Protective effect of oxytocin through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant role in a model of sepsis-induced acute lung injury: Demonstrated by CT and histological findings

Although several studies demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of oxytocin in different pathophysiological processes, there are limited data describing the impact of oxytocin on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to elucidate the protective effect of oxytocin in ARDS with histopathological evaluation and radiological imaging in addition to biochemical markers.

Fecal intraperitoneal injection procedure (FIP) was performed on 24 of 32 rats included in the study for creating a sepsis model. Rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (no procedure was applied, n = 8), untreated septic group [was operated (FIP) and received no treatment, n = 8], placebo group (FIP, treated with 10 ml/kg of saline at once, n = 8), and treated group (FIP, treated with 0.1 mg/kg of oxytocin at once, n = 8). Chest CT was performed for all rats 20 hours after the procedure and density of the lungs were measured manually by using HU. All animals were sacrificed for histopathological examination of lung damage and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis.

Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), lactic acid (LA), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1-beta (IL 1-β) levels were significantly increased in the placebo (FIP + saline) and the untreated (FIP) groups, and plasma levels of all biomarkers were reversed by oxytocin. Further, the density of the lung parenchyma (Hounsfield unit) on CT images and the histopathological lung damage score values were closer to the control group in the oxytocin-treated group compared to the placebo group.

Our findings suggested that oxytocin could exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and protective effects in FIP-induced ARDS.

Possibility of Taking an Offensive Stance in Extravasation Injury: Effects of Fat Injection in Vesicant (Doxorubicin) Induced Skin Necrosis Model in Rats

INTRODUCTION

Extravasation injuries are one of the most feared complications of intravenous drug administration. The most common drugs associated with extravasation injury include chemotherapy agents and contrast media. Natural course of vesicant extravasation is discomfort, pain, swelling, inflammation, and ultimately skin ulceration. While diligence is the principle approach in prevention, immediate bed-side measures are as important in controlling the extent of tissue damage. Various options, either medical or interventional are next steps in treatment of the condition including antidotes, volume dilution, flushing, suction, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

12 male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups; one group received fat injections following subdermal doxorubicin infiltration in their right thighs, while other group received saline injection following subdermal doxorubicin infiltration in their right thighs for dilution. Left thighs of both groups were left untreated following subdermal doxorubicin infiltration. Total area of necrosis, as well as resultant epidermal thicknesses were assessed. Histological analyses were conducted using modified Verhofstad scoring system for comparison.

RESULTS

Mean necrotic area was significantly smaller in the fat injection group compared to other groups. Median Verhofstad score was lesser in the fat injection group as well. Median epidermal thickness, on the other hand, was greater in the fat injection group.

CONCLUSION

Injection of fat grafts following vesicant extravasation might be beneficial in preventing the progression of tissue damage, if employed early.

Evaluation of the effects of Ankaferd hemostat application on bone regeneration in rats with calvarial defects: histochemical, immunohistochemical and scintigraphic study

BACKGROUND

Bone wax, a hemostatic agent, is widely used in craniospinal surgical procedures for a long time, inspite of controversial results regarding its negative influence upon bone regeneration. In this experimental study, the effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), as an alternative hemostatic agent, were evaluated through histochemical, immunohistochemical and scintigraphic studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total of 30 adult female Wistar-Albino rats was randomly divided into three groups: intact control group (n=10), bone wax group (n=10), and ABS group (n=10). Surgically, a 3.0 mm hole in diameter was drilled on the right side of calvarium of the rats using a Class Mini Grinder set in all three groups, as described previously. At the end of 8 weeks, bone healing and connective tissue alterations surrounding drilled calvarial defect areas of the rats were determined via Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and the Mallory's trichrome staining and anti-bone sialoprotein (BSP) immunohistochemistry. Image Pro Express 4.5 program was used for histomorphometric calculation of new bone and fibrotic tissue areas. All statistical analyzes were made with SPSS 25.0 and analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post hoc test was performed, p<0.001 was considered as significance level.

RESULTS

Histomorphometrically, it was found that he had the largest hole diameter and the least fibrotic scar area in the bone-wax group. In the bone wax group, it was observed that the material closed the hole and there was only a fibrotic scar tissue in the area between the bone tissue at the edge of the hole and bone wax, and a fibrotic tissue was formed in the bone wax area. During the histological procedure, this bone-wax material was poured and the sections were seen as a gap in this area. In the ABS hemostat group, the smallest hole diameter and the least fibrotic scar tissue were observed. Fibrotic scar tissue close to each other was found in the ABS hemostat and bone wax groups. Histological analysis of samples also showed a statistical significance for fibrotic connective tissue area between groups (p <0.05). Scintigraphically, osteoblastic activity related to blood flow in the animal taken from the group with application of ABS hemostat was more pronounced compared to the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, it has been concluded that the ABS yields affirmative effects on the bone healing, while bone wax leads to negative impact on the bone regeneration. Scintigraphic, histochemical and immunohistochemical data support the affirmative impact of the ABS hemostat application upon the bone regeneration apart from the quick stop of hemorrhage.

