Mitochondrial DNA deletions in patients with esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer globally. Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) are the two major types of esophageal cancer with poor prognosis. The mechanisms of the progression of normal esophagus to Barrett's esophagus (BE) and EA are not fully understood. Mitochondria play a central role in generating energy, apoptosis and cell proliferation. Mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been identified in many diseases including cancers. Mutations of mtDNA were investigated as a part of carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to study whether the 5 kb and 7.4 kb mtDNA deletions are important in the progression of normal esophagus to BE and EA. METHOD: In this study, the frequency of the 5 kb and 7.4 kb deletions in mtDNA were studied in specimens ranging from normal esophageal tissue to BE and EA and also from ESCC. Seventy six paraffin-embedded tissue samples were studied. Four couple primers were used. RESULTS: Seventy-six tissue samples were analyzed total. The negative control and the positive control PCR product were detected in all analyzed samples. The fusion PCR products, which represent the presence of the deletions, were not detected in any of the samples. CONCLUSION: We can say that, these deletions are not associated with progression of normal esophagus to BE and EA and they do not have an important role in detecting esophagitis, BE, EA, and ESSC.

Coronary fat embolism following subarachnoid hemorrhage: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can lead to neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE), and chylomicron metabolism may be altered unfavorably in acute lung injury. This study aimed to investigate the possible effect of NPE on the development of coronary fat embolism. METHODS: This study was conducted on 27 rabbits, 5 of which were used as the control (n=5). Experimental SAH was induced in 15 of the animals by injecting homologous blood into the cisterna magna, and the remaining 7 animals were administered only isotonic saline solution (Sham, n=7) in the same manner under general anesthesia. After 21 days, all the animals were euthanized, and their hearts, lungs, and brains underwent histopathological examination. RESULTS: Six animals died of SAH during the experiment, and foamy hemorrhagic parenchymal lesions and intra-alveolar hemorrhage were observed in their lungs. The histopathologic findings revealed minimal changes in the lungs, heart, and brains of the surviving animals; however, an abundant amount of fat globules was found in the coronary arteries of the six nonsurviving animals. There was a meaningful difference between the number of occluded coronary arteries with fatty globules in the surviving and nonsurviving animals (P<.001). However, the difference between the survivors and the isotonic-saline-injected group was not meaningful (P>.05). Coronary fat embolism was an important mortality factor following SAH (P<.005). CONCLUSIONS: In SAH-induced NPE, the leakage of chylomicrons into the systemic circulation may lead to coronary fat embolism, which has not yet been reported in the literature.

The Important Liaison Between Onuf Nucleus-Pudendal Nerve Ganglia Complex Degeneration and Urinary Retention in Spinal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE: The Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) supplies pudendal nerve roots and conus medullaris. The aim of this study was to elucidate if there is any relationship between neurodegenerative changes of the Onuf nucleus (ON)-pudendal nerve ganglia complex secondary to vasospasm of the AKA after spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: This study was conducted on 22 rabbits, which were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (n = 5), sham (n = 5), and spinal SAH (n = 12). Experimental spinal SAH was induced at the L2 level. After 2 weeks, the ON-pudendal nerve ganglia complex and AKA were examined histopathologically. Bladder volume values were estimated, and results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Two animals died within the first week of experiment. Histopathologically, severe vasospasm of the AKA and neuronal degeneration and neuronal apoptosis were observed in the ON-pudendal nerve ganglia complex in 5 animals of the SAH group. The mean volume of the imaginary AKA, mean bladder volumes, and degenerated neuron densities of ON and pudendal nerve ganglia were estimated. We found that vasospasm of the AKA led to numerous neuron degenerations in ON and pudendal ganglia and consequently urinary retention (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: ON-pudendal nerve ganglia complex degeneration secondary to vasospasm of the AKA may be a cause of urinary retention after spinal SAH.

Comparing effects of lacidipine, ramipril, and valsartan against experimentally induced myocardial infarcted rats.

