Effects of ozone treatment to the levels of neurodegeneration biomarkers after rotenone induced rat model of Parkinson's disease.

The study investigated the effects of ozone treatment on the neurodegeneration of stereotaxic rotenone-induced parkinson's disease (PD) model. The model was confirmed using the apomorphine rotation test. α-synuclein, amyloid-ß, Tau, phosphorylated Tau, as well as tyrosine hydroxylase(+), nNOS(+), and glial cell counts were used to evaluate neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area. The experiment involved 48 Sprague-Dawley rats divided into four groups: dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), DMSO with ozone (O), DMSO/rotenone (R), and D/R/O. Ozone treatment significantly improved tissue α-synuclein level and TH+, nNOS+, and glial cell counts compared to the rotenone-only group. The study suggests that ozone treatment may have beneficial effects on PD biomarkers in the rotenone model. Further studies on ozone dosage, duration, and administration methods in humans could provide more evidence for its potential use in Parkinson's disease treatment.

Effects of Perioperative Hypothermia on Extubation, Recovery Time, and Postoperative Shivering in Breast Surgery.

Women undergoing breast surgery seem to be under the risk for hypothermia (central body temperature <36°) due to the uncertainty caused by the preoperative preparation time and the variety of operations, leading to neglect of warming precautions. The study examines the perioperative hypothermia (PH) in breast surgery and the relationships between the depth of decrease in body temperature and individual or clinical variables. This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study includes 120 female patients 18-65 years of age who were given general anesthesia for breast surgery. The incidence of hypothermia was 68.1%. The given patients were discriminated as body temperature <36°, hypothermia was significantly related with lower weight, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, baseline body temperatures, higher extubation, and recovery times. When patients' temperature decreases by >1 or 1.5°, lower age and longer durations of operation and anesthesia were also significant variables. The incidence of shivering is quite high at temperatures below 36°C or at 1 and 1.5°C reductions from baseline (72.7%, 84%, 94.1%, respectively). Body temperature changes of the patients had no effect on nausea-vomiting and pain scores. It turned out that the incidence of PH and shivering is high in women who underwent breast surgery. We think that the depth of decrease in body temperature should be taken into account when evaluating the predictors or clinical consequences of hypothermia, except for the 36°C limit for body temperature.

COVID-19 Infection, Vaccination, and Antibody Levels: Investigating Correlations through a Cohort Study.

AIM: The objective of this study was to explore the potential correlation between COVID-19 infection or vaccination and levels of anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) and anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies. METHODS: Among 6050 healthcare workers at the Ege University Hospital, a cohort study with 162 participants divided into three arms with 54 participants each was conducted. The three groups were selected as follows: those diagnosed with COVID-19 and not vaccinated (group 1), those diagnosed with COVID-19 and subsequently vaccinated with CoronaVac (group 2), and those not diagnosed with COVID-19 but vaccinated with two doses of CoronaVac (group 3). Antibody levels measured at the sixth month of follow-up were defined as the primary outcome. RESULTS: At the sixth month, all serum samples tested positive for anti-S. Anti-S levels were found to be significantly higher in group 2 than in the other groups (p < 0.001). There were no differences in antibody levels between groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.080). Average antibody levels were found to be lower in office workers and males. Anti-N antibodies were found to be positive in 85.1% of subjects at the sixth month. In group 2, anti-N antibodies were detected in all samples at the sixth month. Anti-N antibody levels were not significantly different between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.165). Groups 1 and 2 had significantly higher antibody levels than group 3 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination or infection provide protection for at least 6 months. Those who have previously been diagnosed with COVID-19 do not need to be vaccinated in the early period before their antibody levels decrease.

Steatotic and Steatohepatitic Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Features in a Series With Predominantly Viral Etiology.

