Cavit Çöl

Environmental boron contamination in waters of Hisarcik area in the Kutahya Province of Turkey.

Our aim was to determine boron levels in waters of rich boron mine areas in Turkey. There is a naturally occurring high level of boron in the ground waters of some parts of Turkey. Our study area is Hisarcik village in the Kutahya Province of Turkey which has a large number of boron mines. Boron occurs in combined form, usually borax (Na2B4O7 x 10H2O) and colemanite (Ca2B6O11 x 5H2O). Water samples were collected from many springs in order to determine boron concentrations and the amount of boron that is exposed to 88 samples from the drinking water (tap water), 37 from ground water and 257 from stream or pond water (surface water). Urine samples taken from 42 residents in this area were analyzed for boron and compared with its levels in drinking waters. The inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) method was used for the analysis of boron concentrations. Water boron contents at differing locations of this area ranged from 2.05 to 29.00 mg B/l. Mean value of boron was 10.20+/-4.08 mg B/l. Total urinary boron excretion was ranged from 0.04 to 50.70 mg B/l and mean value was 8.30+/-10.91 mg B/l. Current information on sources, occurrence, pollution potential and toxicity of environmental boron is discussed.

A combination of plasma DAO and citrulline levels as a potential marker for acute mesenteric ischemia

Introduction There is no valid and reliable diagnostic test for early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). The aim of this study was to measure the plasma levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and citrulline in AMI to gain insight into its early diagnosis. Material and methods A total of 21 Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups, that is, control group, short-term ischemia group, and prolonged ischemia group. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 15 min in the short-term ischemia group and for 12 h in the prolonged ischemia group. Twelve hours later, the experiment was terminated and plasma DAO and citrulline levels were measured. Intestinal tissue was evaluated for the histopathological changes. Results Compared to the control group, the short-term and prolonged ischemia groups showed significant increases in the plasma levels of DAO, whereas the plasma citrulline levels decreased significantly. Prolonged ischemia caused a larger increase in the plasma DAO levels and a larger decrease in the plasma citrulline levels compared to the short-term ischemia (p=0.011 and p=0.021, respectively). Intestinal damage was shown to develop more in the prolonged ischemia group (p=0.001). Conclusion In the early period of AMI, the plasma DAO levels increase while citrulline levels decrease, and the extent of these changes depends on the duration of ischemia.Introduction There is no valid and reliable diagnostic test for early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). The aim of this study was to measure the plasma levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and citrulline in AMI to gain insight into its early diagnosis. Material and methods A total of 21 Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups, that is, control group, short-term ischemia group, and prolonged ischemia group. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 15 min in the short-term ischemia group and for 12 h in the prolonged ischemia group. Twelve hours later, the experiment was terminated and plasma DAO and citrulline levels were measured. Intestinal tissue was evaluated for the histopathological changes. Results Compared to the control group, the short-term and prolonged ischemia groups showed significant increases in the plasma levels of DAO, whereas the plasma citrulline levels decreased significantly. Prolonged ischemia caused a larger increase in the plasma DAO levels and a larger decrease in the plasma citrulline levels compared to the short-term ischemia (p=0.011 and p=0.021, respectively). Intestinal damage was shown to develop more in the prolonged ischemia group (p=0.001). Conclusion In the early period of AMI, the plasma DAO levels increase while citrulline levels decrease, and the extent of these changes depends on the duration of ischemia.

Cesarean scar endometrioma: Case series

AIM To evaluate endometrioma located at cesarean scatrix. METHODS Medical data of 6 patients who presented to our institution with abdominal wall endometrioma were evaluated retrospectively and reviewed literature in this case series. The diagnostic approaches and treatment is discussed. RESULTS All patients had a painful mass located at abdominal scars with history of cesarean section. The ages ranged from 31 to 34 and Doppler ultrasonography (US) detected hypoechoic mass with a mean diameter of 30 mm. Initial diagnosis was endometrioma in 4 and incisional hernia in 2 of 6 patients. Treatment was achieved with surgical excision in 5 patients, and one is followed by hormone suppression therapy with gonadotropin. CONCLUSION Malignant or benign tumors of abdominal wall and incisional hernias should be kept in mind for diagnosis of endometrioma. Imaging methods like doppler US, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging should be used for differential diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis can only be made histopathologically. The treatment should be complete surgical excision and take care against intraoperative auto-inoculation of endometrial tissue in order to prevent recurrences.

Exogenous melatonin treatment reduces hepatocyte damage in rats with experimental acute pancreatitis

Background/purposeThe hormone melatonin affects cellular immunity in particular and the immune system in general both directly and indirectly. We report our evaluation of the effects of decreasing and increasing serum melatonin levels on hepatocyte damage in rats with experimental acute pancreatitis.Methods Winstar Albino rats with experimentally induced acute pancreatitis were divided into three groups of ten rats each: (1) control (induced acute pancreatitis only); (2) rats with induced acute pancreatitis plus surgical pinealectomy (no melatonin injections); (3) rats with induced acute pancreatitis plus injections of exogenous melatonin. The effects of melatonin levels were evaluated using biochemical and histopathological parameters.ResultsRats undergoing the pinealectomy had increased amylase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, while those receiving injections of exogenous melatonin had decreased amylase, aspartate transaminase, LDH, and bilirubin levels but increased levels of alanine transferase levels.ConclusionMelatonin may have a therapeutic or protective effect on acute pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice.

İleri yaş hastalarda lokal anestezi altında kasık fıtığı tamiri

Objectives: The incidence of inguinal hernia and the frequency of comorbidity increase in the elderly. Therefore, in operations of these patients, anesthesia methods are important. The aim of our study was to investigate the feasibility of local anesthesia in the operation of the elderly. Materials and methods: The patients operated for inguinal hernia were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into two groups: the elderly (>60 years) and the younger. Anesthesia methods, additional anesthesia requirement and complications were compared. Results: Of totally 177 patients, 30.5% were elderly. Operation type, anesthesia method and score of operational risk differed between groups. The percentage of co morbidity (55.6%) in the elderly was significantly high (p< 0.001). Among elderly, the frequency of co morbidity was slightly higher in patients who had local anesthesia compared to spinal and general anesthesia. Patients in young and middle ages preferred to be operated less under local anesthesia (34.1%) compared to elderly (70.4%). There was one case (2.6%) converted to general anesthesia as an additional anesthesia in the elderly group. Postoperative complications were slight more frequent in elderly. These cases were five in number (31.3%) and were oper ated under spinal or general anesthesia (p=0.002). Conclusions: The frequency of co morbidity and risk score of operation (ASA category) rise in the elderly. However, inguinal hernioraphy can be performed under local anesthesia without complication and conversion to general anesthesia.

Results after radical surgical treatment for advanced carcinoma of hypopharynx

The aim of the study was to investigate patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. And this study focuses on a case series with hypopharynx cancer and cervical oesophageal cancer invading the hypopharynx. There were 13 cases over a period of 8 years, treated with pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy (PLE) and cervical lymph node dissection. In 10 of the patients, reconstruction was done with gastric pull-up (GP). In 3 of the 10 patients gastric reconstruction was added to aid in pyloric drainage (2 pyloromyotomy and 1 pyloroplasty) but the remaining 7 patients did not receive such procedures. The reconstruction of the digestive system after PLE is still a matter of debate. GP method is the most frequently preferred method for reconstruction. We believe that a more important problem than gastric drainage is the reflux of the gastric content and pyloric drainage which will not have a positive effect for solving this clinical situation. But we need bigger series for analyze of this specific condition.