Histopathological and Biochemical Effects of Ecballium elaterium on Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Ecballium elaterium (EE) on sepsis-induced lung injury. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 male rats were divided into three groups as follows: control, sepsis, and treatment groups (sepsis + EE) with each group containing 10 rats. A rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used. In the treatment group, rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg EE after CLP. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values after a 24-hr period were measured via cardiac puncture. Animals were harvested after the procedure and biochemical analysis was done and histopathological changes of the tissue sections of lungs were examined thereafter. Results: A statistically significant decrease was observed in the IL-6 (p < .05), TNF-α (p < .05), and TOS (p < .01) levels in the sera of the treatment group compared to those of the sepsis group. Following the treatment, the TOS (p = .01) and OSI (p < .05) levels in the lung tissue of rats indicated a statistically significant decrease compared to those of the sepsis group. The histopathological follow-up undertaken after the administration of the EE treatment to septic rats showed significantly lower values of alveolar wall thickness (p < .001), interstitial edema (p = .018), and neutrophil infiltration (p = .047). Conclusion: EE treatment may have beneficial effects on sepsis-induced lung injury, and therefore has potential for clinical use.     

Maxillary sinus lipoma: an unanticipated diagnosis

Subcutaneous tissue gives rise to numerous lesions such as lipoma, the most common benign soft tissue tumors. Lipoma is seen only extremely rarely in osseous units. In addition, craniofacial involvement of intraosseous lipoma may be misdiagnosed as a fibroosseous tumour such as fibrous dysplasia. Here, we present a case of an intraosseous lipoma obviously destroying and invading the maxillary bone.     

Mid-term results of open debridement and reattachment surgery for insertional Achilles tendinopathy: A retrospective clinical study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of age and body mass index (BMI) on the functional outcomes, satisfaction rates, and recovery time after open debridement and reattachment surgery in non-athletic patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT).MethodsIn this retrospective study, 33 non-athletic patients (34 ankles) in whom open debridement and reattachment surgery was performed for IAT from 2006 to 2016 were included. Change in pain intensity was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) preoperatively and at the final follow-up. Functional assessment was done by preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) and final follow-up Victorian Institute of Sport Tendon Study Group-Achilles Tendinopathy score (VISA-A). Patient satisfaction was evaluated by Roles & Maudsley score (RMS). The recovery time was defined as the time interval from the first appearance to postoperative relief of symptoms and recording. In addition, the recurrent Haglund’s deformity was determined by postoperative control radiographs.ResultsThe mean age at the time of the operation was 51.19 years. The mean follow-up was 61.75±8.49 months. According to BMI, 5 patients were determined as morbid obese, 19 as obese, 3 as overweight, and 6 as normal. The mean VAS score significantly decreased from 8.5 preoperatively to 1.3 postoperatively (p<0.001). The mean AOFAS score significantly improved from 55.8 preoperatively to 92 postoperatively (p<0.001). Postoperative VISA-A score was 86% (range=32%–100%). According to RMS, 22 patients reported the result as excellent, 8 as good, 2 as fair, and 1 as poor. The mean recovery time was 11.8 (range=2–60) months, but one patient did not reach a symptom free status and thus was not included in the recovery time analysis. Postoperative control radiographs revealed signs of recurrence deformity in four patients. Recovery time showed a negative correlation with the age of the patients (r=−0.65). Postoperative scores and BMI showed no significant correlations with the recovery time on the basis of Spearman’s rho test (p=0.196).ConclusionThe results of this study have shown that open debridement and reattachment surgery may be an effective surgical method in relieving pain and improving functional status with high satisfaction rate and acceptable recovery time in the management of non-athletic patients with IAT.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, Therapeutic study     

The effects of bone chips dehydrated with solvent on healing bone defects

The effect of bone chips dehydrated with solvent on the healing of bone defects was evaluated. Solvent-dehydrated spongiose bone chips were placed in experimentally formed cavities in the right back tibia of rabbits. After 10, 20 and 30 days, histopathological cross-sections from the bone grafts were examined microscopically for bone healing and formation of spongiose bone, cortex and bone marrow. Spongiose bone chips had a positive and accelerating influence on the healing of bone defects in the 10-day period after transplantation, but no significant differences were observed between the treated and control groups 20 and 30 days after transplantation.     

Improvement of right ventricular function with transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background and aim. It has been demonstrated that right ventricular systolic dysfunction develops soon after surgical aortic valve replacement (s-AVR). While the impact of s-AVR or TAVI on the function of the left ventricle has been studied with various imaging modalities, little is known about the impact on right ventricular function (RVF). In the current study, we evaluated the impact of TAVI on RVF using conventional echocardiography parameters. Methods and results. Echocardiography was performed prior to 24 h, 1 month and 6 months after TAVI. RVF was assessed using (1) tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE); (2) RV Tissue Doppler Imaging (S’); (3) right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP); (4) Fractional area change (FAC); and (5) RV ejection fraction (RVEF). TAVI was performed through the subclavian artery in two patients and femoral artery in 48 patients with an Edwards Sapien XT valve. TAVI was performed on 50 patients between the dates of December 2012 and June 2013. After TAVI, a statistically significant improvement was observed for all parameters related to RVF (RVSP, RVEF, TAPSE, FAC, RVTDI S’). During the 1st and 6th months this statistically significant improvement continued in TAPSE and FAC, and there was no deterioration in RVSP, RVEF, and RVTDI S during the 1st month but a statistically significant improvement continued in the 6th month. Conclusion. RVF assessed by conventional echocardiography did not deteriorate after TAVI in early and midterm follow-up. Further, TAVI provides improvement of RVF and can safely and efficiently be performed in patients with impaired RVF.     

Technical and clinical evaluation of a glucose meter employing amperometric biosensor technology

The objective of this study was to assess accuracy and precision of the Optimum H System for measuring glucose in fresh venous whole blood samples. Ninety-one whole blood specimens were analyzed duplicate on two optimum blood glucose meter and compared to YSI reference analyser and Beckman LX20 laboratory analyser. The study demonstrated that the Optimum H System gives clinically accurate, plasma equivalent glucose results for venous samples, compared to the YSI*1.12 reference method. All results were within the clinically acceptable A and B zones of the Parkes error grid, with 98.6% falling within zone A. The mean bias of the Optimum H System versus the YSI*1.12 reference was +5.39%, which is consistent with the strip claim that slightly higher results may be observed when using venous samples. The Optimum H System results showed good precision, with an overall mean CV of 3.0%. Plasma results from the Beckman laboratory analyser correlated well with the YSI*1.12 whole blood reference with a slightly higher mean bias of +3.92%. The study demonstrated the Optimum H System to give clinically accurate and precise results for glucose in fresh venous whole blood samples.