Cevat Nisbet

Therapeutic role of curcumin in oxidative DNA damage caused by formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a common environmental contaminant that causes oxidative DNA damage in cells by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OhdG), tumor protein 53(TP53), beta‐amyloid[Aß(1‐42), Aß (1‐40)], total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the therapeutic role of curcumin in rat cells with oxidative DNA damage caused by formaldehyde. Method: The control group was given physiological saline for 15 days (ip) and the second group was given 37% formaldehyde (ip) at a dose of 9 mg/kg group every other day. The third group was given 9 mg/kg formaldehyde (ip) every other day and treated therapeutically with 100 mg/kg curcumin every day by gavage. At the end of the trial period, urine, blood, and brain tissue was collected from the rats. Results: The levels of MDA in sera were increased and the TAC, TP53, and Aß (1−40) levels were reduced in the formaldehyde‐treated group with respect to the control group (p<0.005). After treatment with curcumin, the levels of sera MDA were significantly reduced, the TAC, TP53, and Aß (1‐40) levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The levels of whole brain Aß (1‐42) and 8‐OhdG were increased in the formaldehyde‐treated group and reduced after treatment with curcumin (P < 0.05). Urinary 8‐OhdG excretion increased in the formaldehyde‐treated group (P < 0.05) and decreased after treatment with curcumin (P > 0.05).

Effects of trichophytosis on serum zinc levels in calves

The purpose of this study was to determine the zinc levels in calves with trichophytosis and to research the importance of zinc for fungi. The sera of 20 calves with trichophytosis and 10 healthy calves were used in this study. Zinc levels of the sera were measured by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. Serum zinc levels of diseased and healthy animals were found to be 42.0±16.6 μg/dL and 75.8±5.9 μg/dL, respectively. Serum zinc levels of diseased calves were lower than healthy ones and this difference were found to be important statistically (p<0.001), whereas there is no statistical difference on the levels of lymphocyte, monocyte, granulocyte, erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume between groups. These parameters were not influenced by low zinc levels.

Evaluation of bee venom and hyaluronic acid in the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model.

The aim of this study was to investigate bee venom and hyaluronic acid in the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model. Forty-five rabbits were used and they were randomly divided into three groups (BVI, BVII, and HA) and each group was divided to two subgroups to evaluate the radiologic, magnetic resonance imaging, histopathologic, and biochemical evaluation in post treatment second week (a) and twelfth week (b). Radiologically, a significant difference was observed in the HA group (P<0.05). The MRI evaluation of at any time in group BVI(b) was found to be different. No significant differences were seen between the groups, biochemically. Histopathologically, cellularity, and orthochromasia was evident with Safranin-O in the BVI(b) and BVII(a); adhesions were seen in the BVII(a) group and clustering of chondrocyte in the HA(b) group were found to be different. Consequently, intra-articular application of HA and BV for experimental model of osteoarthritis has no significant influence upon recovery after therapy.

Serum protein alterations in dogs naturally infected with Toxoplasma gondii

We conducted this study to describe the serum electrophoretic pattern in dogs associated with the infection of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The serum protein pattern of 25 dogs with confirmed T. gondii infection and 15 clinically healthy dogs were evaluated using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Albumin, alpha-1 globulin, alpha-2 globulin, beta globulin, and gamma globulin bands were seen from the serum electrophoresis of infected and healthy dogs. Compared to the control group, significant decreases in the mean percentages of albumin (from 46.1 ± 7.2 to 40.8 ± 4.5%, P < 0.05), alpha-1 globulin (from 3.9 ± 0.4 to 0.8 ± 0.2%, P < 0.001), alpha-2 globulin (from 9.0 ± 0.4 to 8.3 ± 0.8%, P < 0.01), and beta globulin (from 18.4 ± 1.2 to 12.1 ± 0.6%, P < 0.001) in the infected group were determined. In contrast, gamma globulin fraction was significantly higher in infected dogs (38.1 ± 4.6%) than in control dogs (22.7 ± 7.2%; P < 0.001). Moreover, significant correlations were determined between the percentages of the albumin and gamma globulin fractions and liver enzyme tests including aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in infected dogs; however, no correlation was observed for the other protein fractions. In conclusion, marked alterations in serum protein pattern associated with strong modifications of serum protein concentrations are in accordance with the hepatic injury as affirmed by liver enzyme tests that were demonstrated in the canine toxoplasmosis. These findings showed that serum protein electrophoresis can be used in the diagnosis and prognosis of canine toxoplasmosis as a supplementary analysis in combination with serological, clinical, and laboratory findings of this disease.

Effects of electromagnetic field (1.8/0.9 GHz) exposure on growth plate in growing rats

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of whole-body electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on growth plates in growing male rats. Two groups of rats were exposed to either 900 MHz EMF or 1800 MHz EMF 2 h/day for 90 days. Sham control rats were kept under similar conditions without exposure to the EMF. The rats in the EMF group experienced a more rapid weight gain and increase in length (p < 0.05). Calcium, growth hormone, estradiol and testosterone levels in the EMF groups were higher (p < 0.05). The Safranin O staining density of femoral growth plate was lowest in the reserve zone of rats exposed to 1800 MHz and was increased in the proliferative zone of the control group (p < 0.05). The trabecular zone was thinnest among all zones and the reserve and proliferative zones were thicker (p < 0.05) than other zones in 1800 MHz group.In conclusion, 1800 MHz and 900 MHz EMF may cause prolong the growth phase in growing rats.

The effects of aging on the central nervous system steroid profiles and myelin basic protein in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aging on the central nervous system steroid and myelin basic protein (MBP) profiles. Forty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats (newborn, 1, 6, 12 and 24-monthsold) were studied. Tissues were obtained from the cerebellum and parietal, frontal, temporal cortex of the central nervous system of the rats for steroid extraction. The estradiol, progesteron, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The average levels of estradiol (pg/g), progesteron (ng/g), DHEA (ng/g) and testosterone (ng/g) in the brain tissues were respectively 24.29, 4.59, 0.27, 0.92 in the newborn-rats; 4.18±1.10, 1.54±0.30, 0.28±0.01, 0.57±0.10 in the 1 month-old-rats; 11.02±1.10, 2.96±0.30, 0.27±0.01, 0.61±0.10 in the 6 month-old-rats; 15.80±1.10, 4.80±0.30, 0.28±0.10, 0.67±0.10 in the 12 monthold-rats; 20.07±1.10, 4.12±0.30, 0.28±0.01, 0.55±0.10 in the 24 month-old-rats. The myelin basic protein levels were determined by immunohistochemical staining and an elevation was observed in conjunction with the aging process. The results of the study indicate that the alterations in MBP, DHEA, progesterone, testosterone and estrodiol concentrations in the central nervous system of the rats during aging can be considered fundamental for future animal and human studies.