Protective effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on organophosphate poisoning.

In this study, we aimed to study the possible preventive effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary omega-3 fatty acid, on toxicity caused by chlorpyrifos (CPF). Six groups of Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) consisting of equal numbers of males and females (n = 8) were assigned to study. The rats were orally given for 5 days. The control group was administered pure olive oil, which was the vehicle for CPF. The CPF challenge groups were administered oral physiological saline, pure olive oil, or DHA (50, 100 and 400 mg/kg dosages) for 5 days. The animals were weighed on the sixth day and then administered CPF (279 mg/kg, subcutaneously). The rats were weighed again 24 h following CPF administration. The body temperatures and locomotor activities of the rats were also measured. Blood samples, brain and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. A comparison with the control group demonstrated that CPF administration increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in blood, brain and liver, while it reduced catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) concentrations ( p < 0.05-0.001). Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) increased only in the brain ( p < 0.001). DHA reduced these changes in MDA and AOPP values ( p < 0.05-0.001), while it increased CAT, SOD and GPx concentrations ( p < 0.05-0.001). Similarly, DHA prevented the decreases in body weight, body temperature and locomotor activities caused by CPF at 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dosages ( p < 0.05-0.001). Similar to the physiological and biochemical changes, the histopathological damage scores, which increased with CPF ( p < 0.05-0.01), decreased at all three dosages of DHA ( p < 0.05-0.01). Our findings suggest that DHA, by supporting the antioxidant mechanism, reduces toxicity caused by CPF.

Effect of a Carbohydrate-Rich Diet on Rat Detrusor Smooth Muscle Contractility: An Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the effect of a carbohydrate-rich diet on detrusor contractility in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups. The control group received regular food and water. The study group received carbohydrate-rich diet for six weeks. The rats' detrusor muscle was isolated for pharmacological and histopathological examinations. RESULTS: In the control and study groups, mean body weights were 431.5 ± 27.6 g and 528.0 ± 36.2 g, respectively (p < 0.001). Electrical stimulation of the detrusor strips of the control group resulted in gradual contraction. A decreased contractile response was shown in the study group. Acetylcholine in 10-7-10-3 molar concentration produced a decreased contractile response in the study group, compared to the control group (p < 0.01). The study group showed marked subepithelial and intermuscular fibrosis in the bladder. CONCLUSION: Carbohydrate-rich diet causes marked subepithelial and extracellular fibrosis and changes in contractility in the detrusor within a six-week period. Changes have higher costs in therapeutic choices and correction of these changes remains difficult. Putting an end to carbohydrate-rich diet would seem to be more cost-effective than dealing with the effects of consuming it in high proportions which should be the national policy worldwide.

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on retinal ganglion cells, retinal thicknesses, and VEGF production in an experimental model of diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on the thicknesses of various retinal layers and on the numbers of retinal ganglion cells and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in experimental diabetic mouse retinas. METHODS: Twenty-one male BALB/C mice were made diabetic by the intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg). One week after the induction of diabetes, the mice were divided randomly into three groups: control group (non-diabetic mice treated with alpha-lipoic acid, n = 7), diabetic group (diabetic mice without treatment, n = 7), and alpha-lipoic acid treatment group (diabetic mice with alpha-lipoic acid treatment, n = 7). At the end of the 8th week, the thicknesses of the inner nuclear layer (INL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), and full-length retina were measured; also retinal ganglion cells and VEGF expressions were counted on the histological sections of the mouse retinas and compared with each other. RESULTS: The thicknesses of the full-length retina, ONL, and INL were significantly reduced in the diabetic group compared to the control and ALA treatment groups (p = 0.001), whereas the thicknesses of these layers did not show a significant difference between ALA treatment and control groups. The number of ganglion cells in the diabetic group was significantly lower than those in the control and ALA treatment groups (p = 0.001). The VEGF expression was significantly higher in the diabetic group and mostly observed in the ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers compared to the control and ALA treatment groups (p = 0.001). Therefore, the number of ganglion cells and VEGF levels did not show significant differences between the ALA treatment and control groups (p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that alpha-lipoic acid treatment may have an impact on reducing VEGF levels, protecting ganglion cells, and preserving the thicknesses of the inner and outer layers in diabetic mouse retinas.

