Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Iloprost Attenuate the Lung Injury Caused by Ischemia/Reperfusion of the Lower Extremities of Rats

The objectives of this study were to compare the protective effects of ascorbic acid and iloprost on lung injury caused by ischemia reperfusion (I/R) of the lower extremities of rats. Wistar albino rats (n = 34) were divided into five groups. In the I/R group (n = 6), the aorta was cross-clamped for 3 hr, followed by 1 hr of reperfusion. In the vitamin C group (n = 8), animals were pretreated with 100 mg/kg ascorbic acid via the left jugular vein before aortic cross-clamping. In the iloprost group (n = 8), animals were pretreated with 20 ng/(kg · min) iloprost by constant intravenous infusion via the left jugular venous cannula. In the sham group (n = 6), the abdomen was left open at the same period and a juguler venous line was established. In the control group (n = 6), lungs were removed and blood samples taken immediately after sternotomy. No treatment was given in this group. After both lungs were removed, biochemical parameters were measured and histopathological evaluation was made. Although the arterial blood pO₂ and HCO₃ levels were stastistically significantly high in both the vitamin C and iloprost groups compared to the I/R group, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly low. Meanwhile, the MDA levels in the lung tissue were significantly low in the vitamin C group compared to the I/R group. The MDA level in the lung tissue in the iloprost group was also low compared to the I/R group, but it was not statistically significant. The lungs of the I/R group displayed intense interstitial leukocytic infiltration in histopathological examination compared to the other groups. Pretreatment of animals with iloprost and vitamin C significantly decreased the pulmonary injury characterized by decreased plasma leukocyte sequestration. The results suggest that both vitamin C and iloprost are useful agents for attenuating the lung injury caused by increased oxidative stress and neutrophil accumulation after a period of I/R of the lower extremities.     

N-acetylcysteine in intestinal reperfusion injury: an experimental study in rats

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine on intestinal reperfusion injury. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 10): sham, sham + N-acetylcysteine, reperfusion, and reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine. Thirty minutes of ischaemia +/- 30 min of reperfusion was performed under 100 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine or placebo, administered 30 min before the operation in the groups where appropriate. Ileum samples were resected for histopathologic evaluation and tissue malondialdehyde and super oxide dismutase level determination. RESULTS: The mean mucosal injury score and malondialdehyde level of the reperfusion and reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine groups were significantly higher than that of the control and control + N-acetylcysteine group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). Mean super oxide dismutase level of the control + N-acetylcysteine group was significantly higher than that of the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: N-Acetylcysteine did not prevent intestinal reperfusion injury by means of histopathologic findings and malondialdehyde level.     

Prenatal prediction of childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in Turkish families

Childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common neurodegenerative genetic disorders. SMN1 is the SMA-determining gene deleted or mutated in the majority of SMA cases. There is no effective cure or treatment for this disease yet. Thus, the availability of prenatal testing is important. Here we report prenatal prediction for 68 fetuses in 63 Turkish SMA families using direct deletion analysis of the SMN1 gene by restriction digestion. The genotype of the index case was known in 40 families (Group A) but unknown in the remaining 23 families (Group B). A total of ten fetuses were predicted to be affected. Eight of these fetuses were derived from Group A and two of these fetuses were from Group B families. Two fetuses from the same family in Group A had the SMNhyb1 gene in addition to homozygous deletion of the NAIP gene. One fetus from Group A was homozygously deleted for only exon 8 of the SMN2 gene, and further analysis showed the presence of both the SMN1 and SMNhyb1 genes but not the SMN2 gene. In addition, one carrier with a homozygous deletion of only exon 8 of the SMN1 gene was detected to have a SMNhyb2 gene, which was also found in the fetus. To our knowledge, these are the first prenatal cases with SMNhyb genes. Follow-up studies demonstrated that the prenatal predictions and the phenotype of the fetuses correlated well in 33 type I pregnancies demonstrating that a careful molecular analysis of the SMN genes is very useful in predicting the phenotype of the fetus in families at risk for SMA.     

Highest heterogeneity for cystic fibrosis: 36 mutations account for 75% of all CF chromosomes in Turkish patients

We analyzed the CFTR locus in 83 Turkish cystic fibrosis patients to identify mutations, haplotypes, and the carrier frequency in the population. We detected 36 different mutations in 125 (75%) of the total 166 CF chromosomes. Seven novel mutations were identified: four missense (K68E, Q493P, E608G, and V1147I), two splice-site (406 -3T > C and 3849 +5G > A), and one deletion (CFTRdele17b,18). The data showed that the Turkish population has the highest genetic heterogeneity at the CFTR locus reported so far. The results of this thorough molecular analysis at the CFTR locus of a population not of European descent shows that CF is not uncommon in all such populations. The large number of mutations present, as well as the high heterogeneity in haplotypes associated with the mutations suggests that most of the mutations have persisted for a long time in the population. Consistently, the carrier frequency is assessed to be high, indicating that the disease in the population is ancient.     

May the best friend be an enemy if not recognized early: hypernatremic dehydration due to breastfeeding

Hypernatremic dehydration is a serious condition in the newborn period. We present 5 infants with hypernatremic dehydration due to breastfeeding; one of them died because of brain edema during treatment.Hypernatremic dehydration in breast-fed newborns is secondary to insufficient lactation and all mothers should be encouraged about breastfeeding, taught the signs of successful breastfeeding, and the warning signs of dehydration. Here, we discuss hypernatremic dehydration in breastfeeding neonates, its causes and treatment.     

Acute myeloblastic leukemia in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Leukemia is a rare event during pregnancy. The presence of leukemia during pregnancy raises several concerns about the effect of pregnancy on the prognosis of leukemia, the effect of the disease on pregnancy outcome and the teratogenic and mutagenic effect of chemotherapeutic agents on the fetus. We report a case of acute myeloblastic leukemia diagnosed during the third trimester of gestation and treated with chemotherapeutic agents before delivery. The duration of pregnancy was able to be prolonged for four weeks after clinical diagnosis of the disease and then terminated by cesarean section due to the presence of signs of fetal distress.     

Auditory neuropathy in hyperbilirubinemia: is there a correlation between serum bilirubin, neuron-specific enolase levels and auditory neuropathy?

This study evaluated whether a correlation exists between increased serum bilirubin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) assays (a biochemical index of neuronal damage) and auditory neuropathy. Nineteen term neonates without hemolysis whose serum bilirubin levels were above 20 mg/dl and 27 healthy term newborns with bilirubin levels <13 mg/dl were included in the study. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) of patients with hyperbilirubinemia were obtained before discharge. This preliminary study did not show any correlation between the serum NSE and bilirubin values. However, infants who had auditory neuropathy had significantly higher NSE levels, and thus these patients, being in the high-risk group, need close follow-up.     

Isolated bone metastasis in testicular germ cell tumors: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: In testicular germ cell tumors (GCT), bone metastases are usually seen late in the disease progress and are almost always associated with involvement of other sites. However, isolated bone metastasis is an extremely rare finding in these patients. CASE REPORT: A 43- year-old man was admitted to the neurosurgery department of our hospital suffering from dysarthria, ataxia, headaches and a progressive swelling above the parietooccipital region of the skull. Radiological, biochemical and pathologic tests showed that the lesion of the skull was an isolated skull metastasis as an initial manifestation of nonseminomatous GCT of the testis. DISCUSSION: When a young patient presents with bone pain or painless swelling, even if it is an unusual site and isolated, testicular GCT should be considered as a differential diagnosis, as these lesions could be the first evidence of metastatic GCT.