Speech-induced primary lingual dystonia: a rare focal dystonia

Lingual dystonia, a type of focal dystonia that may be primary or secondary, is related to brain damage, neuroleptic use, neurodegenerative, metabolic, and neurodevelopmental disorders, varicella infection, and so on. However, primary lingual dystonia induced by speaking is a rare type of focal dystonia that is usually idiopathic in origin and is characterized by increased tonus of the tongue, which causes protrusion only during speaking. This report describes a 55-year-old male patient with lingual dystonia during speech. One interesting clinical feature of this case was that the speech disturbance improved while the patient vocalized a praise-like hymn in a manner that resembled singing.     

Utility of serum and urine uPAR levels for diagnosis of breast cancer

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer. Our study was planned to investigate serum and urine levels of uPAR in breast cancer patients (n=180) and healthy controls (n=60) by ELISA. Serum (p<0.001) and urine (p<0.001) uPAR values in the patients were both significantly elevated. High serum and urine levels of uPAR can be used as diagnostic tools in lymph node positive patients.     

Associations between adiponectin and two different cancers: breast and colon

Objectives: Breast and colon cancer are neoplasms well known to be related to obesity. Adiponectin, a proteinthat increases in obesity, seems to be involved in the relationship but clinical data are limited. Methods: In thisstudy, we therefore evaluated the serum adiponectin levels in 87 breast and 27 colon cancer patients and assessedthe relation with BMI, menopausal status, receptor status and stage of disease. Results: Serum adiponectin levelswere lower in cancer cases (8583 ± 2095 ng/ml for breast cancer, 9513 ± 2276 for colon cancer) than in controls(13905 ± 3263). Conclusion: A low serum adiponectin level may be associated with both breast and colon cancer,and that this association is not statistically significant for either receptor or menopausal status in breast cancergroups.     

Urinary stone disease in the first year of life: is it dangerous?

Purpose

We have evaluated the clinical, radiological and metabolic features of infantile urolithiasis (UL).

Materials and methods

We have reviewed the medical records of 93 children who were diagnosed as having UL before 1 year of age. We recorded patient demographics, the age at diagnosis, presenting symptoms, family history, the localizations and dimensions of stones, urinary metabolic examinations, as well as physical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Our secondary objective was to compare some features of this group with those of older children with UL followed-up in the same clinic which were previously reported.

Results

We evaluated 93 children referred to our pediatric nephrology clinics. A family history of UL was 56.2 % in the study group. Resolution of stones was observed in 30.1 % of the cases. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were detected in 65.9 % of females and 46.2 % of males. At least one urinary metabolic abnormality was found in 79.5 % of all the children. Most commonly seen metabolic abnormality was hypercalciuria. In all patients stones were located in kidneys except one infant who had an ureteral stone together with a kidney stone. Fifteen (16.1 %) children had an accompanying systemic disorder.

Conclusions

Among pediatric urinary stone diseases infantile UL can be regarded as a separate clinical entity. Coexistence of systemic disorders and anatomic anomalies at high frequencies may indicate a role of distinct pathogenetic mechanisms. In addition, high rates of UTIs and metabolic abnormalities in this age group justify screening for these parameters during follow-up of these children.     

THE ELEVATED MARKERS OF HYPERCOAGULABILITY IN CHILDREN WITH HENOCH–SCHÖNLEIN PURPURA

Twenty-eight children with HSP and 79 healthy children were entered into study. Activities of protein C, free- protein S and antithrombin, activated protein C resistance, levels of fibrinogen, D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragments 1+2 (PF_{1 + 2}) and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWAg) and its activity (RiCof), were investigated in acute and recovery phases of HSP and controls. Fibrinogen, D-dimer, TAT, PF_{1 + 2}, vWAg and RiCof levels in patients with HSP during the acute phase were significantly higher than those of recovery phase and of the controls. A significant correlation was detected between severity of disease and TAT, PF1+2, vWAg, D-dimer levels.     

The beneficial effects of nerolidol and hesperidin on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model*

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze the effects of nerolidol and hesperidin treatment on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model. Endometriosis was induced in 24 healthy adult female Wistar albino rats via homologous uterine horn transplantation. Three operations were performed on each rat. After the second operation, the rats were randomized into control, nerolidol, and hesperidin treatment groups, and medications were administered for 2?weeks. The effects of the drugs on the endometriotic foci were evaluated after the third operation. Compared with the endometriosis control group, the average volume of the lesions was significantly lower in rats treated with hesperidin and nerolidol. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced in the nerolidol-treated group, and glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly elevated in the endometriotic foci of both the hesperidin- and nerolidol-treated groups compared with the endometriosis group. Hesperidin and nerolidol treatment also improved histological parameters, such as hemorrhage, vascular congestion, necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the endometriotic foci. The results of this study demonstrated that treatment with the potent antioxidants nerolidol and hesperidin caused a significant regression of surgically induced endometriotic foci in rats.