Immediate ultrastructural effects of endothelin-1 on rabbit basilar artery

Summary In this study intra-arterial Endothelin-1 was applied to rabbit basilar arteries and morphological findings were compared between two groups who were either perfusion fixed or immersion fixed. We planned to establish the quantitative dimension of the drug-induced morphological alterations, independent of the fixation technique's effect.There was an abundance of collagenous fibres deposited among the smooth muscle cells which was not observed in control arteries and after immersion fixation. These degenerative changes are similar to the finding following subarachnoid haemorrhage. The only fixation-related difference was the fact that lamina elastica interna was not corrugated in the perfusion fixation group.It is concluded that, the observed changes in the connective tissue of the arterial wall alter the passive elastic properties and so affect the degree of the response to the vasoactive messengers.     

Role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of mucormycosis

Several problems in the management of life-threatening mucormycosis remain unresolved, necessitating new methods of management. Four patients with histopathologically proven rhinocerebral mucormycosis were treated with high cumulative doses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). All had multiple predisposing factors for mucormycosis, particularly leukemia and neutropenia. Two patients refractory to fluconazole therapy were treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The improvement in clinical manifestations was closely related to neutrophil recovery, and all patients were alive at the end of therapy. In addition to surgical debridement and antifungal therapy, G-CSF seems to have played a role in their survival.     

Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Ankara, Turkey

Kalyoncu AF, Selçuk ZT, Karakoca Y, Emri AS, Çöplü L, Şahin AA, Bariş YI. Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Ankara, Turkey.
The first epidemiologic survey of the prevalence of childhood asthma and other allergic disease in Ankara, Turkey, was done in May 1992. A questionnaire on factors influencing the atopic status and allergic symptoms was distributed to parents of 1226 children aged 6-12 years. In this questionnaire, parents were asked to give information about physician-diagnosed asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD), and self-reported wheezing and rhinoconjunctivitis (perennial or seasonal). The overall response rate was 85 % and included 502 boys (48.5%) and 534 girls (51.5%). The lifetime prevalences of asthma, wheezing, rhinoconjunctivitis, and AD were 17.4%, 23.3%, 28%, and 6.1%, respectively, and the reported prevalences for the last 12 months were 8.3%, 11.9%, 15.4%, and 4%, respectively. Asthma and other allergic disease had been recognized in 23.2% of the children during the last year; in half of these, more than one disease was present. Eight percent of the families kept pet animals; 95.4% of children had been breast-fed, of whom 61% for more than 6 months; and at least one person smoked at home in the case of 73.9% of children. Some health insurance was available to 72.8% of the families. Cumulative prevalences of wheezing, rhinoconjunctivitis, and AD were significantly associated with the presence of pets, passive smoking at home, and absence of health insurance. The prevalence of asthma was not affected by any of these factors except atopic family history. In conclusion, asthma and other allergic diseases constitute a major health problem for schoolchildren in Ankara.     

Isolation and characterization of thermophilic Campylobacter species from geese raised in Kars region (Turkey) using cultural,molecular and mass spectrometry methods

Background:Thermophilic Campylobacters are found in the digestive tract of wild and domestic poultry and can be transmitted to humans following their fecal discharges. Aims:This study aimed to isolate thermophilic Campylobacter by culture from cloacal swabs of geese, commonly breeding in Kars region, and to identify the isolates by PCR and mass spectrometry. Antibiotics susceptibility and resistance genes of the isolates were also analysed. Methods:The study included 400 cloacal swab samples of clinically healthy geese. The samples were cultured on mCCDA medium following the pre-enrichment in Preston broth. Identification of the isolates was performed by phenotypic methods, PCR, and MALDI-TOF MS. Antibiotic susceptibility and resistance genes of the isolates were analysed with the disc diffusion method and PCR, respectively. Results:Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 157 (39.3%) samples. 151 (96.2%) isolates were identified Campylobacter jejuni and 6 (3.8%) Campylobacter coli by the phenotypic tests and PCR. Among 125 isolates analysed by MALDI-TOF MS, 119 (95.2%) were identified C. jejuni and 6 (4.8%) C. coli. The isolates’ resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and azithromycin were found 33.8%, 41.4%, 75.2%, 12.1%, and 7.6%, respectively. The distributions of bla_OXA61, tetO, gyrA, and aphA-3 genes were 3.2%, 90.8%, 50.8%, and 52.7%, respectively. Conclusion:Since geese are raised in pastures in the Kars region, protecting and not polluting the existing natural environment and preventing their contact with wild birds will prevent the spread of these microorganisms.Key Words: Antibiotic susceptibility, Goose, MALDI-TOF MS, PCR, Thermophilic Campylobacter     

Evaluation of the reliability of classification systems used for distal radius fractures

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the reliability of classification systems by determining inter- and intraobserver agreement in displaced distal radius fractures. Radiographs of 32 patients (21 men and 11 women with a mean age of 41.6 years) who presented with a displaced distal radius fracture were classified by 9 orthopedic surgeons (5-25 years experience) using 5 different classification systems (Fernandez, AO, Frykman, Melone, and Universal Classification systems) twice with 20-day intervals. The results were processed with kappa statistics and used in assessment of inter- and intraobserver agreement of the classification systems. When classification systems were compared, the highest kappa coefficient in intraobserver agreement was determined in Universal classification (0.621). Fernandez (0.474), AO (0.309), Frykman (0.305), and Melone classification systems (0.262) followed the Universal system respectively. Kappa statistical results were evaluated using the Landis Koch score system for the assessment of interobserver agreement. According to the Landis Koch score system, the results were insufficient in all classification systems. Fernandez classification system had the highest interobserver agreement (0.235) and Melone classification system had the lowest interobserver agreement (0.056). According to the results of our study, the systems used to classify the displaced distal radial fractures are insufficient. A new classification system that ensures the 3-dimensional assessment of the fracture is more user-friendly and a high inter- and intraobserver agreement is necessary.     

Efficacy of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibition in extracorporeal shock wave-induced renal injury

Objectives: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESW) induces renal damage by excessive production of free oxygen radicals. Free Oxygen radicals cause cellular injury by inducing nicks in DNA. The enzyme poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) involved in the process of repair of DNA in damaged cells. However, its activation in damaged cells can lead to adenosine triphosphate depletion and death. Thus, we designed a study to evaluate the efficacy of 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a PARP inhibitor, against extracorporeal shock wave induced renal injury. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, ESW, ESW?+?3-AB groups. All groups except control group were subjected to ESW procedure. ESW?+?3-AB group received 20?mg/kg/day 3-aminobenzamide intraperitoneally at 2?h before ESW and continued once a day for consecutive 3 days. The surviving animals were sacrificed at the 4th day and their kidneys were harvested for biochemical and histopathologic analysis. Blood samples from animals were also obtained. Results: Serum ALT and AST levels, serum neopterin and tissue oxidative stress parameters were increased in the ESW group and almost came to control values in the treatment group (p?p?Conclusion: Our data showed that PARP inhibition protected renal tissue against ESW induced renal injury. These findings suggest that it would be possible to improve the outcome of ESW induced renal injury by using PARP inhibitors as a preventive therapy.