Clinical and histologic evaluations of experimental <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthamoeba</Emphasis> keratitis

Amoebic keratitis, a sight-threatening, progressive corneal disease, is commonly caused by ubiquitous, pathogenic, free-living Acanthamoeba spp., which are widely distributed in the environment. We investigated clinical findings and histology of Acanthamoeba keratitis in a rat cornea model. Experimental Acanthamoeba keratitis was induced in Wistar rats by intrastromal inoculation of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites. The clinic features of Acanthamoeba keratitis by day 70 are observed. All rats inoculated with Acanthamoeba developed keratitis. Histologically, the eyes displayed blood vessels, edema, and amoebae in stroma. A mixed cellular response, including neutrophils, mononuclear cells, and spindle-shaped cells, was seen. In conclusion, progressive, suppurative Acanthamoeba keratitis can be induced in the rat cornea model. This rat cornea model assists researchers who study the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis and devise treatment for this difficult condition.     

Immunolocalization of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor GFR-alpha1 in varicocele-induced rat testis

The aim of the study was to determine the immunolocalisation of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor (GFRalpha1) in testicular dysfunction induced by experimental left varicocele. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into two groups: a varicocele-induced group and a sham-operated group for 9, 11 and 13 weeks (each group n=6). After orchiectomy, part of the left testis from each animal was fixed, processed and embedded in paraffin wax for immunohistochemistry and the other part was fixed for ultrastructural investigations. GDNF immunoreactivity was localized in the interstitial space in Leydig cell cytoplasm and there was no significant difference (P=0.5) between the varicocele-induced groups at the various time points. GFRalpha1 localization was perinuclear in spermatids and cytoplasmic in Leydig cells. The decrease of GFRalpha1 immunoreactivity was significant (P=0.001) in varicocele-induced testis at 13 weeks when compared with the age-matched sham group. This is the first study to describe the immunolocalization patterns of GDNF and GFRalpha1 in a rat model of varicocele. Although there was no change in GDNF labelling at the different time points after varicocele, GFRalpha1 was significantly decreased in the 13-week group. Distribution of GDNF and its receptor GFRalpha1 in normal and varicocele-induced rat testes suggests both autocrine and paracrine regulation of spermatogenesis.     

Effect of Pollen,Pit Powder,and Gemmule Extract of Date Palm on Male Infertility: A Systematic Review

Pollen, pit powder, and gemmule extract of the date palm are rich in flavonoids. Antioxidant characteristics of the flavonoids have a significant effect on prevention and treatment of infertility.

The aim of the present study was to review studies investigating the effects of pollen, pit powder, and gemmule extract of the date palm on male infertility.

Articles that were published about the topic between 2005 and 2016 were reviewed from different databases in Turkish and English. The search engines used included PubMed, Science Direct, Clinical Key, Google Scholar, Springer, Dergipark, Ulakbim, and Akademik Dizin.

The studies found that pollen, pit powder, and gemmule extract of the date palm created positive changes in hormone levels that have a role in male fertility and increased sperm motility and quality, spermatogenesis, and weights of testes and epididymis.

Date palm pollen, pit powder, and gemmule extract have a high antioxidant capacity because of phenolic formations in the composition. Such characteristics have a positive effect on prevention and treatment of male infertility. Furthermore, gonadotropic and steroidal compounds within date palm pollen play a role in treatment of male infertility. The limited number of studies conducted on this topic indicates that more research is needed.     

Retentive force of three fiber-reinforced resin composite posts and a zirconia post cemented with two adhesive luting agents: in vitro study

By means of a pull-out test, this study compared the retentive force of three fiber-reinforced resin composite posts and a zirconia post. These posts were cemented using two different dual-polymerizing adhesive resin luting agents. Forty freshly extracted canines were selected for the study. All tooth root were endodontically treated and the post spaces prepared. The posts were luted using luting agents according to the manufacturers' guidelines. A tensile force was applied, and all data were collected and analyzed statistically. Glass fiber posts that were luted with Panavia F (Group 3) had the highest median load (3.610 N), while zirconia posts that were luted with RelyX ARC (Group 8) had the lowest median load (0.926 N). Among the different post systems that were luted with Rely X ARC, significant differences were observed in their median tensile loads (p < 0.047). When comparing between Panavia F and RelyX ARC of each post system, a significantly higher tensile load was seen with zirconia posts luted with Panavia F (Group 7) (p < 0.032).     

