Investigation of tuberculosis prevalence by acid-fast stain,culture and real-time PCR method in forensic autopsies

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the most important diseases and causes of death in the world. We aimed to investigate TB prevalence in forensic autopsy cases in Turkey by the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining, TB culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods in paraffin-embedded tissues. From January 2012 to January 2015, 1676 tissue samples were examined under AFB staining and TB culture, and 85 paraffin-embedded tissue samples under RT-PCR from 14,083 prospectively-investigated forensic autopsy cases in the Istanbul Council of Forensic Medicine. Positivity with microbiological methods (AFB staining and/or TB culture and/or RT-PCR) was detected in 43 (0.3%) out of 73 (0.5%) cases in which TB was diagnosed with histopathological findings. Acid-fast bacilli were detected in 14 tissue samples by AFB staining, and a total of 11 tissue samples were found culture-positive in the Löwenstein-Jensen medium. Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was positive in 36 samples with RT-PCR. Eleven (15%) cases were detected as miliary tuberculosis. Microbiological sampling should accompany autopsy findings and histopathological sampling for post-mortem identification and notification of active TB during forensic autopsies. Diagnosis of TB in forensic autopsies would contribute to clarifying the cause of death and to the collection of epidemiological data in Turkey, particularly in ante-mortem undiagnosed cases.     

Passiflora incarnata Linneaus as an anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia

Purpose  

Patients who undergo regional anesthesia experience anxiety in the preoperative period. Passiflora incarnata Linneaus is a plant that has traditionally been used as an anxiolytic and sedative. We aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative oral administration of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus on anxiety, psychomotor functions, sedation, and hemodynamics in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia.     

Is Synchronous Bowel Anastomosis Safe ?

In this study, we investigated the effects of synchronous anastomosis on intestinal healing in experimental colonic resection. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups; control (group I), single anastomosis (group II) and synchronous (double) anastomosis (group III). Single and proximal anastomoses were located 3 cm distal to caecum, and distal anastomoses were done 3 cm distal to them. On the 7^th postoperative day, bursting pressure, hydroxy-proline level and histology of the anastomotic site were assessed. Bursting pressures and hydroxyproline levels indicated that impaired healing of proximal anastomoses in group III was evident. Proximal anastomoses in group III had the lowest hydroxyproline value and bursting pressure level. Significant fibrosis was observed in the histological examination of distal anastomoses in group III. Double colonic anastomoses is not as safe as single anastomoses and involves additional risk. The healing of proximal anastomosis is significantly altered after experimental synchronous resection.     

Ruxolitinib induces autophagy in chronic myeloid leukemia cells

Tumor Biology - Ruxolitinib is the first agent used in myelofibrosis treatment with its potent JAK2 inhibitory effect. In this novel study, we aimed to discover the anti-leukemic effect of...