Search

Introduction The aim of this study is to present various hand reconstruction methods and provide technical notes regarding the treatment of mutilating hand injuries using free-tissue transfers from the foot and to investigate whether these transfers provide patients with a usable hand or not. Patients and Methods Ninety patients with mutilating hand injuries were included in the study. A total of 101 procedures were performed. Patients were contacted by phone to evaluate their working status and to record any complaints regarding their donor sites. The Quickdash questionnaire was conducted for the 53 patients who could be reached. Operative techniques, secondary procedures, finger survival, and physiotherapy data were noted retrospectively. Results In 36 patients, a trimmed great toe was transferred to the thumb. Second toe-to-thumb transfers were performed in 8 patients, and second toe-to-finger transfers were performed in 10 patients. In 13 patients, 2 toes from one side were transferred, and in 6 patients, 3 toes were transferred to the hand. Bilateral toe transfers were performed in 9 patients. Eight patients underwent joint transfers, of which 2 involved joint transfers from both feet. The overall finger survival rate for the transfer procedures was 95.04%. The average Quickdash score of the patients who could be reached (n = 53) was 27.49, with 62.3% of the patients being able to use their hands in their previous jobs, and 26.4% needing to change their jobs because of their hand injuries. 41.5% of the patients had no donor site complaints. 47.2% had mild complaints, and 11.3% had major donor site complaints. Conclusion Multiple-toe transfer techniques along with flap coverage options should be considered, and delicate planning is mandatory to achieve at least a basic or acceptable hand. Three toes, including the great toe, can be transferred in a single operation by dissecting both the dorsal and plantar arterial systems. Crush injuries of the dorsal side of the hand may be reconstructed using combined transfers of bones, joints, extensor tendons, and skin. In our series, 88.7% of patients with mutilating hand injuries were able to return to work after we performed tissue transfers from the foot.

The electromagnetic field is increasing in our environment and these exposures cause concern. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of magnetic fields generated by the hairdryer devices used by women working in the same job on their serum biochemistry, whole blood, and hormone values. The sixteen women working continuously in hairdressing salons were included in the study. Two groups of studies were designed: control (n:8, mean age: 22.25±6.04) and experimental group (n:8, mean age:23,62±6.67). The biochemical (median values of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglycerides, and very-low-density lipoprotein were found high) and hormonal results of the experimental group were compared with the biochemical (cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and very high-density lipoprotein had high median values) and hormonal results of the control group and no significant difference was found (p>0.05). When the whole blood parameters were examined, the white blood cells and mean platelet volume results of the experimental group were significant (p0.05). It is evident from the results that occupational exposure to magnetic fields constantly leads to changes in the biochemistry, hormone and whole blood parameters of the female.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the urine prolactin and serum/urine prolactin ratio for accuracy diagnosis of macroprolactinemia. Methods: In the retrospective cross-sectional analysis, prolactin levels (high or normal) in the reproductive period of men and women were included in the study. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method was used for the detection of macroprolactinemia. Then, patients were divided into three groups as macroprolactinemia, prolactinoma and healthy control group. In patients, prolactin values in spot urine with simultaneous serum prolactin values were calculated. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the groups. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was determined to evaluate the predictive power of serum/urine prolactin ratio Results: A total of 41 patients were included in the study. Female/male:36 (87.8%)/ 5 (12.2%). Urinary prolactin median(minimum-maximum) values were macroprolactinemia, prolactinoma and control group, respectively; 0.06(0.05-0.10), 0.11(0.02-0.95), 0.08(0.05-0.25) ng/ml. Serum/urine ratio median (minium-maximum) values were macroprolactinemia, prolactinoma, and control group, respectively; 633(51-1032), 990(104-9635), 395.5(138-953). When the groups were compared, the patients with prolactinoma had higher urinary prolactin levels(p 549,5 AUC=0.83) p 549,5 AUC = 0.83) p

