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Introduction: Naftidrofuryl and cilostazol are drugs with proven efficacy in the treatment of claudication in peripheral vascular disease. In this experimental study, we evaluated the effects of naftidrofuryl and cilostazol in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury on various tissues. Materials and Methods: 40 male albino Wistar rats (8-12 weeks old, 250-350 g.) are randomly divided into 4 groups: Control (Group 1), sham (group 2), cilostazol pre-treatment (group 3), naftidrofuryl pre-treatment (group 4). During 21 days placebo is given to group 2, 12 mg/kg/day cilostazol is given to group 3, 50 mg/kg/day naftidrofuryl is given to group 4 orally. Ischemia and reperfusion are induced at the lower hind limb in Groups 2, 3 and 4. Ischemic muscle, kidney, liver, heart, brain and blood samples are obtained. The total antioxidant capacity, oxidant levels and oxidative stress index are studied for each group. Results: Both drugs have protective effects of remote organ injury following IR. Systemic effects are similar to each other, both have protective effects of IR injury. It showed no statistical significance in the total antioxidant capacity. Total oxidant levels are significantly affected by cilostazol in the heart (p < 0.01) and by naftidrofuryl in the liver (p < 0.01). The effect on oxidative stress was only significant with cilostazol on the heart (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Cilostazol and naftidrofuryl had beneficial effects in all tissues against tissue damage caused by IR injury. In ischemic muscle, kidney and heart cilostazol had improved outcomes comparing to naftidrofuryl. Naftidrofuryl had benefits over cilostazol in liver tissue.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare clopidogrel and rivaroxaban against ischemia-reperfusion injury after a long reperfusion time and to investigate its effects on various tissues. METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar rats were included in the study and were randomly divided into four groups (n=10 per group). Groups were defined as follows: control (Group 1), sham (Group 2), clopidogrel pre-treatment (Group 3), and rivaroxaban pre-treatment (Group 4). Ischemia (6 h) and reperfusion (8 h) were induced at the lower hind limb in Groups 2, 3, and 4. The ischemic muscle, heart, kidney, liver, and plasma tissues of the subjects were obtained to test for the oxidant (malondialdehyde) and antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and nitric oxide). RESULTS: Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in the sham group, compared to the controls in all tissues. Clopidogrel and rivaroxaban pre-treatment significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels, compared to the heart, ischemic muscle, liver, and blood tissues of the sham group. Kidney malondialdehyde levels were reduced only by rivaroxaban. Group 4 had significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels, compared to Group 3 in ischemic muscle (p

The Fontan operation is the primary surgical technique used for palliation of patients with single-ventricle physiology. Arrhythmias are frequently observed and associated with morbidity and mortality in Fontan patients. The frequency of arrhythmias after the Fontan procedure increases over time and it was reported to reach 50% in a 20-year follow up. Atrial tachyarrhythmias, especially atrial tachycardia and sinus bradycardia, are most frequently observed in these patients. Ventricular arrhythmias are rarely observed. Generally, medical therapy, catheter ablation, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation are options in the treatment of these arrhythmias. It may be difficult to implant either a pacemaker or an ICD in patients on whom the Fontan procedure has been performed. In conditions where access to the right ventricle is from the venous system, it is anatomically impossible. Where there is no functional right ventricle, device implantation can be performed with alternative methods other than the conventional transvenous approach. In this report, we discuss a middle-aged woman with a Fontan operation performed 14 years earlier, who presented with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and in whom an epicardial ICD was implanted. The literature on this issue is also reviewed.

Cardiac involvement in hydatid disease is more seldom than the involvement of the liver and the lungs. Cardiac cyst hydatid disease is diagnosed incidentally or by means of symptoms such as dyspnea and angina pectoris. Here, we present the case of a 45-year-old male patient who underwent open heart surgery for a randomly detected cardiac cyst hydatid during investigations carried out in a healthcare institution after accidentally falling from height. On the other hand, this patient did not have any complaints associated with hydatid disease before this event.

