The prophylactic effect of L-arginine in acute ischaemic colitis in a rat model of ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The decreased synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) during ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) has been implicated as the major underlying mechanism for the pathogenesis of acute ischaemic colitis (A.I.C.). The aim of this study was to investigate the prophylactic effect of L-arginine, a NO donor, on tissue injury during intestinal I/R, and compare its efficacy with that of exogenous vasodilators (molsidomine) and inert nitrogen-containing molecules (casein). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred forty four Wistar rats underwent occlusion of the superior mesentery artery for 30, 60 and 90 min for induction of intestinal ischaemia, followed by 90 min of reperfusion. The rats were randomly assigned to receive L-arginine, molsidomine, or casein hydrolysate. In all groups, apart of the histological study, we determined the levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), a reliable marker indicating the degree of the tissue damage after intestinal I/R. RESULTS: Serum MDA levels were significantly lower in the L-arginine group compared to the untreated animals or those that had received molsidomine or casein, after a period of ischaemia of 90 minutes (p < 0.0005), as well as after a period of ischaemia of 60 or 90 minutes followed by a 90 minutes reperfusion (p = 0.011, and p < 0.0005, respectively). In addition, lesser histopathological damage was noted after the use of L-arginine compared to that caused by the administration of molsidomine and casein. CONCLUSION: These findings support a prophylactic effect of L-arginine in experimentally induced intestinal ischaemia. In short, L-arginine attenuates the degree of tissue damage in intestinal ischaemia and promotes healing of intestinal mucosa.

Endovascular obliteration of a ruptured right gastric artery aneurysm.

Aneurysms of the right gastric artery are extremely rare lesions. They constitute less than 0.001% of reported visceral artery aneurysms. A unique case of a ruptured right gastric artery aneurysm is presented. Angiographic diagnosis and endovascular treatment by right gastric artery embolization proved safe and efficacious, resulting in complete obliteration of the aneurysm with no adverse sequelae.

Inguinal dermoid cyst of the round ligament. A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Dermoid cysts are rarely located in extraovarian sites, representing an extremely uncommon lesion of the round ligament. The differential diagnosis of an inguinal lesion that proved to be a dermoid cyst deriving from the round ligament is presented with a review of the literature. CASE REPORT: A case of a 27-year-old female with a dermoid cyst arising from the round ligament and lying inside the inguinal canal, which was tender and palpable, is reported. DISCUSSION: Underlining their origin, clinical manifestation, gross appearance and pathology, we differentiate dermoid cysts mainly from epidermoid cysts and mature cystic teratomas, analyzing the importance of such a distinction to the possibility of malignant degeneration and recurrence of a dermoid cyst in the round ligament.

Gardner's syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Gardner's syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the presence of colonic polyposis, osteomas and a multitude of soft tissue tumors. The syndrome may present at any age from 2 mo to 70 years with a variety of symptoms, either colonic or extracolonic. We present a case of a 11-year-old female patient with Gardner's syndrome who presented with a lumbar area desmoid tumor and treated with resection of the desmoid, restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis, A review of the current literature has been performed.