Katarina Vilović

Beneficial Effect of Nifedipine on Testicular Torsion-detorsion Injury in Rats

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of nifedipine on testicular torsion-detorsion injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, each containing 8 rats. Rats in the control group underwent a sham operation of the left testis. In the torsion-detorsion (T/D) group, the left testis was twisted at 720° for 3 hours. After 3 hours of reperfusion, at the end of the experiment, the testes were removed. Rats in the treatment group received the same surgical procedure as the T/D group, but nifedipine was administered intraperitoneally (100 μg/kg) 30 minutes before the time of detorsion. RESULTS Unilateral testicular torsion-detorsion caused a significant increase in the malondialdehyde level and apoptosis and caused significant decreases in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in ipsilateral testes. The rats treated with nifedipine had a significant decrease in malondialdehyde level and apoptosis and had significant increases in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in ipsilateral testes compared with those of the T/D group. CONCLUSION These results suggest that biochemical and histological torsion-detorsion injury occurs in the ipsilateral testes after a 3-hour torsion and 3-hour detorsion and that administration of nifedipine before detorsion prevents ischemia/reperfusion cellular damage in the testicular tissue.

The expression patterns of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors in human fetal and adult ovary.

The influence of pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins on the cell death (caspase-3, TUNEL) of different ovarian cell lineages was immunohistochemically analyzed in six fetal and five adult human ovaries in order to disclose possible mechanisms of cell number control. Mild to moderate expression of Bcl-2 characterized ovarian surface epithelium, follicular cells and oocytes of 15 and 22 week human ovaries, while expression of Bax and caspase-3 gradually increased in all ovarian cell populations, except caspase-3 in the ovarian surface epithelium. Different levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins co-expression characterized fetal ovarian cells, while TUNEL and caspase-3 co-expression was found only in some of them. In adult ovaries, Bcl-2 was moderately and Bax strongly expressed in the surface ovarian epithelium and stroma. Bcl-2 and Bax expression in granulosa and theca interna cells varied depending on the stage of follicular atresia. Caspase-3 apoptotic cells characterized granulosa cells of adult atretic follicles. Our results indicate that intracellular levels of Bcl-2 and Bax protein might regulate the final destiny of developing germ cells. Caspase-3 dependent apoptosis seems to be the most important, but not the only cell death pathway in ovaries. In adult ovaries, caspase-dependent cell death characterized granulosa cells, but not the germ cells.

Sex determination in skeletal remains from the medieval Eastern Adriatic coast - discriminant function analysis of humeri.

Aim To investigate the usefulness of humerus measurement for sex determination in a sample of medieval skeletons from the Eastern Adriatic Coast. Additional aim was to compare the results with contemporary female population. Methods Five humerus measurements (maximum length, epicondylar width, maximum vertical diameter of the head, maximum and minimum diameter of the humerus at midshaft) for 80 male and 35 female medieval and 19 female contemporary humeri were recorded. Only sufficiently preserved skeletons and those with no obvious pathological or traumatic changes that could affect the measurements were included. For ten samples, analysis of DNA was performed in order to determine sex using amelogenin. Results The initial comparison of men and women indicated significant differences in all five measures (P < 0.001). Discriminant function for sex determination indicated that as much as 85% of cases could be properly categorized, with better results in men (86%) than women (80%). Furthermore, the comparison of the medieval and contemporary women did not show significant difference in any of the measured features. Sex results obtained by anthropological and DNA analysis matched in all 10 cases. Conclusion The results indicate that humerus measurement in Croatian medieval population may be sufficient to determine the sex of the skeleton. Furthermore, it seems that secular changes have not substantially affected contemporary population, suggesting that the results of this study are transferable to contemporary population as well.

Her-2/neu assessment for gastric carcinoma: validation of scoring system.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. Amplification of HER-2/neu oncogene has become an important biomarker for identifying patients who respond to HER-2 targeting therapy. A number of studies have analyzed HER-2/neu overexpression in gastric carcinoma, and the rate of HER2 positivity is variable, ranging from 6% to 35%. METHODOLOGY In our study HER-2/neu expression was assessed on 73 samples of primary gastric cancer, using immunohistochemistry. For 19 patients preoperative biopsy samples and resected specimens were available. Additionally, internal ring study was performed to estimate intraobserver variability of IHC scoring among pathologists at our department. RESULTS HER-2/neu overexpression was found in 10 (13.6%) of the tested samples, and it was more common in intestinal (22.5%) than the diffuse type (3.7%). Not one of the 6 analyzed mixed type tumors showed HER-2/neu expression. For the paired samples (preoperative biopsy samples and resected specimens) the concordance rate for HER-2/neu expression was 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS According to high concordance rate in paired samples we consider it appropriate to evaluate HER2 expression on biopsy specimens, especially in unresectable cases, and to re-evaluate it on resected specimens if available, due to high heterogeneity of a gastric cancer.

