Effects of Cyclosporin A on Neurological Outcome and Serum Biomarkers in the Same Setting of Spinal Cord Ischemia Model

Spinal cord ischemic injury is one of the feared complications during aortic cross-clamping. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cyclosporin A (CsA) has a protective effect on spinal cord during ischemia in a rabbit model. A total of 22 New Zealand white rabbits were studied in three groups. One of the groups served as a sham group (n = 7), in which only laparatomy was performed and closed. One group served as a control group (n = 7), in which rabbits had their abdominal aortas cross-clamped for 40 min following median laparatomy. The last group was the CsA group (n = 8), in which rabbits underwent the same procedure as the control group as well as CsA infusion at 20 mg/(kg · hr) over 60 min starting with aortic cross-clamping and continuing in the first 20 min of reperfusion. Neurological outcome of rabbits was evaluated according to Johnson’s scale at postoperative hours 24 and 48 in all groups, and then they were killed. Their spinal cords were harvested, and segments corresponding to L4-L6 were prepared for pathological examination. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured prior to and following aortic occlusion, and comparisons were made. Physiological data were similar in all groups. Rabbits in the sham group did not have any neurological deficit. However, all rabbits in the control group showed severe neurological deficits, including total paraplegia in five. According to Johnson’s scale, neurological status of the rabbits at postoperative hour 48 was better in the CsA group compared to controls (p < 0.01). Pathological examination of spinal cord specimens revealed a higher viability index in the CsA group compared to controls (p < 0.01). Serum NSE and NO levels were lower in CsA-treated animals compared to controls. Our results demonstrate that CsA, when administered during ischemia and in the early period of reperfusion, may reduce neuronal damage in the spinal cord in a rabbit model of transient spinal cord ischemia.This study was presented at the Fourth European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery/The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Joint Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, September 24-28, 2005.     

Familial nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: Successful treatment with CHOP plus rituximab

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare tumor type distinct from classical Hodgkin lymphoma and its familial form is unusual. The two cases (mother at age 48 and son at age 30 years) of NLPHL in advanced clinical stage are described. The patients were successfully treated with an immunochemotherapy schedule consisting CHOP plus rituximab (CHOP-R). This chemotherapy was well tolerated and the patients reached complete remission. These remissions were for 34 and 40 months for mother and son, respectively. In patients with NLPHL, CHOP-R regimen should be used as an alternative treatment regimen to obtain a good long-lasting response without any adverse events.     

Post-operative sequential chemo-radiotherapy in high-grade cerebral gliomas with fotemustine

High-grade gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. Twenty-seven patients with histopathologically proven anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme were enrolled in this study from November 1998 to August 2002. Radiotherapy was administered after surgery and fotemustine (100 mg/m2) was sequentially administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Overall, 111 cycles were administered to the 27 patients (median, 5 cycles; range, 1 to 6 cycles). Myelosuppression was mild to moderate. The median overall survival and progression free survival were 11+/-3.1 months (95%CI, 4.9-17.1) and 8+/-0.5 months (95%CI 7.1-8.9), respectively. One-year and two-year survivals were calculated at 48% and 7%, respectively. Significant prognostic factors (P<0.05) via univariate analysis were divided into two groups: completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy versus incompletion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy. This trial demonstrates that postoperative radiotherapy and sequential fotemustine therapy is feasible, well tolerated, and may prolong survival in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.     

Comparison of three different sit and reach tests for measurement of hamstring flexibility in female university students

BACKGROUND: The sit and reach test is the most common flexibility test used in health related fitness test batteries. OBJECTIVE: To examine and compare three different sit and reach tests as a measure of hamstring flexibility in 102 female students. METHOD: The traditional sit and reach test, the chair sit and reach test, the back saver sit and reach test, and passive straight leg raise were administered in three trials to all 102 students (mean (SD) age 22 (1) years) on the same day. RESULTS: A Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was significant (p<0.01) for the traditional sit and reach test with back saver sit and reach test and flexibility of hamstrings (r = 0.45 and 0.65 for left and right legs, and 0.63 and 0.53 for left and right legs respectively). Also, the back saver sit and reach test for the left (p<0.01) and right (p<0.05) leg was significantly associated with hamstring flexibility (r = 0.37 and 0.25 for the left leg and 0.50 and 0.44 for the right leg respectively). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the back saver sit and reach test produces reasonably accurate and stable measures of hamstring flexibility. Moreover, it appears that this test is a safe and acceptable alternative to the traditional and chair sit and reach tests as a measure of hamstring flexibility in young women.     

Should parents be present during screening examinations for retinopathy of prematurity?

Purpose:To investigate whether parents should be present during screening examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by investigating the anxiety levels of parents using two different approaches.Methods:This cross-sectional and two-center study was carried out with the parents at the time of the first ROP screening examination of their premature infants. At one center, the parents accompanied the infants during the ROP examination (Group 1), and in the other center, they did not (Group 2). Anxiety levels were assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which consists of the State Anxiety (STAI-S) and Trait Anxiety (STAI-T) subscales and a visual analog scale (VAS).Results:A total of 147 parents of 127 infants were included in the study. STAI-T and -S levels were 40.5 ± 8 and 37.9 ± 7.5, respectively, in Group 1 and 39.6 ± 8.1 and 39.4 ± 9.1 in Group 2 before the examination. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of these values between the two groups (P > 0.05). The state anxiety levels increased by an average of 1.7 ± 8 in Group 1 and reached 39.6 ± 10.1 after the examination. In Group 2, these levels decreased by an average of − 2.7 ± 7.5 points to a score of 36.4 ± 10.3. This difference was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.001). A similar pattern was observed in the evaluation of the VAS data.Conclusion:As a preliminary opinion, it may be more appropriate for parents to not participate in screening examinations, but single-center controlled studies are required to confirm the results.     

