Implications from a pharmacogenomic analysis: Nerium oleander leaf distillate supplemented diet regulates cholesterol metabolism in rats

Context: Despite the usage of Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae) for anticancer studies and traditional remediation, the regulatory effect of N. oleander leaf distillate on cholesterol metabolism is not disclosed sufficiently.

Objective: Cholesterol is an important biological molecule and the synthesis rate is regulated by the amount of cholesterol uptake from the diet. The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in response to a high-fat diet (HFD) and the effects of N. oleander leaf distillate-supplemented diet (NOHFD) in rats.

Materials and methods: Microarray technology was used to clarify the regulation of cholesterol mechanism in HFD and NOHFD-fed rats (375?μg/0.5?mL distilled water applied by gavage). The treatment period was 90 days. Rat liver tissues were used for microarray analysis using the Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Genome platform. Results of groups were statistically analyzed with the Partek 6.6 bioinformatic program.

Results: The HFD group exhibited alterations in the expression levels of about 1945 genes with respect to the normal diet (ND) group. The results showed that expression levels of 47 genes were altered related to cholesterol metabolism in HFD and NOHFD groups. The expression levels of seven genes in the NOHFD group were significantly closer to those in the ND group than those of the HFD group.

Discussion and conclusion: To conclude, findings suggest that N. oleander leaf distillate-supplemented food has considerable beneficial effects on cholesterol metabolism-related gene expression levels.     

Prospective investigation of anterior pituitary function in the acute phase and 12 months after pediatric traumatic brain injury

Purpose

Although head trauma is common in childhood, there is no enough prospective study investigating both acute phase and 12 months after injury. Therefore, a prospective clinical trial was planned to evaluate the pituitary function in childhood in the acute and chronic phase after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

Forty-one children (27 boys and 14 girls, mean age 7?±?4.3), who were admitted to neurosurgery intensive care unit due to head trauma, were included. Twenty-one (51.2 %) patients had mild, 10 (24.4 %) had moderate, and 10 (24.4 %) had severe TBI. Twenty-two of them were reevaluated 12 months after TBI. Basal pituitary hormone levels were measured during acute (first 24 h) and chronic phase of TBI. Additionally, in the chronic phase, GHRH–arginine test was used for the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency.

Results

In the acute phase, 10 patients (24.4 %) had ACTH deficiency, and the overall 44.3 % of patients had at least one pituitary hormone dysfunction. All the pituitary hormone deficiencies during the acute phase were recovered after 12 months. Two patients (9.1 %) had new-onset GH deficiency in the chronic phase, and in one of them, ACTH deficiency was also present.

Conclusions

Present prospective data clearly demonstrated that most of the hormonal changes in the early acute phase were transient, suggesting an adaptive response, and these changes did not predict the hormone deficiencies after 1 year. In the chronic phase, although GH deficiency was present, the frequency of TBI-induced hypopituitarism was clearly lower than the adult patients.     

Nonodontogenic mandibular lesions: differentiation based on CT attenuation

Mandibular lesions are classified as odontogenic and nonodontogenic based on the cell of origin. Odontogenic lesions are frequently encountered at head and neck imaging. However, several nonodontogenic pathologies may also involve mandible and present further diagnostic dilemma. Awareness of the imaging features of nonodontogenic lesions is crucial in order to guide clinicians in proper patient management. Computed tomography (CT) may provide key information to narrow diagnostic considerations. Nonodontogenic mandibular lesions may have lytic, sclerotic, ground-glass, or mixed lytic and sclerotic appearances on CT. In this article, our aim is to present various nonodontogenic lesions of the mandible by categorizing them according to their attenuations on CT.Mandibular lesions may arise from both odontogenic and nonodontogenic origins (1). Odontogenic lesions are common in the mandible, and imaging features of these lesions are well described in the radiology literature. However, various nonodontogenic pathologies including primary tumors, tumor-like lesions, metastases, infection, vascular lesions, and metabolic abnormalities may also present as a mandibular lesion. Diagnosis may be challenging, because both odontogenic and nonodontogenic lesions may mimic each other with similar radiological appearances.The purpose of this study is to describe the imaging features of the nonodontogenic lesions of the mandible using a classification based on the computed tomography (CT) appearances (lytic, sclerotic, mixed, ground-glass attenuation) and to discuss the diagnostic approach.     

