Unraveling of the Effect of Nodose Ganglion Degeneration on the Coronary Artery Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest is a major life-threatening complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Although medullary cardiocirculatuar center injury and central sympathetic overactivity have been suspected of initiating coronary artery spasm-induced cardiac arrest, we aimed to elucidate the effects of vagal ischemia at the brainstem on coronary vasospasm and sudden death in SAH. METHODS: Twenty-six rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. Control (n = 5); SHAM (n = 8), and SAH group (n = 13). Experimental SAH was applied by injecting homologous blood into the cisterna magna, and the SHAM group was injected with isotonic saline solution also in the cisterna magna., Twenty-one days after the injection, histopathologic changes of the neuron density of nodose ganglia, the vasospasm index values of the coronary arteries, and the electrocardiographic events were analyzed. RESULTS: Increased vasospasm index of the coronary arteries and degenerated neuron density of nodose ganglion were significantly different between animals with SAH, control, and SHAM groups (P < 0.005). If neurons of the nodose ganglia are lesioned due to ischemic insult during SAH, the heart rhythm regulation by vagus afferent reflexes is disturbed. CONCLUSIONS: We found that there is causal relationship between nodose ganglion degeneration and coronary vasospasm. Our finding could be the reason that many cardiac events occur in patients with SAH. Vagal pathway paralysis induced by indirect sympathetic overactivity may trigger coronary vasospasm and heart rhythm disturbances. Our findings will aid in the planning of future experimental studies and in determining the clinical relevance of such studies.

Granulomatous Mastitis: A Ten-Year Experience at a University Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to define clinical, radiologic and pathological specialties of patients who applied to General Surgery Department of Atatürk University Medical Faculty with granulomatous mastitis and show medical and surgical treatment results. With the help of this study we will be able to make our own clinical algorithm for diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched retrospectively addresses, phone numbers and clinical files of 93 patients whom diagnosed granulomatous mastitis between a decade of January 2001 - December 2010. We noted demographic specialties, ages, gender, medical family history, main complaints, physical findings, radiological and laboratory findings, medical treatments, postoperative complications and surgical procedures if they were operated; morbidity, recurrence and success ratios, complications after treatment for patients discussed above. RESULTS: In this study we evaluated 93 patients, 91 females and 2 males, with granulomatous mastitis retrospectively who applied to General Surgery Department of Atatürk University Medical Faculty between January 2001 and December 2010. Mean age was 34.4 years. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the lesions. Seventy three patients had idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis and 20 patients had specific granulomatous mastitis IGM (18 tuberculosis mastitis, 1 alveolar echinococcosis and 1 silk reaction). All the patients had surgical debridement or antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory treatment with results bad clinical response before applied our clinic. CONCLUSION: Empiric antibiotic therapy and drainage of the breast lesions are not enough for complete remission of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. The lesion must be excised completely. In selected patients, corticosteroid therapy can be useful. In the patients with tuberculous mastitis, abscess drainage and antituberculous therapy can be useful, but wide excision must be chosen for the patients with recurrent disease.

Clinicopathological importance of Ki-67, p27, and p53 expression in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To assess the prognostic value of Ki-67, p27, and p53 immunoreactivity in human gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 84 patients with gastric cancer participated in our study. We categorized tumors as intestinal and diffuse types, with reference to Lauren's classification. Ki-67, p27, and p53 immunoreactivity were correlated with patient's age, tumor type, grade, lymph node status, extent of invasion, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and survival. RESULTS: Decreased expression of p27 (<20% positivity of cells) and increased p53 staining (>50% positivity of cells) were determined in 41 (48.8%) and 29 (36.9%) tumor specimens, respectively, and were connected with both the TNM stage (P = 0.007 and P = 0.039, respectively), and the extent of tumor invasion (P = 0.025 and P = 0.004, respectively). Kaplan-Meier methods showed a remarkable effect of reduced p27 expression on survival time (P = 0.003). In contrast, we observed no notable relationship between survival time and p53 or Ki-67 immunoreactivity (P = 0.372 and P = 0.401, respectively). CONCLUSION: A decrease in p27 expression and overexpression of p53 or Ki-67 may cause advancing and metastatic illness in patients with gastric carcinoma. In addition, immunopathological identification of p27 may be helpful to define patients with gastric cancer who are at an increased risk of death.

