Classification of Giardia duodenalis parasites in Turkey into groups A and B using restriction fragment length polymorphism

PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis was used to determine the relation of Giardia duodenalis Groups A and B. Of these, 17 (85%) were found as Group A in symptomatic cases; 22 (92%) were Group B in asymptomatic cases by using PCR-RFLP (p < 0.001). Interestingly, 5 (83%) were Group A in examination of endoscopy aspirates of symptomatic cases, as 5 (83%) were Group B in asymptomatic cases.     

Local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma that simulated multiple renal arteriovenous fistulas after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: Report of a rare case

Herein we report a patient who was initially thought to have renal arteriovenous fistulas 3 months after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for a small renal mass. After timely intervention using selective renal artery embolization, computed tomography 9 months post‐surgery showed persistent renal arteriovenous fistulas and nodular lesions in the perirenal fat. The patient then underwent radical nephrectomy, and histopathological examination showed underlying recurrent clear cell renal cell carcinoma invading the intraparenchymal arteries and veins, which was simulating multiple high‐flow renal arteriovenous fistulas.     

Comparison of the proliferative activity in gingival epithelium after surgical treatments of intrabony defects with bioactive glass and bioabsorbable membrane

Guided tissue regeneration is based on preventing the more rapidly proliferating epithelium from growing into the periodontal defect after surgical procedures incorporating barrier membranes. The aim of this study was to compare the proliferative activity of gingival epithelium using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a marker of cell proliferation after surgical treatments with bioactive glass graft material and bioabsorbable membrane. Using split mouth design, 20 intrabony defects were randomly assigned treatments with bioactive glass (BG group) or bioabsorbable membrane (BM group). Gingival biopsies were taken at preoperative and postoperative 12 weeks. After histological processing, the number of the inflammatory cells was measured in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections; PCNA expression was determined in immunohistochemically-stained sections. At postoperative 12 weeks, the number of the inflammatory cells was significantly decreased (p < 0.01), PCNA expression was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in both treatment groups compared to baseline data. There was no significant difference in PCNA expression between baseline values of two groups (p > 0.05), while at postoperative 12 weeks, increase in BG group was significantly greater than that in BM group (p < 0.001). These results suggest that epithelial cell proliferation is more prominent after treatment of intrabony defects with bioactive glass compared to the treatment with bioabsorbable membrane.     

The relationship between serum vitamin D levels and health-related quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients

International Urology and Nephrology - We aimed to investigate the relationship between Vitamin D level and quality of life in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis as renal replacement therapy....     

Comparison of types 2 and 3 quadratus lumborum muscle blocks

Die Anaesthesiologie - The efficacy of quadratus lumborum muscle block (QLB) in abdominal surgery is known; however, the efficacy of different QLB types is unclear. The objective of this study was...     

Effect of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor L-744,832 on the colon cancer cell line DLD-1 and its combined use with radiation and 5-FU

BACKGROUND: Ras oncogenes are found in 25% of human tumors and they significantly affect prognosis. One of the major fields studied to improve anticancer drugs is blockade of the oncogenic ras protein function. One of the mechanisms to block the function of these proteins is to block farnesylation using a farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI) and thus to prevent the ras from anchoring to the cell membrane. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effects of FTI L-744,832 either alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 1 microM/l) and radiotherapy (2, 6, and 10 Gy) on the colon cancer cell line DLD-1 with mutations in K-, N- and H-ras, c-myb, c-myc, p53, fos, sis and DNA repair genes. Drugs were added 3 h after cultivation. Radiotherapy was performed on the 3rd day of the study. On the 3rd day, medium and drugs were changed. Evaluations were performed on the 6th day. RESULTS: Administration of L-744,832, neither alone nor its combination with 5-FU and radiation, affected the number of DLD-1 cells and apoptosis rates. Regarding its effects on the cell cycle, L-744,832 was shown to lead to G(0)/G(1) and G(2)/M accumulation in a dose-dependent manner when administered alone. However, in combination with 5-FU, only a G(0)/G(1) accumulation was observed. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that FTI L-744,832 does not effect the cell number and apoptosis rate of DLD-1 cells and it cannot overcome 5-FU and radiation resistance, although it is able to modify some phases of the cell cycle.     

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on osteochondral defects treated with mosaicplasty

Purpose

This study investigated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on articular surfaces on which the mosaicplasty technique was performed. Our hypothesis was that PRP can accelerate the osseointegration process and enhance the quality of articular integrity after the mosaicplasty procedure.

Methods

Standard defects were created in the femoral groove of both patellofemoral joints of 12 New Zealand rabbits. PRP solution was placed inside the defect before fixation of the osteochondral autografts and injected inside the involved joint after capsular closure of the tested knees. The contralateral knees served as the control sides. The animals were euthanized three or six weeks after mosaicplasty, and both limbs were assessed according to Pineda’s histological grading scale. Significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05 a priori, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Histologic findings at the interface between the transferred autograft and the original cartilage revealed better integration of the adjacent surfaces in the mosaicplasty with PRP group three weeks after the procedure; the difference was significant (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference in the transition zone was observed between the groups six weeks after the experiment (p = 0.59).

Conclusions

Our animal model showed that adjunctive use of PRP produced a better healing response and resulted in superior histological scores after three weeks compared with the mosaicplasty-only procedure. Interpretation of our results is important in terms of rapid return to previous activity levels. Thus, application of PRP can represent a valid therapeutic option for improving the efficacy of mosaicplasty by stimulating the local healing response.     

Does Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance have a predictive value for post-coronary artery bypass grafting surgery outcomes?

Objective

This study aims to investigate whether pre-operative Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) value is a predictor in non-diabetic coronary artery bypass grafting patients in combination with hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels.

Methods

Eighty one patients who were admitted to Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic at our hospital between August 2012 and January 2013 with a coronary artery bypass grafting indication were included. Patients were non-diabetic with <6.3% hemoglobin A1c and were divided into two groups including treatment and control groups according to normal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR<2.5, Group A; n=41) and high insulin resistance (HOMA-IR>2.5, Group B; n=40), respectively. Pre-operative fasting blood glucose and insulin were measured and serum chemistry tests were performed. The Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance values were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference in fasting blood glucose and HOMA-IR values between the groups. Cross-clamping time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were longer in Group B, compared to Group A (P=0.043 and P=0.031, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that hemoglobin A1c was not a reliable determinant factor alone for pre-operative glucometabolic evaluation of non-diabetic patients. The risk factors of fasting blood glucose and cardiopulmonary bypass time were more associated with high Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance levels.

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that preoperative screening of non-diabetic patients with Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance may improve both follow-up visit schedule and short-term outcomes, and may be useful in risk stratification of the high-risk population for impending health problems.