The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on the Renal Functions in Septic Rats: Relation to Oxidative Damage

Purpose To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on renal functions and damage in septic rats.Methods The animals were divided into four groups, each containing ten animals: control, hyperbaric oxygen, sepsis, and sepsis/hyperbaric oxygen. One milliliter of saline containing live Escherichia coli cells (2.1 × 10⁹) was injected intraperitoneally to induce sepsis. The groups treated with HBO were given five sessions of 2 atmospheres absolute of 100% oxygen at intervals of 6 h. Blood, urine, and tissue samples were then collected, and the functional renal parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities were examined.Results The reduced glomerular filtration rate and urine flow returned to normal levels after HBO treatment; however, the increase in fractionated sodium excretion continued. The increased MDA levels in the renal cortex and medulla also decreased to the level of the control group. In the sepsis group, both the SOD and catalase activities decreased in the renal cortex, while a reduction was observed only in the catalase activity in the medulla. The reduced enzyme activities significantly increased in the sepsis/hyperbaric oxygen group.Conclusion HBO treatment has a beneficial effect on renal dysfunction in sepsis. The probable reason for this effect is the reduction in oxidative damage because of the increase in antioxidative capacity.     

A Perichondrial Flap for Functional Purposes in Rhinoplasty

Recent trends in rhinoplasty techniques have focused on anatomic repair as well as respect and preservation of soft tissue integrity. In this article, the authors describe the use of a perichondrial flap, then discuss technical considerations and clinical perspectives of their advantages. A perichondrial flap helps to restore the stability of the upper lateral cartilage, to achieve extra padding, and to secure osteocartilagenous grafts. The method described has been used for 60 consecutive patients. The majority of these patients were satisfied with the results.To obtain detailed information about the perichondrial flap, the authors performed an anatomic study of 13 cadavers. The average thickness of the perichondrium was 186 ± 146.1 μm (range, 90–596 μm). On the basis of the results, it was concluded that elevation of the perichondrial flap with loupe magnification could improve the outcome of rhinoplasty.     

Beneficial effect of immunosuppressive drugs on Parry-Romberg syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Progressive facial hemiatrophy, also known as Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS), is characterized by slowly progressive atrophy of one side of the face, primarily involving the subcutaneous tissues and fat. Involvement of the central nervous system with impairment of neurologic function occurs infrequently. At present, there is no agreement as to whether PRS is a distinct entity or a clinical variant of linear scleroderma en coup de sabre. The exact reason for PRS has not yet been determined; therefore, no suitable treatment exists. We observed beneficial effects of immunosuppressive agents on neurologic lesions in particular in a patient with PRS who presented with immunoinflammatory findings and neurologic involvement, apart from cutaneous manifestations.     

Is aerobic preputial flora age dependent?

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most commonly encountered infections in childhood. It has been demonstrated that the preputial sac can act as a reservoir of organisms and is thus responsible for causing ascending UTIs. This study was performed to determine the presence of preputial flora in different age groups. Prepuce and urine samples were taken simultaneously from 92 uncircumcised and healthy male children aged between 0-12 years. The data were analyzed by age, with 47 subjects of 6 years of age or less, and 45 aged 7-12 years. Twenty-seven percent of the older patients had negative preputial cultures versus 8% of those under 6 years of age (chi2 = 5.27, P = 0.02). In addition, enteric bacteria were the most common pathogens isolated from the prepuce in younger children while skin flora bacteria were most common in the older group (chi2 = 9.18, P = 0.002). The urine was sterile in all cases. Preputial cultures change with age in uncircumcised boys. This change may be related to the development of immune status, to histological or anatomical changes in the prepuce, and/or to improved personal hygiene.     

Megaureter visualization on Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy

We present a patient with left-sided obstructed megaureter secondary to neuropathic bladder. He was referred for technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid ((99m)Tc-DMSA) renal cortical scintigraphy to evaluate renal cortical function. Images obtained 4 hr after injection showed significant activity in the dilated left ureter. When the ureter is visualized on DMSA scan, obstructive megaureter should be considered in the differential diagnosis.     

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylated at Ser116 is localized in nerve fibers of the rat glandulae palatinae

It is known that total endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is localized in peripheral nerve fibers, but the existence of the phosphorylation site/s of eNOS in peripheral nerve fibers is unknown. In the perfusion-fixed and decalcified sections of rat palates, eNOS and eNOS phosphorylated at Ser(116) were identified in the nerve fibers of the glandulae palatinae. The localization of eNOS phosphorylated at Ser(1177) and Thr(495) in nerve fibers was undetectable. It is concluded that eNOS is phosphorylated at Ser(116) in nerve fibers of the glandulae palatinae under basal conditions. The basal Ser(1177) and Thr(495) phosphorylation of eNOS are missing in nerve fibers of the glandulae palatinae.     

Kallikrein 4 is a predominantly nuclear protein and is overexpressed in prostate cancer

Kallikreins (KLKs) are highly conserved serine proteases that play key roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. KLKs are secreted proteins that have extracellular substrates and function. For example, prostate-specific antigen (or KLK3) is a secreted protein that is widely used as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. KLK4 is a recently identified member of the kallikrein family that is regulated by androgens and is highly specific to prostate for expression. Here, we show that the gene product of KLK4, hK4, is the first member of the KLK family that is intracellularly localized. We provide strong evidence that the previously assigned first exon that was predicted to code for a signal peptide that would target hK4 for secretion is not part of the physiologically relevant form of KLK4 mRNA. In addition to detailed mapping of the KLK4 mRNA 5' end by RT-PCR, this conclusion is supported by predominantly nuclear localization of the hK4 protein in the cell, documented by both immunofluorescence and cell fractionation experiments. Furthermore, in addition to androgens, hK4 expression is regulated by estrogen and progesterone in prostate cancer cells. Finally, in situ hybridization on normal and hyperplastic prostate samples in tissue microarrays indicate that KLK4 is predominantly expressed in the basal cells of the normal prostate gland and overexpressed in prostate cancer. These data suggest that KLK4 has a unique structure and function compared with other members of the KLK family and may have a role in the biology and characterization of prostate cancer.     

Contribution of antioxidants to preventive effect of mesna in cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate whether combination of antioxidants and mesna may prevent cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide better than mesna alone.Materials and methods A total of 46 male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into six groups. Five groups received single dose of cyclophosphamide (CP, 100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally with the same time intervals: group 2 received CP only, group 3 received mesna (21.5 mg/kg for three times), group 4 beta-carotene (20 mg/kg for two times) and mesna, group 5 received alpha-tocopherol (20 mg/kg for two times) and mesna, and group 6 received melatonin (5 mg/kg for two times) and mesna on the day of CP injection. Group 1 served as control.Results CP injection resulted in severe cystitis. Mesna has showed meaningful but not full protection against CP toxicity. Although beta-carotene did not show any additional beneficial effect when combined with mesna, alpha-tocopherol and especially melatonin with mesna resulted full protection that the pathologist, blinded to the slides, could not differ from sham control.Conclusion Oxidants may be important in the pathogenesis of CP-induced cystitis. Melatonin and alpha-tocopherol may help to ameliorate bladder damage along with other drugs such as mesna and diuretics.