Electron inelastic mean free path formula and CSDA-range calculation in biological compounds for low and intermediate energies.

In this study, for low atomic number targets and biological compounds, an inelastic mean free path (IMFP) formula and energy straggling parameter formula are presented, being valid for low and high electron energies. In addition, calculation of the continuous slowing down approximation-range (CSDA-range) from the stopping power is also made. The IMFP and the energy straggling parameter formulae are evaluated using the generalized oscillator strength (GOS) model and the exchange correction to the inelastic differential cross section (IDCS) given by Inokuti, M., [1978. Inelastic collisions of fast charged particles with atoms and molecules--the Bethe theory revisited. Rev. Mod. Phys. 50, 23-35]. The IMFP and CSDA-range for the biological compounds C5H5N5 (adenine), C5H5N5O (guanine), C4H5N3O (cytosine), C5H6N2O2 (thymine), C20H27N7O13P2 (cytosine-guanine) and C19H26N8O13P2 (thymine-adenine) have been introduced for incident electrons in the energy range 20 eV-1 MeV. The calculated results are compared with semi-empirical results and other theoretical results, good agreement being found with experimental data and Monte Carlo (PENELOPE code) predictions. All the IMFP versus energy curves exhibit minima around 80 eV.     

Antioxidative effect of melatonin, ascorbic acid and N-acetylcysteine on caerulein-induced pancreatitis and associated liver injury in rats

AIM: To investigate the role of oxidative injury in pancreatitis-induced hepatic damage and the effect of antioxidant agents such as melatonin, ascorbic acid and N-acetyl cysteine on caerulein-induced pancreatitis and associated liver injury in rats. METHODS: Thirty-eight female Wistar rats were used. Acute pancreatitis (AP) was induced by two i.p. injections of caerulein at 2-h intervals (at a total dose of 100μg/kg b.wt). The other two groups received additional melatonin (20 mg/kg b.wt) or an antioxidant mixture containing L( )-ascorbic acid (14.3 mg/kb.wt.) and N-acetyl cysteine (181 mg/kg b.wt.) i.p. shortly before each injection of caerulein. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation 12 h after the last injection of caerulein. Pancreatic and hepatic oxidative stress markers were evaluated by changes in the amount of lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) and changes in tissue antioxidant enzyme levels, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Histopathological examination was performed using scoring systems. RESULTS: The degree of hepatic cell degeneration, intracellular vacuolization, vascular congestion, sinusoidal dilatation and inflammatory infiltration showed a significant difference between caerulein and caerulein melatonin (P=0.001), and careulein and caerulein L( )-ascorbic acid N-acetyl cysteine groups (P=0.002). The degree of aciner cell degeneration, pancreatic edema, intracellular vacuolization and inflammatory infiltration showed a significant difference between caerulein and caerulein melatonin (P=0.004), and careulein and caerulein L( )-ascorbic acid N-acetyl cysteine groups (P=0.002). Caerulein-induced pancreatic and liver damage was accompanied with a significant increase in tissue MDA levels (P=0.01, P=0.003, respectively) whereas a significant decrease in CAT (P=0.002, P=0.003, respectively) and GPx activities (P= 0.002, P=0.03, respectively). Melatonin and L( )-ascorbic acid N-acetyl cysteine administration significantly decreased MDA levels in pancreas (P=0.03, P= 0.002, respectively) and liver (P=0.007,P=0.01, respectively). Administration of these agents increased pancreatic and hepatic CAT and GPx activities. Melatonin significantly increased pancreatic and hepatic CAT (P=0.002, P=0.001, respectively) and GPx activities (P= 0.002, P=0.001). Additionally, L( )-ascorbic acid N-acetyl cysteine significantly increased pancreatic GPx (P=0.002) and hepatic CAT and GPx activities (P=0.001, P=0.007, respectively) CONCLUSION: Oxidative injury plays an important role not only in the pathogenesis of AP but also in pancreatitis-induced hepatic damage. Antioxidant agents such as melatonin and ascorbic acid N-acetyl cysteine, are capable of limiting pancreatic and hepatic damage produced during AP via restoring tissue antioxidant enzyme activities.     