PMID: 33819976 Background/aim: Postnatal corticosteroids are commonly used to treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We aimed to show whether S100 calcium-binding B (S100B), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Tau protein or microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) levels would provide any evidence of early neurological damage in premature infants receiving postnatal low dose dexamethasone therapy for BPD treatment. Materials and methods: In this cohort study, 136 preterm infants diagnosed with BPD at ≤32 weeks of gestation formed the study group, and 64 preterm infants formed the control group. NSE, S100B, GFAP, and MAPT levels were first measured before the postnatal corticosteroid treatment in both the patient and the control group on the 28th day and, for a second time, after treatment termination in the patient group. Results: There were significant differences between the measured GFAP, MAPT, and NSE values of the BPD and control groups on the 28th day, whereas there was no significant difference between the measured S100B values of the two groups. There were a statistically significant difference between the NSE values measured on the 28th day and after the treatment within the BPD group, whereas no significant difference existed between the GFAP, MAPT, and S100B values. Conclusion: NSE levels, which indicate brain damage in the early period, increased in preterm babies with BPD who had been administered postnatal dexamethasone.

Previous studies detected higher Golgi protein 73 levels in the serum of patients with chronic liver disease. The Beta-2 microglobulin levels were also observed to be higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection compared to the inactive carriers and the protein plays an important role in the response to viral infections. The aim of the present study was to assess the liver fibrosis through non-invasive methods in chronic hepatitis B patients. Three groups were included in the study. The first group comprised of the patients who were admitted to the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology clinic to undergo a liver biopsy, while the second group included the patients who were admitted inactive hepatitis B carriers. The third group comprised the healthy controls. The Golgi p-73 and Beta-2 microglobulin levels in the plasma were determined using the ELISA method. Beta-2 microglobulin level was highest in the patients group and the difference was statistically significant. No significant difference was observed between the carriers group and the group of healthy controls. The Golgi P-73 values were significantly higher in the patients group in comparison to both other groups. However, the mean Golgi p-73 value was also significantly higher in the carrier group compared to the control group. In patients who are followed up with the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and who have undergone biopsies as candidates for treatment, the Beta-2 microglobulin and Golgi p-73 values may be important markers since they indicate the extent of the liver damage.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity, and inflammatory response and oxidative stress play major roles underlying its pathophysiology. Here, we evaluated the effect of intraperitoneal etanercept administration on oxidative stress and inflammation indicators in the kidney and blood of experimental sepsis-induced rats. METHODS: Twenty-eight adult Sprague Dawley rats were classified into Control (Group 1), Sepsis (Group 2), Sepsis+Cefazolin (Group 3), and Sepsis+Cefazolin+Etanercept (Group 4) groups. Kidney tissue and serum samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological investigations and examined for the C reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. RESULTS: The levels of TNF-α, TREM, and MDA in serum and kidney samples were significantly higher in rats from sepsis group than in rats from control group (p < 0.05). Group 3 showed a significant reduction in serum levels of TNF-α, CRP, and TREM as compared with Group 2 (p < 0.05). Serum TNF-α, CRP, TREM, and MDA levels and kidney TNF-α and TREM levels were significantly lower in Group 4 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Serum TNF-α and TREM levels in Group 4 were significantly lower than those in Group 3, and histopathological scores were significantly lower in Group 3 and Group 4 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Histopathological scores of Group 4 were significantly lower than those of Group 3 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Etanercept, a TNF-α inhibitor, may ameliorate sepsis-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and histopathological damage.

PURPOSE: While the pathogenesis of schizophrenia has yet to be fully clarified, a huge amount of data suggests the involvement of endocannabinoid system and neurotrophic factors in schizophrenia. Nevertheless, only a very limited number of studies have investigated these two systems together. With this disease containing various unknowns, our primary aim was to simultaneously investigate the serum levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) enzymes, which play significant roles in endocannabinoid system mechanisms, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a frequently investigated and important neurotrophic factor in patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: This study comprised a total of 34 (24 men, 10 women) schizophrenia patients and 35 (26 men, 9 women) healthy control groups, aged between 18 and 65 years. PANNS and Clinical Global Impression Scale Severity of Illness (CGI-SI) were used to measure disease severity. Serum FAAH, MAGL and BDNF levels of the patients and controls were measured by conventional methods. FINDINGS: Compared to the healthy control group, patients with schizophrenia had decreased FAAH activity, increased MAGL activity and lower BDNF levels. No correlation was noted between BDNF serum levels with FAAH or MAGL activities. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study showed that there were changes in the levels of metabolizing enzymes of the endocannabinoid system in schizophrenia patients, and these changes were accompanied by a decrease in BDNF levels. While this study provided important information, primarily investigating endocannabinoids and the neurotrophic factor in schizophrenia, future research should be conducted on better designed patient groups and investigate additional parameters.