Utility of diffusion-weighted imaging in the diagnosis of inguinal lymph node metastasis with malignant melanoma.

Malignant melanoma is a malignancy of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) located predominantly in the skin. Nodal metastases are an adverse prognostic factor compromising long term patient survival. Therefore, accurate detection of regional nodal metastases is required for optimization of treatment. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain the primary imaging modalities for regional staging of malignant melanoma. However, both modalities rely on size-related and morphological criteria to differentiate between benign and malignant lymph nodes, decreasing the sensitivity for detection of small metastases. Surgery is the primary mode of therapy for localized cutaneous melanoma. Patients should be followed up for metastases after surgical removal. We report here a case of inguinal lymph node enlargement with a genital vesicular lesion with a history of surgery for malignant melanoma on her thigh two years ago. CT and diffusion weighted-MRI (DW-MRI) were applied for the lymph node identification. DW-MRI revealed malignant lymph nodes due to malignant melanoma metastases correlation with pathological findings.

Mast cells numbers and peritumoral microvessel density of the prostatic adenocarcinomas and correlation with prognostic parameters.

AIM: To determine the utility of mast cell numbers and microvascular density (MVD) in evaluating acinar type of prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa), and to ascertain a relationship between the number of mast cells with prognostic parameters (larger tumor volume, high Gleason score, lymphovascular, perineural, seminal vesicles invasion, metastatic lymph node). METHODS: The study comprised 97 radical prostatectomy specimens. The paraffin sections were stained with anti-CD31, anti- CD34 and Toluidine Blue. The numbers of positive staining of cells and microvessels in 10 high-power fields were counted systematically. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between MVDn and number of MC (r=0.218 and p=0. 032). There was no correlation between age and MC and MVD (p=0.406 and p=0.671, respectively). CONCLUSION: A correlation between mast cell number and microvascular density cannot depend on tumor angiogenesis or this relationship can be an independent parameter. More comprehensive studies could reveal relationship with prognostic parameters.

Relationship between ß-catenin expression and prognostic parameters of colorectal carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal carcinomas are the most frequent tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. ß-catenin, which is related to cadherins, is a cytoplasmic protein responsible for intercellular adhesion. It is also an important component in the Wnt signal pathway. Recent studies have shown structural alterations in the APC gene and axin in patients with colorectal carcinoma, along with ß-catenin. We aimed to compare ß-catenin expression, which is a prognostic factor itself, with other prognostic parameters. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 70 patients who had surgical intervention for colorectal malignancies between January 1994 and December 2003 were included in the study. Fift y-nine of the patients (84.3%) were male, 11 of the patients (15.7%) were female; their ages varied between 24 and 82 (mean 60.3 ±15.2) years. Paraff in blocks were immunohistochemically stained for ß-catenin. The number of stained cell nuclei was assessed according to the stage of disease using the TNM classification, histological grade, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion and tumor's local invasion. RESULTS: When groups constituted according to tumor histologic grade were compared for prognostic parameters in terms of stain density for ß-catenin and number of stained cell nuclei, stain density was mild (+) and the number of stained nuclei was smaller in well-differentiated groups while stain density was strong (+++) and the number of stained nuclei was higher in poorly differentiated groups. There was a relation between ß-catenin expression and differentiation grade, lymph node metastasis, stage and tumor size but not with vascular invasion. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that ß- catenin, with functions in cell homeostasis and relations with the APC gene, has a substantial role in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Toward changing of the pathophysiologic basis of acute hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a preliminary experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Acute hydrocephalus (ventricular enlargement within 72 hours) is a common complication in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion may be increased in the early phases of SAH, but it has not been proved definitively. We studied the histologic features of choroid plexus (CP) in the early and late phases of SAH. METHODS: This study was conducted on 20 rabbits, with 5 rabbits in the control group, 5 rabbits in the sham group, and 10 rabbits in the SAH group. In the SAH group, five of the animals were decapitated after 2 days of cisternal blood injections, and the other five animals were decapitated after 14 days of injections. The CP of lateral ventricles were obtained from coronary sections of brains at the level of the temporal horns of the lateral ventricles. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome for SAH-related damage and examined stereologically to discern water-filled vesicles, which were counted. Sections were compared statistically. RESULTS: The mean numbers of water vesicles were different after SAH between the early decapitated group (group III) and the late decapitated group (group IV). The mean numbers of water vesicles were 2.80 (± 0.05) in the control group (group I), 2.76 (± 0.02) in the sham group (group II), 14.68 (± 0.06) in the early decapitated group (group III), and 4.78 (± 0.13) in the late decapitated group (group IV). Total number of fluid-filled vesicles of CP was also assessed stereologically; the total numbers were 840 (± 16) in group I, 828 (± 7) in group II, 4404 (± 19) in group III, and 1434 (± 41) in group IV. The numbers of water-filled cisterns were significantly increased in the early phases of SAH (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In SAH with aneurysm rupture, increased CSF secretion seems to be triggered by hemorrhage in the early phase, but it is not possible in the late phase because of CP degeneration. In the early phase of hemorrhage, CSF secretion may be stimulated by the irritant receptor glossopharyngeal and vagal nerve endings, which innervate the healthy CP epithelium and arteries. Our findings may be accepted as being causative. It is likewise possible that CSF blockage per se leads to hydrocephalus, and the morphologic changes are sequelae that occur later in the course of disease. This is the first study to show the water vesicles of CP as a causative factor in the development of acute hydrocephalus after SAH.