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with steatohepatitis and steatosis are reported with varying definitions and clinicopathologic features. We aimed to search the attributes of steatohepatitic hepatocellular carcinoma (SH-HCC) and steatotic-HCC in our series. A retrospective clinicopathologic analyses of 150 HCCs and immunostaining for C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were performed. Tumors were reclassified as all SH-HCC, limited SH-HCC, typical SH-HCC (steatohepatitic features in >5%, 5% to 50%, and ≥50% of the tumor, respectively), steatotic-HCC, and classic HCC (C-HCC). Group comparisons were made using Kruskal-Wallis and Kaplan-Meier tests. The background etiology in all SH-HCCs was pure viral in 51.4%, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)/alcoholic liver disease (ALD) alone/mixed in 34.3%, and unidentified in normal liver in 14.3%. All SH-HCCS (n=35, 23.3%) and typical SH-HCCs (n=13, 8.6%) had higher NASH/ALD. Limited SH-HCCs (n=22, 14.6%) had higher ALD (all P<0.05). Typical SH-HCCs tended to have more NASH (P=0.054). Steatotic-HCCs (n=13, 9%) and C-HCCs (n=102, 68%) had higher pure viral etiology and serum CRP (all P<0.05). CRP and SAA were positive in 69% and 27% of the tumors, respectively. SAA positivity correlated with ALD (P=0.026). In the overall group disease-free survival rates at 1, 5, 10, and 20 years were 97.0%, 82.3%, 79.6%, and 77.2%, respectively. Demographics, tumor characteristics, CRP and SAA positivity, and survival were similar between the groups (P>0.05). SH-HCC is heterogenous in terms of underlying etiologies, and can be seen in NASH/ALD, pure viral and noncirrhotic/normal background. The ≥50% cutoff for the definition of SH-HCC can lead to overlook ALD-related SH-HCC. Steatotic-HCC seems more similar to C-HCC rather than SH-HCC, but none of them feature as a different prognostic group.

Influence of rocuronium on achieving optimal vagal stimulation during intraoperative nerve monitoring in thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: In the present study we determine the feasibility of intraoperative neuromonitoring following the administration of a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent during thyroid operations, as well as the influence of rocuronium on the achievement of optimal vagal stimulation during intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery. We further investigate whether accelerometry is a reliable approach to obtaining an ipsilateral vagus signal prior to recurrent laryngeal nerve dissection. METHODS: Included in the study were 61 thyroidectomized patients whose demographic data, indications, type of surgery, vagus, and recurrent nerve values before and after resection were obtained. We created five groups of patients based on the twitch values recorded during ipsilateral vagus stimulation prior to the recurrent laryngeal nerve dissection: (1) <10%, (2) 11-25%, (3) 26-50%, (4) 51-75% and (5) >75%. RESULTS: The average electromyography amplitudes of the vagus nerve prior to the determination of the recurrent laryngeal nerve for each group were 552 µV, 463 µV, 543 µV, 513 µV and 551 µV, respectively. No difference between the groups was observed in this regard (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It can be expected that as soon as the effects of neuromuscular blockers on the peripheral muscles begin to abate, it will be possible to obtain the ipsilateral vagus signal prior to recurrent laryngeal nerve dissection at the desired levels. It can be concluded from this study that accelerometry using the pollicis muscle is an unreliable tool for the interpretation of the proper electromyography signals of the vagus nerve prior to the determination of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

[The effects of preoperative anxiety on anesthetic recovery and postoperative pain in patients undergoing donor nephrectomy]. / Efeitos da ansiedade pré­operatória na recuperação anestésica e na dor pós­operatória em pacientes submetidos a nefrectomia para doação.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is suggested that 38-45% of patients experience preoperative anxiety. We observe that patients undergoing living donor nephrectomy suffer from anxiety. Preoperative anxiety may complicate a patient's recovery from anesthesia and postoperative pain control. This study investigates the preoperative anxiety rate and its effect on anesthetic recovery and postoperative pain in patients undergoing donor nephrectomy. METHODS: Forty-eight individuals undergoing living-related renal donor nephrectomy were included in this analytic prospective observational cohort study. Their preoperative anxiety was measured with the STAI-I and STAI-II inventories. The relationships between anxiety scores with data regarding demographics, recovery from anesthesia, and postoperative pain scores were investigated. RESULTS: The findings were remarkable in that the anxiety scores of living renal donors were significantly correlated with their recovery variables, which are spontaneous respiration time, sufficient respiration time, extubation time, and PACU discharge time (p<0.01). Anxiety scores were significantly positively correlated with the pain scores of the 30th minute, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th hours, and the total amounts of analgesic administered in 24hours (p<0.05). A significantly negative correlation was also determined between anxiety scores and patients' satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that patients undergoing living-related donor nephrectomy with high anxiety levels had late recovery times and high postoperative pain scores. Thus, determining those patients with high preoperative anxiety level is crucial to providing patients with satisfactory emerging from anesthesia and the control of their postoperative pain during donor nephrectomy.

