Effect of pharyngeal packing during nasal surgery on postoperative nausea and vomiting

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pharyngeal packing in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after nasal surgery by taking into consideration the surgery types.

Study Design

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Setting

A tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods

After the study was approved by the local ethics committee, this study was conducted in the Otorhinolaryngology clinic with the collaboration of the Anesthesiology clinic. The development of PONV within 24 hours after surgery was evaluated in patients who were applied a pharyngeal pack (Group 1) or not (Group 2) during nasal surgery.

Results

There were 104 adult patients for routine nasal surgery included in the current study, yielding 100 (group 1, n = 50; group 2, n = 50) evaluable subjects. No significant difference was found in the incidence of PONV between the two groups at two (P = 0.41), four (P = 0.54), eight (P = 0.51), and 24 hours. According to surgery type, the incidence of PONV after two hours was 71 percent in septorhinoplasty, 68 percent in endoscopic sinus surgery, and 50 percent in septoplasty; after four hours it was 59 percent in septorhinoplasty, 53 percent in endoscopic sinus surgery, and 37 percent in septoplasty; and after eight hours it was 35 percent in septorhinoplasty, 39 percent in endoscopic sinus surgery, and 21 percent in septoplasty. PONV was not seen at 24 hours. Compared to the septoplasty group for which pharyngeal packing was used, significantly lower rates of PONV at four and eight hours were found in the septoplasty group in which pharyngeal packing was not used (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Pharyngeal packing in nasal surgery has no impact on PONV.     

Melatonin ameliorates liver fibrosis induced by bile-duct ligation in rats

Background

Hepatic stellate cells, the main mediators in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, are triggered by free radicals and produce collagen. Melatonin is a powerful physiologic scavenger of hydroxyl radicals. It is also involved in the inhibitory regulation of the collagen content in tissue. There is no effective treatment available for liver fibrosis. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of melatonin on liver fibrosis induced by bile-duct ligation (BDL) in rats.

Methods

We divided male Wistar rats (n = 32) into 4 groups. Two groups received BDL and 2 groups received sham operations. One of the BDL groups and one of the sham groups were administered melatonin (100 mg/kg/day via intraperitoneal injection), and the controls were given vehicle only. After 1 month, we biochemically evaluated the changes in hepatic fibrosis by measuring tissue collagen levels and histopathologic examination. We evaluated the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), luminal and lucigenin in tissue homogenates, and we studied proinflammatory cytokines in serum using commercially available kits.

Results

Bile-duct ligation caused hepatic fibrotic changes, whereas melatonin suppressed these changes in 5 of 8 rats (p < 0.001). Bile-duct ligation resulted in increased collagen, MDA, luminal and lucigenin levels and decreased GSH levels, whereas melatonin reversed these effects.

Conclusion

We found that melatonin functions as an effective fibrosuppressant and antioxidant, and the results suggest that it can be used as a therapeutic option.     

Vitamin E has a dual effect of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in acetic acid�Cinduced ulcerative colitis in rats

Background

Increased free radical production, decreased antioxidant capacity and excessive inflammation are well-known features in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, and it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in tissues. We investigated the effects of vitamin E on inflammatory activities using an acetic acid (AA)–induced ulcerative colitis model in rats.

Methods

Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups. Acetic acid was given to 2 groups of animals to induce colitis while the other 2 groups received saline intrarectally. One AA-induced colitis group and 1 control group received vitamin E (30 U/kg/d) intraperitoneally and the pair groups received saline. After 4 days, we evaluated colonic changes biochemically by measuring proinflammatory cytokine levels in tissue homogenates and by histopathologic examination.

Results

Acetic acid caused colonic mucosal injury, whereas vitamin E administration suppressed these changes in the AA-induced colitis group (p < 0.001). Administration of AA resulted in increased levels of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde, and decreased levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase; vitamin E reversed these effects (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study proposes that vitamin E is an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may be a promising therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis.     

The association of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 VNTR polymorphisms with coronary stent restenosis

Background P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) regulate the initial interactions between leukocytes, activated platelets and endothelial cells. Recently, a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in PSGL-1 gene affecting the length of the extracellular domain of PSGL-1 and the distance of the P-selectin binding site to the cell surface has been described. There are limited numbers of studies reporting PSGL-1 polymorphism might affect the inflammatory response and thrombosis. We explored the association between PSGL-1 VNTR polymorphisms (especially AB genotype that has the most deformed configuration of the binding site) and the development of coronary stent restenosis and stent thrombosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and methods Eighty-seven patients with in-stent restenosis and 93 patients with patent coronary stents were included into the study. The distributions of age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar between the groups. Genomic DNAs were obtained by standard methods from whole blood samples. Specific primers were used to amplify PSGL-1 gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Three alleles and 5 different genotypes were detected. In the in-stent restenosis group; allele frequencies were 79.5% for A allele, 18.1% for B allele and 2.4% for C allele and in the patent stent group; allele frequencies were 79.3% for A allele, 20.1% for B allele and 0.6% for C allele. The allele frequencies were similar between the in-stent restenosis group and patent stent group (P = 0.97 for A allele, P = 0.73 for B allele and P = 0.19 for C allele). Genotype distributions were also similar between the groups. There were not any significant associations between PSGL-1 AB genotype and stent restenosis (31.3% vs. 27.2%, P = 0.54), repetitive stent restenosis (33.3% vs. 28.8%, P = 0.82) or in-stent thrombosis (44.4% vs. 28.2%, P = 0.37). In neither male patients nor female patients, there was any significant association between AB genotype and restenosis (32.2% vs. 24.3% P = 0.31 and 29.2% vs. 38.9% P = 0.51, respectively). However, among patients with a family history of early CAD, significantly higher percentage of AB genotype was found in those with stent restenosis (41.4% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.03). Conclusions No significant association was found between PSGL-1 VNTR polymorphisms and in-stent restenosis. However, in patients with a family history of early CAD presence of PSGL-1 AB genotype might increase the risk of in-stent restenosis.     

Diagnostic and surgical approach to a descending thoracic aorta saccular aneurysm case

Descending aorta saccular aneurysms are seen less than fusiform aneurysms. All symptomatic saccular aneurysms must be operated. In this study, we present a saccular aneurysm case developed at the descending aorta 1 year after a motor vehicle crash. Following an aorta-LAD saphenous vein graft anastomosis performed in beating heart, the aneurysm neck was closed with a Dacron patch under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. All signs and symptoms removed dramatically after the operation. Regarding this case, we recommend that the surgical treatment must be performed in accordance with localization and specialties of aortic aneurysms.