Rupture of the Prepubic Tendon in a Quadruplet Pregnant Romanov Ewe

 A case of prepubic tendon rupture in a Romanov ewe in which four live lambs were removed by cesarean section is presented. A three-year-old ewe, on the 142±3 days of the second gestation was brought to the Siirt University Animal Health Application and Research Center with a sudden downward expansion of the abdomen during the last one day.  When ewe was examined reluctance to locomotion, mild depression, tachycardia, tachypnea and abdominal peculiar enlargement on the left side more than right side were noticed. Because of this case was detected early the general condition was not so bad and clinical examination revealed that swelling was non-painful and non-edematous. Ultrasonography was performed to detect viability of the fetuses, and to eliminate possibility of hernia of the abdominal muscles. Based on anamnesis, abdominal palpation, and clinical examination, this case was diagnosed with prepubic tendon rupture. The prognosis of saving the lives of ewe and fetuses depends on successfully handling all aspects of the case in the last period of pregnancy. Although it is not possible to repair the abdominal integrity surgically in cases of prepubic tendon rupture in the ewe, a planned cesarean operation is indicated to increase the survival rates of both ewe and lambs. 

Key Elements of Gingival Epithelial Homeostasis upon Bacterial Interaction

Epithelia are structurally integral elements in the fabric of oral mucosa with significant functional roles. Similarly, the gingival epithelium performs uniquely critical tasks in responding to a variety of external stimuli and dangers through the regulation of specific built-in molecular mechanisms in a context-dependent fashion at cellular levels. Gingival epithelial cells form an anatomic architecture that confers defense, robustness, and adaptation toward external aggressions, most critically to colonizing microorganisms, among other functions. Accordingly, recent studies unraveled previously uncharacterized response mechanisms in gingival epithelial cells that are constructed to rapidly exert biocidal effects against invader pathobiotic bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, through small danger molecule signaling. The host-adapted bacteria, however, have developed adroit strategies to 1) exploit the epithelia as privileged growth niches and 2) chronically target cellular bactericidal and homeostatic metabolic pathways for successful bacterial persistence. As the overgrowth of colonizing microorganisms in the gingival mucosa can shift from homeostasis to dysbiosis or a diseased state, it is crucial to understand how the innate modulatory molecules are intricately involved in antibacterial pathways and how they shape susceptibility versus resistance in the epithelium toward pathogens. Thus, in this review, we highlight recent discoveries in gingival epithelial cell research in the context of bacterial colonizers. The current knowledge outlined here demonstrates the ability of epithelial cells to possess highly organized defense machineries, which can jointly regulate host-derived danger molecule signaling and integrate specific global responses against opportunistic bacteria to combat microbial incursion and maintain host homeostatic balance. These novel examples collectively suggest that the oral epithelia are equipped with a dynamically robust and interconnected defense system encompassing sensors and various effector molecules that arrange and achieve a fine-tuned and advanced response to diverse bacteria.

AB0960 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CAREGIVER BURDEN AND UPPER LIMB-NECK DISABILITY AND PAIN IN BABY CAREGIVERS

Background:

Although caregiving is a normal part of being a parent of a young child, it is still unclear whether caregiving causes upper limb or neck disability in the caregiver.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between caregiver burden and upper limb-neck disabilities and pain in baby caregivers.

Methods:

Sixty caregivers who are responsible for the caregiving of a 0-2 year old healthy baby, were included in this study. Physical characteristics and the gender of the caregivers were recorded. Caregiver burden was assessed by the Zarit Burden Interview; upper limb problems by DASH and neck problems by the Neck Disability Index and Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire. In addition, pain severity related to neck and upper limb was evaluated by using Visual Analog Scale over a 10 level scale.

Results:

The mean age of the caregivers was 30.96 ± 6.43 year. The mean body mass index of the caregivers was 23.34 ± 3.29 indicating normal body composition. Height and weight were 163.75 ± 6.01 and 62.55 ± 8.98, respectively. Ninety-five percent of the caregivers were mother and the others were the babysitter. A weak relationship was determined between the Zarit Burden Interview and DASH (p=0.02, r=0.2), while no relationship was found between caregiver burden and other assessments. Caregivers were found to have very low pain severity in the upper limb and neck.

