The neuroprotective effects of 2-APB in rats with experimentally- -induced severe acute pancreatitis.

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the neuroprotective effects of 2-aminoethyl diphenyl-borinate (2-APB) on the brains of rats with experimentally-induced severe acute pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Spraque-Dawley male rats with an average weight of 200-250 grams were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1: Sham group, Group 2: Severe acute pancreatitis group, Group 3: Treatment group with severe acute pancreatitis, given 2 mg/kg 2-APB before pancreatitis onset. In Groups 2 and 3, severe acute pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 1.5 g/kg L-arginine with a 1-hour interval. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, pancreatic amylase were all measured. Brain tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. TUNEL staining method was used to visualize apoptotic cells. RESULTS: In Group 3, it was determined that the density of TUNEL-positive cells in the cerebral cortex has decreased, while the number of Bcl-2-positive cells had increased. In Group 3, it was observed that glial aggregation areas were diminished and histopathological changes were decreased as compared to Group 2. In Group 2, on the other hand, it was observed that in areas with glial cell aggregation, the density of TUNEL-positive glial cells had increased, while Bcl-2-positive cell reaction has been feeble. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that 2-APB decreases neuronal apoptosis and glial cell aggregation (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 21).

Ultrasonographic evaluation of Achilles tendon in children with flatfoot: A case-control morphometric study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether any relationships exist between the presence of flatfoot and ultrasonographic morphometric findings of Achilles tendon in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 pediatric patients with a mean age of 11.96±2.44 (SD) years (range: 9-16 years) with flexible flatfoot and 29 healthy pediatric controls who were matched for age and served as a control group. Demographic data of both groups such as age, height and weight, and anthropometric measurements including leg length and, length and cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon on ultrasonography were tabulated. Relationships between the cross-sectional area of Achilles tendon and flatfoot and the other parameters were searched for using backward multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: No associations between flatfoot and length and cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon, age, height, leg and foot length were found. A negative correlation was found between the cross-sectional area of Achilles tendon and presence of flatfoot (Beta=-4.93, P=0.01) and age (Beta=-1.96, P=0.04). A positive correlation was found between the cross-sectional area of Achilles tendon and shoe size (Beta=2.13, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Flatfoot, shoe size, age and weight must be kept in mind as a clue for a thinner Achilles tendon morphometry which can be a risk factor in lower limb pathologies.

MDCT evaluation of nasopalatine canal morphometry and variations: An analysis of 100 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the possible variations in morphology of nasopalatine canal (NPC) morphometry depending on age, gender and absence of anterior incisors using multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients (50 men, 50 women) with a mean age of 43.29±18.81 (SD) years (range: 18-90 years) who have undergone head MDTC were included into the study. Foramen nasalis diameter (P1), foramen incisivum diameter (P2), NPC length (P3), distance between buccal wall of incisive foramen and facial side of the buccal bone (P4), distances between buccal bone wall of NPC and facial side of buccal bone (P5), distance between mid-NPC buccal wall and facial side of buccal bone (P6), distance between buccal wall of NPC and the apex of anterior central incisors (P7) and NPC angle (P8) were measured. Formal variations in NPC were searched for. Differences in morphometric data were searched using Student t-test or Mann-Whitney test. Gender-based analysis of the variations was done with the χ2 test. Pearson's test was used to search for correlation between morphometric data and age. RESULTS: P1 was larger in men (3.72±1.41mm) than in women (3.07±1.34mm) (P<0.001). Similarly, P3 was larger in men (13.68±2.73mm) than in women (11.43±2.78mm) (P<0.001). No differences in the other NPC measurements (P2, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8) were found between men and women. Morphological variations in NPC (cylindrical, hourglass, banana shape, funnel shape, single canal, Y-type canal, parallel canal and others) were detected with frequencies ranging from 8 to 65.3%. A significant negative correlation was found between NCP measurements and patient age for P3 (r=-0.311; P=0.002), P4 (r=-0.267; P=0.007) and P8 (r=-0.318; P<0.001). New NPC variations, which were not reported before were found in 19% of our patients. CONCLUSION: NPC shows myriad potential variations that have various prevalences. It is assumed that familiarity with these variations may help decrease the incidence of complications during facial or dental surgery.