Effects of Antibiotics and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces boulardii</Emphasis> on Bacterial Translocation in Burn Injury

Purpose To investigate the effects of antibiotics and the probiotic, Saccharomyces boulardii, on indigenous microflora and bacterial translocation (BT) in burned rats.Methods Twenty-three male albino rats were divided into a sham burn group (group 1, n = 7) exposed to 21°C water, a burn + antibiotic group (group 2, n = 8), and a burn + antibiotic + S. boulardii group (group 3, n = 8) exposed to 95°C water for 10s, producing a full-thickness burn to 30% of the total body surface area. Ampicillin-sulbactam (1000mg/kg per day) was given as two doses via an orogastric feeding tube to groups 2 and 3. Saccharomyces boulardii (1mg/g body weight per day) was given as two doses via the same route to group 3. All rats were killed on the fifth day postburn and cultures of the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, blood, and cecal contents were done.Results The incidences of BT were 0% (0/7) in group 1, 87.5% (7/8) in group 2, and 37.5% (3/8) in group 3. A significant increase in the BT incidence was found in group 2 (P 0.01), while a significant decrease was found in group 3 when compared with group 1. The total bacteria count of cecal flora was significantly lower in group 3 than in group 1 (P 0.01). The decrease in Gram-negative bacteria in the cecal flora was significant in group 3.Conclusion These results suggest that the incidence of BT in burn injury is enhanced by using an antibiotic, and that S. boulardii decreases the incidence of antibiotic-induced BT. Thus, we conclude that S. boulardii can effectively protect the intestinal ecologic equilibrium and prevent BT in burn injury victims.     

Influence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Outcome of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Purpose. To assess the impact of gender, age, and other cardiovascular risk factors on the outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods. A total of 5?067 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG between 1995 and 2000 were divided into the age groups: 25–49 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years, and 70–84 years. Data on patient age, gender, smoking, serum cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, diabetes, family history, morbid obesity, and renal failure were retrospectively analyzed.Results. The percentage of women aged >60 years undergoing CABG was higher than the percentage of men aged >60 years (45.6% vs 36.6%). Most of the cardiovascular risk factors, except for smoking, were favorable in women (P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was 2.0% in women and 1.7% in men (P = 0.409). CABG was performed on significantly more men than women, accounting for 80.7% and 19.3% of the 5?067 patients, respectively (P < 0.001). However, the incidence increased remarkably in women aged >60 years.Conclusions. The risks of CABG may vary to some degree in accordance with the major cardiovascular risk factors. The risk of operative mortality was independent of gender in this study.     

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Morgagni Hernia: Report of Three Cases

Morgagni hernia is a rare congenital disorder, which is usually asymptomatic, but may cause respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. We reviewed the clinical findings of three patients with a Morgagni hernia, diagnosed and treated in our department between 1997 and 2000. The Morgagni hernia caused various symptoms in all three patients and surgery was performed via posterolateral thoracotomy in two, and via laparatomy in one. The hernial defect was closed by primary suturing in two patients and by synthetic mesh in one. All three patients had an uneventful postoperative recovery. We believe that the transthoracic approach is an effective way of repairing Morgagni hernia. Received: October 19, 2001 / Accepted: July 2, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Reprint requests to: I.C. Kurkcuoglu, Ataturk Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Gogus Cerrahisi ABD, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey     

The Effects of Melatonin on Angiogenesis and Wound Healing

Purpose The pineal gland hormone melatonin is a well-known neoroendocrine hormone. In addition to its immunomodulator effect, it also has a positive effect on monocyte, cytokine, and fibroblast proliferations, which also influence angiogenesis. This study investigated the effects of melatonin hormone on angiogenesis in wound healing on 100 Wistar-Albino rats.Methods The rats were divided into two groups. Melatonin dissolved in 0.9% NaCl was administered to the study group in a dose of 0.4mg/kg/rat per day (0.25cc/rat per day), and 0.9% NaCl to the control group in a dose of 0.25cc/rat per day. Incisions 5cm in length were made on the back skin of the rats and the wounds were closed with a skin stapler. Excisional biopsies from healing tissues were taken on the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th, and 21st postoperative days. Angiogenesis was evaluated in healing tissues by light and electron microscopy and by hydroxyproline level measurements.Results The commencement of neovascularization and a significant increase (P 0.05) in the number of vessels were observed at all stages of the study group but not in the control group. The tissue hydroxyproline levels were also higher in the study group than in the control group.Conclusions Melatonin may have a positive effect on both angiogenesis and wound healing.The preliminary results of this study have been published in the Turkish Journal of Surgery     

Bone age in children with nocturnal enuresis

It is widely believed that nocturnal enuresis is caused by a hereditary delay in maturation of the various organ systems. In this study, growth and bone age were investigated in enuretic children. There was a significant bone age lag in the enuretic group compared to the control subjects of similar age (8.15 ± 1.56 years vs 9.45 ± 2.17 years, p < 0.05). It has been suggested that skeletal maturation also are retarded in nocturnal enuresis; and, it may be caused by the delayed maturation in regulatory functions of the central nervous system This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Increased P-wave dispersion a risk for atrial fibrillation in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

