Alveolar echinococcosis localized in the liver, lung and brain

Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the ,larval forms of echinococci. It has two main forms as the unilocular cystic form that is more commonly seen and caused by E. granulosus and the alveolar form that is rarely seen and caused by E. multilocularis. E. multilocularis usually contaminates from foxes and sometimes contaminates from domestic animals as dogs and cats to humans and usually affects the liver. Progression of alveolar echinococcosis is more severe and agressive. It can metastise to the lungs, brain and bones. We present a case of alveolar echinococcosis that was initially thought to be a lymphomatous infiltration but then determined to infect the liver, lung and brain in a patient with a large T-cell lymphoma.     

Synthesis and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities of 1-thiocarbamoyl-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives

Ten new 1-thiocarbamoyl-3-(phenyl and/or 4-substituted phenyl)-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl and/or 2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives were synthesized by reacting 1,3-diphenylpropen-1-ones and thiosemicarbazide. The chemical structures of the compounds were verified by means of their IR, 1H-NMR, ESI-MS spectroscopic data and elementary analyses. All the compounds were investigated for their ability to selectively inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) by in-vitro tests. Monoamine oxidase was isolated and purified from the mitochondrial extracts of rat-liver homogenates and human platelets. Monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities of the compounds were compared with pargyline and clorgyline. Most of the compounds inhibited the total activity of rat liver homogenates. The monoamine oxidase-A inhibitory effects of 1-thiocarbamoyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole and 1-thiocarbamoyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-(2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole were detected as potent as clorgyline. Selective and irreversible inhibition of rat liver monoamine oxidase-A by synthesized compounds have promising features for designing the new selective monoamine oxidase A inhibitors as potent and reliable anti-depressants in the future.     

The effectiveness and reliability of posterior sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection in branch retinal vein occlusion-related macular edema

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and reliability of posterior sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide (PSTA) application in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)-related macular edema.

Methods: Patients with confirmed BRVO-related macular edema were enrolled in the study. Patients were injected with a single, therapeutic dose of 40?mg PSTA. Detailed ophthalmic examination was performed at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), cataractogenic change (CC) and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis results were evaluated. The results were compared statistically.

Results: Forty-one eyes of 41 patients with a mean age of 63.49?±?10.99 (55–86) years, 15 (36.6%) females, were included in the study. BCVA in LogMAR values at 1 and 3 months were significantly better than at baseline, while no significant difference from baseline was observed in sixth month values (p?<?0.001, p?<?0.001 and p?=?0.846, respectively). Central macular thickness values obtained using OCT were significantly lower at the first, third and sixth months compared to baseline (p?<?0.001 for all). IOP elevation was determined in only two eyes (4.8%) at the end of the study period, and no CC was detected in any case.

Conclusion: PSTA application is an effective and safe option in BRVO-related macular edema.     

Orexin and adiponectin in high fat diet–induced insulin resistance

Orexin A (OXA) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide with both central and peripheral activities on insulin signaling and energy balance. Adiponectin is an adipocytokine which regulates metabolisms of lipid and glucose via its receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. This study investigated immunohistochemical changes in expressions of OXA, its receptor OX1R in pancreas and AdipoR1 in skeletal muscle with a high fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR). Standard 45% fat and 60% fat diets were administered to Wistar rats for 3 and 8 w. OXA expression increased with both 3- and 8-w 45% fat diets. OX1R expression also increased with a 3-w 45% fat diet, but decreased with the 3-w 60% fat diet. OXA, OX1R, and AdipoR1 expressions decreased with a 8-w 60% fat diet. An early adaptation in context of OXA was observed in pancreas β-cell to HFD-induced IR. OXA, OX1R, and AdipoR1 expressions decreased with either the higher amount or longer duration of HFD consumption.     

Prognostic factors in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have treated with Atezolizumab

International Journal of Clinical Oncology - Atezolizumab (ATZ) has demonstrated antitumor activity and manageable safety in previous studies of patients with metastatic platinum-resistant...     

A biallelic ANTXR1 variant expands the anthrax toxin receptor associated phenotype to tooth agenesis

Tooth development is regulated by multiple genetic pathways, which ultimately drive the complex interactions between the oral epithelium and mesenchyme. Disruptions at any time point during this process may lead to failure of tooth development, also known as tooth agenesis (TA). TA is a common craniofacial abnormality in humans and represents the failure to develop one or more permanent teeth. Many genes and potentially subtle variants in these genes contribute to the TA phenotype. We report the clinical and genetic impact of a rare homozygous ANTXR1 variant (c.1312C>T), identified by whole exome sequencing (WES), in a consanguineous Turkish family with TA. Mutations in ANTXR1 have been associated with GAPO (growth retardation, alopecia, pseudoanodontia, and optic atrophy) syndrome and infantile hemangioma, however no clinical characteristics associated with these conditions were observed in our study family. We detected the expression of Antxr1 in oral and dental tissues of developing mouse embryos, further supporting a role for this gene in tooth development. Our findings implicate ANTXR1 as a candidate gene for isolated TA, suggest the involvement of specific hypomorphic alleles, and expand the previously known ANTXR1‐associated phenotypes.

