The effect on wound healing of pazopanib and bevacizumab compared with corticosteroid in experimental glaucoma filtration surgery

AIM: To compare the effects of bevacizumab and pazopanib with corticosteroids on wound healing after trabeculectomy. METHODS: In the study, 35 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Apart from the first group, limbus-based trabeculectomy was performed for the eyes of rabbits. No postoperative treatment was administered for group I. Topically administered saline, prednisolone acetate (1%), bevacizumab 5 mg/mL, pazopanib 5 mg/mL for group II, III, IV and V respectively were applied for groups 6h daily for 28d. On day 28 of the experiment, eyes were enucleated and histologically and immunohistochemically analyzed. RESULTS: The fibroblast counts of groups IV and V were determined to be lower than those of groups II and III (P<0.05). In the mononuclear cell (MNC) count evaluation, no statistically significant difference was determined between the treatment groups (P>0.05). The immunohistochemical staining intensity of fibroblast growth factor β (FGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was determined to be lower in groups IV and V than in groups II and III (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined between groups IV and V in respect of fibroblast count, MNC count, FGF-β and VEGF staining intensity (P>0.05). The platelet derived growth factor β (PDGF-β) intensity was lower in group V than in groups II, III and IV (P<0.05). While the PDGF-β staining intensity was significantly lower in group IV than in group II, the difference compared with group III was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab and pazopanib might be good alternatives of corticosteroid treatment on delaying wound healing in glaucoma surgery.     

A neonate with homozygous protein C deficiency with a homozygous Arg178Trp mutation

Homozygous protein C deficiency affects approximately 1/400,000 to 1/1,000,000 live births. Homozygous protein C deficiency is associated with catastrophic and fatal purpura fulminans-like or thrombotic complications and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In the present patient, genetic study revealed Arg178Trp, a mutation found widely in European population; but this is the first case of homozygous Arg178Trp mutation who suffered from catastrophic purpura fulminans phenotype.     

Protein carbonyl levels in serum and gingival crevicular fluid in patients with chronic periodontitis

OBJECTIVE: Evidence reveals the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in many pathologies including periodontitis. Protein carbonylation is the most widely used biomarker for oxidative damage to proteins, and reflects cellular damage induced by ROS. In this study protein carbonyl (PC) levels in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with CP and 24 healthy controls were included in the study. Following the clinical measurements and samplings, total protein levels in serum and GCF were determined by Bradford method, and serum and GCF PC levels were measured by modified Levine method. RESULTS: PC levels in serum and GCF were significantly higher in the CP group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In all subjects, serum and GCF PC levels showed statistically significant positive correlations with all clinical parameters (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that both systemic and local/periodontal protein carbonylation increase in CP compared to health and that elevated levels of PCs may be a sign of oxidative damage in periodontitis and correlate well with the periodontal status.     

Preventive drugs restore visual evoked habituation and attention in migraineurs

Visual system pathway dysfunction has been postulated in migraineurs. We wanted to investigate if any difference exists interictally in visual attention and visual evoked habituation of frequently attacked migraineurs compared to the healthy control group. The effects of 3-month prophylactic migraine treatment on these parameters were also assessed. The migraineurs at headache-free interval (n = 52) and age, sex-matched healthy controls (n = 35) were compared by habituation response to 10 blocks of repetitive pattern-reversal visual stimuli (each block consisted 100 responses). The amplitude changes of 5th and 10th blocks were further compared with that of block 1 to assess the response of habituation (i.e., decrease) or potentiation (i.e., increase). The level of sustained visual attention was assessed by Cancellation test. Migraineurs were randomized to three different preventive treatments: propranolol 40 mg tid, flunarizine 5 mg bid, or topiramate 50 mg bid. After 3 months of preventive treatment, migraineurs data were compared with their baseline values. The groups did not differ by sex and age. In electrophysiological studies, the habituation ability observed in the healthy group was not observed in migraineurs. However, it was restored 3 months after preventive treatment. In migraineurs, compared to their baseline values, the distorted visual attention parameters also improved after treatment. All drugs were effective. The loss of habituation ability and low visual attention performance in migraineurs can be restored by migraine preventive treatment. This electrophysiological study accompanied by neuropsychological test may aid an objective and quantitative assessment tool for understanding migraine pathophysiology.     

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Behçet Disease: A Case-Control Study in Turkey

Background

Chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases have been reported to be associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is characterized by central obesity, elevated triglycerides (TG), reduced high-density lipoproteins (HDL), impaired fasting blood glucose (FBG), and hypertension. Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic, immuno-inflammatory disease with multisystemic involvement.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for MetS in patients with BD.

Methods

All patients had BD according to the criteria of the International Study Group. Diagnosis of MetS was established according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. Mean waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), FBG, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, HDL, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), TG, systolic BP, and diastolic BP were measured and analyzed.

Results

A total of 86 patients and 72 healthy controls were included. MetS was detected in 35.4 % of patients and 20 % of controls (p = 0.04). Patients with BD had a 2.67-fold higher risk for MetS than healthy controls (p < 0.05). Significant risk factors for developing MetS according to multivariate analyses were BD, age, and BMI. Age at onset of the disease, duration of disease, BMI, gastrointestinal system involvement, and neurological involvement were correlated with increased MetS risk (p < 0.05). MetS tended to increase with age and the duration of the disease and was higher in women under the age of 40 years compared with healthy controls in the same age group.

Conclusion

All BD patients should be closely monitored for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus to avoid MetS development.     

Cleidocranial dysplasia. Case report

A 29-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with short stature and multiple unerupted supernumerary teeth is described. Radiological investigations of her cranial and skeletal abnormalities revealed cleidocranial dysplasia. Because of the advanced age of the patient and contraindication for orthodontic treatment, only surgical and prosthetic treatment were performed. The characteristics and treatments of this rare autosomal dominant disorder are discussed.