Can M-30, M-65, and IL-6 serum levels be useful markers in the diagnosis of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes?

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the maternal and fetal serum M-30, M-65 and IL-6 levels in preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in both maternal and cord blood.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women with preeclampsia (n=30), GDM (n=30), and uncomplicated pregnancy (n=28) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. After clamping during delivery, the serum M-30, M-65, and IL-6 levels were measured in both maternal venous blood and cord blood.

RESULTS

The serum M-30, M-65, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in preeclampsia and GDM patients' maternal blood and cord blood samples compared to the control group. In the preeclampsia group, M-65 was significantly higher in cord blood compared with the level in maternal serum, but there was no significant difference between the GDM and control groups. The control group's IL-6 level in cord blood was statistically significantly lower than the other groups. Although the M-30 value in both maternal and cord blood was statistically lower in the control group than in the GDM group, there was no significant difference between the two groups when compared to the preeclampsia group.

CONCLUSIONS

M-30 and M-65 molecules appear to have the potential to serve as biochemical markers in placental diseases, particularly preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Due to the insufficient sample sizes, more research is needed.

Ocular biometry characteristics and its relationship with age, gender, spherical equivalent in Turkish children

Background

Studying ocular biometric parameters in different populations and determining the relationship with personal characteristics can provide valuable information about ocular growth and help provide a better understanding of refractive errors.

Aims

To describe distributions of ocular biometry and to evaluate its associations with age, gender, spheric equivalent in Turkish children.

Patients and Methods

In this prospective study 344 children aged 3-14 years were evaluated. Parameters studied included axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and mean corneal radius (CR) measured with optical biometry. Cycloplegic refraction values were obtained using autorefractometer. The change of biometric parameters according to age and gender were evaluated. The relationship between ocular biometry parameters with refraction and age was analyzed by linear regression.

Results

Mean spherical equivalent (SE), AL, ACD and AL/CR observed to be lowest in the preschooler group (P < 0.001). SE reduced with age, and a weak correlation observed between SE and age (r = -0.333). AL and ACD had moderate and weak positive correlations with age respectively (r = 0.511; r = 0.304). There were negative correlations between SE with AL, ACD and AL/CR (r = -0.826; r = -0.540; r = -0.886). The strongest correlation with SE among these parameters was identified for AL/CR. AL and ACD were higher in boys, while the CR was lower in girls (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

While AL in children in late schooler group is higher than European countries, it shows similar characteristics in early schooler group. In addition AL is lower in all age groups than Asian population sexcept preschooler group. With age AL increases, SE decreases and AL plays a key role in refractive development.

Zero to five years: First dental visit

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine the age and most common reasons of the first dental visit among preschool children, taking into account family income and parental education in Turkey.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a state dental hospital on 519 children aged 0-5 years who had their first dental visit with no previous dental experience. Data on age and reasons for the first dental visit of the children and parent relevant data on family income, educational level, dental visit frequency, and satisfaction about the oral health care information was collected by means of a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of the 519 children of the study, 47.4% were males and 52.6% were females. The mean age of first dental visit was 3.62±1.32 and 2.9% of the children had been visited under the age of 1 year. Pain (36.4%) was the main reason for the visit followed mostly by check-up (23.1%), other reasons (21.4%), and decay noted by parents (15.6%). There was no referral from paediatricians. Parental educational level was not found as an impact factor for the reasons and the age of the visit (p=0.394; p=0.245). Children of low-income-family were more likely to have dental visit due to pain (p=0.002). The frequency of parents' dental visits was not a determinant factor for the reason and the age of the child's visit (p>0.05; p>0.05). All the parents were satisfied with the oral health information.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to raise awareness about early dental visits and oral health care among parents and paediatricians.

A step to infant oral health promotion intervention among parents

AIM

Providing oral health care to children from infant to toddler age can be achieved by educating and informing parents about their children&#x2019;s oral health. The aims of this study were to determine the basic knowledge of oral health and to evaluate the efficacy of an infant oral health education programme among parents in Turkey.

METHODS

Study Design: One hundred and fifty parents of infants between 3 and 12 months of age attending the well-baby clinic, Dr. Behcet Uz Children&#x2019;s Hospital (Izmir, Turkey), participated in the study. A pre-test questionnaire was administered to each parent to assess their infant oral health knowledge. The educational intervention was in the form of a 30-minute interactive explanation of a PowerPoint presentation. The parents completed a post-test after the education in the same session (a questionnaire was administered).

