Microvascular and functional changes according to the fundus location of the affected arteriovenous crossing in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion

Purpose:The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural and functional changes occurring in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) according to the distance of the affected arteriovenous (AV) crossing to the centers of the fovea and optic disc by optic coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods:Forty-five patients with unilateral BRVO and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this retrospective observational study. Images of the macula (3 mm × 3 mm) and affected AV crossing sites were obtained by OCTA. The fovea-AV crossing distance (FAVD), optic disc-AV crossing distance (DAVD), and optic disc-fovea distance (DFD) were measured.Results:The FAVD/DFD ratio was positively correlated with the vessel density in the superficial and deep affected hemifields (r = 0.430, P < 0.05 and r = 0.308, P < 0.05, respectively) and negatively correlated with the superficial foveal avascular zone and logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (r = –0.412, P < 0.05 and r = –0.356, P < 0.05, respectively). The DAVD/DFD ratio was not correlated with the logMAR visual acuity, superficial FAZ area or vessel densities in the affected hemifield (all P > 0.05).Conclusion:The affected AV crossing site that was further away from the fovea had better visual acuity and quantitative microvascular parameters in the affected hemifields. However, this correlation was not observed for the distance between the affected AV crossing site and the optic disc.     

Lymph Node Ratio May Be Supplementary to TNM Nodal Classification in Node-positive Breast Carcinoma Based on the Results of 2,151 Patients

Background

The aim of the present study was to determine how lymph node ratio (LNR; the ratio of the number of metastatic lymph nodes to the number of removed lymph nodes) can supplement the TNM nodal classification in breast carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the file records of 2,151 patients.

Results

Lymph node ratio-based low- (LNR ≤ 0.20), intermediate- (LNR 0.21–0.65), and high-risk (LNR > 0.65) patient groups had significantly different disease-free survival (DFS) (P < 0.001). The DFS of patients with N1, N2, and N3 disease was significantly different (P < 0.001). When LNR and TNM nodal groupings were included together in the Cox analysis, both groupings had independent prognostic significance (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The most significant LNR threshold value separating patients in low-risk and high-risk groups in terms of disease recurrence was 0.20 for N1 disease (P < 0.001), 0.35 for N2 disease (P < 0.001), and 0.90 for N3 disease (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Lymph node ratio and TNM nodal groupings show no superiority over each other in categorizing patients with node-positive breast carcinoma into prognostic groups of low-, intermediate-, and high-risk. However, LNR grouping may supplement TNM nodal classification by categorizing patients within each TNM nodal group into low-risk and high-risk groups with significantly different survival.     

Higher Incidence of Cholelithiasis in Chronic Renal Failure Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Background. In this study, we endeavored to determine whether the incidence of cholelithiasis (CL) was increased in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism on a peritoneal dialysis (PD) program. We also evaluated the factors that might have some influence on the development of CL. Methods. A total of 59 CRF patients undergoing PD were included in the study. We studied the following groups to determine whether parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were increased in CRF-PD patients: twenty patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (group 1) and 39 patients with normal PTH levels (group 2). PTH levels were maintained at three times the upper limit of normal. Biochemical parameters were obtained for each CRF-PD patient. All patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography to screen for the presence of cholelithiasis. For statistical analysis, χ², t test, and logistic regression analysis were used; p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results. We found an almost ten times higher incidence (25% vs. 2.6%) of CL in group 1 patients with statistical significance (p = 0.007). When the incidence of CL according to sex, creatinine, and PTH levels were considered, female gender, creatinine, and PTH levels were higher in group 1, which was also significant statistically. No significant relationship was detected between gallbladder stone formation and the other analyzed biochemical parameters. Conclusions. We found that the incidence of CL in CRF-PD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism was higher than CRF-PD patients with normal PTH levels. It was also detected that female gender, high creatinine levels, and elevated PTH levels might influence the development of CL in CRF-PD patients.     

Schwann cell-derived exosomes: Janus-faced mediators of regeneration and disease

The phenotypic plasticity of Schwann cells (SCs) has contributed to the regenerative potential of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), but also pathological processes. This double-sided effect has led to an increasing attention to the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) or exosomes in SCs to examine the intercellular communication between SCs and their surroundings. Here, we first describe the current knowledge of SC and EV biology, which forms the basis for the updates on advances in SC-derived exosomes research. We seek to explore in-depth the exosome-mediated molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of SCs and their microenvironment. This review concludes with potential applications of SC-derived exosomes as delivery vehicles for therapeutics and biomarkers. The goal of this review is to emphasize the crucial role of SC-derived exosomes in the functional integration of the PNS, highlighting an emerging area in which there is much to explore and re-explore.     

Restless legs syndrome affecting the head region: “restless head syndrome”

Neurological Sciences - Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a well-established disease that has recently been shown to have variants affecting the arms, face, abdomen, and genital area. To our...     

Histopathological and Biochemical Effects of Ecballium elaterium on Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Ecballium elaterium (EE) on sepsis-induced lung injury. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 male rats were divided into three groups as follows: control, sepsis, and treatment groups (sepsis + EE) with each group containing 10 rats. A rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used. In the treatment group, rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg EE after CLP. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values after a 24-hr period were measured via cardiac puncture. Animals were harvested after the procedure and biochemical analysis was done and histopathological changes of the tissue sections of lungs were examined thereafter. Results: A statistically significant decrease was observed in the IL-6 (p < .05), TNF-α (p < .05), and TOS (p < .01) levels in the sera of the treatment group compared to those of the sepsis group. Following the treatment, the TOS (p = .01) and OSI (p < .05) levels in the lung tissue of rats indicated a statistically significant decrease compared to those of the sepsis group. The histopathological follow-up undertaken after the administration of the EE treatment to septic rats showed significantly lower values of alveolar wall thickness (p < .001), interstitial edema (p = .018), and neutrophil infiltration (p = .047). Conclusion: EE treatment may have beneficial effects on sepsis-induced lung injury, and therefore has potential for clinical use.     

mTOR expression in human testicular seminoma

The mammalian target of rapamycin (TOR) has been implicated in the control of different stressors, growth factors, nutrients and hormones, participating in the control of key cellular functions. Controlling this many pathways poses mTOR signalling as a potential new target in new treatment strategies for multiple cancer types. mTOR components could potentially mislocated in tumour cells, which could lead to activation of signalling pathway that should not be active. Therefore, we aimed to show localisation of mTOR signal proteins in testicular seminoma. Tumoural testicular tissues were obtained from 10 patients with unilateral classic seminoma undergoing to therapeutic orchidectomy and compared with control human testicular tissues. Upon immunohistochemical evaluation, we detected mTOR and p‐mTOR (serine 2448), P70S6K, p‐P70S6K, PKCalpha and p‐PKCalpha, CD36 and MAPLC3 proteins in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. We also showed cytoplasmic perinuclear staining in seminoma cells. This study demonstrated the interaction of mTOR signalling pathway and testicular seminoma by showing intense cytoplasmic mTOR pathway proteins immunoreactivity in the seminoma, for the first time in humans. Therefore, we suggested that mTOR signalling components could create new clinical targets for treatment of testicular seminoma patients and male infertility in the future.