Microencapsulation of parathyroid cells via electric field and non-surgical transplantation approach.

PURPOSE: Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease with low PTH, mostly seen as a consequence of neck surgery. Current management is the prescription of calcium and vitamin D, but the definitive treatment is parathyroid allotransplantation, which frequently triggers an immune response, thus cannot achieve the expected success. To overcome this problem, encapsulation of allogeneic cells is the most promising method. By optimizing the standard alginate cell encapsulation technique with parathyroid cells under high-voltage application, the authors reduced the size of parathyroid-encapsulated beads and evaluated these samples in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Parathyroid cells were isolated, and standard-sized alginate macrobeads were prepared without any electrical field application, while microbeads in smaller sizes (< 500 µm), by the application of 13 kV. Bead morphologies, cell viability, and PTH secretion were evaluated in vitro for four weeks. For the in vivo part, beads were transplanted into Sprague-Dawley rats, and after retrieval, immunohistochemistry and PTH release were evaluated in addition to the assessment of cytokine/chemokine levels. RESULTS: The viability of parathyroid cells in micro- and macrobeads did not differ significantly. However, the amount of in vitro PTH secretion from microencapsulated cells was significantly lower than that from macroencapsulated cells, although it increased throughout the incubation period. Immunohistochemistry of PTH staining in both of the encapsulated cells identified as positive after retrieval. CONCLUSION: Contrary to the literature, a minimal in vivo immune response was developed for alginate-encapsulated parathyroid cells, regardless of bead size. Our findings suggest that injectable, micro-sized beads obtained using high-voltage may be a promising method for a non-surgical transplantation approach.

EFFECTIVENESS OF ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS L. ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS, THYROID FUNCTION AND HISTOPATHOLOGY.

CONTEXT: Anethum graveolens L. is used in the treatment of numerous diseases. But there is limited data about the Anethum graveolens efficiency in thyroid tissue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the functional and histopathological changes in thyroid tissues from rats treated with Anethum graveolens L. extract. DESIGN: This is an experimental animal study and duration of the study was 30 days. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight female Wistar Albino rats were divided into four equal groups. A gavage of Anethum graveolens L. extract at 0, 50, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day doses were given to the rats with 1 mL 0.9% NaCl, respectively, for 30 days. Blood was taken at day 0, 15 and 30. fT3, fT4, TSH values and antioxidant efficiency were observed. Also the thyroidectomy tissue was assessed histopathologically. RESULTS: There is no difference observed in the fT3, fT4 and TSH values of groups 1, 2 and 3 at day 1, 15 and 30 (p>0.05); however, in group 4, TSH value decreased on days 15 and 30 when compared to day 1 and the other groups (p<0.05). Also the hypertrophy and thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia were significantly increased in group 4 (p<0.05). There is no difference in antioxidant efficiency in any of the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Anethum graveolens L. extract is effective on both the function and the histology of thyroid tissue but it has no effect on antioxidant status.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE APPROACH TO MODERATE HYPOCALCAEMIA IN THE EARLY PERIOD FOLLOWING TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY?

CONTEXT: It is unclear whether treatment is necessary for transient moderate hypocalcaemia occurring after total thyroidectomy; if it is present, it is unclear which treatment modality should be preferred. OBJECTIVE: To investigate both the necessity and effectiveness of different treatment approaches of oral and/or intravenous calcium treatment in patients with transient, postoperative, moderate hypocalcaemia. DESIGN: This is a case control study made between June 2014 and June 2015. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients who had serum calcium levels 6 hours after total thyroidectomy between 7.5-8 mg/dL were divided into three equal groups: an oral calcium administration group, an intravenous calcium administration group and a no-treatment group. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 2, 5 and 10. RESULTS: For post-thyroidectomy patients with serum calcium 7.5-8 mg/dL in the early postoperative period, no significant difference in serum calcium or parathyroid hormone was detected between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up without treatment seems to be the most effective approach for moderate hypocalcaemia occurring in the early period following total thyroidectomy; this suggests that intravenous treatment should be avoided.

The diagnostic ability of core needle biopsy in nodular thyroid disease.

INTRODUCTION Non-diagnostic results of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) remain an important limitation of this technqiue. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of core needle biopsy (CNB) of thyroid nodules and its effectiveness in non-diagnostic FNAB cases. METHODS CNBs were performed in 1,000 patients (154 male, 846 female; mean age: 50.2 years, range: 18-86 years) with a spring loaded 20G needle. Of these, 143 had initially had FNABs that were insufficient for evaluation. The CNB reports were reviewed. Patients with suspicious or malignant CNB results underwent total thyroidectomy. RESULTS When considering all 1,000 CNBs, the non-diagnostic rate was 1.5% (15/1,000). However, when the first 100 cases were eliminated as a learning curve, this reduced to 0.9% (8/900). Of the 143 cases with initial FNABs that were non-diagnostic, 0.7% (1/143) were also non-diagnostic on CNB. Twelve patients underwent surgery because of malignant CNB reports and all of these cases were confirmed as malignant by the postoperative pathology specimen results (100% accuracy). There were no major complications although three self-limiting minor complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS CNB is a safe and accurate method. It is more diagnostic than FNAB for nodular thyroid disease.

