Left atrial free floating ball thrombus in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case report.

In this article we reported a 33-year-old female patient who was referred to our emergency department with atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and cardiogenic shock. In her transthoracic echocardiography, a free-floating ball-type mass was seen in the left atrial cavity with a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. An emergency open-heart surgery was performed. The mass was removed, and pathologic examination confirmed the thrombotic material.     

The effect of atorvastatin on platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Lipid-lowering therapy was shown to have several beneficial effects in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). AIM: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on platelet aggregation in patients with CAD. METHODS: Twenty-five hypercholesterolaemic patients who had angiographically proven CAD and 16 normal subjects were enrolled. All patients received 10 mg/day atorvastatin for two months. Anti-platelet agents were discontinued 15 days prior to blood sampling at the beginning and at the end of the atorvastatin therapy. Aggregometric curves of the platelets in response to ADP, collagen and epinephrine were obtained using the aggregometry (turbidimetric) technique. RESULTS: In patients with CAD, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) basal levels were measured (230 +/- 49 mg/dl, 140 +/- 41 mg/dl, respectively). Following lipid-lowering therapy, TC and LDL-C decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The activation measurements of aggregometric curves decreased significantly compared with basal parameters in response to ADP but not in response to collagen and epinephrine. CONCLUSION: Lipid-lowering therapy with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, had a marked reduction effect on platelet aggregation.     

Comparison of two routes in nasal passage for transnasale flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Present study compares two routes in nasal passage for transnasal flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (TNFFL). Included in the study were 60 patients who...     

Hypothyroidism due to hepatic hemangioendothelioma: a case report

Although hemangioendothelioma (HHE) is a commonly encountered hepatic tumor during infancy, HHE−related hypothyroidism is rare. We present a patient who developed HHE−related hypothyroidism during the neonatal period and showed marked improvement in hypothyroidism by regression of HHE. A 28−day−old boy with TSH level of 77 mIU/mL on neonatal screening and diagnosed as congenital hypothyroidism was started on L−thyroxine (L−T4) (11 μg/kg/day) therapy on the 21^th day of life. On physical examination, the liver was palpable 5 cm below the right costal margin, and the thyroid gland was nonpalpable. Thyroid ultrasonography was normal. Although L−T4 dose was increased to 15 μg/kg/day, TSH was not suppressed and free T3 level remained low. HHE in both lobes of the liver was detected by abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment was started with prednisolone 2 mg/kg/day and alpha−interferon 3 million U/m²/3 times per week. Thyroid dysfunction was thought to be due to type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase activity expressed by HHE. L−T4 therapy was changed to Bitiron^® tablet, which includes both T4 and T3, and euthyroidism was attained within 1 month. Thyroid hormone requirement was reduced and treatment was discontinued after regression of the HHE. At the most recent visit, the patient was 21 months old and off treatment. His growth and neurological development were normal for age and he was euthyroid. HHE should be considered in cases with severe hypothyroidism resistant to high−dose thyroid hormone replacement. The treatment of HHE in combination with T4 and T3 therapy results in euthyroidism.Conflict of interest:None declared.     

Hypochondroplasia in a Child with 1620C>G (Asn540Lys) Mutation in FGFR3

Hypochondroplasia (HCP) is an autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia characterized by short extremities, short stature and lumbar lordosis, usually exhibiting a phenotype similar to but milder than achondroplasia (ACP). Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3) mutations in the germline are well-known causes of skeletal syndromes. FGFR3 is a negative regulator of bone growth and all mutations in FGFR3 are gain-of-function mutations that lead to skeletal dysplasias. We report a child who presented with short stature, a relatively long trunk, short legs, short arm span, radiographic evidence of HCP and mild mental retardation. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous 1620C>G (Asn540Lys) mutation in FGFR3. To our knowledge, ours is the first case report of HCP with a heterozygous 1620C>G (Asn540Lys) mutation in Turkey.Conflict of interest:None declared.     

Chronic toxicity of pesticides to the mRNA expression levels of metallothioneins and cytochrome P450 1A genes in rainbow trout

The hazardous effects of pesticides on various metabolic pathways are a great problem for environmental health and should be well determined. In the present study, the authors treated rainbow trout with 0.6 μg/L deltamethrin for 28 days and 1.6 mg/L 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate for 21 days. After this time period, the authors observed alterations in mRNA expression levels of MT-A, MT-B and CYP-1A. Chronic exposure to low levels of pesticides may have a more significant effect on fish populations than acute poisoning. While both pesticides caused a significant increase on mRNA levels of MT-A and CYP-1A, MT-B mRNA levels were increased significantly only upon deltamethin administration. The significant increase in mRNA levels of the corresponding genes may be considered as a defence mechanism in addition to the antioxidants against oxidative stress, as well as a detoxification mechanism against adverse effects of pesticides.