Therapeutic Effects of Sildenafil on Experimental Mandibular Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: No previous studies have examined the effect of sildenafil on fracture healing. This study was designed to investigate the effect of sildenafil on the fracture healing process. METHODS: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats (3-month-old) were used in this study. Animals were randomly divided into 2 groups based on treatment duration (1 week versus 4 weeks) and each group was then divided further into 2 subgroups, control (C) and study (S) groups. Group C (C1, C2) was treated daily with saline solution and group S (S1, S2) was treated daily with 10 mg/kg of sildenafil. Histologic, histomorphometric, radiological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed at 1 week and 4 weeks after a fracture. RESULTS: The sildenafil group showed a significant increase in fracture healing scores (P = 0.00). The authors observed a transition from fibrous callus to cartilage tissue and immature bone tissue in group S1; and an increased transition of cartilage tissue to completely immature bone tissue in group S2, both of which were administered sildenafil. The strong expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and col-1 was observed in the fibrous matrix and osteoblasts within areas of new bone formation, especially in group S1. This group also showed an increase in bone density measurements at 1 week that was statistically significant (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil accelerates fracture healing and can be used as a supporting factor in the improvement of fracture healing under various conditions.

A Rare Cutaneous Adnexal Tumor: Malignant Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumor.

Proliferating trichilemmal tumors (PTTs) are neoplasms derived from the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. These tumors, which commonly affect the scalp of elderly women, rarely demonstrate malignant transformation. Although invasion of the tumors into neighboring tissues and being accompanied with anaplasia and necrosis are accepted as findings of malignancy, histological features may not always be sufficient to identify these tumors. The clinical behavior of the tumor may be incompatible with its histological characteristics. Squamous-cell carcinoma should certainly be considered in differential diagnosis because of its similarity in morphological appearance with PTT. Immunostaining for CD34, P53, and Ki-67 is a useful adjuvant diagnostic method that can be used in differential diagnosis aside from morphological findings. In this study, we aimed to present the case of a 52-year-old female patient with clinicopathological features. We reported a low-grade malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumor in this patient and detected no relapse or metastasis in a 24-month period of follow-up.

Old-scar mass and changing surgical perspective: Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease of an unknown etiology. Skin is involved in 25% of all cases, and 29% of them present as a scar sarcoidosis. Asymptomatic old-scar masses are generally regarded as a foreign body reaction by surgeons and often result in excisional biopsy. We describe a case of a patient who developed sarcoidosis in a 34-year-old appendectomy scar and adjacent inguinal lymph nodes without any local or systemic symptom and radiologic finding. Surgeons should not underestimate the importance of such lesions as a simple condition. Scar sarcoidosis may resolve spontaneously, or the treatment with some topical agents is effective. Furthermore, scar sarcoidosis may be the initial manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis.

Myositis ossificans on the forearm in a 10-year-old girl.

Myositis ossificans is a rarely encountered benign lesion characterized by a non-neoplastic heterotopic bone formation in both soft tissue and skeletal muscle. Three subgroups of myositis ossificans are identified: myositis ossificans progressiva, which is hereditary; nontraumatic or pseudomalignant myositis ossificans, which is developed in the absence of any trauma; and myositis ossificans circumscripta, which is related to evident and direct trauma. In this case report, we present a girl with a swelling on the forearm who was finally diagnosed with nontraumatic myositis ossificans.

Modified Radical Mastectomy under Local Anesthesia in High-Risk Male Breast Cancer.

Carcinoma of the male breast is responsible for less than 1% of all malignancies in men, but the prognosis is poor. Being diagnosed at an older age and advanced stage both affect the prognosis. Surgical treatment of elderly patients with co-morbid diseases is challenging. Unfortunately, these patients do not receive chemotherapy due to poor overall status. Mastectomy with local anesthesia may be an option for these patients. We aimed to present an elderly male patient who underwent successful mastectomy and axillary dissection under local anesthesia.

