In this study, we investigated the effect of different values of intra-abdominal pressure on bacterial translocation. Twenty-four Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four groups. The animals belonging to the Control group were not subjected to any increased intra-abdominal pressure. In groups I, II and III, an intra-abdominal pressure of 14, 20, and 25 mmHg, respectively, was established by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum for a period of 60 minutes. Four hours after the pneumoperitoneum, all animals were sacrificed to evaluate the degree of bacterial translocation at this time. Liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were excised under sterile conditions. Bacterial growth was assessed using standard bacteriological techniques and compared statistically. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for the statistical analysis. Different amounts of bacterial growth were found in all of the animals subjected to increased intra-abdominal pressure, except for the controls. Bacterial translocation was detected at an intra-abdominal pressure of 14 mmHg but this finding was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was a significant increase in bacterial growth in animals subjected to an intra- abdominal pressure of 20 mmHg or above (p < 0.001). As a result, we found that bacterial translocation started when the intra-abdominal pressure reached a level of 14 mmHg. Patients should be closely monitored for septic complication risks following laparoscopic procedures in which the intra-abdominal pressure exceeds 20 mmHg.
Abdomen ; Animals ; *Bacterial Translocation ; Carbon Dioxide ; Laparoscopy/*adverse effects ; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial/adverse effects ; Pressure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Splanchnic Circulation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study to investigate the normal values of erythropoietin (EPO) and neuroprotective effects of quercetin and mannitol on EPO and hematocrit levels after acute severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rat model. METHODS: A weight-drop impact acceleration model of TBI was used on 40 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into sham (group I), TBI (group II), TBI+quercetin (50 mg/kg intravenously) (group III), and TBI+mannitol (1 mg/kg intravenously) (group IV) groups. The malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, EPO, and hematocrit levels were measured 1 and 4 hour after injury. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly after administration of quercetin and mannitol compared with those in group II. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels increased significantly in groups III and IV. Serum EPO levels decreased significantly after mannitol but not after quercetin administration. Serum hematocrit levels did not change significantly after quercetin and mannitol administration 1 hour after trauma. However, mannitol administration decreased serum hematocrit levels significantly after 4 hour. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that quercetin may be a good alternative treatment for TBI, as it did not decrease the EPO levels.
Acceleration ; Animals ; Brain Injuries* ; Catalase ; Erythropoietin* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Mannitol* ; Models, Animal ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Quercetin* ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We compared the motor-unit number estimation (MUNE) findings in patients who presented with signs and/or findings associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and healthy controls, with the aim of determining if motor-unit loss occurs during the clinically silent period and if there is a correlation between clinical and MUNE findings in CTS patients. METHODS: The study investigated 60 hands of 35 patients with clinical CTS and 60 hands of 34 healthy controls. Routine median and ulnar nerve conduction studies and MUNE analysis according to the multipoint stimulation method were performed. RESULTS: The most common electrophysiological abnormality was reduced conduction velocity in the median sensory nerve (100% of the hands). The MUNE value was significantly lower for the patient group than for the control group (p=0.0001). ROC analysis showed that a MUNE value of 121 was the optimal cutoff for differentiating between patients and controls, with a sensitivity of 63.3% and a specificity of 68.3%. MUNE values were lower in patients with complaints of numbness, pain, and weakness in the median nerve territory (p<0.05, for all comparisons), and lower in patients with hypoesthesia than in patients with normal neurological findings (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The MUNE technique is sensitive in detecting motor nerve involvement in CTS patients who present with sensorial findings, and it may be useful in detecting the loss of motor units during the early stages of CTS. Larger-scale prospective clinical trials assessing the effect of early intervention on the outcome of these patients would help in confirming the possible benefit of detecting subclinical motor-unit loss in CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Median Nerve ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ulnar Nerve

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of remote ischemic conditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat muscle flaps histopathologically and biochemically. METHODS: Thirty albino rats were divided into 5 groups. No procedure was performed in the rats in group 1, and only blood samples were taken. A gracilis muscle flap was elevated in all the other groups. Microclamps were applied to the vascular pedicle for 4 hours in order to achieve tissue ischemia. In group 2, no additional procedure was performed. In groups 3, 4, and 5, the right hind limb was used and 3 cycles of ischemia-reperfusion for 5 minutes each (total, 30 minutes) was applied with a latex tourniquet (remote ischemic conditioning). In group 3, this procedure was performed before flap elevation (remote ischemic preconditoning). In group 4, the procedure was performed 4 hours after flap ischemia (remote ischemic postconditioning). In group 5, the procedure was performed after the flap was elevated, during the muscle flap ischemia episode (remote ischemic perconditioning). RESULTS: The histopathological damage score in all remote conditioning ischemia groups was lower than in the ischemic-reperfusion group. The lowest histopathological damage score was observed in group 5 (remote ischemic perconditioning). CONCLUSIONS: The nitric oxide levels were higher in the blood samples obtained from the remote ischemic perconditioning group. This study showed the effectiveness of remote ischemic conditioning procedures and compared their usefulness for preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury in muscle flaps.
Animals ; Extremities ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Latex ; Methods* ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Tourniquets

