Concurrent acute interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary embolism during treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in a patient with hepatitis C

The case presented is the first patient with concurrent acute interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary embolism associated with combined treatment of peginterferon and ribavirin for hepatitis C.KEY WORDS: Interstitial pneumonia, peginterferon, pulmonary embolism, ribavarin     

The histopathological effect of intracameral ropivacaine in different concentrations on corneal endothelium

We evaluated the histopathological changes occurring in corneal endothelium after intracameral injection ropivacaine into rats. Intracamerally administered ropivacaine in 1, 0.5, and 0.1% concentrations resulted in impairment of hexagonal structure of corneal endothelial cells and inter-cellular junctions, destruction of microvilli on the cell surface, roughness of cell borders, picnotic nucleus, diffuse vacuolization, and crystalysis in mitochondria. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which include unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.     

Anti-hyperglycemic and antigenotoxic potential of Ulva rigida ethanolic extract in the experimental diabetes mellitus

An increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and insufficient antioxidant activity is known in diabetes mellitus (DM). Antioxidant compounds in the human foods or supplementary diets can be used to counteract several diseases. The analysis of micronuclei (MN) is a cytogenetic technique used to show chromosomal damage caused by clastogenic affects. The present study was designed to evaluate: (i) the effects of diabetes mellitus on bone marrow MN frequency, (ii) the effect of oral administration of Ulva rigida ethanolic extract (URE) on MN frequency produced by DM, and (iii) some hematological values in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Daily fluid and food consumptions, weekly body weights, blood glucose concentrations and serum insulin levels were also examined in the study groups during the two different administration periods. The blood glucose concentration and MN frequency have been significantly increased in diabetic rats compared with the normal rats (p < 0.0001). Especially, URE-30d group treatment in diabetic rats was significantly decreased blood glucose concentrations and MN frequency. This is the first report on the anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidative and genotoxic/antigenotoxic capacity of U. rigida in vivo. Our results suggest that URE shows strong anti-hyperglycemic and antigenotoxic effect on the genotoxicity produced by DM in rats.     

Late-onset pulmonary edema due to propofol

Pulmonary edema after the administration of propofol has rarely been reported. In this case report, we describe pulmonary edema due to the administration of propofol during a Cesarean section and while in the intensive care unit. The skin tests demonstrated strong positive weal and flare reactions to propofol. The patient was treated successfully with mechanical ventilatory support. This report emphasizes that this fatal complication may be seen with propofol and underlying mechanisms and therapeutic approach are discussed.     

Prognostic value of plasma soluble CD40 ligand in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: We aimed to clarify whether determination of levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) could predict subsequent thrombo-embolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-four consecutive outpatients (mean age: 58 +/- 6 years, 20 male) with chronic NVAF who were not receiving aspirin and had no thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) on left atrium (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) were included in the study. The patients had no history of an embolic event and were followed up 24 +/- 2 months for thrombo-embolic events. sCD40L was determined at the enrollment. All patients were evaluated by means of SEC and thrombus formation by transoesophageal echocardiography at the end of follow-up period. Twelve (27%) patients had SEC and 2 (5%) patients had thrombus on LAA. Ischaemic stroke occurred in 2 (4.5%) patients and transient ischaemic attack developed in 4 (9%) patients during follow-up. sCD40L was significantly higher in patients with LASEC (0.41 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.04 ng/mL, P = 0.02) and embolic events (0.74 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.03 ng/mL, P = 0.001) than in those without. sCD40L levels were significantly related to the LASEC grade (R = 0.377, P = 0.02). In multivariable analysis, while independent variables for SEC or thrombus formation were LA diameter, sCD40L levels, and the duration of AF, independent variables for cerebrovascular events were the existence of SEC or thrombus formation on LAA, and sCD40L level. CONCLUSION: Plasma sCD40L may prospectively predict stroke in AF. sCD40L may provide useful marker to identify patients at high thrombo-embolic risk with NVAF.     

Impact of novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">PTEN</Emphasis> mutations in Turkish patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most common and aggressive type of primary neoplasms of the central nervous system. The PTEN (phosphatase, tensin homologue, deleted on chromosome TEN; MIM # 601728) tumor suppressor gene has an essential biological role in the formation of glioblastomas. It is known that there are variations in genetic alterations in tumors that develop in patients with different ethnic backgrounds and because there is no study evaluating PTEN mutation in Turkish patients with GBM, we aimed to realize the present study. We investigated 62 GBM tumors for mutations of the PTEN gene using single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) method followed by DNA sequencing. As a result of our investigation, PTEN mutations were detected in 15 of 62 tumors (24.19%). Nine different sequence variants were identified: one novel promoter site mutation (5′UTR −9C→T), one novel intronic mutation (IVS2-2delA), four novel point mutations (61A→G, 105T→G, 248C→G, and 364C→G), two novel frameshift mutations (213delC) and 378delGATA) and one previously reported global exonic transition type mutation (129G→A). Since the majority of PTEN mutations identified in the present study are novel, we believe that these alterations may be specific to Turkish population. Furthermore, though no significant correlation was found between PTEN mutations and histopathological properties of GBM tumors, our findings indicate that localizations of mutations in PTEN gene may have an effect on clinical aggressiveness of GBM tumors.     

Biceps crural myositis after an insect bite

INTRODUCTION: It can be difficult to diagnose focal muscular disease. We report a case of crural biceps focal myositis after an insect bite. DISCUSSION: We then discuss diagnostics of one or a small number of muscle injury. Focal inflammatory myositis has been described. We emphasize the role of pathology. In our case, pathological examination rules out inflammatory or tumoral disease and access likely toxical etiology. Muscle injury can appear, most frequently around the bite of venomous animal. CONCLUSION: Hymenopters are often responsible for such stings in France. Venoms are toxic for muscle cells membrane.     

The determination of subcutaneous body fat percentage by measuring skinfold thickness in teenagers in Turkey

Our aim in this study was to determine the body fat percentage of teenagers in Diyarbakir, a city in southeast Turkey. The study included 1118 children between the ages of 10 to 15. Basic anthropometric measurements including body-mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness were taken. The skinfold thickness were measured with a Lange skinfold caliper. Fat mass percentage (FM %) was predicted by using skinfold thickness equations. Differences between boys and girls across age groups for weight, height, and BMI were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.0001). With respect to skinfold thickness in the 10-y-old group, the thickness at triceps and subscapular sites in girls was higher than those of boys. In the 12-y-old group, the thickness was found to be higher in girls than boys at the triceps, biceps, and subscapular sites. We found that an increase in skinfold thickness in the 13, 14, and 15-y-old groups was significantly higher among girls than boys and tended to increase with age. However, such a tendency was not shown in boys. This tendency was found only at the triceps site in 10, 12, and 13-y-old boys. In addition, the skinfold thickness at the biceps site was found to be greater in the 14-y-old boys. The body fat mass percent in girls, especially those older than age 13, was also increased.