Can pycnogenol prevent cisplatin-induced damage in uterus and ovaries?

IntroductionCisplatin is an antineoplastic agent, which is thought to act on tissues with increased levels of reactive oxygen species and decreased levels of antioxidants. Pycnogenol is a potent antioxidant that is used in medical conditions caused by oxidative stress. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the effects of pycnogenol on cisplatin-induced uterine and ovarian damage in rats.Material and methodsWistar albino female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups before the experiment as follows: a 2.5 mg/kg cisplatin group (CG; n = 10), a 40 mg/kg pycnogenol + 2.5 mg/kg cisplatin group (PCG; n = 10), and a healthy control group (HG; n = 10). Then, the ovaries and uteri of the rats were examined to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) biochemical levels and the histopathological findings.ResultsOur study demonstrated that, in uterine and ovarian tissues of rats administered with cisplatin, there was a decrease in the levels of tGSH and SOD, while MDA was increased; however, it was observed that these ratios were reversed in the PCG group (p < 0.05). The number of follicles in the ovarian tissues was examined in all 3 groups. When the CG group was compared with the other two groups, the number of primordial, developing and atretic follicles was low, but there was no difference in the corpus luteum count.ConclusionsPycnogenol pretreatment alleviates cisplatin-induced uterine and ovarian injury in rats because of its antioxidative effect.     

The role of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs intramuscular injection in the development and severity of deep soft tissue infection in mice

The aim of this study was to determine the role of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID) injection on the severity of local infection and the effect on the progression of soft tissue infection (STI).The mouse model of STI with Group A streptococcus (GAS) was developed and treated with diclofenac sodium (DS) intramuscularly. Mice were divided into five groups: administered DS for 48 h before GAS (Group 1), GAS‐DS and maintained DS for 48 h (Group 2), DS for 48 h (Group 3), GAS on zero time (Group 4), and control (Group 5). In vitro, a high concentration (40 mg/L) of DS inhibited GAS growth, whereas a lower concentration (0.4 mg/L) was not effective. Sepsis was observed in animals with DS and GAS inoculation (group 1 and 2). Group 4 had statistically significant higher bacterial load than groups 1 and 2. All groups had a higher inflammation rate than the control group. The median of TNF‐alpha and mean IL‐6 in the groups 1, 2, and 4 was significantly higher than those in the control group. Even if the animals that were treated with DS injection prior to the GAS inoculation had similar inflammation score, similar cytokine levels and low bacterial load in the tissue, they had a rather high rate of sepsis. In conclusion, DS injection prior to bacterial inoculation might predispose to bacteremia and sepsis.     

Effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound in adhesive capsulitis

ObjectiveThere is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound (US) compared with placebo US in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. This study was performed to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic US in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis.MethodsForty-nine patients with adhesive capsulitis were randomized to US (n = 25) and sham US (n = 24) groups. Superficial heat and an exercise program were given to both groups. Ultrasound was applied to US group and imitative ultrasound was applied to sham US group for 2 weeks. Shoulder range of motion (ROM), pain and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) were assessed at the beginning, after treatment and after 3 months (control). Short Form-36 (SF-36) was applied for assessing general health status at the beginning and after 3 months. Compliance with the home exercise program was recorded daily on a chart for 3 months.ResultsShoulder ROM, pain with motion, two subscales and total score of SPADI and physical component summary score of SF-36 were improved significantly in both groups after the treatment and after 3 months (p < 0.0001). Improvements in flexion, inner and outer rotation values were significantly higher in the US group when we compared the differences between post- and pre-treatment values of shoulder ROM. The differences between control and pre-treatment values of inner and outer rotation were also significantly higher in the US group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.02 respectively). No significant difference was detected in pain, SPADI and SF-36 scores between groups. The exercise compliance was significantly higher in the sham US group (p = 0.04).ConclusionOur results suggest that US compared with sham US gives no relevant benefit in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. Effectiveness of US might be masked by worse pre-treatment values of the US group and higher exercise compliance of the sham US group.     

Influence of preoperative coronary collateral circulation on in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with intra-aortic balloon pump support

Background Outcomes in patients requiring coronary artery bypass graft （CABG） surgery have been improved with devices such as the intra-aortic balloon pump （IABP）.Good coronary collateral circulation （CCC） has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with coronary artery disease （CAD）.We aimed to investigate whether poor preoperative CCC grade is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in CABG surgery requiring IABP support.Methods Fifty-five consecutive patients who were undergoing isolated first time on-pump CABG surgery with IABP support were enrolled into this study and CCC of those patients was evaluated.Results Twenty-seven patients had poor CCC and 28 patients had good CCC.In-hospital mortality rate in poor CCC group was significantly higher than good CCC group （14 （50％） vs.4 （13％）,P=0.013）.Preoperative hemoglobin level （OR：0.752; 95％ CI,0.571-0.991,P=0.043）,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （OR：6.731; 95％ CI,1.159-39.085,P=0.034） and poor CCC grade （OR：5.750; 95％ CI,1.575-20.986,P=0.008） were associated with post-CABG in-hospital mortality.Poor CCC grade （OR：4.853; 95％ CI,1.124-20.952,P=0.034） and preoperative hemoglobin level （OR：0.624; 95％ CI,0.476-0.954,P=0.026） were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality after CABG.Conclusion Preoperative poor CCC and hemoglobin are predictors of in-hospital mortality after CABG with IABP support.