effects of N-acetylcysteine on intestinal ischemia/ reperfusion injury in rats

To evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine NAC on the injury of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Forty-eight Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 6 groups: as control, ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion, ischemia + N-acetylcysteine, ischemia-reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine IRN, and reperfusion + N-acetylcysteine RN. Histopathologic examination was performed to all groups. In the tissue and plasma, and erythrocyte samples, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and nitric oxide NO levels were evaluated. The present study was carried out in Trakya and Istanbul University, Edirne, Turkey between December 2002 and July 2003. The most severe histopathological damage was seen in the intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group, and this damage was observed to be reduced by NAC administration. Lowest plasma malondialdehyde levels were observed in RN group. The tissue glutathione levels were found to be higher in RN group than those in IRN group. It was found that administration of NAC has important effects on the injury of intestinal ischemia, as well as, reperfusion in rats. N-acetylcysteine administration causes an improvement in the histopathologic findings of ischemia/reperfusion damages. The N-acetylcysteine treatment protects the antioxidant enzymes in the tissue, plasma, and the erythrocytes, which are crucially important in the intestinal schemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Congenital Fibrous Epulis in the Infant

Congenital fibrous epulis is an extremely rare tumor of infancy. It is a benign gingival tumor and generally seen in maxillary alveolar crest and its etiology remains the subject of debate. Congenital fibrous epulis could be considered a hamartomatous lesion. Histologically it does not show the closely packed large granular cells necessary for the diagnosis of an ordinary congenital epulis. Instead, it consists of irregular bundles of collagenous connective tissue, varying numbers of fusiform cells with oval or fusiform shaped nuclei and mild subepithelial inflammatory infiltration with tiny blood vessels and in this case a woven bone spicule in the deep area. Recommended treatment for this tumor is simple excision. We report upon a case of congenital fibrous epulis in a male infant and discuss the clinical features, histopathologic findings, and surgical treatment.

Morgagni hernia in infants and children

The cumulative data regarding five cases of Morgagni hernias in infants and children over the last six years have been reviewed. All five patients were clinically normal upon presentation; however, the most common symptoms and signs were respiratory. Chest x-ray was the most common diagnostic test. The diagnoses were also later confirmed with preoperative barium meal studies. All of the patients had additional congenital anomalies, of which malrotation of the gut was the most commonly encountered. Upon operation, all of the cases contained a hollow viscus, and had a sac. The defects were repaired through abdominal approaches. There was no mortality and postoperative complication in these series.

Spigelian hernia in children: report of two cases and review of the literature

Two children with spigelian hernias are presented in this report. The etiopathogenesis and surgical anatomy of these rare hernias were discussed. Our cases are the fourth and fifth cases of spigelian hernia (SH) in patients under 2 years of age. Surgical intervention is indicated in all cases of SH because of the danger of strangulation of the bowel.