Many thoracic aortic aneurysms are discovered incidentally, and most develop without symptoms. Symptoms are usually due to sudden expansion of the aneurysm, which can cause a vague pain in the back, or sometimes a sharp pain that may denote the presence of impending rupture. Other symptoms are related to pressure on adjacent structures, such as pressure on the bronchus that can cause respiratory distress, or pressure on the laryngeal nerve causing vocal hoarseness. Pressure on the esophagus can cause difficulty in swallowing. Currently, open surgery and thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) are the choices of treatment for descending thoracic aneurysms (DTA). The decision to intervene on a DTA depends on its size, location, rate of growth and symptoms, and the overall medical condition of the patient. The indications for TEVAR should not differ from those for open surgery and typically include aneurysms larger than 6 cm in diameter. Saccular and symptomatic aneurysms are often repaired at a smaller size. It is also suggested that aneurysms with a growth rate more than 1 cm per year, or 0.5 cm in 6 months should be considered for early repair.Despite the close proximity of the aorta and left main bronchus, atelectasis caused by thoracic aortic aneurysms is rare. We review the case report of a patient with concomitant persistent left pulmonary atelectasis causing acute respiratory distress due to complete compression of the left main bronchus after TEVAR of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Adhesions due to the reactions caused by the grafts used in primary vascular operations can lead to various problems when a secondary operation is necessary. These problems include bleeding, injuries to neighboring organs, and complications occurring due to a prolonged operation. We investigated the effects of sirolimus, which has antiproliferative features, on vascular adhesions.The abdominal aorta of rats was explored and abrasions applied. Following the fixation of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft on the abdominal aorta, sirolimus (rapamycin) is applied (in powdered form) onto the grafts of the study group. Eight weeks later a laparotomy was repeated and any adhesions were evaluated.In the study group the adhesions were determined to be fewer in number and milder in severity. Severe cases of adhesion were determined in the control group.Therefore, sirolimus applied around the prosthesis in vascular operations was determined to be effective at preventing possible adhesions.

Pericardial fluid (PF) is often considered to be reflection of the serum by which information regarding the physiological status of the heart can be obtained. Some local and systemic disorders may perturb the balance between synthesis and discharge of PF and may cause its aberrant accumulation in the pericardial cavity as pericardial effusion (PE). PE may then lead to an increased intrapericardial pressure from which the heart function is undesirably affected. For some cases, the causes for the perturbance of fluid balance are well understood, but in some other cases, they are not apparent. It may, thus, be helpful to understand the molecular mechanisms behind this troublesome condition to elucidate a clinical approach for therapeutic uses. In this study, protein profiles of PEs from idiopathic pericarditis patients were analyzed. Control samples from patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery (ECS) were included for comparison. In addition to high abundant serum-originated proteins that may not hold significance for understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this disease, omentin-1 was identified and its level was higher for more than two-fold in PE of IP patients. Increased levels of omentin-1 in PE may open a way for understanding the molecular mechanisms behind idiopathic pericarditis (IP).

Background : Adhesions due to the reactions caused by the grafts used in the primary vascular operation can lead to various problems when a secondary operation is necessary. These problems include: bleeding, injuries to neighboring organs sand complications occurring due to a prolonged operation. We investigated the affects of sirolimus, which has antiproliferative effects on vascular adhesions. Methods : The abdominal aortae of rats were explored and abrasions inflicted. Following the fixation of a PTFE (Polytetra floroetilen) graft on the abdominal aorta, rapamycin (sirolimus) was applied (in powder form) on the grafts of the study group. Four weeks later a laparotomy was done and the adhesions developed were evaluated. Results : In the study group the adhesions were determined to be fewer in number and milder in severity. Severe adhesion were noted in the control group. Conclusions : Therefore, sirolimus applied around the prosthesis in vascular operations, was determined to be effective in preventing possible adhesions. Keywords : Sirolimus (Rapamycin), adhesion Nigerian Journal of Surgical Research Vol. 7(3&4) 2005: 285-289

Behcet hastaligi tum viseral arterleri tutabilen kronik ve tekrarlayan sistemik vaskulittir. Bu yazida Behcet hastaligi olan 37 yasinda erkek bir olgu, tekrarlayan viseral arter anevrizmasi ve cerrahi tedavi ile birlikte sunuldu. Anah tar soz cuk ler: Anevrizma; Behcet hastaligi; viseral arter. Behcet’s disease is a chronic, recurrent systemic vasculitis which can involve all visceral arteries. In this article, we present a 37-year-old male case with Behcet’s disease with recurrent visceral artery aneurysm and the surgical treatment.

Peri-procedural Changes in Serum Arylesterase Acvitivity in Patients Undergoing Elective PCI for Stable CAD. H. Erman, H.A. Cakmak, B. Ikitimur, V. Sozer, Z. Ongen, B. Karadag, R. Gelisgen, G. Simsek, H. Uzun. Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Cardiology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Physiology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Biochemistry, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey. Introduction: Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between the generation ROS and the capacity of the intrinsic antioxidant defense system, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stent deployment induce production of vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) leading to post-procedural pathophysiological changes including restenosis, stent thrombosis, and endothelial dysfunction. Previous studies suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of restenosis. Because of the actual mechanism accounting for the increased oxidative stress formation in circulation among patients undergoing PCI is still undefined, we aimed to investigate through the analysis of a novel parameter, namely ARE activity, whether early changes in oxidative stress takes place in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing elective PCI with implantation of stents. Methods: In this study 32 consecutive chronic stable angina patients (mean age 61 9.8 years, 75% male) undergoing PCI for management