The effects of erdosteine and N-acetylcysteine on apoptotic and antiapoptotic markers in pulmonary epithelial cells in sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the frequency of apoptosis in rat pulmonary epithelial cells after the injection of an intraperitoneal endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the effects of LPS on apoptotic (bax, caspase-3) and antiapoptotic (bcl-2) markers during lung damage, and the protective effects of two known antioxidant agents, erdosteine and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into the following six groups, which included nine rats each: two control groups, two LPS-treated groups, one erdosteine-treated group (150 mg/kg), and one NAC-treated group (150 mg/kg). LPS was injected intraperitoneally at a dosage of 20 mg/kg. Following LPS injection, the antioxidants were orally administered. The rats were sacrificed at 24 h after LPS administration. The levels of apoptosis in bronchiolar and alveolar cells were determined using the TUNEL-staining method. Immunohistochemical staining of cytoplasmic bax, caspase-3, and bcl-2 in the epithelial cells was performed. RESULTS: Erdosteine and NAC significantly reduced the rate of LPS-induced pulmonary epithelial cell apoptosis. The effect of NAC on regulating apoptosis was weaker than that of erdosteine. Erdosteine and NAC significantly reduced the local induction of bax and caspase 3 and significantly increased the reduced local production of bcl-2. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that erdosteine and NΑC can effectively protect the lungs from the damaging effects of LPS.

Local treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with surgical debridement and tigecycline-impregnated calcium hydroxyapatite: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of tigecycline-impregnated hydroxyapatite in the local treatment of chronic osteomyelitis experimentally induced in rat tibias with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. STUDY DESIGN: Monocortical defects were established in the left tibias of 32 adult Wistar albino rats. Five rats were randomly selected and injected intramedullarly with saline solution (group 1), whereas chronic osteomyelitis was induced in other rats by intramedullary injection of S. aureus. Infected rats were then randomized and divided into 4 groups: group 2, no further treatment; group 3, debridement only; group 4, debridement followed by implantation of calcium hydroxyapatite; and group 5, debridement followed by implantation of tigecycline-impregnated calcium hydroxyapatite. On day 21 after induction, all rats in groups 2-5 showed signs of osteomyelitis. Rats in groups 1 and 2 were killed on day 21 after induction, whereas rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 underwent debridement surgery on day 21 after induction and were killed 21 days after debridement surgery. Tibias were analyzed histopathologically and cultured for S. aureus. RESULTS: Compared with group 2, histopathologic disease severity scores in groups 3, 4, and 5 were 37%, 44%, and 83% lower, respectively. Nontreated infected rats had the highest bacteria count (mean 5 × 10(5) colony-forming units/g bone), and bacterial count was 26%, 29%, and 79% lower in groups 3, 4, and 5, respectively, compared with group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Tigecycline-impregnated hydroxyapatite can have a potential in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of methicillin-resistant S. aureus origin, which may be considered as a therapeutic alternative by surgeons dealing with osteomyelitis.

