Salih Deveci

The effects of gingko biloba extract (EGb 761) on experimental acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Acute pancreatitis is an important and fatal disease with high mortality and morbidity. Although the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is poorly understood, there are many studies that suggest the role for oxygen free radicals (OFRs) in the development of pancreatitis and its complications and show beneficial effects of scavenger treatment. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether Egb761, the standardized extract of gingko biloba, restrains the generation of OFRs and ameliorates the histopathologic findings of acute pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the following experimental groups. In early and late pancreatitis and treatment groups, acute pancreatitis was induced by retrograde infusion of 3% sodium taurocholate. In treatment groups, 100 mg/kg Egb 761 was given intraperitoneally (IP) 24 h and immediately before induction of pancreatitis. Sham-operated rats received isotonic saline instead of sodium taurocholate. After observation times of 3.5 and 12 h, the pancreas was removed for light microscopy and determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker for OFRs-induced lipid peroxidation. Serum samples also were obtained for amylase and lipase levels. RESULTS There was no significant difference in control and sham-operated groups in terms of histopathologic findings and serum enzyme levels. The tissue concentrations of MDA and serum enzyme levels were significantly elevated in early and late treatment groups as compared with the control group. The treatment with Egb 761 caused significant decrease in serum amylase and lipase levels and histopathologic scores as compared with early and late pancreatitis groups. CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic application of Egb761 exerts highly beneficial influence on the course of acute pancreatitis, and this seems to be related to the oxygen radical scavenger effect of Egb761.

Diffusion-weighted imaging in the characterization of focal liver lesions: efficacy of visual assessment.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the value of visual assessment of signal intensities on b800 diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps in differentiation of benign and malignant focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods: Approval for this retrospective study was obtained from the institutional review board. One hundred forty-three FLLs in 65 patients (38 women, 27 men; mean age, 50.8 years) underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with a respiratory-triggered single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence. Focal liver lesions were evaluated visually according to the signal intensities on b800 and ADC map images, and ADC values were also calculated. The conventional MR imaging, follow-up imaging findings, and histopathologic data were regarded as gold standard. Normal distribution was assessed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The accuracies of visual assessment and ADC values in differentiating benign and malignant FLLs were assessed with the Student t test, and threshold values were determined with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: By using a cutoff value of 1.21 × 10−3 mm2/s, ADC had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 89.3%, and an accuracy of 92.3% in the discrimination of malignant FLLs. With the visual assessment of the DWIs and ADC maps, malignant lesions were differentiated from benign ones, with 100% sensitivity, 92.2% specificity, and 94.4% accuracy. Although some benign lesions were interpreted as malignant, no malignant lesion was determined as benign in visual assessment. Conclusions: Most FLLs are benign ones such as hemangiomas and cysts, which can be readily and practically characterized only by using visual assessment of DWIs without requiring time-consuming conventional and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging sequences. Some benign lesions that are falsely interpreted as malignant can be further characterized by using conventional and contrast-enhanced MR studies.

COMPARISON OF THE UROPROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF MESNA AND HBO TREATMENTS IN CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-INDUCED HEMORRHAGIC CYSTITIS

The aim of this research was to compare the protective effects of mesna, hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO), and their combination in cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in guinea pigs. Following one dose of i.p. 21.5 mg./kg. mesna administration 20 minutes before i.p. 68.1 mg./kg. cyclophosphamide, 3 additional doses of mesna were given every three hours. A total of 8 HBO exposures, 5 of which were applied prophylactically before cyclophosphamide, were performed at 2.8 ATA for 90 minutes 2 times a day. Although mesna or HBO provided significant protection for cyclophosphamide-cystitis in animal bladders, there was also significant damage compared with controls. The combination of mesna and HBO, which act through independent mechanisms, resulted in complete protection, since mean histological scores and hematuria levels in this group were not different from controls (p >0.05). Therefore, this combination may be a useful tool in the prophylaxis and treatment of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.

Effects of fibroblast growth factor on the healing process of tympanic membrane perforations in an animal model

After traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane (TM), healing occurs spontaneously in most cases, although occasional perforations will fail to close. Healing of epithelia at any site involves cell movement, with injury providing the stimulus to initiate changes in the behavior of cells that are normally static. Epidermal proliferation at the margins of the TM perforation can be accelerated by using such growth factors as epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hyalorunan. bFGF is chemotactic and mitogenic for both fibroblasts and endothelial cells and is also mitogenic for keratinocytes. The effect of bFGF is significant in the enhancement of fibroblast production and angiogenesis. In this study, bFGF was used to enhance the healing process of chronic TM perforations in a guinea pig animal model. Chronic perforations were created since acute TMs could heal spontaneously without using any bioactive substance. In all, 30 TMs of 15 guinea pigs were used. A thermal myringotomy loop was employed to create a subtotal TM perforation at the area of the pars tensa. After establishing a permanent, non-infected perforation, bFGF in buffered saline solution was applied as 400 ng/day to 15 ears, while the opposite (control) ear was treated with only saline solution. At 20 days, 13 of 15 perforations treated with bFGF had closed. Light microscopy was used to assess organization of the healed TMs. The effects of bFGF on the healing process of TM perforations were compared in treated and non-treated ears.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy in three brothers

Rosai-Dorfman disease (Sinus Histiocytosis with Massive Lymphadenopathy; SHML), is a rare cause of lymph node enlargement in children. 1 It consists of chronic massive enlargement of cervical lymph nodes frequently accompanied by fever, leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and hyperglobulinemia. 2,3 Extranodal sites are involved in approximately 25% of patients. 3 Although elevated antibody titers to some viruses have been found, evidence to incriminate these as etiologic agents is lacking. 4–6 To date, neither a definite etiologic agent nor a genetic inheritance has been identified in cases of SHML. It is known as a nonfamilial disease of the lymphoreticuloendothelial system. This report describes three brothers with SHML and this is the first report of three cases in one family.