Objective: There has been no consensus in literature for the ideal flexor tendon repair technique. The results of zone 2 flexor tendon lacerations repaired primarily by 4 strand Modified Kessler core suture and epitendinous interlocking suture technique followed by Modified Kleinert protocol were investigated. Methods: 128 fingers of 89 patients who had flexor tendon laceration in zone 2 built the working group. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Strickland formula. A statistical analysis was made between Strickland scores and some parameters such as age, gender, follow-up time, co-existing injury existence, repair time, single or multiple finger injury, tendon rupture and the effect of FDS injury and repair. Results: Excellent, good, fair, poor results were obtained from 71 (55.5%), 46 (35.9%), 8 (6.3%), 3 (2.3%) fingers, respectively. Time of the repair has a significant effect on the strickland scores. Surgery performed within the first 24 hours following the injury gave better results. 3 fingers (2.3%) had tendon ruptures. Existence of ruptures affected the results significantly. Co-existing injuries were found that they did not have any effect on the results. In the fingers in which both FDP and FDS tendons were lacerated, no significant relationship was found between only FDP repair, both FDP and FDS repair and single FDS slip repair. Additionally no significant relationships between follow-up time, gender, single or multiple finger injury and Strickland scores were observed. 13 fingers (10.1%) had PIP joint contracture above 20°. Conclusion: The low rupture rate (2.3%) and 91.4% ‘good’ and ‘excellent’ scoring rates in our series support the idea that modified Kessler 4-strand core suture and epitendinous interlocking suture repair combined with modified Kleinert protocol gives satisfactory results. Repair time is one of the most important factors affecting the functional results and surgery should not be delayed if there is an experienced surgeon available. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. Keywords: Flexor tendon, Zone 2, Core suture, Strickland, Kleinert, Kessler

Aim: To investigate the effects of cordycepin on the histopathological changes and oxidative stress induced by hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Method: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as group I (sham, n=10), group II (control, n=10), group III (I/R-untreated, n=10) and group IV (I/R-cordycepin, n=10). Liver ischemia was induced for 30 min then reperfusion was allowed for 1 h. At the end of the experiment, liver specimens and blood samples were taken for histopathological and antioxidant evaluations, and biochemical analysis. Results: The levels of IL6, IL-1β, and TNFα in the serum and liver tissues were higher in the I/R-untreated group compared to the I/R-cordycepin treated group. In the I/R-cordycepin group, serum MDA levels were decreased compared with the I/R-untreated group. The I/R-cordycepin treated group showed an increase in TAS levels, and a decrease in TOS levels compared with I/R-untreated group. The histopathological injury score were significantly lower in the I/R-cordycepin treated group compared to the I/R-untreated group. In the I/R-untreated group, the integrity of the hepatocyte cell lines deteriorated. Mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltrated the parenchyma regions, the sinuses dilated and there was diffuse congestion Preoperative treatment with cordycepine reduced histopathological abnormalities. Conclusion: Cordycepin has demonstrated significant hepatoprotective effects against I/R injury induced in rats through TAS elevation and reduction of TOS, MDA and proinflammatory cytokines.