RESULTS

The range of correct answers on the pre-test was 7&#x2013;20 of 26 with a mean of 13.7 (SD=2.76). The range of correct answers on the post-test was 12&#x2013;26 of 26 with a mean of 21.2 (SD=3.34). The difference of correct responses between before and after education was found to be statistically significant (p&#x3C;0.01).

CONCLUSION

Under the conditions of this study, educational presentation improved parents&#x2019; knowledge on infant oral health care and provided anticipatory guidance.

A comprehensive survey of natal and neonatal teeth in newborns

Objective

To evaluate clinical and histological characteristics and determine the incidence of natal/neonatal teeth in a large Turkish population.

Subjects and Methods

Among 17,829 newborns, who were hospitalized at the Neonatal Clinic of a governmental Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2011, 27 neonates were diagnosed with erupted teeth, which were examined in terms of location, clinical appearance and mobility. Besides histological evaluation, a positive family history was also recorded. The variables were analyzed using Chi-square test.

Results

Thirty-two natal/neonatal teeth were observed in 27 infants. The incidence of both natal and neonatal teeth was found to be 1:660, while the incidences were separately recorded as 1:1,048 and 1:1,782, respectively. The histological examination revealed a thin hypoplastic enamel layer and a normal dentin layer. There was no difference between the two genders in terms of natal/neonatal tooth type, positive family history and tooth morphology (p > 0.05); or between normal and conical shapes with regard to natal/neonatal tooth type, positive family history and tooth color (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

This study exhibited a higher incidence in natal teeth than neonatal teeth. Macroscopic features were not found to be positively related to gender and tooth type.

Effects of Oenothera biennis L. and Hypericum perforatum L. extracts on some central nervous system myelin proteins, brain histopathology and oxidative stress in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

We investigated the effects of Oenothera biennis L. and Hypericum perforatum L. extracts on brain tissue histopathology, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), myelin basic protein (MBP), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Forty-seven C57BL/6J mice were divided into the following groups: multiple sclerosis (MS), control (healthy mice), MS + H. perforatum treated (MS + HP), MS + O. biennis treated (MS + OB). All groups except the control group were immunized by EAE methods. Two weeks after the immunization, the mice in the MS + HP group were fed normal food containing 18 - 21 g/kg H. perforatum extract, the mice in MS + OB group were fed normal food containing 18 - 21 g/kg O. biennis extract, and the mice in control and MS groups were fed normal food for six weeks. Brain tissue samples were collected from all mice for histopathological and biochemical analysis. Clinical signs of the disease were scored using functional systems scores (FSS) daily. The H. perforatum and O. biennis extracts ameliorated the increased brain tissue MOG and MBP values for animals with MS. H. perforatum and O. biennis extract decreased the TOS and OSI values for brain tissue and increased TAS levels in brain tissue of animals with MS. In addition, H. perforatum and O. biennis extracts decreased the clinical signs at the end of the experiment compared to the beginning of extract administration. We found that myelin was lost in MS group vs. control group. H. perforatum and O. biennis extract treatments decreased the amount of myelin loss in the MS + HP and MS + OB groups. We also observed amyloid deposition on vascular walls, in the cytoplasm of the neurons and in the intercellular space in the MS group. O. biennis and H. perforatum treated groups exhibited neither abnormal amyloid deposition nor obvious cell infiltration. The beneficial effects of O. biennis and H. perforatum for attenuating myelin loss and amyloid deposition suggest their therapeutic utility for treatment of MS.

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and thymoquinone on toluene induced liver toxicity

Toluene is an organic solvent that is toxic to humans. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and thymoquinone (TQ) exhibit antioxidant and antitoxic effects. We investigated the protective effects of CAPE and TQ on toluene induced hepatotoxicity. Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups of eight. The animals were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 0.1 ml/10 g/day corn oil (control I), 0.1 ml/10 g/day corn oil + 2 ml/kg/day 10% ethanol (control II), 20 mg/kg/day TQ dissolved in 0.1 ml/10 g corn oil (TQ), 10 µmol/kg/day CAPE dissolved in 10% ethanol (CAPE), 500 mg/kg/day toluene (T), toluene and TQ together (T + TQ), or toluene and CAPE together (T + CAPE). All rats were sacrificed on day 15. Liver samples were obtained for histological analysis. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured to evaluate liver function. Liver sections from the control I and TQ groups exhibited normal histology. Sections from the T group exhibited sinusoid dilation, hemorrhage, vacuolization and necrosis. TQ and CAPE protected against toluene induced histopathological changes. AST and ALT levels were increased significantly in T group compared to both control groups. CAPE decreased significantly the toluene induced increase in AST and ALT levels, while TQ did not. CAPE and TQ exhibited some antitoxic and hepato-protective effects on toluene induced liver damage.

