Erythrocyte Deformability and Oxidative Stress in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background  

Oxidative stress and reduced microvascular flow are important factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The increased oxidative stress reduces the eriytrocyte deformability. However, in IBD, there are no studies in the literature which evaluate erythrocyte deformability.     

A case of cellulitis causing tissue defect during etanercept therapy

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists are employed increasingly during recent years in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Contraindications such as infections, auto-antibody formation and hypersensitive reactions can be observed during the treatment with TNF-α antagonist drugs. Our case was a 52-year-old woman, followed by several centers for a period of 21 years with a seropositive, erosive and nodular RA diagnosis. Anti TNF-α treatment was commenced due to the failure to control the disease. During the treatment, a serious cellulite developed, which required hospitalization and surgical debridement as well as intravenous antibiotics treatment. Through the present case, we aimed to draw attention to the skin infection during the use of etanercept in a patient with RA.     

Endodontic treatment of a taurodontic premolar with five canals

Taurodontism is a morpho‐anatomical abnormality in the shape of a tooth. An enlarged pulp chamber, apical displacement of the pulpal floor and no constriction at the level of the cemento‐enamel junction are the characteristic features. Special care is required in all aspects of endodontic treatment of a taurodontal tooth, including identifying the orifice, canal exploration, cleaning, shaping and obturation of the root canal. This case report describes the successful endodontic treatment of a taurodontic mandibular second premolar with five root canals.     

Cord blood nesfatin-1 and apelin-36 levels in gestational diabetes mellitus

To assess maternal serum and cord blood apelin-36 and nesfatin-1 concentrations in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Thirty pregnant women with GDM and 30 gestational age matched healthy pregnant subjects participated to the study. Maternal serum and cord blood nesfatin-1 and apelin-36 levels were measured with ELISA, at the time of birth. The relationships between maternal serum and cord blood nesfatin-1 and apelin-36 levels, anthropometric and metabolic parameters were also assessed. Maternal serum apelin-36 levels were found higher (13.5?±?8.3 vs. 9.6?±?5.9?ng/ml, P?=?0.001) and nesfatin-1 levels were found lower (5.5?±?8.1 vs. 8.1?±?23.9?ng/ml, P?=?0.001) in patients with GDM compared with control pregnant women. However, the cord blood apelin-36 levels (8.8?±?4.3 and 8.2?±?1.9?ng/ml, P?=?0.618) and nesfatin-1 levels (5.4?±?4.0 and 6.2?±?10.3?ng/ml, P?=?0.688) were similar in the GDM and control groups, respectively. Maternal serum apelin-36 and nesfatin-1 levels correlated positively with their respective cord blood levels. Maternal serum and cord blood apelin-36 levels correlated negatively with the gestational age and birth weight. Similarly maternal serum and cord blood nesfatin-1 levels correlated negatively with the gestational age, but there was no correlation with the birth weight. We did not find a correlation between maternal serum apelin-36 and nesfatin-1 levels, maternal age, BMI, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. Also cord blood apelin-36 and nesfatin-1 levels did not correlate with the maternal age, BMI, HOMA-IR, cord blood glucose, and cord blood insulin levels. Our results indicate that apelin-36 concentrations increase and nesfatin-1 concentrations decrease in maternal serum of women with GDM.     

nNOS expression in the brain of rats after burn and the effect of the ACE inhibitor captopril

Objective

To investigate the role of endogenous neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) on brain injury after burn and the effects of the captopril.

Methods

Wistar albino rats (200–250 g) were exposed on the dorsal surface to 90 °C (burn) or 25 °C (sham) water for 10 s. The ACE group was treated with intraperitoneal 10 mg/kg captopril immediately after burn and this treatment was repeated twice daily. At the end of the 24 h brain samples were taken. nNOS was studied in brain areas by immunohistochemistry.

Results

There was no difference between the cerebellar and hypothalamic areas the nNOS expression of all groups. nNOS expression increased in the frontal cortex, striatum and midbrain in the burn group compared to the control group. In the frontal cortex, nNOS expression significantly decreased after ACE inhibitor treatment (p < 0.05). The striatal nNOS of the ACE group significantly increased when compared to the control group (p = 0.001). In the midbrain of the animals, nNOS decreased in the ACE group. Hippocampal nNOS expression did not change after burn and significantly increased after ACE inhibitor therapy (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our data showed that the pathophysiological events following burn appear to be related to an acute inflammatory reaction which is associated with nNOS in the frontal cortex, striatum and midbrain, and captopril treatment abrogates the nNOS response in the frontal cortex and midbrain.     

Waist circumference is associated with carotid intima media thickness in peritoneal dialysis patients

Purpose

Atherosclerosis is responsible for the high mortality rate in end-stage renal disease patients. Defining risk factors for atherosclerosis may lead to reduction in cardiovascular disease through modification of these factors. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are subjected to high glucose loads on a daily basis, which results in considerable weight gain and an increase in waist circumference (WC). WC as an indicator of abdominal obesity is a risk factor for atherosclerosis in the general population. Carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) measurement is a reliable method for the detection of early atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between WC and CIMT and to define risk factors associated with CIMT in PD patients.

Methods

Fifty-five PD patients and 40 healthy controls were included. Atherosclerosis was assessed using measurement of CIMT. Fasting blood was collected for analysis. Anthropometric parameters (age, weight, BMI, and WC) were measured.

Results

Peritoneal dialysis patients had higher WC (93.9 ± 1.7 vs. 87.3 ± 1.2 cm, p < 0.05) and CIMT (0.70 ± 0.02 vs. 0.57 ± 0.01 mm, p < 0.01) than the control group. On univariate analysis, age, WC, plaque formation, and D/P creatinine were positively correlated with CIMT, whereas residual renal function, albumin, ultrafiltration volume, and D/D0 glucose were negatively correlated. On multivariate analysis, only age, WC, and plaque formation showed correlation (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Carotid artery intima media thickness is associated with age, plaque formation, and WC in PD patients. WC measurement is a simple, inexpensive, reproducible, and reliable method of evaluating atherosclerosis risk in PD patients and should be assessed at every visit. Appropriate counsel should be provided to patients with greater WC who are deemed to be at risk for atherosclerosis.     

Luteal phase support in intrauterine insemination cycles: a prospective randomized study of 300 mg versus 600 mg intravaginal progesterone tablet

Vaginal progesterone (P) has been suggested to be used for luteal phase support (LPS) in controlled ovarian stimulation (COH)–intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles, however, no concensus exists about the best P dose. Therefore, considering the fecundability rate as the primary end point, our main objective was to find the optimal dose of P in COH–IUI cycles, comparing the two groups of women, each of which comprised of 100 women either on 300?mg or 600?mg of intravaginal P tablets, in a prospective randomized study design. The mean age of the women, duration of infertility, basal and day of hCG injection hormone levels in the female and sperm parameters were similar in the two study groups. Also, duration and dose of gonadotropin given, number of follicles, endometrial thickness, the total, ongoing and multiple pregnancy rates were comparable in both groups. We, therefore, claim that 300?mg of intravaginal micronized P should be the maximum dose of LPS in IUI cycles.     

Rectum mucinous adenocarcinoma metastasis to bilateral breast in a male patient: A case report

A 47‐year‐old male presented to our clinic with complaints of mass in both breasts. In the patient's history, he had undergone low anterior resection for rectum mucinous adenocarcinoma 2 years ago. The masses in both breasts of the patient were excised. Mucinous adenocarcinoma metastases were reported in the pathologic evaluation of the masses. Metastasis should be considered in patients with bilateral breast mass and previously diagnosed cancer even if the patient is male.