Therapeutic effects of cinnamon bark oil on sciatic nerve injury in rats

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cinnamon bark essential oil (CBO) on analgesia, motor activity, balance, and coordination in rats with sciatic nerve damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were divided into three groups as simply randomized. The right sciatic nerve (RSN) of the Sham group was explored. Only vehicle solution was applied for 28 days. The RSN of the sciatic nerve injury (SNI) group was explored. Damage was created by unilateral clamping, and vehicle solution was applied for 28 days. The RSN of the sciatic nerve injury+cinnamon bark essential oil (SNI+CBO) group was explored. SNI was created by unilateral clamping and CBO was applied for 28 days. In the experiment study, motor activity, balance, and coordination measurements were made with rotarod and accelerod tests. A hot plate test was performed for analgesia measurements. Histopathology studies were carried out with the sciatic nerve tissues.

RESULTS

In the rotarod test, there was a statistically significant difference between the SNI group and the SNI+CBO group (p<0.05). According to the accelerod test findings, there was a statistically significant difference between the SNI group with the Sham and SNI+CBO groups. In the hot plate test, there was a statistically significant difference between the SNI group with the Sham and SNI+CBO groups (p<0.05). In comparison to the Sham group and the SNI group, the SNI+CBO group was shown to have the greatest expression level of vimentin.

CONCLUSIONS

We have concluded that CBO can be used as an adjuvant treatment in cases of SNI, increased pain, nociception, impaired balance, motor activity, and coordination. Our results will be supported by further studies.

Monitoring of near-infrared spectrum values during packed red blood cell transfusion in pediatric intensive care unit

OBJECTIVES

Packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion is one of the most common treatment options in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) which targets a better cerebral oxygenation. This study aimed to show the cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (cNIRS) changes during PRBC transfusions in PICU.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this prospective observational study, changes in regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) in pediatric patients, who required PRBC transfusion were monitored. All the cNIRS and related values were classified as baseline values. The same values were measured and calculated at the end of transfusion and named as 4th-hour values. Further measurements and calculations were made three hours later and named as 7th-hour values. Changes in cNIRS, cerebral tissue fractional oxygen extraction (CTFOE), cNIRS variability index (cNIRS-VI) were compared using Friedman test.

RESULTS

A total of 53 PRBC transfusions were monitored. Baseline haemoglobin increased from 6.3 (5.9, 6.7) gr/dL to 8.6 (8.4, 9) gr/dL at the 7th-hour. cNIRS values improved during transfusion (P=0.012), with a concomitant decrease in cNIRS-VI and CTFOE values (P<0.001 and P=0.017 consecutively) CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that there is an increase in cNIRS and related values after transfusion compared to baseline values in critically ill children admitted to a PICU. Age of PRBC did not have an effect on delta-cNIRS or post-transfusion hemoglobin values. There is a moderate correlation between the baseline cNIRS values and delta-cNIRS value after the transfusion.

SIRT4 prevents excitotoxicity via modulating glutamate metabolism in glioma cells

Excitotoxicity is the presence of excessive glutamate, which is normally taken up by glutamate transporters on astrocytes. Glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) is the major transporter on glia cells clearing more than 90% of the glutamate. Sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) is a mitochondrial sirtuin which is expressed in the brain. Previously, it was shown that loss of SIRT4 leads to a more severe reaction to kainic acid, an excitotoxic agent, and also decreased GLT-1 expression in the brain. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether overexpression of SIRT4 is protective against excitotoxicity in glia cells. We overexpressed SIRT4 in A172 glioma cell line and treated with kainic acid in order to induce excitotoxicity. We observed that SIRT4 overexpression increased the cell viability after kainic acid treatment. In addition, reduced glutamate was detected in glutamate assay with overexpression of SIRT4 after kainic acid treatment since SIRT4 decreased cell death by preventing excitotoxicity. Our results show that overexpression of SIRT4 increased the protein levels of GLT-1 and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) after kainic acid (KA) treatment so that excess glutamate can be absorbed. However, overexpression of SIRT4 decreased glutamine synthetase (GS) levels. These results demonstrate that, by inhibiting GS, SIRT4 prevents glutamine formation, which will be converted to glutamate in neurons. SIRT4 prevents excitotoxicity via upregulating glutamate metabolism. Finally, our results may show that SIRT4 might prevent excitotoxicity and related cell death via reducing GS expression and upregulating GLT-1 and GDH levels. Therefore, it is important to develop therapeutics against excitotoxicity through SIRT4-related pathways in the cell.

