Abnormalities of lipid metabolism such as the increase of serum triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level and decrease of HDL-cholesterol may be the contributing factors in the development of NASH. The decrease in apo AI and the increase in LDL and Lp (a) in patients were correlated with liver fibrosis. Apo AI may be a serum marker for liver fibrosis in patients with NASH.

One of the common lethal complications of septic shock, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with severe trauma and so on, is acute lung injury. alpha-Lipoic acid (ALA), with antioxidant properties, is a popular agent. Thus, we investigated the potential protective effects of ALA (200 mg/kg) on sepsis-induced acute lung injury. Rats were exposed to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce sepsis. Rat groups were designed as (a) sham operated, (b) sham operated + ALA treated, (c) CLP applied, (d) CLP + ALA treated. Sixteen hours after CLP induction, serum samples and lung tissues were obtained for biochemical and histopathological examination. alpha-Lipoic acid decreased the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, which increased after CLP. Increased activity of nuclear factor kappaB in septic lung tissues was decreased by ALA. alpha-Lipoic acid improved the decreased antioxidant activity and alleviated the increased oxidant activity, which occurred after CLP application. We can suggest that ALA showed beneficial effects by decreasing nuclear factor kappaB activation in lung tissues, resulting in decreased serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and also increasing the antioxidant capacity of the lungs.

No abstract

Intraperitoneal instillation of saline and sodium chromoglycate decreased pelvic adhesion formation significantly in a rabbit model. Addition of aprotinin and dexamethasone to these agents gave a further advantage in decreasing pelvic adhesion formation.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of heavy orthopaedic forces, produced by rapid maxillary expansion, on pulpal tissue of pre-molar teeth. Teeth extracted as part of an orthodontic treatment plan, an average of 3 months, 6 months and 18 months after rapid maxillary expansion, were analysed using histopathological techniques. Control teeth were extracted, for orthodontic reasons, before any force treatment. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the results from the three treatment groups and one control group. Vessel diameter, haemorrhage, congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration varied between groups, and the differences between the control and 3-month groups, and the 3-month and 18-month groups were most significant. In conclusion, orthopaedic forces exerted by rapid maxillary expansion caused reversible vascular changes in pulpal tissue of upper pre-molar teeth.

We studied the relationship between petrous ganglion cells of the GPN and water vesicles of CP in the early and late phases of SAH, and found that CP vesicles are increased in the early phase of SAH due to irritation of GPN, and decreased in the late phase due to ischemic insult of the petrous ganglion and parasympathetic innervation of the CP.

There is currently substantial clinical interest in zinc (Zn) as a protective agent against radiation-related normal tissue injury. To further assess this drug's potential, the effect of Zn was studied in rats using a radiation-induced skin injury model. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 received neither Zn nor irradiation (control group). Group 2 received 30 Gy of gamma irradiation as a single dose to the right hind legs of the rats (RT Group). Groups 3 and 4 received the same irradiation plus 5 mg/kg/day Zn (RT+5 Zn group) or 10 mg/kg/day Zn orally (RT+10 Zn group), respectively. The rats were irradiated using a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. Acute skin reactions were assessed every three days by two independent radiation oncology experts. At the endpoint of the study, light-microscopic findings were assessed by two independent expert pathology physicians. Clinically and histopathologically, irradiation increased dermatitis when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The severity of radiodermatitis of the rats in the RT+5 Zn and RT+10 Zn groups was significantly lower than in the RT group (p < 0.05); radiodermatitis was seen earlier in the RT group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Zn was found to be efficacious in preventing epidermal atrophy, dermal degeneration such as edema and collagen fiber loss, and hair follicle atrophy. The most protection for radiation dermatitis was observed in the RT+10 Zn group. It would be worthwhile studying the effects of zinc sulphate supplements in radiation-treated cancer patients, in the hope of reducing radiation-induced toxicity.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone marrow grafted percutanously has an effect on the healing of bony defects filled with bone-derived xenografts. Materials and Methods: Eighty New Zealand albino rabbits with anaverage age of approximately 1 year were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 20 animals. Bony defect was induced in the ulnas of all rabbits by excising a 1-cm-long bone segment from the 3-cm proximal segment of the right distal radioulnar joint. Bone defects were treated simultaneously with bovine-derived xenograft, a combination of xenograft and bone marrow or on the 5th day following the filling of the segment with the xenograft and autogenous bone graft. Treatment results obtained for each application type were compared with each other with regard to the radiological, biochemical and histological criteria. Results: No significant statistical differences were determined between the groups in their 15th-day radiographs. The group treated with only xenograft from the first month onwards presented with the worst results and was significantly different from the other groups with respect to all evaluation criteria. No statistically significant difference was determined between rabbits treated with xenograft and bone marrow combination and with autogenous bone graft. Conclusions: This study revealed that when xenografts are combined with autologous bone marrow, their incorporation into the host bed accelerates significantly.