CASE OF FASCIOLIASIS: EXTRACTION WITH ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

Fascioliasis is a worldwide zoonotic infection with fasciola hepatica and fasciola gigantica. The zoonoses are particularly endemic in sheep‐raising countries and are also endemic in Turkey. Clinical features of fascioliasis relate to the stage and intensity of infection. Fasciola hepatica infection comprises two stages: hepatic and biliary, with different signs and symptoms. Cholestatic symptoms may be sudden, but, in some cases, they may be preceded by a long period of fever, eosinophilia and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. We reported a case with fever and upper‐quadrant abdominal pain since 3 months that comes from an area endemic for fasciola hepatica, with suspected imaging about fasciola hepatica in common bile duct on ultrasonography. After that, fasciola hepatica was extracted with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.     

Acute renal failure related to infectious disease in infancy and childhood.

In this prospective study done between 1983 and 1989, of 109 children with acute renal failure in Sivas, Turkey, infectious disease was found in 94. This was related mainly to preventable disease such as acute gastro-enteritis, sepsis and post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis. Within this infectious disease group, the highest incidence rate was found in sepsis.     

Examination of microvascular structures of midcortical region in sheep kidneys: a three dimensional approach

Polyester-crystic cast was observed to reach the peritubular capillary plexus following injection in sheep kidneys. Microvascular structures in this region are also reported in this study. Glomeruli were found to vary in size and shape. Diameters of afferent arterioles were larger than those of efferent arterioles. The glomerulus is supplied by more than one afferent arteriole, and in some regions, the blood in afferent arterioles joins collateral circulation via the intercapillary plexus. Morphological properties at the end of the peritubular capillary plexus were found to be remarkably significant.     

Adiponectin levels and atherosclerotic risk factors in pediatric chronic peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic vascular diseases are the major cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD), even in children. Adiponectin (ADPN) is a recently discovered adipocyte-derived plasma protein having anti-atherogenic properties. ADPN levels are elevated in ESRD but it has been reported that ESRD patients with low plasma ADPN levels have a high risk of cardiovascular death. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the atherosclerotic risk and especially the significance of ADPN levels in pediatric patients on CPD. DESIGN: Cross-sectional studyin the pediatric peritoneal dialysis unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 18 children, aged 12.6 +/- 5.6 years, being treated with CPD and 20 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study. METHODS: Serum ADPN levels and other risk factors, including blood pressure, blood glucose, serum lipid/lipoprotein fractions, apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein(a), and homocysteine levels, were studied in CPD patients and compared to the controls. RESULTS: Serum ADPN levels were three times higher in the CPD group compared to the control subjects, as was previously reported. Apolipoprotein B and CRP levels were also high in the CPD group. No significant difference was found in other atherosclerotic parameters, including lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine levels. Interestingly, we found a negative correlation between log ADPN and creatinine levels among the CPD patients (r = -0.54, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between log ADPN and duration of CPD. Creatinine and low-density lipoprotein levels could account for 54% of the total variation in ADPN levels. CONCLUSION: Among pediatric CPD patients, serum levels of the anti-atherogenic protein, ADPN, were inversely associated with creatinine. ADPN level might be a novel marker to predict prognosis in pediatric CPD patients.     

Vein of Galen and sinus thrombosis with bilateral thalamic infarcts in sickle cell anaemia: CT follow-up and angiographic demonstration

A 2-year-old boy with known sickle cell disease presented in acute coma. CT revealed bilateral thalamic infarcts and incomplete sinus thrombosis. Angiography confirmed thrombosis of the straight sinus and vein of Galen.     

Collagen-chondroitin sulfate-based PLLA-SAIB-coated rhBMP-2 delivery system for bone repair

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are osteoinductive proteins used intensively in clinical investigations involving various bone-related treatments. Owing to their high potential in new bone formation they require local application at the treatment site. For this purpose various controlled delivery systems with BMPs as the excipients have been prepared in recent years. Focusing on this clinical need a disc-shaped BMP carrier was designed as a local delivery system using soluble collagen and chondroitin sulfate. In situ release studies carried out with a model protein (FITC-labeled Protein A) presented a very high rate of release; with most of the protein content being released within 24 h. This rate could be decreased by providing a poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and sucrose acetate isobutyrate-based (SAIB-based) coat around the release system, applied after BMP loading. In this way, it was possible to extend the release period from 24 h to about 12 days. In situ release of BMP from the same carriers, as quantitated using an ELISA kit, was even slower, with 50% of the protein being released in 15 days. In order to be able to secure the BMP delivery system at the bone defect site and to provide support a mesh knitted using Vicryl sutures and bonded with poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) was tested in in vivo. Two time periods, 1 and 3 weeks, were used to evaluate the healing process. Osteoinduction by the BMP carrier system was assessed by histology-based bone scoring and X-ray examinations. PLLA-SAIB-coated collagen discs containing BMP presented good biocompatibility and optimum osteogenic stimulation. Structural changes in histological micrographs at week 1 indicated dose-dependent periosteal ossification. At the end of week 3 histological findings with both BMP (1 and 2 microg) doses were almost the same.     

Is there any correlation between restriction fragment length polymorphism of the L-MYC gene and metastasis of human nonsmall cell lung cancer?

A potential molecular marker associated with cancer susceptibility as well as metastasis, prognosis and adverse survival, is the L-myc gene. The studies of lung cancer patients from different populations have yielded controversial results. We studied 64 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 37 healthy controls of Turkish origin for L-myc gene polymorphism. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that there was association between L-myc S allele in NSCLC and predisposition to the disease and TNM stage indicating tumor size, node classification and metastasis. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to determine the L-myc oncogene genotypes. We found no significant difference, both in the distribution of the LL, LS and SS genotypes and in the allelic frequencies, between the patient group and the control group; that is, the frequencies of L-myc alleles were, L and S, 0.59 and 0.41, 0.60 and 0.40, respectively. Our data between the patient group and the control group; that is, the frequencies of L-myc alleles were, L and S, 0.59 and 0.41, 0.60 and 0.40, respectively. Our data concerning age, sex, size of tumors, histological type of tumors showed no significant association with L-myc genotype. However, a higher frequency of L-myc S allele in the squamous cell carcinoma compared to other histological groups was found, although this difference was not statistically significant. No association was found between the L-myc RFLP and increased risk of metastasis either to the lymph nodes or to other organs. Our results suggested that L-myc gene polymorphism was not a suitable prognostic marker of metastatic development in Turkish NSCLC patients.     

Theory of mind and motion perception in schizophrenia

This study investigated the relationship between theory of mind (ToM) deficits and visual perception in patients with schizophrenia (N=52; 17 remitted and unmedicated) compared with healthy controls (N=30). ToM was assessed with the Eyes Test, which asked participants to choose which of 4 words best described the mental state of a person whose eyes were depicted in a photograph. Visual perception was evaluated with form and motion coherence threshold measurements. Results revealed that patients with schizophrenia (both remitted and nonremitted) showed deficits on the Eyes Test and the motion coherence task. ToM dysfunctions were associated with higher motion coherence thresholds and more severe negative symptoms. This suggests that ToM deficits are related to motion perception dysfunctions, which indicates a possible role of motion-sensitive areas in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.