Effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate on cerebrospinal fluid lactate and glucose levels after spinal cord trauma.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) after spinal cord trauma (SCT). Twenty rabbits were divided equally into four groups: group I was the sham-operated group, group II suffered from SCT but received no treatment, group III was given a dose of 400 mg/kg of GHB intravenously before SCT and group IV received the same dose after SCT. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained 30 min before SCT (T(0)), at 60 (T(1)) and 120 min (T(2)) after SCT. There was a threefold increase in lactate levels from baseline value at T(2) in group II, while statistically significant elevation of the lactate levels were not observed in groups III and IV. Glucose levels at T(1) and T(2) were significantly lower in groups III and IV compared with the control group. The findings of this study demonstrate that GHB can control the increase of CSF lactate and glucose levels following SCT and that this metabolic effect may be associated with neuroprotective physiological changes.     

Urethral carcinoma recurrence in ileal orthotopic neobladder: urethrectomy and conversion in a continent pouch with abdominal stoma

A patient who had previously undergone ileal neobladder with Studer technique presented an urethral recurrence of a transitional cell carcinoma. Further surgical treatment consisted of urethrectomy and creation of an intussuscepted ileal loop which was anastomosed to the pouch and provided a continence mechanism allowing self-catheterization.     

Evidence for elevated telomerase activity in small cell carcinoma of the bladder

Telomerase activity was found to be elevated using a quantitative assay on snap-frozen protein extracts of exfoliated cells in urine and bladder washings and tumor tissue obtained from a male patient with small cell carcinoma of the bladder. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of elevated values of telomerase activity in genitourinary small cell carcinoma and is in keeping with the findings in primary lung locations.     

Intravesical migration of AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter and stone formation in a patient who underwent radical prostatectomy

A patient who underwent placement of AMS 800 urinary sphincter for incontinence after salvage prostatectomy after radiation therapy failure, experienced urethral erosion of the cuff after 54 months. He was treated with cuff removal and prosthesis deactivation. Thirteen months later, a large bladder stone was removed transvesically, and it contained the reservoir. The remaining sphincter components were also removed. Patients with previous radiotherapy are particularly at risk for sphincter erosion, but intravesical displacement of the reservoir is a very uncommon complication.     

The combination of cytological smears and cell blocks on endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspirates allows a higher diagnostic yield

We compared the diagnostic performances of conventional smears and cell block preparations of tissue samples obtained with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. We retrospectively analysed 451 patients (926 lymph nodes) who had undergone endobronchial ultrasound and for whom both smears and cell blocks were available and compared the diagnostic performances of these techniques when used alone and combined. Cell block preparations showed higher diagnostic performance over smears, but the combination was superior to either alone. The combination of smear and cell block techniques achieved a sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 92.5, 100, 100, 97.7 and 99.4, 95.0, 98.6, and 97.9 % for malignant and benign diseases, respectively. We recommend cell block preparations during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.     

The status of mineral trioxide aggregate in endodontics education in dental schools in Turkey

The aim of this study was to assess the current status of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as an educational material in dental schools in Turkey. A survey was sent to senior members of the endodontic departments of seventeen dental schools; fourteen responded. All respondents reported that they used MTA in their clinical practice, with apexification, perforations, retrograde fillings, and root resorptions being the most frequently occurring treatment procedures. All reported that information was given to students regarding MTA mainly as part of the curriculum. The third and fourth years were the periods when MTA was introduced to students in most of the schools. Twelve schools reported that students had the opportunity to observe procedures in which MTA was used, but students had the chance to use the material in a very minor proportion of the schools, mainly under the supervision of clinical instructors. Ten schools agreed that MTA should be included in the regular endodontic curriculum. Financial constraints seemed to be the predominant reason for those who answered this question negatively, followed by difficult handling properties and low radiopacity of the material. Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that ways should be sought to prevent financial difficulties from depriving dental students of the opportunity to receive information about contemporary methodologies such as MTA utilization.     

Evaluation of the effect of different ferrule designs on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors incorporating fiber posts, composite cores and crown restorations

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors restored with quartz fiber posts, composite cores, and crowns when different types of ferrule designs were incorporated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty maxillary incisors were divided into six groups: Group 1 (control): teeth with root canal treatments having a full crown prosthesis; Group 2: teeth with a 2 mm circumferential ferrule; Group 3: teeth with a 2 mm ferrule only in the vestibular region; Group 4: teeth with a 2 mm ferrule only in the palatal region; Group 5: teeth with a 2 mm ferrule in the vestibular and palatal region, having cavities in both proximal areas; and Group 6: teeth with no ferrule. The teeth in the experimental groups were restored with quartz fiber posts-composite cores and full metallic crowns. All experimental teeth were subjected to an increasing compressive force with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min, until fracture occurred. RESULTS: The median fracture values of groups were as follows: Group 1: 574.4 N, Group 2: 472.4 N, Group 3: 474.3 N, Group 4: 480.7 N, Group 5: 463.1 N, and Group 6: 297.9 N. A statistically significant difference was found between Group 1 and Group 6 (p< 0.01). CONCLUSION: It was concluded different ferrule designs did not have any influence on the fracture resistance of teeth with fiber posts. The results of this study indicate fiber posts can safely be used for their reinforcing properties. Furthermore, there is no significant change in the resistance of teeth with fiber posts regardless of which ferrule design is incorporated. The property of these types of posts is an additional advantage in clinical practice.     

Carnosine and taurine treatments diminished brain oxidative stress and apoptosis in D-galactose aging model

D-galactose (GAL) has been used as an animal model for brain aging and antiaging studies. GAL stimulates oxidative stress in several tissues including brain. Carnosine (CAR; β-alanil-L-histidine) and taurine (TAU; 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) exhibit antioxidant properties. CAR and TAU have anti-aging and neuroprotective effects. We investigated the effect of CAR and TAU supplementations on oxidative stress and brain damage in GAL-treated rats. Rats received GAL (300 mg/kg; s.c.; 5 days per week) alone or together with CAR (250 mg/kg/daily; i.p.; 5 days per week) or TAU (2.5 % w/w; in rat chow) for 2 months. Brain malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined. Expressions of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bax and caspase-3 were also evaluated in the brains by immunohistochemistry. GAL treatment increased brain MDA and PC levels and AChE activities. It decreased significantly brain GSH levels, SOD and GSH-Px but not GST activities. GAL treatment caused histopathological changes and increased apoptosis. CAR and TAU significantly reduced brain AChE activities, MDA and PC levels and elevated GSH levels in GAL-treated rats. CAR, but not TAU, significantly increased low activities of SOD and GSH-Px. Both CAR and TAU diminished apoptosis and ameliorated histopathological findings in the brain of GAL-treated rats. Our results indicate that CAR and TAU may be effective to prevent the development of oxidative stress, apoptosis and histopathological deterioration in the brain of GAL-treated rats.