Fascin and EMMPRIN expression in primary mucinous tumors of ovary: a tissue microarray study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the expressions of fascin and EMMPRIN in primary malignant, borderline and benign mucinous ovarian tumors, and to investigate the relationship of these markers with tumor progression and their applicability to differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed for fascin and EMMPRIN using the tissue microarray technique. Eighty-one cases were included in the study; there were 37 benign, 25 borderline and 19 malignant primary mucinous ovarian tumors. For each case, a total staining score was determined, consisting of scores for extent of staining and intensity of staining. The cases were allocated to negative, weakly positive and strongly positive staining categories, according to the total staining score. RESULTS: Both of the markers were significantly negative in benign tumors as compared with borderline and malignant tumors. There was no significant difference between borderline and malignant groups for both markers. Sixty-eight percent of malignant tumors were stained positive by fascin, while this rate was 40% for borderline mucinous tumors. All malignant tumors were strongly stained positive for EMMPRIN, while this rate was 92% for borderline mucinous tumors. The rest of the cases stained weakly positive. No significant difference in staining score was found between fascin and EMMPRIN expression. CONCLUSIONS: In ovarian primary mucinous tumors, fascin and EMMPRIN may play an important role in tumor progression from benign tumor to carcinoma. In that context, EMMPRIN and fascin expression may have potential application in the differential diagnosis of some diagnostically problematic mucinous ovarian tumors. However, the differential diagnostic applicability of EMMPRIN appears to be more limited than that of fascin due to its wide spectrum of staining in mucinous ovarian tumors.

The effect of twisting on single and double based perforator flap viability: an experimental study in rats.

In this study, the histological and vital effects of rotation on multiple and single based perforator flaps were evaluated. A 6 cm × 6 cm abdominal perforator flap model was used on 80 male rats; half of these received a single-pedicled flap, and the other half double-pedicled. The flaps of control subgroups were raised and sutured without rotation. In rotation subgroups 90-, 180-, 270-degree rotations were performed, and rotation effects on flap viability and histological changes were analyzed. Among single- and double-pedicled perforator flaps, respectively, mean survival area was 12.59 cm(2) and 27.84 cm(2) in non-rotated subgroups, 12.49 cm(2) and 17.06 cm(2) in 90-degree rotation subgroups, 5.96 cm(2) and 9.96 cm(2) in 180-degree rotation subgroups, and 1.45 cm(2) and 1.70 cm(2) in 270-degree rotation subgroups. While survival areas of double- and single-pedicled perforator flaps with the same rotation degree showed no statistically significant difference, non-rotated double-pedicled perforator flaps had a statistically larger survival area compared to single-pedicled perforator flap (P = 0.001). In the single-pedicled flap group, there were no statistical differences between survival flap areas of the non-rotated subgroup and the 90- and 180-degree rotation subgroups (P > 0.05), but the non-rotated subgroup had a statistically larger survival area compared to the 270-degree rotation subgroup (P = 0.003). In double-pedicled perforator flap group, the control subgroup had a statistically larger flap survival area compared to 90-degree, 180-degree, and 270-degree rotation subgroups (P = 0.004, P = 0.002, P = 0.001). Degenerative histological changes gradually increased in correlation with the rotation angle in both single- and double-pedicled groups. When double- and single-pedicled groups were compared; degenerative histology score displayed no statistical difference between control subgroups and rotated subgroups (P > 0.05). In this rat abdominal propeller perforator flap model, we found that double perforators without pedicle rotation could support larger flap survival when compared to the single pedicle. However, double perforators did not cause an increase of survival area when pedicles were rotated. In the single-pedicled perforator flap, the flap survival area did not significantly decrease until 180-degree pedicle rotation. In the double-pedicled perforator flap, the flap survival area decreased when the degree of rotation increased. The degenerative changes increased in correlation with the rotation degree in both single- and double-pedicled perforator flaps.

A Case of Primary Hyperparathyroidism due to Intrathyroidal Parathyroid Cyst.

Parathyroid cysts constitute 0.08-3.41% of all parathyroid masses. Intrathyroidal parathyroid cysts, however, are rare conditions with only a few cases being reported. Most of the parathyroid cysts are found to be nonfunctional and functional cysts are generally thought to be due to cystic degeneration of parathyroid adenomas. A cystic, smooth contoured lesion of 24 × 19 × 16 mm was observed in left thyroid lobe of a 76-year-old woman during ultrasonography which was performed as routine workup for primary hyperparathyroidism. It was defined as a cystic thyroid nodule at first. Tc(99m) sestamibi scintigraphy was performed to see any parathyroid lesions, but no radioactive uptake was observed. Intact parathormone (iPTH) level was found to be >600 pg/mL in cyst aspiration fluid. Left lobectomy was performed, with a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism due to functional parathyroid cyst. Serum iPTH level was decreased >50% postoperatively and histopathological evaluation was consistent with an encapsulated parathyroid adenoma with a cystic center. Parathyroid cysts are among rare causes of primary hyperparathyroidism. Diagnosis is made by markedly increased iPTH level in cyst fluid and observation of parathyroid epithelium lining the cyst wall.

