Effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor on the polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity and the course of sepsis in rats with experimental peritonitis.

PURPOSE: Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PML) play an essential role in the host immune response to severe infections. The effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the PML immune functions during serious abdominal infection and course of sepsis, and on the survival in rats with peritonitis are the main subjects of this study. METHODS: The first phase of the study was carried out on 30 Wistar-albino rats equally divided into three groups; Group 1 (control) sham laparotomy; Group 2 (peritonitis); and Group 3 (peritonitis+G-CSF) with fecal peritonitis created by a cecal puncture. At postoperative hours 3, 12, and 24, 0.5 ml normal saline was injected subcutaneously in groups 1 and 2, and 0.5 ml solution containing 50 microg/kg of G-CSF in group 3. The phagocytic and chemotactic activities of neutrophils and monocytes were evaluated by a flow cytometry analysis. The plasma lactate concentrations were assessed as a marker of tissue perfusion during sepsis. The second phase was a survival analysis, which was observed during 10 days on 20 rats equally divided into two groups; group 1 (peritonitis) and group 2 (peritonitis+G-CSF). 0.5 ml normal saline in group 1 and 50 microg/kg of G-CSF in group 2 was injected subcutaneously at the 3rd hour and twice daily. RESULTS: Both the neutrophil- (1.636 vs 2.236) and monocyte-related (1.789 vs 2.465) phagocytic activities significantly (P < 0.001) improved after the G-CSF administration in the rats with peritonitis. In addition, the G-CSF treatment significantly (P < 0.0014) improved the chemotactic activity (1.18 vs 2.75) of neutrophils, and partly supported (P < 0.0952) the chemotactic activity (1.69 vs 2.37) of monocytes. The plasma lactate level (1.86 vs 4.9 mmol/l) was significantly (P < 0.0001) increased after septic changes due to experimental peritonitis. On the other hand, the lactate concentration was significantly (P < 0.001) decreased (4.9 vs 2.63 mmol/l) after the G-CSF administration. The survival was 20% at the 4th day and 0 at the 6th day in peritonitis, and 90% at the 4th day (P = 0.0055) and 80% at the 6th day (P = 0.0007) days in the peritonitis+G-CSF groups. CONCLUSION: G-CSF enhances the immune functions of neutrophils and monocytes. The increased activities of these cells have a beneficial effect on the enhancement of the host immune response during severe infections. The improved immune function of PML due to the G-CSF treatment thus ameliorates the survival and the courses of sepsis, which is also defined by tissue perfusion and the cellular oxygen balance, which is affected by septic changes.

[A rare anomaly presented with symptoms of acute abdomen: a third kidney located at right iliac fossa]. / Akut karin tablosu ile kendini gösteren nadir bir anomali: Sag pelvik yerlesimli üçüncü böbrek.

Supernumerary kidney is an extremely rare congenital anomaly of the urinary tract. A 39 year-old woman was admitted to the emergency unit with right lower quadrant pain. Physical examination revealed abdominal tenderness and defense on palpation of the right pelvic region. Blood and urine analysis revealed leukocytosis and urinary tract infection. Ultrasound examination demonstrated a suspicious mass which was thought to be a pseudokidney in the pelvis. Native kidneys were found in the normal anatomic position. Further investigation with computed tomography demonstrated a functioning third kidney which has located at the right iliac fossa in addition to normal excreting right and left kidneys. Acute abdomen like symptoms were secondary to the urinary infection of the third kidney and the urinary infection was successfully treated by antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medication. We conclude that the infection of pelvic supernumerary kidney may create clinical symptoms of acute abdomen. Although extremely rare, congenital anomalies like supernumerary pelvic kidney should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Effects of prostaglandin E1 and E2 analogues on mucosal injury-induced, and on bacterial translocation promoted by, experimental intestinal obstruction.

