Effects of infliximab against carbon tetrachloride-induced spleen toxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a non-polar molecule used in industry in grain curing, insect-killing and especially in the production of chlorofluorocarbons. It is estimated that an average of 70,000 industry workers in Europe are exposed to this toxic compound.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control group (saline only, Group I), infliximab (INF) group (Group II), CCl4 group (Group III) and CCl4+INF group (Group IV).

RESULTS

While there was an increase in the numerical density of CD3, CD68, and CD200R positive T lymphocytes and macrophages in the CCl4 administration group (p=0.000), this was not the case in the CCl4+INF administration group (p=0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

TNF-α inhibitors have a protective effect against CCl4-induced spleen toxicity/inflammation as seen by the reduction in CD3, CD68, CD200R positive T lymphocytes and macrophages.

Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability without autism spectrum disorder

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sleep problems and their correlations in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability without ASD (ID), and typically developing children (TDC).

METHODS

This study included 142 children (48 with ASD, 46 with ID, 48 with TDC) aged between 2 and 18 years old. Parents of the children completed the Childhood Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) in order to evaluate sleep disturbances. The sociodemographic and clinical information were noted on a data form for each child.

RESULTS

The mean total score of CSHQ was 41.56, 47.89 and 51.78 respectively in TDC, ASD and ID groups. While the total CSHQ score was significantly lower in TDC, there was no significant difference between ID and ASD groups (p = 0.09). It was revealed that children having a neurodevelopmental disorder had a 2.8-fold increased risk of sleep disturbance, history of sleep disorder in the parents had a 3.1-fold increased risk, psychiatric comorbidity in the child had a 3.3-fold increased risk, and co-sleeping with parents had 13.1-fold increased risk. However, in the binary regression analysis, co-sleeping with parents and family history of sleep problems significantly increased the risk of sleep disturbance.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disturbances are more frequent in children with ASD and ID than TDC. Co-sleeping with parents and family history of sleep problems increase the risk of sleep disturbances. Thus, behavioral techniques especially focusing on co-sleeping problems and focusing on parents' sleep habits may improve the sleep disturbances in children with ID and ASD.

Two photon absorption properties of four coordinated transition metal complexes of tetraarylazadipyrromethene compounds

New tetraarylazadipyrromethene metal complexes with four coordinate metals (cobalt(ii), nickel(ii), copper(ii) and zinc(ii)) and with three moieties (4-methylphenyl,4-methoxyphenyl and 1-naphthyl) were designed and synthesized targeting applications utilizing two photon absorption. The effects of metals with filled or unfilled d orbitals and substituents with various electron donor properties on the charge transfer mechanism and two photon absorption properties of tetraarylazadipyrromethene compounds were investigated by ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy and open aperture Z-scan experiments as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Ultrafast transient absorption spectra provide evidence of an efficient photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer between the ligand and metals which is independent of filled or unfilled d orbitals of metals. Although zinc has filled d orbitals, its complexes possess an absorption maximum including a shoulder which is attributed to partial ligand to metal L(π) → M(d*) charge transfer character (LMCT). Due to the charge transfer mechanism, metal complexes of tetraarylazadipyrromethene compounds exhibited two photon absorption properties in the femtosecond regime at 800 nm wavelength. The greatest two photon absorption cross section value was measured as 2690 GM for Zn(L(2))2 and 2374 GM for Co(L(3))2 complexes.

Enhancement of two photon absorption properties and intersystem crossing by charge transfer in pentaaryl boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives

Indication of charge transfer and an intersystem crossing mechanism for the B4 compound by using ultrafast pump probe spectroscopy.

Coagulation parameters and platelet function analysis in patients with acromegaly

OBJECTIVE

Acromegaly is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The data about the evaluation of coagulation and fibrinolysis in acromegalic patients are very limited and to our knowledge, platelet function analysis has never been investigated. So, we aimed to investigate the levels of protein C, protein S, fibrinogen, antithrombin 3 and platelet function analysis in patients with acromegaly.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with active acromegaly and 35 healthy subjects were included in the study. Plasma glucose and lipid profile, fibrinogen levels, GH and IGF-1 levels and protein C, protein S and antithrombin III activities were measured in all study subjects. Also, platelet function analysis was evaluated with collagen/ADP and collagen-epinephrine-closure times.

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics of the patient and the control were similar. As expected, fasting blood glucose levels and serum GH and IGF-1 levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group (pglc: 0.002, pGH: 0.006, pIGF-1: 0.001, respectively). But lipid parameters were similar between the two groups. While serum fibrinogen and antithrombin III levels were found to be significantly higher in acromegaly group (p fibrinogen: 0.005 and pantithrombin III: 0.001), protein S and protein C activity values were significantly lower in the patient group (p protein S: 0.001, p protein C: 0.001). Also significantly enhanced platelet function (measured by collagen/ADP- and collagen/epinephrine-closure times) was demonstrated in acromegaly (p col-ADP: 0.002, p col-epinephrine: 0.002). The results did not change, when we excluded six patients with type 2 diabetes in the acromegaly group. There was a negative correlation between serum GH levels and protein S (r: -0.25, p: 0.04)) and protein C (r: -0.26, p: 0.04) values. Likewise, there was a negative correlation between IGF-1 levels and protein C values (r: -0.39, p: 0.002), protein S values (r: -0.39, p: 0.001), collagen/ADP-closure times (r: -0.28, p: 0.02) and collagen/epinephrine-closure times (r:-0.26, p: 0.04). Also, we observed a positive correlation between IGF-1 levels and fibrinogen levels (r: 0.31, p: 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Acromegaly was found to be associated with increased tendency to coagulation and enhanced platelet activity. This hypercoagulable state might increase the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in acromegaly.