Asset price dynamics for a two-asset market system

We present a mathematical model for a market involving two stocks which are traded within a single homogeneous group of investors who have similar motivations and strategies for trading. It is assumed that the market consists of a fixed amount of cash and stocks (additions in time are not allowed, so the system is closed) and that the trading group is affected by trend and valuation motivations while selling or buying each asset, but follows a strategy in which the buying of an asset depends on the other asset's price while the selling does not. By utilizing these assumptions and basic microeconomics principles, the mathematical model is obtained through a dynamical system approach. We analyze the stability of equilibrium points of the model and determine the conditions on parameters for stability. First, we prove that all equilibria are stable in the absence of a clear emphasis on a trend-based value for each stock. Second, for systems in which the group of traders attaches importance to the valuation of one stock and the trend of the other stock for trading, we establish conditions for stability and show with numerical examples that when instability occurs, it is exhibited by oscillations in the price of both stocks. Moreover, we argue the existence of periodic solutions through a Hopf bifurcation by choosing the momentum coefficient as a bifurcation parameter within this setting. Finally, we give examples and numerical simulations to support and extend the analytical results. One of the key conclusions for economics and finance is the existence of a cyclic behavior in the absence of exogenous factors according to the momentum coefficient. In particular, an equilibrium price that is stable becomes unstable as the trend based trading increases.

Protection with thymoquinone against formaldehyde-induced neurotoxicity in the rats

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the neurotoxic damage of formaldehyde (FA), which is commonly used in medicine and industrial fields, for the hippocampus of rats and the protective role of thymoquinone (TQ) against this neurotoxicity.

METHODS

There were five groups with eight rats in each. Two control groups were formed, in one of them physiological saline was applied and in the other one corn oil was applied. FA was injected in Group 3. Group 4 was exposed to FA and TQ simultaneously. Group 5 received TQ only. At the end of the experiment animals were sacrificed and brain tissues were removed for biochemical and histopathological investigation.

RESULTS

catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), all known as enzymes with antioxidant activities, were increased in FA and TQ simultaneously administered group. FA caused prominent subarachnoidal hemorrhage and vacuolization. Vacuolization was not observed but occasional subarachnoidal hemorrhage was detected in the FA+TQ group.

CONCLUSION

Neurotoxic damage in hippocampus induced by FA was reverted by administration of TQ (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 26).

Reliable single sperm cryopreservation in Cell Sleepers for azoospermia management

Conventional sperm freezing methods perform best when freezing sperm samples containing at least hundreds of spermatozoa. In this severe male factor infertility case series, we examined the reproductive outcomes in 12 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cases where spermatozoa used were frozen in Cell Sleepers. Cell Sleepers are novel devices in which individual spermatozoa can be frozen in microdroplets. The case series included five men with obstructive azoospermia, six with nonobstructive azoospermia and one with cryptozoospermia, in whom microscopic sperm retrievals from testicular sperm extraction (TESE), micro-TESE extracts and a centrifugation procedure resulted in less than 50 spermatozoa. A total of 304 microscopically retrieved spermatozoa were frozen in 20 Cell Sleepers using a rapid manual cryopreservation method. A total of 179 mature oocytes were injected with recovered thawed spermatozoa, resulting in a fertilisation rate of 65.9% (118 of 179), with no total fertilisation failures. In 10 cases, an embryo transfer was performed, three on day 3 and seven on day 5, resulting in a per cycle pregnancy rate of 58.3% (seven of 12). Four of the pregnancies have progressed past 20 gestation weeks. The recovery and use of spermatozoa that were frozen in Cell Sleepers was uncomplicated and effective and eliminated the need to perform any microscopic sperm retrieval procedures on the day of oocyte collection. Modification of the routine sperm cryopreservation methodology to include the use of Cell Sleepers increases the range of sperm samples that can be effectively cryopreserved, to include men with severe male factor fertility.

