Nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Aims:  Nitric oxide (NO) attenuates many functions within the kidney, and all NO synthase (NOS) isoforms are constitutively expressed in the kidney. But the exact role of NO in renal diseases is still debatable. The aim of the present study was to investigate endothelial ( eNOS ), and neuronal ( nNOS ) NOS gene polymorphisms in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS).
Materials and methods:  Eighty-six Turkish children with clinical MCNS, ranging in age from 2 to 10 years, were compared with 114 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. The glu 298 Asp (G/T) polymorphism of the eNOS, and C276T (C/T) polymorphism of nNOS genes were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction.
Results:  The distribution of GG, TG, and TT genotypes for eNOS was 52%, 33% and 15% in MCNS compared with 61%, 26% and 13% in the controls ( P  > 0.05). The distribution of CC, TC, and TT genotypes for nNOS was 16%, 66% and 18% in MCNS compared with 10%, 43% and 47% in the controls. TT genotype distribution of nNOS was found to be lower in patients ( P  = 0.003). The eNOS and nNOS gene polymorphisms were not associated with gender, positive family history, frequency of relapses, or response to steroid.
Conclusions:  The present study is the first to investigate eNOS and nNOS gene polymorphisms in children with MCNS. The nNOS gene polymorphism may be associated with MCNS in children, but further studies in a larger population with different glomerular diseases are needed to confirm the results.     

The effects of piroxicam to the muscosal barrier of the bladder after overdistension – an experimental study in rabbits

The effects of piroxicam on the duration and severity of damage to the mucosal barrier of the urinary bladder after overdistension was investigated.Overdistension of the bladder was induced for 3 h in 16 New Zealand male rabbits by giving Ringer's lactate infusion (40 ml/kg/h) and furosemide (1 mg/kg) to the peritoneal cavity. Insertion of 8 Fr Foley catheter was used for obstruction of the bladder neck. In both control (C) and piroxicam (P) groups, 20 mL of 2% solution of Trypan blue in 0.9% NaCl solution was instilled into the bladder for 1 hr at 0, 24, 48 h and 7 days after overdistension. In group P daily intramuscular injection of 5 mg/kg piroxicam, and isotonic saline in group C was administrated for 7 days. Full-thickness samples were taken from the bladder at 0, 24, 48 h and 7 days after overdistension. The bladder wall was deep blue throughout in both groups at 0, 24, and 48 h. The severity and duration of inflammatory reaction was lower and nearly normalized on the 7th post procedure day in piroxicam group.Conclusion: Inflammatory reaction can be prevented by administration of anti-inflammatory drugs such as piroxicam but the prevention of increased permeability is unclear after overdistension of the bladder.     

Does L-arginine induce intestinal adaptation by epithelial growth factor?

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether L-Arginine has an effect on endogenous epidermal growth factor secretion and intestinal adaptation in massive small bowel resection an experimental study was performed. METHODS: Fourteen albino Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were used for the study. After performing 50% small bowel resection and anastomosis the rats were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received 500 mg/kg/day of L-Arginine intraperitoneally for 14 days just after the surgical procedure. The control group received isotonic saline instead. Body weight measurement was preformed daily. At the end of the second postoperative week all rats underwent relaparotomy. Small bowel was resected for histopathological examination. Levels of epidermal growth factor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum, saliva, and urine at the end of second postoperative week in both groups. RESULTS: The weight gain was higher in the L-Arginine treated group (P < 0.05). Serum, saliva and urinary epidermal growth factor levels were significantly higher at the end of the second week compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The villus height was higher on histopathological examination in L-Arginine treated group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: L-Arginine resulted in a better intestinal adaptation after massive bowel resection. The high levels of epidermal growth factor in body fluids of L-Arginine treated rats could be the explanation for this effect.     

Trigeminal neuralgia and treatment options

Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful condition of the face characterized by paroxysmal lancinating, shock-like pain confined to the somatosensory distribution of the trigeminal nerve. The etiology of most cases of trigeminal neuralgia has been suggested to be vascular compression of the central axons of the trigeminal nerve at the level of pontocerebellar region, so called hyperactive dysfunctional syndrome. Trigeminal neuralgia is the one of the most known pain syndromes. Several neurosurgical procedures have been developed for the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and in this review, idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia was discussed in aspect of different surgical modalities.     

Anomalous congenital band: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction and failure to thrive

Intestinal obstruction caused by an anomalous congenital band is very rare in adults and children. A 7-year-old boy was admitted with acute intestinal obstruction. His parents mentioned that the child always had mild abdominal distention and failure to thrive from his infancy. On his medical history, there were not any attacks of abdominal pain, fever and hospitalization. Laparotomy showed an ileal loop compressed by an anomalous band, which extended from the ileum to the sigmoid mesentery resembling a mesenteric remnant. The band was resected. Histologically, it was composed of loose connective tissue containing mature vessels.     

Outcome of Surgery for Crooked Nose: An Objective Method of Evaluation

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the authors surgical results, and to present their method of angle measurement using the Scion Image computer program to evaluate surgical results for crooked noses.Methods: The study included 27 patients with crooked noses: classified as C-type and 14 classified as I-type. Deviation angles were measured by using the Scion Image computer program on frontal views before and at least 3 months after the operation. Correction of the crooked nose was performed through an open approach with the patients under general anesthesia.Results: Significant correction was achieved for both types of crooked noses (p < 0.05). The results for the I-type crooked noses were closer to the ideal angles than those for the C-type, but the difference was not significant. The findings showed that 66.7% of the patients with crooked noses, had good or excellent results after surgery: 53.8% of those with the C-Type and 78.6% of those with the I-type.Conclusion: It is difficult to achieve satisfactory results in the correction of crooked noses. The angle measurement method using the Scion Image computer program may be helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of different surgical techniques.This study was reported as oral presentation at 27th National Meeting of the Turk Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Society, Antalya, Turkey, 4–9 October 2003     

Antiphospholipid syndrome in a child: an insight into the pathology, identification, and means of cure

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been well defined in adults; however, primary nontraumatic arterial thrombosis owing to this entity is unusual in the pediatric population. The authors report a case of APS with lower extremity arterial thrombosis who had discolored feet since delivery.