Cardiac rhabdomyoma with tuberous sclerosis: a case report

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyomas are the most common benign cardiac neoplasms occurring in the fetus and neonate, with most of them identified within the first year of life. Cardiac rhabdomyomas are frequently associated with tuberous sclerorosis. CASE: A 25-year-old, pregnant woman with no remarkable personal or family history was referred to us for a suspected fetal cardiac anomaly. Ultrasonographic examination of the fetus revealed multiple solid masses consistent with rhabdomyoma in the ventricular septum and ventricular wall. No other anomalies could be detected. Postnatal echocardiography confirmed the presence of cardiac rhabdomyoma, and periventricular subependymal multiple hamartomas were diagnosed by postnatal magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSION: When fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma is diagnosed, careful evaluation of other fetal structures, including brain and renal parenchyma, should be performed to search for signs of tuberous sclerosis.     

Rho-kinase (ROCK-1 and ROCK-2) upregulation in oleic acid-induced lung injury and its restoration by Y-27632

The possible contribution of Rho/Rho-kinase signalling in oleic acid (100 mg kg-1, i.v., for 4 h)-induced lung injury was investigated in rats. Furthermore, the possible protective effect of the administration of a Rho-kinase inhibitor, (+)-(R)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl)-N-(4-pyridyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride monohydrate (Y-27632, 0.5-5 mg kg-1, i.v., 15 min before the administration of oleic acid), was also examined. Western blot analysis as well as histopathological examination revealed that Rho-kinase (ROCK-1 and ROCK-2) was upregulated in lungs obtained from oleic acid-administrated rats. In addition, the markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress, i.e., malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine and nitrite/nitrate, in serum and lung tissue were also increased in the injury group. Treatment of rats with 5 mg kg-1 Y-27632 reversed the oleic acid-induced lung damage, which was demonstrated by histopathological assessment and confirmed in Western blot experiments: ROCK-blots were more intense in the oleic acid group than in control and Y-27632 treatment reversed ROCK upregulation. In addition, malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine and nitrite/nitrate were also normalized after the administration of Y-27632 (0.5 mg kg-1 and 5 mg kg-1). These findings suggest that ROCK-1 and ROCK-2 are involved in oleic acid-induced lung damage in rats, and that inhibition of this enzyme by Y-27632 may have a protective effect against such damage. Consequently, Rho kinase inhibitors may be potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).     

Hepatitis A seroprevalence and demographics in Turkish children in Ankara

Background:  Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is the most common cause of hepatitis in childhood and an important public health problem. The objective of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A and patient demographics in children between 1 and 15 years old who were admitted to a pediatric outpatient clinic in Ankara, Turkey.
Methods:  Hepatitis IgM and G antibodies were determined in the sera of children who attended the outpatient clinic. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects or their parents.
Results:  The mean age of the children ( n  = 335) was 7.9 ± 2.1 years; 47.5% of them were girls. The overall anti-HAV IgG prevalence in children aged 1–15 years was 47.2%. The positivity of hepatitis A IgM was highest in the 6–10 years age group (22.7%; P  < 0.001). HAV IgG was highest in the 11–15 years age group (69.4%; P  < 0.001). A total of 95.6% of the children had social insurance, 49.3% were living in poverty. The socioeconomic level of 82.4% of subjects was low. The history of hepatitis in their families was 6.9%.
Conclusions:  Hepatitis A is intermediate endemic in Ankara and children must be vaccinated before school age, in addition to health education and improved sanitation.     

In vitro evaluation,biodistribution in rats of radiolabeled raloxifene

Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that produces both estrogen agonistic effects on bone and lipid metabolism and estrogen-antagonistic effects on uterine endometrium and breast tissue.In the present study, raloxifene was labeled with I-131 by iodogen method and investigated for its radiopharmaceutical potential. Radiolabeling yield is 91±0.7%, as determined by radio thin layer chromatography (RTLC). Results of in vitro study indicated ¹³¹I-raloxifene has high stability (4 h) in serum. Biodistribution study was carried out with Albino wistar female rats. The result has shown that the radioiodinated raloxifene has higher uptake in uterus than breast and ovarian.     

Validity and reliability of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale among Turkish elderly people

Purpose  

We translated the original 17-item Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale (PGCMS) into Turkish and examined its validity and reliability to determine whether it may used as a tool to measure quality of life (QOL) in a Turkish elderly sample people.     

Unexplained acute respiratory distress syndrome after varicocele surgery; report of a case

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a syndrome of acute respiratory failure that is associated with several clinical disorders including direct pulmonary injury and indirect pulmonary injury. Vascular surgical patients are at risk for ARDS. A 23-year old man was admitted to our respiratory intensive care unit with short of breath, cyanosis and agitation which was developed acutely after varicocele operation under epidural anesthesia lasted for one hour. Bupivacain, fentanyl, remifentadyl and midazolam were used for epidural anesthesia. Oxygen saturation was 81% while breathing oxygen at FiO(2) of 0.5. Arterial blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia with respiratory alkalosis with a PaO(2)/FiO(2) score of 100. A chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral alveolar opacities. Bedside echocardiography was performed which revealed no evidence of global hypokinesia, all the chambers were normal, left ventricular ejection fraction was 65%. A diagnosis of ARDS was made and the patient was initiated on noninvasive mechanical ventilation. He was gradually weaned off the NIMV and discharged after a total hospital stay of four days. We report an ARDS case due to unexplained etiology after varicocele operation under epidural anesthesia and managed successfully with noninvasive mechanical ventilation.     

Influence of acrylamide monomer addition to the acrylic denture-base resins on mechanical and physical properties

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adding acrylamide monomer （AAm） on the characterization, flexural strength, flexural modulus and thermal degradation temperature of poly（methyl methacrylate） （PMMA） denture-base resins. Specimens （n= 10） were fabricated from a conventional heat-activated QC-20 （Qc-） and a microwave heat-activated Acron MC （Ac-） PMMA resins. Powder/ liquid ratio followed the manufacturer＇s instructions for the control groups （Qc-c and Ac-c） and for the copolymer groups, the resins were prepared with 5% （-5）, 10% （- 10）, 15% （- 15） and 20% （-20） acrylamide contents, according to the molecular weight ratio, respectively. The flexural strength and flexural modulus were measured by a three-point bending test. The data obtained were statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test （a=O.05） to determine significant differences between the groups, The chemical structures of the resins were characterized by the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thermal stabilities were determined by thermogravimetric analysis （TGA） with a heating rate of 10 ~C.min-1 from 35 ~C to 600 ~C. Control groups from both acrylic resins showed the lowest flexural strength values. Qc-15 showed significant increase in the flexural strength when compared to Qc-c （P〈O.01）. Ac-10 and Ac-15 showed significance when compared to Ac-c （P〈O.01）. Acrylamide incorporation increased the elastic modulus in Qc-10, Qc-15 and Qc-20 when compared to Qc-c （P〈0.01）. Also significant increase was observed in Ac-10, Ac-15 and Ac-20 copolymer groups when compared to Ac-c （P〈0.01）. According to the 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） results, acrylamide copolymerization was confirmed in the experimental groups. TGA results showed that the thermal stability of PMMA is increased by the insertion of AAm.