Relationship between embryo quality and aneuploidies

Many high-grade embryos selected for transfer according to their morphological evaluation were detected to have chromosomal abnormalities after aneuploidy screening for infertility by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). The aim of this study was to detect if there is any correlation between embryo quality and genetic status. The chromosomal status of the day three embryos was studied by multicolour fluorescence in-situ hybridization for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. PGD was performed on 132 patients for 1107 embryos. The correlation between embryo quality and aneuploidy was analysed. The analysis showed that a large proportion of normal embryos (50.7%, n = 280) were grade I. In addition, a considerably high proportion of aneuploid embryos (36.1%, n = 83) were evaluated as grade I. There was a significant relationship between PGD results and embryo grades (P = 0.001). Of the 69 polyploid embryos, 21.7% were grade I and 37.8% were grade II. Of the 83 haploid embryos, 27.8% were grade I and 34.9% were grade II. Euploidy was positively related to morphological grade of embryo (P = 0.001). It was also possible for chromosomally abnormal embryos to have a good developmental potential, and they could be selected for embryo transfer unless the PGD procedure was applied.     

Effects of leptin and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms on lung cancer

Leptin (LEP), an adipocyte-derived cytokine, has been reported to participate in carcinogenesis. Elevated levels of systemic and pulmonary LEP are associated with diseases related to lung injury and lung cancer. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if the LEP and leptin receptor (LEPR) gene polymorphisms are associated with lung cancer in a cohort of Turkish population. One hundred and sixty-two lung cancer patients and 130 healthy controls were included in the study. The genotypes of LEP gene ?2548G?>?A and LEPR gene Q223R polymorphisms were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The genotype frequencies of LEP ?2548G?>?A polymorphism showed statistically significant differences between lung cancer patients and controls (p?=?0.007). GA?+?AA genotypes and A allele of LEP ?2548G?>?A polymorphism was found to be susceptibility factors for lung cancer (p?=?0.003, odds ratio (OR) 2.32, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.32–4.10; p?=?0.003, OR 1.65, 95 % CI 1.18–2.29, respectively). The genotype and allele frequencies of LEPR Q223R polymorphism did not show any statistically significant differences between lung cancer patients and controls (p?=?0.782 and p?=?0.762, respectively). Although AA–QQ and AA–QR combined genotypes of LEP ?2548G?>?A-LEPR Q223R loci were significantly higher in lung cancer patients (p?=?0.020 and p?=?0.047, respectively), GG–QQ, GG–QR, and AA–RR combined genotypes were significantly higher in control group. As a result, susceptibility effects of LEP ?2548G?>?A polymorphism alone or in combination with LEPR Q223R polymorphism on lung cancer were observed. Further studies are necessary to prove the association of LEP and LEPR gene polymorphisms with lung cancer.     

A retrospective comparison of concurrent 5-fluoro-uracil or oral UFT in postoperative chemoradiation for gastric adenocarsinoma

Purpose5-fluoro-uracil (FU) is a common agent in postoperative chemoradiation in gastric adenocarcinoma. However, FU is not well tolerated in a significant proportion of patients. UFT, a fixed combination of the oral FU prodrug tegafur with uracil, is one of the agents used instead of FU in such cases. We retrospectively compared the toxicity, local and distant control and survival rates with FU or oral UFT during concurrent radiotherapy to assess the role of UFT instead of FU.Patients and methodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of survival, disease control and toxicity data in 52 patients treated with postoperative chemoradiation following total or subtotal gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma with either FU or UFT between January 2003 and December 2004.ResultsMedian follow-up was 20 months (range: 3–59), median survival time was 23 (±6.08) months and 1–3 years overall survival (OS) rates were 64.9–39% for all patients. Compared with the UFT regimen, the incidence of treatment interruption was greater with FU (p = 0.023), but no significant differences were seen in local control (p = 0.40), distant recurrences (p = 0.83) and survival rates (p = 0.8657) among patients.ConclusionConcurrent UFT with radiotherapy seems to be a more tolerable and an equally effective regimen in the postoperative treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma when compared to FU.     

