Fatih Sefil

Investigation of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and blood glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective Leukocytosis is thought to be directly associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Increased white blood cell (WBC) count is related to cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; raised neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with metabolic syndrome. There is little information, however, concerning a correlation between glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and NLR. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between NLR and blood glucose regulation. Methods This retrospective study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, divided into two groups according to HbA1c levels: group 1, HbA1c levels ≤ 7%; group 2, HbA1c levels > 7%. Venous WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were determined. Results Of 71 patients included, fasting serum glucose, neutrophil and WBC counts were significantly higher in group 2 compared with group 1. NLR had a positive correlation with HbA1c. Conclusion There may be a significant relationship between NLR and blood glucose regulation. The authors propose that increased NLR may be associated with elevated HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Anticonvulsant effect of carnosine on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats

Carnosine is a compound of naturally-occurring dipeptide that synthesized by the carnosine synthetase from beta-alanine and l-histidine. Recent reports claim that carnosine plays an important role in the control of epilepsy but its involvement in anticonvulsant functions remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of carnosine in a rat model of epilepsy using the intracortical penicillin injection method. Thirty minutes after penicillin injection, the doses of 125, 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg carnosine and 90 min before penicillin injection the dose of 500 mg/kg carnosine were administered intraperitoneally. The epileptiform activity was verified by electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings. The mean spike frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity was significantly decreased in all carnosine-treated rats when compared with those of penicillin-injected. The dose of 500 mg/kg for carnosine treated and pretreated rats was found to be the most effective dose in reducing the frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity. There was no significant difference in the mean onset of epileptiform activity between penicillin and 500 mg/kg carnosine pretreated groups. These findings indicate that carnosine has an anticonvulsant effect on penicillin-induced epilepsy in rats. Thus, our data support the hypothesis that carnosine may be a potential anticonvulsant drug for clinical therapy of epilepsy in the future.

Protective effect of ebselen on experimental testicular torsion and detorsion injury.

Ebselen is used as a drug in clinical trials against stroke, reperfusion injury with anti‐atherosclerotic and renoprotective effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of ebselen, on torsion/detorsion (T/D)‐induced biochemical and histopathological changes in experimental testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury. A total of 28 male Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups: group 1(sham‐operated group, n = 7), group 2(ebselen group, n = 7), group 3(torsion/detorsion + saline, n = 7) and group 4(T/D + 10 mg kg−1 ebselen group, n = 7). The tissue homogenate samples were used for immediate nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione measurement. Testes in all groups were evaluated for the biochemical assay and histopathological examinations. To evaluate spermatogenesis, Johnsen scoring system was used. Testicular tissue MDA and NO levels in group 3 were significantly higher than in group 1 and 4. In histological evaluation of the testicular tissues, ebselen administration improved tubular histology significantly compared with T/D group. Significant increase in histological score was observed in the testis of group 3 compared with group 1 and 2. Histological score in group 4 significantly decreased compared with group 3. Johnson score was significantly lower in T/D group compared with all other three groups, ebselen administration increased the score significantly compared with T/D group. Ebselen reduced oxidative biochemical and histopathological damage in our testicular T/D rat model.

The effect of blood glucose regulation on the presence of opportunistic Demodex folliculorum mites in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives To measure the rate of Demodex folliculorum mite infestation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to investigate if it was related to blood glucose control. Methods Patients with type 2 diabetes were classified according to their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level into two groups: a well controlled blood glucose group (HbA1c ≤ 7%) and a poorly controlled blood glucose group (HbA1c > 7%). A standardized skin surface biopsy method was used to determine if the patients had D. folliculorum infestation (>5 mites/cm2 of skin). Results A total of 69 patients (38 female) were enrolled in the study. Seventeen (24.6%) patients had D. folliculorum infestation. There were no significant differences in age, sex or body mass index between patients with and without D. folliculorum infestations. A significantly higher proportion of patients with poor blood glucose control had D. folliculorum infestation compared with patients with well controlled blood glucose. Conclusions These current findings suggest that poor blood glucose regulation increases the susceptibility to D. folliculorum mite infestation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Thymoquinone Attenuates Trauma Induced Spinal Cord Damage in an Animal Model

BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating conditions leading to neurological impairment and disabilities. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) histopathologically in an experimental model of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group; SCI group; SCI-induced and 10 mg/kg/day TQ administered group; SCI-induced and 30 mg/kg/day TQ administered group. TQ was given as intraperitoneal for three days prior to injury and four days following injury. Spinal cord segment between T8 and T10 were taken for histopathologic examination. Hemorrhage, spongiosis and liquefactive necrosis were analyzed semiquantatively for histopathological changes. RESULTS Administration of TQ at a dose of 10 mg/kg did not cause any significant change on the histological features of neuronal degeneration as compared to the SCI group (p=0.269); however, 30 mg/kg TQ significantly decreased the histological features of spinal cord damage below that of the SCI group (p=0.011). CONCLUSION Data from this study suggest that TQ supplementation attenuates trauma induced spinal cord damage. Thus, TQ needs to be taken into consideration, for it may have a neuroprotective effect in trauma induced spinal cord damage.

