The Effects of PPARgamma Agonist Rosiglitazone on Neointimal Hyperplasia in Rabbit Carotid Anastomosis Model

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Neointimal hyperplasia involving smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation is an important component of atherosclerosis. It develops as a response to vascular injury after balloon angioplasty and vascular graft placement. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) induce SMC proliferation, migration and contribute to intimal hyperplasia by degrading ECM. PPARgamma agonists inhibit SMC proliferation, migration and lesion formation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone on neointimal hyperplasia and gelatinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) expressions in rabbit carotid anastomosis model. Method: New Zealand white rabbits (n=13, 2.7-3.2 kg) were divided into placebo and treatment groups. Right carotid artery (CA) was transected and both ends were anastomosed. Treatment group (n=6) received rosiglitazone (3mg/kg/day/p.o.) and placebo group (n=7) received PBS (phosphate buffered saline, 2.5ml/kg/day/p.o.) for 4 weeks postoperatively. After the sacrification, right and left CAs were isolated. Morphometric analyses and immunohistochemical examinations for gelatinases were performed. Results: Intimal area (0.055+/-0.005 control vs 0.291+/-0.020 um2 anastomosed, p<0,05) and index (0.117+/-0.002 control vs 0.574+/-0.013 anastomosed, p<0,01) significantly increased in anastomosed arteries compared to control arteries from placebo group. However, in rosiglitazone-treated group, intimal area (0.291+/-0.020 PBS vs 0.143+/-0.027 rosiglitazone, p<0,05) and index (0.574+/-0.013 PBS vs 0.263+/-0.0078 rosiglitazone, p<0,01) significantly decreased. Furthermore, gelatinase immunopositivity was found to have significantly increased in anastomosed arteries from placebo group and decreased with rosiglitazone treatment. Conclusion: These results suggest that rosiglitazone may prevent neointimal hyperplasia, which is the most important factor involved in late graft failure, by inhibiting gelatinase enzyme expression.     

A review of the anatomy and clinical significance of adrenal veins

The adrenal veins may present with a multitude of anatomical variants, which surgeons must be aware of when performing adrenalectomies. The adrenal veins originate during the formation of the prerenal inferior vena cava (IVC) and are remnants of the caudal portion of the subcardinal veins, cranial to the subcardinal sinus in the embryo. The many communications between the posterior cardinal, supracardinal, and subcardinal veins of the primordial venous system provide an explanation for the variable anatomy. Most commonly, one central vein drains each adrenal gland. The long left adrenal vein joins the inferior phrenic vein and drains into the left renal vein, while the short right adrenal vein drains immediately into the IVC. Multiple variations exist bilaterally and may pose the risk of surgical complications. Due to the potential for collaterals and accessory adrenal vessels, great caution must be taken during an adrenalectomy. Adrenal venous sampling, the gold standard in diagnosing primary hyperaldosteronism, also requires the clinician to have a thorough knowledge of the adrenal vein anatomy to avoid iatrogenic injury. The adrenal vein acts as an important conduit in portosystemic shunts, thus the nature of the anatomy and hypercoagulable states pose the risk of thrombosis. Clin. Anat. 27:1253–1263, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anatomical relationship and positions of the lumbar and sacral segments of the spinal cord according to the vertebral bodies and the spinal roots

Segments of the spinal cord generally do not correspond to the respective vertebral level and there are many anatomical variations in terms of the segment and the level of vertebra. The aim of this study is to investigate the variations and levels of lumbar and sacral spinal cord segments with reference to the axilla of the T11, T12, and L1 spinal nerve roots and adjacent vertebrae. Morphometric measurements were made on 16 formalin fixed adult cadaveric spinal cords. We observed termination of the spinal cord between the axilla of the L1 and L2 spinal nerve roots in 15 specimens (93.8%). In all cadavers the emergence of the T11, T12, and the L1 spinal nerve roots was at the level of the lower one‐third of the same vertebral body. In 15 specimens (93.8%), the beginning of the lumbar spinal cord segment was found to be above the T11 spinal nerve root axilla and corresponded to the upper one‐third of the T11 vertebral body. The beginning of the sacral spinal cord segment occurred above the L1 spinal nerve root axilla and corresponded to the upper one‐third of the L1 vertebral body. The results of this study showed that when the conus medullaris is located at the L1–L2 level, the beginning of the lumbar spinal cord segment always corresponds to the body of T11 vertebra. This study provides detailed information about the correspondence of the spinal cord segments with reference to the axilla of the spinal nerve roots. Clin. Anat. 27:227–233, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Determination of ethyl glucuronide in human hair by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a direct metabolite of ethanol and has been utilized as a marker for alcohol intake. This study presents development, validation and application of a new hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC–MS/MS) method for the analysis of EtG in human hair samples. The linearity was assessed in the range of 5–2000 pg/mg hair, with a correlation coefficient of >0.99. The method was selective and sensitive, with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.05 pg/mg and 0.18 pg/mg in hair, respectively. Differently from the extraction procedures in the literature, a fast and simple liquid–liquid method was used and highest recoveries and cleanest extracts were obtained.The method was successfully applied to 30 human hair samples which were taken from those who state they consume alcohol. EtG concentrations in the hair samples of alcohol users participated in this study, ranged between 1.34 and 82.73 pg/mg. From the concentration of EtG in hair strands 20 of the 30 subjects can be considered regular moderate drinkers.