ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate free fatty acid levels and histopathological changes in the brain of rats fed a high fructose diet [HFrD] and to evaluate the effects of Mucuna pruriens, known to have antidiabetic activity, on these changes
Materials and Methods:The study comprised 28 mature female Wistar rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups, each included 7 rats. Group 1: control; group 2: fed an HFrD; group 3: fed normal rat chow and M. pruriens; group 4: fed an HFrD and M. pruriens for 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, the rats were decapitated, blood and brain tissues were obtained. Serum glucose and triglyceride levels were measured. Free fatty acid levels were measured in 1 cerebral hemisphere of each rat and histopathological changes in the other. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare quantitative continuous data between 2 independent groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare quantitative continuous data between more than 2 independent groups
Results: Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 [p < 0.05]. Free arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels in group 4 were significantly less than in group 2 [p < 0.05]. Histopathological examination of group 2 revealed extensive gliosis, neuronal hydropic degeneration, and edema. In group 4, gliosis was much lighter than in group 2, and edema was not observed. Neuronal structures in group 4 were similar to those in group 1. Conclusion:The HFrD increased the levels of free arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid probably due to membrane degradation resulting from possible oxi-dative stress and inflammation in the brain. The HFrD also caused extensive gliosis, neuronal hydropic degeneration, and edema. Hence, M. pruriens could have therapeutic effects on free fatty acid metabolism and localinflammatory responses in the brains of rats fed an HFrD
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determinate the safety of the surgical treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis in elderly patients
Study Design: Observational study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, Elazig Training and Research Hospital, Elazig, Turkey, from January 2010 to July 2012
Methodology: Records of 172 patients with acute complications of biliary calculi, aged over 65 years, were included. Patients were assessed for demographic information, hospitalisation diagnosis, leucocyte count, ASA classification, treatment type, conversion rates, length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality. Statiscal analyses were performed using the SPSS version 20.0
Results: The sample included 128 females [74.4%] and 44 males [25.6%]. Patients' diagnoses included 135 [78.4%] acute cholecystitis and 37 [21.6%] acute pancreatitis. Medical treatment was offered to 113 patients [65.7%]. Open cholecystectomy was directly performed in 17 patients [9.9%]. Two patients [4.8%] were converted to an open cholecystectomy during surgery, while a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed sucessfully on 42 patients [24.4%]. Those who underwent surgery were discharged as cured, except for minimal surgical complications
Conclusion: Treatment choice in acute gallstone complications in the elderly depends on the patient's general condition, severity of the disease, and ASA score. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a good option in selected elderly patients with acute cholecystitis and non-severe acute biliary pancreatitis
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by attacks of fever and diffuse abdominal pain. The primary concern with this presentation is to distinguish it from acute appendicitis promptly. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the role of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to leverage the differential diagnosis of acute FMF attack with histologically proven appendicitis. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with histologically confirmed acute appendicitis and 88 patients with acute attack of FMF were included in the study. NLR, C-reactive protein and other hematologic parameters were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in patients with acute appendicitis compared to the FMF attack group (8.24 +/- 6.31 vs. 4.16 +/- 2.44, p = 0.007). The performance of NLR in diagnosing acute appendicitis with receiver operating characteristic analysis with a cut-off value of 4.03 were; 78% sensitivity, 62% specificity, and area under the curve 0.760 (95% confidence interval, 0.655 to 0.8655; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that NLR, the simple and readily available inflammatory marker may have a useful role in distinguishing acute FMF attack from acute appendicitis.