Morphological Characteristics of Dying Cells in Axial Structures of Developing Human Embryos

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a widespread phenomenon in the development of vertebrates. In most cases, dying cells during development exhibit generalized morphological features typical of apoptosis. We analyzed the morphological features of dying cells in the developing axial structures of 5 human embryos between 5 and 8 weeks of postovulatory age. Cell death in the axial structures, i.e. spinal cord, notochord and surrounding mesenchyme and somites, was analyzed using light and electron microscopy. Tissue samples were taken from the cervicothoracic region of normal human conceptuses. Two morphological types of cell death were found: apoptosis which was characterized by round or semilunar nuclear chromatin condensations, condensation and shrinkage of the cytoplasm and formation of apoptotic bodies, and cell death without the morphological features of apoptosis which was characterized by pyknotic nuclear chromatin condensations, vacuolated cytoplasm and the formation of numerous intercellular spaces. Apoptotic death occurred during the 5th week of normal development in all the axial structures. Later, apoptotic death appeared in all the axial structures, with the exception of the notochord, where some dying cells displayed features of secondary necrosis. According to our findings, apoptosis seems to be the most frequently observed type of PCD, but it is not the exclusive type of morphological cell death during the development of axial structures in human embryos.

Subbrachial approach to humeral shaft fractures: new surgical technique and retrospective case series study

BACKGROUND There are few surgical approaches for treating humeral shaft fractures. Here we present our results using a subbrachial approach. METHODS We conducted a retrospective case series involving patients who had surgery for a humeral shaft fracture between January 1994 and January 2008. We divided patients into 4 groups based on the surgical approach (anterior, anterolateral, posterior, subbrachial). In all patients, an AO 4.5 mm dynamic compression plate was used. RESULTS During our study period, 280 patients aged 30-36 years underwent surgery for a humeral shaft fracture. The average duration of surgery was shortest using the subbrachial approach (40 min). The average loss of muscle strength was 40% for the anterolateral, 48% for the posterior, 42% for the anterior and 20% for the subbrachial approaches. The average loss of tension in the brachialis muscle after 4 months was 61% for the anterolateral, 48% for the anterior and 11% for the subbrachial approaches. Sixteen patients in the anterolateral and anterior groups and 6 patients in the posterior group experienced intraoperative lesions of the radial nerve. No postoperative complications were observed in the subbrachial group. CONCLUSION The subbrachial approach is practical and effective. The average duration of the surgery is shortened by half, loss of the muscle strength is minimal, and patients can resume everyday activities within 4 months. No patients in the subbrachial group experienced injuries to the radial or musculocutaneous nerves.

Apoptotic pathways in ovarian surface epithelium of human embryos during embryogenesis and carcinogenesis: close relationship of developmental plasticity and neoplasm.

Cell differentiation and different pathways of cell death were immunohistochemically analyzed in ovaries of six human embryos, 20 serous borderline tumors (SBT) and ovarian serous carcinomas (OSC) using markers for apoptosis (caspase-3, AIF, TUNEL) and stemness (Oct-4). In the 5-8-week ovaries, caspase-3 was absent in the ovarian surface epithelium (ose) and mildly positive in the ovarian stroma (os), AIF was expressed moderately, while Oct-4 expression gradually decreased during that period. Some ovarian cells expressed only caspase-3 or AIF together with TUNEL, while both caspase-3 and AIF were co-expressed in other ovarian cells. Mild expression of Oct-4 and caspase-3 characterized some cells of SBT, while their expression varied from mild to strong in OSC. AIF displayed mild to strong expression in ose of SBT and moderate to strong expression in OSC, while no expression of AIF was observed in os of both tumors. In the ose of both SBT and OSC, caspase-3 and AIF were co-expressed only occasionally, while AIF and Oct-4 were co-expressed strongly. Our study showed the presence of stemness cells and different pathways of cell death (caspase-3 and AIF-mediated) in the ovarian tissue during development and carcinogenesis, indicating the correlation between developmental plasticity in human embryonic ovaries and OSC.

Unusual cause of acute abdomen in a child – torsion of greater omentum: report of two cases

Introduction Torsion of the omentum is twisting along its long axis and a rare cause of acute abdomen. Depending on associated conditions, it is classified as primary and secondary. It may mimic different pathologies presenting as acute abdomen, most common of them being acute appendicitis. Current choice for management of omental torsion is laparoscopic surgery. Case presentation We present two cases of omental torsion of two boys who presented with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and underwent emergency laparoscopy. Conclusion Omental torsion is very rare, and its diagnosis is usually made only after surgery. At laparoscopy, omental torsion is suspected when the appendix is normal and the symptoms and findings of torsion are present. Laparoscopy is a safe and effective approach for the diagnosis and management of omental torsion, with the advantages of reduced postoperative pain and hospital stay.

Which Theory for the Origin of Syphilis Is True

INTRODUCTION There are four theories about the origin of syphilis, of which the mostly represented one is the Columbian theory. This theory suggests that syphilis was brought into Europe in 1493 ad by the ship from Caribbean islands. AIM The aim of this study is to test all theories on a sample of 403 skeletons: 135 from prehistory, 134 from antique, and 134 from medieval period and new age from the Dalmatia (Croatia). METHODS All skeletons were examined using standard anthropological methods. Paleopathological analysis was performed on each skeleton as well as additional radiographic method on one isolated skeleton. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Paleopathological changes on skeletal remains connected with treponematosis. RESULTS Paleopathological analysis revealed one skeleton from the antique period (second to 6th century A.D.) that exhibited skeletal markers similar to those described in one clinical case in which congenital syphilis was confirmed by a Wasserman reaction. Skeletal remains of this person were examined macroscopically and radiographically, and the differential diagnostics eliminated other considered pathologies as well as trauma. CONCLUSIONS The finding of skeletal markers of syphilis on a skeleton from the antique supports the theory of pre-Columbian syphilis origin.