Single intravitreal ranibizumab injection for optic disc neovascularisation due to possibly traumatic,direct carotid cavernous fistula

We report a patient with optic disc neovasculariation due to possibly traumatic direct carotid cavernous fistula treated by a single dose of intravitreal ranibizumab prior to neurointervention. A 25‐year‐old man had a 10‐month history of bilateral proptosis and left sixth nerve paralysis was evaluated. Conjunctival vessels were markedly dilated, especially in the left eye. Clinical examination and fundus fluorescein angiography revealed disc neovascularisation in the left eye with subtle peripheral retinal ischaemia. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a high‐flow carotid cavernous fistula on the left side and this was confirmed by catheter angiography. A single dose of intravitreal ranibizumab was injected prior to neuro‐intervention. The disc neovascularisation regressed completely three days later. The left direct carotid cavernous fistula was later treated successfully with coil embolisation. Optic disc neovascularisation is a very rare feature of carotid cavernous fistula and intravitreal ranibizumab may be a useful therapeutic adjunct prior to neuro‐interventional techniques to reduce neovascularisation‐induced haemorrhage following the intervention.     

Hepatic cavernous hemangiomas: patterns of contrast enhancement on MR fluoroscopy imaging

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the patterns of contrast enhancement of hepatic hemangiomas on gadolinium-enhanced MR fluoroscopy imaging prospectively. METHOD: Investigation was performed on a 0.3-T open MR unit. Gadolinium-enhanced MR fluoroscopy images were obtained in 24 patients with 28 hepatic hemangiomas. Each MR fluoroscopy image was obtained in 2 s and MR fluoroscopy lasted for 10-25 min for each investigation. RESULTS: Three patterns of contrast enhancement were observed in 24 patients on MR fluoroscopy images. Four small lesions were not detected on MR fluoroscopy images. Uniform enhancement was seen in nine lesions (29%), peripheral nodular enhancement progressing centripetally to uniform enhancement was seen in nine lesions (29%), and peripheral nodular enhancement with persistent central hypointensity was seen in six lesions (22%). CONCLUSION: Enhanced MR fluoroscopy technique could obtain dynamic images of hepatic hemangiomas. It can be suggested as a useful technique for the showing of enhancement of hepatic hemangiomas, keeping in mind its low sensitivity in the diagnosis of small hemangiomas.     

Chilblains in Turkey: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Chilblains are rather common in winter months in our country.

OBJECTIVES

Determination of demographical and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with chilblains in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Evaluation of body mass index (BMI) as risk factor for development of chilblains.

METHODS

Sixty-nine patients who were diagnosed as chilblains at our outpatient clinics were included in this study. No exclusion criteria were sought. Demographical data including height and weight and answers to questions related to personal history were recorded. A control group consisting of 108 controls were chosen from among patients presenting with complaints of hair loss. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0.

RESULTS

Of the 69 patients with chilblains, 45 (65.2%) were females and 24 (34.8%) were males. Mean age (±SD) of the patients was 21±9. 71.2% of the patients complained of itching, 51.6% of pain, 31.3% of burning in the lesions. 61.3% of the patients reported recurrence of the lesions every winter season. Mean BMI of the patients was 20.5±2.9. Mean BMI of the controls was 22.4±3.7 and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Low BMI may be a risk factor contributing to development of chilblains in persons exposed to cold weather conditions. Apart from external factors, there seems to be a personal tendency to develop lesions, as many patients report recurrences every year. Diagnosis of chilblains requires wariness, as history of cold exposure may not be evident.     

Changes in the loading of tibial articular cartilage following medial meniscectomy: a finite element analysis study

Purpose

Depending on the location and extent of the meniscectomy, loading on the tibial articular cartilage alters. The main purpose of the present study was to analyze the loading on the tibial articular cartilage following medial meniscectomy performed in various location and extent, as well as in the healthy knee, via finite element analyses on the solid models.

Methods

Totally, 11 finite element solid models, including the reference model, were created to investigate the effect of location (anterior, posterior, longitudinal) and extent of meniscectomy (25, 50, 75, and 100 %) on loading of tibial articular cartilage.

Results

Maximum equivalent stress of the tibial cartilage was measured 0.86 Megapascal in the reference model and increased approximately by 78 % in 25 % meniscectomy group, 177.9 % in 50 %, 473.8 % in 75 % meniscectomy group, and 752.6 % in total meniscectomy. When only the amount of meniscal tissue removed was considered ignoring the location of meniscectomy, no significant difference was found in the amount of tissue excised between 25 % meniscectomy and 50 % meniscectomy, as well as between 75 % meniscectomy and total meniscectomy.

Conclusion

In all meniscectomy models, the loadings on tibial articular cartilage increased. Except total meniscectomy, the highest impact was observed in longitudinal 75 % meniscectomy. During the surgical treatment, the contributions of menisci on load absorption by increasing the tibiofemoral contact area must be considered. In fact, the increase in the rate of loading on tibial articular cartilage depends on according to type and amount of meniscectomy.     

Optic coherence tomography angiography findings in fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis

International Ophthalmology - To evaluate macular capillary perfusion in patients with fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). A total of...