Sleep problems,anxıety,depressıon and fatıgue on famıly members of adult intensıve care unıt patıents

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of sleep problems, anxiety, depression and fatigue in family members of intensive care patients in Turkey and factors affecting these complaints. This cross‐sectional study was carried out with 350 first‐degree relatives of intensive care patients at a university and state hospital. Data were collected between 5 January and 30 May 2014 using a personal information form, the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the modified Post Sleep Inventory. Of the 350 family members, 76% reported moderate or more serious problems. Anxiety was reported by 81.4% of the family members, and depression by 94.2%. Family members in the study had fatigue, with average scores of 79.42. There were significant correlations between the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue and anxiety, depression and scores on the Modified Post‐Sleep Inventory (P < 0.05). Family members of intensive care patients experienced symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep problems. The prevalence of symptoms of sleep problems, anxiety and depression and complaints of fatigue was significantly higher in the family members of intensive care patients in Turkey than reported in the literature.     

Monitoring of peripheral blood CD34+ cell counts on the first day of apheresis is highly predictive for efficient CD34+ cell yield.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of preleukapheresis circulating CD 34+ cells/micro L, white blood cells (WBC), and platelet counts on the first day of apheresis with the yield of collected CD 34+ cell counts in 40 patients with hematological malignancies (n = 29) and solid tumors (n = 11). The median numbers of apheresis cycles, numbers of CD 34+ cells, peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells, and total nucleated cells collected were 2 (range, 1-4), 5.5 x 106/kg (range, 0.05-33.78), 2.59 x 108/kg (range, 0.04-20.68), and 7.36 x 108/kg (range, 0.15-28.08), respectively. There was a strong correlation between the number of preleukapheresis circulating CD 34+ cells/micro L and the yield of collected CD 34+ cells per kilogram (r = 0.962, p < 0.001). The threshold levels of PB C 34+ cell/micro L to obtain > or =1 x 106/kg and > or =2.5 x 106/kg CD 34+ cell in one collection were 12/micro L and 34/ micro L, respectively. Fifteen of 17 (88%) patients who had > or =34 CD 34+ cells/ micro L in the PB before collection reached the level of > or =2.5 x 106/kg in a single apheresis. Despite a low r value, WBC and platelet counts on the first day of apheresis also correlated with the yield of collected daily CD 34+ cells per kilogram (r = 0.482, p < 0.01 and r = 0.496 p < 0.01, respectively). These data suggest that preleukapheresis circulating CD 34+ cells/ micro L correlated significantly better with the yield of collected CD 34+ cells than WBC and platelet counts on the first day of apheresis. Using a value of 34/micro L preleukapheresis circulating CD 34+ cells as a guide for the timing of peripheral blood stem cells collections can be time saving and cost-effective.     

Effects of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment on retrobulbar circulation detected on Doppler sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of antihypertensive drugs in essential hypertension and in the central retinal, posterior ciliary, and ophthalmic arteries by using Doppler sonography. METHODS: Thirty patients with essential hypertension and 32 control subjects were enrolled in the study. The pulsatility and resistive indices were evaluated in the central retinal, posterior ciliary, and ophthalmic arteries before and 2 months after treatment with antihypertensive drugs as well as in the control group. The pulsatility and resistive index values for each artery in each group were compared statistically. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the retrobulbar pulsatility and resistive index values in each artery among the patients with initially diagnosed hypertension and the control group (P < .05). There were significant reductions in the resistive and pulsatility index values of the posterior ciliary and ophthalmic arteries after treatment (P < .05). For the ophthalmic artery, posttreatment pulsatility and resistive index values did not reach the level of flow measured in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of Doppler parameters of medication-free patients with hypertension may result from a peripheral vasospasm in the retrobulbar circulation, and the improvement in the Doppler parameters with oral antihypertensive drugs may indicate the importance of early diagnosis in ameliorating hypertension-induced retrobulbar circulation changes.     

Prognostic significance of morphologic parameters in renal cell carcinoma

Many morphologic parameters have been used in prognostic studies in renal cell carcinoma. In this study, the relationship between these parameters and prognosis was investigated. This study includes 75 patients who were treated with radical nephrectomy between 1985 and 2001. Pathological stage (TNM), grade (Fuhrman nuclear grade) cell type (UICC and AJCC), histologic pattern, tumour size, vascular invasion and multifocality were used as prognostic parameters. There were 34 female and 41 male patients with mean age of 54.5 +/- 12.5. The mean size of the tumour was 76.9 +/- 37.2 (30-200) mm. Of the patients, 40 had pT1, 21 pT2, nine pT3 and two pT4 diseases. Twenty-eight patients had Grade 1, 29 Grade 2, 15 Grade 3 and three Grade 4 tumour. According to cell type, 63 had clear cell, six papillary and six undifferentiated types. Five had multifocal and seven had vascular invasion. In conclusion, nuclear grade and tumour stage were found as the most important prognostic indicators.