Mycobacterial infection of intraparenchymal bronchogenic cysts

Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) may rarely cause some interesting and unusual complications. Although infection is a common complication of BCs, there are only two patients with BC infected with mycobacterium in English literature. Two intraparenchymal BCs infected with mycobacterium are presented here as unusual complications. Cystectomy was performed for the cysts. They were given antituberculosis treatment. No complication or recurrences were detected in follow up period.     

Testicular sperm retrieval method: histological effects of location of incision

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of a transverse vs. longitudinal incision for testicular sperm retrieval. Rats were divided into 4 groups: I: control, II: sham operation, III: longitudinal incision TSRM, IV: transverse incision TSRM. Group II (sham operation) had a dissection of left testis/spermatic cord, then closure of wound. Group III underwent dissection of left testis, then a "longitudinal" incision (15 mm long) of testis, which was fully opened then closed again and sutured with 5-0 Vicryl sutures. Group IV underwent dissection of the left testis, opening of the testis with a "transverse" incision, then closure with 5-0 Vicryl. The seminiferous tubule diameter was 0.118-0.224 mm in all groups. Inflammation and abscess formation occurred in one testis each in the sham and longitudinal incision groups, and in two testes in the transverse incision group. There were no differences in histopathology or scoring between the longitudinal and the transverse incision.     

Association of macroscopic gut inflammation with disease activity, functional status and quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the frequency of intestinal inflammation and its association with disease activity, functional status and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A total of 25 patients with AS had undergone ileocolonoscopy and concomitant histological study. Clinical and demographical parameters, BASDAI, BASFI, and SF-36 scores were compared between patients with and without macroscopic gut inflammation (MGI). Colonoscopic study revealed MGI in 9 patients and macroscopically normal gut mucosa in 16 patients. On histological examination, of 25 patients 20 had gut inflammation, mostly in ileum. BASDAI score was higher (P < 0.05), SF-36 pain and physical scores, and chest expansion measurement were lower (P = 0.00, P = 0.01, P = 0.01), duration of morning stiffness was longer (P = 0.01) in patients with MGI. Serum C-reactive protein, erytrocyte sedimentation rate levels were similar between groups (P > 0.05). There is high prevalence of histological gut inflammation in AS patients. More active disease should suggest gut inflammation in AS patients.     

Effect of tirofiban therapy on ST segment resolution and clinical outcomes in patients with ST segment elevated acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty

BACKGROUND: In our study, we assessed the effect of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition on microvascular flow after acute coronary occlusion using the early sum of ST segment resolution in electrocardiography. Platelets may play a major role in the dissociation of epicardial artery recanalization and tissue level reperfusion, referred to as the 'no-reflow phenomenon'. Therefore, GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition might improve myocardial reperfusion, distinct from its effects on epicardial patency. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen patients (mean age 57.7 +/- 12.2 years, 96 males, 19 females) with < or = 12-hour acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention were retrospectively enrolled into the study. Patients were grouped according to whether they received tirofiban therapy or not. Clinical and electrocardiographic parameters were evaluated. The first sum of ST segment elevation amounts in millimeters was obtained immediately before angioplasty and the second 60 min after restoration of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction III flow. The difference between the two measurements was accepted as resolution of the sum of ST segment elevation and expressed as SigmaSTR. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and laboratory parameters, duration from angina onset to the emergency unit, and from door to angioplasty. SigmaSTR was higher in patients who received tirofiban than in those who did not (7.2 +/- 2.8 and 4.2 +/- 2.6 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). There was a significant and positive correlation between GP IIb/IIIa inhibition and SigmaSTR (r = 0.336, p < 0.001), as well as between ejection fraction and SigmaSTR (r = 0.310, p < 0.001). GP IIb/IIIa inhibition was the only independent determinant of SigmaSTR in a multivariate linear regression model which contains 10 variables (p < 0.001). The incidence of in-hospital post-myocardial infarction refractory angina, reinfarction, and heart failure was significantly lower in the tirofiban group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). Additionally, after 30 days, reinfarction and heart failure were lower in the tirofiban group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It is well known that SigmaSTR determines microvascular perfusion. This study shows that GP IIb/IIIa inhibition with tirofiban is of value in preserving microvascular perfusion after restoring coronary thrombolysis in myocardial infarction III flow.     

Increased sister chromatid exchange frequency in young women with breast cancer and in their first-degree relatives

The well-known increased risk of breast cancer (BC) in first-degree relatives of patients with BC has been related to shared genetic factors including defective DNA repair, with loss of genomic integrity. On the other hand, it can be hypothesized that early-onset breast cancer is also associated with overburden of heritable factors leading to increased DNA injury. In this respect, we analyzed sister chromatid exchange frequency (SCE) in 20 women with breast cancer (all < or =40 years old), in their first-degree female relatives, and in 20 age-matched healthy females without a personal or family history of cancer. SCE was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in patients (7.17 +/- 1.81 per metaphase) and in their first-degree relatives (6.44 +/- 0.98), compared with controls (5.85 +/- 0.72). There was no difference in SCE frequency between patients and their first-degree relatives. We suggest that the increased SCE in patients reflects a genomic instability that may be operative in carcinogenesis. Further, genomic instability is shared also by first-degree relatives, although none of them had a history of breast cancer at the time of the study.     

Preliminary evidence of a reduced serum level of fibroblast growth factor 19 in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

ObjectivesWe sought to determine whether serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) – an ileum-derived enterokine which plays a role in the control of glucose and lipid homeostasis – are altered in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Design and methodsSerum levels of FGF19 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 91 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 74 controls.ResultsFGF19 levels were significantly lower in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (median: 130 pg/mL) than in controls (median: 210 pg/mL, P < 0.001). Serum FGF19 levels were significantly but modestly associated with hepatocyte ballooning scores in univariate analysis (r = ? 0.25, P < 0.05) but not after adjustment for potential confounders (β = ? 0.18; t = 1.78, P = 0.08).ConclusionsThis pilot study suggests that serum FGF19 levels are decreased in patients with NAFLD but are not independently associated with liver histology findings.