The mechanisms of peroxynitrite-induced relaxations in isolated rat anococcygeus muscle

We have previously reported that peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) caused relaxations on isolated rat anococcygeus muscle and in the present study the possible mechanisms of the relaxant effect were investigated. ONOO(-) (0.03- 1.0 mmol/l)-induced relaxations were reduced significantly by the presence of an ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(+)(ATP) channel) blocker, glibenclamide (0.3 micromol/l), or 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-alpha)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) (30.0 micromol/l), a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. However, 3-aminobenzamide (3.0 mmol/l), an inhibitor of poly(ADP- ribose)synthase, did not influence the relaxant effect of ONOO(-) (1.0 mmol/l). Results of the present study implicate that activation of K(+)(ATP) channels and/or cGMP/K(+)(ATP) channel interaction might play a role in the relaxant responses to ONOO(-) in isolated rat anococcygeus muscle.     

Embolization of uterine artery in terminal stage cervical cancers

Ligation of the hypogastric artery has been a standard and effective procedure in controlling massive bleeding in advanced cervical carcinoma. The authors wanted to demonstrate the selective use of embolization of hypogastric or uterine artery to achieve the same end result--the stoppage of vaginal bleeding. In a number of cases, surgical approach may not be appropriate either because of the critically ill patient or because of the highly deformed pelvic anatomy due to radiotherapy or to the recurrence of cancerous tissue. As an alternative therapy, we used selective embolization of the uterine artery in eight patients. In all the patients, embolization served to control bleeding. As the bleeding was brought under control, a gradual recovery of the patient was generally observed. The most common side-effect was temporary severe pain related to ischemia of tumoral tissue. Embolization may be regarded as an effective procedure, which can be used to control massive bleeding in selected cervical cancer patients.     

Hypoglycemia after albuterol overdose in a pediatric patient

Albuterol overdose can lead to tachycardia, hypotension, tremor, hypokalemia, and hyperglycemia in children. Hypoglycemia had been previously reported in only one child. We describe a 3-year-old boy who ingested high-dose albuterol in this report. On arrival to the emergency department, the child was agitated and had noticeable restlessness, sinus tachycardia, mild hypokalemia (3.2 mEq/L), and hyperglycemia (187 mg/dL). Activated charcoal and intravenous hydration were given, and electrocardiogram monitoring was performed. Sinus tachycardia resolved within 4 to 6 hours. Hypoglycemia (45 mg/dL) was identified 4 hours after admission. The child recovered uneventfully within 24 hours with glucose replacement. This case suggests that hypoglycemia could be a late complication of acute albuterol overdose; thus, the period of observation should be extended in these cases.     

Solitary eosinophilic granuloma of sternum

Primary bone tumors of the chest wall are uncommon, although a wide variety of both benign and malignant tumors arise within the chest wall. Among those tumors, sternal tumors are rare and usually malignant. We report an extremely rare case of eosinophilic granuloma developed in the sternum in a 30-year-old woman. She presented anterior chest pain and somewhat tender mass over the sternum. Chest roentgenogram, computed tomography scanning of the thorax, and total body bone scintigraphy revealed an isolated lytic lesion in the corpus sterni. A tru-cut biopsy of the mass exhibited the typical histologic appearance of eosinophilic granuloma. The solitary lesion was removed completely surgically. This rare condition should be kept in mind in differential diagnosis of sternal lesions.     

The importance of genomic copy number changes in the prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme

Glial tumors are the most common tumors of the nervous system, affecting individuals at any age. Since understanding of the molecular pathologies underlying human gliomas is still very poor, the treatment and therefore prognosis of this malignancy could not yet be improved. In order to determine whether different glioblastoma-associated genomic aberrations may serve as prognostic markers in combination with histopathological findings, 20 primary glioblastoma multiforme tumors were screened by comparative genomic hybridization, and the results were compared with histopathological and clinical features. All tumors showed genomic copy aberrations detected by comparative genomic hybridization. Regional and numerical increases in chromosome 7 copy number were the most frequently seen abnormality (10/20 tumors), followed by loss of chromosome 10 (8/20). Both of these aberrations were associated with shorter surveillance time. Chromosome 12q amplification was detected in seven tumors. Loss of 17p, 1p, and 19q in combination was seen in three cases. One of them was a giant cell GBM, whereas the remaining two cases were still alive. Combination of chromosome 1p and 19q deletions was also seen in a case with long surveillance. According to the preliminary findings of this study, in addition to the EGFR gene, amplification of other genes on chromosome 7 and the deletion of PTEN gene and other cancer-related genes on chromosome 10 appeared important to the development of glioblastoma multiforme and were associated with poor prognosis, whereas the combination of chromosome 1p and 19q deletions seems to be an informative molecular marker for better prognosis. The clinical features and genetic alterations of primary and secondary glioblastoma multiforme should be compared in large series to clarify the effective prognostic markers; and further molecular analyses focused on chromosomes 7 and 10 will be very helpful for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of glioblastoma.     

