Results of 1001 liver transplantations in 23 years: Ege University experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver transplantation (LT) is now the standard of care for most end-stage liver diseases. Over the next 30 years, advances in medicine and technology will greatly improve the survival rates of patients after this procedure. The aim of the present study was to analyze retrospectively the results of 1001 patients withLT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical reports of 989 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Data were obtained from the patient's data chart. Descriptive statistics were used to describe continuous variables (mean, median, and standard deviation). RESULTS: A total of 1001 LTs for 989 recipients were performed at Ege University Organ Transplantation and Research Center between 1994 and 2017. Therewere 639 male and 350 female recipients. Among 1001 LTs, there were 438 deceased donors and 563 living donors. The age interval of the patients was 4 months to 71 years old. The median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 20. There were 12 deceased liver donors using the split method. There were 12 cases subject to retransplantation. In living donor LT grafts, 423 right lobes, 46 left lobes, and 94 left lateral sectors were used. In the first monitoring,the total annual mortality rate was 130 cases (13%). The mortality rate in retransplantation was found to be 66%. A 1-year survival rate of 87% was generally stablished. CONCLUSION: LThas been improving consistently over the last two decades. Ege University is one of the biggest liver transplant centers in Turkey for both technical and educational perspective.

The effect of ingested sulfite on active avoidance in normal and sulfite oxidase-deficient aged rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible toxic effects of sulfite on neurons by measuring active avoidance learning in normal and sulfite oxidase (SOX)-deficient aged rats. Twenty-four months of age Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (C), sulfite-treated group (S), SOX-deficient group (D) and SOX-deficient + sulfite-treated group (DS). SOX deficiency was established by feeding rats with a low molybdenum (Mo) diet and adding 200 ppm tungsten (W) to their drinking water. Sulfite in the form of sodium metabisulfite (25 mg/kg) was given by gavage for six weeks. Active avoidance responses were determined by using an automated shuttle box. Hepatic SOX activity was measured to confirm SOX deficiency. The hippocampus was used for determining the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) and caspase-3 enzymes and the level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitrate/nitrite. SOX-deficient rats had an approximately 10-fold decrease in hepatic SOX activity compared with normal rats. Sulfite did not induce impairment of active avoidance learning in SOX-deficient rats and in normal rats compared with their control groups. Sulfite had no effect on the activity of COX and caspase-3 in the hippocampus. Treatment with sulfite did not significantly increase the level of PGE2 and nitrate/nitrite in the hippocampus.

The effect of ingested sulfite on visual evoked potentials, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status of brain in normal and sulfite oxidase-deficient aged rats.

Sulfite, commonly used as a preservative in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals, is a very reactive and potentially toxic molecule which is detoxified by sulfite oxidase (SOX). Changes induced by aging may be exacerbated by exogenous chemicals like sulfite. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ingested sulfite on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and brain antioxidant statuses by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Brain lipid oxidation status was also determined via thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in normal- and SOX-deficient aged rats. Rats do not mimic the sulfite responses seen in humans because of their relatively high SOX activity level. Therefore this study used SOX-deficient rats since they are more appropriate models for studying sulfite toxicity. Forty male Wistar rats aged 24 months were randomly assigned to four groups: control (C), sulfite (S), SOX-deficient (D) and SOX-deficient + sulfite (DS). SOX deficiency was established by feeding rats with low molybdenum (Mo) diet and adding 200 ppm tungsten (W) to their drinking water. Sulfite in the form of sodium metabisulfite (25 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) was given by gavage. Treatment continued for 6 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, flash VEPs were recorded. Hepatic SOX activity was measured to confirm SOX deficiency. SOX-deficient rats had an approximately 10-fold decrease in hepatic SOX activity compared with the normal rats. The activity of SOX in deficient rats was thus in the range of humans. There was no significant difference between control and treated groups in either latence or amplitude of VEP components. Brain SOD, CAT, and GPx activities and brain TBARS levels were similar in all experimental groups compared with the control group. Our results indicate that exogenous administration of sulfite does not affect VEP components and the antioxidant/oxidant status of aged rat brains.

The Effect of Magnesium on Visual Evoked Potentials in L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rats.

In the literature, although there are many studies regarding complications of hypertension, information concerning its influence on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) is limited. This study aims to clarify the possible therapeutic effects of the preferential magnesium (Mg) treatment on VEPs in an experimental hypertension model. Rats were divided into four groups as follows: control, Mg treated (Mg), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) hypertension, and L-NAME hypertension + Mg treated (L-NAME + Mg). Hypertension was induced by L-NAME which was given to rats orally over 6 weeks (25 mg/kg/day in drinking water). A magnesium-enriched diet (0.8 g/kg) was given to treatment groups for 6 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined by using the tail-cuff method. Flash VEPs were recorded. Our results revealed that the SBP was significantly increased in the L-NAME group compared to control. Magnesium treatment significantly attenuated SBP in the hypertensive rats compared to the L-NAME group. The mean latencies of P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3 components were significantly prolonged in hypertensive rats compared to control. Treatment with Mg provided a significant decrease in the latencies of P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3 potentials in the L-NAME + Mg group compared to the L-NAME group. Plasma Mg levels were increased in the L-NAME + Mg group compared to the L-NAME group. No change was detected in the Mg levels of the brains in all experimental groups. Magnesium treatment had no effect on the brain nitrate/nitrite and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels in hypertensive rats compared to non-treated rats. There was a positive correlation between the brain TBARS levels and SBP of the rats. The present study suggests that Mg supplementation has the potential to prevent VEP changes in the L-NAME-induced hypertension model.

The role of nitric oxide on visual-evoked potentials in MPTP-induced Parkinsonism in mice.

The present study aimed to elucidate visual evoked potentials (VEP) changes in MPTP induced Parkinson's disease (PD) and investigate the possible benefical effects of neuronal (n) and inducible (i) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on altered VEPs, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. 3 months old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups which included control (C), 7-nitra indazole treated (7-NI), S-methylisothiourea (SMT) treated, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treated, 7-NI+MPTP treated and SMT+MPTP treated. Motor activity of mice was evaluated via the pole test. At the end of the experimental period VEPs were recorded, brain and retina tissues were removed for biochemical analysis. Dopaminergic neuron death at substantia nigra (SN) was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Immunohistochemical staining was also performed to determine iNOS and nNOS in all tissue sections. Mice with experimental PD exhibited decreased motor activity. Dopaminergic cell death at pars compacta of SN (SNpc) was significantly increased in MPTP treated group compared to control. Diminished Parkinsonism symptoms were observed in 7-NI+MPTP and SMT+MPTP groups. Treatment with 7-NI and SMT decreased dopaminergic cell death in MPTP treated mice. Caspase-3 activity, nitrite/nitrate and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) levels were significantly increased in SN of MPTP treated mice compared to control. Treatment with 7-NI and SMT significantly decreased elevated caspase-3 activity, nitrite/nitrate and 4-HNE levels in SN of MPTP treated mice. No significant difference in above parameters were observed in the retina. VEP latencies were significantly prolonged in MPTP group compared to control group. 7-NI and SMT treatment caused a significant decrease in VEP latencies in MPTP treated mice compared to none treated MPTP group. This data shows that 7-NI and SMT improves prolonged VEP latencies. The protective effects of 7-NI and SMT on VEP alterations can be related to decreased dopaminergic cell death and reduced lipid peroxidation.