Evaluation of Immunomagnetic Separation–Polymerase Chain Reaction in Direct Detection ofBrucella abortusandBrucella melitensisfrom Cheese Samples

The current study was carried out to assess the use of immunomagnetic separation-polymerase chain reaction (IMS-PCR) in direct detection of Brucella abortus and B. melitensis from soft cheese and to examine a relatively small number of field samples for the presence of these species. Two methodologies, one with IMS and the other without IMS, were employed for recovery of the Brucella species from cheese samples. IMS in conjunction with the PCR assay was determined to detect as low as 3x10(2) bacteria/mL, while the limit of detection with the other extraction procedure was 3x10(3) bacteria/mL. In the analysis of 40 cheese samples collected from various markets, only B. abortus was detected by PCR using both DNA extraction procedures in two (5%) samples. No positive results were obtained by culture and B. melitensis was not found in any cheese samples examined. The results suggest that this technique is promising owing to its pace and high sensitivity and should aid in direct detection of Brucella species from complex food samples.

The effect of mechanical bowel preparation on colonic anastomotic healing: an experimental study

PURPOSE

Although bowel preparation is traditionally used in elective colorectal surgery, its value is debatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of mechanical bowel preparation on healing of colonic anastomoses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-seven rats were divided into three groups, each of nine animals. All rats had left colonic resection and anastomosis. Group 1 and group 2 were the control and sham group, respectively. Group 3 had colonic lavage before resection and anastomosis. On the fourth postoperative day, animals were killed; bursting pressure and tissue hydroxyproline concentrations were measured and compared.

RESULTS

The median bursting pressure values were 87 (range 4-135) mmHg in group 1, 88 (range 78-136) mmHg in group 2 and 76.0 (range 57.0-125) mmHg in group 3. The differences between bursting pressure values of the groups were not statistically significant (p= 0.07). The median tissue hydroxyproline concentrations were 3.25 (range 2.63-5.16) mg/mg in group 1, 4.15 (range 1.54-5.72) mg/mg in group 2 and 3.52 (range 2.04-5.27) mg/mg in group 3. The differences between tissue hydroxyproline concentrations of the groups were not statistically significant (p = 0.7).

CONCLUSION

Mechanical bowel preparation is not necessary for enhancing colonic anastomotic integrity in the rat.

Tensile bond strength of brackets after antioxidant treatment on bleached teeth

Various studies have reported a significant reduction in tensile bond strength of brackets when bonding is carried out immediately after bleaching. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of an antioxidant agent on the tensile bond strength values of metal brackets bonded with composite resin to human enamel after bleaching with carbamide peroxide (CP). A total of 80 extracted premolar teeth were randomly divided into three bleaching groups of 10 per cent CP and an unbleached control group. The specimens in group 1 were bonded immediately after bleaching; group 2 were stored in an artificial saliva solution for 7 days after bleaching; group 3 were treated with 10 per cent sodium ascorbate, immediately before bonding, whereas the unbleached specimens in group 4 had no treatment before bonding. Tensile bond strengths were established in MPa. To evaluate the amount of resin left on the enamel surfaces after debonding, the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were used. The tensile bond strength data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and pairwise comparisons were made by the Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of P < 0.05. The brackets bonded immediately after bleaching revealed significantly lower tensile bond strengths than those of unbleached enamel (P = 0.000). No statistically significant differences in tensile bond strength were noted when the delayed-bonding (P = 6.000) and antioxidant-treated (P = 0.2757) groups were compared with the control group. The antioxidant treatment immediately after bleaching was effective in reversing the tensile bond strength of brackets.

Detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus in trigeminal ganglia by avidin-biotin complex method in chickens: short communication

Detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) by avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method was studied in trigeminal ganglia (TRG) during the acute and post-acute or latent period in chickens inoculated with an A96 strain of the antigen. TRG tissue samples were collected from uninoculated (10 chickens) and inoculated (30 chickens) animals at various intervals post inoculation (PI), and stained by the ABC method. The results indicated that no ILTV antigen was detected in the TRG between PI days 3 and 11. However, the antigen was detected in most of the chickens between PI days 13 and 41. It is concluded that the ABC method can be used successfully for the detection of ILTV antigens in TRG during post-acute or latent period.

Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in ovine milk by immunomagnetic separation-polymerase chain reaction

The present study was carried out to investigate the presence of Chlamydophila abortus, the causative agent of ovine enzootic abortion, in milk samples collected from sheep flocks with and without the history of abortion in Eastern Turkey by means of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) in conjunction with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total number of 201 milk samples collected from 10 flocks with abortion and four flocks without abortion were tested. In the analysis of the milk samples by IMS-PCR, correct amplification was obtained with three (1.5%) samples originating from one flock with abortion. In the digestion of PCR positive products by AluI, restriction profiles observed in all three samples were determined to be the same as C. abortus S26/3.