The effect of choroidal artery vasospasm on choroid plexus injury in subarachnoid hemorrhage: experimental study.

AIM: We examined whether vasospasm of choroidal arteries (ChAs) may be resulted in ischemic injury in choroid plexus (CP) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study has been conducted on 30 rabbits. Eight, fourteen and eight of them were used as control, SAH and SHAM groups, respectively. The volumes of choroidal arteries were examined and measured by using the micrometric microscope barr. Ischemic morphological changes of the choroid plexus cells and villus were examined as follows: cellular shrinkage (1 point), cytoplasmic condensation (2 points), angulation (3 points) and villus desquamation (4 points) were considered as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th degree downward choroid plexus degeneration criteria. Degeneration scores of 1 to 4 criteria were calculated by summing the exacerbated ones with the existing one. RESULTS: Choroidal artery diameter&volume, and CP degeneration scores in three groups were evaluated: The mean volumes were 1.080 ± 0.650 mm³, 0.907 ± 0.330 mm³, 0.480 ± 0.175 mm³ and the degeneration scores of choroidal plexuses were scored as 0 and 1- 1, and 4- 3 and 10 in the control, SHAM and SAH groups respectively. A significant correlation between the degree of vasospasm and CP degeneration was found. CONCLUSION: Vasospasm of choroidal arteries may be at a serious degree in cases with SAH incurs damages on choroid plexuses, and affects structures which play important roles in immune, endocrine, detoxifying, thermoregulatory, and secretory functions of the brain resulting in worsened prognosis.

The effect of degenerated neuron density of petrosal ganglion on the development of blood pressure variabilities after subarachnoid hemorrhage in a rabbit model: an experimental study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ischemic neurodegeneration, of the petrosal ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve, and BP fluctuations, after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four rabbits had their blood pressure and heart rhythms studied daily over 20 days. Then, the histopathology of the petrosal ganglion was examined in all animals. Normal and apoptotic neuron density of the petrosal ganglion and blood pressure values were compared statistically. RESULTS: Mean total volume of the petrosal ganglia was calculated as 0.9 ± 0.34/mm3. BP level of control group was 96.1 ± 2.1 mmHg; 116.5 ± 4 mmHg of mild hypertension (HT) group and 128.1 ± 3.6mmHg in the severe HT group. When the groups were compared to each other they were significantly different. The level of normal-apoptotic neuron in control group was 11,240 ± 802/mm³ -40 ± 6.3/mm³; 9730 ± 148.7/mm³ - 1560 ± 256.2/mm³ in the mild HT group and 6870 ± 378.8/mm³-4240 ± 628.2/mm³ in the severe HT group. When the groups were compared to each other there was significantly difference. CONCLUSION: Blood pressure variability observed in this study may be explained by ischemic neurodegeneration of petrosal ganglia caused by SAH. The results of this study suggest that petrosal ganglion ischemia has potential implications for the development of hypertension. These findings suggest that new treatment strategies should be considered for the treatment of SAH.

Angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva during pregnancy.

Angiomyofibroblastoma is a rare, benign and recently defined soft tissue tumor. It generally arises from superficial soft tissues, especially from mesenchymal cells in the subepithelial myxoid stromal zone of the vulvovaginal region. The tumor is usually positive for estrogen and progesterone receptor. We report a pregnant woman who developed vulvar angiomyofibroblastoma within 2 months. The tumor was negative for estrogen and progesterone receptor.

Gastric perforation caused by Strongyloides stercoralis: a case report.

Strongyloidiasis is a parasitosis caused by the female nematode of the Strongyloides stercoralis. S. stercoralis causes a chronic infection that is asymptomatic in 50% of chronically infected patients, and it can also affect the stomach. Gastric involvement causes symptoms mostly mimicking gastritis. We report herein a case of gastric perforation in a 37-year-old woman, which was thought to be caused by S. stercoralis.

