Sex difference in perceptual-verbal ability in relation to body size

Sex difference in verbal ability was reconsidered in relation to body size. The perceptual-verbal ability (PVA) was assessed using the A's Test. For the raw data, women excelled men, as expected. PVA positively correlated with height and weight of the subjects, but only for women. As a covariate of height, sex difference increased by increasing the women's score; men's score did not change. Tall women had much higher scores than short men. It was concluded that sex difference in PVA is stable despite the smaller body size of females than males, and body height may be predictive for this ability, but only in women.     

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity (TAFIa) levels in neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid

OBJECTIVE: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is thought to be a sign of fetal hypoxia, which causes activation of coagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Inflammation is also seen in MSAF. On the other hand, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is an inhibitor of fibrinolysis and a regulator of vascular inflammation. For this reason, in this study we aimed to evaluate the relation between hypoxia, fibrinolysis, and inflammation by determining the levels of TAFI activity (TAFIa) in MSAF where inflammation was also thought to have a role in the pathogenesis. METHODS: The MSAF group consisted of 22 neonates; 20 neonates served as the control group. Plasma TAFIa levels were evaluated in all neonates in the first six hours of life. RESULTS: TAFIa levels were significantly higher in the MSAF group when compared with the control group and the levels correlated negatively with cord blood pH levels. CONCLUSIONS: Increased TAFIa levels in neonates with MSAF might be due to hypoxia. Inflammation observed in MSAF may also play an additional role in increased TAFIa expression. Although no clinical complication that can be attributed to this increase was seen, one should be alert to the complications of depressed fibrinolysis that might be observed in these neonates.     

The effects of selective nitric oxide synthase blocker on survival, mesenteric blood flow and multiple organ failure induced by zymosan

BACKGROUND: Circulatory failure in multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS) is characterized with systemic vasodilation, diminished blood flow to various vascular beds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selective inhibition of nitric oxide on the mesenteric arterial blood flow (MABF), survival and organ injury of the liver, kidney, lung and spleen in zymosan-induced MODS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty Swiss albino mice (20-40 g), 7 to 9 weeks old, were obtained. Animals were randomly divided into four groups. The first group were treated intraperitoneally (i.p) with vehicle (saline) and served as a sham group for aminoguanidine (AG) (n=10). The second group was treated with zymosan (500 mg/kg, suspended in saline solution, i.p). The mice in the third and fourth group received AG (15 mg/kg) 1 h and 6 h after zymosan or saline administration, respectively. Eighteen hours after the administration of zymosan, animals were assessed for MODS described subsequently. The signals from the flowmeter were also recorded on mesenteric arterial blood flow values. RESULTS: In zymosan-treated animals, the MABF was significantly lower than that of solvent (saline)-treated controls (ml min(-1), controls: 4.6 +/- 0.6; zymosan: 1.6 +/- 0.9, P <0.05). When animals were treated with AG, there were no significant differences in MABF values between AG group and solvent (saline)-treated control group. However AG prevented zymosan-induced mesenteric MABF decrease. Treatment with aminoguanidine also decreased mortality. CONCLUSION: AG is capable of inhibiting both the induction and the activity of the already iNOS; it remains a potential therapeutic agent in patients with MODS.     

Evaluation of a local anaesthesia regimen using a subphrenic catheter after gynaecological laparoscopy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of intraperitoneal local anaesthetic administration is to block visceral nociceptive conduction and to provide an additional route of analgesia. The present study evaluates the effects of sequential injections of bupivacaine on postoperative pain through a subphrenic catheter. METHODS: In this double-blinded controlled study, patients scheduled for gynaecological laparoscopy were randomly divided into two groups. One group received 20 mL of saline with 1:200000 epinephrine through a subphrenic catheter before the incision closure and at 4-hourly intervals for the first postoperative 20 h. The second group received 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.125% with 1:200000 epinephrine at the same injection times. Postoperative pain scores and consumption of analgesics were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in pain scores at rest or incidence of shoulder pain between the two groups, but the patients of the bupivacaine group reported lower pain scores on coughing only in the first hour postoperatively (P = 0.007). Although the patients consumed comparable amounts of metamizole and ondansetron, the number of patients requiring supplemental meperidine and flurbiprofen in the bupivacaine group were significantly lower than in the saline group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that intraperitoneal bupivacaine may reduce pain on coughing in the early postoperative period and the consumption of analgesics postoperatively. The subphrenic catheter technique had no impact upon pain at rest and shoulder-tip pain after gynaecological laparoscopy.     