The effects of preoperative anxiety on anesthetic recovery and postoperative pain in patients undergoing donor nephrectomy / Efeitos da ansiedade pré-operatória na recuperação anestésica e na dor pós-operatória em pacientes submetidos a nefrectomia para doação

Abstract Background and objectives: It is suggested that 38-45% of patients experience preoperative anxiety. We observe that patients undergoing living donor nephrectomy suffer from anxiety. Preoperative anxiety may complicate a patient's recovery from anesthesia and postoperative pain control. This study investigates the preoperative anxiety rate and its effect on anesthetic recovery and postoperative pain in patients undergoing donor nephrectomy. Methods: Forty-eight individuals undergoing living-related renal donor nephrectomy were included in this analytic prospective observational cohort study. Their preoperative anxiety was measured with the STAI-I and STAI-II inventories. The relationships between anxiety scores with data regarding demographics, recovery from anesthesia, and postoperative pain scores were investigated. Results: The findings were remarkable in that the anxiety scores of living renal donors were significantly correlated with their recovery variables, which are spontaneous respiration time, sufficient respiration time, extubation time, and PACU discharge time (p < 0.01). Anxiety scores were significantly positively correlated with the pain scores of the 30th minute, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th hours, and the total amounts of analgesic administered in 24 hours (p < 0.05). A significantly negative correlation was also determined between anxiety scores and patients' satisfaction. Conclusion: Our study showed that patients undergoing living-related donor nephrectomy with high anxiety levels had late recovery times and high postoperative pain scores. Thus, determining those patients with high preoperative anxiety level is crucial to providing patients with satisfactory emerging from anesthesia and the control of their postoperative pain during donor nephrectomy.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Estima-se que 38-45% dos pacientes apresentem ansiedade pré-operatória. Observamos que doadores vivos submetidos à nefrectomia para doação apresentam ansiedade. A ansiedade pré-operatória pode complicar a recuperação anestésica e controle pós-operatório de dor do paciente. O presente estudo mediu as taxas de ansiedade no pré-operatório e seus efeitos na recuperação anestésica e dor pós-operatória em pacientes doadores submetidos a nefrectomia. Método: Quarenta e oito doadores vivos submetidos a nefrectomia para doação de rim foram incluídos neste estudo de coorte prospectivo observacional. A ansiedade pré-operatória foi medida usando os inventários IDATE-I e IDATE-II. As relações entre os escores de ansiedade e dados relacionados a demografia, recuperação da anestesia e escores de dor no pós-operatório foram estudadas. Resultados: Os achados foram notáveis porque os escores de ansiedade de doadores renais vivos se correlacionaram de maneira significante com as variáveis de recuperação, a saber, tempo para respiração espontânea, tempo para respiração adequada, tempo para extubação e tempo para alta da RPA (p < 0,01). Os escores de ansiedade apresentaram correlação significantemente positiva com os escores de dor do 30o minuto e horas 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 e 24, e a quantidade total de analgésicos administrada nas 24 horas (p < 0,05). Foi observada também correlação significantemente negativa entre os escores de ansiedade e satisfação dos pacientes. Conclusão: Nosso estudo mostrou que doadores vivos submetidos a nefrectomia para doação com altos níveis de ansiedade apresentaram tempos de recuperação tardios e altos escores de dor no pós-operatório. Assim, a identificação dos pacientes com alto nível de ansiedade no pré-operatório é crucial para propiciar recuperação da anestesia e controle da dor no pós-operatório satisfatórios durante a nefrectomia para doação de órgão.

Infections developing in patients undergoing liver transplantation: Recipients of living donors may be more prone to bacterial/fungal infections.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite surgical advances in liver transplantation and effective prophylactic strategies, posttransplant infections are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis and management of infections because of developing immunosuppression is difficult and adversely affects mortality. This study aimed to review bacterial and fungal infections in patients after liver transplantation and to reveal the resistance rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 2017 and February 2018 were evaluated retrospectively with regard to demographic characteristics, causes of transplantation, conditions that may lead to infection, postoperative infections, pathogens, and resistance patterns. RESULTS: Of the 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation, 48 (44.8%) had an infection. Bacterial infections were detected in 41% of the patients, and fungal infections were found in 13%. When we compared living and cadaveric transplants in terms of infection development, these rates were found to be 53% and 33%, respectively (p=0.034). No statistically significant results could be obtained when evaluating conditions such as sex, presence of underlying primary disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease MELD score, diabetes status, total parenteral nutrition, and risk factors for infection. CONCLUSION: After liver transplantation, infections are often seen in the first month of the postoperative period. Knowing the most common pathogens and resistance states in this process reduces infection-related deaths by providing appropriate treatment regimens at the right time.