The influence of functional pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin application on healing of burr hole in adult rat calvaria: a histological and immunohistochemical study

BACKGROUND

Even today, repair of the cranial defects still represents a significant challenge in neurosurgery and various options have been used for their reconstruction to date. but there are very few studies investigating the effects of exogenous administration of melatonin (MEL) as an agent that promotes bone regeneration. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of functional pinealectomy (Px) and exogenous MEL administration on the bone repair properties and surrounding connective tissue alterations in a rat calvaria model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total of 30 adult female Wistar-Albino rats was randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control (CO) group (12 h light/12 h dark exposure), functional Px group (24 h light exposure, light-induced functional Px), and Px+MEL group (light-induced Px plus MEL, 20 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks). Critical-sized burr-hole defects (diameter = 3.0 mm) were surgically created by a single operator in the calvarium of all rats, using an electric drill. Animals in Px+MEL group received MEL 20 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, bone healing and connective tissue alterations surrounding drilled defect area in the rat calvaria were determined in hematoxylin/eosin-stained and mallory azan slices applied in anti-bone sialoprotein (BSP). Image Pro Express 4.5 program was used for histomorphometric calculation of areas of new bone and fibrotic tissue. Normality control was performed by Shapiro Wilk test. Variance homogeneities were examined by Shapiro Wilk and Levene tests; Tukey HSD test was used as a post hoc method since there was no homogeneity problem. All hypothesis tests were performed at the 0.05 significance level.

RESULTS

Histological analysis showed that the bone repair process in the Px+MEL group was similar to that of the CO group, whereas the functional Px group showed a delay. Histomorphometrically, it was found that the Px group had the largest hole diameter and the most fibrotic scar area, although no binary statistical significance was found between the CO and Px+MEL groups (p=0.910). In terms of vascularization, it was observed that the most vascular structure was found in the Px+MEL group among the scar tissue and ossification areas, while the vascularization was the least in the Px group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed that bone repair process was impaired in functional Px group, but exogenous MEL replacement was able to restore this response. Thus, it is concluded that utilization of MEL may improve the bone repair in calvarial defects.

Preparation of Ethanol Extract of Propolis Loaded Niosome Formulation and Evaluation of Effects on Different Cancer Cell Lines

Propolis is a candidate for cancer treatment with its activity against different tumor cells and, has a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities due to the diversity of its components. In this study, antitumorigenic activities of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) and ethanol extract of propolis loaded niosome (PLN) were compared using 2D and 3D cell culture. Niosome formulations were prepared by thin film hydration technique. Cell viability of EEP and PLN was analyzed on MCF7, A549, MDA-MB-231, SK-MEL, SK-BR-3, DU145 and L-929 cell lines using MTT assay. L929, MCF7 and A549 cells were cultured using the 3D petri dish technique and their spherical forms were obtained after 142 h. After 24 h, PLN and EEP application, cell viability analysis was performed on 3D cultures with WST assay. As a result, niosome formulations containing EEP showed higher activity than ethanol extract of propolis in cancer cells. While a slow decrease was observed in cell viability in EEP treated cancer cells, it was observed that the percentage viability rates decreased in a shorter time in PLN treated cancer cells. Also, PLN can be used as an anticancer activity drug such as Doxorubicin, but this is not the case for EEP.

Effects of Silk Sericin on Incision Wound Healing in a Dorsal Skin Flap Wound Healing Rat Model

Background

The wound healing process is complex and still poorly understood. Sericin is a silk protein synthesized by silk worms (Bombyx mori). The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo wound healing effects of a sericin-containing gel formulation in an incision wound model in rats.

Material/Methods

Twenty-eight Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 4 groups (n=7). No intervention or treatment was applied to the Intact control group. For other groups, a dorsal skin flap (9×3 cm) was drawn and pulled up with sharp dissection. The Sham operated group received no treatment. The Placebo group received placebo gel without sericin applied to the incision area once a day from day 0 to day 9. The Sericin Group 3 received 1% sericin gel applied to the incision area once a day from day 0 to day 9. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was applied for histological analysis and Mallory-Azan staining was applied for histoimmunochemical analysis of antibodies and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), and desmin was applied to paraffin sections of skin wound specimens. Parameters of oxidative stress were measured in the wound area.

Results

Epidermal thickness and vascularization were increased, and hair root degeneration, edema, cellular infiltration, collagen discoloration, and necrosis were decreased in Sericin group in comparison to the Placebo group and the Sham operated group. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels were decreased, but superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were increased in the sericin group.

Conclusions

We found that sericin had significant positive effects on wound healing and antioxidant activity. Sericin-based formulations can improve healing of incision wounds.