In this study, the effects of lacidipine (LAC), ramipril (RAM), and valsartan (VAL) on biochemical and histopathologic changes in heart tissue were studied in rats with isoproterenol-induced (ISO-induced) myocardial infarction (MI). LAC, RAM, and VAL had been administered via oral gavage at 3, 3, and 30 mg/kg doses, respectively, once per day during a 30-day time period. On days 29 and 30, the drug treatment group and the control group (with the exception of the intact control group, in which no medications were given, and ISO was not administered) were administered 180 mg/kg ISO subcutaneously over an interval of 24 h. After this period, the hearts of the rats were removed and processed for biochemical and histopathologic studies. The antioxidant parameters superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated. A diagnosis of MI was confirmed with antioxidant parameters and histopathologic findings. In MI control groups, histopathologic indicators were found to be statistically higher than those in drug groups; an increase in histopathologic indicators of MI correlates with significant decreases in SOD and CAT levels, and an increase in MDA level. Histopathologic grades of MI indicators were significantly higher in MI group that did not receive any cardioprotective medications in comparison with MI groups that received LAC, RAM, and VAL. Each of the three medications favorably modulated most of the biochemical and histopathologic parameters observed. No significant difference existed with regard to any of the estimated parameters in the rat groups that received medications without MI induction. In conclusion, results indicate that LAC, RAM, and VAL significantly reduced myocardial injury and emphasize the cardioprotective nature of these agents.

Mean platelet volume: a new predictor in confirming acute appendicitis diagnosis.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS: Our study was carried out in 206 healthy control groups and 226 patients who had a preliminary diagnosis of AA. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in MPV was noted in patients with AA compared with healthy controls (P < .001). The best MPV level cutoff point for AA was 7.6 fL, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 73%, 84%, 84%, and 74%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As the MPV value is included in the complete blood count (CBC) analysis, it increases the sensitivity and NPVs of white blood cell (WBC) in AA diagnosis without the need for extra analyses, loss of time, or cost increase. Therefore, we believe that the MPV value should also be taken into consideration along with the WBC in every patient with suspected AA.

A case of papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal cyst without a carcinoma in the thyroid gland.

The thyroglossal duct cyst is the most common developmental anomaly of the thyroid gland. We present a patient with a papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed after surgical resection of a thyroglossal cyst. The 39-year-old patient reported to our hospital due to a swelling of this throat. The results of the ultrasonography were reported as showing multiple nodules in both thyroid lobes, and an ~3-cm diameter image in the submental area, in keeping with lymphadenomegalia. In the fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) evaluation from the nodules in the thyroid, it was observed that the thyrocites with uniform nuclei made up single-layer groups. FNAC from the thyroglossal cyst, a few histiocytes were observed on a ground with a large number of erythrocytes. The patient was subjected to a total thyroidectomy, pyramidal lobe excision, and total excision of the 3-cm diameter soft mass, starting at the tip of the pyramidal lobe. The case was diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma in thyroglossal duct cyst with histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. If the thyroglossal channel cyst had been diagnosed preoperatively, total thyroidectomy and a Sistrunk operation would have been performed. For this reason, repeated FNAC, particularly, if performed under ultrasound guidance, may improve the diagnostic value of FNAC. Thus, in such patients, throat ultrasonography must be carried out in expert hands, thin-needle aspiration biopsy, computerized tomography, and thyroid scintigraphy must be done if necessary, and the necessary treatment protocols carried out after a definite diagnosis.

Preventive effect of amiodarone during acute period in isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in Wistar rats.

The ability of amiodarone to prevent pathological changes and oxidative stress after isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury was investigated in rats. A better understanding of the processes involved in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction has led to the search for drugs that can limit the extent of myocardial injury. Amiodarone was administered to groups of rats once per day for 30 days. On days 29 and 30, the rats of the ISO control and drug treatment groups were administered 180 mg/kg ISO subcutaneously at an interval of 24 h for two consecutive days. In the control groups, clinical indicators, such as creatine kinase-isoenzymes and troponin-I, were found to be statistically higher than in the drug groups. Parallel to this increase in indicators, a significant decrease in glutathione levels and activities of superoxide dismutase and an increase in malondialdehyde level were detected. Biochemical and histopathologic results in the ISO-induced model of myocardial injury emphasize the beneficial action of amiodarone as a cardioprotective agent.

Double aneuploidy in a Turkish child: Down-Klinefelter syndrome.

The occurrence of double aneuploidy in the one person is a relatively rare phenomenon. A 5-year-old child, the second-born of non-consanguineous parents, possessed an extra X chromosome in addition to trisomy 21. The proband's parents and his brother showed normal karyotype. The phenotypic characteristics of the child have been discussed in light of the published reports on double aneuploidies of XXY and trisomy 21.