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Extrapulmonary Small-Cell Carcinoma Compared With Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma A Retrospective Single-Center Study

The study was conducted with the aim of reviewing the clinical features, therapy, and natural course of patients with extrapulmonary small‐cell carcinoma (EPSCC) and small‐cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) to better define current concepts regarding EPSCCs.

The effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on reducing irinotecan-induced intestinal mucositis and diarrhea.

To investigate the efficiency of Saccharomyces boulardii on irinotecan-induced mucosal damage and diarrhea in rats, fifty rats were randomized into three groups with 20 rats in two study groups and 10 rats in the control group. Control group did not receive any treatment. Irinotecan (60xa0mg/kg) alone was administered intravenously once a day for four consecutive days to the rats of Group A. Throughout the experiment, Group B rats were additionally given Saccharomyces boulardii (800xa0mg/kg) for 3xa0days before administration of irinotecan and 7xa0days throughout the experiment. Delayed diarrhea was more severe in Group A than Group B (Pxa0=xa00.009). The weight loss was 34.7xa0±xa03.8xa0mg for Group A, while it was 17.4xa0±xa01.7xa0mg for Group B (Pxa0<xa00.001). Findings of mucositis most clearly appeared in the jejunum. Regarding edema (Pxa0=xa00.003), leukocyte migration (Pxa0=xa00.038), and inflammation (Pxa0=xa00.006) significant recovery was detected in the mucosa of rats receiving Saccharomyces boulardii. Villous thickness was significantly greater in Group A than Group B (Pxa0<xa00.001). The results indicate that Saccharomyces boulardii provided significant improvement in irinotecan-induced diarrhea and mucositis.

Hemophagocytic syndrome in one patient with adult-onset Still's disease. Presentation with febrile neutropenia.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is an important complication seen in systemic for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; until now, it has been reported in only a few cases of adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). Here, we shall present a 50-year-old female patient who was using steroids and antimalarial drugs for AOSD, and who developed MAS during follow-up. The patient presented with febrile neutropenia, and the neutropenic period lasted for 15xa0days. The examination of bone marrow aspiration smears demonstrated increased macrophages and findings of hemophagocytosis. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood showed decreased natural killer cells. The patient developed neurologic findings during this period, and during the recovery of neutropenia, she had icterus and liver function test abnormalities. The patient was given granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during neutropenic period, and her neutropenia improved after the administration of high-dose steroids. Our patient was the first AOSD patient who presented with febrile neutropenia during the course of her disease and who was diagnosed to have MAS.

Curcumin attenuates the organ dysfunction caused by endotoxemia in the rat.

OBJECTIVEnCurcumin has antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it remains unknown whether curcumin has any protective effects on sepsis. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether curcumin prevents organ dysfunction in animals with sepsis.nnnMETHODSnRats were randomized into four groups. The control group (group I, n = 7) did not receive any treatment. The curcumin group (group II, n = 10) only received 1.2 g/kg of curcumin. Escherichia coli were injected into the remaining groups intraperitoneally after general anesthesia. Five hours after injection, 12 rats received placebo (group III), and 10 rats received 1.2 g/kg of curcumin (group IV) for 7 d. All rats were sacrificed on postsepsis day 8 and a midline laparotomy was performed. Livers, kidneys, and small bowels were excised for evaluation of the degree of inflammation and tissue alterations histopathologically.nnnRESULTSnIn the liver, widespread hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes were seen in the sepsis group. There was no hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes and no portal inflammation in the sepsis/curcumin group. With respect to the small bowel, the sepsis group showed edema and prominent intraepithelial infiltration of neutrophil leucocytes and plasma cells. Inflammation and hyperemia in the lamina propria in the sepsis/curcumin group were less than those in the sepsis group. With respect to the kidneys, the sepsis group showed severe acute tubular necrosis that was more restricted in the sepsis/curcumin group than in the sepsis group.nnnCONCLUSIONnCurcumin reduced organ dysfunction in rats with experimentally formed sepsis. We propose that curcumin may be useful in the therapy of organ dysfunction due to sepsis, shock, and other diseases associated with local or systemic inflammation.

Protective role of carnitine in breast cancer via decreasing arginase activity and increasing nitric oxide

Breast cancer remains one of the most common types of cancer. High levels of arginase and ornithine in different carcinomas may indicate their relation to cancer. Carnitine is a cofactor required for the transformation of free long‐chain fatty acids into acetyl‐carnitines. We have examined the protective effect of carnitine and the possibility that it disturbs arginase—nitric oxide (NO) interaction. Histopathological examination, arginase activity, ornithine and NO levels were determined in tumour tissues. Mitotic cells significantly decreased in the treatment group. Tissue arginase activity and ornithine levels decreased significantly with carnitine. NO levels were significantly higher in the treatment group. One of the possible mechanisms of carnitines protective role in tumour progression might be its promotion of NO. This mechanism could decrease the production of tumour‐promoting agents, polyamines, and increase the production of NO, thereby exerting a protective effect on cancer development.