     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in children

Background

We present our clinical experience with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in children.

Methods

Ten children who underwent CABG between July 1995 and August 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Data including congenital cardiac malformations, previous surgical procedures, age and sex, type of coronary complications, ischemic events preceding surgery, and ventricular function before and after CABG were recorded.

Results

The study population consisted of five males and five females with a median age of 2.5 years (range, 88 days to 15 years). Eight internal mammary arteries (IMAs) and two saphenous veins were used for grafting. Indications for bypass grafting were coronary artery (CA) complications related to the post‐arterial switch operation in six, CA complications during the Ross procedure in two, and an iatrogenic CA injury during complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot with abnormal CA, crossing the right ventricular outflow tract in two patients. Six of the grafts were performed as rescue procedures. Three patients died during hospitalization. The mean follow‐up time was 6.8 years (range, 3 months to 18 years). Anastomoses were evaluated by coronary angiography in four patients, and were all patent. Echocardiography revealed normal myocardial function in all patients.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the IMA should be the graft of choice in children due to its growth potential and long‐term patency.     

Vasorelaxant effect of iloprost on isolated human internal mammary artery

In this study, vasodilator effect of iloprost on KCl-induced contraction in human internal mammary artery (IMA) was studied and compared with other vasodilators papaverin and diltiazem. Ring segments of IMA were studied in organ baths for measurement of isometric tension. After the tissues has reached their baseline tension, precontraction was induced by 100 mm KCl and cumulative concentration-relaxation was measured by the application of iloprost (10(-9)-10(-6) m), papaverine (10(-5)-10(-4) m), diltiazem (10(-9)-10(-4) m) or ethanol; a solvent for iloprost; alone. The maximal relaxation of IMA segments to iloprost was 13.5 +/- 2.2%. Iloprost caused significantly limited relaxation when compared with papaverin (106.0 +/- 2.9%) and diltiazem (93.6 +/- 2.5%) (P < 0.001). Papaverin produced the greatest maximal relaxation to KCl-induced contraction of IMA. The potency of iloprost (-log EC(50) = 6.59 +/- 0.19) was significantly higher than those of papaverine (-log EC(50) = 4.21 +/- 0.11) and diltiazem (-log EC(50) = 5.63 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.001). In addition, -log EC(50) of diltiazem was significantly greater than papaverin (P < 0.001). Iloprost appears to be more potent than those of papaverine and diltiazem but it was inefficient in maximal inhibition on KCl-induced contraction. Iloprost may have little benefit in KCl-related vasoconstriction on human IMA segments.     

An evaluation of the protective effect of esomeprazole in an experimental model of renal ischemia–reperfusion

Purpose

The ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (IR) which occurs in partial nephrectomy used in the treatment of renal tumors causes loss of parenchyma in the damaged kidney. The aim of this study is to evaluate, both biochemically and histologically, the efficacy of esomeprazole in an ischemia–reperfusion model in rat kidneys.

Methods

The rats were randomized into three groups of seven animals each, referred to as the sham, control, and PPI groups. In the sham group, only a laparotomy was performed. In the control group, following laparotomy the left renal artery was dissected and tied for 30-min ischemia. In the PPI group, a vascular route to the tail vein was opened, and 10 mg/kg esomeprazole was administered. After 1 h, the same procedures described for the control group were performed. All the animals were killed 24 h after the procedure. Biochemical analyses were applied for evaluation of oxidant and antioxidant agents in the blood and left kidney of each subject (oxidative markers: malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase; antioxidant marker: superoxide dismutase). In the histological examination of the kidney tissues stained with hematoxylin–eosin, the TUNEL method was applied in the evaluation of apoptosis.

Results

No statistically significant biochemical difference was determined in the blood and tissue samples. In the histological and apoptosis evaluations, a statistically significant difference was determined between the sham, control, and PPI groups. The median (IQR) values of the TUNEL-positive cells were counted as 1.50 (4) in the sham group, 11.50 (12) in the control group, and 6.00 (9) in the PPI group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

A protective effect of esomeprazole was confirmed in renal ischemia–reperfusion damage created in an experimental rat model.