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate effects of prostaglandin E1 and E2 analogues on mucosal structure and bacterial translocation during small bowel obstruction. The study was carried out on 40 Wistar rats equally divided into four groups; group 1 = control, group 2 = intestinal obstruction by ligation of distal ileum, and groups 3 and 4 = obstruction and administration of PGE2 and PGE1, respectively. Intestinal bacterial content and translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes and to the blood were determined by microbiological analysis. Mucosal structural changes were assessed by histopathological examination and expressed as a structural damage score and as the thickness of the mucosal layer. Bacterial overgrowth was determined in all obstruction groups. Mucosal thickness was 39.7 microm in group 1 and 26.8 microm in group 2 (p <.001). The thickness was significantly preserved by administration of PGE1 and PGE2 (p <.001). Mean structural damage score was 0.4 in group 1 and 6.7 in group 2 (p <.001). The damage scores were significantly lower in groups treated with PGE1 and PGE2 than obstruction alone group (p <.001). Better scores were obtained in rats treated with PGE1 than rats treated with PGE2 (p =.0026). Translocation to the lymph nodes did not occur in group 1, but was 70% in group 2 (p =.0015); significantly lower rates of translocation to lymph nodes were observed in rats treated with PGE1 (p =.035), but not with PGE2. We conclude that mucosal structure is partly maintained by administration of PGE1 and PGE2 during intestinal obstruction; PGE1 is more effective than PGE2 for ameliorating mucosal injury. PGE1 prevents bacterial translocation by preserving structural integrity of the mucosa. PGE2 partially prevents mucosal damage but not bacterial translocation.

Prostaglandins E1 and E2 analogues ameliorate mucosal injury secondary to distal colonic obstruction.

After colonic obstruction, increased intraluminal pressure may impair blood circulation and cause mucosal injury that sometimes progresses to perforation. This experimental study aims to evaluated effects of prostaglandin E (PGE) analogues in order to prevent mucosal injury secondary to distal colonic obstruction. This study was carried out on 40 male Wistar rats equally divided into four groups: group 1, control; group 2, colonic obstruction by ligation of the sigmoid colon; group 3, obstruction and administration of PGE1; group 4, obstruction and administration of PGE 2. Mucosal structural changes were assessed and scored by histopathological examination at 24 h postoperatively. The thickness of the mucosal layer of the cecal wall was measured as 179.3 and 122 microm (p <.001) in the control and obstruction alone group, respectively. Mucosal thickness was preserved by PGE1 (170 microm) and PGE2 (157.3 microm) administration. The mean damage score was 0.73 in the control and 3.3 (p <.001) in the obstruction alone group. This score was significantly lower in obstruction groups treated with both PGE1 and PGE2, 1.13 and 1.26 respectively (p <.001). Both PGE1 and PGE2 (PGE1 better than PGE2) ameliorate mucosal injury during distal colonic obstruction. We concluded that the administration of PGE analogues in case of mechanical obstruction of the left colon was beneficial for preserving the structure of the mucosal layer.

[Clinical differences between surgically treated patients with large bowel obstruction in the cities of Van and Istanbul]. / Van ve Istanbul illerinde cerrahi tedavi uygulanan akut kalin barsak tikanmali olgular arasindaki klinik farklar.

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: Geographical differences between cases of colonic obstructions affect clinical course and outcome of patients. We aimed to establish regional clinical differences between patients with colonic obstruction from eastern and western regions of Turkey. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 224 patients with colonic obstruction who were surgically treated in two hospital situated in Istanbul from western and in Van from eastern regions of Turkey. This analysis was made in respect of demographic features, causes of obstruction and location in the colon, complicated obstructions, postoperative clinical course and mortality. RESULTS: Men constituted 71.4% of patients with a mean age of 55.5 years. Obstruction site was the left colon in 82.5% and the sigmoid in 66% of patients from western region, and 91.7% (p = 0.03), and 85% (p = 0.007) respectively of those from eastern region. The leading causes of obstruction were obstructive cancer (52.5%) in Istanbul and volvulus (80.2%) Van respectively (p < 0.001). The colonic obstruction was complicated in 22% of patients. The rate of complicated obstruction was 17.5% and 26.4% (p = 0.07) in Van respectively. The overall postoperative mortality was found as 12.9%. The mortality being 8.6% in simple obstruction raised to 28% (p = 0.008) in complicated patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant differences in colonic obstruction cases between eastern and western parts of Turkey. The incidence of complicated obstruction is bigger in eastern region. A considerable mortality arises in surgically treated patients with colonic obstruction. Postoperative mortality was significantly elevated in cases of obstruction complicated by strangulation, necrosis, and perforation.