Tissue damage in rat ovaries subjected to torsion and detorsion: effects of l -carnitine and N -acetyl cysteine

We aimed to evaluate histopathological changes, to detect HIF-1α staining intensities and to determine MDA levels in rat ovaries, which were subjected to torsion and detorsion and treated with l-carnitine or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Forty-eight prepubertal female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups (nxa0=xa08): 1, control; 2, ischemia; 3, reperfusion; 4, l-carnitine; and 5, NAC groups. In groups 3, 4 and 5, an ischemic period of 3xa0h was followed by reperfusion for 24xa0h. In groups 4 and 5, ischemia was performed and either l-carnitine or NAC was infused intraperitoneally 30xa0min before reperfusion. Ovarian tissues were examined histopathologically; tissue MDA levels and serum IL-6 levels were determined biochemically. HIF-1α was applied to all ovaries immunohistochemically. Total tissue damage scores, tissue MDA levels and HIF-1α scores, were significantly higher in group 2 (all Pxa0<xa00.001) than group 4, and group 3 than group 4 (Pxa0<xa00.001, Pxa0=xa00.05 and Pxa0<xa00.001, respectively). They were also significantly higher in group 2 (all Pxa0<xa00.001) than group 5. When group 3 is compared to group 5, total tissue damage scores and tissue MDA levels were significantly higher in the former (Pxa0<xa00.01 and Pxa0<xa00.001, respectively). Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in group 2 when compared to groups 1, 4 and 5 (all Pxa0<xa00.01). The degree of tissue damage of the torsioned ovaries decreased after a reperfusion period of 24xa0h in the torsioned ovaries. However, ovaries of both l-carnitine and NAC groups showed better recovery than the reperfusion group.

The effect of a flavonoid fractions diosmin + hesperidin on radiation-induced acute proctitis in a rat model

BACKGROUNDnTo explore the protective effect of a flavonoid fractions diosmin + hesperidin (Daflon), against radiation-induced acute proctitis in an experimental rat model.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThirty four rats were divided into four groups. The rats in Group 1 received Daflon and underwent irradiation. The rats in Group 2 received no Daflon and underwent irradiation. The rats in Group 3 received Daflon and underwent sham irradiation. The rats in Group 4 received no Daflon and underwent sham irradiation. Daflon emulsion (100 mg/kg/day) was administered via an orogastric feeding tube to the rats in groups 1 and 3 starting from 1 day prior to irradiation until the euthanasia day (day 15 following irradiation). Radiation therapy was delivered on a cobalt-60 unit using a single fraction of 17.5 Gy defined at a depth of 1 cm through an anterior portal. Slides were examined by the same pathologist under a light microscope two times in a blinded manner.nnnRESULTSnWhen compared to group 2, the rats of Group 1 showed less glandular distortion and less mucosal inflammation with less infiltration of the crypt epithelia by the inflammatory cells (P < 0.001). A statistically significant increase in all parameters but muscular wall thickness was observed for the rats in Group 2 as compared to the group 3 and 4.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAdministration of a dose of 100 mg/kg/day of the diosmin + hesperidin resulted in decreased morphologic inflammatory changes. This drug may have protective effects against radiation-induced acute proctitis.

Neuromuscular Morphometry of the Vaginal Wall in Women With Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in hystomorphometry and innervation of the anterior vaginal wall in women with and without anterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Effect of Verapamil on Reduction of Peri-implant Capsular Thickness

Silicone is a material commonly used in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, but capsular formation is a very frequent complication of silicone implants. This study aimed to investigate whether verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker, can reduce the thickness of the peri-implant capsule in rats when it is instilled into the subcutaneous pockets. For this study, 60 female Wistar albino rats were used, and cubes of silicone blocks (10xa0×xa010xa0×xa05xa0mm) were crafted. The rats were divided into five groups of 12 each, and the groups were distinguished according to the use of silicone and artificially created hematoma relevant to administration of a single dose of 5xa0mg verapamil (Isoptin). The control group was left without silicone. In two of the four silicone groups, hematoma was artificially created around the silicone by a 1-ml injection of blood. The implants were removed 6xa0months later, and capsulectomy was performed. Under light microscopic examination, no severe inflammation was observed in any of the capsule tissues. Additionally, the thickness of the capsule was measured and found to be significantly reduced statistically in all the verapamil-treated groups, including the groups with the artificially created hematoma. In conclusion, based on the statistically significant data obtained in this study, subcutaneous verapamil administration may be a useful adjunct for preventing formation of capsular contracture after silicone implantations. This preliminary work in rats should be confirmed with larger mammals before carefully controlled clinical trials are considered.

Atypical osteoid osteomas

AbstractnOsteoid osteoma is a very painful benign bone tumor that affects young adults. It is exceptional before 5 and after 30xa0years of age. It can be seen in any part of the skeleton. Presentation of the tumor may be intracortical, juxta-cortical or cancellous. In long bones, the tumor is frequently intracortical, and in the spine, it is usually located at the posterior elements. Osteoid osteomas having radiologic and clinical features other than classical presentation of osteoid osteoma are called atypical osteoid osteomas. Atypical osteoid osteomas are important because the diagnosis and treatment are often complicated in these cases. Misdiagnosis with prolonged impairment and sometimes overtreatment appears as a major problem concerning atypical osteoid osteomas. This paper gives brief general information about the classical presentation of osteoid osteoma, discusses the pathogenesis of the lesion and focuses on the clinical presentation, radiologic features and characteristics of atypical osteoid osteomas as well as their treatment modalities.