The Effects of Human Amniotic Membrane and Fibrin Sealant in the Prevention of Postoperative Adhesion Formation in the Rabbit Ovary Model

Summary: The study group consisted of 29 female, white New Zealand rabbits. The rabbits were randomized into 3 groups and a midline laparotomy was performed in order to make a 4–5 mm long lesion using a scalpel in both ovaries. In Group 1, both of the ovaries were left uncovered. In Group 2, the right ovaries were covered by human amniotic membrane graft. In Group 3, 0.1–0.2 mL of Tisseel solution was applied to the lesion in the right ovaries. No medication was applied to the left ovaries in any of the groups and thus this ovary acted as an individual control. After 2 weeks the adhesion scores were graded by relaparotomy in a blind manner. Fibrin sealant showed a significant reduction in postoperative adhesion formation compared with the amniotic membrane graft and control groups (p<0.001). Therefore, it can be concluded that fibrin sealant can be used as an adjuvant during reproductive surgery.     

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant state after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the amount of lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte antioxidation in patients undergoing laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy and healthy controls. DESIGN: Non-randomised study. SETTING: University hospital, Istanbul. SUBJECTS: 31 patients, of whom 14 underwent open and 17 laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and 15 healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS: Heparinised blood samples were taken from the patients immediately after operation and from the healthy controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lipid peroxidation index as expressed by thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and components of the erythrocyte antioxidant defence system, namely reduced glutathione, reduced glutathione peroxidase (glutathione-Px) and CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) in patients undergoing open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy and healthy controls. RESULTS: All 4 variables were significantly higher in the cholecystectomy groups than in controls (p < 0.001), and laparoscopic cholecystectomy caused significantly less oxidative stress than the open operation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both types of cholecystectomy cause oxidative stress and lead to an adaptive antioxidant response in the body. However; both oxidative stress and the antioxidant response are more pronounced after traditional open cholecystectomy.     

Determining and Managing Fetal Radiation Dose from Diagnostic Radiology Procedures in Turkey

ObjectiveWe intended to calculate approximate fetal doses in pregnant women who underwent diagnostic radiology procedures and to evaluate the safety of their pregnancies.ResultsThe average fetal doses from radiography and CT in the first zone were 0.05 ± 0.01 mGy and 0.81 ± 0.04 mGy, respectively; 0.21 ± 0.05 mGy and 1.77 ± 0.22 mGy, respectively, in the second zone; and 6.42 ± 0.82 mGy and 22.94 ± 1.28 mGy, respectively, in the third zone (p < 0.001). Our results showed that fetal radiation exposures in our group of pregnant women did not reach the level (50 mGy) that is known to increase risk for congenital anomalies.ConclusionFetal radiation exposure in the diagnostic radiology procedures in our study did not reach risk levels that might have indicated abortion.     

Prevalence, susceptibility profile and proteinase production of yeasts causing vulvovaginitis in Turkish women

In this study the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), antifungal susceptibility and proteinase production of isolated Candida species were investigated. Vaginal swabs were collected from symptomatic women with vulvovaginitis attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Kocaeli University, Turkey. The relation between risk factors, such as pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, antibiotic and corticosteroid use, history of sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptive methods, was recorded. Candida spp. were identified by conventional methods, then evaluated for proteinase secretion in a medium containing casein. Antifungal susceptibility was determined according to the NCCLS microdilution method. The prevalence of women with vulvovaginitis was 35.7% (170/6080) and 16% (28/170) of them were diagnosed as VVC. Candida albicans was the dominant species: 21 (75%), followed by 4 C. glabrata (14%), 2 C. tropicalis (7%), and one C. krusei (3.5%). All isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin B, except one C. krusei, one C. glabrata and one C. albicans that were resistant to fluconazole. Proteinase production was determined in 19 (90.5%) C. albicans and in all C. tropicalis isolates. Proteinase activity was not associated with antifungal resistance. No association was found between risk factors and VVC.     

Risk factors for osteoporosis in healthy males

We investigated the correlation of bone mineral density (BMD) with risk factors and laboratory parameters (e.g., markers of bone turnover, biochemical indicators, and hormonal factors) in males without secondary osteoporosis. A total of 105 males were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n: 52) <60 years, and Group 2 (n:53) ≥ 60 years. The subjects were evaluated for risk factors (European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (EVOS) and BMD) and for biochemical (i.e., blood calcium, blood phosphorus, urinary calcium/phosphorus, creatinine clearance, osteocalcin, and deoxypyridinoline) and hormonal markers (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], free testosterone [fT], and parathyroid [PTH]) of bone mineral metabolism. In Group 1, no significant relationship was observed between risk factors for both lumbar and femoral neck BMDs and risk factors and laboratory parameters (p>0.05). On the other hand, we observed in Group 2 a significant positive correlation between lumbar BMD and BMI, BMI at 25 years of age, and fT; in the same group, a negative correlation between lumbar BMD and deoxypyridinoline (p<0.05) was seen. We saw a significant positive correlation between femoral neck BMD and BMI, BMI at 25 years of age, and daily activities of life in Group 2. In addition, we saw a negative correlation between femoral neck BMD and height difference, fT, LH, and deoxypyridinoline in Group 2 (p<0.05). Risk factors for male osteoporosis were multifactorial: demographic and clinical data (difference of height, BMI, physical activity) together with biochemical and hormonal data (deoxypyridinoline, fT, LH) were significant, and most of the risk factors analyzed were related to bone loss in the proximal femur.