Plasma Protein C and Antithrombin III Levels in Polycythemic Newborns

Thromboembolic complications have been reported in association with neonatal polycythemia, the primary cause of hyperviscosity in the newborn. Although there are some studies on coagulation in polycythemic neonates, the situations that predispose these newborns to thrombosis are still not clear.1 One of the causes may be the reduction in blood flow within the microcirculation, which favors coagulation. As protein C (PC) and antithrombin III (AT III) are important coagulation inhibitors, we decided to study them in polycythemic newborns.     

Hemoglobinopathies in the District of Antalya, Turkey

A screening program was conducted to ascertain the incidence of hemoglobinopathies in the district of Antalya, Turkey. The survey sample was selected from the household registration forms of health centers by systematic random sampling. Heparinized blood samples were collected from 1,616 subjects from 884 families.

The prevalence of p thalassemia traits with increased Hb A2 was 10.2%. This is higher than that found in previous studies performed in Antalya. The prevalence of abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs) was found to be 0.8%. Four subjects had Hb AS; five had Hb D-Los Angeles (B 121 [GH4] Glu-Gln); one had Hb Ube-2 (68 [E1] Asn-Asp), one had Hb P-Nilotic (fusion between B 22 and) and two had Hb D-like variants.     

Two siblings with isolated GH deficiency due to loss-of-function mutation in the GHRHR gene: successful treatment with growth hormone despite late admission and severe growth retardation

Patients with growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) mutations exhibit pronounced dwarfism and are phenotypically and biochemically indistinguishable from other forms of isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD). We presented here two siblings with clinical findings of IGHD due to a nonsense mutation in the GHRHR gene who reached their target height in spite of late GH treatment. Two female siblings were admitted to our clinic with severe short stature at the age of 13.8 (patient 1) and 14.8 years (patient 2). On admission, height in patient 1 was 107 cm (-8.6 SD) and 117 cm (-6.7 SD) in patient 2. Bone age was delayed in both patients (6 years and 9 years). Clinical and biochemical analyses revealed a diagnosis of complete IGHD (peak GH levels on stimulation test was 0.06 ng/mL in patient 1 and 0.16 ng/mL in patient 2). Patients were given recombinant human GH treatment. Genetic analysis of the GH and GHRHR genes revealed that both patientscarried the GHRHR gene mutation p.Glu72X (c.214 G>T) in exon 3 in homozygous (or hemizygous) state. After seven years of GH treatment, the patients reached a final height appropriate for their target height. Final height was 151 cm (-1.5 SD) in patient 1 and 153 cm (-1.2 SD) in patient 2. In conclusion, genetic analysis is indicated in IGHD patients with severe growth failure and a positive family history. In spite of the very late diagnosis in these two patients who presented with severe growth deficit due to homozygous loss-of-function mutations in GHRHR, their final heights reached the target height.     

Prenatal exposure to diclofenac sodium changes the morphology of the male rat cervical spinal cord: a stereological and histopathological study

Diclofenac sodium is one of the most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It may cause alteration in the nervous system during neuronal development. However, there is no investigation concerning its role in the cervical spinal cord. Pregnant rats were divided into two groups, namely drug-treated and control (saline-injected) groups. To obtain the offspring of the drug-treated group, a dose of 1 mg/kg daily diclofenac sodium (Voltaren, 75 mg/3 ml ampoule, Novartis) was injected into the pregnant rats beginning from the 5th day after mating to the 20th day of the pregnancy. To obtain the control group of offspring, serum physiological at a 1 ml/kg daily dose was injected into the pregnant control rats during the same period. Male offspring were obtained after delivery and each group was divided into two subgroups: 4-week-old and 20-week-old. The total neuron number in diclofenac sodium-treated rats was significantly lower than in the control group animals. The total volume of the cervical spinal cord segments (C1-C4) was also estimated. There was a significant difference between the volumes of the two groups, especially in the 20-week-old subgroup. This may suggest that development of neurons and volume of cervical spinal cord are affected in prenatal animals after administration of diclofenac sodium.     

Collagenase application for amputation in a preterm

Letters to the Editor are welcomed for publication (subject to editing). Letters must be signed by all authors, typewritten double spaced, and must not exceed two pages of text including references. Two copies of all letters should be submitted along with one copy on disk. Letters should not duplicate material submitted or published in other journals. Prepublication proofs will not be provided.     

Oral administration of avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) reduces ischemic damage in the rat hippocampus

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) are known as an antiarthritic agent. This experimental study presents the effects of ASU on oxidant/antioxidant systems and the number of apoptotic neurons of hippocampal formation after ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Eighteen rats were divided into three equal groups: group I rats were used as controls; group II rats were fed with standard diet and group III rats were fed with standard diet plus ASU pills for 10 days. One day after electrocauterization of bilateral vertebral arteries for groups II and III, bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 30 min and then reperfused for 30 min. After these procedures, rats of all groups were sacrificed. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in the left hippocampus. The number of apoptotic neurons was counted by Tunel method in histological samples of right hippocampus. RESULTS: MDA and NO levels increased in group II compared with group I rats (p = 0.002, p = 0.015). In group III, MDA and NO levels decreased as compared to group II (p = 0.041, p = 0.002). SOD and CAT activities increased in group III as compared to group II rats (p = 0.002, p = 0.002). The number of apoptotic neurons was lower in group III as compared to group II rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that ASU could decrease oxidative stress and apoptotic changes in ischemic rat hippocampus. Dietary supplementation of ASU may be beneficial to prevent or ameliorate ischemic cerebral vascular disease.     

Gender Specific Strategies in Demanding Hopping Conditions

Difference in leg stiffness between females and males is considered to be a cause of higher rates of Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in female athletes. Females are believed to have lower stiffness and as a consequence different recruitment strategies to adapt functional tasks. The aim of the current study was to evaluate how leg stiffness is tuned to demanding conditions. 22 healthy subjects (11 Male-11 Female; age: 20-43 years) participated in this study. Subjects performed two-legged hopping tasks (at their preferred rate, as fast as possible and with added mass of 10% bodyweight) on a force platform. Leg stiffness was calculated for each condition as the ratio between peak ground reaction force and vertical displacement of center of mass. In the preferred and added mass conditions males showed substantially higher leg stiffness than females (p= 0.006 and p = 0.002, respectively). When hopping as fast as possible the gender bias in leg stiffness disappeared (p = 0.880). Added mass had no significant effect on change in leg stiffness. Results have shown that females increased their leg stiffness more than males indicating they have no gender limiting capacity to reach objectives of higher demanding tasks (i.e.fastest hopping).The relationship between observed gender differences in leg stiffness and increased Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury rate in females requires further study.

Key points

• Leg stiffness is an adaptable property of neuro musculoskeletal system to different functional loading conditions.
• Females can increase their leg stiffness more than males indicating they have no gender limiting capacity to reach objectives of higher demanding tasks as fastest hopping.

Key words: Leg stiffness, frequency, added mass, hopping test