We aimed to investigate the protective role of thymoquinone (TQ) by targeting its antiapoptotic and antioxidant properties against kidney damage induced by arsenic in rats. We have used the 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were divided into three groups. Physiological serum in 10 mL/kg dose as intragastric was given to the control group. Sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg, intragastric by gavage for fifteen days) was given to the arsenic group. Sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg, intragastric by gavage for fifteen days) and TQ (10 mg/kg, intragastric by gavage for 15 days) was given to the arsenic + TQ group. After 15 days, the animals' kidneys were taken theirs, then we have performed histological and apoptotic assessment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels have examined as the oxidative stress parameters. We have determined the levels of arsenic. Increased renal injury and apoptotic cells have been detected in the arsenic group. Degenerative changes in the arsenic + TQ group were diminished. Although the MDA levels were augmented in the arsenic group, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px enzyme activities were lessened than the other groups. Our findings suggest that TQ may impede the oxidative stress, the cells have been damaged and also the generation of apoptotic cells arisen from arsenic. TQ plays a protective role against arsenic-induced toxicity in kidney and may potentially be used as a remedial agent.

Cadmium (Cd), an environmental and industrial pollutant, generates free radicals responsible for oxidative stress. Cd can also lead to various renal toxic damage such as the proximal tubules and glomerulus dysfunction. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main constituent of the essential oil obtained from black seeds (Nigella sativa) and has various pharmacological effects. The aim of the present study was to examine the nephroprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic effect of the TQ against Cd-induced nephrotoxicity. A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control, Cd-treated, and Cd-treated with TQ; each group contain eight animals. The Cd-treated group was injected subcutaneously with CdCl2 dissolved in saline in the amount of 2 ml/kg/day for 30 days, resulting in a dosage of 1 mg/kg Cd. The rats in TQ-treated groups were given TQ (50 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally together with first Cd injection during the study period. The histopathological studies in the kidney of rats also showed that TQ markedly reduced the toxicity of Cd and preserved the normal histological architecture of the renal tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TQ significantly decreased the Cd-induced over expression of nuclear factor-κB in renal tissue. Furthermore, TQ treatment resulted in decreased the number of apoptotic cells. TQ significantly suppressed lipid peroxidation, compensated deficits in the anti-oxidant defenses (reduced superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities) in renal tissue resulted from Cd administration. These findings suggest that the nephroprotective potential of TQ in Cd toxicity might be due to its anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, which could be useful for achieving optimum effects in Cd-induced nephrotoxicity.

Objective: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective anti-cancer drug with limited clinical use due to its serious cardiotoxicity. Urtica dioica L. seeds (UD), have been widely used in folk medicine, particularly in the therapy for advanced cancer patients, possesses a potent anti-oxidant properties. The goal of present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of UD on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Method: The rats in the UD treated group were given intraperitoneally 2 ml/kg UD. To induce cardiotoxicity, 30 mg/kg DOX was injected intraperitoneally by a single dose and the rats were sacrificed after 48 h. Results: The present study revealed for the first time a protective role of UD against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. UD therapy significantly protected against DOX-induced myocardial damage which was characterized by conduction abnormalities, vacuolization, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhages, and myofibrillar disarrangement. As indicators of oxidative stress, DOX caused significantly increase lipid peroxidation and reduction in activities of antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. UD treatment significantly attenuated DOX-induced oxidative injury. Conclusion: The present study showed that UD might be a suitable cardioprotector against toxic effects of DOX.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) on corpus callosum (CC) morphometry in patients with TLE. METHODS:This retrospective study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey between November 2010 and December 2013. The epileptic syndrome diagnosis was based on International League Against Epilepsy criteria, and this study was conducted on the MRIs of 25 epilepsy patients and 25 control subjects. We classified the patients according to their duration of epilepsy: <10 and >/=10 years. The projection area length (PAL) of the CC was also estimated. Total brain volumes (TBV) were measured on CT images. RESULTS:The mean values of TBV for patients with TLE and the control group were not statistically different, but the CC PAL values were statistically different. The mean CC PAL values of under and over 25 years of age in patients with TLE were statistically different. The mean values of TBV of under and over 10 years duration of TLE were small statistically, but the CC PAL values were statistically different. CONCLUSION:The results indicate a clear influence of TLE on the structure of the CC rather than TBV.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of Sweetgum oil (SO) on wound healing in comparison with silver sulfadiazine (SS) in a burn wound model, which was experimentally created on rats. It was observed in the literature that no study had investigated the effects of SO on burn wounds. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-two Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 main groups: Burn, Burn+SS, and Burn+SO (subgroups: 4, 8, and 12 days). RESULTS: In the histopathological examinations it was observed that parameters indicating wound-healing stages had increased in the Burn+SS and Burn+SO groups more than in the Burn group, whereas they were similar in the Burn+SS and Burn+SO groups. In the PCNA immunostaining, more rapid epidermal growth, more increased thickening in the cuticular layer, and more prominent wound healing were observed in the Burn+SS and Burn+SO groups than in the Burn group. While hydroxyproline levels in the Burn+SS and Burn+SO subgroups were similar on Days 8 and 12, it was observed that levels were increased in the burn subgroups. CONCLUSION: Topical use of SO on burn wound areas had favorable effects on healing, indicating that this agent could be used as an alternative treatment for burn wounds.