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of some new dioxolane derivatives

In this study, ten 2-acetylnaphthalene derivatives with a dioxolane structure were synthesized and screened for their anticonvulsant activities. Dioxolane derivatives were prepared by the reaction with appropriate ethanone, glycol and p-toluensulphonic acid. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by IR, 1H-NMR and elemental analysis. Anticonvulsant activities of the compounds were determined by maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test and subcutaneous metrazol (ScMet.) test. The rotarod toxicity test was used for the assessment of neurological deficits. According to the activity studies compound 6 was found neurotoxic, compounds, 1, 4, 5, 7-9 were found protective against MES and 7-10 were found protective against ScMet. Compounds 2 and 3 were found inactive.     

Skip Metastase on the Left Neck Lymph Nodes of the Prostatic Adenocarcinoma with Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Accompanying Thyroid Micropapillary Carcinoma

We discuss here the thyroid micropapillary carcinoma that was detected incidentally when investigating the primary focus of the left neck multiple lymph node metastases occurring 8 months later in a patient of ours, whose pathological examination of radical prostatectomy and bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection was reported to be pT3N0 and whole body scanning for metastases, was negative.     

The acute alterations in biochemistry, morphology, and contractility of rat-isolated terminal ileum via increased intra-abdominal pressure.

AIM AND SCOPE: To determine the acute effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on the biochemistry, morphology, and contractility of the isolated terminal ileum of rats. BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic procedures are used clinically in diagnostic and treatment modalities and experimentally as a model of ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by the elevation of IAP. Although some clinical and in vivo experimental studies investigate the results of ischemia-reperfusion injury whether induced by elevated IAP or clamping, there is no in vitro study that has investigated the acute effects of high IAP mimicked by a laparoscopic intervention in any of the intra-abdominal organs (like terminal ileum) on the basis of contractility which represents the motility. METHODS: Twenty-four adult with either sex Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The control group (Group I) was not subjected to any IAP. In Groups II and III, an IAP of 10 and 20 mmHg, respectively, was established by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum for a period of 60 min. Thirty minutes after the desufflation, the terminal ileum was removed for in vitro pharmacological investigation, measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) values, and histopathological examination. Statistical comparisons among groups were done using the Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis, with post hoc comparison performed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Tissue MDA value and the damage scores of mucosa and submucosa were significantly increased in both IAP groups. The smooth muscle layer was significantly damaged only in Group III. The contractions obtained by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were inhibited in both IAP groups, and the contractions to acetylcholine were inhibited in Group III when compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we can say that pneumoperitoneum induced IAP may inhibit contractile responses, cause structural alterations which may be related to ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat terminal ileum.     

Results of a novel surgical technique for iridodialysis repair using an iris retractor segment

International Ophthalmology - To describe a novel surgical technique for iridodialysis repair using an iris retractor segment and report its clinical results. Fifty-three eyes of 53 patients who...     

The efficacy of superior rectus recession with simultaneous inferior oblique disinsertion on superior oblique palsy with superior rectus contracture

Purpose: The information about superior rectus (SR) recession in cases with SR contracture coexisting with superior oblique palsy (SOP) is very limited in previous literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of SR recession, as a combined procedure with inferior oblique (IO) disinsertion, in long-standing SOP with secondary SR contracture.

Methods: The medical records of the 145 patients operated for SOP were retrospectively reviewed and 15 patients who underwent SR recession met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up was 50.4 months.

Results: The preoperative angle of deviation was within the range of 16–35 prism dioptres (PD) with a mean of 23.0 ± 5.03 PD. In all of the cases, SR recession was performed in combination with IO disinsertion. Adult patients (12) underwent adjustable SR recession. Postoperative overcorrection developed in 3 cases (20%), and in 12 patients, the postoperative vertical deviation was within the range of 0–5 PD with a mean of 1.41 ± 1.88 PD. The overcorrected three patients underwent botulinum toxin A (BTXA) injection into the ipsilateral inferior rectus muscle. The deviation is well controlled by BTXA injection in two patients, whereas the other one was considered as masked bilateral SOP and underwent IO disinsertion in the other eye.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that SR recession in combination with IO disinsertion is an effective procedure to control large vertical deviations in SOP with SR contracture in the majority of cases. However, the risk of overcorrection should be considered despite adjustable SR weakening and BTXA injection seems efficient to rescue overcorrections in long term.