Validation of a severity grading score (SGS) system for predicting the course of disease and mortality in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

We aimed to validate a severity grading score (SGS) system for predicting the course of disease and fatality in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). This SGS was established using several variables that were assumed to be associated with mortality and had clinical importance. We included patients diagnosed with CCHF from different centers. Patients who had symptoms of CCHF for <5 days were included. The patients were grouped into three categories according to mortality risk. An SGS ≤4 showed no association with mortality [n = 323 (79.9 % of the total study population), and all survived]. An SGS between 5 and 8 points was classified into the intermediate risk group (20 %), and 14 of 70 patients in this group died. An SGS ≥9 was classified as the high risk of mortality group and 11 of 11 patients in this group died (p = 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for an SGS >9 points at admission were 96, 100, 97, 100, and 44 %, respectively. This SGS system may help appropriate the triage of patients, decrease the cost of treatment, and improve the functionality of healthcare staff. The present study is the first investigation about the validation of an SGS system in patients with CCHF.

Clinical evaluation of submerged and non-submerged implants for posterior single-tooth replacements: a randomized split-mouth clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic results of submerged and non-submerged implants for posterior single-tooth replacements and to assess patient-based outcomes. Twenty patients were included in the study. A split-mouth design was used; implants inserted using a submerged technique were compared to those inserted with a non-submerged technique. Implants were restored with metal-ceramic crowns after 3 months. Reconstructions were examined at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. Standardized radiographs were made. Radiographic crestal bone level changes were calculated, as well as soft tissue parameters, including pocket probing depth, bleeding on probing, plaque index, and gingival index. Results were analyzed by two-way repeated measures of variance (ANOVA). To evaluate patient-based outcomes, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire at the 6-month follow-up; the Wilcoxon paired signed rank test was used to compare scores. The data of 18 patients were reviewed. During 24 months, non-submerged implants (0.57 ± 0.21 mm) showed significantly lower bone loss than submerged implants (0.68 ± 0.22 mm) (P<0.01). Patient satisfaction with non-submerged implants (median 87.5) was significantly higher than with submerged implants (median 81.5) (P<0.01). Non-submerged implants showed comparable clinical results to submerged implants and resulted in higher patient satisfaction due to decreased surgical intervention.

Is vitamin D supplementation a new hope for the therapy of the septic shock?

Vitamin D is mainly known for its traditional role in the bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D receptors (VDR) are present in almost all the tissues and cells in the human body. In addition, several studies have revealed that vitamin D is important in immunomodulation, regulation of inflammation and cytokines, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, muscle strength, and muscle contraction. Patients with sepsis have high mortality rate and high deficiency in vitamin D. In addition, septic patients have decreased vitamin D binding-protein (DBP) levels which further exacerbate the vitamin D deficiency. The role of vitamin D treatment in sepsis syndrome has been evaluated in animal model of sepsis where 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] administration was associated with improved blood coagulation parameters in sepsis associated with a disseminated intravascular coagulation. Vitamin D treatment in vitro has also been demonstrated to modulate levels of the systemic inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), as well as inhibit the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation and vasodilation of vascular endothelium. Vitamin D may enhance the induction of the antimicrobial peptides, cathelicidin and b-defensin, which have been described on mucosal and epithelial surfaces acting as the body's first line of defense against viral and bacterial pathogens. Vitamin D supplementation may divert attention from relatively simple, natural, and low-costmethods of preventing severe sepsis and septic shock. Further prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trials of adjunctive vitamin D therapy in patients who are vitamin D deficient are needed in the management of human sepsis syndrome.

Erectile dysfunction and depression in patients with chronic lead poisoning

In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and chronic lead intoxication (CLI) as well as the role of depression in this relationship. We compared the findings of 26 male patients with CLI and 24 male patients as the control group between November 2008 and January 2009. The blood lead levels and smoking index of patients were evaluated for both groups. The International Index of Erectile Dysfunction-erectile function domain (EFD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were obtained and reviewed in both groups. The mean blood lead levels of patients in the CLI and control groups were 42.1 and 3.2 μg dl(-1) respectively (P < 0.01). The mean interval of lead exposure of patients in CLI group was 71.5 (6-360) months. EFD scores of patients in CLI group were significantly lower, and number of patients with ED in CLI group was statistically higher (P < 0.05). BDI scores of patients in CLI group were significantly higher (P < 0.05). We detected a mildly negative and statistically significant relationship between the EFD scores and blood lead levels (r = -0.453 and P < 0.05). Our results showed that the increased frequency of ED is an independent factor in CLI group.