This study was designed to elucidate the protective effects of ferulic acid (FA) on formaldehyde-induced hepatotoxicity by measuring some routine biochemical parameters, cytokine levels, and oxidative stress-related parameters in addition to YKL-40 in male Wistar albino rats. Tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Also, serum YKL-40, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin concentrations, and AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH activities were measured. Histological specimens were examined in light microscopy. Formaldehyde significantly increased tissue MDA, and serum cytokine levels and also decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes. FA treatment decreased MDA and cytokine levels and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes. FA also alleviated degeneration due to formaldehyde toxicity. We suggested that FA can be used as a promising hepatoprotective agent against formaldehyde toxicity because of the obvious beneficial effects on oxidative stress parameters.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to analyze the changes in the expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in trigeminal ganglions (TGs) and in the distal stumps of transected inferior alveolar nerves (IANs), and to clarify the relationship between these changes and functional recovery of the transected IAN without repair using a rat IAN axotomy model. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Following transection, GAP-43 expression was measured at multiple time points. The functional recovery of the transected IAN was evaluated based on the compound muscle action potentials recorded from the digastric muscle. RESULTS:GAP-43 expression in TGs was significantly higher at 2, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days following IAN transection compared to that in samples from sham-operated rats (p < 0.0005, p < 0.0005, p < 0.0005, p = 0.007, and p = 0.023, respectively). GAP-43 expression in the distal stumps of transected IANs was significantly higher at 2, 7, 14, and 28 days following IAN transection compared to that in samples taken from sham rats (p < 0.0005, p < 0.0005, p < 0.0005, and p = 0.009, respectively). GAP-43 expression in the distal stumps of transected IANs returned nearly to sham levels by day 56 following IAN transection. On days 7, 14, 28, and 56 following transection, the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential gradually increased, the latency gradually decreased, and the duration gradually increased. The amplitude, latency, and duration of the compound muscle action potentials nearly returned to sham levels on post-transection day 56. CONCLUSIONS:Time-dependent changes in the expression of GAP-43 in both TGs and distal stumps of transected IANs without repair are synchronously consistent with the regeneration and functional recovery of the transected IAN. The recovery of the amplitude, latency, and duration of the compound muscle action potentials indicates increased myelination and increased axon density of the regenerated nerve fibers.

Experimental studies indicate that sepsis causes remote organ injury although the molecular mechanism has not been clearly defined. In this report, the role of oxidative damage, and inflammation on lung injury, following sepsis model by cecal ligation and puncture, and the effects of quercetin, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory flavonoid, in the lung tissue were investigated. In the present study, we found that administration of single-dose quercetin before cecal ligation and puncture procedure, while markedly diminishing the levels of YKL-40 and oxidant molecules (xanthine oxidase (XO), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA)), increases the antioxidant enzymes levels. Quercetin is beneficial to acute lung injury by decreasing the levels of oxidative stress markers and increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities. Quercetin also causes a decrease in the serum levels of YKL-40 and periostin in the oxidative lung injury induced by the experimental sepsis model.

