Cryopreservation of Lilium candidum germplasm: analysis of pre- and post-freeze treatments.

BACKGROUND: Lilium candidum L. is a perennial ornamental plant that has various medicinal properties and is used in the cosmetic industry. The species is facing threats from urbanization and climate change and requires urgent protection. The most secure and efficient technology for the long-term storage of plant genetic resources is cryopreservation, which involves preserving genetic material at extremely low temperatures. OBJECTIVE: Today, plant biodiversity is endangered because of the narrowing of its natural distribution areas and/or destruction for different purposes. This study concentrated on creating a cryopreservation process using shoot tips and calluses as explant sources for the long-term conservation of L. candidum species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Populations of L. candidum naturally distributed from three different regions of Turkey (Kepsut, Balikesir; the area surrounding Bafa Lake, Aydin; and Fethiye-Mugla) were grown in vitro to supply shoot tip and callus explants. Prior to freezing by droplet-vitrification and vitrification techniques, shoot tips and calluses were treated with MS nutritional medium supplemented with 0.4 M sucrose 7 g per L agar and plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2). RESULTS: Cryopreserved shoot tips showed the highest levels of regeneration (71.8%) after a PVS2 treatment of 90 min, while calluses showed the highest levels of regrowth (63.9%) after a PVS2 exposure of 60 min. CONCLUSION: High levels of regrowth are produced when the various cryopreservation procedures described here are used to preserve both shoot tip and callus explants. This potentially makes the method promising for the long-term preservation of endangered L. candidum varieties. Doi.org/10.54680/fr23510110512.

A five-year, single-centre experience on ultrasound-assisted, catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with pulmonary embolism at high risk and intermediate to high risk.

AIMS: In this single-centre study, we aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy and safety outcomes of ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (USAT) performed in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) at intermediate to high risk and high risk (IHR, HR). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 141 retrospectively evaluated patients with PE who underwent USAT. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) dosage was 36.1±15.3 mg, and infusion duration was 24.5±8.1 hours. USAT was associated with improvements in echocardiographic measures of right ventricle systolic function, pulmonary arterial (PA) obstruction score, right to left ventricle diameter ratio (RV/LV), right to left atrial diameter ratio and PA pressures, irrespective of the risk (p<0.0001 for all). In-hospital mortality, major and minor bleeding rates were 5.7%, 7.8% and 11.3%, respectively. Follow-up data (median 752 days) were available in all patients. Absolute and % changes in RV/LV and % changes in PA mean pressure were significantly higher in patients younger than 65 years compared with older patients, whereas bleeding, 30-day and long-term mortality were not related to age, t-PA dosage or infusion duration. HR versus IHR increased 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: USAT was associated with improvements in thrombolysis and stabilisation of haemodynamics along with relatively low rates of complications in patients with PE, regardless of the risk status. However, HR still confers a higher short-term mortality. Increasing the t-PA dosage and prolongation of infusion may not offer benefit in USAT treatments.

Coexistence of Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome and placental chorioangioma in a premature infant.

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is a rare life-threatening clinical presentation in neonatal period. it is characterized by giant hemangioma and serious thrombocytopenia. The diagnostic criteria include: 1) hemangiomas on skin, 2) thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy, 3) hemangioma on internal organs diagnosed by ultrasonography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and 4) excluding reasons, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or hypersplenism.Placental chorioangiomas are the most widespread non-trophoblastic benign tumor-like lesions of placenta. The clinical signs are associated with tumor size. Chorioangiomas larger than 4-5 cm may lead to various maternal and fetal complications.Here, a female premature infant was diagnosed with placental chorioangioma and liver hemangioma during antenatal period. She developed heart failure secondary to non-immune hydrops fetalis in the neonatal period. The atypical giant hemangioma and coagulopathy suggested the diagnosis of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. The macroscopic and histopathological examination of the placenta confirmed the diagnosis of chorioangioma. The patient died due to purpura fulminans despite the treatment with prednisolone and propranolol that was started on the second day of life. We are presenting this rare case where placental chorioangioma leading to non-immune hydrops fetalis co-existed with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

The evaluation of renal parenchymal scarring using static renal scintigraphy after percutaneous nephrolithotomy operations.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether operative techniques and other variables related to patient and renal stone characteristics affect potential renal parenchymal damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 64 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy operations (PCNL). Data of the operated renal units, renal stone burden, route and number of entries, dilation techniques, duration of surgery, preoperative and postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and relative dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) uptakes, as well as the changes in hemoglobin values, were recorded and analyzed for all patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 44 years. In 11 (17.1%) cases, renal cortical defects in the 3rd month were detected on DMSA scintigraphy. When the patients with and without renal cortical defect were compared regarding their preoperative and postoperative GFR values, no statistically significant difference was noticed between the groups (P > 0.05). Similarly, when postoperative relative DMSA uptakes were compared with preoperative relative DMSA uptakes of the same kidneys, no statistical significance was seen. When preoperative relative DMSA uptake values between groups with and without renal scarring were compared, no statistically significant difference was observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We did not observe any significant difference in scintigraphic parameters and GFR values. Hence, in the current trial, significant loss in renal function after PCNL operations was not observed. Thus, PCNL operations should be regarded as safe, but still, the risk of loss of kidney function should always be considered.