Adiponectin level is reduced and inversely correlated with the degree of proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients

AIMS: Adiponectin seems to be an important modulator for metabolic and vascular diseases. We aimed to measure plasma adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients and investigate any association with the severity of proteinuria. METHODS: 80 patients (mean age, 46.9 +/- 5.1 years; body mass index (BMI), 25.8 +/- 1.98 kg/m2) and 47 healthy volunteers (mean age, 46.1 +/- 5.5 years; BMI 26.74 +/- 2.23 kg/m2) were included. Plasma adiponectin concentration, insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indices, calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) and biochemistry panel were determined in all subjects. The association between adiponectin concentration and proteinuria was evaluated. Additionally, the relationship between adiponectin and hsCRP and calculated GFR were also investigated. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels in patients were significantly lower than those of controls (n = 80; 8.76 +/- 4.50 microg/ml for patients, n = 47; 24.27 +/- 5.59 microg/ml for controls, p < 0.001). Plasma adiponectin levels in patients with proteinuria were significantly lower than those without proteinuria (n = 43; 6.81 +/- 2.82 microg/ml for proteinuria, n = 37; 11.98 +/- 3.32 microg/ml for no proteinuria, p < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma adiponectin concentrations and the degree of proteinuria (r = -0.433, p < 0.001). There were also significant negative correlations between adiponectin concentrations and insulin levels as well as HOMA index in the patient group (r = -0.322, p = 0.004; r = -0.301, p = 0.032). Additionally there was a significant negative correlation between adiponectin and hsCRP levels in the patient group (r = -0.872, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results show that adiponectin is lower in patients with type 2 diabetes and the levels are negatively correlated with the severity of proteinuria.     

Asymptomatic pons tuberculoma in an infant with miliary tuberculosis

Miliary tuberculosis is caused by the hematogenous spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and consists of 1.5% of all tuberculosis cases. It is seen mostly in infants because of the immature immune system, and central nervous system CNS involvement is not rare. Tuberculomas are rarely seen in the localized form of CNS tuberculosis, and only 4% are localized in the brain stem. We report a 4.5-month-old infant who deteriorated during follow-up with the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonia, and afterwards received the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis. Although the baby had no neurologic abnormality and cerebrospinal fluid findings were normal, cranial MRI revealed contrast enhanced nodular lesions in pons, cerebellum, and right parietal region. The case is presented to intensify the importance of CNS investigation even if the patient with miliary tuberculosis has no neurologic finding.     

Parkinsonism caused by cavernoma located in basal ganglion

Deep-seated cavernoma or cavernous angioma is a very rare clinical entity, as is basal ganglia cavernoma presenting with Parkinsonism. The authors demonstrate a 56-year-old man with a cavernoma located in basal ganglion, who subsequently developed Parkinsonism. The patient refused the surgical intervention, and received L-dopa trial; however, no change in the tremor and bradykinesia was observed in spite of high doses of L-dopa. Our case indicates that chronic compression and continuous hemorrhage could cause Parkinsonism, which is uncommon symptom of cavernous angioma.     

Antibody titers and immune response to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The objective of this study was to investigate the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and/or measles-mumps antibody titers before and after vaccination at various time points of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy and to suggest an appropriate vaccination approach for ALL patients. The authors studied 37 ALL patients and 14 healthy control subjects, divided into three groups. In group 1 (newly diagnosed patients), baseline anti-diphtheria, anti-tetanus, and anti-pertussis titers were determined. Patients in group 2 (on maintenance chemotherapy) and group 3 (patients not receiving therapy for 3-6 months) were vaccinated with diphtheria-tetanus with or without acellular pertussis; group 3 and control subjects were also given measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Preimmunization and 1-month postimmunization titers were drawn. Preimmunization anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers between the groups and the controls were statistically similar. The seropositivity rate for anti-measles antibody in group 3 was significantly lower than controls. After vaccination, all of the patients developed protective anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers. The seroconversion rates of group 3 and controls for anti-measles and anti-mumps antibodies were statistically similar. The results showed that patients on maintenance therapy and after cessation of therapy made good antibody responses to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, but response to measles and mumps vaccines was not as sufficient as toxoid vaccines. Children with ALL can receive the appropriate vaccines during and after maintenance treatment.