Results of 1001 liver transplantations in 23 years: Ege University experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver transplantation (LT) is now the standard of care for most end-stage liver diseases. Over the next 30 years, advances in medicine and technology will greatly improve the survival rates of patients after this procedure. The aim of the present study was to analyze retrospectively the results of 1001 patients withLT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical reports of 989 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Data were obtained from the patient's data chart. Descriptive statistics were used to describe continuous variables (mean, median, and standard deviation). RESULTS: A total of 1001 LTs for 989 recipients were performed at Ege University Organ Transplantation and Research Center between 1994 and 2017. Therewere 639 male and 350 female recipients. Among 1001 LTs, there were 438 deceased donors and 563 living donors. The age interval of the patients was 4 months to 71 years old. The median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 20. There were 12 deceased liver donors using the split method. There were 12 cases subject to retransplantation. In living donor LT grafts, 423 right lobes, 46 left lobes, and 94 left lateral sectors were used. In the first monitoring,the total annual mortality rate was 130 cases (13%). The mortality rate in retransplantation was found to be 66%. A 1-year survival rate of 87% was generally stablished. CONCLUSION: LThas been improving consistently over the last two decades. Ege University is one of the biggest liver transplant centers in Turkey for both technical and educational perspective.

Positional Oxygenation Changes in an Adult Patient With Scimitar Syndrome: A Case Report.

Scimitar syndrome is a rare complex of congenital anomalies of the cardiopulmonary system. In patients with scimitar syndrome, the right pulmonary vein abnormally drains into the inferior vena cava, right atrium, coronary sinus, azygos vein, portal vein, or hepatic vein. The syndrome gets its name from the Turkish sword-like image that appears on chest x-ray. Some patients with scimitar syndrome survive in adulthood undiagnosed. Herein, we discuss positional oxygenation and hemodynamic changes associated with scimitar syndrome, especially in the left lateral decubitus position, detected during preoperative anesthetic examination in an adult patient who underwent general anesthesia for left mastectomy.

Severe decrease in SpO2 and methemoglobinemia following subareolar isosulfan blue administration and clinical relevance.

The level of axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer is a critical decision factor for adjuvant therapy and the most important indicator of prognosis and survival. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a minimally invasive technique with low morbidity in axillary staging of breast cancer. Radiocolloid substances (Technetium-99m) and/or blue dyes such as methylene blue or isosulfan blue are used during sentinel lymph node biopsy. Isosulfan blue stain is frequently used in sentinel lymph node biopsy and rarely causes complications. The present case report presents a severe decrease in SpO2 due to methemoglobinemia following isosulfan blue administration as well as skin and urine signs and inconsistency with clinical picture in a 67-year-old, 77 kg, ASA II female case who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy under general anesthesia.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain: effects of the combination of incisional and intraperitoneal levobupivacaine before or after surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate whether the timing of administration, using a combination of incisional and intraperitoneal levobupivacaine (0.25%), has an effect on the postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a prospective, randomized, and controlled study. METHODS: Sixty six patients were allocated to one of the three groups. Group BS received levobupivacaine before trocar site incision and intraperitoneal levobupivacaine immediately after pneumoperitoneum. Group AS received intraperitoneal levobupivacaine before trocars were withdrawn and incisional levobupivacaine administered at the end of surgery. Group C received no treatment. Data of intraoperative variables, postoperative pain relief, rescue analgesic consumption, and patient satisfaction were compared. RESULTS: The intraoperative fentanyl consumption was found lower in Group BS, compared to Groups AS and C (p<0.05). VAS scores were lower in both Groups BS and AS, compared to Group C immediately after the operation (p<0.05). VAS scores were significantly decreased during the first two hours in Group AS, compared to Group C. The mean doses and number of patients needing rescue meperidine were lower in Group AS, compared to the Groups BS and C (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of incisional and intraperitoneal levobupivacaine administered before or after surgery can reduce postoperative pain and analgesic and antiemetic consumption together with improved patient satisfaction. However, administering levobupivacaine before surgery might be advantageous for less intraoperative fentanyl consumption, while levobupivacaine after surgery is advantageous for less postoperative rescue analgesic requirement.

Anesthetic management in pediatric liver transplantation: a comparison of deceased or live donor liver transplantations.

