BHK cell attachment and growth on EDA-plasma-modified poly(L-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone) biodegradable films

In this study, attachment and growth of Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells on ethylene diamine (EDA)-plasma-treated poly(L-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone) biodegradable copolymer films were investigated. The co-polymer (Mw: 58000; Mn: 35000 and PI 1.60) was synthesised by ring-opening polymerization of the respective dimers with using stannous octoate as the catalyst. The final ratio of L-lactide to epsilon-caprolactone obtained by 1H-NMR was 87:13. The co-polymer films were treated with the EDA-plasma in a glow-discharge apparatus. The BHK-30 cell line was cultured on plain and EDA-plasma-treated films and their pre-wetted forms (with ethanol and/or cell culture medium before use). Cell attachment and growth were followed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and glucose uptake in cell culture medium were also investigated. There was no attachment in the first 12 h. Glow-discharge treatment increased significantly the attachment and growth. Pre-wetting with ethanol and cell culture medium was also increase significantly both the attachment and growth.     

Cardiac metastasis of great saphenous vein leiomyosarcoma

We present a case with cardiac metastasis of the great saphenous vein leiomyosarcoma (LMS) that presented to the emergency department with dyspnea and palpitations 2 months ago. In this patient, hemodynamic instability was caused by an extensive right ventricular cavity and outflow tract invasion of the LMS. Treatment of the patient included incomplete mass resection, adjuvant chemotherapy, and permanent pacemaker implantation (due to postoperative complete atrio-ventricular block).     

Design and synthesis of novel organometallic complexes using boronated phenylalanine derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Drug design and discovery studies are important because of the prevalence of diseases without available medical cures. New anticancer agents are particularly urgent because of the high mortality rate associated with cancer. A series of mononuclear gold (III) and platinum (II) complexes based on boronated phenylalanine (BPA) were designed and synthesized using 4,4’-dimethyl-2,2’-dipyridyl (L1) or 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dion (L2) ligands to obtain promising anticancer drug candidates. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses were utilized for chemical characterizations. Cell viability, cancer cell colony formation, endothelial tube formation, and cytoskeleton staining assays were performed using A549 lung adenocarcinoma and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate preliminary pharmacological activities. L1-based platinum (II) complex (BPA-L1-Pt) was the most promising complex, and has similar activity with the approved chemotherapy drug cis-platinum. Half maximal inhibitory concentration values for BPA-L1-Pt were 9.15 µM on A549s and 16.61 µM on HUVECs; the values for cis-platinum were 5.24 µM on A549s and 23.14 µM on HUVECs. Consequently, further synthesis studies should be performed to boost the cancer cell selectivity feature of BPA by varying metal and ligand types.     

Effects of honey as a scolicidal agent on the hepatobiliary system

AIM： To examine the effects of 10% diluted honey, which has been shown to be scolicidal, on the liver and biliary system and determine whether it could be used as a scolicidal agent in the presence of biliary-cystic communication. METHODS： Thirty Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups. Honey with 10% dilution in the study group and 0.9% saline （NaCI） in the control group were injected into the common bile ducts of rats through a 3-mm duodenotomy. The animals were sacrificed 6 mo alter the procedure. Histopathological, biochemical, and radiological examinations were performed for evaluation of side effects. RESULTS： At the end of the sixth month, liver function tests were found to be normal in both groups. The tissue samples of liver and ductus choledochus of the honey group showed no histomorphologic difference from the control group. No stricture on the biliary tree was detected on the retrograde cholangiograms. CONCLUSION： According to these results, we concluded that 10% diluted honey could be used as scolicidal agent safely in the presence of biliary-cystic communication.     

