Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the cerebellopontine angle in a cat.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour is an uncommon tumour in cats. The current case report aims to present the diagnosis, treatment and histopathology of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour that developed in the cerebellopontine angle region of a cat. A 4-year-old 4.2-kg female calico cat was brought to the animal hospital with the complaints of loss of balance, leaning against the wall and behavioural changes. During the neurological examination, the patient was observed to have a right-sided head tilt accompanied by ipsilateral ventral strabismus. On magnetic resonance imaging scan, a mass was identified at the right cerebellopontine angle. The surgical removal of the mass was carried out using a caudo-tentorial approach. The histopathological analysis revealed the presence of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour. This case report contributes to the existing knowledge in the field presenting the characteristics of a malignant peripheral nerve tumour that was not associated with any nerve in the cerebellopontine angle in a cat.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of colistin & meropenem conjugated silver nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The progressive increase in infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria and the emergence of resistance to last-resort antimicrobial drugs in recent years necessitate the development of new therapeutic strategies. This study was conducted to obtain nanostructured antimicrobials by conjugating colistin (COL) and meropenem (MEM) antibiotics with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (bio-AgNPs) via the green synthesis method using Rosa damascena extract, and to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of these nanostructures against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, high-resolution-transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analyses were performed to determine the physical and chemical properties of synthesized bio-AgNPs, COL@bio-AgNPs, MEM@bio-AgNPs, and COL&MEM@bio-AgNPs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of nanoparticles were determined on standard and MDR clinical strains. The antibiofilm efficacy and cytotoxic effect of nanoparticles were evaluated by the crystal violet dye method and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide dye method, respectively. The characterization analyses demonstrated that the synthesized nanoparticles had crystal structure and spherical morphology (5.6-30.2 nm in size). Antibiotic conjugated nanoparticles exhibited better antimicrobial activity and lower MIC values (0.125-4 µg/mL) on the tested strains compared to free antibiotics, and MIC values were decreased up to 1024-fold (p < 0.05). Antibiotic conjugated nanoparticles were found to be more effective in biofilm eradication than free antibiotics and bio-AgNPs and had a less inhibitory effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cell viability. The findings revealed that antibiotic-conjugated nanoparticles have the potential to be used as an effective antimicrobial drug against MDR E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains.

Our kidneys and teeth may be closer than we think: relationship between dental calculi and renal stone burden grading in a patient series from Somalia.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the correlation between dental calculi grading and renal stone burden grading. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was designed as an observational single-center study and included consecutive patients with radiologically confirmed renal stones at our center between January 2022 and July 2022. These patients were referred to the dentistry clinic for a dental examination to assess dental calculi and oral hygiene. Investigated parameters included demographic characteristics, renal stone location and diameter, urine pH, and dental evaluation findings (teeth brushing habits, oral hygiene, and dental calculi). Renal stone burden grade and dental calculi grade were calculated, and Spearman's rank-order correlation analysis was used for correlation analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 204 patients were included. The mean patient age was 36.3±15.2. Approximately half of the patients (49.2%) had multiple stones. About 36% of the participants had high-grade dental calculi, while 29.4% had intermediate low-grade dental calculi. Oral hygiene was significantly associated with dental calculi grade (p<0.001). The dental calculi grade was positively and moderately correlated with the renal stone diameter (Spearman's rho=0.493, p<0.001). Among patients with a renal stone diameter greater than 20 mm, intermediate to high-grade dental calculi were found in 88.4%. This proportion was 49.1% for those with a renal stone diameter smaller than 20 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists should consider the presence of undiagnosed kidney stones in patients with especially intermediate or high-grade dental calculi. Urologists should know that patients with large and multiple kidney stones may have dental calculi.

"Theranekron: A Novel Anti-inflammatory Candidate for Acetic Acid-Induced Colonic Inflammation in Rats".

