Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury in rats

Extracts of propolis, a natural beehive product, have been known for centuries to have a variety of beneficial medical properties, among which their anti-inflammatory effect is a major one. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active propolis component, has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, carcinostatic and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of CAPE in endotoxin-induced lung injury in rats. Lung injury was induced by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the treatment group, 10 micromol kg(-1) CAPE was injected intraperitoneally immediately after LPS injection. At 24 h after LPS and/or CAPE injection, blood and lung tissue specimens were collected. MDA levels and MPO activity in serum and lung tissue, serum total antioxidant levels, lung tissue Na(+)/K(+) ATP-ase activity and histopathological evaluation were determined to assess the efficacy of CAPE treatment. CAPE was found to be efficient in reducing inflammation and lung tissue damage induced by LPS in rats.     

Henoch Schonlein purpura in childhood: clinical analysis of 254 cases over a 3-year period

We aimed to evaluate the patients who were diagnosed as Henoch Schonlein purpura (HSP) for disease characteristics and prognosis of those with joint, gastrointestinal (GI), and renal involvement. Two hundred and fifty-four children who were followed up with the diagnosis of HSP in the Pediatric Nephrology Clinics of Meram Medical Faculty of Selcuk University and Medical Faculty of Gazi University between January 2003 and June 2006 were retrospectively evaluated. The clinical follow-up and treatment regimens of patients in whom renal biopsy was performed were evaluated in detail. The study group consisted of 254 children, 147 boys (57.8%) and 107 girls (42.2%), and the ratio of boys to girls was 1.37. The percentages of skin, joint, GI, and renal manifestations were 100%, 66%, 56%, and 30%, respectively. Eight patients had intussusception. Five of them recovered with steroid treatment only while three patients were operated on. Sixty-four patients (44%) with GI involvement had severe disease and were successfully treated with steroids. Renal biopsy was performed in 26 patients. Among those 26 patients, two of them recovered spontaneously within 3 and 4 weeks. Ten patients improved with only steroid treatment while 12 patients recovered with steroid and cyclophosphamide treatment. Two patients were resistant to steroid and cyclophosphamide treatment and were treated with cyclosporine A. We believe that steroid therapy given to the HSP patients with GI manifestations might be helpful to prevent probable complications such as GI bleeding and intussusception. In addition, combined therapy with steroid and cyclophosphamide can usually be an appropriate treatment for patients with nephrotic proteinuria.     

The spectrum of diseases causing fever of unknown origin in Turkey: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this trial was to determine the spectrum of diseases with fever of unknown origin (FUO) in Turkey. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study of 154 patients with FUO in twelve Turkish tertiary-care hospitals was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 42+/-17 years (range 17-75). Fifty-three (34.4%) had infectious diseases (ID), 47 (30.5%) had non-infectious inflammatory diseases (NIID), 22 (14.3%) had malignant diseases (MD), and eight (5.2%) had miscellaneous diseases (Mi). In 24 (15.6%) of the cases, the reason for high fever could not be determined despite intensive efforts. The most common ID etiologies were tuberculosis (13.6%) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (3.2%). Adult Still's disease was the most common NIID (13.6%) and hematological malignancy was the most common MD (7.8%). In patients with NIID, the mean duration of reaching a definite diagnosis (37+/-23 days) was significantly longer compared to the patients with ID (25+/-12 days) (p=0.007). In patients with MD, the mean duration of fever (51+/-35 days) was longer compared to patients with ID (37+/-38 days) (p=0.052). CONCLUSIONS: Although infection remains the most common cause of FUO, with the highest percentage for tuberculosis, non-infectious etiologies seem to have increased when compared with previous studies.     

Cesarean techniques in cases with one previous cesarean delivery: comparison of modified Misgav-Ladach and Pfannenstiel–Kerr

Aim  

To compare the effectiveness of the Pfannenstiel–Kerr method (PKM) or modified Misgav-Ladach method (MMLM) in previous cesarean sections (C/Ss).     

Pelvimetric Dimensions do not Impact upon Nerve Sparing or Erectile Function Recovery in Patients Undergoing Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