PURPOSE: Pediatric liver transplantations (LT) are becoming increasingly more common in the treatment of a child with end-stage liver disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perioperative anesthetic experience of pediatric patients undergoing deceased and live donor liver transplantations. METHODS: We performed a chart review of 164 patients between December 1997 and February 2009 in a retrospective cohort study design. Patient characteristics, operational variables, hemodynamic course, blood and fluid requirements, and extubation rates were evaluated in both deceased [deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT, n = 56)] and live donor liver transplantation (LDLT, n = 101) patients. RESULTS: The LDLT patients had a lower mean age and body weight than the DDLT patients (p < 0.05). The mean operation time was significantly longer and the mean anhepatic time was shorter for LDLT patients than for DDLT patients. The mean red blood cell (RBC) count and crystalloid and colloid requirements were significantly higher in LDLT patients. Relative to DDLT patients, significantly more patients in the LDLT group did not require fresh frozen plasma. The overall success rates of immediate extubation at the end of surgery were 74% in LDLT patients and 49% in DDLT patients (p = 0.086). The immediate extubation rate by year, including both groups, increased from 0% in 1997 to 95.6% in 2008. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that among pediatric patients LDLT continues to become an 'obligatory' option that is associated with longer operation times and higher RBC and fluid requirements than DDLT. As a marker of successful LT, higher extubation rates immediately following surgery is achievable for both pediatric LDLT and DDLT patients.

Soluble cytokeratin 18 biomarkers may provide information on the type of cell death during early ischemia and reperfusion periods of liver transplantation.

Hepatocellular damage takes place as a result of ischemia and reperfusion during liver transplantation (LT). To discriminate the type of cell death and quantitate its severity may provide new insights into the mechanisms of hepatocellular damage. Therefore, we investigated the type of cell death by ELISA-based assays in patient sera. Apoptosis was specifically assessed by measuring a novel soluble biomarker, the caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18, while total cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) by cytokeratin 18 released from dead (necrotic and apoptotic) cells. Twenty-seven live (LDLT) and 14 deceased (DDLT) donor liver transplantations were analyzed before the operation, at the anhepatic stage, first, sixth and 24th hour after the reperfusion. Both apoptosis and total cell death have successfully been demonstrated although they have not been confirmed by the liver biopsy that is impossible to perform in this setting. Apoptosis was not induced in LDLT. Total cell death (primarily necrosis) only transiently appeared the first hour after the reperfusion in LDLT, while it sharply increased the first hour after the reperfusion and maintained its level in DDLT. Soluble cytokeratin 18 biomarkers seem to be useful to discriminate and quantitate the type of cell death during early ischemia and reperfusion periods of LT.

Effects of intraperitoneal levobupivacaine on pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the effects of intraperitoneal administration of levobupivacaine on pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: In all patients, infiltration of levobupivacaine 0.25% (15 mL) was used prior to skin incisions for trocar insertion. After pneumoperitoneum was achieved, patients were allocated randomly to receive intraperitoneally either 40 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine (LB group, n=20) or normal saline (NS group, n=20) under direct vision into the hepatodiaphragmatic lodge and above the gallbladder. Data of intraoperative variables, postoperative pain relief, rescue analgesic consumption, side effects, and patient satisfaction were followed in both groups. RESULTS: The postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the first half-hour period in the LB group than in the NS group (p<0.05). However, the incidence of right shoulder pain was not significantly different between the LB group (10%) and NS group (15%). The mean dose of meperidine consumption and the number of patients needing rescue meperidine were significantly lower in the LB group than in the NS group (p<0.05). Significantly lower vomiting incidence and increased patient satisfaction were determined in the LB group compared to the NS group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal administration of 40 mL levobupivacaine 0.25% given immediately after pneumoperitoneum into the hepatodiaphragmatic lodge and above the gallbladder demonstrated useful effects on postoperative pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, especially in the early postoperative period, and reduced postoperative rescue analgesic requirement, with excellent patient satisfaction. There were no LB-related complications or side effects.

Perioperative management of Sneddon syndrome during thyroidectomy.

The perioperative management of an adult woman with Sneddon syndrome is presented. This syndrome is characterized by vasculopathy, hypercoagulable state, ischemic cerebral events, livedo reticularis, heart valve disease, and renal insufficiency. During surgery in these patients, the balance between bleeding and thrombosis requires rapid diagnostic information for therapeutic decisions. Thrombelastographic analysis may be a valuable tool to use in monitoring these patients.

Reabsorption of ascites and the factors that affect this process in cirrhosis.

