Canan Baydemir

The antinociceptive effect and mechanisms of action of pregabalin in mice

BACKGROUNDnPregabalin, a potent anticonvulsant agent, is used in treatment-resistant epileptic patients. It is reported that pregabalin also has analgesic effect in different pain syndromes. However, there is limited data on its antinociceptive mechanisms of action. We aimed to investigate the central and peripheral antinociceptive effects of pregabalin and the contribution of nitrergic, serotonergic, and opioidergic pathways in mice.nnnMETHODSnWe used tail flick, tail clip and hot plate tests to investigate the central antinociceptive effects and acetic acid-induced writhing test to assess peripheral antinociceptive effects of pregabalin (10, 30, 100mg/kg). We also combined pregabalin (100mg/kg) with, a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-NAME (100mg/kg), a serotonin receptor antagonist cyproheptadine (50 μg/kg), and an opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (1mg/kg).nnnRESULTSnPregabalin 30 mg/kg enhanced the percentage of maximal possible effect (% MPE) in tail flick test. Pregabalin 100mg/kg significantly increased % MPE in tail clip and tail flick tests and decreased the number of writhings. Pregabalin made no significant alteration in hot plate test at all doses. The combined use of pregabalin 100mg/kg with l-NAME, cyproheptadine, and naloxone showed that % MPE was reduced only in the combination of pregabalin with naloxone and solely in tail clip test while no significant difference was observed in writhing test.nnnCONCLUSIONSnWe suggest that pregabalin (30 and 100mg/kg) presents central spinal but not central supraspinal antinociceptive effect and pregabalin 100mg/kg shows peripheral antinociceptive effect. The opioidergic pathway seems to mediate the central spinal antinociceptive effect of pregabalin while nitrergic and serotonergic pathways are not involved.

Short- and long-term results of clinical effectiveness of sodium hyaluronate injection in supraspinatus tendinitis

The objective of the study is to evaluate the short- and long-term effect of intraarticular sodium hyaluronate (SH) application in patients diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinitis (ST) that have shoulder pain on the clinical symptoms of the patients through comparison with conventional physiotherapy methods. A total of 24 patients were included in the study and were randomized into two groups.SH injection and physical therapy modalities (PTM) were administered to Group I and Group II, respectively. Home exercise programs were recommended to all of the patients in both groups. The patients were evaluated using the pain severity [Visual Analog Scale (VAS)], range of motion and functional evaluation (FE) parameters pertaining to pre-treatment, 3rd week, 3rd month and 4th year post-treatment. Patient’s global effectiveness (PGE) evaluation was performed in the 3rd month and 4th year of the treatment. There were no statistically significant differences for Group I’s resting VAS value between pre-treatment controls and controls in the 3rd week and 3rd month, no statistically significant differences were detected for Group II in passive flexion between pre-treatment and the 4th year, also in passive external rotation between pre-treatment and 3rd week (Pxa0>xa00.05). A statistically significant recovery was detected in both groups in all the other evaluation parameters (Pxa0<xa00.05). When evaluation was performed among groups, active abduction in the control in the 3rd month, VAS by movement and a statistically significant difference in favor of Group I in FE were determined (Pxa0<xa00.05). No statistically significant differences were found among groups in PGE (Pxa0>xa00.05). It was concluded that physical therapy modalities and SH application supplemented by home exercise programs were similar effects in short- and long term for ST which causes pain in shoulder and SH application may be a better alternative with regard to effectiveness and side effects for other treatment methods applied intraarticulary.

Anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effect of leptin on CCl4-induced acute liver injury in rats

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of leptin in rats on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver damage using immunohistochemical methods for apoptosis and biochemical parameters. In this experimental study, 18 Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into three groups viz; control, CCl4 and CCl4+leptin treatment. 0.8xa0ml/kg olive oil was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) to the control group and 0.8xa0ml/kg CCl4 (1:1 dissolved in olive oil) was administered i.p. to the CCl4 and CCl4+leptin treatment groups, respectively. After 6xa0h of administrating CCl4, CCl4+leptin treatment group was given i.p. leptin (10xa0μg/kg). Twenty-four hours after administrating CCl4 all of the groups were euthanized. Biochemical assessments were performed using serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), and TNF-α levels. Histological assessments were then performed using Hematoxylin&Eosin (H&E) staining in light microscope and apoptosis assessment using Terminal Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL)-staining. Serum AST, ALT, ALP and plasma TNF-α levels, tissue MDA and TNF-α levels had all increased in CCl4 group, but were found to be significantly decreased in CCl4+leptin treatment group. Moreover, TUNEL-positive cell counts in liver had significantly increased in CCl4 group, but decreased in CCl4+leptin treatment group (Pxa0<xa00.05). The results of our study the biochemical, histological and TUNEL-staining showed that leptin has treatment effects on liver CCl4 induced injury. It plays a role as a potent free radical scavenger, a powerful antioxidant and it also has anti-apoptotic effects.

