Oztekin Cikman

Radioprotective Effects of Nigella Sativa Oil Against Oxidative Stress in Liver Tissue of Rats Exposed to Total Head Irradiation

ABSTRACT Objective: Many cancer patients treated with radiotherapy suffer severe side effects during and after their treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of irradiation and the addition of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on the oxidant/antioxidant system in the liver tissue of irradiated rats. Methods: A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into three groups of equal numbers. The control group received neither NSO nor irradiation but received 1-ml saline orally. The irradiation group (IR) received total head 5 gray (Gy) of gamma irradiation as a single dose, plus 1-ml saline orally. The IR plus NSO group received both total head 5 Gy of gamma irradiation as a single dose and 1 g/kg/day NSO orally through an orogastric tube starting one hour before irradiation and continuing for 10 days. Results: While liver tissue total oxidant status (TOS), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) level, and oxidative stress index (OSI) were significantly increased in the IR group compared to the control group, total antioxidant status (TAS), sulfhydryl (-SH) levels, and PON activity were significantly decreased. Cp activity in the IR plus NSO and IR groups was higher than in the control group. ARYL activity in the IR plus NSO supplemented group was higher than that in other groups. Conclusions: NSO reduces oxidative stress markers and has antioxidant effects, which also augments the antioxidant capacity in the liver tissue of rats.

The radio-protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and thymoquinone in rats exposed to total head irradiation.

SummaryBackgroundMany cancer patients treated with radiotherapy suffer severe side effects during and after their treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of irradiation and the addition of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and thymoquinone (TQ) on the oxidant/antioxidant system in the liver tissue of irradiated rats.MethodsA total of 40 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups to test the radioprotective effectiveness of thymoquinone and caffeic acid phenethyl ester administered by intraperitoneal injection. Appropriate control groups were also studied.ResultsWhile liver tissue total oxidant status, lipid hydroperoxide level, and oxidative stress index were significantly increased in the irradiated (IR) group, compared with other groups, total antioxidant status, sulfhydryl levels, and paraoxonase (PON) activity were significantly decreased. Ceruloplasmin activity in IR plus TQ and IR groups was higher than the control group. Arylesterase and PON activities in IR plus TQ- and IR plus CAPE-supplemented groups were lower than those of control groups.ConclusionsTQ and CAPE decrease oxidative stress markers and have antioxidant effects, which also augment antioxidant capacity in the liver tissue of irradiated rats.ZusammenfassungGrundlagenViele Krebspatienten, die mit Bestrahlung behandelt werden, leiden unter schweren Nebenwirkungen während und nach der Behandlung. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Wirkung einer Bestrahlung und die Zugabe von Kaffeesäurephenylethylester (KAPE) und Thymoquinon (TQ) auf das Oxidant/Antioxidant System im Lebergewebe von Ratten zu untersuchen.MethodikVierzig Sprague-Dawley Ratten wurden in 5 Gruppen eingeteilt, um die radioprotektive Wirkung von intraperitoneal verabreichtem TQ und KAPE zu untersuchen. Entsprechende Kontrollgruppen wurden auch untersucht.ErgebnisseDer Gesamt oxidative Status (TOS), die Konzentrationen von Lipid Hydroperoxid (LOOH) und der oxidative Stress Index des Lebergewebes waren in der IR (= bestrahlte) Gruppe im Vergleich zu den anderen Gruppen signifikant erhöht. Der Gesamt antioxidative Status (TAS), die Konzentrationen von Sulfhydryl (–SH) und Paraoxonase (PON) waren im Gegensatz dazu signifikant erniedrigt. Die Cp Aktivität waren in der IR plus TQ, sowie in der IR Gruppe höher als in der Kontrollgruppe. ARYL und PON Aktivitäten waren in der IR Gruppe mit TQ und der Gruppe mit KAPE niedriger als bei den Kontrollgruppen.SchlussfolgerungenTQ und KAPE senken die Marker des oxidativen Stresses und haben eine antioxidative Wirkung. Dadurch wird die antioxidative Kapazität im Lebergewebe von bestrahlten Ratten erhöht.

An extremely rare complication of Meckel's diverticulum: enterocutaneous fistulization of umbilical hernia.

elements or potentiality for malignant degeneration in the medium term, and the risk of infection in benign cysts. This patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day, with uneventful recovery. The resection of the coccyx is not recommended unless there is suspicion of involvement by malignant disease3. As far as rectum is often densely adhered to the tumor, should be carried out careful dissection, to avoid injury. There are three types of surgical approach: anterior or abdominal transperitoneal or extra-peritoneal, conventional or laparoscopic access; the posterior approach; and combined abdominosacral route. The anterior approach is used for high lesions (with caudal end until the level S4) without evidence of sacral engagement. The rectum is folded laterally and the median sacral artery is usually linked with the dissection and tumor is enucleated2. The latter approach is preferred for smaller, benign lesions that do not extend beyond the level S4. This route is used when the presence of neural involvement or for better viewing and preservation1. Tumors of major proportions exceeding proximal and distal S4 level are more easily operated via abdominosacral2 route. The resection can be performed synchronously with the patient in the lateral position or sequentially with the change in position after each stage of the operation. The benefit of the combined approach includes the ability to display structures such as ureter, nerve and sacral iliac vessels, particularly important in cases where there is the need to perform partial sacrectomy, especially in chordoma. The adjuvant therapies have only a secondary role in the management of tumors in retrorectal space. In cases where radical surgery is contraindicated, palliative radiotherapy has been carried out, except for chordoma, classically radioresistant. The survival of benign tumors approaches to 100% in most studies7. However relapse is not uncommon. Development of cysts relapses up to 15%1. Approximately 9-45% of retrorectal malignant tumors are most commonly solids than cystic, with recurrence rates of 45%; five year survival rate is about 8 to 17%.