The prognostic significance of total lymph node number in patients with axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer

AIM

In node-negative breast cancer patients, several factors for survival have been evaluated and currently, some of them are accepted for their prognostic and/or predictive values after validation in the separate data sets. The prognostic significance of increases in the number of pathologically detectable axillary lymph nodes in the node-negative patients could not been established clearly. To address this question, we have reviewed our patients' records.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in pathologically node-negative patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy for stage I and II breast cancer. Survival and multivariate prognostic factor analyses were carried out to determine whether the number of tumour-free lymph nodes in complete axillary dissection material in addition to known factors was significant for the outcomes.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy consecutive patients were eligible to enter the trial. The median observation time and the median number of tumour-free lymph nodes were 61 (from 30 to 120) months and 18 (from 10 to 44), respectively. The cohort was divided into the groups according to the number of nodes. The 5-year event-free and overall survivals were 92.5 and 98.3% for patients who had 18 lymph nodes or less, and 70 and 86.7% for those who had more than 18 negative nodes, respectively (P < 0.00001). Multivariate analysis for event-free survival demonstrated that the number of lymph nodes (Relative risk: 3.2 and 95% confidence interval: 1.7 to 5.9) in addition to the pathological tumour size and age was the most important independent prognosticator. In similar, multivariate analysis for overall survival showed that the number of lymph nodes together with the tumour size was the significant indicator (RR of cancer-specific dying in patients who had more than 18 nodes: 3.1 and 95% CI: 1.2 to 8.5).

CONCLUSION

The increases in number of tumour-free lymph nodes are clinically important and this parameter should be taken into consideration in the breast cancer patients without metastatic lymph nodes.

Is suprahyoid dissection a diagnostic operation in lower lip carcinoma?

Carcinoma of the lower lip can be treated primarily by surgical procedures. One of the most prominent characteristics of the tumor is that it can metastasize to submental and submandibular lymph nodes. For that reason, bilateral suprahyoid dissection with surgical treatment of the primary lesion is a diagnostic approach for some investigators and therapeutic for others. We evaluated whether bilateral suprahyoid dissection is a diagnostic approach in lower lip cancer or not. Prophylactic suprahyoid dissection had been performed in 53 patients who had been operated for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip in Ankara Oncology Hospital. Four of the cases were female and 49 male. The median age was 62. Forty-five out of 53 cases had T2 lesions and in the remaining 8 had T3 lesions. All patients were clinically node negative. In the dissection material, lymph node metastasis were present in 8 out of the 45 cases who had T2 tumors (17,7 %) and in 2 out of the 8 cases who had T3 tumors (25%). Three of the 10 cases who had regional lymph node metastasis underwent radiotherapy after surgery. Seven of them did not receive radiotherapy. Thirty-nine patients had regular follow-up for a median of 4.5 years. During this period, none of the patients had regional recurrence in cervical lymph nodes. According to these data, we conclude that bilateral suprahyoid dissection is both a diagnostic and a therapeutic approach in T2, T3 and clinically N0 lower lip tumors.

The effect of zigzag elastics in the treatment of Class II division 1 malocclusion subjects with hypo- and hyperdivergent growth patterns. A pilot study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zigzag elastics in the treatment of Class II division 1 malocclusion subjects with hypo- or hyperdivergent growth patterns. Two groups were established, each consisting of 10 subjects classified as hypo- or hyperdivergent according to their pre-treatment SN-GoGn angle. The cephalometric radiographs taken before and after an elastic application period of approximately 4 months were used to generate 22 variables. In both groups, there were no statistically significant differences in the vertical position of the lower molars, the SN-GoGn angle or the inclination of the lower incisors, whereas the sagittal skeletal relationship was improved as a result of an increase in the SNB angle and the mandibular length (P < 0.01). Upper incisor extrusion was statistically significant in both groups (P < 0.05). The downward rotation of the occlusal plane and the increase in overbite were found to be significant in the hypodivergent group (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed between the groups in the extrusion of the upper incisor, the inclination of the occlusal plane, and the amount of overbite (P < 0.05). The results show that the zigzag elastic system is preferable, especially in hyperdivergent Class II division 1 subjects, as the use of such elastics does not cause an unfavourable effect on vertical jaw base relationship.