Resveratrol Treatment Prevents Hippocampal Neurodegeneration in a Rodent Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

AIM: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex process. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that reactive oxygen species contribute to brain injury. Resveratrol (RVT) which exhibits significant antioxidant properties, is neuroprotective against excitotoxicity, ischemia, and hypoxia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of RVT on the hippocampus of a rat model of TBI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty eight rats were divided into four groups. A moderate degree of head trauma was induced using Feeney"s falling weight technique. Group 1 (control) underwent no intervention or treatment. Head trauma was induced in Group 2 (trauma) and no drug was administered. Head trauma was induced in Group 3 and low-dose RVT (50 mg/kg per day) was injected. In Group 4, high-dose RVT (100 mg/kg per day) was used after head trauma. Brain tissues were extracted immediately after perfusion without damaging the tissues. Histopathological and biochemistry parameters were studied. RESULTS: Brain tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the trauma group were significantly higher than those in the control, lowdose RVT-treated, and high-dose-RVT-treated groups. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the control group were significantly higher than those in the trauma, low-dose RVT-treated, and high-dose RVT-treated groups. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in the control group were significantly higher than those in the trauma and low-dose RVT-treated groups. The level of oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage (8-OHdG/106 dG) in the trauma group was higher than that in the control group, low-dose RVT-treated, and high-dose RVT-treated groups. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol has a healing effect on neurons after TBI.

How frequently external ventricular drainage device should be changed in children with ventriculoperitonel shunt infection?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the presenting study was to determine how frequently external ventricular drainage (EVD) device should be changed in children with ventriculopertienal shunt (VPS) infection during prolonged intravenous antimicrobial therapy. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 25 children with VPS infection were evaluated between January 2012 and December 2013. In these children VPS was surgically removed and appropriate antimicrobial therapy was administered according to cerebrospinal culture results. Data noted about how frequently EVD device had been changed, the number of cells on direct observation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), glucose and protein levels of CSF, and CSF culture results were obtained from patients' records. RESULTS: Total 25 children were included in the study. The median age was three months (1 and 65 months). In 44% of children, Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated. During treatment period, EVD catheter has changed one to six times. A total of 68 EVD catheters were changed in these patients. When the duration of ventriculostomy catheter and leukocyte count in CSF were evaluated on daily basis, leukocyte count was decreased 5 units per day in children whose catheter remained less than 10 days. However, in children whose catheter remained more than 10 days leukocyte count was decreased 2.21 units per day. CONCLUSIONS: In children with VPS infection, EVD device should be changed at every 10 days for the rapid resolution of the infection.

Are blank cartridge guns really harmless?

Blank cartridge guns are devices that discharge sound and gas, but no bullet or shot. These devices are very similar to real guns in the form of their external design and the sound generated during their firing. Although it is widely held in society that these devices are harmless, reports from Turkey and the world have shown that these guns are not entirely innocent. Herein, we present a 26-year-old male with a head injury due to gunshot from a blank cartridge. The purpose of this presentation is to emphasize that these devices are not harmless, contrary to common public opinion.

A Retrospective Comparison of Conventional versus Transverse Mini-Incision Technique for Carpal Tunnel Release.

Background. In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the results of two surgical techniques, conventional and transverse mini-incision. Materials and Methods. 95 patients were operated between 2011 and 2012 in Bitlis State Hospital. 50 patients were operated with conventional technique and 45 of them were operated with minimal transverse incision. Postoperative complications, incision site problems, and the time of starting to use their hands in daily activities were noted. Results. 95 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 48. 87 of them were female and 8 were male. There was no problem of incision site in both of the two surgical techniques. Only in one patient, anesthesia developed in minimal incision technique. The time of starting to use their hands in daily activities was 22,2 days and 17 days in conventional and minimal incision technique, respectively. Conclusion. Two surgical techniques did not show superiority to each other in terms of postoperative complications and incision site problems except the time of starting to use their hands in daily activities.

Spontaneous rapid resolution of acute epidural hematoma in childhood.

Acute epidural hematoma is a critical emergency all around the world, and its aggressive diagnosis and treatment are of vital importance. Emergent surgical evacuation of the hematoma is known as standard management; however, conservative procedures are also used for small ones. Spontaneous rapid resolution of these hematomas has also been reported in eight pediatric cases. Various theories have been proposed to explain the underlying pathophysiology of this resolution. Herein, we are reporting a new pediatric case with spontaneously resolving acute epidural hematoma 12 hours after admission to the emergency room.

Comparison of simultaneous shunting to delayed shunting in infants with myelomeningocele in terms of shunt infection rate.

AIM: Timing of shunt insertion in infants with myelomeningocele (MM) and hydrocephalus (HCP) has been debated. Many authors have suggested to perform the repair of MM and shunt insertion during same operation. However, there is also an opposite view. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 166 patients who underwent MM Sac repair to evaluate whether there are difference between these two methods in terms of shunt infection rate. RESULTS: In the same session, V-P (ventriculoperitoneal) shunt placement was performed onto 65 infants within the first 48 hours of postnatal and 36 infants were operated 48 hours after birth. In separate sessions, repair of MM were performed onto 29 infants within the first 48 hours of postnatal and shunting was peformed 7 days after sac repair. 14 infants were performed MM sac repair 48 hours after birth, then shunt was applied 7 days after closure of MM. Shunt infection rate in concurrently operated groups was markedly high (12.3 % in early surgery, 33.3% in late surgery); in separatedly operated groups' shunt infection rate was lower (3.44% in early surgery, 14.29% in late surgery). CONCLUSION: We propose to perform V-P shunt placement and MM repair in separate sessions.