The use of 808-nm light therapy to treat experimental chronic osteomyelitis induced in rats by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND DATA: In vivo and in vitro studies have reported that laser energy in differing wavelengths and irradiation regimes has a potential bactericidal effect on Staphylococcus aureus. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a light wavelength of 808 nm in varying doses has an effect on chronic osteomyelitis induced experimentally in the rat tibia. METHODS: Intramedullary cavities were surgically created in the left tibias of 39 adult Wistar albino rats. Five randomly selected subjects were injected with a sterile saline solution, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was used to induce osteomyelitis in the remaining rats. After 3 weeks, rats with evidence of osteomyelitis were treated with debridement alone (n = 7), with debridement plus laser irradiation to induce photoeradication (n = 21), or were not treated at all [negative control, (n = 6)]. Active irradiation was performed using an 808 nm, 100 mW continuous-wave diode laser with a beam spot size of 0.7854 cm(2) (irradiance = 127.3 mW/cm(2)). Laser treatment commenced immediately after debridement surgery and was applied daily for 5 consecutive days. Irradiation lasted 60 secs (6 J at 7.64 J/cm(2): n = 7), 120 secs (12 J at 15.29 J/cm(2): n = 7), or 180 secs (18 J at 22.93 J/cm(2): n = 7). Rats in the sham and negative control groups were killed 21 days post-induction surgery, and those in the treatment groups were killed after 42 days. Following killing, tibias were removed and analyzed histopathologically, radiographically, and microbiologically. RESULTS: Histopathological analysis showed that infection levels had decreased by 37%, 67%, 81%, and 93% in the groups treated by debridement or by debridement plus 7.64, 15.29, and 22.93 J/cm(2) light therapy, respectively, compared to the negative control group. Osteomyelitis-induced rats had the highest bacteria count (5 × 10(5)). Bacterial counts fell to 1.6 × 10(4), 4.3 × 10(2), 5.5 × 10(1), and 3.3 × 10(0) in groups treated by debridement or by debridement plus 7.64, 15.29, and 22.93 J/cm(2) light therapy, respectively, compared to the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, laser phototherapy with the appropriate irradiation parameters appears to be a promising adjunct and/or alternative technique to pharmacological agents in the treatment of osteomyelitis. The 808 nm 100 mW (127.3 mW/cm(2)) laser device used in this study achieved a maximum effect with an irradiation time of 180 secs, delivering 18 J at an energy density of 22.93 J/cm(2).

Investigation of the relationship of some antihypertensive drugs with oxidant/antioxidant parameters and DNA damage on rat uterus tissue.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the effects of treatment with chronic antihypertensive drugs (clonidine, methyldopa, amlodipine, ramipril and rilmenidine) on oxidant-antioxidant parameters and toxic effects on DNA in rat uterus tissue. In addition, uterus tissues were examined histopathologically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 36 albino Wistar rats were divided into the following six groups: 0.075 mg/kg clonidine group; 100 mg/kg methyldopa group; 2 mg/kg amlodipine group; 2.5 mg/kg ramipril group; 0.5 mg/kg rilmenidine group; and the healthy group. Rats underwent chronic drug administration for 30 days and at the end, biochemical and histopathological examinations were performed. All data were subjected to one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: We divided these drugs into the following three groups according to their effects on rat uteri: (I) mild negative effects (clonidine), (II) moderate negative effects (rilmenidine, methyldopa) and (III) drugs which had severe negative effects (amlodipine, ramipril). CONCLUSION: These data may help with selection of antihypertensive drugs, in order to determine which drugs have the lowest toxicity in pregnant and non-pregnant (pre-pregnancy) women.

Post-traumatic glioblastoma multiforme: a case report.

Malignant glioma development after trauma is a rare occurrence. We report a glioblastoma multiforme case that developed after a depressed skull fracture. A 65-year-old man was admitted because of right sided hemiplegia, epilepsy and changes in consciousness due to a malignant glial tumor. He had been operated on for a left calvarial depression fracture caused by cerebral laceration thirty-five years before. Radiologic imaging revealed a large contrast-enhanced mass lesion at the left frontotemporoparietal junction under the depression site. The patient underwent urgent surgery, and radical excision of the mass was achieved. The histopathologic diagnosis was a high-grade glial tumor. Although the possibility of a pre-existing tumor rather than a trauma-induced tumor is very high, the presented case suggests that traumatic cerebral lesions may also be a predisposing factor for the development of malignant glial tumors.

