Assessment of the Relationship Between Ulcerative Colitis and Forkhead Box P3 Polymorphisms

BackgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that does not have a definitive treatment and causes repetitive inflammation of the colon and impaired quality of life. The FOXP3 gene codes FOXP3 protein responsible for the development and function of regulatory T (Treg) cells. The rs2232365 A/G and the rs3761548 A/C polymorphisms of the FOXP3 gene were indicated to be associated with inflammation-related diseases such as UC. The effectiveness of Treg cells, which act as immune-suppressors in the control of inflammation, can be affected by these polymorphisms. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between these polymorphisms with UC.MethodsThe current study researched the FOXP3 gene polymorphisms in 146 patients with UC and in 292 healthy individuals by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultsThe patients with rs2232365 G allele had a 1.44-fold higher UC risk than patients carrying other alleles (P = .013), and had significantly a 2.56-fold higher risk for the extent of UC (P = .001). Contrary, rs3761548 polymorphism did not reach statistically significant in any analysis.ConclusionThis is the first study to reveal the relationship of the rs2232365 and the rs3761548 polymorphisms with UC in the Caucasian population. The rs2232365 has an important effect on the risk of UC. The current study suggests that these polymorphisms should be explored together with the FOXP3 expression and FOXP3⁺ Treg cell count in blood and colon tissue of UC patients to clarify the exact effect of FOXP3 polymorphisms on UC risk.     

Hyperfunctioning Parathyroid Cysts: a Case Report

Parathyroid cysts are infrequent lesions of which most are non-functional. They are often misdiagnosed as thyroid cysts. Pre-operative diagnosis and differentiation from thyroid cysts is generally difficult. We hereby report a case that was admitted to the emergency room and was diagnosed as hypercalcemic crisis. The mass found during the neck examination was thought to be a thyroid nodule. A right total and left subtotal thyroidectomy was performed. Palpable thyroid nodule was diagnosed as cystic parathyroid adenoma postoperatively. When a cystic lesion is found in the neck of a patient, a pararthyroid cyst should be considered.     

Does the complication rate increase in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis?

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has replaced open cholecystectomy for the treatment of gallbladder disease. Despite the well-accepted success of LC in chronic cholecystitis, the efficacy of this technique has been subject to some debate in acute cholecystitis (AC). This study was designed to evaluate our institution's experience with LC for AC and chronic symptomatic calculous cholecystitis (CC), based on complication and conversion rates to open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 1158 patients with LC from September 1991 to December 2001 were analyzed. The parameters of age, gender, early and late complication rates, and conversion rates from LC to open cholecystectomy were compared in patients with AC and CC. RESULTS: During the study period, LC was performed in 1158 patients. Of these, 162 patients had AC (group 1) and 996 patients had CC (group 2). The conversion rates were 4.3% (7/162) in group 1 and 2.4% (24/996) in group 2. The complication rates were not significantly different (5.6% in group 1, 5.1% in group 2, P > 0.05). Difficulty in dissection around Calot's triangle and obscure anatomy were the main reasons for conversion to conventional open surgery. The mortality rate was 1.2% in group 1 and 0.01% in group 2. CONCLUSION: LC appears to be a reliable, safe, and effective treatment modality for AC and CC. The surgical approach should be performed carefully because of the spectrum of potential hazards of the laparoscopic procedure. Conversion and complication rates are similar in both AC and CC groups, and improve as surgeons gain experience.     

Co-existence of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors with Malign Epithelial Tumors: a Report of Two Cases

Aim: To emphasize the importance of a detailed observation for incidental simultaneous tumoral masses during surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) at any location in the gastrointestinal system. Case presentations: Case 1: a 39 years old female patient with an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and a synchronous small intestinal GIST discovered incidentally during esophagectomy.

Case 2: a 73 years old female patient with a gastric GIST and a synchronous colorectal cancer detected incidentally during gastrectomy. In both cases, immunohistochemical examinations of the resected specimens confirmed the coexistences of GISTs and epithelial malignancies.

Conclusion: The coexistences of GISTs with epithelial tumors have been increasing in recent years. In any case of a GIST or gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, the surgeon should be alert to recognize a possible coexistent tumor with different histological origin.     

Circulating adhesion molecules in sera of asthmatic children before and after steroid therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate respiratory function tests, total eosinophil counts, serum immune globulin E (IgE), and serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM) 1, and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) levels in the children with mild and/or moderate asthma before and 3 months after inhaled steroids and to determine whether adhesion molecule levels showed any difference between asthmatic and healthy children and whether these levels changed with disease activity. A total of 28 children with bronchial asthma and 24 children as a control group were included in the study. All of the patients in the study group were administered inhaled budesonide treatment. The patients were reevaluated 3 months later. Respiratory functions tests were performed and total eosinophil count and serum total IgE level were determined. Serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sP-selectin were determined and skin-prick tests were performed. Significant difference paralleled to clinical improvement was found in the study group for respiratory function tests, total eosinophil count, serum IgE level, and sICAM-1 levels determined before and after the treatment. However, no significant difference was found for sP-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels before and after the treatment. The higher level of sICAM-1 before the treatment suggests that leukocyte-endothelial adhesion have a role in bronchial asthma, which is an inflammatory airway disease. Reduction in the level of sICAM-1 after the treatment may be related to the decreased inflammation in response to therapy. However, no strong relationships were found between the determinants representing the inflammation and respiratory function tests.     

Psoas abscess twenty-one years after ipsilateral nephrectomy

We report an unusual case of psoas abscess,which developed twenty-one years afteripsilateral nephrectomy and was caused byinfrequent pathogen, Proteus mirabilis.It was diagnosed by computed tomography andwas drained percutaneously with a nephrostomytube guided by ultrasonography.     

Lenz microphthalmia syndrome with dental anomalies: a case report

This report describes the dental management and 7-year follow-up of a 14-year-old boy who showed the typical characteristics of Lenz microphthalmia syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple abnormalities. The main features of the syndrome are microphthalmia, developmental retardation, ear abnormalities, microcephaly, skeletal, digital and urogenital anomalies. The dental anomalies include micrognathia, hypodontia, agenesis of permanent teeth, conic-shaped incisors, and taurodontic molars. The purpose of the report was to document specific oral manifestations and dental anomalies and their management associated with a previously reported case.