OBJECTIVES: To identify the optimal pharmacological method of preparing patients for nasal endoscopy. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Four types of medications were applied in their nostrils with binary combinations of spray bottles on four different days in a random order: placebo (normal saline [NS]+NS), decongestant (NS+oxymetazoline), anesthetic (NS+lidocaine), and decongestant plus anesthetic (oxymetazoline+lidocaine). Rigid nasal endoscopy was performed 10 minutes after spray application. The volunteers evaluated the discomfort caused by each spray application, and nasal pain scores due to the passage of the endoscope. The physicians quantified nasal decongestion using a visual analogue scale. Endoscopy duration as well as pulse and mean blood pressure (MBP) before spray application, 10 minutes after the application, and immediately after endoscopic examination were also recorded. RESULTS: The discomfort caused by lidocaine was significantly higher than that caused by the other sprays (P<0.001). The lowest pain score related to endoscopy was obtained for oxymetazoline+lidocaine (P<0.001). Nasal decongestion was best achieved with NS+oxymetazoline (P<0.001). Endoscopy duration was the shortest for oxymetazoline+ lidocaine (P<0.05). Statistically significant MBP changes were only seen with the application of NS+oxymetazoline (P<0.05). However, neither MBP nor pulse rate change was significant clinically. CONCLUSION: Application of decongestant and anesthetic sprays together seems to be the best method of pharmacological preparation of patients for nasal endoscopy.
Anesthetics ; Blood Pressure ; Double-Blind Method* ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopy* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Methods* ; Nasal Decongestants ; Oxymetazoline ; Premedication* ; Prospective Studies* ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Knowing the ototoxic potential of the agents used in medical treatments is important for the protection of hearing. Although we have knowledge regarding some effects of dexmedetomidine, which is an anesthetic-sparing drug, its influence over the hearing system has never been studied and is obscure yet. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine application during sevoflurane anesthesia on otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized study was performed on 60 patients (34 male, 26 female, mean age: 30.6±9.2 years) who were scheduled for an elective surgery under general anesthesia and the patients were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups. They received dexmedetomidine (Group D) or Saline (Group S) infusion during a standardized Sevoflurane anesthesia. Transient and distortion product OAEs were measured preoperatively and postoperatively (24th hour). OAE results were compared within and between groups. RESULTS: In group D postoperative OAEs were lower than preoperative OAEs and postoperative levels of group S, especially at low frequencies (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine infusion affects the micromechanical function of cochlea especially in the low-frequency region. Dexmedetomidine should be carefully used during general anesthesia to avoid its probable harmful effects on cochlear micromechanics.
Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Cochlea ; Dexmedetomidine ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies

Purpose: The etiology and pathogenesis of distal colitis (DC) are poorly understood. Activation of intestinal inflammatory response may lead to intestinal tissue necrosis. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents are among the treatment options. Our study aimed to compare the protective effects of mesalazine and Ganoderma lucidum in acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis in rats. Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly grouped as colitis, mesalazine, G. lucidum, and combined (G. lucidum + mesalazine) groups. DC was induced by intrarectal administration of AA. Statistical comparisons were done by using parameters including colonic tissue IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP levels. Histopathologic changes of the samples of colonic tissue were scored as mucosal damage score and inflammatory score. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Intrarectal administration of AA leads to increased interleukin and CRP levels. High mucosal damage and inflammatory scores were noted in colitis group animals. Single mesalazine or G. lucidum treatment produced considerably decreased tissue interleukin and CRP levels. The lowest tissue interleukin and CRP levels were noted in the combined treatment group of animals. Mucosal damage and inflammatory scores were found to be significantly low in this group of animals. Conclusion The intrarectal administration of AA results in an activation of intestinal inflammation and severe mucosal damage in colonic tissue. Single use of mesalazine and G. lucidum treatment decreases the severity of intestinal inflammatory response and mucosal damage. The healing effects of the combined treatment of mesalazine and G. lucidum seem to be more effective than that of separate use in the treatment of DC.

Purpose: Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has reached epidemic dimensions over time. NAFLD is the most common cause of childhood chronic liver disease. There is a relationship between NAFLD and oxidative stress. This study aims to investigate the changes in thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters to determine the oxidant/antioxidant balance in obese rats with diet-induced NAFLD and healthy rats. Methods: Twelve Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Experimentally produced NAFLD obese rats (n=6) and healthy rats were compared. Experimental NAFLD model was created with a special fatty liver diet (Altromin ® C1063, Fatty Liver Diet, Exclusivet, Lage, Germany). The biochemical and histopathological features of the groups, as well as serum thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters, were analyzed and compared. Results: In the experimentally induced NAFLD rat model, they gained more weight than the control group. Steatosis (at least grade 2) occurred in all rats fed with special fatty liver diet for 12 weeks. Histopathologically, no high-grade inflammation was observed in rats with experimental NAFLD after feeding a diet for 12 weeks. Results revealed that aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels were high, albumin levels were low, oxidant stress parameters increased, and antioxidant thiol groups decreased. Conclusion Experimental NAFLD is characterized by increased oxidant stress accompanying fatty tissue in the liver. Analysis of thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters in NAFLD can be used in further studies to develop effective treatment options.

Purpose: Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has reached epidemic dimensions over time. NAFLD is the most common cause of childhood chronic liver disease. There is a relationship between NAFLD and oxidative stress. This study aims to investigate the changes in thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters to determine the oxidant/antioxidant balance in obese rats with diet-induced NAFLD and healthy rats. Methods: Twelve Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Experimentally produced NAFLD obese rats (n=6) and healthy rats were compared. Experimental NAFLD model was created with a special fatty liver diet (Altromin ® C1063, Fatty Liver Diet, Exclusivet, Lage, Germany). The biochemical and histopathological features of the groups, as well as serum thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters, were analyzed and compared. Results: In the experimentally induced NAFLD rat model, they gained more weight than the control group. Steatosis (at least grade 2) occurred in all rats fed with special fatty liver diet for 12 weeks. Histopathologically, no high-grade inflammation was observed in rats with experimental NAFLD after feeding a diet for 12 weeks. Results revealed that aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels were high, albumin levels were low, oxidant stress parameters increased, and antioxidant thiol groups decreased. Conclusion Experimental NAFLD is characterized by increased oxidant stress accompanying fatty tissue in the liver. Analysis of thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters in NAFLD can be used in further studies to develop effective treatment options.