Squamous carcinoma in a pressure sore with a very short latency period

Malignancy in a chronic pressure sore is rare among Marjolins ulcers. Carcinomas arising in pressure sores are highly aggressive and usually fatal. Although carcinomas in pressure sores are generally well-differentiated squamous carcinomas, they can show quite an aggressive course and do not respond either to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The mortality rate is high despite wide surgical resection. It must be kept in mind that carcinomas may arise in pressure sores and treatment must be early and aggressive. We report a squamous carcinoma arising in a pressure sore that had a very short latency period. The related literature was reviewed.     

Prognostic value of serum IL-18 and nitric oxide activity in breast cancer patients at operable stage

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a multifunctional cytokine that was previously termed interferon-gamma-inducing factor. It has been suggested that serum IL-18 level may be used as a prognostic factor in some cancer types. Nitric oxide is a potent biologic molecule involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. In this study, we measured serum IL-18 and nitrate + nitrite levels in 56 patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer and 14 control subjects. Serum IL-18* and nitrate + nitrite** levels were significantly higher in patients with breast cancer when compared to the control subjects (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.001). Serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher in patients whose tumor size was greater than or equal to 5 cm when compared to patients whose tumor size was less than or equal to 2 cm (p < 0.05). Patients who were axillary lymph node negative (ALN) had lower serum IL-18 levels when compared to patients with positive ALN (p < 0.001). Serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher in patients with stage IIB or IIIA when compared to patients with stage I or IIA (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum nitrate + nitrite levels in terms of age, tumor stage, estrogen receptor, and menopausal and ALN status (p > 0.05). In conclusion, serum IL-18 level may be a useful marker to predict prognosis of patients with breast cancer in complete remission after surgery. Long-term follow-up is required to clarify this hypothesis.     

The contribution of nitric oxide and endothelins to angiotensin: II. Evoked responses in the rat isolated uterus smooth muscle.

The present study was designed to determine the role of endogenous endothelin peptides and nitric oxide on angiotensin II (All) responses in the isolated nonpregnant rat uterine smooth muscle. AII (10, 20, or 50 ng/ml) increases rhythmic oscillations dose dependently (32.7 +/- 8.9, 55.96 +/- 10.3, and 62.78 +/- 17.7% increase, respectively). L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10(-5) M) did not affect the increase in rhythmic oscillations induced by All (10, 20, or 50 ng/ml) (17.5 +/- 12.1, 31.5 +/- 18.3, and 52.5 +/-11.8% increase, respectively, n = 6, p > 0.05). It reduced the contractile responses to AII (10 ng/ml: from 4.63 +/- 0.6 to 1.8 +/-0.7 cm2, p < 0.05: and 20 ng/ml: from 5.59 +/- 0.8 to 2.11 +/- 0.4 cm2, p < 0.05, n = 6). L-arginine (10 mM) decreased the contractile response obtained by AII (10 or 20 ng/ml) (1.93 +/- 1.05, p < 0.05 and 2.14 +/- 0.7 cm2, p < 0.05, respectively, n = 6). BQ 485 (50 ng/ml) decreased both the number of rhythmic oscillations and the contractility increased by AII. Bosentan (10(-5) M) induced an increase in the number of rhythmic oscillations but decreased the contractile responses to the higher concentrations of All. These data show that endogenous NO and endothelin peptides contribute to the motility changes induced by AII and may play an important role in the pathophysiological events of the uterine function.     

Giant arachnoid granulation in a patient with benign intracranial hypertension (2009: 1b)

We report magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT) and angiographic imaging of an unusual giant arachnoid granulation 7(GAG) in the superior sagittal sinus in a man with headache and vertigo. Intrasinus pressure measurements revealed a significant pressure gradient across the lesion. MR imaging is useful to identify GAG and dural sinus thrombosis, whereas dural sinus pressure measurement in certain cases of GAGs can be used to evaluate the lesion as the cause of the patient’s symptoms.     