Evaluation of maxillary sinus septa: a retrospective clinical study with cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence, height, location, orientation, and type of maxillary sinus septa in atrophic, non-atrophic, and partially atrophic maxillary segments using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on a retrospective evaluation of CBCT images of 1000 maxillary sinus with 500 subjects from December 2009 to December 2012. The differences among gender, left and right side of maxillary sinus, type of crest and feature of septa were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 297 septa was recorded in 1000 maxillary sinuses (29.7%) with a mean height was 4.62±2.50 mm. Forty-four (8.7%) septa were located in the anterior area, 123 (24.5%) in the middle area, and 131 (26.4%) in the posterior area. Seventy maxillary sinus septa (26.1%) were observed with a mediolateral type orientation. There were no significant differences between all features of maxillary sinus septa and gender or type of crest. The only significant association identified was between type of crest and type of septa.

CONCLUSIONS

The maxillary sinus septa exhibited variable characteristics according to orientation and type of crest. CBCT analysis is very important and should be performed before maxillary sinus surgery to prevent possible complications.

PLA2G6 mutations associated with a continuous clinical spectrum from neuroaxonal dystrophy to hereditary spastic paraplegia

PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration (PLAN) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) are 2 groups of heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we report PLA2G6 gene mutations in 3 families from Turkey, Morocco, and Romania. Two affected Turkish siblings presenting HSP adds the disease to PLAN phenotypes. They were homozygous for the PLA2G6 missense c.2239C>T, p.Arg747Trp variant and the ages of onset were 9 and 21. Parkinsonism, dystonia or cognitive decline were not the clinical elements in these patients contrary to the cases that has been previously reported with the same variant, however, iron accumulation was evident in their cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The Moroccan patient was homozygous for a novel missense c.1786C>T, p.Leu596Phe variant and the Romanian patient had 2 novel mutations; c.1898C>T, p.Ala633Val and c.1765_1768del, p.Ser589ThrfsTer76. Both of these patients conformed better to childhood onset PLAN with the age of onset at 4 and 7 years, respectively. Interestingly, all identified mutations were affecting the highly conserved patatin-like phospholipase domain of the PLA2G6 protein.

Identifying and verifying causes of death in Turkey: National verbal autopsy survey

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to identify the national, rural, and urban mortality rates, and to define the medical causes of death for the 0-28 days and 29 days-5 years age groups, as well as adult mortality in Turkey.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey, which identified the causes of death using the verbal autopsy(VA) method, and a methodological study, which determined the validity of the verbal autopsy method was used in conjunction with each other.

METHODS

The verbal autopsy method, based on a representative sampling according to age and gender in Turkey, was used. A methodological study was additionally used, which determined the validity of the VA method.

RESULTS

The crude death rate calculated from the VA survey was 0.51% with rates of 0.60% in males, 0.42% in females, 0.48% in urban areas, and 0.56% in rural areas. Life expectancy at birth was 72.6 years for males and 77.2 years for females. The mean life expectancy at birth for both sexes together was 74.8 years. The VA form has a high degree of validity although no study or form can take the place of a records-based surveillance system with accurate information; the VA form is a useful tool for collecting data during certain periods or specific areas. However, healthcare providers must work towards establishing a well-designed, routine surveillance system in the long term.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality rates and life expectancies were consistent with other similar studies in the country and the Turkish VA method may be safely used to determine causes of death in countries with inadequate record and registry systems.

Unilateral ptosis associated with paramedian thalamiic infarction

The paramedian artery arises from P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery and supplies a variable extent of thalamus but usually the dorsomedian, median, internal medullary lamina and the intralaminar nuclei. The typical clinical picture of unilateral paramedian thalamic infarctions consist of arousal and memory disorders, language or visuospatial disorders depending on the side of the lesion accompanied with gaze palsies and sensory-motor deficits. Ipsilateral ptosis associated with paramedian thalamic infarctions has been rarely reported. We report a 31 years old patient presenting with unilateral ptosis and right sided facial numbness associated with right paramedian thalamic infarction.