CD3G gene defects in familial autoimmune thyroiditis.

The patients with CD3γ deficiency can present with different clinical findings despite having the same homozygous mutation. We report three new CD3gamma-deficient siblings from a consanguineous family with a combined T-B+NK+ immunodeficiency and their variable clinical and cellular phenotypes despite the same homozygous mutation of the CD3G gene (c.80-1G>C). We also re-evaluate a previously reported non-consanguineous family with two CD3gamma-deficient siblings with the same mutation. The median age at diagnosis was 11 years (14 months-20 years). We found all five patients to display autoimmunity: autoimmune thyroiditis (n = 5), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (n = 2), immune thrombocytopenia (n = 1), autoimmune hepatitis (n = 1), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (n = 1), vitiligo (n = 1) and positive antinuclear antibodies (n = 3) as well as high IgE (n = 2) and atopic eczema (n = 2). While CD3(+) TCRαß+T cell percentages were low in all patients, only one had lymphopenia and 3 had CD3(+) T cell lymphopenia. Strikingly, we report frequent and multiple autoimmunity in tested heterozygous carriers in both families (n = 6; in 67%), and frequent autoimmunity in family members not available for testing (n = 5, in 80%). The results suggest that CD3G should be studied as a candidate gene for autoimmunity and that CD3gamma deficiency should be considered among other primary immunodeficiencies with predominantly autoimmune manifestations.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome: report of a case with solitary pelvic kidney.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, commonly known as the testicular feminization syndrome, is characterized by a 46, XY karyotype, bilateral testes, absent or hypoplastic Wolffian ducts, and female-appearing external genitalia with diminished axillary and pubic hair development. Although initial diagnosis in the child is difficult, the syndrome must be suspected after puberty if primary amenorrhea is present. Coexistence of genital defects with urologic abnormalities is expected in these cases because of close embryologic origin. However, unilateral renal agenesis with pelvic ectopia of the contralateral kidney does not seem so common. We report a case of testicular feminization syndrome with a solitary kidney located in bony pelvis on the left side.

Power Doppler ultrasound mapping in nonobstructive azoospermic patients prior to testicular sperm extraction.

This study was conducted to localize the testicular regions, which have better blood circulation by power Doppler ultrasonography in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia before testicular sperm extraction (TESE), and to investigate whether these vascularized areas have a high sperm retrieval rate or not. We evaluated 110 testes of 55 cases that were diagnosed as nonobstructive azoospermia. The mean age of the study group was 33 years (range 26 to 42). Patients with Y chromosome microdeletions, karyotype and hormonal abnormalities (except elevated FSH levels) were excluded from the study. In all cases, testes were evaluated by power Doppler ultrasonography before testicular sperm extraction. Testis was divided vertically into five equal parts and the area with maximum vascularity was determined subjectively. During testicular sperm extraction, starting from best-perfused areas, biopsies were done. If no motile or sufficient amount of sperm was found, TESE procedure was tried on the contralateral testis. TESE were performed from 82 testes and for the regions that show good and poor vascularity. The sperm finding rate was 38% and 14%, respectively (OR = 3.55)(p = 0.001). Power Doppler ultrasound mapping of the testis in nonobstructive azoospermic cases is a reliable and informative method to assess spermatogenic foci. It is a noninvasive technique that minimizes the unnecessary removal of hormone producing tissue and gives chance to end the TESE earlier than currently practiced procedures.

Temporary vascular access via the external iliac vein as a salvage procedure: a report of two cases.

Central venous catheters (CVCs) provide easy, immediate and rapid vascular access (VA) for hemodialysis (HD) in patients with acute renal failure (ARF), and in an increasing number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as well. For this purpose, the vessels mainly used are the cephalic, jugular, subclavian and femoral veins. In some patients, vascular catheter insertion via these routes can become impossible. We report two hopeless cases, in which the external iliac veins (EIVs) were used as a temporary VA insertion site as a last resort.