Hadice Selimoğlu Şen

Carvacrol and Pomegranate Extract in Treating Methotrexate-Induced Lung Oxidative Injury in Rats

Background This study was designed to evaluate the effects of carvacrol (CRV) and pomegranate extract (PE) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced lung injury in rats. Material/Methods A total of 32 male rats were subdivided into 4 groups: control (group I), MTX treated (group II), MTX+CRV treated (group III), and MTX+PE treated (group IV). A single dose of 73 mg/kg CRV was administered intraperitoneally to rats in group III on Day 1 of the investigation. To group IV, a dose of 225 mg/kg of PE was administered via orogastric gavage once daily over 7 days. A single dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX was given intraperitoneally to groups II, III, and IV on Day 2. The total duration of experiment was 8 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured from rat lung tissues and cardiac blood samples. Results Serum and lung specimen analyses demonstrated that MDA, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly greater in group II relative to controls. Conversely, the TAC level was significantly reduced in group II when compared to the control group. Pre-administering either CRV or PE was associated with decreased MDA, TOS, and OSI levels and increased TAC levels compared to rats treated with MTX alone. Histopathological examination revealed that lung injury was less severe in group III and IV relative to group II. Conclusions MTX treatment results in rat lung oxidative damage that is partially counteracted by pretreatment with either CRV or PE.

Preventive Effects of Dexmedetomidine on the Liver in a Rat Model of Acid-Induced Acute Lung Injury

The aim of this study was to examine whether dexmedetomidine improves acute liver injury in a rat model. Twenty-eight male Wistar albino rats weighing 300–350 g were allocated randomly to four groups. In group 1, normal saline (NS) was injected into the lungs and rats were allowed to breathe spontaneously. In group 2, rats received standard ventilation (SV) in addition to NS. In group 3, hydrochloric acid was injected into the lungs and rats received SV. In group 4, rats received SV and 100 µg/kg intraperitoneal dexmedetomidine before intratracheal HCl instillation. Blood samples and liver tissue specimens were examined by biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical methods. Acute lung injury (ALI) was found to be associated with increased malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant activity (TOA), oxidative stress index (OSI), and decreased total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Significantly decreased MDA, TOA, and OSI levels and significantly increased TAC levels were found with dexmedetomidine injection in group 4 (P < 0.05). The highest histologic injury scores were detected in group 3. Enhanced hepatic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and reduced CD68 expression were found in dexmedetomidine group compared with the group 3. In conclusion, the presented data provide the first evidence that dexmedetomidine has a protective effect on experimental liver injury induced by ALI.

Congenital tuberculosis: presentation of a rare case.

Congenital tuberculosis is a rare disease with a high mortality rate. Congenital tuberculosis is considered the result of mother-to-child transmission from the placenta to the fetus, through the ingestion of the amniotic fluid, or via transplacental transmission through the umbilical vein. Given the non-specific clinical signs of tuberculosis, it is usually difficult to diagnose it. The case of a 48-day-old male infant hospitalized due to weight loss, fever, cough, hemoptysis, and respiratory distress for the past 20 days, is presented. In this period, he had received broad spectrum antibiotics but with no improvement. A chest x-ray showed the presence of consolidation and a cavitary lesion in the upper and middle left lung fields. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected by polymerase chain reaction in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen. Congenital tuberculosis was diagnosed based on this finding; hence, a tuberculostatic regimen was started accordingly. The patient died 13 days after treatment initiation. Congenital tuberculosis should be considered in infants with weight loss, fever, cough, hemoptysis and respiratory distress.

Serum Apelin 13 Levels in Patients With Pulmonary Embolism

Introduction and Aim: Expression and peptide immunoreactivity of apelin messenger RNA have been described in a variety of tissues, including gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, brain, kidney, liver, cardiovascular system, and lungs. This study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of the endogenous apelin in the pathophysiological events that occur in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and Methods: In total, 53 patients with PE and 35 healthy volunteers were included the study. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care university hospital and among patients diagnosed as having PE. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers who applied to hospital for a routine checkup examination. Serum apelin 13 levels were measured in both the groups and their results were compared. Results: The median ages were 57 and 53 years, and female–male ratios were 30/23 and 20/15, in the PE and control groups, respectively. The mean serum apelin 13 levels were found to be significantly higher in the PE group (76.94 ± 10.70 ng/mL) than in the control group (50.01 ± 7.13 ng/mL; P < .001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that apelin 13 levels are elevated in patients with PE. These results suggest that apelin may be a novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in patients with acute PE in the future.

