Chemical synthesis of a library of natural product-like derivatives based on pinnaic acid and initial evaluation of their anti-cancer activity.

Halichlorine and pinnaic acid have been shown previously to be potent inhibitors of the inflammatory enzymes cPLA2 and VCAM-1 and have also demonstrated some anti-cancer activity. They possess an almost identical azaspirocyclic core consisting of a unique 3-dimensional geometry with four stereocentres, making them compounds of interest for further study to reveal any bioactivity not yet discovered. The azaspirocyclic core was synthesised from an established protocol, from which a small library of novel analogues were synthesised and tested for activity against two cancer cell lines, HeLa and CaCo-2, along with the non-cancerous cell line HaCaT. Eleven compounds were found to be selective for CaCo-2 cells.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in hemolytic disease of the newborn: A moving target in time.

Background: Alloimmune hemolytic disease of the newborn (AIHDN) results in hemolysis, anemia, hyperbilirubinemia with the potential for brain damage. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been investigated as an alternative low-risk procedure for the treatment of AIHDN in addition to traditional treatment methods such as phototherapy and exchange transfusion (ET). Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of IVIG therapy in decreasing ET needs based on risk factors and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Charts of neonates born >30 weeks of gestation who underwent phototherapy and were administered IVIG therapy due to AIHDN between January 2013 and July 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Sixty-three neonates were included in our study. Forty-three of them (68.3) % were full-term infants. ABO incompatibility (n = 33, 52.4%) was the major cause of AIHDN (n = 63). Additional risk factors for jaundice were found to coexist in 95.2% (n = 60) of the infants. Fifteen infants (23.8%) required ET, mostly due to Rh incompatibility (n = 11, 73.3%). Mortality was observed in 3.2% (n = 2) of the patients, 1.6% (n = 1) of whom were related to ET. Serum albumin value was found to be negatively correlated with the requirement for ET (r = 0.713, P < 0.001), whereas serum bilirubin albumin ratio was positively correlated (r = 0.489, _P < 0.001). Nine (14.3%) infants needed a simple transfusion during the hospitalization period, whereas five (7.9%) infants had readmission for simple transfusion after discharge. Apnea was the only complication seen in one (1.6%) patient. Conclusion: IVIG treatment should be considered due to its relative benefits when compared to exchange transfusion. In addition to its safety, it is a less complicated treatment modality with low side effect rates. It may be justified for elective use in neonates suffering from AIHDN, who will require ET with a risk of mortality by decreasing the peak of total serum bilirubin levels.

Case report: bilateral simultaneous tubeless and stentless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

A 39-year-old man underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for bilateral renal stone without stent and tube insertion. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bilateral simultaneous tubeless and stentless PCNL. The advantage of this technique in renal stone surgery is discussed.

Changing epidemiological features of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

BACKGROUND: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic central nervous (CNS) system infection caused by measles virus. Because changing immunization practices affect the epidemiology of measles and consequently SSPE, we examined the epidemiological data of our SSPE registry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age of onset, age at onset of measles, duration of Latent period and immunization status were examined in cases recorded at the SSPE Registry Center in Turkey between 1975 and 1999. RESULTS: Age of onset diminished from 13 years before 1994 to 7.6 years after 1995; age at onset of measles declined from 29 months to 20 months and the Latent interval from 9.9 years to 5.9 years. Age at onset of measles and immunization status did not directly affect the duration of the Latent period. CONCLUSION: Although its incidence has decreased in Turkey, SSPE has been seen at younger ages in recent years. This change cannot be attributed solely to younger age at onset of measles. Factors affecting the duration of the Latent period should be investigated further.

Psoriasis in a patient with neurofibromatosis.

A seven-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis who developed scalp psoriasis is presented. The clinical evaluation of the patient revealed multiple café au lait spots, axillary freckling, bilateral Lisch nodules and a psoriatic plaque on his scalp. Though there is no known direct relationship between neurofibromatosis and psoriasis, one is suggested in this patient, possibly related to a common genetic defect.

Gastric emptying time in children with progressive muscular dystrophy.

Gastric emptying was evaluated in 11 male children (mean age 8.2 +/- 3.2 years) with progressive muscular dystrophy to detect gastrointestinal smooth muscle involvement. No patient had gastrointestinal symptoms. Gastric emptying studies were performed by using 500 microCi of technetium 99 m sulfur colloid bound to a scrambled egg, and scintigraphic measurements were taken continuously for 60 to 90 minutes. The gastric emptying studies were compared with those of eight male children (mean age 8.2 +/- 2.8 years) without gastrointestinal or muscular disorders. The mean percentage of retention of gastric isotope was significantly greater in the study group than in the control group. These data suggest that dysfunction of the smooth muscle of the upper gastrointestinal tract is detectable in children with progressive muscular dystrophy, even when gastrointestinal symptoms are absent.

The prevalence of neurological disorders among children in Gemlik (Turkey).

With a descriptive survey, the authors tried to ascertain the prevalence of certain neurological disorders among children aged up to five years. Questionnaires were administered to mothers and their children were divided into two groups (559 children): neurologically healthy and suspect. Suspect children were examined by a paediatrician, who assigned a diagnosis where appropriate (361 children). A control group was selected from the healthy children (420 children), and they were neurologically examined with the suspect children. Cases and controls were compared for family history, and pregnancy and delivery risks. The most frequent condition found was febrile convulsions (0.45 per cent), followed by epilepsy (0.9 per cent) and cerebral palsy (0.5 per cent).

Improvement of myotonia with carbamazepine in three cases with the Schwartz-Jampel syndrome.

Carbamazepine was used as an anti-myotonic agent in three cases with the Schwartz-Jampel syndrome. Clinical myotonia, blepharospasm and a five-stair climbing test improved significantly within two to four months of the initiation of the medication. In the two cases which were followed three and two years, height shifted from under the 3rd centile to the 5th. Carbamazepine may be a drug of choice in the Schwartz-Jampel syndrome.