Application of Rhenium-186 Radiosynovectomy in Elbow Diffuse Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis. - A Case Report with Multiple Joint Involvement

After surgical therapy of diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS), recurrence is seen in almost half of the patients. The effectiveness of radiosynovectomy (RSV) in preventing recurrence and complaints of DPVNS is well known. Elbow involvement in DPVNS is a very rare condition; therefore, RSV in elbow hasn’t been experienced widely. The aim of this case report is to show the effectiveness of RSV with rhenium-186 (Re-186) sulfide colloid. We applied Re-186 sulfide colloid to the elbow joint of DPVNS patients six weeks after arthroscopic synovectomy. As a result, the patient did not have any complaints, and our findings are compatible with residue or recurrence on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in sixth and twentieth month controls after administration. We concluded that Re-186 is an effective adjuvant therapy for the prevention of recurrence and complaints.     

Accumulation and toxicity of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles through waterborne and dietary exposure of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Dietary and waterborne exposure to copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) was conducted using a simplified model of an aquatic food chain consisting of zooplankton (Artemia salina) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) to determine bioaccumulation, toxic effects, and particle transport through trophic levels. Artemia contaminated with NPs were used as food in dietary exposure. Fish were exposed to suspensions of the NPs in waterborne exposure. ICP‐MS analysis showed that accumulation primarily occurred in the intestine, followed by the gills and liver. Dietary uptake was lower, but was found to be a potential pathway for transport of NPs to higher organisms. Waterborne exposure resulted in about a 10‐fold higher accumulation in the intestine. The heart, brain, and muscle tissue had no significant Cu or Zn. However, concentrations in muscle increased with NP concentration, which was ascribed to bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn released from NPs. Free Cu concentration in the medium was always higher than that of Zn, indicating CuO NPs dissolved more readily. ZnO NPs were relatively benign, even in waterborne exposure (p ≥ 0.05). In contrast, CuO NPs were toxic. Malondialdehyde levels in the liver and gills increased substantially (p < 0.05). Despite lower Cu accumulation, the liver exhibited significant oxidative stress, which could be from chronic exposure to Cu ions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 119–128, 2015.     

Compliance With Dyslipidemia Guidelines in Daily Practice: How Effective Is Cardiovascular Risk Prevention?

Purpose

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to atherosclerosis is the leading cause of early mortality and morbidity. The current European guidelines on CVD prevention in clinical practice recommend the use of the Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) system. The current American Heart Association guidelines recommend the use of the new pooled cohort risk assessment equations to estimate the 10-year atherosclerotic CVD risk. The purpose of this article was to investigate the compliance of dyslipidemia guidelines in daily practice in patients with dyslipidemia or who have risk factors for CVD.

Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with COPD are associated with QT dispersion

STUDY OBJECTIVE: QT dispersion (QTd) and late potentials derived from signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) have been proposed as noninvasive predictors of cardiac arrhythmias that occur in patients with COPD. In this study, we aimed to investigate QTd and SAECG in patients with COPD. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Teaching chest disease hospital and cardiology center in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty patients with COPD (28 men and 2 women; mean +/- SD age, 60 +/- 9 years) and 31 age- and sex-matched control subjects (28 men and 3 women; mean age, 57 +/- 7 years) were included. Measurements and results: Respiratory function tests, arterial blood gas analyses, echocardiographic examinations, rhythm Holter recordings, and heart rate variability (HRV) analyses were performed in addition to the measurements of QT intervals and SAECG. Patients with COPD had higher rate of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) as compared to control subjects (924 +/- 493 beats vs 35 +/- 23 beats, p = 0.009). Eight patients with COPD (27%) had nonsustained runs of ventricular tachycardia (VT). QTd rates were significantly increased in patients with COPD as compared to control subjects (57.7 +/- 9.9 ms vs 37.5 +/- 8.2 ms, p < 0.001). On comparing patients with COPD with and without runs of VT, patients with VT had longer QTd (67 +/- 10 ms vs 55 +/- 8 ms, p = 0.001). However no difference in any HRV and late potential parameters were found between patients with COPD with and without runs of VT. VPB rates were strongly correlated with QTd in patients with COPD (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). On SAECG analysis, patients with COPD had significantly increased total QRS duration as compared to control subjects. Nine of the 30 patients with COPD (30%) had positive late potentials. However, QTd and VPB rates were also similar between patients with COPD with and without late potentials. CONCLUSIONS: The development of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with COPD was associated with increased QTd. Increased QTd may be associated with autonomic changes seen in patients with COPD.     

Melatonin reduces dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Increased deposition of the extracellular matrix components, particularly collagen, is a central phenomenon in liver fibrosis. Stellate cells, the central mediators in the pathogenesis of fibrosis are activated by free radicals, and synthesize collagen. Melatonin is a potent physiological scavenger of hydroxyl radicals. Melatonin has also been shown to be involved in the inhibitory regulation of collagen content in tissues. At present, no effective treatment of liver fibrosis is available for clinical use. We aimed to test the effects of melatonin on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver damage in rats. Wistar albino rats were injected with DMN intraperitoneally. Following a single dose of 40 mg/kg DMN, either saline (DMN) or 100 mg/kg daily melatonin was administered for 14 days. In other rats, physiologic saline or melatonin were injected for 14 days, following a single injection of saline as control. Hepatic fibrotic changes were evaluated biochemically by measuring tissue hydroxyproline levels and histopathogical examination. Malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, and glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were evaluated in blood and tissue homogenates. DMN caused hepatic fibrotic changes, whereas melatonin suppressed these changes in five of 14 rats (P < 0.05). DMN administration resulted in increased hydroxyproline and MDA levels, and decreased GSH and SOD levels, whereas melatonin reversed these effects. When melatonin was administered alone, no significant changes in biochemical parameters were noted. In conclusion, the present study suggests that melatonin functions as a potent fibrosuppressant and antioxidant, and may be a therapeutic choice.     

Evaluation and comparison of the marginal adaptation of two different substructure materials

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the amount of marginal gap with two different substructure materials using identical margin preparations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty stainless steel models with a chamfer were prepared with a CNC device. Marginal gap measurements of the galvano copings on these stainless steel models and Co-Cr copings obtained by a laser-sintering method were made with a stereomicroscope device before and after the cementation process and surface properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A dependent t-test was used to compare the mean of the two groups for normally distributed data, and two-way variance analysis was used for more than two data sets. Pearson''s correlation analysis was also performed to assess relationships between variables.

RESULTS

According to the results obtained, the marginal gap in the galvano copings before cementation was measured as, on average, 24.47 ± 5.82 µm before and 35.11 ± 6.52 µm after cementation; in the laser-sintered Co-Cr structure, it was, on average, 60.45 ± 8.87 µm before and 69.33 ± 9.03 µm after cementation. A highly significant difference (P<.001) was found in marginal gap measurements of galvano copings and a significant difference (P<.05) was found in marginal gap measurements of the laser-sintered Co-Cr copings. According to the SEM examination, surface properties of laser sintered Co-Cr copings showed rougher structure than galvano copings. The galvano copings showed a very smooth surface.

CONCLUSION

Marginal gaps values of both groups before and after cementation were within the clinically acceptable level. The smallest marginal gaps occurred with the use of galvano copings.