Context: Both copper and betanin have been implicated as having significant bioactivity against ischemic damage in a variety of experimental and clinical settings. The aim of this study is to investigate whether betanin and copper have any protective effect on spinal cord in an ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) model in rats. Design: Spraque-Dawley rats were used in four groups: Sham group (n = 7), control group (laparotomy and cross-clamping of aorta, n = 7), betanin treatment group (dosage of 100 mg/kg of betanin administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 60 min before laparotomy, n = 7), copper sulfate treatment group (administered copper sulfate i.p. at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day for 7 days before laparotomy, n = 7). Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay was also performed to evaluate apoptosis. Setting: Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Kars, Turkey. Results: I/R injury was successfully demonstrated with the surgical model. Betanin and copper treatment significantly decreased MDA levels, MPO activity and the number of apoptotic cells in the spinal cord. Betanin and copper treatment significantly increased GSH levels. Copper treatment significantly increased SOD activity, whereas betanin was not as effective. Apoptotic cells were significantly decreased in both treatment groups. Conclusion: I/R injury of the spinal cord can be successfully demonstrated by aortic clamping in this surgical model. Betanin/Copper sulphate has ameliorative effects against operative I/R injury. Low toxicity of those agents makes them ideal targets for clinical research for this purpose.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate PCNA, MMP-9 and p53 expressions according to differentiation degree of BOSCCs by immunohistochemical methods. The material of this study was composed of BOSCC biopsy samples taken from 30 cattle brought to our department. Tissue samples from cattles were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution, processed routinely, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5μm and stained with Hematoxylin & Eosine in order to detect histopathological changes. Sections were examined and photographed under a light microscope. Avidin-Biotin Peroxidase method was used as immunohistochemical method. We observed that the masses were nodular and cauliflower-like appearance. We found that the surfaces of the masses were highly hemorrhagic and ulcerative, sometimes covered with a purulent discharge. We defined cases with excessive and large numbers of keratin pearls, large tumoral islands, and evident squamous differentiation were defined as well-differentiated. In moderately-differentiated cases, we found that the number and size of keratin pearls decreased compared to well-differentiated cases. In addition, we observed that tumoral islets were smaller in these cases, similar to keratin pearls, and the number of poorly differentiated tumor cells increased. In poorly-differentiated cases, we determined that keratinization was either absent or formed in individual cells. As a result of statistical analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between good, moderate and poorly differentiated cases in terms of PCNA and MMP-9 expressions, but we found that the increase in p53 expression correlated with the degree of differentiation of the tumor. In conclusion, we think that p53 is a useful marker in determining the prognosis of BOSCCs.

Despite the well-known and easily recognizable signs of bladder injury during laparoscopy, some injuries remain unnoticed. Intra-operative diagnosis of a urinary bladder injury provides the opportunity to repair and prevent later complications involving the formation of fistula, infection, ascites and impairment of renal function. Small and unrecognized bladder injuries increase the chance of morbidity and permanent organ dysfunctions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the CO2 flow dynamics of bladder injury occurring during laparoscopy and the effect of the content of the abdominal viscera during injury. The study involved eight male New Zealand rabbits. Following urinary catheterization of the rabbits with an 8-gauge urinary catheter connected securely to a urinary drainage bag, pneumoperitoneum was created at a pressure level of 12 mm Hg. The experiment consisted of three phases. After the observational phase (Phase 1), the anterior wall of the urinary bladder was perforated with the tip of a 21 G needle (Phase 2) and methylene blue was administrated to evaluate the CO2 flow dynamics (Phase 3). The amount of CO2 consumption and accumulation in the urinary drainage bags differed significantly among the three phases of the experiment (p<0.05). There was no CO2 consumption or accumulation in the urinary drainage bags during Phase 1. The amount of CO2 consumption and accumulation in the urinary drainage bags during Phase 2 was significantly higher than during Phase 3. Urinary catheterization helps in the diagnosis of small or unnoticed urinary bladder injuries occurring during laparoscopy. CO2 flow and consumption is lower if the viscosity of the content overlying the injury site is higher.