Long-term aspirin pretreatment in the prevention of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

AIM:To investigate the effects of long term pretreatment with low-,medium-and high-dose aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid,ASA) on a model of acute pancreatitis(AP) induced in rats.METHODS:Forty male Wistar rats were used.Three experimental groups,each consisting of eight animals,received low-(5 mg/kg per day),medium-(150 mg/kg per day) and high-dose(350 mg/kg per day) ASA in supplemented pellet chow for 100 d.Eight animals,serving as the AP-control group,and another eight,serving as reference value(RV) group,were fed with standard pellet chow for the same period.After pretreatment,AP was induced in the experimental animals by intraperitoneal administration of cerulein(2 × 50 μg/kg),while the RV group received saline in the same way.Twelve hours after the second injection,the animals were sacrificed.Pancreatic tissue and plasma samples were collected.One part of the collected pancreatic tissues was used for histopathological evaluation,and the remaining portion was homogenized.Cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor,interleukin(IL)1β,IL-6],hemogram parameters,biochemical parameters(amylase and lipase),nuclear factor-κB,aspirin triggered lipoxins and parameters related to the antioxidant system(malondialdehyde,nitric oxide,hemeoxygenase-1,catalase and superoxide dismutase) were measured.RESULTS:Cerulein administration induced mild pancreatitis,characterized by interstitial edema(total histopathological score of 5.88 ± 0.44vs 0.25 ± 0.16,P < 0.001).Subsequent pancreatic tissue damage resulted in an increase in amylase(2829.71 ± 772.48 vs 984.57 ± 49.22 U/L,P = 0.001) and lipase(110.14 ± 75.84 U/L vs 4.71 ± 0.78 U/L,P < 0.001) in plasma,and leucocytes(6.89 ± 0.48 vs 4.36 ± 0.23,P = 0.001) in peripheral blood.Cytokines,IL-1β(18.81 ± 2.55 pg/μg vs 6.65 ± 0.24 pg/μg,P = 0.002) and IL-6(14.62 ± 1.98 pg/μg vs 9.09 ± 1.36 pg/μg,P = 0.04) in pancreatic tissue also increased.Aspirin pretreatment reduced the increase in the aforementioned parameters to a certain degree and partially improved the histopat     

Evaluation of extracranial blood flow in Parkinson disease

Decreased cerebral flow velocities in Parkinsonian patients were reported previously. Because of the limited data on vascular changes in Parkinson disease (PD), which may have a vascular etiology, we aimed to disclose any possible cerebral hemodynamic alteration in Parkinsonian patients. We prospectively evaluated 28 non-demented, idiopathic parkinsonian patients and 19 age and sex matched controls with Doppler sonography. Flow volumes, peak systolic flow velocities, and cross-sectional areas of vertebral and internal carotid arteries (ICA) were measured and compared between patients and controls. Correlation of patient age and disease duration with Doppler parameters was observed; and each Doppler parameter of patients within each Hoehn-Yahr scale was compared. There was no significant difference of measured parameters between groups. No correlation was found between disease duration and age with flow volume, cross-sectional area or peak systolic velocity. Hoehn-Yahr scale was not found having significant relation with Doppler parameters. Values of vertebral, internal carotid and cerebral blood flow volumes (CBF), peak systolic velocities, and cross-sectional areas were not significantly different between Parkinsonian patients and age and sex matched controls. Although regional blood flow decreases may be seen as reported previously, Parkinson disease is not associated with a flow volume or velocity alteration of extracranial cerebral arteries.     

Acute effect of smoking on gallbladder emptying and refilling in chronic smokers and nonsmokers： A sonographic study

INTRODUCTION Smoking is still widespread in many societies despite the recognized relationship of it with many diseases. It is one of the risk factors for lung, stomach, larynx, esophagus, and some other cancers. Its association with lung cancer has been …     

Effect of sildenafil citrate on postprandial gallbladder motility

OBJECTIVE: Sildenafil stimulates the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) pathway through inhibition of type 5 phosphodiesterase. NO-cGMP pathway causes smooth muscle relaxation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of sildenafil on gallbladder motility. METHODS: Twenty healthy male volunteers (21-35 years old) participated in this randomized, double blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled study. Oral sildenafil (50 mg) or placebo was randomly dispensed to each volunteer on two consecutive days. After the sildenafil or placebo, a special meal with a high fat content was administered. Gallbladder volume was measured using sonography preprandially and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes postprandially. RESULTS: Sildenafil showed an inhibitory effect on gallbladder contraction in healthy volunteers that began at 30 minutes. Gallbladder volumes showed significant differences at 30 minutes following the test meal (approximately 50-60 min after the sildenafil intake), between placebo (15.4 +/- 5.1 mL) and the sildenafil groups (19.3 +/- 6.1 mL) (P < 0.05). In addition, gallbladder volume was significantly higher during the refilling phase in the sildenafil group (P < 0.05 at 180 min). Maximal contraction was achieved at 60 minutes in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil constituted a significant inhibitory effect on gallbladder discharge in healthy individuals when compared with placebo group. Because of this inhibitory effect, sildenafil consumption for long periods may potentiate risks of gallbladder disorders and gallstone formation resulting from disturbed gallbladder motility.     

Cancer, emotional responses and cognitive behavioural psychotherapy

Cancer and its treatment is known to have a substantial psychological morbidity and, while adjuvant psychological therapy (APT) is well established, relatively little work has been done to investigate the effectiveness of psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), for patients with cancer.
This article focuses initially on emotional responses to the diagnosis of cancer, individual vulnerability and the prevalence of psychological problems in patients with cancer. The use of cognitive behaviour therapy is then described, together with key issues in its application and specific problems. The work concludes by considering differences in applying CBT to patients with cancer compared to patients with other physical illnesses and the notion of 'relapse inoculation'.     

Klippel-Feil syndrome associated with pneumatocyst of the right cervical rib

A patient with Klippel-Feil syndrome reported with a pneumatocyst of the proximal epiphysis of a right cervical rib. There was no additional skeletal abnormality except for fusion of the C3 and C4 vertebral bodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of this particular association.