We report techniques and survival incidence of three subtotally and nine completely degloved fingers in seven patients. We performed end-to-end arterial repairs in seven fingers, vein graft repairs for arteries in two fingers, arteriovenous anastomoses in three fingers. End-to-end vein anastomosis was performed in all fingers. One finger requred re-exploration. Soft tissues in the eight degloved fingers survived completely, two failed completely, and two were partially necrotic. We conclude from our results that following revascularization, the skin from a completely degloved finger skin will survive in approximately two cases out of three. Level of evidence: IV

WOS:000610981400003 PMID: 33447992 Objective: To investigate the levels of anti-angiogenic factors, namely sFlt-1 and Netrin-4, in patients with preeclampsia (PE). Material and methods: Cord-blood (UC) sFlt-1 and Netrin-4 concentrations were measured in 30 patients with severe PE, 30 patients with PE and 30 control infants and their mothers (MS). Results: Maternal sFlt-1 levels were significantly higher in the severe PE and PE groups than in the control group. There were no statistical differences among the three groups in maternal and fetal Netrin-4 levels. But Netrin-4 levels were found to be the lowest in the control group and higher in the PE and severe PE groups. The correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between maternal sFlt-1 levels and maternal Netrin-4 levels (p = 0.012, and r = 0.263), maternal sFlt-1 levels and fetal sFlt-1 levels (p = 0.012, and r = 0.263). Conclusions: There was a positive correlation found between maternal sFlt-1 levels and maternal Netrin-4 levels. We are of the opinion that elevation in levels of Netrin-4 might be secondary to placental hypoxia occurring in PE. The present study led to the consideration of anti-angiogenic biomarkers (sFlt-1 and Netrin-4) on automated platforms for clinical use as an aid in establishing the diagnosis and prognosis of PE.

Objective Human serum paraoxonase (PON1) prevents lipids from peroxidation and functions as an antioxidant mechanism. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) is the final product of lipid peroxidation and can be used as an indicator of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate PON1, MDA, and arylesterase (ARY) levels in schizophrenic patients who are taking typical, atypical, or combined (typical and atypical) antipsychotic drug treatment, with respect to those of healthy controls. Methods We evaluated 41 patients (11 taking typical antipsychotics, 19 taking atypical antipsychotics, 11 taking combined anti-psychotics) and 43 healthy controls. Results MDA levels were higher in schizophrenic patients taking typical antipsychotics compared with healthy controls (p=0.001). ARY levels were higher in patients taking atypical antipsychotics compared with healthy controls (p=0.005). PON1 activity was similar in all groups. Conclusion Our results indicate that treatment with typical antipsychotic drugs could be related to increased MDA levels; and antipsychotic medication may increase PON1 levels in schizophrenic patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate whether cortisol and oxidative stress levels and DNA damage differ between individuals who developed PTSD or not following a sexual trauma. METHODS The study included 61 children aged between 5 and 17 years who sustained sexual abuse (M/F: 18/43). The patients were divided into two groups: patients with PTSD and patients without PTSD based, based on the results of a structured psychiatric interview (K-SADS-PL and CAPS-CA). Cortisol, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q, 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were all evaluated by the ELISA method. RESULTS Our evaluation revealed a diagnosis of PTSD in 51% (n=31) of victims. There was no significant difference between the groups with or without PTSD in terms of cortisol, GPx, SOD, coenzyme Q, and 8-OHdG levels. There was no correlation between CAPS scores and GPx, SOD, coenzyme Q, and 8-OHdG levels between patients with or without PTSD. In patients with PTSD, both cortisol and 8-OHdG levels decreased with increasing time after trauma, and there was no significant correlation with cortisol and 8-OHdG levels in patients without PTSD. CONCLUSION Although the present study did not find any difference between the groups in terms of 8-OHdG concentrations, the decreases in both cortisol and 8-OHdG levels with increasing time after trauma is considered to indicate a relationship between cortisol and DNA damage.

