I. Faruk Ozguner

Splenectomy attenuates intestinal ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IIR) induced acute lung injury (ALI) has been documented. Kupffer cell blockage with gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3)) has been shown to attenuate IIR-induced ALI. However, the effects of splenic monocytes/macrophages on IIR-induced ALI has not been studied previously. In the current study, the authors aimed to investigate the role of splenectomy in IIR-induced ALI. METHODS Forty-eight rats were divided randomly into 6 groups as follows: SHAM, SHAM + KCB, SHAM + SPLN, IIR, IIR + KCB, IIR + SPLN. Two hours of ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion has been applied by clipping the SMA. GdCl3 was given 24 hours before experiment. Splenectomy was done just before SMA clipping. Lung levels of tumor necrosis-factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed biochemically. Lung leukosequestration was determined by counting PMNLs histologically. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were done; P values less than.003 were considered significant. RESULTS Polimorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) counts and biochemical parameters in the IIR group were significantly higher than the other groups (P <.003). When compared with IIR group, PMNL counts and biochemical parameters were significantly decreased in the IIR+KCB and IIR+SPLN groups, respectively (P <.003). However, they were still significantly higher than their sham-operated controls (P <.003). CONCLUSIONS This study documents that splenectomy attenuates ALI as well as Kupffer cell blockage. Spleen, an important component of mononuclear phagocytic system as liver Kupffer cells, might play an important role in the IIR-induced ALI.

Clinical experience of removing aerodigestive tract foreign bodies with rigid endoscopy in children.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to document the aerodigestive tract foreign body accidents among children, and to investigate the circumstances surrounding these events. Methods: A review of the charts of pediatric patients admitted with the definitive or suspicious diagnosis of aerodigestive tract foreign bodies was carried out in the period between January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2002. Results: There were 53 eligible children; 39 boys and 14 girls, with an age range of 7 months to 14 years. Food items were the most common airway foreign bodies and coins were the most common esophageal foreign bodies. Among the 32 patients who underwent bronchoscopy, no foreign body was identified in 9 patients. Among the 21 patients who underwent esophagoscopy, foreign body was removed in 19 patients. In 2 cases, large foreign bodies which we could not extract with forceps were pushed into the stomach. Conclusions: Foreign bodies in the airway and esophagus constitute a constant hazard in all age groups, which demands immediate approach and management. Although the rigid endoscopic removal of aerodigestive foreign bodies was successful in this series, the most effective treatment of foreign body accidents is their prevention.

The effect of electromagnetic field on undescended testis after orchiopexy

Undescended testis is a common problem leading to infertility. After orchiopexy some studies support the necessity of hormonal therapy. Electromagnetic field stimulation on living tissues increase cell proliferation, protein and DNA synthesis.Sixteen prepubertal rats was objected to the fixation of left testes to the anterior abdominal wall for 30 days, right testes were removed. Another group of sixteen rats objected only to the right orchiectomy and a manipulation simulating study group without fixation. After orchiopexy, animals were divided into two groups. Both groups had eight rats. Electromagnetic field (EMF) stimulation group had the stimulation for two hours every day for ten days, while the second group did not. The sham group also divided into two groups. The first one applied EMF and name as Group CEM, the second one was sham. Weight of removed testes were measured and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histopathological evaluation. At the creating of undescended testis and right orchiectomies a blood sample was obtained for testosterone level of prepubertal rats. After finishing EMF stimulation the rats were mated with females for 17 days. After fertility study a blood sample was obtained for testosterone assay and body weight were measured and fixed in formaline for histopathologic evaluation. All the rats were killed with overdose ether anesthesia and number of fetuses were recorded. Histopathological evaluation was based on Johnsen criteria and seminiferous tubule diameter measurements.We conclude that EMF stimulation resulted in Leydig cell proliferation, increase in testosterone level, testis weight, but decrease in germ cell population.

An unusual association of TAR syndrome with esophageal atresia: a variant?

Thrombocytopenia and absent radii (TAR) syndrome is a rare disorder. It may be associated with, for example, as cardiovascular, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, skeletal, neurological, ophthalmic, and facial anomalies. Esophageal atresia is also a rare anomaly associated with genitourinary, skeletal, and cardiovascular anomalies, among others. Here, the authors present a child with TAR syndrome and esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. This association has been reported in only one other case in literature.

The effects of unilateral testicular ischemia and hemicastration on contralateral testicular IGF-1 level, histology and lipid peroxidation

Hemicastration is followed by compansatoryhypertrophy whereas unilateral testiculartorsion is followed by atrophy in contralateraltesticle in rats. Insulin-likegrowth factor (IGF-1) has important roles intesticular paracrine and autocrine functions. Inthis study it was aimed to compare ischemicparameters and IGF-1levels in the contralateral testicle inunilateral spermatic cord ligation, testiculartorsion, and hemicastratron. 32 wistar ratswere equally altocated into sham,ligation, torsion, and hemicastration groups.In ligation group, right spermatic cord wasligated with 3/0 silk suture. In thetorsion group, right testis was tcrsed for720 degrees. In hemicastration group, rightorchiectomy was done. 48 hours later leftorchiectomy was done in all groups.Malondialdehyde (MDA) and IGF-1 levels weredetermined in the testicle. Average values ofthe groups werecompared with Anova followed by Dunnett T3multiple comparison tests. MDAlevels were significantly reduced in ligationand torsion groups (p < 0.05). This reductionwas more prominent in hemicastration group(p < 0.05). Contralateral testicular IGF-1levels in ligation and torsion groups were notdifferent compared with the sham group. Lefttesticular IGF-1 level in the hemicastrationgroup was decreased significantly comparedwith other groups (p < 0.05). Histological.changes evaluated. Contralateral Johnsenstesticular biopsy scores were significantlydecreased in all experimental groups but meantubular diameter was not changed in all groups.