Comparison of the efficacy of tigecycline and teicoplanin in an experimental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis model

We evaluated the efficacy of tigecycline and teicoplanin in a rat model of MRSA osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis was induced with an intramedullary injection of 10(8 )colony-forming units (cfu) of MRSA. After osteomyelitis formation was confirmed on Day 14, infected rats were randomly divided into three groups: tigecycline (n=13), teicoplanin (n=13), and no-treatment control (n=14). A 28-day antibiotic therapy with a subcutaneous injection of tigecycline (14 mg/kg twice daily) or intramuscular administration of teicoplanin (20 mg/kg daily) was administered. Rats were then sacrificed, and the tibias were harvested. The bones were weighed and then cultured. Our results indicated that bacterial growth was significantly reduced in teicoplanin and tigecycline groups, compared to the control group (p=0.019 and p=0.006, respectively). However, no difference was detected between the two antibiotic groups (p=1.000). No bacterial growth was detected in 7 out of 13 and 9 out of 13 specimens of the teicoplanin and tigecycline treated groups, respectively. Although this result was numerically in favor of tigecycline, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.427). In conclusion, tigecycline, a novel antibiotic, appears as an effective alternative to teicoplanin in the treatment of osteomyelitis caused by MRSA.

A household study to determine attitudes and beliefs related to organ transplantation and donation: a pilot study in Yapracik Village, Ankara, Turkey

Rural areas display adverse attitudes toward organ donation. Through a population-based cross-sectional study of people 18 years of age or older in the rural area of Ankara, Yapracik Village, Turkey, we identified the attitudes and beliefs of people related to organ transplantation and organ donation. The research universe included 87 people in 75 households. The research instrument was a questionnaire. None of the respondents had been involved in organ donation. The percentage of willingness to donate an organ was 47% which was significantly associated with younger age, including 34.4% who expressed willingness while alive. Twenty-five percent believed that their religion is adverse to transplantation, 28% thought it would create pain in death, 20% were afraid, and 83% believed in life afterwards, 15% said that their custom and usage were adverse to organ donation, 50% stated that they can accept organ donation from other races, and 65% stated that they can request organs from their friends. Eighty percent thought that organ donation is a gift given to a human; 34% of them stated that they can be a donor while they are alive. Fifty-four percent of respondents stated that they wanted to get information about organ donation and transplantation. Therefore basic educational campaigns targeting the increase of knowledge about organ donation are warranted in the rural population. There is a need to increase awareness about organ donation and transplantation. Findings like those in this study will help campaigns conducted for organ donation.

Misoprostol enhances early fracture healing: a preliminary biochemical study on rats

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate if misoprostol, a methyl derivative of prostaglandin E1, enhanced fracture healing in 54 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The base level of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in 6 randomly selected rats was measured. Rats were then randomly separated into 3 groups and their tibias fractured. First and second groups received misoprostol for 4 weeks, 100 and 300 microg/kg/day respectively via oral route. The third group had no misoprostol. p<0.05 was considered significant. Elevation of ALP level in the 2nd week was significant in group 1, it was not in group 2 or 3; in the 4th week it was significant in all groups. In conclusion dosage dependent osteoinductive effect of misoprostol was shown in the early bone healing period. Biochemical findings in the latter period did not show any inhibitory effect of misoprostol on bone healing. Further studies, probably biomechanical, may be required for the final verdict.

The addition of sodium bicarbonate to prilocaine solution during i.v. regional anesthesia

A comparison of plain prilocaine and bicarbonated prilocaine in intravenous regional anesthesia was studied in 30 patients undergoing upper extremity surgery. The patients were divided into two groups: one group was given anesthesia in the form of 1% prilocaine and the other group was given 1% prilocaine plus sodium bicarbonate. The onset of analgesia and anesthesia and recovery from analgesia and anesthesia were investigated in both groups. Bicarbonated prilocaine produced faster onset of analgesia when compared with plain prilocaine (P less than 0.01). The onset of anesthesia and recovery from analgesia and anesthesia were not statistically different between the two groups. Clinically, the intensity of anesthesia was better when bicarbonated prilocaine solution was used instead of plain prilocaine. We conclude that bicarbonated prilocaine is better than plain prilocaine during IVRA.