OZET Amac: Calismamiz soliter bobrek ile saglikli iki bobrege sahip bireylerde bobrek boyut olcumleri ve stereolojik yontemle bobrek hacim hesaplamasinin yapilmasi ve iki grup arasindaki morfolojik farkliliklarin belirlenmesi amaclandi. Gerec ve Yontem: Herhangi bir sikayet ile Namik Kemal Universitesi Arastirma ve Uygulama Merkezine basvurup, kontrast madde verilerek abdominal bilgisayarli tomografisi (BT) cekilen hastalar calismaya dahil edildi. Hacim olcumleri BT goruntuleri uzerinde Cavalieri prensibi ile yapildi. Bulgular: Calismamiza katilan bireylerin 22’si soliter bobrek, 30’u saglikli iki bobrege sahiptir. Normal grup icin bobrek hacim ortalamasi 159 cm3, bobrek uzunlugu 10.7 cm, genisligi 6.6 cm ve kalinligi 5 cm olarak bulundu. Soliter bobrek grubunda ise, bobrek hacmi 274 cm3, uzunlugu 12 cm, genisligi 7 cm ve kalinligi 6 cm bulundu. Sonuc: Soliter bobrek, normal bobrege gore daha uzun, daha genis, daha kalin ve hacimsel olarak da daha buyuk olma egilimindedir. Calismamizda soliter bobrek ile saglikli iki bobrege sahip bireyler arasinda, bobrek boyut ve hacim olcumleri ile ilgili morfolojik farkliliklar ortaya konulmustur. Elde edilen bu bulgular bazi bobrek hastaliklarinin klinik tani ve tedavisinde bobrek boyut ve hacminin dogru olarak degerlendirilmesi acisindan literature katkida bulunacagi dusuncesindeyiz. Anahtar kelimeler: Bobrek hacmi, bobrek uzunlugu, BT, Cavalieri prensibi ABSTRACT Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the morphological differences between individuals with one functioning kidney and individuals with two functioning kidneys through the measurement of dimensions and stereological renal volume estimations. Materials and Methods: The target sample consisted of patients who underwent an abdominal CT examination after attending Namik Kemal University’s Clinical Research and Application Center seeking medical attention. The volumetric estimations of CT images were based on the Cavalieri Principle. Results: Of the overall study population, 22 had one healthy kidney and 30 had two healthy kidneys. Average renal dimensions were volume 159 cm3, length 10.7 cm, width 6.6 cm, and thickness 5 cm among anatomically normal individuals. The corresponding figures in the sole-functioning kidney group were volume 274 cm3, length 12 cm, width 7 cm, and thickness 6 cm. Conclusions: Sole-functioning kidneys were longer, thicker, wider, and more voluminous compared with normal kidneys. We believe that the morphological differences between solitary and normal kidneys observed in this study in terms of dimensions and volume may represent a contribution to the existing literature that may assist in accurate volume and dimension estimations for clinical diagnosis and treatment of renal conditions. Key words: Kidney volume, kidney length, CT, Cavalieri Principle

AimThis study was undertaken to compare the morphological differences between individuals with one functioning kidney and individuals with two functioning kidneys through the measurement of dimensions and stereological renal volume estimations.Materials and MethodsThe target sample consisted of patients who underwent an abdominal CT examination after attending Namık Kemal University’s Clinical Research and Application Center seeking medical attention. The volumetric estimations of CT images were based on the Cavalieri Principle.ResultsOf the overall study population, 22 had one healthy kidney and 30 had two healthy kidneys. Average renal dimensions were volume 159 cm3, length 10.7 cm, width 6.6 cm, and thickness 5 cm among anatomically normal individuals. The corresponding figures in the sole-functioning kidney group were volume 274 cm3, length 12 cm, width 7 cm, and thickness 6 cm.ConclusionSole-functioning kidneys were longer, thicker, wider, and more voluminous compared with normal kidneys. We believe that the morphological differences between solitary and normal kidneys observed in this study in terms of dimensions and volume may represent a contribution to the existing literature that may assist in accurate volume and dimension estimations for clinical diagnosis and treatment of renal conditions.

