The protective effects of ginseng on x-irradiation-induced intestinal damage in rats.

Although radiotherapy is widely employed in the treatment of various malignancies in oncology patients, its use is limited by the toxic effects it causes in surrounding tissues, including the gastrointestinal system. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a traditional drug reported to possess antioxidant and restorative properties in various studies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of KRG against radiation-associated small intestinal damage. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups. No procedure was performed on Group 1 (control) during the experiment, while Group 2 (x-irradiation) was exposed to radiation only. Group 3 (x-irradiation + ginseng) received ginseng via the intraperitoneal route for a week prior to x-irradiation. The rats were killed 24 h after radiation. Small intestinal tissues were evaluated using histochemical and biochemical methods. An increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) were observed in the x-irradiation group compared to the control group. KRG caused a decrease in MDA and caspase-3 activity and an increase in GSH. Our findings show that it can prevent damage and apoptotic cell death caused by x-irradiation in intestinal tissue and can therefore play a protective role against intestinal injury in patients receiving radiotherapy.

The effects of TNF-α inhibitors on carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity.

OBJECTIVES: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), employed in various industrial fields, can cause acute damage in renal tissues. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of the TNF-alpha inhibitor Infliximab on TGF-ß and apoptosis caused by acute kidney image induced by CCl4. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into control, CCl4, and CCl4+ Infliximab groups. The control group received an isotonic saline solution, and the CCl4 group 2 mL/kg CCl4 intraperitoneally (i.p). The CCl4+ Infliximab group was given 7 mg/kg Infliximab 24 hours after administration of 2 mL/kg CCl4. Kidney tissues were removed at the end of the experiment and subjected to histopathological and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: The application of CCl4 led to tubular necrosis, inflammation, vascular congestion, and increased Serum BUN and creatinine values. An increase in caspase-3 activity also occurred in the CCl4 group. However, Infliximab exhibited an ameliorating effect on kidney injury by causing a decrease in the number of apoptotic cells. Tissue ADA and TGF-ß values of the CCL4 group were significantly higher than the values of the control group (p = .001, p < .001 respectively) and CCL4+ Inf group (p = .004, p = .015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that Infliximab ameliorates nephrotoxicity by reducing lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in acute kidney damage developing in association with CCl4 administration. These findings are promising in terms of the ameliorating role of TNF-alpha inhibitors in acute kidney injury.

Early Results of Comparison of Hydrophilic Anatomical Mesh and Polypropylene Mesh for Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal (TEP) Inguinal Hernia Repair.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results, feasibility, and effectiveness of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair made using anatomical hydrophilic mesh and polypropylene mesh. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of General Surgery, Recepc Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital, Rize, Turkey and Department of General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty, Samsun, Turkey from January 2017 to October 2020. METHODOLOGY: Comparative analysis on patient who had TEP for inguinal hernia. Group 1 included repairs using hydrophilic anatomical mesh, Group 2 included repairs using polypropylene mesh. Both were compared for operation times, complications, and return to work. RESULTS: There were 34 patients in Group 1 and 31 patients in Group 2. The average operation time was shorter in Group 1 (p = 0.001). Postoperative complications, were significantly less common in Group 1 (p = 0.045). Patients were able to return to their work-life earlier in Group 1 after surgery (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both anatomic mesh and polypropylene mesh can be used in TEP hernia repair. These two materials stand out with their different properties. Whereas anatomical mesh shortens the operation time, decreases the rate of postoperative complications, and enables the early return to work, polypropylene mesh is cost-effective and easily accessible. KEY WORDS: Inguinal hernia, Postoperative complication, Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP).

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the course of diseases that require emergency surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer disease stage. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis in the city of Rize, Turkey. METHODS: This was a comparative analysis on two groups of patients with various symptoms who underwent surgical colorectal cancer treatment. Group 1 comprised patients operated between March 11, 2019, and December 31, 2019; while group 2 comprised patients at the same time of the year during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Groups 1 and 2 included 56 and 48 patients, respectively. The rate of presentation to the emergency service was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.02). The stage of the pathological lymph nodes and the rate of liver metastasis was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.004 and P < 0.041, respectively). The disease stage was found to be more advanced in Group 2 (P < 0.005). The rate of postoperative complications was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.014). CONCLUSION: The presentation of patients with suspicious findings to the hospital was delayed, due both to the fear of catching COVID-19 and to the pandemic precautions that were proposed and implemented by healthcare authorities worldwide. Among the patients who presented to the hospital with emergency complaints and in whom colorectal cancer was detected, their disease was at a more advanced stage and thus a higher number of emergency oncological surgical procedures were performed on those patients.

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer surgery

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the course of diseases that require emergency surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer disease stage. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis in the city of Rize, Turkey. METHODS: This was a comparative analysis on two groups of patients with various symptoms who underwent surgical colorectal cancer treatment. Group 1 comprised patients operated between March 11, 2019, and December 31, 2019; while group 2 comprised patients at the same time of the year during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Groups 1 and 2 included 56 and 48 patients, respectively. The rate of presentation to the emergency service was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.02). The stage of the pathological lymph nodes and the rate of liver metastasis was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.004 and P < 0.041, respectively). The disease stage was found to be more advanced in Group 2 (P < 0.005). The rate of postoperative complications was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.014). CONCLUSION: The presentation of patients with suspicious findings to the hospital was delayed, due both to the fear of catching COVID-19 and to the pandemic precautions that were proposed and implemented by healthcare authorities worldwide. Among the patients who presented to the hospital with emergency complaints and in whom colorectal cancer was detected, their disease was at a more advanced stage and thus a higher number of emergency oncological surgical procedures were performed on those patients.

Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Axillary Lymph Node Positivity and Numbers in Breast Cancer Cases.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare the numbers of axillary lymph nodes (ALN) taken out by dissection between patients with breast cancer operated on after having neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) treatment and otherswithout having neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and to investigate factors affecting lymph node positivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 49 patients operated due to advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 144 patients with a similar stage of the cancer having primary surgical treatment without chemotherapy at the general surgery clinic of Ondokuz Mayis University Medicine Faculty between the dates 01.01.2006 and 31.10.2012 were included in the study. The total number of lymph nodes taken out by axillary dissection (ALND) was categorized as the number of positive lymph nodes and divided into <10 and ≥10. The variables to be compared were analysed using the program SPSS 15.0 with P<0.05 accepted as significant. RESULTS: Median number of dissected lymph nodes from the patient group having neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 16 (16-33) while it was 20 (5-55) without chemotherapy. The respective median numbers of positive lymph nodes were 5 ( 0-19) and 10 (0-51). In 8 out of 49 neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients (16.3%), the number of dissected lymph nodes was below 10, and it was below 10 in 17 out of 144 primary surgery patients. Differences in numbers of dissected total and positive lymph nodes between two groups were significant, but this was not the case for numbers of <10 lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The number of dissected lymph nodes from the patients with breast cancer having neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be less than without chemotherapy. This may not always be attributed to an inadequate axillary dissection. More research to evaluate the numbers of positive lymph nodes are required in order to increase the reliability of staging in the patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.