Investigation of transfusion transmitted viruses in cases clinically suspected of posttransfusion hepatitis with undetermined ethiology.

Transfusion transmitted viruses (TTV) were investigated in cardiac surgery cases who were previously transfused with blood and/or blood products and were suspected of having posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) based on the results of physical examination, clinical findings, biochemical blood test results and in a smaller number, on radiological results. They were identified as having non-A-C hepatitis based on serological or molecular test methods. In this study, out of 90 cases suspected for PTH and non-A-C, 78 (86.7%) were male, 12 (13.3%) were female and their ages were between 17 and 67. Ninety healthy blood donors, who donated blood for the first time and had never had a transfusion, were selected as the control group. They had alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels < 40 U, were seronegative for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Seventy-seven were immune, and 13 were seronegative for hepatitis A virus (HAV). In this study, TTV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) investigation was performed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method suggested by Takahashi et al. with 5' GCT ACG TCA CTA ACC ACG TG 3' (T801) and 5' CTG CGG TGT GTA AAC TCA CC 3' (T935) primers. TTV-DNA was found to be positive in 21 (23.3%) of the patient group and 4 (4.4%) of the control group (p < 0.05). In the patients determined to be TTV-DNA positive, the admission time following transfusion was a minimum of 3, and a maximum of 15 (average 7) weeks. The average ALT levels detected at the time of admission did not show a difference between TTV-DNA positive and negative cases (p > 0.05). However the ALT levels had a tendency to rise and reached their highest level nine weeks after transfusion in the TTV-DNA positive cases, although in two cases the ALT levels decreased to normal value after the 13th week. During the 24 month follow up of the TTV-DNA positives all cases except one were positive at the end of this period. The results of this study are the same as those reported in the literature suggesting that TTV-DNA, excluding the main viral agents which are known to cause PTH, can be determined in transfused PTH or non-transfused asymptomatic patients in varying ratios. In order to define the epidemiological properties and hepatic-extrahepatic pathologies more clearly we have looked for evidence of the viral agent, which probably contaminates both by transfusion and non-transfusion routes. It is suggested that, in addition to the case groups in this study, new clinical studies are necessary including transfused but non-PTH patients.     

Comparison of scanning electron microscopy findings regarding biofilm colonization with microbiological results in nasolacrimal stents for external, endoscopic and transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy

AIM:To compare bacterial biofilm colonization in lacrimal stents following external dacryocystorhinostomy (EX-DCR), endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR), and transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy (TC-DCR) with multidiode laser.METHODS: This prospective study included 30 consecutive patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction who underwent EXT-, EN-, or TC-DCR. Thirty removed lacrimal stent fragments and conjunctival samples were cultured. The lacrimal stent biofilms were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).RESULTS:Eleven (36.7%) of the 30 lacrimal stent cultures were positive for aerobic bacteria (most commonly Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). However anaerobic bacteria and fungi were not identified in the lacrimal stent cultures. Twenty-seven (90%) patients had biofilm-positive lacrimal stents. The conjunctival culture positivity after the DCR, biofilm positivity on stents, the grade of biofilm colonization, and the presence of mucus and coccoid and rod-shaped organisms did not significantly differ between any of the groups (P＞0.05). However, a significant difference was found when the SEM results were compared to the results of the lacrimal stent and conjunctival cultures (P＜0.001).CONCLUSION: Type of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery did not affect the biofilm colonization of the lacrimal stents. SEM also appears to be more precise than microbiological culture for evaluating the presence of biofilms on lacrimal stents.     

Expression of cathepsin D and E-cadherin in primary laryngeal cancers correlation with neck lymph node involvement

Objective  

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between Cathepsin D (Cath-D) and E-Cadherin (E-Cad) expression levels in tumor tissue and neck lymph node metastasis. This attempt should be made to identify new factors that one could be useful in predicting clinical behavior.     

