Neuroprotective effects of high-dose human albumin against traumatic spinal cord injury in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Human serum albumin (HA) is a unique multifunctional protein with neuroprotective properties. We aimed to delineate the mechanisms of HA-induced neuroprotection, supresses inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Adult female Wistar rats weighing 210-250 g were used for the study. The rats were randomly and blindly allocated into five groups. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parametric data and Shapiro-Wilk test was used for evaluating the normal distribution of the variables. Kruskal-Wallis for nonparametric data was used to compare groups. Electron and light microscopies were used to demonstrate ultrastructural changes in spinal cord. RESULTS: The HA group was significantly different from all the other groups (p < 0.05). Both MPSS and HA treatments decreased the MPO significantly. HA treatment decreased the lipid peroxidation. HA treatment prevented the worsening of clinical results. In the HA treatment group, the ultrastructure was protected significantly. The neuronal bodies and axonal structures were normal except for some limited edematous spaces. CONCLUSIONS: HA improves early clinical results, protects spinal cord ultrastructure, and decreases MPO and LPO levels after spinal cord contusion injury (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 39).

A comparative analysis of angiopoietin 2 immunohistochemical staining in various stages of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The role of Angiopoietin 2 (Ang 2), which is necessary for tumor growth, extension, and metastasis is not fully elucidated. The presented study aimed to investigate the relationship between Ang 2 staining intensity, expression rate in tumor tissue, and the stage of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty cases of lung cancer (34 non-small and 16 small cell cases) were included in the study. Immunohistochemistry was done to evaluate Ang 2 staining intensity and expression rate in tumor and stromal cells of lung cancer tissue. RESULTS: Ang 2 was positive for 45 (90%) cases and negative for five (10%) cases (P = 0.04). There was a significant correlation between Ang 2 expression rate of expression and the histologic type of lung cancer (P = 0.033). Ang 2 expression rate in tumor cells of cancer tissues diagnosed with adenocarcinoma was low. There was a significant correlation between Ang 2 expression rate in stromal cells of cancer tissue and the type of lung cancer (P = 0.021). Stromal cell expression rate of Ang 2 in adenocarcinoma was found to be low. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, the relationship between lung cancer stage and Ang 2 was documented with this study and the expression rate was found to be lower in adenocarcinomas. By this analysis, we can suggest that angiopoietins may be used as an option for targeted treatment in lung cancer.

The value of pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM in BCG-vaccinated tuberculous pleurisy patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if detection of IgM and IgG antibodies against mycobacterial antigen A60, together with the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST), could be used in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) in BCG-vaccinated cases. METHODS: We investigated 125 BCG-vaccinated patients with pleural effusion. Of these, 88 had TP and 37 had non-tuberculous pleurisy (NTP). TST and anti-A60 IgM and IgG measurements by ELISA were performed in the sera and pleural effusions of both groups. RESULTS: Cut-off values, in optical density, for serum anti-A60 IgM, pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM, serum anti-A60 IgG and pleural fluid anti-A60 IgG were defined as 0.624, 0.614, 0.464, and 0.613, respectively. TP patients had higher IgG and IgM levels in the serum (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and pleural effusion (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Regardless of the diagnosis, IgG and IgM levels were higher in the sera (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and pleural effusions (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) of TST-positive cases, and serum and pleural fluid IgM levels were higher (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) in the TST-positive TP cases. Sensitivity and specificity of TST were 65% and 68%, respectively. As a single parameter, pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM had the highest sensitivity (77%) and specificity (94%) in patients with negative TST. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in populations where tuberculosis prevalence is high and BCG vaccination is common, pleural fluid anti-A60 IgM can facilitate the diagnosis of TP.

Pott's disease after heart transplantation: a case report.

The incidence of tuberculosis among patients undergoing antirejection therapy is considerably higher than in the general population. Heart transplant recipients have been found to carry the highest risk of tuberculosis. There are no reported data about Pott's disease in heart transplant recipients. The authors present a case of Pott's disease seen after heart transplantation (HTx).

Can't lung cancer patients detoxify procarcinogens?

BACKGROUND: Glutathione S-transferase mu (GST mu) enzyme detoxifies carcinogens in tobacco smoke. We assessed the clinical usefulness of serum assay of GSTm in determining the risk for lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with primary lung cancer and 32 control cases were enrolled. GSTm detection was performed by the method ELISA. RESULTS: GSTm enzyme positivity rate of the patient group (39%) was significantly lower than the control group (59.4%) (p < 0.05). The GSTm positivity rates were 28.6% for the non-smoker patients with a cancer history of relatives, 31.6% for the smoker patients with the cancer history of relatives, 14.6% for the non-smoker patients with the lung cancer history of relatives and 16.7% for the smoker patients with the lung cancer history of relatives. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that if the people lacking GSTm are smokers and have a cancer and/or lung cancer history among their relatives, they would challenge a greater risk of lung cancer than the individuals having GST mu isoenzyme.

Pyo-pneumothorax in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis: an analysis of 17 cases without intrapleural fibrinolytic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To review the medical records of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and pyo-pneumothorax (PPT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 17 patients (14 male, 3 female, mean age 23.8 years, range 20-52) with PPT and active pulmonary tuberculosis at Gulhane Military Medical Academia Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, were reviewed from January 1998 to December 2002. The patients were treated with chest tube drainage and chemotherapy. Intrapleural fibrinolytic agents or irrigation was not performed. RESULTS: Pleural fluid samples were available in 14 patients and the mean levels of LDH, protein and glucose in the pleural fluid were 1,767 +/- 944 U/l, 5.2 +/- 1.4 g/dl and 31.7 +/- 22.6 mg/dl, respectively. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in the pleural effusion of 3 patients. The duration of chest tube drainage was longer in cases who underwent open drainage (p = 0.014). At the end of the treatment period 10 patients developed pleural thickening, 4 of them underwent decortication and pneumonectomy was also done in 1 patient. The development of pleural thickening was related to the level of pleural fluid glucose (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study shows that while taking care of patients with pulmonary TB the physician must be aware of the complication of PPT and that adequate chemotherapy and drainage must be duly performed.