Ascites is one of the main features of liver decompensation in cirrhosis, and it is considered to be a dynamic process. In this study, we aimed to (1) measure the reabsorption rate of ascites; (2) evaluate whether these findings were related to features of ascites, hemodynamics, and serum measurements; and (3) examine morphologic changes in the diaphragm of cirrhotic patients. In all, 42 cirrhotic patients with ascites were enrolled in the study to comprise our study group. Using the dextran 70 test, patient ascites volumes and reabsorption rates were measured. Biopsies from the peritoneal side of the diaphragm were also processed for scanning electron microscopy and lymphatic immunohistochemical studies from the cirrhotic patients and control cadavers. The mean ascites reabsorption rate was 4.5 +/- 4.5 (0.18-14.6) mL/min, which correlated significantly with the calculated ascites volume (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). The mean ascites viscosity was 1.07 +/- 0.07 (0.99-1.17) centipoise, which demonstrated a high degree of negative correlation with the ascites reabsorption rate (r = -0.77, P < 0.001). Patients with a history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis had significantly lesser ascites reabsorption rates than patients without this particular history. The size of lymphatic stomata in scanning electron microscopy depictions was increased, and lymphatic lacunae were dilated in immunohistochemical studies in the cirrhotic patients with ascites. However, these findings were not uniform in every cirrhotic patient with ascites. The volume and viscosity of ascites seem to influence its reabsorption rate. Additionally, previous episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis may be responsible for the decreased ascites reabsorption rates observed in certain patient populations.

Association of TNF-alpha -308 polymorphism with the outcome of hepatitis B virus infection in Turkey.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cytokines play important roles in the regulation of immune response. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of the cytokine gene polymorphisms with persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the development of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) due to HBV infection. METHODS: The study involved 27 patients with end-stage liver disease due to HBV infection, 23 HBV carriers and 60 healthy controls. All genotyping (TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, IL-10, IFN-gamma) experiments were performed using sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) by using commercial kit according to manufacturers' instructions. RESULTS: The frequencies of TNF-alpha -308 G/G and TGF-beta1 codon 10-25 T/C-G/G polymorphisms were significantly higher in HBV-infected individuals (patients+carriers) when compared with those of healthy controls (p: 0.02 and p: 0.004, respectively). The frequency of TNF-alpha -308 G/G polymorphism was significantly higher in the patients than those of the healthy controls (p: 0.02), whereas the frequency of TGF-beta1 codon 10-25 T/T-G/G polymorphism was lower (p: 0.028). On the other hand, TNF-alpha -308 G/G and TGF-beta codon 10-25 T/C-G/G polymorphisms were significantly more common in HBV carriers than the control group (p: 0.017 and p: 0.018, respectively). In addition, TNF-alpha -308 G allele frequency was significantly more common in HBV-infected individuals (patients+carriers) than those of healthy controls (p: 0.0007). TNF-alpha -308 G allele frequency was also found to be higher in patients or carriers when compared with those of healthy controls (p: 0.01 and p: 0.01, respectively). Statistically significant differences were still kept after Bonferroni correction of the p-values for only TNF-alpha -308 G allele frequency in patients or carriers (Pc). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that TNF-alpha gene polymorphism in patients infected with HBV would result in relatively inefficient inhibition of HBV and development of ESLD, and therefore, may be valuable predictor determinants for the development of ESLD in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Effects of ropivacaine on pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective, randomized study.

Postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an ongoing problem. To relieve this pain, practitioners have used many anesthetic and analgesic drugs. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of incisional and intraperitoneal administration of ropivacaine on postoperative pain and stress response in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this prospective, single-blinded, randomized study, 45 patients with ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) scores I and II who were about to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into 3 groups. After cholecystectomy, a total of 40 mL of 3.75% ropivacaine was administered pre-incisionally and intraperitoneally to patients in group 1 (n=14); pre-incisionally and intraperitoneally to patients in group 2 (n=17); and intraperitoneally and locally at incision sites to patients in group 3 (n=14). Blood levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine were examined preoperatively, 15 min after insufflation, and at the end of the operation. Visual analog pain scale scores and analgesic requirements were used for 24-h postoperative follow-up of pain levels reported by patients. No statistically significant difference was found among the 3 groups with respect to visual analog pain scale scores, total analgesic requirements, and accompanying pain, nausea, and vomiting. The earliest analgesic requirements were seen in group 2 (P<.005), and less shoulder pain was noted in group 3 (P<.005). Norepinephrine and epinephrine levels showed no statistically significant differences between the 3 groups. Administration of ropivacaine preoperatively and postoperatively for laparoscopic cholecystectomy has similar effects on postoperative pain and the stress response of patients.