Psychosexual Adaptation and Quality of Life After Hysterectomy

Psychosexual adaptation and quality of life after hysterectomy has been a subject of concern to women and gynecologists. By performing a hysterectomy, it is expected to treat abnormal bleeding, chronic pelvic pain and symptomatic myomas, and to improve health related general quality of life (QoL). Most controversy arises from the assertion that many hysterectomies are performed unnecessarily, although it has minor positive effects, the problems encountered after hysterectomy negatively affect QoL and psychosexual health problems may develop. The reported sexual problems after hysterectomy include dyspareunia related to vaginal shrinkage and decreased lubrication, low libido, and not experiencing orgasm. Studies show that the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women who have undergone hysterectomy procedure varies depending on methodological factors. No consensus exists on whether hysterectomy causes sexual dysfunction. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the impact of hysterectomy on women’s health and to discuss the related factors affecting psychosexual adaptation.     

The relationship of TFPI, Lp(a), and oxidized LDL antibody levels in patients with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine and correlate tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) antibody (oLAB), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; as a marker of lipid peroxidation) levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in a control group. DESIGN AND METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from patients with coronary heart disease were provided by the Department of Cardiology. Serum oLAB, Lp(a), plasma total TFPI, and plasma-free TFPI levels were determined by ELISA. Serum TBARS levels were determined by a spectrophotometric method using thiobarbituric acid. RESULTS: The CAD and the control group were matched for age and sex. Serum Lp(a), oLAB, and plasma total TFPI levels in patients with coronary heart disease were found to be significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). But there was no difference in plasma-free TFPI levels between patients with CAD and the control group (P > 0.05). In patients with single (P < 0.05), double, and triple vessel (P < 0.01) disease, the mean serum Lp(a) levels were significantly higher than in the control group. On the other hand, in patients with single vessel disease (P < 0.05), double vessel disease (P < 0.05), and triple vessel disease (P < 0.001), plasma total TFPI levels were found to be significantly higher than in the control group. We also found a significant positive correlation (r = 0.28, P < 0.05) between serum Lp(a) and plasma total TFPI levels in CAD. In the patient group, TBARS, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TRG), and LDL cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher than those in the control group. In addition, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were found to be significantly lower than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that elevated plasma levels of total TFPI, Lp(a), and oLAB may be useful diagnostic and monitoring markers in patients with CAD.     

Coryneform bacteria isolated from blood cultures and their antibiotic susceptibilities

We aimed to determine the types of corynebacteria isolated from the blood of patients at Gaziantep University Hospital, Turkey, and their antibiotic susceptibilities. Between February 1999 and June 2001, 3530 blood samples were cultured, of which 915 were found to be positive, and these were further investigated in the bacteriology laboratory. Among positive blood cultures, coryneform bacteria were identified in 31 (3.4%) isolates. Of these, 16 (51.6%) were Corynebacterium jeikeium, six (19.4%) were Corynebacterium striatum, four (12.9%) were Corynebacterium amycolatum, two (6.5%) were Cellulomonas species, two (6.5%) were Corynebacterium afermentans and one isolate (3.2%) was Corynebacterium propinquum. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that C. jeikeium was resistant to various antibiotics, whereas all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. This study illustrates the importance of taking coryneform bacteria into consideration when culturing blood samples. The need to identify the species and determine its antibiotic sensitivity is emphasized.     

Comparison of silver sulfadiazine 1%, mupirocin 2%, and fusidic acid 2% for topical antibacterial effect in methicillin-resistant staphylococci-infected,full-skin thickness rat burn wounds

Silver sulfadiazine 1%, mupirocin 2%, and fusidic acid 2% were compared to assess the antibacterial effect of a once-daily application on experimental rat 15% full-skin thickness burn wounds seeded 24 hours earlier with a 10 standard strain of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The quantitative counts of seeded organism in burn eschar and subjacent muscle were determined at postburn day 7, beside the cultures of blood and lung biopsies. All tested topical agents were equally effective against methicillin-resistant in reducing local burn wound bacterial count and preventing systemic infection.