Does vitamin C prevent the effects of high dose dexmedetomidine on rat erythrocyte deformability?

PURPOSE

Dexmedetomidine is an anesthetic agent frequently used for sedation at the intensive care units and during general anesthesia. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether vitamin C prevents the effect of high dose dexmedetomidine on erythrocyte deformability in rats.

METHODS

The study was performed on 21 male rats, with 7 rats in each study groups and the control group. The rats in the study groups were treated with intraperitoneal dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg) and intraperitoneal dexmedetomidine plus Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) (100 mg/kg ascorbic acid administered 1 hour before administration of 10 µg/kg dexmedetomidine), respectively. Intraperitoneal physiological saline was administered in the control group. Erythrocyte packs were prepared using heparinized total blood samples. Deformability measurements were done by erythrocyte suspensions in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer. A constant flow filtrometer system was used to measure erythrocyte deformability and the relative resistance was calculated.

RESULTS

Erythrocyte deformability was significantly higher in dexmedetomidine group than in control and vitamin C plus dexmedetomidine groups (p=0.003, p=0.013, respectively). Erythrocyte deformability indexes were found similar in the control group and in the vitamin C plus dexmedetomidine group (p=0.383).

CONCLUSIONS

High dose dexmedetomidine may cause functional deterioration in blood flow and tissue perfusion with negative effects in erythrocyte deformability. Vitamin C supplementation seems to reverse those negative effects and variations in erythrocyte deformability. However, our preliminary results should be confirmed in wider serious of experimental and clinical trials (Fig. 1, Ref. 27).

Magnetic resonance imaging of the clivus and its age-related changes in the bone marrow

Background

The clivus is a bone region between dorsum cella and foramen magnum. It can be evaluated very clearly in routine brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dueto its central location.

Objectives

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the clivus and its changes according to age in a group of healthy people.

Patients and Methods

The transition of clival bone marrow to fatty marrow by the increasein age is examined by MRI in 105 men and 105 women who had no clival and bone marrow pathology on MRI. The clivus/pons, clivus/CSF intensity values and clival bone marrow imaging patterns according to age groups were prospectively evaluated using a 1.5 Tesla MR device.

Results

When age groups were individually compared, there were meaningful statistical differences both in men and women in terms of clivus/CSF and clivus/pons intensity ratios (both Ps < 0.05). Clivus/pons and clivus/CSF intensity ratios were found to be increased with age in all cases. The distribution of age groups according to stages in all individuals was statistically meaningful (P < 0.05). When the appearance patterns of both genders in every ten-fold age were examined, stage III bone marrow was observed more in elder ages.

Conclusions

As a result, besides the fact that standard ranges determined for clivus/CSF, clivus/pons intensity ratios according to age may be used in the assessment of potential pathological cases involving bone marrow; they can also be leading in the diagnosis of bone marrow diseases when taken into consideration together with clinical and laboratory data.

First Report of a Root Rot Caused by Phytophthora palmivora on Lavandula angustifolia in Turkey

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) has been considered an alternative crop to tobacco in Hatay Province of Turkey because of its great production potential. As a new, nonnative crop, diseases and pests of lavender are not well known in the region. In summer 2010, root rot symptoms were observed with an average incidence of 45% in a 2-year-old lavender nursery in Hatay. Initial symptoms of chlorosis and wilting were followed by progressive death of the plants starting at the shoot tips. An oomycetous species was isolated consistently from the stems and roots of diseased plants on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with several fungicides and antibiotics. The culture of the single-zoospore isolate produced arachnoid growth on PDA. Chlamydospores of the isolate were approximately 35.0 μm in diameter. The isolate produced papillate, caduceus, hyaline sporangia in different shapes ranging from spherical to ellipsoidal. Sporangia with short pedicels (5 μm) were 35.0 to 57.5 × 27.5 to 42.5 μm with a length/width ratio of 1.2 to 1.8. On the basis of symptoms and morphology of the organism, the pathogen was identified as Phytophthora palmivora (E.J. Butler) E.J. Butler (3). Identification of the isolate was also confirmed by comparison of the sequence of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with reference isolates. The ITS region of rDNA was amplified by PCR with primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JF777117). BLAST analysis of the sequence obtained showed a 99 to 100% homology with P. palmivora. Pathogenicity tests were performed on 12 greenhouse-grown 2-year-old lavender plants in 2-liter pots containing a steamed sand/peat/soil mixture. After rooting, the plants were inoculated by placing mycelial plugs from a 1-week-old culture of the isolate into an incision made at the base of each plant. Control plants were treated with plugs of sterile PDA. Inoculated plants were kept at 27°C for 5 weeks. Similar symptoms developed on the inoculated plants within 4 weeks after inoculation. P. palmivora was consistently reisolated from symptomatic plants. No symptoms developed on control plants. P. palmivora attacks a wide range of crop species including lavenders (1,2,4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a root rot caused by P. palmivora, a new pathogen of lavender in Turkey. References: (1) S. Davino et al. Plant Dis. 86:561, 2002. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St Paul, MN, 1996. (3) D. J. Stamps. C.M.I. Descr. Fungi Bact. 831:1, 1985. (4) G. A. Torres et al. Plant Dis. 94:1163, 2010.