BACKGROUND/AIM:To investigate total oxidant and antioxidant status, maximal aerobic capacity, daily physical activity, pulmonary functions, and body composition changes, as well as the associations among these parameters, in patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) versus healthy controls.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study included 30 male patients newly diagnosed with COPD and 30 body mass index-matched, nonsmoker male controls. Maximal aerobic capacity, daily physical activity, total oxidant and antioxidant status, pulmonary function tests, body composition, and anthropometric parameters were measured.RESULTS:Maximal aerobic capacity and total antioxidant values were lower in patients with COPD compared to the controls. The total oxidant value, body fat percentage, and waist/hip ratio were higher in patients with COPD than in the healthy controls. There was a moderately negative correlation between the total oxidant value and the maximal aerobic capacity, while there was a moderately positive correlation between the total antioxidant values and maximal aerobic capacity in patients with COPD.CONCLUSION:Low aerobic capacity, increased oxidative stress, and adiposity are related to impaired pulmonary functions in patients with mild to moderate COPD and might have a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of sleeplessness on right heart function in medical employees who have night-shift work.Patients and Methods: Fifty-two employees who work nightshifts were included in this study. Right ventricle tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), myocardial performance index (MPI), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) were calculated using maximal frequency shift (MFS) and acceleration time (AcT) in addition to routine echocardiographic examination of all individuals.Results: When comparing right ventricular functions before and after a night shift, there was reduction of tricuspid E wave velocity after sleeplessness was determined (p

The aims of this study were to compare aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities, pulmonary functions, body composition and fat distribution parameters in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and to investigate the associations among these parameters. Sixty (30 male, 30 female) patients with schizophrenia and 60 (30 male, 30 female) healthy controls were included in the study. Maximal aerobic capacity was estimated with the Astrand submaximal exercise protocol, and anaerobic performance was determined with a Wingate test. Body composition was established with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Pulmonary function tests, skinfold thickness and body circumference measurements were also carried out. Maximal aerobic capacity, maximal anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity and pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity and maximal voluntary ventilation) were found to be lower in male and female schizophrenic groups as compared to the controls. Body fat percentage, waist and abdomen circumferences, and waist to hip ratio were found to be higher in female schizophrenic patients than in controls. We suggest that maximal aerobic capacity, maximal anaerobic power, and anaerobic capacity are poor in the schizophrenia patients as compared to healthy controls. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is related to reduced pulmonary function and impaired body composition in schizophrenia patients.

To compare body composition, resting metabolic rate, and maximal aerobic capacity parameters in obese adults and healthy controls, as well as to investigate the associations among these parameters. Materials and methods: A total of 120 participants, 60 obese participants (30 male, 30 female) with body mass indexes (BMIs) over 30 kg/m^2 and 60 healthy controls (30 male, 30 female) with BMIs of 18-25 kg/m^2, were included in the study. BMI was calculated as body weight divided by the square of the height (kg/m^2). Body fat percentage, total body fat, and lean body mass were established with bioelectric impedance analysis. Resting metabolic rates (RMRs) were determined with indirect calorimeter. Maximal aerobic capacity was estimated with the Astrand exercise protocol. Results: RMRs (kcal/day) were significantly higher in male and female obese individuals than in the controls. VO2max (L/min) levels were not significantly different between obese and control individuals of either sex. However, RMR per kilogram of body weight and VO2max expressed in milliliters per kilogram of body weight were significantly lower in male and female obese adults compared to the controls. BMI, body fat percentage, and total body fat were positively correlated with RMR (kcal/day), but negatively correlated with RMR [(kcal/day)/kg] and VO_2max (mL/kg/min) in both sexes. Conclusion: We suggest that resting and maximal energy expenditure per kilogram of body weight are impaired in obese adults. Both low resting metabolic rate and weak maximal aerobic capacity are related to excess body fat in obese subjects.