Treatment results of chronic hepatitis B in children: a retrospective study.

In this retrospective study, we aimed to share our experience with different treatment modalities for chronic hepatitis B in a series of children. The study included 126 children (mean: 9.5 +/- 3.8 years). Normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), loss of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and development of antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) altogether at the end of the treatment was considered as end of therapy response (ETR). Seroconversion ongoing one year after the cessation of therapy was considered as sustained response. Of the total children, 90 (71.4%) were treated, whereas the remaining were just followed-up. High-dose interferon (IFN)-alpha (10 MU/m2) alone, standard-dose IFN-alpha (6 MU/m2) plus lamivudine (4 mg/kg/d), high-dose IFN-alpha plus lamivudine, or lamivudine alone was used, IFN-alpha thrice weekly for six months, and lamivudine daily for one year. Of children who had completed their treatment, 34 (37.8%) achieved ETR. Sustained response rate was 36.7%. Response rates were different in the different treatment groups (p: 0.01). The highest response rate was observed in those who received standard-dose IFN-alpha plus lamivudine treatment (61.5%). Of children without treatment, one (2.8%) had anti-HBe seroconversion. Standard-dose IFN-alpha plus lamivudine treatment was found superior to the other treatment modalities. Predictors of ETR were similar to those found in previous studies.

Role of degenerated neuron density of dorsal root ganglion on anterior spinal artery vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage: experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The spinal arteries are innervated by several systems that contribute to the control of spinal cord blood flow. The sensory fibers of upper cervical nerves have vasodilatatory effect on the anterior spinal arteries (ASA). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes severe vasospasm by various neurochemical mechanisms. We examined whether there is a relationship between the neuron density of the C3 dorsal root ganglion and the severity of ASA vasospasm in SAH. METHODS: This study was conducted on 20 rabbits. Four of them were used as baseline group. Experimental SAH has been applied to all of 16 animals by injecting homologous blood into cisterna magna. After 20 days of injection, ASA and C3 dorsal root ganglia (C3DRG) were examined histopathologically. ASA volume values and normal and degenerated neuron densities of C3DRG were estimated stereologically and the results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The mean ASA volume was 1.050±0.450 mm³, [corrected] and the mean neuronal density of C3DRG was 10,500 ± 850 in all animals. The mean volume value of ASA was 0.970±0.150 [corrected] mm³, and the normal neuron density of C3DRG fell to 8,600 ± 400/mm³ in slight vasospasm group. In severe vasospasm-developed animals, mean volume value of ASA was 0.540±0.90 [corrected]mm³ and the normal neuron density of C3DRG fell to 5,500 ± 360/mm³. An inverse relationship between the degenerated neuronal density of the C3DRG and ASA volume values may indicate the severity of ASA vasospasm. CONCLUSION: The neuron density of C3DRG may be an important factor on the regulation of ASA volume values and the continuation of spinal cord blood flow. Low neuron density of C3DRG may be considered as an important factor in the pathogenesis of severe ASA vasospasm in SAH.

Dehydroepiandrosterone ameliorates hepatocellular damage in obstructive jaundice.

We aimed to investigate the ameliorating effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the potential hepatocellular damage in experimental obstructive jaundice. Twenty-four male rabbits in the study were randomly allocated into three groups. In the sham group, the choledochal canal was identified and explored. In the obstructive jaundice and treatment groups, the choledochal canal was ligated. Placebo and DHEA were administered to the obstructive jaundice and treatment groups, respectively. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, and both blood samples and liver tissue samples were obtained by re-laparotomy performed on day 8. Biochemical parameters were measured in blood samples, and liver samples were histopathologically evaluated. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin levels were lower in the treatment group than in obstructive jaundice. Mononuclear inflammation in the portal region and hepatocyte degeneration were milder in the treatment group compared to obstructive jaundice group. Fibrosis and necrosis were also recovered by the DHEA treatment.In conclusion, these findings suggested that DHEA may reduce the obstructive jaundice-induced hepatocellular damage.