Dabanlioglu, Bulent; Suleyman, Bahadir; Mammadov, Renad; Yavuzer, Bulent; Akyuz, Sumeyye; Akkas, Onder; Mokhtare, Behzad; Turumtay, Emine Akyuz; Altuner, Durdu; Coban, Taha Abdulkadir

The role of oxidants and proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has been demonstrated. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of ethyl acetate extract (EtOAc) obtained from Usnea longissima (UL) against acute oxidative and inflammatory lung damage due to S. aureus infection in rats. Albino Wistar-type male rats were divided into three groups: Healthy (HG), S. aureus inoculated (SaG), and S. aureus inoculated + ULEtOAc administered (SUL). SaG (n = 6) and SUL (n = 6) group rats’ left nostrils (excluding HG) were inoculated with 0.1 ml bacterial mixture. After 24 hours, ULEtOAc (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to the SUL group, and the same volume of normal saline was administered orally to the HG (n = 6) and SaG groups. This procedure was performed once a day for seven days. Levels of oxidant and antioxidant parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and total glutathione (tGSH), as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine levels such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-one beta (IL-1β), were measured in removed lung tissues. Tissues were also examined histopathologically. Biochemical results showed that ULEtOAc significantly suppressed the increase of MDA, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels and the decrease of tGSH caused by S. aureus in lung tissue. S. aureus inoculation caused severe mononuclear cell infiltration in interstitial areas, severe lymphoid hyperplasia in bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue and severe alveolar edema, histopathologically. Treatment with ULEtOAc had an attenuating effect on these histopathological findings. Experimental results from this study suggest that ULEtOAc may be beneficial in treating S. aureus-induced oxidative and inflammatory lung damage.

Eskici, Gunay; Gunay, Mehmet; Baltaci, Abdulkerim Kasim; Mogulkoc, Rasim

The present study aims to examine the effect of different doses of zinc administration on serum element metabolism and fatigue. The study registered 20 female elite athletes. The subjects were divided into two groups in equal numbers. Group supplemented with 220 mg/day zinc sulfate. Group supplemented with 440 mg/day zinc sulfate. Athletes who were already engaged in their daily training routines were put to a 20-m shuttle run test to create fatigue before and after supplementation. Blood samples were collected from the subjects for a total of 7 times, before and after zinc supplementation and during rest and after exercise within one-week intervals over the course of the 4-week supplementation. The blood samples collected as such were analyzed to determine serum magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, and plasma lactate. Both exercise and zinc supplementations significantly elevated magnesium, calcium, and iron levels for 4 weeks. Pre-supplementation exercise elevated plasma lactate levels, while zinc supplementation led to a fall in plasma lactate. The results of the present study indicate that zinc-supplementation for 4 weeks may have a positive impact on athletic performance by delaying fatigue.