Protective effects of growth hormone on bacterial translocation and intestinal damage in rats with partial intestinal obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: One of the reasons of bacterial translocation (BT) is the complete or partial intestinal obstructions (PIO) of the gastrointestinal system. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) on BT in rats with partial intestinal obstruction (PIO). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into the 4 groups: Group I: Sham-operated (SO) (n = 12), Group II control PIO (n = 12), Group III: PIO with rhGH treatment for 5 days (n = 12), Group IV: PIO with rhGH treatment 5 days before PIO and 5 days after PIO (a total of 10 days) (n = 12). In the groups III and IV, the effects of 5 and 10 days administered rhGH were examined. RESULTS: The level of serum and of intestinal fluid IgA was significantly higher in the Group IV compared to the Group I, Group II and Group III. In the Group IV, the number of small intestinal goblet and colonic goblet cells, and the lengths of intestinal mucosal villi and crypt depths were statistically significantly higher than in Groups II and III. The rate of bacterial translocation was higher in the Group II: 100 % in MLNs, 41.6 % in blood culture and 50.8 % in the liver cultures, it was significantly higher compared to the other groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The study results demonstrated that administration of rhGH to the rats with PIO for at least 10 days decreased bacterial translocation (Fig. 3, Ref. 25).

Reversed seromuscular gastrocystoplasty for bladder augmentation.

The aim of this study was to prevent the complications of gastrocystoplasty by using reversed seromuscular gastrocystoplasty for bladder augmentation. Healthy mongrel dogs were used in the study. A diamond shaped segment was separated from the remainder of the stomach preserving the right gastroepiploic artery in 11 dogs. The gastric mucosa was removed. A reversed seromuscular gastrocystoplasty was performed. The animals were observed for a mean of 7.7 months. Thereafter, relaparotomy was performed in all animals. A bladder stone was found in 1 dog. In the histopathological evaluation of the urinary bladder, it was seen that the gastric serosal surface was covered with the urothelium in all dogs. Transitional epithelial hyperplasia in 1 dog (12.5%) and squamous metaplasia in 2 dogs (25%) were identified. There were no statistical differences between preoperative and postoperative values of urine and blood pH and serum sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate levels. Complications of gastrocystoplasty such as hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and hematuria and dysuria syndrome, are prevented by this procedure. The shrinkage of the gastric patch surface may also be prevented by facing the smooth gastric serosa to the internal surface of the urinary bladder.

The effect of iatrogenic vas deferens injury on fertility in an experimental rat model.

The long-term result of accidental crushing of the vas deferens during inguinal surgery is unpredictable. It is stated that even a slight disturbance in the muscular layer or mucosa may endanger fertility. This study was designed to investigate the early and late histopathologic changes of iatrogenic injury on the vas and its effect on fertility in a rat model. Both vasa deferentia of 54 male rats, divided into three groups (n = 18 each), were subjected to an operative manipulation. These manipulations consisted of digital compression for 45 seconds in group A, grasping with a mosquito clamp for 2 seconds in group B, and grasping with a mosquito clamp for 2 minutes in group C. In five rats from each group, the vasa were removed on the third and 21st postoperative day for histological evaluation. The remaining 13 rats in each group were allowed to mate for a period of 4 months. Bilateral vasa were analyzed for patency and histology. A spermatic granuloma was observed in 79% of the fertile and 80% of the infertile rats. Statistical analysis showed no significant fertility difference among the three groups. There was no statistical difference between groups B and C (P > .05) in terms of high and low flow patency rates in vitro, whereas a statistical significance was present between these two groups and group A (P< .001). It can be said that type rather than time of injury is important in this experimental model, because the results of the patency test alone are sufficient to prove the possibility of functional damage in vas deferens. The authors conclude that inguinal contents should be handled carefully and contralateral exploration in asymptomatic cases older than 1 year with inguinal pathology should be avoided.

Laparoscopic-assisted pneumatic reduction of intussusception.

The nonoperative treatment of intussusception is done by fluoroscopy, however, false-positive and negative images may lead to unnecessary operations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopy in pneumatic reduction. Surgical ileoileocolic intussusception was performed in 27 dogs. Sixteen dogs were observed for 3 days (group A), and 11 were observed for 5 days (group B). Laparoscopy was performed in the intussuscepted dogs during pneumatic reduction. Under general anesthesia, a 10-mm trocar was inserted supraumblically in the midline, and the laparoscope was introduced. The intussuscepted bowel was observed on the video monitor. A 5-mm trocar was inserted in the right upper quadrant. The mesentery of the terminal ileum was manipulated using grasping forceps to assist reduction. CO2 was insufflated into the rectum using a Foley catheter, and the reduction was observed on the video monitor. The success rate was 94% (mean reduction time, 2.5 minutes +/- 1.0) for group A and 100% (mean reduction time, 3.7 minutes +/- 0.8) for group B. Bowel perforation was observed in one dog, and recurrence of intussusception in another. The authors claim that observing the bowel on the video monitor may help in the differential diagnosis and reduction of difficult cases such as ileoileocolic and delayed intussusceptions. Therefore, unnecessary open surgery may be prevented.

Penopubic flaps technique for the repair of epispadias with or without exstrophy: a preliminary report.

Six patients (average age, 2 1/2 years; range, 4 months to 8 years) with the exstrophy-epispadias complex and isolate epispadias were treated using an alternative method. An inverted U-shaped incision (with a length of approximately 3 to 5 cm and a width of approximately 0.7 to 1.0 cm) was prepared, extending from the penopubic urethral meatus toward the umbilicus. The two incisions were extended along the urethral plate toward the ventral face of the glans. The pubic flap was prepared from the skin or scar tissue on the pubic area. The neourethra was reconstructed using penopubic flaps. A fistula occurred in one patient, which healed spontaneously. The penopubic flaps enabled us to form a wide-enough urethral tube and to perform a better dissection on the pubic area.

Conn syndrome in a child, caused by adrenal adenoma.

Hyperaldosteronism owing to aldosterone-producing adenoma (Conn syndrome) is a rare but potentially curable form of pediatric hypertension. The authors report on a 5-year-old girl who had symptoms of polyuria, polydipsia, and fatigue, and for whom the diagnosis of hyperaldosteronemia was suggested by a low serum potassium level and persistent hypertension. The diagnosis was confirmed by increased levels of plasma aldosterone and decreased levels of plasma renin. The tumor was localized with ultrasonography and computed tomography, which showed a 2-cm mass in the left adrenal gland. The left adrenal gland was excised, and pathological assessment showed an adenoma. Only 14 other pediatric cases (< 16 years of age) have been reported in the English-language literature.