Conclusion:

It has been previously reported that caregiving for a disabled child or adult causes care burden and various musculoskeletal disorders1-4. Current study demonstrated that giving care for a healthy child did not create care burden, and caused lower levels of pain in the upper limb and neck.

References:

[1]Santos, M. T. B. R., Biancardi, M., Guare, R. O., & Jardim, J. R. (2010). Caries prevalence in patients with cerebral palsy and the burden of caring for them.Special Care in Dentistry,30(5), 206-210.

[2]Sharan, D., Ajeesh, P. S., Rameshkumar, R., & Manjula, M. (2012). Musculoskeletal disorders in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy following a multilevel surgery.Work,41(Supplement 1), 1891-1895.

[3]Akosile, C. O., Okoye, E. C., Adegoke, B. O. A., Mbada, C. E., Maruf, F. A., & Okeke, I. A. (2013). Burden, health and quality of life of Nigerian stroke caregivers.Health Care Current Reviews,1(1), 105.

[4]Darragh, A. R., Sommerich, C. M., Lavender, S. A., Tanner, K. J., Vogel, K., & Campo, M. (2015). Musculoskeletal discomfort, physical demand, and caregiving activities in informal caregivers.Journal of Applied Gerontology,34(6), 734-760.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Chemical compositions, radical scavenging capacities and antimicrobial activities in seeds of Satureja hortensis L. and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata from Turkey

The present study determined some biological compounds, radical scavenging activity and antimicrobial capacity in seeds of Satureja hortensis L. and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata. Alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 n3) has been found to be the major polyunsaturated fatty acid of Satureja hortensis L. (66.24 ± 1.24%) and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata (48.17 ± 1.01%). Linoleic acid (C18:2 n6) is identified as the second major polyunsaturated fatty acid in the present study and oleic acid (C18:1 n9) is determined as the major monounsaturated fatty acid. Current study showed that Satureja hortensis L. and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata have low levels of saturated fatty acids. It has been demonstrated that ergosterol (263.1 ± 2.14 µg/g), stigmasterol (39.07 ± 0.91 µg/g) and beta-sitosterol (14.64 ± 0.49 µg/g) have been found in Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata, while ergosterol (69.41 ± 1.75 µg/g) and beta-sitosterol (19.81 ± 1.14 µg/g) have been determined in Satureja hortensis L. Also, this study determined that Satureja hortensis L. and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata have low lipide-soluble vitamin content. Furthermore, it has been found that Satureja hortensis L. contains naringenin (612.57 ± 2.57 µg/g), morin (86.97 ± 1.12 µg/g), quercetin (22.87 ± 0.75 µg/g), and kaempferol (20.11 ± 0.94 µg/g) while naringenin (135.91 ± 1.91 µg/g), naringin (61.23 ± 2.15 µg/g) and quercetin (47.51 ± 1.17 µg/g) have been detected as major flavonoids in the seeds of Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata. The results of the present study suggest that methanol extracts of Satureja hortensis L. and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata have significant free radical scavenging activity. The present results revealed that Satureja hortensis L. and Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata showed major activity against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, fungi and yeast.

Comparison of icodextrin with thymoquinone: A new hope for postoperative adhesions

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of thymoquinone and icodextrin in rats within the framework of an experimental adhesion model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were separated into three groups: (1) a control group consisting of rats that had 2 ml of isotonic solution administered intraperitoneally, (2) an ICO group administered with 2 ml of 4% icodextrin, and (3) a TQ group administered thymoquinone (10 mg/kg), all following cecal abrasion. The three groups underwent a reoperation on the 7th postoperative day. Hydroxyproline levels were analyzed in the resected adhesive tissues, and histopathological investigations were conducted. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses.