Effect of depression on recovery from PTSD

It has been suggested that the treatment strategy needs to be reviewed and changed if depression occurs in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We analyzed data extracted from the Marmara Epidemiological Survey (MES) which had examined 683 survivors at 3 years after a devastating earthquake. Fifty three cases (40.5%) out of the 131 cases with PTSD had also been diagnosed with MDD. Comorbid PTSD and MDD group has significantly lower rates of recovery from PTSD in comparison to PTSD without MDD (26.4% vs. 47.4% respectively). Rates of past psychiatric disorder and past traumatic experience were significantly more frequent among the comorbid group. Moreover, comorbidity of PTSD and MDD was clearly associated with greater psychological distress, more severe PTSD, and diminished perceived social support. Past psychiatric disorder, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Scale (MSPSS) total scores succeeded in predicting the comorbidity of PTSD and MDD significantly.     

Faster response in depressive patients treated with fluoxetine alone than in combination with buspirone

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the antidepressant efficacy of standard dose, dose optimization of antidepressant drug and buspirone augmentation strategies. METHODS: 120 outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of unipolar depression were randomised to 12-weeks of open label treatment with fluoxetine 20 (flx20) or 40 mg (flx40) daily or fluoxetine 20 mg plus buspirone 20 mg daily (flx20-plus-buspirone). The severity of depression was assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Response was defined as a 50% or greater reduction of the baseline HDRS total score. A response, which began at any time of the study and was maintained until the last visit, was defined as a sustained response. RESULTS: The proportion of responders was not significantly different among the treatment groups at the endpoint. Survival analysis showed, however, a significant faster response in the patients treated with flx20 or flx40 alone than flx20-plus-buspirone. The mean times to onset of a sustained response were 33, 24 and 40 days, respectively. LIMITATIONS: The lack of treatment-resistant group is a methodological limitation of this study. CONCLUSIONS: Adding buspirone to fluoxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder may delay the time to onset of antidepressant efficacy. In order to accelerate and maximise the clinical response in depressive patients, clinician should prefer to optimize the fluoxetine dose instead of in combination with buspirone.     

Methylene blue increases contralateral testicular ischaemia-reperfusion injury after unilateral testicular torsion

1. Testicular ischaemia-reperfusion injury is commonly seen in childhood. Infertility occurs in 25% of patients after unilateral testicular ischaemia. It is has been reported that methylene blue has a positive effect in the reparation of ischaemia-reperfusion injury in different tissues. Therefore, we hypothesized that methylene blue may prevent the hazardous effects of ischaemia-reperfusion injury in testicular tissue after unilateral testicular torsion. 2. Thirty-two prepubertal Wistar-albino rats were divided into four groups. Testicular torsion was created by rotating the right testis 720 degrees in a clockwise direction for 5 h in all groups except for Group C, which was the sham control group. In Group T, bilateral orchiectomy was performed following the torsion period. In Group TD, both testes were removed 5 days after the torsion period. In Group MB, methylene blue (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 40 min before detorsion and once daily over 5 days; then, both testes were harvested. Tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS) and mean seminifer tubule diameter (MSTD) were determined. 3. There was a significant difference in MTBS between Groups T and TD (P < 0.05) in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. In the contralateral testis, treatment with methylene blue decreased MTBS and MSTD (P < 0.05) and increased MDA levels (P < 0.05). In Group T, mean serum CK concentrations were higher than in any of the other groups (P < 0.05). 4. After 5 h of unilateral testicular torsion and a 5 day reperfusion period, serious tissue damage occurred on both the ipsilateral and contralateral sides. Serum CK concentrations may be an indicator for ischaemia, but not for ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Contrary to our hypothesis, methylene blue increased contralateral testicular damage after unilateral testicular torsion and exacerbated oxidative events.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the subtalar joint: a case report and review of the literature

Synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon disorder characterized by the formation of multiple cartilaginous nodules within the synovium and most commonly affects large joints, such as the knee and hip. Diagnosis in synovial chondromatosis is generally confirmed by histology after clinical and radiologic examination. Diagnosis may sometimes be difficult because synovial chondromatosis resembles a soft-tissue mass and may give no radiologic findings. We describe a case of synovial chondromatosis stemming from the subtalar joint, in which diagnosis was difficult clinically and radiologically. The patient presented with pain in the ankle and with a soft-tissue mass. This case is presented with a review of the literature on subtalar joint involvement of synovial chondromatosis.