Crocin attenuates oxidative and inflammatory stress-related periodontitis in cardiac tissues in rats

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the supporting tissues around the teeth, causes significant inflammatory and oxidative changes in cardiac tissue. Crocin is the active constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron) which has antioxidant properties and is protective against cardiovascular disturbances.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of crocin on periodontitis-induced oxidative/inflammatory cardiac degeneration in rats in vivo.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, periodontitis group (PD) and periodonditis plus crocin group (PD+Cr). Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing silk ligatures on the maxillary second molar teeth for 30 days. Afterward, crocin (100 mg/kg body weight/day) was administered to the PD+Cr group and saline was administered to the PD group and the control group for 15 days. The subjects were sacrificed on the 45th day.

RESULTS

Histological and biochemical analyses demonstrated that inducing periodontitis caused obvious damage to cardiac tissues which was significantly ameliorated by crocin (p < 0.05). Significant improvements in bone resorption parameters (cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen and bone alkaline phosphatase) were also observed in the PD+Cr group (p < 0.05). In addition, crocin caused significant reductions of malondialdehyde levels and total oxidant score while antioxidant levels (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant score, and catalase) were significantly higher in PD+Cr group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that periodontitis may cause oxidative damage in cardiac tissue and crocin improves periodontitis-induced degenerative changes in heart tissue, which is associated with its antioxidant properties.

Cut-off points for height, weight and body mass index adjusted bioimpedance analysis measurements of muscle mass with use of different threshold definitions

AIM

Low muscle mass (LMM) is a prerequisite to define sarcopenia. We aimed to report muscle-mass reference cut-off points adjusted for height and weight as muscle-mass threshold best discriminating muscle-weakness and adjusted for body mass index (BMI) significantly lower than that of healthy young population.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We included young adults between 18 and 39 years and community dwelling older adults 60-99 years of age. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was used to assess skeletal muscle mass. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) adjusted for height, weight, BMI were calculated [SMMI (height), SMMI (weight), SMMI (BMI)]. Handgrip strength was evaluated with Jamar hydraulic dynamometer for muscle-strength. SMMI (height) and SMMI (weight) cut-offs that predict low muscle-strength were calculated with receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Low muscle-strength was evaluated by three different thresholds, i.e. 32 kg/22 kg, 30 kg/20 kg, 26 kg/16 kg in males/females. SMMI (BMI) cut-offs were calculated as "mean young SMMI (BMI)-two standard deviation."

RESULTS

The young and older reference groups included 301 and 992 individuals, respectively. LMM cut-points for SMMI (height) were (i) 10.8 vs. 8.9 kg/m² for 32/22 kg; 10.8 vs. 9.4 kg/m² for 30/20 kg and 11.1 vs. 8.9 kg/m² for the 26/16 kg thresholds, in males and females, respectively. LMM cut-points for the SMMI (weight) were 40.6% and 33.2% for the all three studied muscle-strength thresholds for males and females, respectively. For all the analyses sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were not sufficiently high in both genders. The SMMI (BMI) cut-points were 1.049 vs. 0.823 kg/BMI for males and females, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We presented the very first cut-off thresholds for muscle-mass adjusted by height and weight that best discriminate muscle-weakness in the older adults and by BMI that is significantly lower than that of healthy young population. This study suggests that correlation between total skeletal muscle mass measured by BIA (either adjusted for height or weight) and muscle strength is low.

A stimulus rate that is not influenced by homosynaptic post-activation depression in chronic stroke

PURPOSE

To determine a stimulus rate that is not influenced by homosynaptic post-activation depression for H-reflex studies in patients with chronic spasticity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of 15 chronic stroke patients with soleus spasticity who received inpatient treatment at our rehabilitation centre participated in this study. The effect of stimulus frequency related depression on H-reflex size was tested using four different stimulus rates (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 1 Hz). The affected sides stibial nerve was stimulated by a bipolar electrode. The H-reflex was recorded from the affected sideed sidee sidehe affected smine stimulus frequency related depression of H-reflex size, amplitude of the first H-reflex response (H₁) was used as control and amplitude of the second H-reflex response (H₂) as test.

RESULTS

H₂ amplitude for frequency of 1 Hz, 0.3 Hz, 0.2 Hz and 0.1 Hz were 74.3, 84.1, 85.5 and 92.7% of H₁, respectively. Depression of H₂ amplitude was statistically significant for 1 Hz, 0.3 Hz and 0.2 Hz (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.024, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher frequency stimulation of Ia afferents than 0.1 Hz induced a stimulus frequency-related depression of H-reflex size in patients with chronic spasticity. The optimal stimulus rate for H-reflex was found to be 0.1 Hz.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of home based or hospital based calisthenic exercises in patients with multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of calisthenic exercises on balance, walking speed, fatigue, quality of life, and psychological status in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty patients diagnosed with MS were randomized into two exercise groups (group 1 = hospital-based, group 2 = home-based). Outcome measures including the MS International Quality of Life Scale, 10-meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Inventory were assessed at the baseline and at 12-weeks.

RESULTS

Thirty-six participants completed the exercise programme (hospital based = 16, home based = 20). The mean age was 32.83 ± 3.64 years. The mean duration of disease was 6.97 ± 3.15 years. Hospital-based and home-based exercise groups had significant improvements in the balance, 10-meter walking test, anxiety, and the quality of life after the 12-week exercise programme. There was a significant improvement in the hospital-based patients in terms of the depression scores. No significant improvement was observed in terms of fatigue in any of the groups. When both groups were compared, the improvement in the balance and depression scores of the hospital-based patients was significantly higher than the home-based patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Calisthenic exercises can be easily performed both at home and in hospital setting. In patients with MS, calisthenic exercises performed at home or at the hospital may improve the balance, quality of life, and the functional and psychological status, while no significant effect has been observed on fatigue.