Background and Objective: Probiotics have been shown to be effective in controlling various adverse health conditions such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and neurological diseases. However, to our knowledge, there is no research on the preventive effect of probiotics on heart damage caused by infections. This study examined the preventive benefits of probiotics against sepsis-related heart injury using a rat model caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Materials and Methods: Four groups of twenty-four male Wistar albino rats, each with six rats, were set up. For 14 days, Group 1 (Sham Group) was given oral normal saline, intraperitoneal Escherichia coli O111-B4 lipopolysaccharide (LPS Group) was given to Group 2, and oral probiotics were given to Group 3 (Probiotic Group). Escherichia coli O111-B4 lipopolysaccharide was injected intraperitoneally after Group 4 (Probiotic + LPS) received oral probiotics containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (10⁹ CFU/day). Blood samples were taken twenty-four hours following the administration of LPS. The animals were then euthanized by cervical dislocation, and samples of cardiac tissue were taken in order to assess any damage to the heart. The following serum values were measured: C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), cardiac troponin subunit I (cTn-I), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Oxidative Stress Index (OSI), CRP, CK-MB, and cTn-I levels were assessed in tissue samples. Additionally, staining techniques were used to analyze histopathological alterations in tissues. Results: With the exception of serum IL-6 (p = 0.111), tissue and serum cytokine levels were considerably greater in the sepsis group (Group 2) than in the other groups (p < 0.05 to <0.001). The TAS, GSH, and SOD levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05 to <0.001) in septic rats, although the tissue levels of TOS, OSI, and MDA were significantly higher. With the exception of serum CRP in Group 3 (p = 0.328), the CK-MB, CRP, and cTn-I levels were considerably higher in Group 2 than in the other groups (p < 0.01 to <0.001). When compared to the other groups, histopathological examination showed significant alterations in the LPS group. Conclusions: Probiotics showed positive effects on oxidative stress markers and dramatically decreased sepsis-induced cardiac damage in the LPS-induced sepsis model. These results imply that probiotics could be used as a therapeutic approach to lessen the cardiac damage brought on by sepsis.

Purpose: To investigate whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects ocular surface of children with well-controlled type 1 DM. Methods: Sixty-five diabetic patients and 55 age-matched controls enrolled to study. Detailed ocular surface assessment including, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film break-up time (TBUT) analysis, Schirmer test, and conjunctival impression cytologic analysis were performed. Results: Schirmer test and TBUT results were significantly lower in DM group than controls (p = 0.001, for all). OSDI scores of all participants were within normal range. Impression cytology analysis showed grade 0 changes in all participants and there was no difference between groups for goblet cell density (p > 0.05). The TBUT results were significantly associated with duration of DM (r = −0.309, p = 0.036). Conclusion: Diabetic children without symptoms, signs, and definite diagnosis of dry eye still had lower TBUT and Schirmer test results than controls; however, impression cytology analysis was similar in both groups.

To the Editor, In previous issues of the journal, we have just read with great interest the paper by chen entitled “Empagliflozin attenuates doxorubicin- induced cardiotoxicity by activating AMPK/SIRT-1/PGC-1α- mediated mitochondrial biogenesis” published in Toxicology Research; 2023, 1–8. ¹ The study showed us that doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy can be ameliorated by a empagliflozin by activating AMPK/SIRT-1/PGC-1α- mediated mitochondrial biogenesis clearly. And, in this letter, we would like to convey our contribution to this paper. First of all, congratulations to the author for this beautiful work. Because in our previous study, it was shown by electron microscopy that doxorubicin impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and empagliflozin restored it. ² We had suggested that the pathophysiologic pathway of this condition might be due to the increase in PGC1 α levels by empagliflozin, but we could not prove it. In this study, the researcher has completed the missing part of our study by showing that PGC1 α levels increase with empagliflozin. We thank him for this contribution.

The Hedgehog signaling pathway plays a crucial role in folliculogenesis; however, the association between FF-MAS oxysterol activity in folliculogenesis and the Hedgehog signaling pathway has not been revealed. The evaluation of FF-MAS activity in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with folliculogenesis disorder might provide a new approach to tackle follicular and oocyte maturation failure. The question is: does FF-MAS oxysterol affect granulosa cell (GC) proliferation? If so, is this effect facilitated through the Hedgehog pathway? To answer these questions, GCs were isolated from follicle fluids obtained from patients undergoing oocyte retrieval during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. After the isolated GCs were incubated in different cell culture media, the levels of Hedgehog pathway components (SMO, Gli1) were measured by using immunohistochemical methods, cytoELISA, and qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, cell proliferation rates were determined. Significant increases (p < 0.001) in SMO and Gli1 expressions and cell proliferation were observed in the FF-MAS-treated subgroups of both PCOS and male factor participants compared to the FF-MAS deficient subgroup. Remarkably, FF-MAS positively affected the pathway components despite the pathway inhibitor cyclopamine. Although the increase in Hedgehog pathway components was slightly higher in the male factor group (MF), it was not statistically significant. In our study, we demonstrated for the first time the molecular effect of FF-MAS on human GCs in folliculogenesis. Since FF-MAS is already used in assisted reproductive techniques in animals and is known to be synthesized in the human body, it could be considered a new approach in human IVF treatments.