Relationship of hemoxygenase-1 and prolidase enzyme activity with oxidative stress in papillary thyroid cancer.

AIM: Recent studies associate thyroid cancer with oxidative stress. We aim to clarify the relation between papillary thyroid cancer, oxidative stress, hemoxygenase-1, prolidase enzymes and investigate the availability of these enzymes as markers for diagnosis, success of treatment, and follow-up. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and 25 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Hemoxygenase-1, prolidase (oxidant stress indicator), malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and superoxide dismutase (an indicator of antioxidant defense system) were measured pre-operatively and 30 days after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in serum levels of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase (p <0.001 for both) after thyroidectomy in papillary thyroid carcinoma group. In addition, there was a significant difference in the postoperative serum levels of prolidase, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and superoxide dismutase between papillary thyroid carcinoma and control groups (p =0.024, p <0.001, p =0.002, and p =0.016, respectively) beside significant difference of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, hemoxygenase-1, and superoxide dismutase pre-operative serum levels (p <0.001, p =0.003, p =0.006, and p =0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: When the unquestionable role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of cancer is considered, in the future it is expected to associate parametric changes in the serum of patients caused by oxidative stress to papillary thyroid cancer. Hippokratia 2016, 20(1): 55-59.

Use of infliximab in treatment of acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigating the effects of infliximab in severe necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups evenly. Necrotizing pancreatitis was induced in group I and II by retrograde injection of 3% taurocholate into common pancreaticobiliary duct. In group III and IV saline was introduced instead of taurocholate to mimic pressure effect. Infliximab (8mg/kg) was infused through tail vein in group I and III and saline was infused in group II and IV just before laparotomy. Group V underwent sham laparotomy. Serum amylase activity, serum and tissue sialic acid, carbonyl content, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant activity (TAA) and pancreatic histopathology were assessed. RESULTS: In group I serum sialic acid, malondialdehyde, carbonyl content and amylase activity were significantly lower than in group II (p<0.01). There were no significant differences for serum TAA between group I and II (p>0.05). Tissue sialic acid and malondialdehyde in group I were significantly lower than in group II (p<0.01). But tissue TAA in group I was significantly higher than in group II (p<0.01). Carbonyl content of group I was not significantly different from group II (p>0.05). Histopathologically, pancreatic sections of group II demonstrated extensive acinar and fat necrosis, hemorrhage, and inflammation. In group I Infliximab improved histopathological changes (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration of infliximab resulted in a significant improvement in biochemical and histopathological alterations in acute necrotizing pancreatitis(Tab. 3, Ref. 43).

Omitting of bougie appears to be safe for the performance of the fundal wrap at laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

AIM: Some operative techniques in fundoplication seem to increase the incidence of obstructive symptoms. Some authors believe that using intraesophageal bougie and preparing a short and floppy valve in laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication will help to decrease any possible tight crus repair and wrap and so it is effective to decrease the prevalence of postoperative dysphagia. The aim of this study is to show that there is no absolute benefit of routine insertion of a bougie during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in relation to post-operative dysphagia. METHODS: All patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication by a single surgeon between January 2001 and August 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Esophageal bougie intubation was performed in none of the 154 patients. The operation technique, the duration of the operation, hospital stay and the improvement of the symptoms were assessed. The patients who had esophagitis with Barrett's esophagus and who had hiatal hernia that could not get benefit from medical therapy, were selected for the surgery. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with cruroraphy were done in all patients. RESULTS: Ninety-six of the patients were female and 58 were male. The mean symptom duration was 3.6±0.6 years. The only complication was dysphagia. In eighth week, dysphagia resolved in all patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can be safely performed without the routine use of an esophageal bougie and it does not increase the postoperative dysphagia rate.