Protective effects of erythropoietin against acute lung injury in a rat model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis

AIM： TO investigate the effect of exogenous erythro- poietin （EPO） administration on acute lung injury （ALI） in an experimental model of sodium taurodeoxycholate- induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis （ANP）. METHODS： Forty-seven male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 7 groups： sham group （n = 5）, 3 ANP groups （n = 7 each） and 3 EPO groups （n = 7 each）. ANP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurodeoxycholate into the common bile duct. Rats in EPO groups received 1000 U/kg intramuscular EPO immediately after induction of ANP. Rats in ANP groups were given 1 mL normal saline instead. All animals were sacrificed at postoperative 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Serum arnilase, IL-2, IL-6 and lung tissue malondialdehyde （MDA） were measured. Pleural effusion volume and lung/body weight （LW/BW） ratios were calculated. Tissue levels of TNF-a, IL-2 and IL-6 were screened immunohistochemically. Additionally, ox-LDL accumulation was assessed with immune-fluorescent staining. Histopathological alterations in the lungs were also scored.RESULTS： The mean pleural effusion volume, calculated LW/BW ratio, serum IL-6 and lung tissue MDA levels were significantly lower in EPO groups than in ANP groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in either serum or tissue values of IL-2 among the groups. The level of tumor necrosis factor-（~ （TNF-（~） and IL-6 and accumulation of ox-LDL were evident in the lung tissues of ANP groups when compared to EPO groups, particularly at 72 h. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the improvement in lung injury parameters a~er exogenous EPO administration, particularly at 48 h and 72 h. CONCLUSION： EPO administration leads to a significant decrease in ALI parameters by inhibiting polymorphonuclear leukocyte （PMNL） accumulation, decreasing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in circulation, preserving microvascular endothelial cell integrity and reducing oxidative stress-associated lipid peroxidation and therefore     

Systemic and myocardial inflammation in traditional and off-pump cardiac surgery

In this study, we attempted to determine the role of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the myocardial and systemic inflammatory responses. Twenty patients who underwent elective CABG were enrolled in this study. Ten patients underwent on-pump CABG, and 10 patients underwent off-pump CABG. There were no differences between patients in preoperative clinical variables. We took systemic venous blood samples for the measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I, and we took myocardial biopsies from the interventricular septum for chemiluminescence assay of reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, and superoxide). There was no significant difference in the myocardial tissue release of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl, hypochlorite, and superoxide between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the off-pump group were significantly lower than in the on-pump group (P <0.01). The cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB levels at 6, 12, and 24 postoperative hours were not statistically different between the 2 groups (P >0.05). We conclude that off-pump CABG appears to reduce systemic inflammation, without reducing myocardial oxidative stress and inflammation.     

Can multidetector row CT visualize the right and left inferior phrenic artery in a population without disease of the liver?

Purpose  

To determine the ability to visualize the origin of the right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA) and the left inferior phrenic artery (LIPA) by multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) in a population without disease of the liver.     

Aplasia cutis congenita of the scalp, skull and dura associated with Adams-Oliver syndrome

A 1-day-old boy with the characteristics of Adams-Oliver syndrome was presented. Adams-Oliver syndrome has a wide spectrum of anomalies ranging from aplasia cutis congenita, cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita and transverse limb defects to lethal anomalies. Our patient had aplasia cutis congenita with scalp, skull and dura defect. He had also a large dura defect with herniation of brain tissue. Besides these he had bilateral clubfoot, cortical fissure and nail hypoplasia in the hands, scrotal hyperpigmentation and generalized cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. He was operated on the 3rd day of life. The herniated brain tissue was resected and the dura was repaired with a synthetic dural graft.     

Combination of radiotherapy with EGFR antagonists for head and neck carcinoma

The introduction of biologically sound radiation fractionation regimens and combinations of radiotherapy with chemotherapy have gradually improved both the survival of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the prospect of organ preservation. Long-term follow-up, however, has shown that some of the radiation–chemotherapy combinations are associated with increased late toxicity. This observation, in conjunction with advances in tumor biology, has led to the launch of investigations into molecular markers and targets for therapeutic interventions. Research on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated signaling pathway has enriched our understanding of the biology of HNSCC, in terms of carcinogenesis and cellular processes governing tumor response to therapy. The finding that the addition of an antibody-based inhibitor of the EGFR pathway to radiotherapy significantly improves locoregional control and overall survival rates in patients with locally advanced HNSCC, without increasing radiation-induced toxicity, has resulted in the growing acceptance of such combined regimens as a frontline therapy option for locally advanced HNSCC. Because such therapy has benefited only an additional 10%-15% of patients, studies are being undertaken to identify markers and mechanisms of resistance to EGFR antagonists that are essential for the further refinement of therapy. Overall, preclinical and clinical studies on EGFR have validated the concept that selective tumor radiation sensitization can be achieved by modulating a specific perturbed signaling pathway, and these studies have increased the enthusiasm for developing and investigating other novel agents targeting other cellular processes. Dr. L. Milas has received research funding from Imclone Systems Inc. and Sanofi-Aventis. Dr. K.K. Ang has served on Advisory Boards of AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Imclone Systems Inc., and Sanofi-Aventis.     

Relation of neuroendocrine cells to transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in gastric adenocarcinomas: Prognostic implications

The presence of neuroendocrine (NE) cells in gastric adenocarcinoma (GCa) is well documented, however, their significance is controversial. There is no evidence in the literature concerning the possible effect of these cells on the expression of TGF-a and EGFR, which are believed to confer growth advantage to tumor cells. 101 partial or total gastrectomy specimens from patients operated for conventional gastric adenocarcinoma were included in the study. In each case immunohistochemistry was performed on sequential tissue sections for chromogranin A (ChrA), TGF-a and EGFR. Samples were graded based on the number of ChrA-positive cells (0–3). TGF-a and EGFR expressions were evaluated according to both the intensity (0–2) and quantification of the positively stained areas (0–3). Follow-up data was available in 54 patients. Twenty-seven patients died of disease, while 27 patients were alive with a follow-up of at least 15 months. ChrA expression was detected in 54.4% of the tumor specimens. TGF-a was stained positively in 42.6% and EGFR in 49.5% of the cases. NE cells in GCa was related to TGF-a (p<0.0001) and EGFR expression (p<0.05), and TGF-a/EGFR coexpression (p<0.001). Among histopathologic variables, the presence of NE cells was significantly related to grade, stage and lymph node status. Although the presence of NE cells had no effect on survival, the expression of EGFR (p<0.0001) and TGF-a (p=0.002) were related to survival. The results of our study suggest that the presence of NE cells may have an effect on the expression of TGF-a and EGFR in GCa, and the autocrine mechanism between TGF-α and EGFR plays an important role in the prognosis of gastric carcinoma. This work was supported by the Marmara University Research Committee     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morganella morganii</Emphasis>-associated arthritis in a diabetic patient

This case report involves a 60-year-old diabetic man who developed septic arthritis as a result of the pathogen Morganella morganii. The patient had complaints of elevated body temperature, malaise, rigors and pain in the left knee, despite no history of trauma. On examination of the knee, erythema, warmth, tenderness and swelling was observed. Arthrocentesis performed on his left knee indicated the presence of straw-coloured, cloudy fluid without crystals. Bacterial identification based on biochemical and automated methods indicated the growth of M morganii. M morganii was also isolated sedimentafrom the exudate of a diabetic ulcer in the left foot, with antibiotic susceptibilities identical to those from the knee effusion. This case indicates that M morganii may be considered as a possible cause of septic arthritis in diabetic patients, especially those with diabetic foot infections.