Evaluation of erythrocyte deformability in experimentally induced osteoporosis in female rats and the effects of vitamin C supplementation on erythrocyte deformability

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible variations in antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte deformability in experimentally induced osteoporosis in female rats and to assess the effects of vitamin C supplementation on those variations.

MATERIAL

A total of 20 female Wistar Albino Rats were randomized into the three groups as controls (Group C, n = 6), ovariectomized rats (Group O, n = 7) and ovariectomized rats receiving vitamin C supplementation (Group OVC, n = 7). After the surgical procedure of ovariectomy, group OVC received 1 g ascorbic acid in 500 mL water daily. After 100 days following the ovariectomy, bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

BMD was significantly lower in the group O than in the group C (p = 0.015), whereas it was significantly higher in the group OVC than in the group O (p = 0.003). MDA activity was significantly higher in the group O than in the group C (p = 0.032), whereas it was significantly lower in the group OVC than in the group O (p = 0.025). SOD activity was significantly higher in the group O than in the group C (p = 0.032). Erythrocyte deformability was significantly higher in the group O than in the group C and OVC (p = 0.008, p = 0.021, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Erythrocyte deformability may show negative variations, suggesting a causative role in disruption of blood flow and tissue perfusion, which also negatively affect bone metabolism. Vitamin C supplementation seems to reverse those negative effects of variations in erythrocyte deformability. However, our preliminary results should be confirmed in more experimental studies and clinical trials (Tab. 3, Ref. 28).

Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting with a small dose of propofol combined with dexamethasone 4 mg or dexamethasone 8 mg in patients undergoing middle ear surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after middle ear surgery. We have aimed to compare the administration of a subhypnotic dose of propofol with dexamethasone 4 mg or 8 mg and placebo in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after middle ear surgery.

METHOD

This clinical research was performed at Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital Kirikkale. The study included 105 adult patients scheduled for a middle ear operation. The patients were randomly assigned into three groups. The patients in Group I received propofol in a dose of 0.5 mg x kg(-1) plus 4 mg of dexamethasone while Group II was administered with propofol in a dose of 0.5 mg x kg(-1) plus 8 mg of dexamethasone, and Group III was given 0.9% saline solution. Within the framework of the study we evaluated the number of patients suffering from nausea and vomiting at 0-4, 4-12, and 12-24 hours postoperatively, and the necessity to use additional antiemetics.

RESULTS

The comparison of data showed that at up to four hours, the incidence of vomiting was 28.6% in Group 1, 22.9% in Group II, and 65.7% in Group III. The incidence rates in Group I and Group II were significantly lower than that in Group III (p < 0.05), while the rate of antiemetic drug usage was higher in Group III than in Group I and Group II (p < 0.05). The Nausea Vomiting Scale scores were also significantly higher in Group III than in Group I and Group II (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the values at 4-12 and 12-24 hours.

CONCLUSION

The administration of a subhypnotic dose of propofol plus 4 mg of dexamethasone at the end of surgery was found to be at least as effective as propofol plus 8 mg of dexamethasone in preventing the PONV in the early postoperative period in adult patients undergoing middle ear surgery (Tab. 4, Ref. 34).

Association of polymorphisms in the IL-18 and IL-12 genes with susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes in Turkish patients

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have indicated that polymorphisms of the interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin- 12 (IL-12) genes are associated with the development of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in some populations, but not all.

AIM

The present study was designed to examine the roles of polymorphisms in the IL-18 promoter and IL-12p40 with respect to susceptibility to T1DM in Turkish patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Ninety-one patients with T1DM and 87 unrelated healthy subjects were included in the study. The IL-18 polymorphisms at positions -607 and -137 were detected by a sequence-specific PCR method. The single nucleotide polymorphism in the IL-12p40 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) at position +1188 was analyzed by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFPL) method.

RESULTS

The allelic and genotypic frequencies of the IL-18 and IL-12p40 polymorphisms did not differ significantly between subjects with T1DM and the controls (p>0.05). However, diabetic patients with the -137 (CC) genotype showed a younger onset age compared to patients with the -137 (GG) genotype (p=0.02). In addition, patients with the -607 (CC) genotype had higher levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) than patients with the -607 (AC) genotype (p=0.004). Furthermore, patients with the IL-12p40 (AC) genotype had higher HbA(1c) levels than patients with the IL-12p40 (AA) genotype (p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study show that the IL- 18 and IL-12p40 polymorphisms may have some effect on the onset age and deterioration of glycemic control in Turkish patients with T1DM.

