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Introduction: Fuziline is one of the many antioxidants currently being tested to treat cardiac damage. In our study, histopathological and biochemical effects of fuziline were investigated in mice with dobutamine-induced heart damage in vitro., Methods: Thirty-two adult male BALB/c mice, average weight of 18-20 g, were randomly divided into four groups - Group 1 (sham, n=8), Group 2 (control, dobutamine, n=8), Group 3 (treatment 1, dobutamine + fuziline, n=8), and Group 4 (treatment 2, fuziline, n=8). Biochemical parameters and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were measured. Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), NLR family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3), 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG), gasdermin D (GSDMD), and galectin 3 (GAL-3) levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and histopathological examination of heart tissues was performed., Results: When dobutamine + fuziline and fuziline groups were compared, troponin-I (P<0.05), NLRP3 (P<0.001), GSDMD (P<0.001), 8-OHDG (P<0.001), IL-1β (P<0.001), and GAL-3 (P<0.05) were found to be statistically significant. TOS level was the highest in the dobutamine group (P<0.001) and TAS level was the highest in the fuziline group (P<0.001). OSI level was statistically significant between the groups (P<0.001). In histopathological examination, focal necrosis areas were smaller in the dobutamine + fuziline group than in the dobutamine group, and cardiac myocytes were better preserved., Conclusion: Fuziline markedly reduced cardiac damage and pyroptosis in mice with dobutamine-induced heart damage by lowering the levels of GSDMD, 8-OHDG, IL-1β, and GAL-3. It also prevented necrosis of cardiac myocytes in histopathological evaluation.

This study aimed to compare the accuracy and reliability of Alvarado Score (AS) and Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score (AIRS) in pregnant women undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis (AA). The files of 53 pregnant women with a diagnosis of AA who underwent surgery in our clinic between February 2014 and December 2018 were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: first trimester between 0 and 14 weeks, second trimester between 15 and 28 weeks, and third trimester between 29 and 42 weeks. The AS and AIRS values were calculated according to preoperative physical examination and laboratory results. The mean age of the patients was 28.58 (18-44) years. According to the pathology results, appendicitis was detected in 16 of 23 patients in the first trimester, in 22 of 25 patients in the second trimester, and in 2 of 5 patients in the third trimester. The AIRS was ≥ 9 in 9 patients and the AS was ≥ 7 in 19 of the 23 patients in the 1st trimester, while the AIRS was ≥ 9 in 11 patients and the AS was ≥ 7 in 19 of the 25 patients in the 2nd trimester. However, in the 3rd trimester, the AIRS was ≥ 9 in 2 patients and AS was ≥ 7 in 4 of the 5 patients. In conclusion, when the data obtained from the present study were evaluated, it was determined that both AS and AIRS are effective methods for diagnosing AA in pregnant women., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Pistacia vera L. (green pistachio) has been shown to increase antioxidant capacity and protect against cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This study investigated the protective effect of the Pistacia vera L. hull in rats with experimental cardiac damage induced by doxorubicin., Methods: Sixty adult Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 12). Sham, doxorubicin, doxorubicin + Pistacia vera L. extract 50 mg/kg, doxorubicin + Pistacia vera L. extract 100 mg/kg, and Pistacia vera L. extract 100 mg/kg. Biochemistry parameters, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, 8-hydroxydeoxy guanosine, and caspase 3/7 values were measured in serum samples. Excised heart tissues were examined histopathologically., Results: The groups were statistically significantly different in 8hydroxydeoxy guanosine, caspase 3/7, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and basal biochemical parameter values (P <.05, P <.001). In group II, 8-hydroxydeoxy guanosine, caspase 3/7, and total oxidant status values increased while the total antioxidant status value decreased (P <.001). In the treatment groups (group III and group IV), 8-hydroxydeoxy guano sine and caspase 3/7 values decreased compared to group II (P < .001). While total oxidant status and oxidative stress index values decreased in the treatment groups, total antioxidant status values increased (P <.001). The histopathological examination of the heart revealed fewer areas of focal necrosis in the treatment groups compared to group II., Conclusion: In this study, the cardioprotective effect of Pistacia vera L. hull extract was investigated in vivo. It was shown that Pistacia vera L. hull extract reduced apoptosis and deoxyribonucleic acid damage in the face of cardiac damage and had antioxidant activity. Future studies will increase our knowledge on this subject.

Changes in physiological and biochemical patterns in lucerne plants caused by the presence of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia', which is one of the significant pathogens causing yield losses in lucerne plants, were investigated. Significant differences were evident in total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and protein amounts between 'Ca. Phytoplasma australasia'-positive and negative lucerne plants. Stress-related metabolites such as phenol, malondialdehyde, and proline accumulations in 'Ca. Phytoplasma australasia'-positive plants were remarkably higher than those of phytoplasma-negative plants. As a response to disease attack, phytoplasma-positive plants exhibited higher antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and catalase) and non-enzymatic metabolite responses such as jasmonic and salicylic acids. We state that partial disease responses were revealed for the first time to breed resistant lucerne lines infected by 'Ca. Phytoplasma australasia'.

Objective: Nigella sativa extract has been used in the Middle East as a traditional medicine for several complaints. We aimed to evaluate the biochemical, histopathological and hematologic changes in Toxocara canis-infected mice after treatment with Nigella sativa extract, albendazole or a combination of both., Methods: This comparative study was conducted between June and July 2008 at the Itarran University Saniturla Turkey. Sixty healthy adult BALB/c male mice were randomly divided into six groups (D0-D5). Mice in groups D1-D5 received 500 embryonated T. canis eggs via esophageal tube. Groups DO and D1 served as a non-infected sham group and an infected control group, respectively. Groups D2 and D3 received 100 and 200 mg/kg N. sativa extract (NSE), respectively. Group D4 received 100 mg/kg albendazole. Group D5 received the combination dose (100+100 mg/kg NSE+albendazole)., Results: Treatment with N. sativa of both doses or the combination dose of N. sativa and albendazole reduced the degree of inflammation and necrosis, lead to a reduction in the percentage of eosinophils and decreased the elevated liver enzyme levels., Conclusion: These results indicate that N. sativa has a potent effect in protection against organ damage induced by T. canis infection.

A 72-year-old man presented with an unusually severe case of rhinophyma. The pedunculated mass was widely excised and a skin graft from the medial upper arm was applied. A very satisfactory cosmetic result was obtained.

Objectives: Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic disease with an endemic regional distribution, and Aspergillus is a saprophytic fungus that may cause allergic pulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma, and semi-invasive and invasive aspergillosis. The coexistence of a saprophytic fungus and hydatid cyst is extremely rare. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the coexistence of aspergillosis and echinococcosis in archival materials and to discuss its probable clinical significance., Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained sections of 100 archival cases with the diagnosis of hydatid cyst were reevaluated by four pathologists independently. Grocott's methenamine-silver (GMS) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) were applied to the slides that were suspected of having co-infection with Aspergillus to confirm the diagnosis., Results: Two cases of aspergillosis and hydatid cyst coexistence were found out of the 100 reevaluated archival cases with a diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Both of the cases were located in the lung, in immunocompetent patients., Conclusions: Aspergillosis and hydatid cyst coexistence may be important in patients with immune deficiency and in cases with pre- or perioperatively ruptured cysts. There are no reliable data on the specificity and sensitivity of radiological imaging techniques in detecting the existence of Aspergillus in hydatid cysts. Histopathological evaluation is essential for diagnosis and for the planning of management.