A Rare Breast Tumor Confused with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, Primary Solid Neuroendocrine Carcinoma.

The concept of pure neuroendocrine breast tumors was initially defined by Sapino et al. There are three sub-types of these tumors: solid, small cell/oat cell, and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. To diagnose neuroendocrine tumors, more than half of the tumor cells must have neuroendocrine differentiation. The possibility of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma must always be excluded in the differential diagnosis. In addition, it should be considered that solid neuroendocrine (NE) carcinomas can be confused with ductal carcinoma in situ due to their similar morphologic appearance. In this article, a patient with primary solid neuroendocrine breast cancer who had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ at another center was presented along with morphological and immunohistochemical features.

The comparison of the intestinal adaptation effects of subcutaneous and oral insulin in a rats with short bowel syndrome.

AIM: Insulin has been reported to have positive effects on intestinal adaptation after short bowel syndrome when applicated oral or subcutaneously. The purpose of this study is to compare the intestinal adaptation effects of subcutaneous and oral routes of insulin in rats with short bowel syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The short bowel syndrome (SBS) was performed through 70-75% of small intestinal resection and an end-to-end anastomosis. The control group rats underwent SBS only. In the second group, oral insulin (1 U/ml) was administrated twice-daily. In the last group, the insulin was administrated subcutaneously (1 U/kg) as in the control group. All rats were killed on day 15. Outcome parameters were weight of small intestine, the crypt length, villous depth, the blood levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and granolocyt-monocyst colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF). RESULTS: Intestinal weight was significantly more in oral insulin group and subcutaneous insulin group than in the control group (72.6 ± 4.3, 78.6 ± 4.8 and 59.7 ± 4.8) (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the groups according to villus length, crypt depth, and villous/crypt ratio both in proximal and distal parts of the resected bowel (P > 0.05). VEGF values were not statistically significant between the groups (200.3 ± 41.6, 178.9 ± 30.7 and 184.3 ± 52.2) (P > 0.05). GMCSF was statistically higher in the control group than in other groups (3.34 ± 1.34, 1.56 ± 0.44 and 1.56 ± 0.44) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Insulin has positive effects on intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome. Subcutaneous administration is slightly more effective than the oral route.

Analysis of the protective biochemical and pathologic effects of aminoguanidine on an experimental aspiration pneumonitis model induced by bile acids.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common clinical pathology detected in childhood. Bile acids (BAs) are present in reflux and cause various pathologies in the esophagus, the larynx, and the lungs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to show if aminoguanidine (AG) contributes to the biochemical and histopathologic treatment of experimental aspiration pneumonitis induced by BAs. METHODS: Twenty-eight female Sprague Dawley rats were used. There were 4 groups in the study: (1) group aspirated with 0.9% saline (n = 7), (2) group aspirated with 0.9% saline and treated with AG (n = 7), (3) group aspirated with a solution of 10 mg/kg taurocholic acid and 5 mg/kg taurochenodeoxycholate (n = 7), and (4) group aspirated with BA and treated with AG (n = 7). The saline and BA solutions were administered as 1 mL/kg intratracheally. The AG was administered intraperitoneally twice a day at a 150 mg/kg dose for 7 days. The different histopathologic and biochemical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Clara cell protein 16 and malondialdehyde levels were found to be significantly higher in the BA group than in the group where saline was administered; however, they were significantly lower in the BA + AG group than in the BA group. The total superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly in the BA group compared with the group where saline was administered. A significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity was observed in the BA + AG group when compared with the group where only BA was administered. When the group where BA was administered solely was compared with the group where saline was administered, peribronchial inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar septal infiltration, alveolar histiocytes, interstitial fibrosis, and granuloma were significantly higher in the BA group than in the saline group. When the BA + AG group was compared with the BA group, peribronchial inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar septal infiltration, alveolar histiocytes, interstitial fibrosis, and granuloma were found to be significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidant stress increases and antioxidant capacity decreases in pneumonitis induced by BAs. AG administration as an antioxidant helps in recovery, both biochemically and histopathologically. Consequently, AG seems to be an alternative that should be considered in a conservative approach to treating aspiration pneumonitis.