The effects of zinc sulfate mineral supplementation on Achilles tendon healing in rats.

BACKGROUND: The Achilles tendon is the most commonly injured and ruptured tendon in the body and typically occurs during participation in sports or recreational activities in men between 30 and 50 years of age. Treatment options for Achilles tendon rupture include conservative and surgical approaches. Conservative treatment is associated with a higher risk of rerupture, while surgical treatment carries a risk of wound site complications. Generally, both methods result in a prolonged tendon healing time. Studies are ongoing to identify biomolecules that aid tendon repair. The main objective of our study is to investigate the effects of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) mineral supplementation on Achilles tendon healing in rats. METHODS: Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups (C-15, C-30, ZnSO4-15, and ZnSO4-30) after standard Achilles tendon repair surgery. The ZnSO4-15 and ZnSO4-30 groups received an oral zinc sulfate monohydrate solution (50 mg/kg/day) for 15 and 30 days, respectively. The C-15 and C-30 groups were given 1 mL of distilled water per day orally during the experimental periods. Rats were sacrificed on the 15th and 30th day depending on their groups, and the healing of the operated tendons was evaluated using Movin and Bonar histopathologic scoring. For biomechanical analyses, the operated and intact Achilles tendons of all groups were removed, and tensile tests were performed to determine the tensile strength and toughness values for each tendon. RESULTS: Movin and Bonar scores were significantly lower in the ZnSO4-15 group than in the C-15 group and in the ZnSO4-30 group than in the C-30 group (p<0.05). Although we did not find the biomechanical results statistically significant, the intact tendons of the ZnSO4-15 group exhibited higher toughness than those of the C-15 group, and the tensile strength and toughness values of the operated and intact tendons of the ZnSO4-30 group were also higher than those of the C-30 group. CONCLUSION: Zinc sulfate monohydrate mineral supplementation had histopathologically positive effects on the proliferation and remodeling stages of Achilles tendon healing and may biomechanically benefit both operated and intact tendons.

Diagnostic efficacy and importance of fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules is an easy and cost-effective method. The increase in malignancy rates of the excised nodules due to the high sensitivity and specificity rates of the FNAC is remarkable. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of FNAC in the evaluation of thyroid nodules by comparing the results with histopathologic evaluation and comparing the consistency of the results with the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 1607 FNACs of 1333 patients which were classified according to the Bethesda system and 126 histopathological evaluations obtained from this group were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 51.24 (range: 17-89, 17% male and 83% female). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy rates were evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 87.1% and specificity was 64.6%. The positive and negative predictive value and accuracy rates were 76.1%, 79.5%, and 77.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the evaluation of thyroid FNAC samples with Bethesda system highly correlated with the results of histopathological diagnosis. However, combination of additional and advanced diagnostic methods such as immunocytochemical studies and molecular pathology techniques enhance the prognostic value of FNAC in patients with atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance, lesions suspicious for malignancy, and suspected follicular neoplasm.

Preventing intraperitoneal adhesions with linezolid and hyaluronic acid/carboxymethylcellulose: a comparative study in cecal abrasion model.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the effectiveness of linezolid in preventing intraperitoneal adhesions with hyaluronic acid + carboxymethylcellulose (Seprafilm). METHODS: Thirty rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: Group I (control), untreated; Group II (Seprafilm); and Group III (linezolid). All rats were sacrificed on the 14th day after surgery. Macroscopic adhesion, inflammation, and fibrosis were evaluated. RESULTS: The multiple comparisons between groups showed a statistically significant difference for adhesion. There were statistically significant differences between Group I and II and I and III, but no statistically significant difference between Group II and III. The multiple comparisons between the groups showed a statistically significant difference for inflammation and fibrosis. For inflammation and fibrosis, there was a statistically significant difference between Group I and II and I and III, but no statistically significant difference between Group II and III. CONCLUSION: The efficiency of linezolid in reducing the formation of intraperitoneal adhesions was statistically significant compared with the control group.

Popliteal schwannoma mimicking baker cyst: an unusual case.

Schwannoma, also known as neurilemoma, is the most common tumour of peripheral nerves. Although it is the most common tumour of peripheral nerves, it is seldom seen in adult population. We present a very rare case of schwannoma in an unusual localization. The presented case concerns a 58-year-old patient with a slowly growing popliteal mass and neuralgia for 6 months. A mass originating from a nerve or compressing a nerve was thought in the differential diagnosis. Ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogenous, well-defined solid mass that seems to originate from tibial nerve. Surgical excision and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. Diagnosis of the neurilemmoma originating from lower extremity peripheral nerves may be delayed because the mass can be misdiagnosed as baker cyst or the symptoms of the patient can be thought as a result of lumber disc herniation.

Vulvar basal cell carcinoma.

Although the basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy of skin, it is rarely seen in vulva and constitutes 2% to 4% of all vulvar cancers. The cause is unknown but, chronic vulvar irritation is the most important underlying factor. The patients over 60 years are affected more frequently than younger ones.

Diffuse and psammomatous calcification in intestinal type gastric carcinoma: report of two cases with literature review.

Psammoma bodies are round, concentrically laminated calcospherites ranging from 5 to 100 µm in diameter. They may indicate certain types of tumors including papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, meningioma and papillary serous tumors of the ovary, and to a lesser extent may be found in leiomyomas and angiomas of the gastrointestinal tract. Dystrophic calcification is uncommon in gastric cancer and displays either diffuse or psammomatous pattern. Diffuse type calcification is generally seen within the pools of mucin in advanced mucinous adenocarcinoma. Conversely, psammomatous calcification is associated with non-mucinproducing carcinomas and detected not only within the carcinomatous glandular lumina but also in the stroma. Total gastrectomy specimens of a 74-year-old male and a 54-year-old female with moderately differentiated intestinal type adenocarcinomas revealed diffuse and psammomatous calcification, respectively. Although diffuse type calcification is well-documented, to date it has not been reported in non-mucin-producing intestinal gastric carcinoma. Moreover, the psammomatous type is exceptionally rare, and only six such cases have been reported in the literature; the current patient represents the seventh case.