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on the dose‐dependent acute nephrotoxicity with paraquat in a rat model

Paraquat (PQ), which is used extensively as a potent herbicide throughout the world, is highly toxic in humans. We aimed to determine PQ‐induced biochemical and histologic changes in the kidneys, and to evaluate the ability of the protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) against PQ‐induced injury in rats. Forty‐eight rats were divided into eight groups of six: Group 1: Control; Group 2: 10 μmol/kg CAPE; Group 3: 15 mg/kg PQ; Group 4: 30 mg/kg PQ; Group 5: 45 mg/kg PQ; Group 6: 15 mg/kg PQ+CAPE; Group 7: 30 mg/kg PQ+CAPE; Group 8: 45 mg/kg PQ+CAPE. PQ and CAPE were injected intraperitoneally. The levels of the total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined in the supernatants of the excised left kidney. Right kidney tissue of each rat was removed to obtain a histologic score. When PQ‐administrated (15, 30, 45) groups compared with other groups, TOS values were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.01). PQ (15, 30, 45) groups had significantly diminished values of TAS than the other groups (p < 0.001). Of histologic score evaluation, only the PQ45 group had a significantly higher value than the sham, and CAPE groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, in CAPE+PQ45 group, the level of histologic score was decreased compared to PQ45 group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the evaluation of the data suggests that CAPE can be used to prevent the acute effects of PQ nephrotoxicity.

Effect of clozapine on locomotor activity and anxiety-related behavior in the neonatal mice administered MK-801

Atypical antipsychotics have been used to treat fear and anxiety disturbance that are highly common in schizophrenic patients. It is suggested that disruptions of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated transmission of glutamate may underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The present study was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of clozapine on the anxiety-related behavior and locomotor function of the adult brain, which had previously undergone NMDA receptor blockade during a developmental period. In order to block the NMDA receptor, male mice were administered 0.25 mg/kg of MK-801 on days 7 to 10 postnatal. In adulthood, they were administered intraperitoneally 0.5 mg/kg of clozapine and tested with open-field and elevated plus maze test, to assess their emotional behavior and locomotor activity. In the group receiving MK-801 in the early developmental period the elevated plus maze test revealed a reduction in the anxiety-related behavior (p<0.05), while the open-field test indicated a decrease in locomotor activity (p<0.01). Despite these reductions, clozapine could not reverse the NMDA receptor blockade. Also, as an atypical antipsychotic agent, clozapine could not reverse impairment in the locomotor activity and anxiety-related behavior, induced by administration of the MK-801 in neonatal period.

Effects of Paliperidone Palmitate on Coagulation: An Experimental Study

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a new antipsychotic drug paliperidone palmitate on hemogram and coagulation parameters in rats. Materials and Methods. Experiments were performed on 22 female albino Wistar rats (8–12 weeks old). Control group was given drinking water as vehicle (0.3 mL). PAL-1 rats were given 1 mg/kg paliperidone palmitate (in 0.3 mL drinking water) by oral gavage once a day for ten days and PAL-3 rats received 3 mg/kg paliperidone palmitate (in 0.3 mL drinking water) by oral gavage for ten days. Blood samples were drawn from the heart 24 hours after the last drug dose, and hemogram and coagulation parameters were measured with automated analyzers. Results. Hemogram did not change in the paliperidone treated groups compared to the controls. Factor VIII levels decreased in the PAL-1 and PAL-3 groups; and this decrease was significantly greater in the PAL-3. Factor IX levels decreased in PAL-3 rats, but its levels also increased in PAL-1 rats compared to the control. Discussion. Paliperidone has led to changes in the serum levels of coagulation factors VIII and IX in rats. As a result, paliperidone may be causing thromboembolism or bleeding in a dose-independent manner.

Determination of oxidative stress and effect of erdosteine on rhinitis medicamentosa in a rat model

We aimed to determine the presence of oxidative stress in rhinitis medicamentosa (RM) and to evaluate the effect of erdosteine (ED) on mucosal changes in a rat model. Twenty-four male rats were used in this experimental study. Three groups were created. Group 1 (n=8) was the control group. Two puffs of 0.05% oxymetazolin were sprayed into the nasal cavities of the remaining rats (n=16) three times daily for eight weeks. One of these 16 rats was scarified at the end of the eight weeks and examined to confirm the presence of RM. Seven of the remaining 16 rats were killed, and venous blood samples were taken (Group 2). Group 3 (n=8) received 10mg/kg of an ED suspension orally for seven days. All rats were put on formalin for light microscopy. The total antioxidant status (TAS) was similar in all groups (p=0.073). The total oxidative status (TOS) of the RM group was significantly higher than that of the control group and RM+ED group (Group 3) (p=0.003 and p=0.011, respectively). The pathological recovery of the nasal mucosa of the rats was similar in the RM+ED and control groups. The TOS was high in this RM rat model, and oxidative stress was associated with RM. ED significantly ameliorated nasal mucosal changes induced by RM, suggesting that oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathophysiology of this condition.