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of remote ischemic conditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat muscle flaps histopathologically and biochemically. METHODS: Thirty albino rats were divided into 5 groups. No procedure was performed in the rats in group 1, and only blood samples were taken. A gracilis muscle flap was elevated in all the other groups. Microclamps were applied to the vascular pedicle for 4 hours in order to achieve tissue ischemia. In group 2, no additional procedure was performed. In groups 3, 4, and 5, the right hind limb was used and 3 cycles of ischemia-reperfusion for 5 minutes each (total, 30 minutes) was applied with a latex tourniquet (remote ischemic conditioning). In group 3, this procedure was performed before flap elevation (remote ischemic preconditoning). In group 4, the procedure was performed 4 hours after flap ischemia (remote ischemic postconditioning). In group 5, the procedure was performed after the flap was elevated, during the muscle flap ischemia episode (remote ischemic perconditioning). RESULTS: The histopathological damage score in all remote conditioning ischemia groups was lower than in the ischemic-reperfusion group. The lowest histopathological damage score was observed in group 5 (remote ischemic perconditioning). CONCLUSIONS: The nitric oxide levels were higher in the blood samples obtained from the remote ischemic perconditioning group. This study showed the effectiveness of remote ischemic conditioning procedures and compared their usefulness for preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury in muscle flaps.
Animals ; Extremities ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Latex ; Methods* ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Tourniquets

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome and obesity have been advocated to be risk factors for the development of overactive bladder (OAB). Additionally, insulin resistance is the underlying mechanism of metabolic syndrome. We aimed to investigate the association of insulin resistance with overactive bladder in female patients. METHODS: We prospectively conducted the study in our urology department. Female patients aged between 30 and 76 years old applied to our policlinics with or without OAB symptoms were enrolled. One hundred and twenty-two patients with OAB and 62 age-matched controls without OAB were included into the study. Fasting serum insulin, glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), and triglycerides levels were measured. Insulin resistance value was obtained via the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculator. The chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare differences in variables. RESULTS: Serum insulin level was found higher in female patients with OAB (11.5+/-6.2 microU/mL) relative to controls (6.4+/-2.1 microU/mL), statistically significant (P=0.036). In addition, HOMA-IR was significantly found higher in the OAB group, 2.86 (0.76 to 17.04) in comparison to controls, 1.32 (0.67 to 224), P=0.018. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (HDL-c) were significantly found lower in females with OAB. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin resistance can be associated to overactive bladder and may play significant role in pathogenesis.
Aged ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins ; Obesity ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urology

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of fossae lumbales laterales and pelvic incidence (PI) on transsacral corridors. Methods: Patients who underwent pelvic computed tomography (CT) during routine therapy in a single center between 2015 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients’ age and sex were documented during CT examination. Measurements were performed for both the upper and second sacral segments. Height and weight of the patients were determined using appropriate tools and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Transsacral corridors were identified in true coronal and true sagittal planes and their width was determined as the maximum gap measured so that no screws could come out of the transacral corridors. PI was measured. Results: Our study included 244 (57%) male and 184 (43%) female patients, who had a mean age of 49.3 ± 14.15 years (range, 18–89 years) and a mean BMI of 26.57 ± 2.38 kg/m 2 . No statistically significant correlation was found between the detection of the dimple sign in physical examination and the presence of an adequate corridor. The PI was statistically significantly higher in the patients with dimples (p < 0.001). PI of the female patients was higher than that of the male patients (p = 0.026). The correlation between PI and the existence of adequate corridors for S1 and S2 screws was not statistically significant (p = 0.858 and p = 0.129, respectively). On the relationship between the presence of adequate S1 and S2 corridors where transsacral screws could be sent, an inverse relationship was detected: if the S1 transsacral corridor was adequate, the S2 corridor was inadequate or vice versa. Conclusions We could not obtain meaningful results on the use of the dimples of Venus or PI instead of CT to evaluate the adequacy of transverse corridors. Nevertheless, we confirmed that an increased PI was associated with the presence of dimples of Venus.

BACKGROUND: Dietary intake of lycopene has been associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, suggesting its chemopreventive potential against ovarian carcinogenesis. Lycopene's molecular mechanisms of action in ovarian cancer have not been fully understood. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of lycopene on the ovarian cancer formation using the laying hen model, a biologically relevant animal model of spontaneous ovarian carcinogenesis due to high incidence rates similar to humans. METHODS: In this study, a total of 150 laying hens at age of 102 weeks were randomized into groups of 50: a control group (0 mg of lycopene per kg of diet) and two treatment groups (200 mg or 400 mg of lycopene per kg of diet, or ~26 and 52 mg/d/hen, respectively). At the end of 12 months, blood, ovarian tissues and tumors were collected. RESULTS: We observed that lycopene supplementation significantly reduced the overall ovarian tumor incidence (P < 0.01) as well as the number and the size of the tumors (P < 0.004 and P < 0.005, respectively). Lycopene also significantly decreased the rate of adenocarcinoma, including serous and mucinous subtypes (P < 0.006). Moreover, we also found that the serum level of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde was significantly lower in lycopene-fed hens compared to control birds (P < 0.001). Molecular analysis of the ovarian tumors revealed that lycopene reduced the expression of NF-κB while increasing the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 and its major target protein, heme oxygenase 1. In addition, lycopene supplementation decreased the expression of STAT3 by inducing the protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 expression in the ovarian tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings strongly support the potential of lycopene in the chemoprevention of ovarian cancer through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Adenocarcinoma ; Birds ; Carcinogenesis ; Chemoprevention ; Diet ; Hemeproteins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malondialdehyde ; Models, Animal ; Mucins ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Oxidative Stress ; Transcription Factors