Multilocular cervical thymic cyst: an unusual neck mass in children

Thymic cysts are usually considered uncommon lesions in the differential diagnosis of neck masses. Approximately 100 cases have been reported to date and most of these cases have occurred asymptomatically. Herein, the authors report a 4-year-old boy with cervical thymic cyst, which was misdiagnosed preoperatively as conglomerated lymph nodes. The correct diagnosis was made after surgical excision and through determination of specific histopathological findings of the thymic cyst. The etiologic theories, differential diagnosis and the treatment of thymic cysts are discussed.

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with eruptive vellus hair cysts

A 21‐year‐old white man complained of heat intolerance, absence of sweating, and papular lesions on the forehead. Facial features included a saddle nose, prominent supraorbital edge, and frontal bossing. The scalp hair was scanty, fine, and brittle. Eyelashes and eyebrows were also thin. Subungual hyperkeratosis and dystrophic changes were observed on the finger and toe nails. Hypodontic teeth were detected on oral examination. He was otherwise healthy. Biochemical and hematologic analyses were also normal. Cutaneous examination revealed smooth and dry skin. Multiple, 4–5 mm, brown–black, comedo‐like, soft papules were observed on the forehead ( Fig. 1 ). A biopsy specimen from a papule on the forehead revealed cystic structures lined by squamous epithelium and containing laminated keratinous material and scattered obliquely and transversely cut vellus hairs ( Fig. 2 ). Topical application of 0.1% tretinoin for 2 months produced no clinical improvement.

Combination of preoperative ultrasonographic mapping and radioguided occult lesion localization in patients with locally recurrent/persistent papillary thyroid carcinoma: a practical method for central compartment reoperations.

Purpose: To improve the surgical success and reduce the complication rates, we combine our routine preoperative ultrasound (US) mapping technique with radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer recurrences in central compartment. Materials and Methods: In the morning of surgery, biopsy proven recurrent/persistent tumoral lesions were plotted on a sketch and injected with Tc-99m labeled macroaggregated albumin under US guidance. Thyroid bed exploration was carried out based on the location of biopsy proven lesion with the guidance of intraoperative gamma probe and neck map. The lymphoadipose tissues showing high count rates were resected and labeled separately for histopathologic study. Results: Despite extensive scarring in some patients probe safely guided to lesions. Noninjected tumor foci were searched and successfully resected in the light of neck map that showing topographic relation of injected and noninjected lesions. Among total of 41 excised lesions, 28 metastatic foci ranging from 3 to 38 mm in largest diameter were recognized at final histologic examination. Combination of preoperative mapping with ROLL was found helpful by the operating surgeons in all patients, respectively. Except 2 patients with known distant metastases, undetectable thyroglobulin levels were reached 6 weeks after surgery. Conclusions: The use of preoperative US-mapping with ROLL in patients with nonpalpable recurrent/persistent papillary thyroid cancer in central compartment is technically safe and effective method. Combination of techniques provides better information about topographical relations of recurrent/persistent lesions during surgery.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the bilateral temporal bone.

An unusual presentation of eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of the bilateral temporal bone in a 2-year-old male child is discussed with the literature review. Involvement of the temporal bone is relatively uncommon and otorrhea or symptoms resembling mastoiditis are nonspecific. This rare condition should be kept in mind in differential diagnosis of otitis media refractory to medical therapy.

PREVENTION OF FURTHER CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCED HEMORRHAGIC CYSTITIS BY HYPERBARIC OXYGEN AND MESNA IN GUINEA PIGS

PURPOSE Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and mesna have been successfully used for hemorrhagic cystitis. We defined the protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen and mesna in further cyclophosphamide induced hemorrhagic cystitis in guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 48 male guinea pigs were divided into 6 groups. All groups received 2 doses of 68.1 mg./kg. cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally at the same time intervals but group 1 served as controls. Group 2 received cyclophosphamide only, group 3 received hyperbaric oxygen treatment (2.8 ATA for 90 minutes twice daily) before and the day after further cyclophosphamide, group 4 received 21.5 mg./kg. mesna intraperitoneally only with further cyclophosphamide, group 5 received hyperbaric oxygen and mesna with further cyclophosphamide, and group 6 received hyperbaric oxygen before initial cyclophosphamide, between the 2 doses and after the further dose of cyclophosphamide, and mesna on the days of cyclophosphamide. RESULTS Although mesna alone provided protection against cyclophosphamide induced cystitis in animal bladders, there was also significant damage compared with controls. When the uroprotective efficacy of mesna was supported with hyperbaric oxygen, bladder protection was promoted since mean histological scores and hematuria levels in this group did not differ from those in controls. CONCLUSIONS According to this animal study using hyperbaric oxygen as adjuvant therapy in humans may be a better tool than mesna alone for the prophylaxis and treatment of cyclophosphamide induced hemorrhagic cystitis.