Purpose: This study was designed to find an answer to the question, "Is it beneficial to use pomegranate (POM) and tangeretin (TAN) separately or in combination, for the prevention of acute gastric ulcer?". Materials and Methods: The gastroprotective effect of tangeretin and pomegranate was determined by measuring the levels of the selected inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β and IL-10], lipid peroxides, and enzymatic activities of antioxidants in gastric tissue samples. Results: When all groups are written as control, gastric ulcer, POM+EtOH, TAN+EtOH and POM+TAN+EtOH, respectively; IL-1β cytokine levels were measured as 0.147, 0.24, 0.228, 0.195 and 0.182 pg/g protein. IL-6 levels; 16,857, 25,923, 19,797, 18,838 and 17,896 pg/mg protein. TNF-α levels were 39,916, 49.97, 44,678, 41,673 and 40,844 pg/mg protein. Finally, IL-10 levels were measured as 33,496, 28,071, 29,693, 30,073 and 30,008 pg/mg protein. SOD activities were determined as 18,038, 13,731, 15,506, 14,439, and 15,943. CAT activities were 674,638, 639,964, 673,382, 664,691, and 671,203. Protein carbonyl levels were measured as 26,799, 40,30, 33,052, 34,579 and 32,79. Finally, MDA levels were found as 5,239, 9,814, 6,695, 5,771 and 5,836. Briefly, POM and TAN showed their antioxidant functions by decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). And also, these protective agents exhibited their anti-inflammatory functions by decreasing the content of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and increasing the IL-10 levels. Conclusion: Tangeretin and pomegrenate have a potential gastroprotective effect against ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer and that the combined treatment is more beneficial than the effect of POM or TAN alone. In addition, this effect is thought to be due to the fact that both selected flavonoids can show a synergistic effect, reducing the levels of inflammation parameters and increasing antioxidant levels.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide proven to increase cellular tolerance to hypoxia and oxidative stresss and contribute angiogenesis. Despite its known therapeutic effects on myocardial, renal or spinal ischemic reperfusion injuries, its local and systemic effects on intestinal ischemic reperfusion injury still remain unknown. This study aims to demonstrate the local and systemic effects of AM on Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (I-IRI) demonstrated in rats. Thirty male rats were randomly allocated to five groups: Control, Adrenomedullin (AM), Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (I-IRI), Adrenomedullin and Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (AM+I-IRI), and Intestinal Ischemic Reperfusion Injury and Adrenomedullin (I-IRI+AM). Blood and tissue samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. The results were expressed as mean??SEM and, P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were found to be elevated in I-IRI group and depleted in I-IRI+AM group. The biochemical and histopathological markers of injuries at the intestine and remote organs were found to be recuperated when the AM applied before the reperfusion phase. Results of this study demonstrated that the therapeutic drug adrenomedullin (AM) could reverse the intestinal and remote organ injuries related to intestinal ischemic reperfusion injury (I-IRI). These effects might be related to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities of AM.

In our country, laboratories are working areas where there are many risks in terms of occupational health and safety. The knowledge levels, attitudes, and behaviors of employees in terms of OHS should be well known, especially in these work areas where biological, chemical, and physical risk factors are intense. Considering the researchers as well as employees in experimental animal laboratories, the OHS knowledge level of those employees in these centers is important not only for protecting themselves but also for the protection of incoming researchers and their families. With this review, it has been tried to give up-to-date information about the hazards that employees and researchers may encounter and the precautions to be taken according to the biosafety levels in laboratories where animal experiments are carried out.

Aims:Angiotensin II (Ang II) causes endothelial cell damage. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases via transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). In most studies increases in Ang II and TGF-β1 levels in several cell types are bidirectional. The present study investigated the effects of Ang II on oxidative stress, cell proliferation, and TGF-β1 levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Methods:HUVECs were treated with Ang II (0.1 μM), Ang II type 1 receptor (ATR1) antagonist Olmesartan (1 μM), and Ang II type 2 receptors (ATR2) antagonist PD123319 (1 μM) for 24 hours. Cell proliferation and viability were evaluated by the tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant capacity (TOC) were measured by spectrophotometer intracellularly and in the culture medium. The TGF-β1 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:The addition of 1 μM, 0.1 μM, and 0.01 μM Ang II increased proliferation in HUVECs. Cell proliferation increased significantly in both Ang II and Ang II+Olmesartan+PD123319 groups. However, Ang II+Olmesartan tended to decrease cell proliferation. In the control group TAC and TOC levels remained in the normal range in HUVEC extracts. In other all groups, TOC values increased compared to control. In HUVECs medium, TAC level was higher in the control, Ang II and Ang II+Olmesartan groups, but normal and tolerable in other groups whereas, TOC levels were elevated in control and other all groups. In HUVECs extracts, compared with the control, TGF-β1 level was significantly lower in the Ang II group, but increased in the Ang II+Olmesartan group. There was no significant difference in TGF-β1 levels between medium groups.Conclusions:Ang II shows its proliferative effects through ATR1 activation, whereas stimulation of ATR2 seems to have a key role in the pathophysiology of oxidative stress.

