Sepsis leads to systemic hypotension, disturbed perfusion, in ammation and tissue toxicity in vital organs. Neuropeptide W (NPW) has modulatory effects in the control of blood pressure and in ammatory processes, implicating a potential bene cial effect against sepsis-induced oxidative damage. Under anesthesia, male Sprague Dawley rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture. Immediately after surgery, either saline or TNF-alpha inhibitor (etanercept; 1 mg/kg) antibiotic (ceftriaxon; 100 mg/kg) combination or NPW (0.1, 1 or 3 µg/kg) was given subcutaneously, and injections were repeated at 12th and 24th h.The sham-operated control group was treated with saline at the same time points. All rats were euthanized at the 25th h of surgery. Sepsis resulted in oxidative damage of the brain, heart, lung, liver and kidney. Elevations in blood urea nitrogen and alkaline phosphatase, showing renal and hepatic dysfunction, were not evident when septic rats were treated with NPW. NPW reduced serum levels of Creactive protein, corticosterone and interleukin-6, while histopathologically veri ed tissue damage in all the studied tissues was ameliorated. NPW treatment suppressed lipid peroxidation in the heart, lung and brain, and the depleted antioxidant GSH levels of the brain and heart were replenished by NPW. Moreover, sepsis-related neutrophil recruitment to liver and lung was also suppressed by NPW. Although survival rate of the rats was not signi cantly prolonged by NPW, most of these improvements in systemic and local in ammatory events were comparable with those reached by the etanercept and antibiotic combination, suggesting the therapeutic impact of NPW during the acute period of sepsis.

We aim to investigate the role and biological mechanisms of the weekend warrior (WW) exercise model on depression‑induced rats in comparison to the continuous exercise (CE) model. Sedentary, WW, and CE rats were subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS) procedure. CMS and exercise protocols continued for six weeks. Anhedonia was evaluated by sucrose preference, depressive behavior by Porsolt, cognitive functions by object recognition and passive avoidance, and anxiety levels by open field and elevated plus maze. After behavioral assessments, brain tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and GSH content, tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), interleukin‑6 (IL‑6), IL‑1β, cortisol and brain‑derived neurotrophic factor levels and histological damage was assessed. CMS‑induced depression‑like outcomes with increases in anhedonia and decreases in cognitive measures that are rescued with both exercise models. The increased immobilization time in the Porsolt test was decreased with only WW. Exercise also normalized the suppression of antioxidant capacity and MPO increase induced by CMS in both exercise models. MDA levels also declined with both exercise models. Anxiety‑like behavior, cortisol levels, and histological damage scores were exacerbated with depression and improved by both exercise models. TNF‑α levels were depleted with both exercise models, and IL‑6 only with WW. WW was as protective as CE in CMS‑induced depression‑like cognitive and behavioral changes via suppressing inflammatory processes and improving antioxidant capacity.

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Introduction Vasospasm is a major problem following microsurgical reconstruction which can result in the partial or complete loss of the flap tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of hydrodilatation for the prevention of vasospasm. Material and Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were used for this experimental study. Femoral arteries of were exposed, photographed, and transected. In group 1, group 2, and group 3 papaverine solution, hydrodilatation, and minimal mechanical dilatation (control group) was performed, respectively. The anastomosis was completed and the arteries were photographed again 10 minutes after completion of the anastomosis. Following 7-day period samples for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy were obtained. Results The mean vessel diameters prior to transection were 0.43, 0.45, and 0.52 mm in the papaverine, hydrodilatation, and control groups, respectively. The mean vessel diameter 10 minutes following the completion of anastomosis was 0.76, 0.75, and 0.51 mm in the papaverine, hydrodilatation, and control groups, respectively. Median score for papaverine group regarding histological parameters of regular endothelial lining and lumen, neutrophil infiltration, vascular congestion, and edema in tunica adventitia was 2, 3, 2, and 3 positive, respectively. Median score for the papaverine group regarding histological parameters of regular endothelial lining and lumen, neutrophil infiltration, vascular congestion, and edema in tunica adventitia was 3, 3, 3, and 3 positive, respectively. All the histological scores were negative in the control group. The difference between the control group and the experiment groups 1 and 2 was significant regarding all four histological parameters (p < 0.05). Conclusion Hydrodilatation and papaverine application were both effective in preventing vasospasm following microsurgical intervention but papaverine caused slightly less damage to the endothelial lining and less edema in the tunica adventitia when compared with the hydrodilatation. Hydrodilatation group showed a vasodilatory effect that was statistically similar to that of papaverine, which has a proven efficacy.