RESULTS

Fewer postoperative adhesions were observed in the ICO and TQ groups compared with the control group. A comparison of the TQ and ICO groups revealed lowers levels of postoperative adhesions in the TQ group. Compared with the control group, malondialdehyde, 8-OH-deoxyguanosine/deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG/10dG), Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and CoenzymeQ10/reduced CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10/CoQ10H) values were found to be lower in the TQ and ICO groups. When the TQ and ICO groups were compared with respect to their biochemical parameters, the results for all of the four parameters were found to be statistically significantly lower in the TQ group (P < 0.000). The levels of hydroxyproline in the control, ICO, and TQ groups were found to be (mean ± standard deviation) 502.25 ± 90.39 μg/g, 342.13 ± 66.61 μg/g, and 287.88 ± 49.59 μg/g, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A comparison of the antiadhesive effects of thymoquinone and icodextrin revealed thymoquinone to be more effective. These results indicate that thymoquinone is an efficient and strong antiadhesive molecule.

Potential of Laurencia obtusa as a substrate for the development of a probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Laurencia obtusa (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) has tremendous nutritional value, being high in proteins, oligosaccharides, vitamins, essential minerals, and fatty acids, and it is a rich source of amino acids and trace elements. In this study, L. obtusa was extracted and subjected to phenolic, sugar and flavonoid analyses.The fatty acid, vitamin and phytosterol contents in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated when it was incubated with L. obtusa dry biomass. The fatty acids in the lipid extract were analysed after converting them into methyl esters using gas chromatography, and vitamin concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to the achieved results, the total fatty acid levels and vitamin contents of the S. cerevisiae prepared with algal extract increased at different rates. Our results showed that α-tocopherol decreased in the group in which the S. cerevisiae was added the algal extract. When compared to the control group, ergesterol increased in the group in which L. obtusa extract was added. Additionally, when compared to the control group in which L. obtusa extract was added, stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) increased in the other groups. Palmitoleic acid (16:1) increased in the L. obtusa culture medium, but palmitic acid decreased in the L. obtusa culture medium. In conclusion, it was determined that the L. obtusa extract added to the development medium of S. cerevisiae caused differences in the synthesis of some vitamins and fatty acids.

Unenhanced respiratory-navigated NATIVE® TrueFISP magnetic resonance angiography in the evaluation of renal arteries: Comparison with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

PURPOSE

To compare unenhanced three-dimensional (3D) NATIVE^® true fast imaging with steady-state precession (TrueFISP) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with the more conventional MR angiography technique obtained after intravenous administration of a gadolinium chelate in the evaluation of renal arteries and their branches in patients with suspected renal artery stenosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 39 patients (25 men, 14 women) with a mean age of 51.4±17.5years (SD) (range: 10-82years) were included in the study. All patients with suspected renal artery stenosis underwent unenhanced 3D NATIVE^® TrueFISP MR angiography and contrast-enhanced MR angiography. The two MR angiography methods were compared by two independent readers for image quality using a four-point scale, diagnostic performance and grading of renal artery stenosis on a total of 78 renal arteries.

RESULTS

For both readers image quality of unenhanced 3D NATIVE^® TrueFISP MR angiography (3.12 to 3.63) was greater than that of contrast-enhanced MR angiography (1.94 to 2.71) for renal artery ostium-trunk and the left renal artery segmental branches. The sensitivity of 3D NATIVE^® TrueFISP MR angiography for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis was 100% for both readers for the right renal artery and 66% and 80% for the left renal artery for reader 1 and reader 2, respectively. Agreement between 3D NATIVE^® TrueFISP MR angiography and CE-MR angiography was 95% (74/78) for reader 1 and 92% (72/78) for reader 2.