Trafik kazası öyküsü olan obstrüktif uyku apne sendromlu hastalarda uyku parametrelerinin değerlendirilmesi

Objective: In this study, traffic accident with a history of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in patients with polysomnographic parameters was investigated. Methods: A total of 77 OSAS patients were included in the study. All-night polysomnographic recordings obtained from patients with enuresis parameters and the presence of traffic accidents recorded in standard form. Results: The mean age of patients was 45.15 ± 11.53 years. 53% of the patients were male and 47% female. The mean apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in patients was 13.54 events/h. History of traffic accidents was found in 12% patients. Apnea hypopnea index, supine AHI, arousal index and oxygen desaturation index were found significantly different parameters between history of traffic accidents group and non-history of traffic accidents group (p <0.05). Conclusion: In this study, patients with OSAS severity of the disease with a history of traffic accidents were associ ated the relationship between the parameters. This relationship with the severity of the disease might be due to the negative effects on attention. J Clin Exp Invest 2013; 4 (2): 204-207

A Department of Chest Diseases: 2011 Data of Tuberculosis

DOI: 10.4328/JCAM.1087 Received: 10.05.2012 Accepted: 29.05.2012 Printed: 01.07.2013 J Clin Anal Med 2013;4(4): 310-2 Corresponding Author: Abdurrahman Abakay, Dicle Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Göğüs Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Diyarbakır, Türkiye. T.: +90 4122488001/4157 F.: +90 4122488440 E-Mail: arahmanabakay@hotmail.com Özet Amaç: Tüberküloz (TB) solunum yolu ile bulaşan, tüm doku ve organları tutabilen bir hastalıktır. En sık tutulum yeri akciğerdir. Bu çalışmada üniversite göğüs hastalıkları kliniği 2011 yılı takip edilen TB hastalarının klinik ve demografik verilerinin tartışılması amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntem: TB günümüzde hala önemli bir toplum sağlığı sorunu olup, hastalıkla ilgili klinik verilerimizi incelemek amacıyla 2011 yılında üniversite hastanesinde takip edilen TB hasta dosyaları retrospektif incelenmiştir. Çalışma süresince 56 TB hastası dosyası incelendi. Bulgular: Bu hastaların 24 ü bayan 32 si erkekti. Tüberküloz tanısı konan bayan hastaların yaş ortalaması 28,8 yıl iken erkeklerin yaş ortalaması ise 32,5 yıldı. Toplam 28 hasta yayma pozitif akciğer tüberkülozu idi (11 i bayan, 17 erkek) yayma pozitif vakalarının 25 inde balgam yayma pozitif iken 3 vakaya mide açlık suyu yayma pozitifliği ile tanı kondu. Üç hastada yayma negatif iken kültür pozitifliği ile tanı kondu. Toplam dört hasta nüks akciğer TB idi. Altı hastaya TB plörezi tanısı kondu ve bu altı hastanın dördüne plevra biyopsi ikisine de plevra sıvı adenozin deaminaz düzeyi ile tanı kondu. Toplam 22 hastaya radyolojik ve klinik olarak akciğer tüberkülozu tanısı kondu. 56 hastanın 2 sinde hepatotoksite gelişti. Tartışma: TB ciddiyetini sürdüren özellikle genç yaş popülâsyonunu etkileyen bir hastalıktır. TB hastalarının erken tanı ve tedavisi özellikle bulaştırıcılık açısından önemlidir.

Mermer fabrikası işçilerinde solunum fonksiyonları ve radyolojik bulgular

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the probable effect of exposure to marble dust on respiratory symptoms, respiratory function tests and chest radiographies. Materials and methods: Totally 110 marble workers were enrolled as study group. Marble workers were divided into 4 groups according to work places: block cutting line (Group A, n=25), polishing unit (Group B, n=33), tile cutting unit (Group C, n=31), and office workers (n=21). Control group (Group E, n=30) consisted of similar demographical characteristics without dust exposure. Dust concentrations of all groups working environments were measured. The patients administered the questionnaire, and examination findings and respiratory function test re sults were recorded. Chest graphies were obtained.

Malign plevral mezotelyoma hastalarında destek tedavisi ve plöredezin karşılaştırılması

Objectives: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is a poor prognosis cancer that affects pleura. This study was designed for examination of the differences between MPM patients which who were received only supportive treatment and supportive treatment plus pleurodesis. Materials and methods: The files of 96 MPM patients were analyzed retrospectively who were followed up in Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital. Age, gender, exposure of asbestos, diagnostic methods, histopathological types and treatment regimens were recorded. Results: The mean age of 96 MPM patients were 60.4 ± 12.6 years. The sixty-three (65.6%) patients were male and 33 (34.4%) were female. A total 75 (78.1%) patients have environmental asbestos exposure and mean environmental asbestos exposure time was 33 years. The epithelial type of pleural mesothelioma was determined in 63 patients. Pleural fluid cytology was positive in 30 patients. The most detected symptom was dyspnea which was determined in 91 cases. Thirty patients were taken only supportive treatment and 66 were taken supportive treatment plus pleurodesis. The median survival time was 10 months in the total of the two groups. Median survival was 10.7 months, in the group that treated with pleurodesis and 9.1 months in the group that not treated with pleurodesis. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.35). Conclusions: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer which is resistant to many therapeutic options. Progressive dyspnea is primary symptom in these patients and often depends on the pleural fluid. Pleurodesis is an option to control the fluid. However, there is not any contribution on survival, alone. Extensive investigations are needed on this topic.