Hereditary pancreatitis: Report of a family from Turkey

Chronic pancreatitis is a rare disease in children and is usually secondary to underlying diseases such as hereditary pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, hyperlipidemia, prolonged malnutrition, gallstones or anomalies of the biliary-pancreatic duct system. Hereditary pancreatitis is a common cause of chronic pancreatitis in children but is often unrecognized until months or years later. We report here a family with hereditary pancreatitis in which four members are affected.     

Composition,antimicrobial activity and in vitro cytotoxicity of essential oil from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae)

The essential oil from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume was analyzed by GC–MS and bioassays were carried out. Nine constituents representing 99.24% of the oil were identified by GC–MS. The major compounds in the oil were (E)-cinnamaldehyde (68.95%), benzaldehyde (9.94%) and (E)-cinnamyl acetate (7.44%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was investigated in order to evaluate its efficacy against 21 bacteria and 4 Candida species, using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods. The essential oil showed strong antimicrobial activity against all microorganisms tested. The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the essential oil on ras active (5RP7) and normal (F2408) fibroblasts were examined by MTT assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the oil was quite strong with IC₅₀ values less than 20 μg/mL for both cell lines. 5RP7 cells were affected stronger than normal cells. Morphological observation of apoptotic cells indicated the induction of apoptosis at the high level of the oil, especially in 5RP7 cells. The present study showed the potential antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic properties of the essential oil of cinnamon bark, indicating the possibilities of its potential use in the formula of natural remedies for the topical treatment of infections and neoplasms.     

Three Dimensions of Youth Social Capital and Their Impacts on Substance Use

Substance use is a threat to the health and well-being of youths, their families, and society as well. The literature shows that social interactions with peers, parents, and community may have an impact on adolescents’ behavior. Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health of 2007, this study investigated the impact of social capital on youth behavior. The results show that peer influence is the strongest among the three significant predictors of substance use. While peer influence is positively correlated with substance use, family attachment and youth activities have a negative relationship with substance use. Findings demonstrate that there is a relationship between youth substance use and different aspects of social capital. By integrating different perspectives in social capital and substance use, this study successfully demonstrates how social capital can be utilized as a policy and intervention tool.     

The Impact of Mitral Stenosis on Left Atrial Function Assessed by Two‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mitral stenosis (MS) on left atrial (LA) function using two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). Methods and Results: The study subjects consisted of 52 patients with asymptomatic MS and 52 control subjects. LA function was assessed using prototype speckle tracking software and manual tracking method. Maximal LA volume (LAVmax) and minimal LA volume (LAVmin) and LA volume before atrial contraction (LAVpre‐a) were measured. Using these volumes, LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump fuction parameters were calculated. Indexed LAVmax, LAVmin, and LAVpre‐a measurements via speckle tracking were highly correlated with manual tracing methods in both groups. Expansion index (67.8 ± 36.4 vs. 148.3 ± 44.2), diastolic emptying index (37.7 ± 12.9 vs. 58.0 ± 8.5), passive emptying (37.3 ± 14.1 vs. 70.4 ± 10.4) and passive emptying index (13.3 ± 6.3 vs. 41.3 ± 10.6) were decreased significantly in MS patients (P < 0.001). In contrast active emptying index (62.6 ± 4.1 vs. 29.5 ± 10.1) increased in MS group (P < 0.001) while active emptying (28.1 ± 13.0 vs. 28.3 ± 6.9) remained same among both groups. Conclusions: This is the first study relating LA volumes and function assessed by 2DSTE to MS. 2D speckle tracking analysis of LA volume is relatively easy and provides more detailed information regarding the changes in LA volumes during the cardiac cycle.     

Ocular complications of severe corneal abrasions after cosmetic blepharopigmentation

A 53-year-old woman with hemiparesis and poor dexterity, underwent cosmetic blepharopigmentation on the both upper eyelids in the dermatology clinic of a private hospital. She was not asked for any information on her medical history and no informed consent was obtained and the procedure was performed without any protective ocular shields. The patient experienced severe lacrimation, discomfort, and increased sensitivity to light during and after the procedure. She also noticed blurred vision after the procedure. Ophthalmologic examination revealed tender and oedematous eyelids and corneal abrasions in both of her eyes. Topical antibiotics and preservative-free lubricants were able to recover her from her signs and symptoms at 1-week follow-up. It is recommended that cosmetic blepharopigmentation should be applied cautiously with patient’s informed consent after obtaining a thorough medical history and with protective ocular shields to avoid potential complications.     

Protective effects of resveratrol on small intestines against intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats

Background and Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine whether resveratrol could prevent intestinal tissue injury induced by ischemia–reperfusion (I/R).
Methods:  Intestinal I/R was induced in rats' intestines by 60-min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, followed by a 60-min reperfusion. Thirty rats were divided into three groups as follows: sham (group 1), control (group 2), and the treatment groups (group 3). The rats in the treatment group received resveratrol both before ischemia and before reperfusion. In all groups, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were determined. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the intestinal tissue were measured. Intestinal tissue histopathology was also evaluated by light microscopy.
Results:  The levels of liver enzymes in group 3 were significantly lower than those in group 2 ( P  < 0.05). TAC in the intestinal tissue was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2 ( P  < 0.05). TOS, OSI, and MPO in the intestinal tissue were significantly lower in group 3 than in group 2 ( P  < 0.05 for all). Histological tissue damage was milder in the resveratrol treatment group than in the control group.
Conclusions:  The results of this study indicated that resveratrol treatment limits the oxidative injury of the small intestine induced by I/R in rats. However, more precise investigations are required to evaluate the antioxidative effect of resveratrol on small intestine tissue damage in clinical and experimental models.