Effect of different pharmacologic and chemical agents on the integrity of hydatid cyst membranes

OBJECTIVE: We performed an in vitro investigation of the effects of widely used scolicidal and sclerosing agents, as well as some pharmacologic products, on the integrity of the membrane of hydatid cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two milliliters each of 22 agents, 2 mL of clear fluid, and one piece of hydatid cyst membrane were put into bottles. The hydatid cyst membranes were evaluated by visual observation and manual palpation. Visual examination of the bottles was performed daily for 7 days, and observations of membrane changes, including translucency, destruction, swelling, and melting, were recorded. Manual evaluation was done on the seventh day by finger examination, and membrane fragility was scored. RESULTS: The hydatid cyst membrane was completely melted in a few minutes in a 2.5% solution of sodium hypochlorite and in 1 hr by a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. The integrity of the hydatid cyst membrane was preserved in alcohol, acetone, glutaraldehyde, albendazole, acetylsalicylic acid, formaldehyde, lidocaine, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, pancreatin, Betadine, methylene blue, and isotonic saline samples. The membranes in the metronidazole and hypertonic saline solutions were not damaged but showed significantly increased fragility. The membranes in levamisole and piperazine hexahydrate became translucent and showed moderate fragility. CONCLUSION: None of the agents that are used in clinical practice had important effects on the dissolution of hydatid cyst membranes. However, sodium hypochlorite solutions completely melted the hydatid cyst membranes. Because the use of this agent on living tissue is limited, further study is needed to investigate its clinical use.     

Letrozole-induced polycystic ovaries in the rat: a new model for cystic ovarian disease

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to develop a new animal model for the study of polycystic ovaries by using the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole. METHODS: Thirty four rats were divided into four groups, including a control group of 10 rats that received vehicle only (1% aqueous solution of carboxmethlycellulose [CMC]) once daily orally (p.o.) and three treatment groups of eight rats each that were administered letrozole at concentrations of 0.1 or 0.5 or 1 mg/kg p.o. dissolved in 1% CMC (2 mL/kg) once daily. The treatment period was 21 days. During this period, vaginal smears were collected daily for estrus cycle determination. On the day subsequent to last letrozole dose administration, rats were killed; uteri and ovaries were then excised and weighed. Serum hormone levels and histologic changes in ovaries were examined. RESULTS: When compared to control group, ovaries from study groups showed high incidence of subcapsular ovarian cyst and capsular thickening together with incomplete luteinization and decreased number of corpora lutea. Letrozole treatment brought about dose-dependent suppression of uterine weight despite having no significant effect on ovarian weight. Although serum estradiol and progesterone levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner, testosterone levels were elevated as were levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were markedly increased at higher doses of letrozole (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg), contrary to low dose of letrozole (0.1 mg/kg) at which slight decrease was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that this is not a fully convincing model for the study of polycystic ovaries or of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a whole, this animal model in several ways is similar to the human polycystic ovary syndrome.     

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Morgagni Hernia: Report of Three Cases

Morgagni hernia is a rare congenital disorder, which is usually asymptomatic, but may cause respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. We reviewed the clinical findings of three patients with a Morgagni hernia, diagnosed and treated in our department between 1997 and 2000. The Morgagni hernia caused various symptoms in all three patients and surgery was performed via posterolateral thoracotomy in two, and via laparatomy in one. The hernial defect was closed by primary suturing in two patients and by synthetic mesh in one. All three patients had an uneventful postoperative recovery. We believe that the transthoracic approach is an effective way of repairing Morgagni hernia. Received: October 19, 2001 / Accepted: July 2, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Reprint requests to: I.C. Kurkcuoglu, Ataturk Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Gogus Cerrahisi ABD, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey