopathological and ultrastructural changes were evaluated. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), activity of antioxidant enzymes (GPx and SOD) were measured in liver tissue. Induction of colitis induced histopathological and ultrastructural changes of damage in liver. Those changes were markedly reduced in the TNBS?+?Dex group and that reduction was even significant in comparison to the TNBS group. MDA levels were significantly higher in the TNBS group and dexmedetomidine significantly elevated SOD levels in the TNBS?+?Dex group. These results suggest that the administration of dexmedetomidine reduces the histopathological and ultrastructural damage and increases the defense capacity against oxidative damage on liver in this IBD mice model.     

Effects of glutamine on wound healing

Studies reporting the need for replacing amino acids such as glutamine (Gln), hydroxymethyl butyrate (HMB) and arginine (Arg) to accelerate wound healing are available in the literature. The primary objective of this study was to present the effects of Gln on tissue hydroxyproline (OHP) levels in wound healing. This study was conducted on 30 female Sprague Dawley rats with a mean weight of 230 ± 20 g. Secondary wounds were formed by excising 2 × 1 cm skin subcutaneous tissue on the back of the rats. The rats were divided into three equal groups. Group C (Control): the group received 1 ml/day isotonic solution by gastric gavage after secondary wound was formed. Group A (Abound): the group received 0·3 g/kg/day/ml Gln, 0·052 g/kg/day/ml HMB and 0·3 g/kg/day/ml Arg by gastric gavage after secondary wound was formed. Group R (Resource): the group received 0·3 g/kg/day/ml Gln by gastric gavage after secondary wound was formed. The OHP levels of the tissues obtained from the upper half region on the 8th day and the lower half region on the 21st day from the same rats in the groups were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistics program SPSS version 17.0. No statistically significant differences were reported with regard to the OHP measurements on the 8th and 21st days (8th day: F = 0·068, P = 0·935 > 0·05; 21st day: F = 0·018, P = 0·983 > 0·05). The increase in mean OHP levels on the 8th and 21st days within each group was found to be statistically significant (F = 1146·34, P = 0·000 < 0·001). We conclude that in adults who eat healthy food, who do not have any factor that can affect wound healing negatively and who do not have large tissue loss at critical level, Gln, Arg and HMB support would not be required to accelerate secondary wound healing.     

Comparison of platelet pellet and bioactive glass in periodontal regenerative therapy

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, platelet-rich plasma combined with graft materials has been used for periodontal regeneration. The individual role of blood products with guided tissue regeneration in periodontal regenerative therapy is unclear and needs to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological effectiveness of platelet pellet/guided tissue regeneration (PP/GTR) and bioactive glass/GTR (BG/GTR) treatments in patients with periodontal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using a split mouth design, 15 chronic periodontitis patients with pocket depths > or = 6 mm following periodontal initial therapy were randomly assigned to treatment with a combination of PP/GTR or BG/GTR in contralateral dentition areas. An absorbable membrane of polylactic acid was used GTR. The criteria for the comparative study were preoperative and postoperative 6 months pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and radiological alveolar bone level. RESULTS: Both treatment modalities resulted in significant pocket depth reduction and gain in clinical attachment and alveolar bone level compared to the preoperative values (p < 0.01). Reduction in pocket depth, gain in clinical attachment and alveolar bone level were 4(3-6), 4.1+/-0.7, 4.9+/-1.4 mm in the PP/GTR group and 4(3-7), 4.1+/-1.2, 5.9+/-1.7 mm in the BG/GTR group, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, it was concluded that PP may be effective as a bioactive glass graft material and used as a graft material for treating intrabony defects. PP thus appears to be a suitable alternative in the regenerative treatment of intrabony periodontal defects.     

The role of nickel accumulation and epithelial cell proliferation in orthodontic treatment-induced gingival overgrowth

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nickel in orthodontic treatment-induced gingival hyperplasia. The nickel concentration in gingival tissues with and without overgrowth, histopathology of gingival overgrowth, and epithelial cell proliferation response to different nickel concentrations were analysed. Ten patients receiving orthodontic therapy (eight females and two males, mean age 15.4 years) were included in the study. Hyperplastic and healthy gingiva samples were collected from the same patients. The amount of nickel in the gingival tissue samples was analysed using the atomic absorption spectrometry technique. The tissues removed from hyperplastic areas during gingivectomy were also used for histological analysis. To analyse the effect of nickel on epithelial cell proliferation, four different nickel concentrations (0.5, 2, 5, and 10 microg) were incubated with keratinocyte cells for 11 days. Mann-Whitney U-test, analysis of variance, and Tukey's test were used in the statistical analyses. The results did not show any difference in nickel concentration between the study and control gingiva tissue samples, but histological analysis demonstrated an increase in epithelial thickness and a significant increase (P = 0.031, 0.02, 0.02) in epithelial cell proliferation in response to low-dose nickel concentrations, with a toxic response to a higher dose. In the limitations of this study, it is plausible that the effect of a continuing low-dose nickel release to epithelium is the initiating factor of gingival overgrowth induced by orthodontic treatment.     

Levels of gingival tissue platelet activating factor after conventional and regenerative periodontal surgery

The hypothesis, a relationship between gingival tissue platelet activating factor (PAF) levels and healing after periodontal surgery, was tested by measuring PAF levels in gingival tissues collected from sites that had undergone flap surgery and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) or flap surgery alone. Using a split-mouth design, 20 intrabony defects were randomly assigned to treatment with flap surgery and GTR (group 1) or with flap surgery alone (group 2). Gingival tissue samples were obtained at surgery (baseline) and at 6-month follow-up evaluation visit. One half of each sample was used for analysis of PAF levels by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the other half of the sample was used for histomorphometric analysis that included measurements of number and diameter of blood vessels. PAF levels and diameter of blood vessels were significantly decreased (p < 0.01), and the number of blood vessels was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in both groups after 6 months compared to the baseline values. Postoperative number of blood vessels were significantly higher in group 1 (p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in postoperative PAF levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). Based on the reported results, it is suggested that a decrease in gingival PAF levels might be found after conventional and regenerative periodontal surgery.     

What is the importance of radiology in obstructive sleep apnea?

Lipomas are rare, and they rarely arise in deep soft tissue. Only few cases associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been reported. Because of radiologic examinations (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) in a case with OSA, a rarely observed large lipoma was encountered in the retropharyngeal region. In the case that was followed, the apnea-hypopnea index was measured. The radiologic examination of the upper airway of the case with OSA symptoms was presented.     

Protective effect of β-glucan on lung injury after cecal ligation and puncture in rats

Objective Understanding the biological mediators involved in the complex inflammatory response of sepsis and acute lung injury offers the possibility of future investigations targeting treatment based on these mediators. This study investigated whether macrophage activator -glucan has a protective effect on acute lung injury in an experimental model of sepsis.Design and setting Experimental study in an experimental research center.Materials 30 rats randomized into three groups (sham, sepsis, and -glucan).Interventions Cecal ligation and puncture were performed in the -glucan and sepsis groups. The -glucan group was given a single intraperitoneal dose of -glucan (4 mg/kg) following cecal ligation.Measurements and results Rats treated with -glucan had fewer circulating neutrophils, more blood monocytes, and higher serum interleukin 6 levels than septic animals. The percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the myeloperoxidase activity measured in the lung tissue were lower in the -glucan group than in the sepsis group. Less alveolar hemorrhage and neutrophil infiltration were observed in lungs from animals in the -glucan group in the septic groups.Conclusions In this rat model of intra-abdominal sepsis -glucan treatment partially protected against secondary lung injury, decreased lung hemorrhages, and lung neutrophilia. These results suggest that -glucan protects against sepsis-associated lung damage.     

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat Kidney: A Histopathologic Study

Ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury remains the leading cause of acute renal failure. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the role of dexmedetomidine on histologic alterations induced by renal I-R in rats. In the present study, thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200–220 g were randomly assigned into three groups: the sham-control group (group 1, n?=?10), the R/untreated group (group 2, n?=?10), and the I-R/dexmedetomidine-treated group (group 3, n?=?10). For group one, we performed a sham operation. The abdomen was dissected, the right kidney was harvested, and then the left renal pedicle exposed. Renal clamping was not applied. For group 2, rats underwent left renal ischemia for 60 minutes followed by reperfusion for 45 minutes. For group 3, the same surgical procedure as in group 2 was performed, and dexmedetomidine (100 μg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administrated at the starting time of reperfusion. The rats were sacrificed after reperfusion, and the kidney tissue was harvested. The histopathological score in the kidney of the I-R/dexmedetomidine-treated group rats was significantly lower than that of I-R/untreated group rats. This score in I-R/untreated group rats was higher than the other two groups, which was statistically significant. In the I-R/untreated group rats, kidneys of untreated ischemia rats showed tubular cell swelling, cellular vacuolization, pyknotic nuclei, medullary congestion, and moderate to severe necrosis. Treatment with dexmedetomidine shows normal glomeruli and slight edema of the tubular cells. These findings provide the first evidence that dexmedetomidine can reduce the renal injury caused by I-R of the kidney, and may be useful in enhancing the tolerance of the kidney against renal injury.     

Frozen shoulder development secondary to proximal humerus fracture and supraspinatus tendon tear following electrical injury

Musculoskeletal injury incidence occurring as a result of low voltage electrical accidents is extremely rare. In the present paper, we report 2 cases of low voltage electrical injuries with frozen shoulder development secondary to proximal humerus fracture and supraspinatus tendon tear. Magnetic resonance imaging, taken due to persistence of shoulder pain and reduction of shoulder joint mobility in cases monitored because of proximal humerus fracture associated with electrical injury, revealed a tear of supraspinatus tendon. Moreover, frozen shoulder status was clinically established in both of the cases. The cases were treated with an appropriate physical therapy and rehabilitation program. Supraspinatus tendon tears accompanying proximal humerus fractures should not be overlooked in low voltage electrical injuries and development of frozen shoulder should be avoided by applying the proper physical therapy and rehabilitation program.