Role of single-dose clostridiopeptidase A collagenase in peritoneal adhesions.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of clostridiopeptidase A collagenase (CAC) in a rat model of postoperative peritoneal adhesion (PPA). METHODS: Forty rats were divided into four equal groups. In group 1, 1 g CAC was injected into the peritoneal cavity. In group 2, adhesions were generated. In group 3, adhesions were generated, and, 10 days later, the area with PPAs was covered with 1 g CAC. In group 4, adhesions were generated and the area was covered immediately with 1 g CAC. All rats were sacrificed on postoperative day 10, and adhesions were scored both macroscopically and microscopically. RESULTS: Mean macroscopic adhesion scores in groups 1-4 were 0, 2.9 ± 0.21, 2.55 ± 0.16, and 1.3 ± 1, respectively (p = 0.0001). The mean macroscopic adhesion score in group 4 was lower than that in group 2 (p = 0.045). The mean macroscopic adhesion score in group 4 was lower than that in group 3, but the value was not statistically different (p = 0.098). Mean microscopic values were 0, 2.8 ± 0.42, 2.5 ± 0.52, and 1.3 ± 0.67, respectively (p< 0.0001). The group 4 score was lower than those of groups 2 (p = 0.01) and 3 (p = 0.025). DISCUSSION: A single dose of CAC reduces PPA formation. CAC, however, is not effective on already formed PPAs.

Effectivity of qualitative urinary trypsinogen-2 measurement in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis: a randomized, clinical study.

BACKGROUND: There is no any definite diagnostic test for acute pancreatitis. In the present study we investigated the value of the qualitative urinary trypsinogen-2 measurement in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis by an immuno-chromatographic dipstick test. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, clinical trial was planned on 99 patients (53 male, 46 female; male/female : 1.11; age range: 16-83; mean age: 37.4). Patients were divided into two groups: 50 cases were referred to our emergency surgical unit due to abdominal pain and diagnosed with acute pancreatitis by abdominal computerized tomography (CT) (Group 1); 49 cases were referred to our emergency surgical unit due to abdominal pain and whose abdominal CTs did not show any sign of acute pancreatitis (Group 2). Qualitative urinary trypsinogen-2 measurement, abdominal CT and blood amylase values were obtained in all cases. RESULTS: In group 1, urinary trypsinogen-2 measurement was found positive in 28 cases out of 50 cases diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (56% sensitivity). In group 2, results were found positive in 3 out of 49 patients with abdominal pain, who lacked an acute pancreatitis diagnosis (90.9% specificity). Severe intra-abdominal inflammation was present in three cases of group 2 where we obtained false positive results which may stimulate the pancreatic exocrine secretion. CONCLUSION: Qualitative measurements of urinary trypsinogen-2 in patients with abdominal pain may be useful in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. It is an easy, inexpensive, rapid and noninvasive method.

The effect of diaphragmatic peritoneal lymphatics on peritoneal adhesions: an experimental study.

In this study, we examined the effect of diaphragmatic peritoneal lymphatic function on the formation of peritoneal adhesions. A two phased design was used in fifty-two Wistar albino female rats. In the first phase (n = 12), the effects of diaphragmatic peritoneum damage model on the cecum and the terminal ileum were evaluated. In the second phase, the rats (n = 40) were divided into two equal groups. The adhesion model was created only in the cecum and the terminal ileum in the first group, whereas the diaphragmatic peritoneal damage model was created in the second group together with the same adhesion model. The rats were sacrificed on day 10 postoperatively and the adhesions formed were graded. In the first group, adhesions were formed at grade 1 in 5 rats (25%), grade 2 in 11 rats (55%) and grade 3 in 4 rats (20%), whereas adhesions were formed at grade 1 in 2 rats (10%), grade 2 in 8 rats (40%) and grade 3 in 10 rats (50%) in the second group (X2: 21.65, p < 0.0001). Diaphragmatic peritoneal lymphatic function reduced the number of adhesions and severity of the adhesions which occurred among intraabdominal organs after laparotomy. These findings suggest that special care should be undertaken to avoid damaging the diaphragmatic peritoneum during abdominal surgery so as to reduce the incidence of peritoneal adhesions.

Efficacy of local adrenalin injection during sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus excision.

BACKGROUND: The most commonly preferred treatment method for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease is surgery. Peroperative and postoperative hemorrhages may develop frequently because of the increased vascularity of the region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adrenalin, a potent vasoconstrictor agent, on pilonidal sinus operations in comparison to a control group. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study was designed and 51 patients with symptomatic, uncomplicated pilonidal disease were included (44 males and 7 females; mean age 24.5, range 16-44 years). Adrenalin 0.1 mg with 10 ml 0.9% NaCl (1/100,000 dilution) was injected through the incision tracts to all layers and the base of the incision area in group 1 (n = 21). The same process was applied to group 2 (n = 21) with 10 ml physiological serum solution. Then, after removal of the sinus and its tracks, a suction-type drain was placed in the pouch in all cases and the incision was primarily closed. Peroperative and postoperative hemorrhage, and operation time were accepted as the evaluation criteria. Cases were followed for 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The amount of peroperative hemorrhage was 6.5 +/- 3.5 ml in group 1 and 17.5 +/- 9.5 ml in group 2 (p < 0.001). The postoperative hemorrhage was 11 +/- 7.5 ml in group 1 and 13.5 +/- 6 ml in group 2 (p > 0.05). The operation time was 14 +/- 5 min in group 1 and 22 +/- 8.5 min in group 2 (p < 0.05). No reactionary hemorrhage, hematoma or recurrence was seen during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenalin injection is quite effective to decrease peroperative bleeding and operation time, but it does not decrease postoperative bleeding and the need for a drain.