ABSTRACT

Studies have shown that a prolonged P-wave dispersion is a risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to evaluate P-wave dispersion in adolescents with anorexia nervosa at diagnosis. We evaluated electrocardiographic findings, particularly the P-wave dispersion, at initial assessment in 47 adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Comparison of P-wave dispersion between adolescents with anorexia nervosa and controls showed a statistically significant higher P-wave dispersion in patients with anorexia nervosa (72 ± 16.3 msec) when compared to the control group (43.8 ± 9.5 msec). Percent of body weight lost, lower body mass index, and higher weight loss rate in the patients with anorexia nervosa had no effect on P-wave dispersion. Due to the fact that anorexia nervosa has a high mortality rate we believe that cardiac pathologies such as atrial fibrillation must also be considered in the medical evaluation.     

A huge bladder cystine stone

An unusual cystine stone that occur only in patients, who have cystinuria is presented in 24-year-old man. Radiographs showed a giant bladder stone shadow, 8.0 x 10.0 x 5.0 cm in size. The literature was reviewed to identify the giant stones as well as the huge cystine stone which is exceptional yet as.     

Serum,salivary, and tissue levels of plasminogen in familial Mediterranean fever,amyloidosis, and chronic periodontitis

1 Background

There are no published studies regarding the role of the plasminogen (PLG) system in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), FMF‐associated secondary amyloidosis, or chronic periodontitis (CP), although recent limited data have focused on the association between FMF and chronic periodontitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the serum, salivary, and gingival tissue levels of PLG in patients with CP, FMF, and amyloidosis.

2 Methods

The study population included 122 patients with FMF (only FMF, and FMF and amyloidosis and 128 individuals who were systemically healthy controls. Blood and salivary samples were obtained from the cases and controls, and clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. Serum and salivary PLG levels were assessed. The gingival tissue samples of the case and control groups were analyzed histopathologically and immunohistochemically for amyloid deposition and PLG.

3 Results

The amyloidosis group had significantly more severe clinical periodontal parameters than those of the FMF and systemically healthy groups (P < 0.05). Salivary levels of PLG were significantly higher in the FMF and amyloidosis groups compared with those in the control group (P < 0.001). The FMF with periodontitis and amyloidosis with periodontitis groups had higher salivary PLG levels compared with those in the CP group. Serum and salivary PLG levels were significantly associated with the clinical periodontal parameters in the FMF group. The amyloidosis cases had hyperplasia, severe inflammation, and activation of the gingiva.

4 Conclusion

The PLG system could play an important role in inflammatory diseases, such as chronic periodontitis, FMF, and FMF‐associated secondary amyloidosis.     

Maternal and umbilical cord copeptin levels in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare maternal and fetal serum copeptin concentrations in pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal growth restriction (FGR), and uncomplicated pregnancies, and to investigate relationships between copeptin levels and clinical parameters.

Methods: Maternal and fetal serum copeptin levels were measured in 21 women with pregnancies complicated by isolated FGR and 20 women with normal pregnancies (control group). Doppler assessment of the uterine and umbilical arteries was performed in each patient.

Results: Maternal serum copeptin levels were significantly higher in women with isolated FGR compared to controls (p?=?0.042). In addition, maternal copeptin levels were inversely correlated with the uterine artery pulsatility and resistance indices and positively correlated with neonatal birth weight. Umbilical vein copeptin levels were significantly increased in neonates with adverse outcomes (p?=?0.001).

Conclusions: Increased maternal copeptin concentration may reflect a response to stress, thus serving as a compensatory mechanism in pregnancies complicated by FGR.     

Bone measurements of infants with hyperbilirubinemia by quantitative ultrasound: the influence of phototherapy

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the possible effects of phototherapy on bone status of term infants evaluated by measurement of tibial bone speed of sound (SOS).

Materials and methods: The phototherapy group (n?=?30) consisted of children who had undergone phototherapy for at least 24?h and the control group (n?=?30) comprised children who had not received phototherapy. Blood samples were obtained from all infants for serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D concentrations. The left tibial quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements were performed using a commercial device.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between phototherapy-exposed and nonexposed infants in terms of Ca, P, ALP, PTH and vitamin D levels. Comparison of bone SOS between the phototherapy-exposed and control group revealed no statistically difference. Also, no significant difference in Z-score for SOS was observed between those with or without exposure.

Conclusion: The data of our study indicate that phototherapy treatment has no impact on bone status in the hyperbilirubinemic infants. Although there is no statistically significant evidence of an excess risk of bone damage following phototherapy, studies with larger sample sizes and longer duration of follow-up are needed to gain a better understanding of its effects.