Background/aim Physical exercise is a state of physiological stress that requires adaptation of the organism to physical activity. Glycogen is an important and essential energy source for muscle contraction. Skeletal muscle and liver are two important glycogen stores, and the energy required to maintain exercise in rodents are provided by destruction of this glycogen depot. In this study, the effects of endogenous opioid peptide antagonism at the central nervous system level on tissue glycogen content after exhaustive exercise were investigated. Materials and methods Rats had intracerebroventricularly (icv) received nonspecific opioid peptide receptor antagonist, naloxone (50 μg/10 μL in saline) and δ-opioid receptor-selective antagonist naltrindole (50 μg/10 μL in saline) and then exercised till exhaustion. After exhaustion, skeletal muscle, heart, and liver were excised immediately. Results Both opioid peptide antagonists decreased glycogen levels in skeletal muscle. Although, in soleus muscle, this decrease was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), in gastrocnemius muscle, it was significant in the icv naloxone administered group compared with control (p < 0.05). Heart glycogen levels increased significantly in both naloxone and naltrindole groups compared to control and sham-operated groups (p < 0.05). Heart glycogen levels were higher in the naloxone group than naltrindole (p < 0.05). Liver glycogen levels were elevated significantly with icv naloxone administration compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Glycogen levels in the naloxone group was also significantly higher than the naltrindole group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings indicate that icv administered opioid peptide antagonists may play a role in glycogen metabolism in peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle, heart, and liver.

This study aims to investigate which parameters affect the change in good quality embryo rates during the cleavage stage and whether they have any effect on embryo transfer policies and IVF results. We analysed changes in good quality embryo (grades 1 and 2) rates during the period on days 2, 3 and 5; patients with five or fewer embryos (group 1), 6-10 embryos (group 2) and more than 10 embryos (group 3). The good quality embryo rates decreased in all groups on day 5. When the infertility reasons are studied among all of the groups, ovulatory dysfunction is found to be significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 and unexplained infertility was found to be significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 and group 3. Total antral follicle, mature oocyte and total oocyte counts were found to be significantly lower in group 1. However, there is no significant difference found among all of the groups for β-HCG levels and clinical pregnancies. Changes in good quality embryo rates at the cleavage stage in extended embryo culture do not have an impact on IVF results.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The number and quality of embryos in the cleavage stage are important parameters affecting the embryo transfer decision on day 5. There is still insufficient knowledge concerning changes in the percentage of increased good quality embryo transfers associated with IVF outcomes during the second to the third day, and the third to the fifth day.What do the results of this study add? Day 5 embryo transfer is possible in patients with a low number of embryos, according to our results. The good quality embryo rates of patients with a low number of embryos at the cleavage stage are more promising compared to patients having more than five embryos.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? An extended embryo culture option can be used on patients with a low number of embryos for clinical practice.

Background: Cross-face nerve grafting combined with functional muscle transplantation has become the standard in reconstructing an emotionally controlled smile in complete irreversible facial palsy. However, the efficacy of this procedure depends on the ability of regenerating axons to breach two nerve coaptations and reinnervate endplates in denervated muscle. The current study tested the hypothesis that adipose-derived stem cells would enhance axonal regeneration through a cross-facial nerve graft and thereby enhance recovery of the facial nerve function. Methods: Twelve rats underwent transection of the right facial nerve, and cross-facial nerve grafting using the sciatic nerve as an interpositional graft, with coaptations to the ipsilateral and contralateral buccal branches, was carried out. Rats were divided equally into two groups: a grafted but nontreated control group and a grafted and adipose-derived stem cell–treated group. Three months after surgery, biometric and electrophysiologic assessments of vibrissae movements were performed. Histologically, the spectra of fiber density, myelin sheath thickness, fiber diameter, and g ratio of the nerve were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the evaluation of acetylcholine in the neuromuscular junctions. Results: The data from the biometric and electrophysiologic analysis of vibrissae movements, immunohistochemical analysis, and histologic assessment of the nerve showed that adipose-derived stem cells significantly enhanced axonal regeneration through the graft. Conclusion: These observations suggest that adipose-derived stem cells could be a clinically translatable route toward new methods to enhance recovery after cross-facial nerve grafting.

This study is designed to evaluate the difference between the first year and the sixth year of medical faculty in Baskent University (n = 115) by using the Turkish version of the VARK questionnaire.In this survey, VARK questionnaire, which determines a person's sensory modality by describing visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic preference, is used.In this study, unimodal model is the most commonly preferred learning model in the first-grade students (75.4%), and aural type is dominant style (31.9%) changing to the multimodal (67.4%) and mostly quad-modal learning style (17.4%) in the sixth-year students.There is no gender difference.Learning preferences can differ among students of different faculties.Awareness on the learning preferences of the students facilitates the learning process of the students, and also simplifies the teaching process of the educator in developing appropriate learning methods.