Attitudes toward and factors affecting influenza vaccination among physicians and nurses of a tertiary-care hospital in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

Abstract Aim: Similar to most international health care organizations, the Turkish Ministry of Health strongly recommends influenza vaccination for health care professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the vaccination rates and attitudes of physicians and nurses during the 2011 to 2012 seasonal influenza vaccination at a tertiary–care hospital of the Turkish Ministry of Health. Methods: This was a descriptive cross–sectional study. The study participants were physicians and nurses working at the Konya Training and Research Hospital, located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. Self–reported (anonymous) questionnaires were given to 192 physicians and 411 nurses (N = 603) who agreed to participate between November 1 and 30, 2011. Frequencies, percentages, chi–square tests, and logistic regression tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: Women comprised 64.1% (n = 387) of the participants, and 63% (n = 380) of participants had been working for ≥ 5 years. The seasonal influenza vaccination rate for all participants during the 2011 to 2012 season was 16.7% (n = 101). Although 9.5% (n= 57) of the study group had a chronic disease, 71.9% (n = 41) did not receive influenza vaccination (P < 0.05). Additionally, 40.8% (n = 240) reported ≥ 2 cases of influenza annually, and 82.9% (n = 204) had not been vaccinated. For 12.9% (n = 78) of participants, influenza caused absenteeism from work. Approximately 45% (n = 271) of participants had never been vaccinated, 27% (n = 163) were vaccinated in 2010, and 21.2% (n = 128) planned on being vaccinated in 2012. Among the vaccinated group, 56.4% (n = 57) experienced no side effects, 29.7% (n = 30) experienced local side effects, and 22.8% (n = 23) developed influenza–like syndrome. Conclusion: Similar to other studies in the literature, vaccination rates were not at the desired level. According to our Hospital Infection Committee reports, vaccination rates at our hospital were lower compared with vaccination rates of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The underlying causes of health care professionals abstaining from influenza vaccination should be further evaluated.

Efficiacy of resveratrol and quercetin after experimental spinal cord injury

BACKGROUNDnThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of natural antioxidants resveratrol and quercetin on oxidative stress and secondary cell damage in rats with acute spinal cord injury.nnnMETHODSnIn this experimental study, 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Spinal cord injury was performed with clip compression method at level of T4-5. The study was conducted using 6 groups: control, trauma, trauma and solvent, trauma and resveratrol, trauma and quercetin, and trauma with combined resveratrol and quercetin. All rats were euthanized 48 hours after the procedure. Effects of resveratrol and quercetin on serum and tissue total antioxidant capacity and paraoxanase activity level were examined.nnnRESULTSnCompared to trauma group, there was a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity and paraoxanase activity level in resveratrol, quercetin, and combined treatment groups. There was no significant difference between resveratrol and quercetin groups with regard to total antioxidant capacity and paraoxanase activity level. Total antioxidant capacity and paraoxanase activity level were significantly higher in solvent group than trauma group. In histopathological evaluation, there was a decrease in polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration in solvent, resveratrol, quercetin, and combined treatment groups.nnnCONCLUSIONnBiochemical and histological staining results of present study showed that resveratrol and quercetin may be effective in preventing secondary damage in spinal cord injury.

Determination of the position on which the median nerve compression is at the lowest in carpal tunnel syndrome and clinical effectiveness of custom splint application

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of wrist splint usage arranged by determining the optimal position on which the median nerve is compressed the least through sonographic examination for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This study was a prospective, clinical trial with a 6-week follow-up. Twenty-four patients diagnosed clinically and electromyographically with CTS were included in the study. A total of 37 wrists were studied on. When the patients were grouped according to the optimal position, Group I comprising 16 (43.24%) wrists was at 15 degree flexion, Group II comprising 12 (32.43%) wrists was neutral, Group III comprising 6 (16.22%) wrists was at 15° extension and Group IV comprising 3 (8.11%) wrists was at 30° extension configurations. Groups I, II and III were included in clinical follow-up. Symptom severity score (SSS), functional status score (FSS), Grip strength and Pinch strength were used for the clinical follow-up and evaluation of the patients. When pre- and post-treatment were compared, a statistically significant recovery was detected in all three groups in respect to SSS (Group I Pxa0<xa00.01, Group II Pxa0<xa00.05, Group III Pxa0<xa00.05). A statistically significant recovery was detected for FSS only in Group I (Pxa0<xa00.05) and for Grip strength in Group II (Pxa0<xa00.05). When the groups were compared among themselves, no statistically significant difference was detected for any of the parameters (Pxa0>xa00.05). In this study, by sonographic examination of the patients included in the study with CTS, we saw that the optimal position on which the median nerve is compressed the least varies depending on the individual and we determined that this position was 15° flexion most frequently for our patients. We also observed that in clinical follow-up of wrist splint usage arranged on custom optimal position results in significant recovery.