Effect of Nitroglycerin Inhalation on Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Undergoing Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the postoperative hemodynamic effects of nitroglycerin inhalation on patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery.

Methods: Twenty patients who underwent mitral valve replacement surgery were included in the study. In the surgical intensive care unit, at T0 (before the inhalation of nitroglycerin), basal systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics were recorded. Then, 2.5 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 nitroglycerin liquid nebulized by a 2-l gas flow of 40% oxygen and air mixture was administered to the patients who were diagnosed as having pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressures > 25 mmHg). The same parameters were measured at the first (T1), third (T2), and fifth (T3) hours after the beginning of this treatment and 1 h after the end of nitroglycerin inhalation (T4).

Results: There were no statistically significant differences at T0, T1, T2, T3, or T4 with respect to heart rate, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac index, mixed venous oxygen saturation, arteriovenous oxygen content difference, or arterial carbon dioxide tension. However, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and intrapulmonary shunt fraction were significantly lower, and the arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio was higher at T1, T2, and T3 when compared to that of T0 and T4.     

A mature cystic teratoma in pineal region mimicking parietal encephalocele in a newborn

Objective Teratoma is the most frequently encountered intracranial tumor at birth and constitutes 18–20% of all germ cell tumors. They are usually located in pineal and suprasellar regions. The authors aim to report an extremely unusual presentation, location, and appearance of a teratoma in a newborn. Case report A soft tissue swelling in the vertex was detected in a 1-month-old girl. Neurological examination was normal. A big, cystic–solid lesion beginning from pineal region and extending to the scalp was detected in magnetic resonance imaging. It is interesting to note that cerebral venous angiography showed that the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) was divided into three branches at the level of the lesion and they joined together distally. The tumor was excised totally. Histopathological examination revealed the diagnosis of a mature cystic teratoma. Conclusion A mature cystic teratoma mimicking parietal encephalocele is extremely rare. Germ cell tumors should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of all midline lesions with unusual radiographic appearance. Cerebral venous angiography or MR angiography must be performed for the diagnosis and the surgical planning in lesions located near SSS.     

Sodium Hydroxide Chemical Matricectomy for the Treatment of Ingrown Toenails: Comparison of Three Different Application Periods

Objective Sodium hydroxide matricectomy is a successful method for the treatment of ingrown toenails. This study was designed to evaluate the optimal sodium hydroxide application period providing high success rates with minimal postoperative morbidity.
Materials and Methods Sixty-six patients with 225 ingrown nail edges were treated in three groups receiving 30-second, 1-minute, and 2-minute applications of sodium hydroxide. Each patient was reviewed postoperatively for pain, drainage, and tissue damage. The median long-term follow-up period was 14 months.
Results The success rate of the therapy was 70.9% in the first group, 92.7% in the second group, and 94.4% in the third group. In all groups, about half of the patients experienced minimal pain within 48 hours following the operation, but only in the third group, 20% of the patients had minimal pain, which continued about 1 week. Drainage and tissue damage were minimal or mild in all groups and disappeared within 3 weeks in the first and second groups but were prolonged to 6 weeks in the third group.
conclusion The success rate of 30-second application is significantly lower than 1-minute and 2-minute applications. Although the success rates of the latter two procedures are similar, the prolonged healing time is the disadvantage of the 2-minute application. We conclude that 1-minute application of 10% sodium hydroxide is simple, safe, and highly effective for the treatment of ingrown nails.     

Various types of suprameatal spines and depressions in the human temporal bone

Since it covers the lateral wall of the mastoid air system, the suprameatal triangle is of importance to otologic surgeons during mastoidectomy. Because of this clinical importance, topographic anatomy of the suprameatal spine and depression was studied on Anatolian skulls. In all, 363 male and 231 female skulls were studied. The most prevalent type of suprameatal spine resembled a crest and was found in both sexes on the right (77.6%) and left (80%) sides. The absence of a suprameatal depression was significantly higher in females (right 9.1%; left 8.7%) than in males (right 1.7%; left 2.5%). Suprameatal depressions were mostly shallow in female subjects, but were mostly observed in males to be at a medium depth or deep. Received: 5 January 1998 / Accepted: 19 March 1998     

Chromatin interactions in differentiating keratinocytes reveal novel atopic dermatitis– and psoriasis-associated genes

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Determination of oxidative stress parameters and DNA fragmentation on post-thawed buck semen in the presence of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficiency of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum on freezing of buck semen. Twenty ejaculates were collected using an electro-ejaculator and split into six groups. While FCS additive was not used in A1, A2 and A3 groups, 10% FCS was added to B1, B2 and B3 groups. These groups were then edited according to whether the buck or ram SP was involved. The design of the groups was done as follows: Group A1 (control 1), group A2 without buck SP, group A3 containing ram SP instead of buck SP. Groups B1 (control 2), B2 and B3 were the FCS added forms of these groups. Progressive sperm motility percentages in Group A1 and Group B2 were found to be higher when compared to the lowest Group B3. There were no significant differences between the groups in neither the levels of reactive oxygen species nor the enzyme and glutathione activities. In conclusion, the lack of statistical difference between the groups suggested that despite the supplements used but only when the buck spermatozoa structure was healthy, the cell could preserve acrosome, DNA and the integrity of membrane.     

Resveratrol Triggers Apoptosis Through Regulating Ceramide Metabolizing Genes in Human K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Cancer is a major worldwide health problem and one of the leading causes of death either in developed or developing countries. Plant extracts and derivatives have always been used for various disease treatments and many anticancer agents issued from plants and vegetables are clinically recognized and used all over the world. Lycium europaeum (Solanaceae) also called “wolfberry” was known since ancient times in the Mediterranean area as a medicinal plant and used in several traditional remedies. The Lycium species capacity of reducing the incidence of cancer and also of halting or reserving the growth of cancer was reported by traditional healers. In this study, the antiproliferative capacity, protective properties, and antioxidant activity of the hydro-alcoholic fruit extract of Lycium europaeum were investigated. Results showed that Lycium extract exhibits the ability to reduce cancer cell viability, inhibits proliferation, and induces apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells and PC12 rat adrenal medulla cancer cells, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cytotoxic effect on normal rat cerebellum granule cells was assessed to be nonsignificant. Results also showed that Lycium fruit extract protected lipids, proteins, and DNA against oxidative stress damages induced by H₂O₂ via scavenging reactive oxygen species.     

Multiple regenerative nodular hyperplasia in the left infrarenal vena cava accompanied by abernethy malformation

The current study presents the case of a 19-year-old male patient who was detected with an increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase levels during a preoperative evaluation of the right inguinal hernia operation and was later found to have Abernethy malformation accompanied by multiple regenerative nodular hyperplasia and left intra renal inferior vena cava. Regenerative nodular hyperplasia accompanying these two abnormalities is extremely rare and to the best of our knowledge, such a case has not been reported to date. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and color Doppler US, dynamic abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and portography examinations were performed and a type 2 abernethy malformation, partial malrotation of the inferior vena cava, and regenerative nodular hyperplasia were detected. We aimed to discuss the radiological signs of these two accompanying abnormalities with a literature review.