Objective: The use of simulation in medical education has become an important and successfully implemented auxiliary method, recently.In this study, we aimed to present a compact screenbased computer simulation for second year medical students so that they may experience various aspects of peripheral nerve electrophysiology by themselves.Methods: The model used in the calculations combines both the passive and active membrane properties which were described in passive cable theory and in the classical study of Hodgkin and Huxley on membrane potential generation, respectively.Results: The simulation provides numerical and visual demonstration for various electrophysiological features of nerve cell such as membrane potential development, threshold stimulus, refractoriness, conduction in myelinated fiber, myelin and temperature effect on conduction etc. Besides, users may also have experience on propagation of compound nerve action potential that is the combined activation of nerve fibers.Conclusion: We suggest that this simulation may be considered as an auxiliary tool for classical physiology laboratory sessions.It is our intent to share and to make the simulation freely available to all interested readers.

Objective: In recent years, metabolic syndrome, which is a serious health problem, enhancing the effect of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which is a natural antioxidant resveratrol, a polyphenol structure, the use of this area has brought. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of resveratrol (RSV) treatment on heart, kidney and hepatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels in high fructose feeding rats which form an experimental metabolic syndrome model and compared to pre-treatment of metabolic syndrome group and the control group values. Methods: Wistar/albino rats (n=15) were used in the present study. Rats were divided equally into 3 groups as control, created group of metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome plus resveratrol treatment. At the end of the experimental period, tissue MDA, NO, SOD and CAT levels were studied manual spectrophotometric methods after homogenization of tissues. Results: The result of the study, a significant increase in heart and liver tissue MDA levels, and heart, kidney, liver tissue NO levels were observed in the metabolic syndrome group compared to the controls (p<0.05), following treatment with resveratrol significantly decreases were observed to be close to the control values. Kidney and liver tissue catalase activity statistically significant decrease in metabolic syndrome group compared to the controls, (p=0.019 and p=0.021, respectively), kidney and liver tissue catalase activity similar to control values after treatment with resveratrol, a significant increase was observed (p=0.011 and p=0.58), but changes in the activity of SOD has not been as significant as catalase (p>0.05). However, hepatic SOD activity of resveratrol treatment group compared with the control group, a significant increase was recorded in the treated group (p=0.011). Conclusion: These results suggest probably antioxidant effects of resveratrol to reduce oxidative stress in the liver and kidney tissue which is an important role in metabolism. Against tissue damage generated by exogenous fructose, resveratrol is effective in preventing tissue damage with a direct or indirect effect shows.

Physical exercise increases the level of endogenous opiates that possibly play a major role for integration of hormonal and metabolic responses to exercise. Increased endogenous opioids in response to physical activity may enhance the performance through decreasing pain perception. However, what possible effect the opioid peptides have on physical exercise at the level of central nervous system remains to be elucidated. In this study, naloxone (N = 6), and naltrindole (N = 8) were administered intracerebroventrically to rats. A physiologic saline group (N = 10) and a control group (N = 8) were also included in the study. All groups were then subjected to exhaustive exercise on a treadmill. Besides recording the exhaustion time, blood glucose and lactate levels were measured before and after exercise. Treatments with naloxone and naltrindole had no effect on the exhaustion time. In comparison with pre-exercise period, lactate levels increased, while glucose levels decreased significantly in the blood of all animals during post-exercise period. However, decreased level of glucose in the post-exercise period was statistically significant only in those treated with naltrindole, compared with the other groups. Our findings indicate that the central endogenous opioid peptides may have a role in the regulation of glucose metabolism during exhaustive exercise. This effect can be mediated via delta opioid receptors, although they exert no effect on the performance, namely, on the exhaustion time.

C diseases are considered as the number one cause of death in the world. It comprises its own set of pathologies, mostly are atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, and stroke. It is worthwhile to mention that ischemic heart disease continues to be the major cause of cardiac death. Free radicals and oxidative stress play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases including ischemic heart disease. Evidence gathered over the last years’ shows that the pineal hormone melatonin participates in the regulation of the heart.1 Melatoninergic receptors were found in the heart and vessels, and also in the higher centers involved in the regulation of cardiovascular system. Melatonin could be considered as a protective agent because of its ability to scavenge free radicals and its antioxidant properties.2 The effect of melatonin on myocardial reperfusion injury has received attention only in recent years. These studies have emphasized the effect of melatonin on the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias, stunning, and limitation of infarct size.3-5 The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of melatonin on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the isolated perfused rat heart. We conducted this study at the Department of Physiology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. Twenty rats were used. The isolated rat hearts (n = 10 in each group), previously being perfused by oxygenated KrebsHeinseleit solution were put in normothermic ischemic conditions. After 20 minutes of normothermic ischemia, the hearts were reperfused with Krebs-Heinseleit solution in the control group. The melatonin were administered to the heart (100 μM), 5 minutes before ischemia, and during reperfusion in the experimental group. We observed the heart rate and contractile force, as well as the perfusate malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and nitrate levels, and were measured before and after the ischemic period, as well as at the end of the reperfusion period. The tissue MDA, GSH, and nitrate levels were measured at the end of the reperfusion period. Decreased tissue (23.74 ± 0.81; p<0.05) and Brief Communication