Incision wound healing activity of pine bark extract containing topical formulations: a study with histopathological and biochemical analyses in albino rats

The present study was designed to identify and compare the in vivo wound healing capacity of a bark extract from Pinus brutia and Pycnogenol in an incision wound model in rats. O/W cream formulations were prepared incorporating 2% Pycnogenol and P. brutia bark extract. The rats were divided into three groups (n = 8). Subsequently placebo and test formulations were applied to animals once a day from day "0" until the 9th day. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were studied in addition to histopathological examinations. Treatment with F. brutia extract containing cream inhibited lipid peroxidation by a 35% decrease in MDA and 46.8% increase in SOD activity, whereas 19.3% decrease in MDA and 34.7% increase in SOD activity were attained with Pynogenol compared to control. The histological data revealed a better performance of P. brutia extract enriched formulation in terms of degeneration of hair roots, increased vascularization and a decrease in necrotic area. Consequently, a high wound healing activity was observed in animals treated with P. brutia extract significantly accelerating the wound healing process.

Novel application of Eudragit RL and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate to thermo-sensitive drug delivery system

The Eudragit RL 100 and propylene glycol (PG) membranes with and without cholesteryl oleyl carbonate (COC) were prepared by the solvent casting method to pioneer a novel application of a thermo-sensitive drug delivery system. After that, the properties of these membranes were investigated by thermal, scanning, and porosity studies. Drug permeation studies through all membranes were carried out using salbuthamol sulphate (SBS) at constant temperatures (25°C and 37°C), respectively. The permeability of SBS through the membranes with COC has been shown to be a discontinuous function of temperature, that is, their permeability increased steeply above the phase transition temperature (37°C) of the COC. The thermo-sensitive permeation mechanism for the membranes might be based on the structure change of the membranes caused by the phase transition, so that the membranes could absorb more water. Considering the high biological safety of Eudragit RL 100 and PG membranes with and without COC might be used to develop a novel thermo-sensitive drug delivery system.

Correlation and in vitro studies on radioactive and nonradioactive albendazole-beta-cyclodextrin complex tablets

The work aims to confirm the complexation of albendazole (ABZ) by beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), and to compare them with pure ABZ tablets using radioactive and nonradioactive dissolution studies. The complex tablets were prepared by kneading a binary mixture of ABZ and beta-CD and a direct compression method. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were examined to prove the formation of complexes in the final products. The radiolabelled tablets were labelled with 99mTc-DTPA. Dissolution studies were performed with radiolabelled and nonradiolabelled tablets in two dissolution media (pH 1.2 and pH 7.4). The tablets were added to an acidic solution (pH = 1.2) to quantify the concentration of the drug inside the beta-CD cavity. The other medium (pH = 7.4) was used to prove the existence of non-complexed drug in each powder, as the drug's solubility increases with pH. It was observed that complexation occurred in all tablets, and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) could increase the aqueous solubility. Further, a correlation was shown between dissolution results for radiolabelled and nonradiolabelled tablets. This study shows that the characterization studies were a good indicator for the ABZ: beta-CD complex. According to the phase solubility studies, the solubility of ABZ increased when the amount of beta-CD increased, and drug release from tablets in pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 media was dramatically improved by the addition of beta-CD compared with the pure ABZ tablet.

Novel microparticle drug delivery systems based on chitosan and Eudragit® RSPM to enhance diltiazem hydrochloride release property

The aim of this study was to enhance the release properties of diltiazem hydrochloride (diltiazem HCl) by using microparticle system. For this reason, microparticle drug delivery systems based on chitosan and Eudragit(®)RSPM were developed. The microparticles were prepared by using double-emulsion solvent extraction method and the mean sizes of microparticles were less than 120 µm. The in vitro drug release from microparticles was studied in simulated gastric (pH 1.2) and intestinal media (pH 7.4) than the results were evaluated by kinetically. In vitro diltiazem HCl release from microparticles showed good zero order kinetic. For the microparticles with chitosan, the release of diltiazem HCl at pH 1.2 could be effectively sustained, while the release of diltiazem HCl increased at pH 7.4 when compared to Eudragit(®)RSPM microparticles. The highest release percent obtained was 1:1 ratio of drug: polymer at pH 1.2 and 7.4. All results clearly suggest that the release properties of diltiazem HCl were improved by using microparticle systems especially which contain chitosan.

Efficacy of sulphasalazine on lung histopathology in a murine model of chronic asthma

Sulphasalazine is a specific inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) which plays a key role in asthma. To determine the impact of sulphasalazine in the treatment of chronic asthma, BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Mice with experimentally induced asthma in group I received saline, group II sulphasalazine 200 mg/kg, group III sulphasalazine 300 mg/kg, and group IV dexamethasone 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally once a day in the last 7 days of the challenge period. Histological findings of the airways were evaluated by light and electron microscopies. Dexamethasone and sulphasalazine in both doses significantly improved all airway histopathologic parameters of asthma except numbers of goblet cells. Both doses of sulphasalazine improved thicknesses of basement membrane better than dexamethasone. Dexamethasone reduced the number of mast cells better than sulphasalazine (200 mg/kg). Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of sulphasalazine in the treatment of asthma.