An Unusual Cause of Haematuria: Renal Arteriovenous Malformation Mimicking Caliceal Dilatation at Ultrasonography

We report a 37-year-old woman admitted to the emergency service with macroscopic haematuria and flank pain due to renal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Ultrasonography showed apparent dilatation of the left renal caliceal system, whereas intravenous pyelography (IVP) demonstrated multinodular pelvicaliceal impressions with no caliceal dilatation. The final diagnosis was established with conventional angiography. Renal AVM may mimic caliceal dilatation on ultrasonography. Demonstration of multinodular pelvicaliceal impressions at IVP and lack of caliceal dilatation are clues for the correct diagnosis in this particular situation.

Thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy: is topical local anaesthesia beneficial?

OBJECTIVE

Thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy (TFNAB) is the gold standard in the differential diagnosis of the thyroid nodules. In general, no analgesia is needed before this procedure. However, it is usually believed that the patients may be more comfortable if the procedure is performed under local anaesthetics. In this study, we examined the impact of the use of dermal anaesthetic on the patient's level of discomfort during palpation-guided TFNAB.

METHODS

Fifty female patients with nodular goitre were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomised into two groups: a placebo cream was applied to group 1 patients (25 females; mean age 47.45 +/- 11.61 years), and local anaesthesia (EMLA 5% cream) was applied to group 2 patients (25 females; mean age 50.89 +/- 12.01 years) approximately 1 h before TFNAB. All patients were asked to mark the pain they felt during the TFNAB on Visual Analogue Scale.

RESULTS

The pain scores during TFNAB were 27.73 +/- 20.01 mm and 24.79 +/- 21.98 mm in the placebo group and in the EMLA group respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.496).

CONCLUSIONS

Topical anaesthesia before palpation-guided TFNAB provides no benefit.

CA 72-4 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

CA 72-4 is one of the blood group carbohydrate antigens which can be used as a tumour marker in ovarian, pancreatic and gastrointestinal carcinomas. It can also be elevated in various benign conditions including pancreatitis. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder related with the pancreas. In this study, we investigated CA 72-4 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and its relation to the metabolic status.

METHODS

Sixty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (female/male = 40/29) and 60 healthy subjects (female/male = 35/25) participated in this study. The levels of serum CA 72-4 were measured and faecal occult blood tests (following 3 days of white diet were obtained for three consecutive days) were performed in all patients. Patients had a pathological finding for any of these two parameters were further investigated with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy and computerised tomography.

RESULTS

The mean levels of CA 72-4 was 1.89 +/- 2.61 U/ml in the study group and 1.4 +/- 0.98 U/ml in the control group (p > 0.05). There was no association between CA 72-4 levels and age and sex of the patients, duration of diabetes, body mass index, biochemical indicators of metabolic control (the levels of HbA(1c), fasting and postprandial glucose, serum lipids), the presence of microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy) or treatment modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of CA 72-4 in diabetic patients are not related to diabetes and it should be interpreted as evaluated in a non-diabetic patient.

Intermittent Microwave-convective Air Drying of Oregano

Effectiveness of intermittent microwave-convective air drying (IMWC) was investigated and compared to continuous microwave-convective air drying (CMWC) and convective air drying for oregano. Both CMWC and IMWC increased the drying rate of oregano compared to convective drying. The CMWC and IMWC were 12.7-14.0 and 4.7-11.2 times more energy efficient in drying than convective drying, respectively. The highest essential oil contents were obtained from convective drying at 40 °C and 45 °C. However, these treatments had the longest drying time and the highest energy consumption. The CMWC yielded the lowest essential oil content and resulted in an extreme change in the essential oil composition. The IMWC, except with the pulse ratio of 3.0, resulted in similar essential oil content compared to convective drying at 50 °C and shade drying. No identical result was found among the prevailing compounds of essential oil of oregano obtained from shade drying, convective drying and IMWC. Both CMWC and IMWC did not yield acceptable results of product color. However, in terms of essential oil content and quality, the IMWC at 25 °C room temperature with the pulse ratio of 5.0 was judged as the most suitable drying method for oregano due to its rational drying time and energy consumption compared to CMWC drying, convective air dying, and shade drying.

Testicular development and establishment of spermatogenesis in Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls

Fifteen longitudinally reared Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) were slaughtered at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 mo of age (n=3 per group) to observe testicular development and to examine qualitatively the establishment of spermatogenesis. With the age held constant, scrotal circumference and testes weight were correlated (0.95; P<0.05). Testes weight increased from 3.5+/-0.7 at 1 mo of age to 185+/-30g at 24 mo of age. Seminiferous tubules diameter developed in a linear fashion (57microm at 1 mo and 178microm at 24 mo), and the lumen formed at 12 mo of age. Differentiation of basal indifferent supporting cells to Sertoli cells started at 6 mo, and formation of Sertoli cells completed near 12 mo of age. Gonocytes predominated at 1 mo, but by 12 mo, most had been replaced by spermatogonia, thus rapid proliferation of tubular contents occurred at 12 mo (testes weight=75g). Spermatocytes were first observed at 12 mo, and their number increased through 18 and 24 mo. Establishment of spermatogenesis, as reflected by appearance of significant number of spermatids, occurred by 18 mo of age (testes weight 122g). Thus, the establishment of spermatogenesis was progressive from birth, and marked changes were observed during the last 6 mo.