Agenesis of Isthmus of the Thyroid Gland in a Patient with Graves-Basedow Disease and a Solitary Nodule

The thyroid is a vascular endocrine gland with two lateral lobes connected by a narrow, median isthmus. Although a wide range of congenital anomalies of the thyroid gland has been reported in the literature, agenesis of the thyroid isthmus is a very rare congenital anomaly. Thyroid isthmus agenesis does not manifest clinical symptoms, and it can be confused with other thyroid pathologies. We describe a patient with no isthmus of the thyroid, associated with Graves-Basedow disease. Thyroid isthmus agenesis should be kept in mind in order for surgical procedures involving thyroid pathologies to be carried out safely.

Endometrioma localized in the rectus abdominis muscle: a case report and review of literature.

was carried out with lymph nodal dissection followed by ileocolic anastomosis. The cavity inventory at laparotomy showed situs inversus abdominal and presence of spherical and hard lesion in the hepatic flexure of colon (Figure 2) with absence of macroscopic metastatic involvement. Anatomopathological evaluation (Figure 2) confirmed tubular adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiate; presence of perineural invasion; vascular and angiolymphatic involvement were absent. TNM staging was T3N0M0, stage IIA. Postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged from the hospital on the 4th day after operation. He began adjuvant Mayo Clinic regimen, but stopped in the 4th cycle due toxicity of the gastrointestinal tract. Up to the moment of this writing, no sign of recurrence or metastasis has been observed.

A rare reason/cause of esophageal obstruction: Steakhouse syndrome

Steakhouse syndrome, which has been described as acute esophageal obstruction due to inadequately chewed meat, was first reported by Norton in 1963 (1). However, before that, in 1945 Richardson et al. (2) has reported seventeen cases with meat impaction in the distal esophagus. It is a rare cause of dysphagia and also a medical emergency. It is usually associated with alcohol abuse, esophageal stenosis and disorders such as achalasia, nutcracker esophagus (3). Herein we present a patient with Steakhouse syndrome, admitted to our emergency department with acute dysphagia.

The Radio-protective Effects of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Thymoquinone on Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Liver Tissue of Rats Exposed to Total Head Irradiation.

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of addition of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and thymoquinone (TQ) on oxidative and nitrosative stress in the liver tissue of irradiated rats. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups to test the radioprotective effectiveness of TQ and CAPE administered by intraperitoneal injection. Appropriate control groups were also studied. Results Liver antioxidant capacity, as measured by levels of total superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity except superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, were statistically lower in the irradiation (IR) group compared to all other groups. Total superoxide scavenger activity and NSSA were statistically higher in the IR plus TQ and IR plus CAPE groups compared to all other groups. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly found to increase in the IR plus CAPE group compared to control groups. The xanthine oxidase (XO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities, nitric oxide (NO●) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the IR group were statistically higher than in the other groups. Moreover, XO activity in the IR plus TQ group was statistically lower than all other groups including the IR plus CAPE group. In addition, NO● level was found to increase in all groups when compared to the normal control group. Conclusions Thymoquinone and CAPE decrease oxidative and nitrosative stress markers and have antioxidant effects, which also increase antioxidant capacity in the liver tissue of irradiated rats.

Endometrioma localizado no músculo reto abdominal: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

A 31 year old female with a history of two cesarean sections, the last one of them three years prior, presented with a painful mass in the left lateral side of the Pfannenstiel incision which had been steadily growing. The same patient went a month ago to our institution’s urology clinic with pain in the inguinal region. After a detailed history and physical examination an ultrasonography was performed that revealed a 20X12 mm hypo-echoic nodular mass, neighboring the rectus abdominis muscle, with minimal vascularization. The differential diagnosis included endometriosis and a possible desmoid tumor. The patient was referred to our clinic for further evaluation. The pain started on the left lower quadrant and radiated towards the inguinal region, and was associated with menstruation. In physical examination a 2 cm wide mass was palpated in the previously described localization. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed which revealed a 20x11 mm mass which is slightly hyper-intense in the T1 sequence, and contrast enhanced after IV gadolinium injection in the T2 sequence, with increased signal intensity and nodular appearance in diffusion weighted sequences. These were found to be consistent with an endometrial implant (Figures 1A and 1B). Examination of the uterine cavity showed effusion which was at most 15 mm in width when measured. A little free fluid, indicating peritoneal irritation was present in between the intestinal loops. No pathological lymph nodes were present in the lower abdomen. FIGURE 1 - Arrows show the area of endometriosis in rectus abdominis muscle: A) CT scan in transverse section; B) CT scan in sagittal sectionThe patient was admitted for surgical removal of the mass 2 cm wide fibrotic appearing mass was excised (Figure 2) and was sent for pathological examination. The patient’s complaints resolved after the surgery. She was discharged with no complications two days after the operation. Four months after the surgery, the patient came in for a follow-up visit, and had no complaints or complications. Histopathological examination was consistent with glandular structures of the endometrium with accompanying endometrial stroma within muscle and connective tissue (Figure 3).FIGURE 2 - The mass excised in the operationFIGURE 3 - Typical endometrium glands and spindle endometrium stroma existed in the area of endometrosis (H&Ex50)