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The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and cerebral white matter lesions (CWML) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study was performed on 41 patients who were diagnosed with OSAS and simple snoring, and had brain MRI scan. The brain MRIs of the patients were reviewed regarding CWML. The patients were divided into four groups with regard to their apnea-hypopnea indexes. The groups were compared for CWML, and the correlations between CWML and polysomnography findings were investigated as well. Comparison of periventricular white matter (PVWM) and deep white matter (DWM) lesions among the groups revealed that these lesions significantly increased as the severity of the disease increased ( p = 0.001). The CWMLs of severe OSAS group were significantly more than the other groups. PVWM and DWM lesions and age had statistically significant correlation ( p = 0.001, for both). Age-adjusted correlation analysis revealed positive correlations of PVWM and DWM with AHI, duration of sleep with oxygen saturation below 90 %, and negative correlations with minimum O saturation ( p = 0.001, for both). There was an increased risk of CWM lesions in OSAS, and particularly in severe OSAS. Hypoxia might be one of the most substantial causes in the etiopathogenesis of those lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine whether infiltration of local anesthetics with adrenaline improved septoplasty procedure when compared to normal saline. Eight-two patients undergoing septoplasty were randomized into two groups. In group 1, septal mucoperichondrium was infiltrated with lidocaine with adrenaline, and normal saline was used in group 2. Presence of intra-operative septal mucosal injuries, the amount of bleeding, arterial blood pressure, operation time as well as the quality of the surgical field and the convenience of finding the correct surgical plane as determined by the surgeon using a 5-point scale were compared between two groups. There were no significant differences for the amount of blood loss, mean arterial pressure, operation time, or scores for convenience of finding the correct surgical plane between the two groups. There was no significant difference for intra-operative simple ( P = 0.631) and total (simple+severe) ( P = 0.649) septal mucoperichondrial injuries between groups 1 and 2, either. However, severe mucoperichondrial injury rate was higher in the patients infiltrated with lidocaine and adrenaline ( P = 0.026), and the quality of the surgical field was worse in the patients injected with normal saline ( P = 0.0179). Infiltration of septal mucoperichondrium with lidocaine and adrenaline instead of normal saline was not advantageous in terms of objective parameters tested, including bleeding amount and duration of surgery as well as the of the total mucosal injury rate in septoplasty procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multicellular parasites (e.g., nematodes and protozoa), proteins and glycolipids have been found to be decorated with phosphorylcholine (PC). PC can provoke various effects on immune cells leading to an immunomodulation of the host's immune system. This immunomodulation allows long-term persistence but also prevents severe pathology due to downregulation of cellular immune responses. PC-containing antigens have been found to interfere with key proliferative signaling pathways in B and T cells, development of dendritic cells and macrophages, and mast cell degranulation. These effects contribute to the observed modulated cytokine levels and impairment of lymphocyte proliferation. In contrast to glycosphingolipids, little is known about the PC-epitopes of proteins. So far, only a limited number of PC-modified proteins from nematodes have been identified. In this project, PC-substituted proteins and glycolipids in Ascaris suum have been localized by immunohistochemistry in specific tissues of the body wall, intestine, and reproductive tract. Subsequently, we investigated the PCome of A. suum by 2D gel-based proteomics and detection by Western blotting using the PC-specific antibody TEPC-15. By peptide-mass-fingerprint matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), we could identify 59 PC-substituted proteins, which are in involved multiple cellular processes. In addition to membrane proteins like vitellogenin-6, we found proteins with structural (e.g., tubulins) and metabolic (e.g., pyruvate dehydrogenase) functions or which can act in the defense against the host's immune response (e.g., serpins). Initial characterization of the PC-epitopes revealed a predominant linkage of PC to the proteins via N-glycans. Our data form the basis for more detailed investigations of the PC-epitope structures as a prerequisite for comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of immunomodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ostomy is an important step in the treatment of patients with anorectal malformation (ARM). Sometimes this basic surgical procedure may cause a devastating complication.Methods: The medical reports of the patients with ARM who had ostomy in the past were inspected. How many of them were operated in this center or sent from others, the type of ARM, what type of ostomy performed and which place of the bowel used and the complication type and rate related to ostomy and ostomy closure were evaluated.Results: Nearly, 157 of 230 patients with ARM had ostomy during twenty-two years were evaluated. The prevelent type of ostomy was loop (50.3%) and then separated (36.9%), end (7%), double barrel (4.4%) and window (1.2%). The ostomies were located in the tranverse colon (53.5%), descending colon (24.2%), sigmoid colon (17.8), pouch colon (2.5%) and ileum (1.9). Total complication rate was found to be 15.2% (24/157) (window 100%, double barrel 42.8%, separated 15.5%, loop 11.3%, end 9%). The main complication of loop ostomies was prolapse whereas wound problems, stenosis, intestinal obstruction or perforation were serious problems of separated ostomies. Complication rate in the descending colon and tranverse colon was found to be 7.1 and 28%, respectively (p = 0.001). Any difference for complication rate between loop and separated ostomies was not found. Eighteen of separated ostomies had mucous fistula and six of them (33%) were complicated, this rate was higher than those without mucous fistula (p = 0.012). Two babies with separated ostomy were lost due to surgical complications (1.2%). Complication rate after ostomy closure was 10.7% [wound infection (4.4%), intestinal obstruction (1.7%)].Conclusion: According to this study, ostomy performed in the descending colon carries greater risks for complication regardless of its type. Nevertheless, separated ostomy with mucous fistula should be performed by experienced hands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]