Expression of MUC1 and MUC2 mucins in gastric carcinomas: their relationship with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MUC1 and MUC2 mucin expressions and clinicopathologic variables in gastric carcinomas with regard to survival times. MUC1 and MUC2 expressions were revealed immunohistochemically in 143 gastric carcinomas. Of these 143 patients, follow-up data were available for 45 (median survival time of 30 months, ranging from 2 to 80 months). MUC1 was detected in 82 (58%), and MUC2 in 60 (42%) out of 143 cases. Papillary adenocarcinomas showed significantly higher MUC1 and MUC2 immunoreactivity than did signet-ring cell and mucinous tumors (p = 0.045 and p = 0.01, respectively). MUC1 was highly positive in intestinal-type carcinomas (p = 0.006), whereas intestinal and diffuse carcinomas did not differ in MUC2 expression. There was a positive correlation between tumor differentiation and MUC1 expression. However, no correlation was found between MUC1 and MUC2 expressions and angiolymphatic invasion. According to the TNM classification, stage 1A tumors have significantly lower rates of MUC1 reactivity compared to higher stages (p = 0.04). The patients with gastric carcinomas expressing MUC1 showed significantly poorer survival than those without MUC1 expression (p = 0.04). The present study suggests that MUC1 expression be a useful prognostic factor for predicting the outcome of gastric carcinoma patients, whereas the role of MUC2 expression is still unclear.     

The effects of caspofungin and voriconazole in an experimental fungal infection of the ear due to Aspergillus

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of caspofungin and voriconazole in the treatment of experimental Aspergillus otits media in an experimental rabbit model. A total of 30 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four treatment groups and one control group. The rabbits were immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide and triamcinolone acetonide. The right ear of each rabbit was infected by an injection of the inoculum of 0.1 ml (8.6 × 103 CFU/0.1 ml) of Aspergillus fumigatus into the middle ear cavity. At 72 h after the inoculation, amphotericin B 1 mg/kg per day (n = 6), itraconazole 10 mg/kg per day (n = 6), voriconazole 10 mg/kg per day (n = 6) and caspofungin 5 mg/kg per day (n = 6) were injected to each treatment group. No antifungal drug was administered to the control group (n = 6). Clinical and histopathological examination scores and microbiological analysis of middle ear mucosa were compared.There was statistically significant difference in the clinical scores, histopathological scores, and mean CFU/g between the treatment and control groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among the treatment groups in the clinical and histopathological scores, whereas there was statistically significant difference in the mean CFU/g (P < 0.05). The mean CFU/g of amphotericin B and caspofungin groups were similar and both were lower than the itraconazole and voriconazole groups. Also, the mean CFU/g of voriconazole group was lower than the itraconazole group (P < 0.05). Caspofungin and voriconazole were demonstrated at least as effective as amphotericin B and itraconazole. We suggest that caspofungin and voriconazole may be considered for the treatment of fungal infection of the ear.     

An unusual cause of allergy: Case report of normal saline solution allergy

Anaphylaxis and acute allergic reactions may sometimes be fatal. They occur within minutes in a sensitized individual. So quick diagnosis and management are necessary issues. In the literature, cases are widely reported against allergens found in drugs, foods and their additives, radiocontrast material, bee stings, and many other materials. Here, we present a 37-year-old woman who developed an anaphylactic reaction to normal saline infusion during evaluation for her acute abdominal pain. We found only one report about normal saline allergy in the literature (Litvin ME, Shemchuck AS, Lisetskii VA. Anaphylactic shock caused by intravenous injection of isotonic solution of sodium chloride. Klin Khir 1976;(7):59-61).