CONCLUSION

Unenhanced NATIVE^® TrueFISP magnetic resonance angiography can play an additional role in the evaluation of renal arteries in patients with hypertension, especially in subjects at risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

The compromise of dynamic disulfide/thiol homeostasis as a biomarker of oxidative stress in trichloroethylene exposure

In this study, we aimed to investigate disulfide/thiol homeostasis in trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure. The study was carried out in 30 nonsmoker TCE-exposed workers with a variety of occupations. Additionally, 30 healthy nonsmoker volunteers were recruited as the control group. TCE exposure was determined by measuring urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentration. Median urinary TCA levels of exposed workers (20.5 mg/L) were significantly higher than control subjects (5 mg/L). Thiol and disulfide concentrations were determined using a novel automated method. Disulfide/thiol ratio was significantly higher in the exposed group ( p < 0.001). Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was found to be disturbed in TCE-exposed workers. We predict that in TCE-exposed workers this disturbance can be a therapeutic target, and the efficiency of the treatment can easily be monitored by the novel method we used.

Lower cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript levels pose a risk for developing PCOS

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is an anorectic neuropeptide abundantly expressed in the central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems, as well as in several different endocrine cell types. Besides regulating food intake and endocrine function, it is also proposed to modulate ovarian function during follicular waves in cattle and has potent inhibitory effects on follicular development. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), presenting itself with multiple follicular ovarian cysts, is the most common endocrinological disorder among women of reproductive age. Here we aimed to investigate the association of this peptide with PCOS. Our research was designed as a case-control study, in which a total of 148 subjects (73 with PCOS and 75 age- and BMI-matched CONTROLS) were consecutively recruited. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipids, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, CART, and free testosterone levels were measured in all participants. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. CART levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with PCOS (PCOS: 90.77 ± 5.98 pg/ml,

CONTROLS

93.24 ± 8.17 pg/ml, p=0.038). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that CART was significantly and negatively correlated with BMI and waist circumference in both (PCOS and control) groups. In CONTROLS only, CART was positively correlated with insulin and HOMA-IR, and negatively correlated with FBG. Logistic regression analysis results are suggestive of a possible protective effect of CART against PCOS (OR: 0.94, 95% CI=0.888-0.997, p=0.038).

Antimicrobial and Biological Effects of Bomphos and Phomphos on Bacterial and Yeast Cells

In this study, the antimicrobial effects of monophosphazenes such as SM, BOMPHOS, and PHOMPHOS were examined on bacterial and yeast strains. In addition, the biological effects of these compounds were tested on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans cells. The SM has an antimicrobial effect on the bacterial and yeast strains within the range of 100 and 1500 µg. When the concentration was increased, the inhibition zone expanded on the growth media (P < 0.01; P < 0.001). Like SM, BOMPHOS molecule has antimicrobial activity on the bacterial and yeast cells. The most effective concentrations of BOMPHOS on the microorganisms were observed by 1500 µg (P < 0.001). The PHOMPHOS did not effect on the bacterial and yeast cells between 100 and 1000 range, but it has an antimicrobial effect in 1500 µg. In vitro media, the biological effects of these molecules were compared with vitamin E, melatonin, and fish oil on the yeast cells. In S. cerevisiae growth media, the cell densities were increased SM, BOMPHOS, and PHOMPHOS after 20, 30, and 45 h. The highest increase in the cell density were observed in media of BOMPHOS. In C. albicans growth media, the cell density was increased by melatonin after 20, 30, and 45 h, but were decreased by other supplemental groups. Lipid level of S. cerevisiae was reduced by administered 300 and 1000 µg vitamin E and fish oil (P < 0.01). In addition, the lipid level of the same yeast cell were diminished by the 1000 µg melatonin and 300 µg PHOMPHOS (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The lipid level of C. albicans were increased by vitamin E and BOMPHOS and fish oil, but was decreased with PHOMPHOS (P < 0.01). In conclusion, while high concentration of PHOMPHOS has antimicrobial effects on the bacterial and yeast cells, the SM and BOMPHOS have antimicrobial effects in all the concentrations. PHOMPHOS decreased the lipid level of C. albicans, but BOMPHOS increased in the the same yeast cell. In addition, the antioxidants such as vitamin E, melatonin, and fish oils have affected on the lipid synthesis of yeast cells. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.