Summary Inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to play an important role in the induction and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in the recent studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 in the late phase of AP. The study was conducted on 40 male Wistar Albino rats. The animals were divided randomly into four equal groups. AP was induced by the infusion of 3% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct (in groups I and II). Starting on day 20 prior to the induction of AP, rats in group I received daily dose of 100 mg/kg of curcumin, dissolved in 9% ethanol via an intragastric tube. The same procedure was repeated for 6 days following the onset of AP. Group III was infused only on saline solution. Group IV (curcumin control group) received 9% ethanol via an intragastric tube, during the experimental period (totally 26 days). All the animals were sacrificed on day 6 after the collection of blood samples and serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were determined. Tissue samples were taken from pancreas, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, lungs, spleen and the kidneys for histopathological evaluation. Serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in the group, which received curcumin (group I), were determined to be significantly lower than those of the untreated group (group II) (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of total histopathological scores in the treatment group versus untreated group. Curcumin has been shown to markedly reduce serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in the late phase of AP, but failed in the prevention of tissue injury.

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BackgroundPlatelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a leukocyte and platelet concentrate containing many growth factors. Its potential for hard tissue augmentation as a sole grafting material or in combination with other grafting materials has been investigated in many studies.ObjectiveThe aim of this histologic study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRF mixed with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) on bone regeneration in surgically created bone defects.MethodsDefects 5 mm in diameter were created in both tibias of 6 sheep. The defects were left empty or grafted with BCP, PRF, or BCP+PRF. Animals were killed at 10, 20, and 40 days. The specimens underwent histologic and histomorphometric analysis.ResultsNone of the groups displayed any signs of necrosis. Inflammation was observed in all groups at 10 days; 2 specimens of PRF+BCP and all empty defects showed inflammatory cell infiltration at 20 days. During the 40-day evaluation period, the PRF+BCP group showed the highest ratios of new bone. The other 3 groups showed statistically similar results. In the BCP and PRF+BCP groups, the residual graft ratios were decreased at consecutive time intervals. The difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant during follow-up.ConclusionsThe current study revealed a histomorphometric increase in bone formation with the addition of PRF to BCP in surgically created defects in sheep tibia.

In this study, triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) was carried out in a total of 22 dysplastic dogs, of which 9 were treated bilaterally and 13 unilaterally, and the position of the acetabulum was changed in a total of 31 hip joints using a special plate. It was established that, of the treated hip joints, 16 had severe, 12 medium and 3 mild dysplasia, the Norberg angle was between 70&ndash;92&deg; and that the covering rate of the acetabulum over the femoral head changed between 5&ndash;42&deg;. In the radiographs taken immediately after the operation, the covering rate of the acetabulum over the femoral head was determined to be very good in 25 hip joints (75% and over) and good in 6 joints (60&ndash;75%). In 5 cases, some of the screws holding the plate in place were seen to loosen in radiographs. However, this did not have any effect on the angle given to the acetabulum. In radiographs obtained 6&ndash;48 months later, degenerative joint disease was not encountered in 29 cases, with the exception of 2 cases. It was concluded that hip dysplasia, which is a hereditary disease, can be treated reasonably successfully in young dogs with TPO carried out before degenerative changes begin to occur in the joint.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory condition that results from the digestion of pancreatic tissue by its own enzymes released from the acinar cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol on oxidative damage, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and tissue injury involved with AP induced in a rat model using sodium taurocholate (n = 60). There were three treatment groups with 20 rats per group. Groups I and II received 3% sodium taurocholate solution, while group III underwent the same surgical procedure yet did not receive sodium taurocholate. In addition, group II received 30 mg/kg resveratrol solution. Rats were sacrificed at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h time points following the induction of AP. Blood and pancreatic tissue samples were collected and subjected to biochemical assays, Western blot assays, and histopathologic evaluations. Resveratrol did not reduce trypsin levels and prevent tissue damage. Resveratrol prevented IκB degradation (except for 6 h) and decreased nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1) (except for 24 h), and levels of TNF-α, IL-6 (except for 24 h), and iNOS in the pancreatic tissue at all time points (P < 0.05). Serum nitric oxide (NO) levels were reduced as well (P < 0.05). Thus, we concluded that resveratrol did not reduce trypsin levels and did not prevent tissue injury despite the reduction in oxidative damage and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels detected in this model of AP.