IntroductionThe impact of unfavorable pelvic anatomy on the likelihood of having a nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and the potential correlation between pelvic dimensions and recovery of erectile function (EF) after RRP have not been previously evaluated.AimTo determine the impact of different pelvic bony and soft tissue dimensions as well as apical prostate depth on the likelihood of performing bilateral nerve sparing and on recovery of EF after RP.MethodsBetween November 2001 and June 2007, 644 potent men undergoing RRP had preoperative MRI where pelvimetry was performed with bilateral nerve sparing in 504 men. Outcomes including varying degrees of recovery of EF (level 1: normal; level 2: partial erections routinely sufficient for intercourse; level 3: partial erections occasionally sufficient for intercourse) were assessed. Median follow‐up was 44.1 (interquartile range: 29.2, 65.3) months. We evaluated independent predictors of performing a bilateral nerve sparing procedure and of recovery of EF using multivariable Cox proportional hazards methods.Main Outcome MeasuresLikelihood of performing bilateral nerve sparing as well as recovery of EF after RRP.ResultsPatients with higher clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score are less likely to undergo bilateral nerve sparing. Surgeon is also a factor in the likelihood of having bilateral nerve sparing RRP. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, factors predictive of recovery of EF were age, pretreatment erectile function, surgeon, and modified Charlson score. None of the pelvimetric dimensions were significant predictors of any degree of recovery of EF. However, the study is limited by its retrospective nature and by being based on MRI evaluations useful for cancer staging rather than anatomical evaluation of pelvimetric dimensions.ConclusionsWe did not find unfavorable pelvic anatomy to impact the likelihood of performing a nerve sparing procedure or to be predictive of any degree of recovery of EF after RRP. von Bodman C, Matikainen MP, Favaretto RL, Matsushita K, Mulhall JP, Eastham JA, Scardino PT, Akin O, and Rabban F. Pelvimetric dimensions do not impact upon nerve sparing or erectile function recovery in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.     

Effect of different light sources in combination with a light‐transmitting post on the degree of conversion of resin composite at different depths of simulated root canals

Abstract – Aim: ;The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) of composite resin at different depths of simulated immature root canals using light‐transmitting plastic post (LTPP) and three different light sources. Methodology: ;Composite resin was packed into 60 black plastic cylinders 12 mm in length with 4 mm internal diameters to simulate immature root canals. LTPPs were inserted into half of the simulated canals and the other half acted as controls. Both the simulated canals with LTPPs and the controls were divided into three groups of 10, and each group was cured using either a quartz–tungsten–halogen (QTH), light‐emitting diode (LED), or plasma arc (PAC) curing unit. Specimens were sectioned in three horizontally 24 h after curing to represent cervical, middle, and apical levels. DC for each section of composite resin was measured using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, and data were analyzed using three‐way anova and Tukey tests. Results: ;At the cervical level, no significant differences were found between specimens cured using different light sources or between specimens with and without LTPPs (P > 0.05). However, DC was significantly higher in specimens with LTPPs than in those without LTPPs at both the middle and apical levels (P < 0.05). The mean DC of all specimens with LTPPs was significantly higher than that of specimens without LTPPs (P < 0.05). PAC unit showed lower DC than QTH and LED units at both the middle and apical levels; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: ;The results of this study suggest that the use of a LTPP increased the DC of composite resin at the middle and apical levels of simulated immature root canals, but that DC was independent of type of light source.     

Quantitative evaluation of right ventricle function by transthoracic echocardiography in childhood congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension

Introduction and Objective: The present study aims to quantitatively evaluate the right ventricle (RV) function by means of transthoracic echocardiography in normal children and childhood congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in a cohort including 40 healthy children and 30 pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension who were diagnosed under close surveillance at the study center between October 2009 and November 2010. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the patient and control groups for the right ventricle myocardial performance index (RVMPI), the left ventricle myocardial performance index (LVMPI), the tricuspid valve systolic flow velocity (Ts), the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery pressure to the right ventricle outflow tract systolic flow velocity time integral (sPAP/RVOT VTI), and the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery pressure to right ventricle outflow tract systolic flow velocity time integral × heart rate (sPAP/[RVOT VTI×HR]). When the children were divided into three groups based on their pulmonary vascular resistance significant differences emerged that predicted an increasing severity of RV dysfunction. Significant differences were also observed for the RVMPI, the LVMPI, and the Ts as well as for echocardiographic pulmonary flow (Qp) and systemic flow (Qs). Discussion: The present study demonstrates that echocardiographic parameters can be used for the quantitative detection of RV dysfunction in childhood congenital heart disease patients with high pulmonary artery pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean) or pulmonary vascular resistance.     

The effects ofN-acetylcysteine on oxidative stress in organophosphate poisoning model

Organophosphate compounds act by irreversible inhibition of cholinesterase. In addition to their muscarinic, nicotinic, and central nervous system effects, some organophosphate insecticides cause oxidative stress by increasing lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes and by increasing levels of the enzymes Superoxide dismutase and catalase. In this study, the effects of an antioxidant,N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in organophosphate poisoning were investigated. After obtaining Animal Ethics Committee approval, 16 male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups. Following anesthesia, rats were tracheostomized and mechanically ventilated. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring was begun and all rats were injected with 70 mg/kg of dichlorvos (DDVP) intraperitoneally. The rats in group 1 received placebo intravenous 0.9% NaCl and the rats in group 2 received 150 mg/kg intravenous NAC. Blood samples were obtained before injection of DDVP and 60 minutes after injection to determine levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Hemodynamic data and biochemistry test results were compared by analysis of variance and Wilcoxon test.P< .05 was regarded as statistically significant. Superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in group 1 while no difference was observed in group 2. It was concluded that organophosphate compounds might cause oxidative stress by interfering with antioxidant defense mechanisms in erythrocytes and that NAC might prevent increased lipid peroxidation. In addition to classic treatments, drugs with antioxidant effects might therefore be promising in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning.