Systemic lupus erythematosus and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a multisystem disorder characterised by platelet aggregation causing microvascular occlusion. Early diagnosis and utilization of plasmapheresis can provide an improvement in prognosis. CASE REPORT: A 17 year old male with classical findings of TTP was later diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Plasmapheresis resulted in the significant amelioration of the course. CONCLUSION: The coexistence of TTP and SLE may facilitate a better understanding of in the pathophysiology of TTP. These association may provide the role of autoimmunity in TTP. SLE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with TTP because of therapeutic implications.     

Protective effects of dexmedetomidine on ischaemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental rat model of priapism

The study aimed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine against ischaemia-reperfusion injury occurring after priapism in a model of induced-priapism in rats. A total of 18 male rats were randomised into three groups. Group 1 was the control group. A priapism model was performed rats in Group 2 and then ischaemia-reperfusion injury was evaluated. Group 3 had similar procedures to the rats in Group 2. Rats in Group 3 additionally had 100 μg/kg dexmedetomidine administered intraperitoneally immediately after reperfusion. Blood and tissue samples were analysed. Biochemical analysis of blood samples revealed a decrease in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 Beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p:.04, p:.009 and p:.009, respectively). Similarly, the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) level was in Group 2 (p:.002). The levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were significantly higher in Group 3 than that of Group 2 (p:.037 and p:.045, respectively). Direct microscopic examinations revealed positive changes in desquamation, oedema, inflammation and vasocongestion scores in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p:.007, p:.008, p:.007 and p:.006, respectively). Dexmedetomidine has a protective effect against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in penile tissue.     

Causes of increased renal medullary echogenicity in Turkish children

The primary disorders of 50 children with increased renal medullary echogenicity on renal ultrasound were studied; 28 girls and 22 boys aged from 1 month to 16 years were classified into four groups based on underlying disease and ultrasound findings. Group 1 was composed of 17 patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (34%); intense echoes throughout the pyramid were predominant. Group 2 consisted of 14 patients with vitamin D toxicity (28%) and an intense echogenic rim around the pyramids. Group 3 included 10 patients with different types of tubulopathies. A slight hyperechogenic rim around the sides and tip of the medullary pyramids was detected. Group 4 was made up of 9 patients with rare underlying conditions. Abdominal X-rays detected medullary calcinosis in only 12 (24%) of the total 50 patients. Ultrasonography appears to be an important tool in the early diagnosis of increased renal medullary echogenicity and medullary nephrocalcinosis.     

Tobacco, alcohol use, and risks of laryngeal and lung cancer by subsite and histologic type in Turkey

Effects of tobacco smoking and alcohol use on risks of cancers of thelarynx and lung have been evaluated extensively in industrialized countries.Few studies on the effect of these risk factors have been reported fromdeveloping countries. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate risks oflaryngeal and lung cancers in men by subsite and cell type in relation tosmoking and alcohol drinking in Turkey, a country where smoking and alcoholconsumption patterns are different from those in industrialized countries. Weidentified 832 laryngeal and 1,210 lung cancer cases and 829 controls withinformation on smoking and alcohol use (amount and duration) and histologiccell type from an oncology treatment center of a Social Security Agencyhospital in Istanbul, Turkey, admitted between 1979 and 1984. Both laryngealand lung cancer showed significant associations with smoking and alcoholdrinking, but no monotonic dose-response was obtained for alcohol drinking.Among smokers, the highest risks were observed in the supraglottis region ofthe larynx (odds ratio [OR] = 4.1) after adjustment for age and alcohol use.Among alcohol drinkers, the highest risks were observed in the glottis regionof the larynx (OR = 1.7) after adjustment for age and smoking. In theanalysis by the cell type of lung cancer among ever-smokers, small cell typeshowed the highest risk (OR = 5.4), while it showed no association withalcohol drinking. Cumulative cigarette use (pack-years) and number ofcigarettes per day showed stronger associations than years smoked for bothcancer sites. The relative risks of joint exposure to smoking and alcoholwere 12.2 for laryngeal cancer and 14.1 for lung cancer among heavy smokersand heavy alcohol drinkers. This study provides epidemiologic evidence fromTurkey that smoking and alcohol use are associated with risks of cancers ofthe larynx and lung.     

Hereditary pancreatitis: Report of a family from Turkey

Chronic pancreatitis is a rare disease in children and is usually secondary to underlying diseases such as hereditary pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, hyperlipidemia, prolonged malnutrition, gallstones or anomalies of the biliary-pancreatic duct system. Hereditary pancreatitis is a common cause of chronic pancreatitis in children but is often unrecognized until months or years later. We report here a family with hereditary pancreatitis in which four members are affected.     

Causes of acute poisoning in adults: a retrospective study, in a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey

Aim  

Acute poisoning is one of the major topics in emergency medicine practices. Despite the recent developments in toxicology, technological advances and changing lifestyles reveal new factors, and poisoning cases remain to be a problem. All poisonings should be considered serious and independent from their clinical presentation at the time of admission. Identifying the cause and prompt initiation of treatment is life-saving. Causes of poisoning vary between countries and different regions of the same country. In the present study, cases admitted to the Emergency Department of Internal Medicine at Haseki Training and Research Hospital were evaluated and causes of acute poisoning were investigated.     

Effect of Recombinant Human Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor on the Healing of Colonic Anastomosis in Rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF) on the wound healing of colonic anastomosis in rats. In total, 40 male Wistar rats were taken into this study. The control group (n = 20) received subcutaneous saline injection. The experiment group (n