Vitamin C attenuates methotrexate-induced oxidative stress in kidney and liver of rats.

Like several other anticancer drugs, methotrexate (MTX) causes side effects, such as neuropathic pain, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. Abnormal production of reactive oxygen species has been suspected in the pathophysiology of MTX-induced hepatorenal toxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the probable protective role of vitamin C (Vit C) on oxidative stress induced by MTX in the liver and kidney tissues of rats. A total of 32 rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups. The first group served as the control group. The second group received a single dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX intraperitoneally. To demonstrate our hypothesis, the third and the fourth groups received 250 mg/kg of Vit C for 3 days by oral gavage, with or without MTX treatment. At the end of the study, the liver and kidney tissues of the rats were collected and examined using histology. Both the tissues were assayed for malondialdehyde concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. In hepatic and renal tissues, lipid peroxidation levels were increased, whereas SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px levels were decreased by MTX. All parameters, including CAT levels in hepatic tissue, were significantly restored after the administration of Vit C for 3 days. Similar to the biochemical findings, evidence of oxidative damage was examined in both types of tissues by histopathological examination. From the results of this study, we were able to observe that Vit C administration modulates the antioxidant redox system and reduces the renal and hepatic oxidative stress induced by MTX. Vit C can ameliorate the toxic effect of MTX in liver and kidney tissues of rat.

Therapy of regional lymphadenitis following BCG vaccination.

In this study we presented 92 cases with regional lymphadenitis (over 1 cm in diameter) which was caused by BCG vaccination generally performed a few days after birth. The patients were divided into four therapy groups. In group I, the lymphadenitis in 26 cases was excised totally by a surgical operation and they improved in a median period of four weeks (average: 4.4). No therapy was applied in 33 patients constituting group II and their periods of improvement were 28 weeks (average: 29.1). Sixteen cases in group III were given isoniazid (INH) 10 mg/kg for six months in addition to total surgical excision and their healing period was 4.5 weeks (average: 4). Seventeen cases in group IV were administered only INH for six months and the median improvement period was found to be 27 weeks (average: 28.2). The statistical differences in terms of the improvement periods between groups I and III, and groups II and IV were found to be insignificant (p greater than 0.05) but these differences were significant between groups I and II, groups I and IV, groups II and III, and groups III and IV (p less than 0.05). These results show that spontaneous healing is possible. Total excision is the best therapy for BCG lymphadenitis in suppurative forms and INH has no effect in shortening the therapy period.

Volvulus of the sigmoid colon.

Between 1983 and 1986, 18 patients with colonic volvulus (94.4% sigmoid, 5.6% caecal) were seen at Karadeniz Medical Faculty. There were 11 male and 7 female patients, with a mean age of 68 years. In 66.6% and 22.2% of patients respectively a palliative procedure or a Hartmann operation were performed. The recurrence rate in the palliative group was 30%. The mortality rate for all patients with volvulus was 16.8%. The palliative procedures were successful in patients in good general condition and without bowel necrosis, whereas the Hartmann operation gave successful results in patients with bowel necrosis.

Rupture of a choledochal cyst during postpartum period.

A 25 year old female was operated on three times due to a choledochal cyst rupture occurring on the 6th postpartum day. In the last operation, a hepaticojejunostomy with Braun's anastomosis was performed and a temporary internal stent was applied. The internal stent was removed on the 70th postoperative day. The patient is still living with the risk of secondary biliary cirrhosis and cholangitis.

[Prevention of wound infection in elective colon surgery by the use of systemic ceftriaxone and ornidazole]. / Elektif kolon cerrahisinde sistemik seftriakson ve ornidazolun yara enfeksiyonunda profilaktik etkisi.

In this study prophylactic effects of ceftriaxone and ornidazole on the patients undergoing elective colon surgery was studied in the surgical clinics, Medical Faculty of Karadeniz Technical University. Colon cleaning with Nichol's method was performed in all cases. But kanamycin and metronidazole were given instead of erythromycin and metronidazole. One hour before the operation ceftriaxone 1 gr. and ornidazole 500 mg. (IV, IM) were administered. Those antibiotics were followed by ceftriaxone 2 gr. daily and ornidazole 1 gr. daily (IV, IM) three days after operation. The wound infection were observed in the postoperative period (5%). The average hospitalization time of the cases were 12 days. This period was 18 days and 21 days in the cases having infection. Side effects related the drugs were not observed and there were no significant laboratory changes.