Change in amputation predictors in diabetic foot disease: effect of multidisciplinary approach

Diabetic foot disease causes important morbidity in diabetic population, and amputation due to diabetic foot disease occurs more often than in general population. We have been evaluating patients with diabetic foot disease in a multidisciplinary approach since year 2000. In the current study, we sought to investigate the change in amputation rate and its predictors in diabetic foot with a multidisciplinary team approach. Seventy-four patients (52 male, 22 female) hospitalised between January 2002 and December 2007 were retrospectively analysed. Sixteen out of 74 have undergone amputation. We found overall amputation rate as 21.6%, which is lower than previously reported from our institution (36.7 and 39.4%, respectively). Major amputations (syme, below-knee, above-knee) were applied to 11 patients (14.9%). A logistic regression model including osteomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, gangrene and age revealed that gangrene is now the only significant predictor for amputation. Our observations confirm that amputation rate has declined after implementation of a multidisciplinary team work, and risk factors apart from presence of gangrene are no longer amputation predictors in our centre.     

Pulmonary artery aneurysms in Behçet’s disease

Behçet’s disease is the most common cause of pulmonary artery aneurysms. Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare, but they are life-threatening because of their high tendency to rupture. However, there is also a chance that the aneurysms may completely resolve with immunosuppressive therapy. A 30-year-old man was admitted with chest pain, painful oral and genital ulcers, skin rash, weakness, and intermittent hemoptysis. He had a history of Behçet’s disease for 6 years. The chest radiography showed a round opacity superior part of hilus on right. The helical thoracic computed tomography (CT) angiography demonstrated pulmonary aneurysms associated with Behçet’s disease. The patient was successfully treated with colchicine, corticosteroids, and cyclophosphamide. A discussion about pulmonary artery aneurysms associated with Behçet’s disease is provided in this case.     

Sensorineural hearing loss in neurobrucellosis

Neurobrucellosis (NB) is a rare clinical presentation of brucellosis. This form is hard to diagnose because of a lack of definite diagnostic criteria, and its treatment is also hard. The clinical spectrum may cover a span between non-specific neurological symptoms to a severe meningoencephalitis. We report 3 patients with NB, whose main complaint was sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) who were followed up at our hospital for 3 years. We diagnosed NB by positive CSF cultures in 2 patients and by a positive brucella IgG agglutination titer in blood and CSF in the third. Sensorineural hearing loss is a rare complication of NB, which has not attracted enough attention among known manifestations. Neurologists and otologists should be aware of this symptom as a probable clinical presentation of brucellosis.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new macrocyclic ligand and its copper (II), cadmium (II), and lead (II) complexes: genotoxic activity of these complexes in cultured human lymphocytes

A new macrocyclic ligand 1,1'-bis(bis-(6,6'-oxymethylenyl-2,2'-bipyridine) binaphthyl, (L), and its complexes CuL(ClO4)2, CuL(NO3)(2).3H2O, CdL(ClO4)2, and PbL(ClO4)2 have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FAB mass, and elemental analyses. Genotoxicity of these metal complexes has also been investigated by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay in cultured human lymphocytes. Blood cultures were set up from two healthy donors, and treatment was done with different test concentrations for 24 and 48 h. The current results indicate that all compounds caused cytotoxicity by decreasing the cell number at the 150 microg/mL doses for 48-h treatments. On the other hand, CuL(ClO4)2, CuL(NO3)(2).3H2O and PbL(ClO4)2 exhibited genotoxicity by inducing the number of micronucleated cells at doses of 150 microg/mL for 24-h treatments, but CdL(ClO4)2 did not significantly alter micronucleus induction. Hence, some test compounds may act as mutagens or produce clastogenic effects depending upon their chemical structures.     

Hepatitis A seroprevalence among infants aged 12 months in Ankara

Seroprevalence studies in various age groups contribute to a better understanding of hepatitis A infection and response to hepatitis A immunization. Hepatitis A seroprevalence in 12-month-old infants from Ankara was studied. Among 601 healthy infants, overall hepatitis A seropositivity was found to be 23.5%. There were no gender differences in seropositivity (22.6% for male and 24.5% for female infants). Although vaccination of infants would be an ideal prevention strategy, presence of maternal anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody interferes with the immune response to hepatitis A vaccine in infants and young children. Therefore, further knowledge about decay of maternal antibody in infants is important in determining the optimal age for vaccination against hepatitis A. There is no recommendation for routine hepatitis A vaccination in Turkey. However, we need more seroprevalence studies in different age groups to decide the appropriate timing/age of vaccination.