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized with chronic inflammation of gastrointestinal track. In the pathogenesis of IBD, inflammation is the main mechanism. Induction of inflammation triggers the oxidative stress that subsequently leading to apoptosis. Considering the all pathological mechanisms, many therapeutic agents have been used for IBD but because of serious side effects there is still a need for new therapeutic drugs. In this study, we aim to evaluate the possible protective effects of Theranekron (TH) on acetic acid (AA)- induced colonic damage and to describe the probable effect mechanisms of TH. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Fourty female adult Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups. Following 24 h fasting, colitis was induced by rectal instillation of AA. In TH group, a single dose of subcutaneous 0.2 ml TH was used. In treatment groups, 0.2 ml TH single dose or 100 mg/kg sulfasalazine (SS) for 7 days were used after colitis induction. Normal salin was used for all applications in control group. Histopathologically hemorrhage, edema and inflammatory reactions were seen in AA group. TH and SS decreased the severity of lesions. Nuclear factor kappa B, Serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein, Growth-related oncogene, and Osteopontin expressions were markedly increased in AA group and TH markedly reduced these expressions. In Western analysis, decreased NF-kB and caspase-3 levels were observed with TH. Oxidative markers did not changed significantly. CONCLUSIONS: TH has a prominent anti-inflammatory effect on AA-induced colonic inflammation via NF-kB signaling whereas antiapoptic effects seem to be independent from this pathway.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Escherichia coli isolates as agents of community-acquired urinary tract infection (2008-2014).

OBJECTIVE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most frequently seen community-acquired infections worldwide. E. coli causes 90% of urinary system infections. To guide the empirical therapy, the resistance pattern of E. coli responsible for community-acquired UTI was evaluated throughout a seven-year period in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The urine cultures of patients with urinary tract infections admitted to outpatient clinics between 1(st) January 2008 and 31(st) December 2014 were analyzed. Presence of ≥10(5) colony-forming units/mL in urine culture media was considered as significant for UTI. Isolated bacteria were identified by standard laboratory techniques or automated system VITEK2 (BioMerieux, France) and BD PhoenixTM 100 (BD, USA), as required. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) criteria. RESULTS: A total of 13281 uropathogens were isolated. Overall E. coli accounted for 8975 (67%) of all isolates. Resistance rates of E. coli to antimicrobial agents was demonstrated to be as follows: ampicillin 66.9%, cefazolin 30.9%, cefuroxime 30.9%, ceftazidime 14.9%, cefotaxime 28%, cefepime 12%, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 36.9%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SXT) 20%, ciprofloxacin 49.9%, amikacin 0.3%, gentamycin 24%, nitrofurantoin 0.9%, and fosfomycin 4.3%. There was no resistance to imipenem nor meropenem. The frequency of ESBL-producing E. coli strains was 24%. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin are appropriate empirical therapy for community-acquired UTI empirical therapy, but the fluoroquinolones and the TMP-SXT shall not be used in the emprical treatment of UTI at this stage. In conclusion, as resistance rates show regional differences, it is necessary to regularly examine regional resistance rates to determine the appropriate empiric antibiotic treatment and national antibiotic usage policies must be reorganized according to data obtained from these studies.

Experimental study on copper uptake capacity in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

To investigate the effect of different sizes, sex, and exposure time on Cu uptake capacity, mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis of different shell sizes were exposed to different Cu concentrations in different aquariums. In another experiment, mussels were exposed to stable dissolved Cu for 6 days in the laboratory. All mussels tissue concentrations were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry. At the end of uptake, the rate of increase of Cu level in the soft tissues of mussels in different aquariums was 3.84-7.92 times higher than before exposure. While the results of Cu concentrations were negatively correlated with the shell sizes in the control and second groups (r control = -0.862, r second = -0.851 p < 0.05), this relation was not observed in the other groups (p > 0.05). Also, results showed no significant difference between male and female (p > 0.05). On the other hand, Cu concentration values in soft tissue were monitored daily and observed to be increasing up to the third day but afterwards to be descending, thus indicating a significant effect of the exposure time-related Cu uptake by mussels. Therefore, the exposure time to Cu metal of the mussel should be taken into account in the marine pollution investigations. In addition, by using the obtained Cu heavy metal concentration results, the heavy metal intake by the human population was calculated by taking into account daily mussel consumption. The results were examined for potential human health risks and discussed. These results would be helpful to understand factors controlling Cu accumulation in mussels.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSC) is regarded as a variant of squamous cell carcinoma, but displays distinct morphological and biological features as well as a different clinical course. The tumor is frequently seen in the head and neck and is preferentially located in the larynx, especially in supraglottic sites. Ten patients with BSC of the supraglottic larynx were treated from 1991 to 1995 at the Medical Faculty of the University of Istanbul. Results of treatment were compared retrospectively with a control group consisting of 44 patients with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Ages, localizations, stages and treatment procedures were similar. In both groups mean survival, nodal involvement and distant metastases were comparable although the local (laryngeal) recurrence rate in patients with early supraglottic (T2) disease in the BSC group after conservative partial surgery was distinct compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that conservative surgery should be assessed with caution in patients with BSC, and postoperative irradiation be taken into consideration.