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effect of silybin, a potent antioxidant, on L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis in an experimental rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty female Wistar Albino rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group 1 (C): control group (n=8), Group 2 (SL): silybin group (n=8), Group 3 (LA): acute pancreatitis group (n=8), Group 4 (SLLA): prophylaxis group (n=8), and Group 5 (LASL): treatment group (n=8). Group C (control) received 2 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of physiological saline at an interval of 1 h. Group SL received only a single i.p. injection of silybin. The SLLA group received a single i.p. injection of silybin before the induction of acute pancreatitis with L-arginine, whereas the LASL group received the same injection after the induction of acute pancreatitis with L-arginine. Pancreatic tissues were histopathologically examined. Levels of amylase and oxidative stress markers (total oxidant status and total anti-oxidant status) were determined in the blood samples. Oxidative stress index was calculated. RESULTS In comparison to the LA, the prophylaxis and treatment groups showed significant improvements in serum oxidative stress parameters (p=0.001 and p=0.005, respectively). Histopathological analysis showed that the treatment group had significant improvements in edema scores only (p=0.006), whereas the prophylaxis group had the same improvements in inflammation and necrosis scores as well as in total scores (p=0.004, 0.006, and 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS When used for prophylactic rather than therapeutic purposes, silybin ameliorates serum oxidative stress parameters and improves histopathological results via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hypoxia occurs following convulsions, and hypoxia is one of the most common causes of acute renal damage. The aim of this study was to investigate urinary levels of kidney injury molecules, including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) in children with febrile seizures (FS) for the first time.The study included 28 children with FS and 34 age and gender matched healthy children. Serum biochemistry and blood gases were measured in the serum samples. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. NGAL, NAG, L-FABP, and creatinine (Cr) were measured in the urine samples. The ratios of kidney injury markers to urinary Cr were used for comparisons.There were no significant differences in eGFR and serum chemistry values between the FS and the control group (p 0.05). Hypoxia was detected in 67.9% of the FS patients. The FS group had significantly higher urinary kidney injury molecules to Cr ratios compared to the controls, including NGAL/Cr (17.9 ± 9.8; 6.7 ± 4.0, respectively; p 0.001), NAG/Cr (0.55 ± 0.29; 0.21 ± 0.16, p 0.001), and L-FABP/Cr (4.85 ± 2.93; 1.74 ± 1.16, p 0.001).Increased urinary NGAL/Cr, NAG/Cr, and L-FABP/Cr values, in patients with FS compared to healthy controls, suggest a possible subclinical renal damage in these patients.

OBJECTIVE: Many neurochemical systems have been implicated in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The prolidase enzyme is a cytosolic exopeptidase that detaches proline or hydroxyproline from the carboxyl terminal position of dipeptides. Prolidase has important biological effects, and to date, its role in the etiology of PTSD has not been studied. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate prolidase activity in patients with PTSD. METHODS: The study group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with PTSD after the earthquake that occurred in the province of Van in Turkey in 2011 (n=25); the first control group consisted of patients who experienced the earthquake but did not show PTSD symptoms (n=26) and the second control group consisted of patients who have never been exposed to a traumatic event (n=25). Prolidase activities in the patients and the control groups were determined by the ELISA method using commercial kits. RESULTS: Prolidase activity in the patient group was significantly lower when compared to the control groups. Prolidase activity was also significantly lower in the traumatized healthy subjects compared to the other healthy group (pCONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that the decrease in prolidase activity may have neuroprotective effects in patients with PTSD. Language: en

Ecballium elaterium (EE) is a plant from Cucurbitaceae family. Its anti-inflammatory role in sepsis is not well understood. We investigated the effects of EE on serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and further explored the mechanisms underlying histological changes in liver and ileum following EE administration in a polymicrobial sepsis model.Thirty rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Rats were subjected to sham laparotomy plus normal saline administration (control group, CG), laparotomy with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) (sepsis group, SG), and laparotomy with CLP plus 2.5 mg/kg EE administration (experimental group, EG). Twenty-four hours after laparotomy, animals underwent cardiac puncture, and blood was collected for interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) assessment. Whole sections of liver and ileum tissues were collected for histologic examination.The serum level of IL-6 was significantly lower in EG as compared to SG. Although IL-6 levels were shown a statistically significant (p0.0001) decline to near control values, no significant changes were observed in serum levels of IL-1 and TNF-α after EE treatment. Histologic examination revealed statistically significant reduction in collagen formation (p = 0.001) on serosal surface of ileum and hepatic venous congestion (p = 0.040) in EG as compared to SG.EE might play a protective role in sepsis prevention and treatment by decreasing IL-6 production and reducing liver damage and may influence bacterial translocation by reinforcing intestinal barrier function.

Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected health care systems all over the world. Modifications have been made, such as delaying elective cases and precaution protocols. Our study aims to demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hand surgery practice in a subspecialty clinic. Methods Hand surgery cases in the pandemic period of 3 months (March-May 2020) were evaluated retrospectively. Cases in the same period of 2019 were also evaluated for comparison. Classification of cases was made into four groups: 1- emergent, 2- urgent, 3- urgent-elective, and 4- elective. Precautions and operation criteria for elective cases were listed. Results 85,4% of the cases were emergent and urgent in the pandemic period, and 76% of the cases were emergent and urgent in 2019. 92,95% of the patients were operated under regional anesthesia. Two patients had fever and respiratory symptoms. COVID-19 PCR test was performed, and both results were negative. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic created a new perspective for all of us in every division of surgery. Hand surgery has some advantages among the other surgical subspecialties. Elective cases, which require a hospital stay for less than a day, in low-risk patients, may be performed with the attention of protective measures. Since the rate of emergent and urgent cases are high in hand surgery, it is hard to cancel or delay the routines completely. Modifications with attentive precautions should be performed.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) common and important clinical challenge, and renal ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is the major reason of AKI. Renal I/R can lead to lung injury and increased mortality. Aims: This study was designed to evaluate whether paricalcitol may protect lung injury following renal I/R injury via its antioxidant properties. Methods: Rats (n=7 per group) were divided into four groups; control, paricalcitol, I/R, and paricalcitol+I/R. Rats were received daily intraperitoneal injection of paricalcitol (0.3 μg/kg) for 5 days in paricalcitol and paricalcitol+I/R groups. On day six, rats were subjected to I/R injury (60 minutes of left renal artery occlusion followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion) after right nephrectomy. Renal function tests, oxidant and antioxidant parameters, and lung histology of both groups were examined. Results: Rats treated with paricalcitol prior to ischemia reperfusion injury exhibited significant reduction in terms of serum and lung tissue malondialdehyde and totaloxidant status levels and significant increase in terms of serum and lung tissue nitric oxide and total antioxidant capacity levels levels (p Conclusions: Paricalcitol may ameliorate renal I/R induced lung injury by attenuating oxidative stress. Figure 1 Serum and lung tissue antioxidant parameters NO;nitric oxide TAC;total antioxidant capacity Pari;paricalcitol # p ## p

Mania is accompanied with immune activation as indicated by increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, acute phase proteins; and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is known to accompany signs of immune-inflammatory responses in bipolar disorder (BD) and medical disorders. In this study, it was aimed to compare high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), CEA levels and white blood cells (WBCs) counts in the treatment-resistant BD (Group 3), the treatment-responsive BD patients (Group 2), and the healthy control group (Group 1). The sociodemographic data form, the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and the Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness (CGI-S) Scale were applied to the patients. In Group 3, the WBCs counts, and CEA levels were significantly higher than the other two groups. There was a positive correlation between WBCs counts and YMRS and CGI-S scores in all manic patients. There was a positive correlation between CEA levels and YMRS, HDRS and CGI-S in manic patients. This study shows that there is an activation of the immune-inflammatory response system in treatment resistant manic patients; and, WBCs counts and CEA levels are associated with severity of disease in manic patients.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and dexmedetomidine (dex) in a model of acute lung injury (ALI). We determined whether concomitant administration decreased the inflammatory effects of hydrochloric acid (HCl)-induced ALI in a synergistic manner. Materials and Methods: In this study, 42 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into six groups: Group S (saline), Group SV (saline + mechanical ventilation), Group HCl (HCl), Group Dex (Dex), Group Mag (MgSO4), and Group DM (Dex + MgSO4). All groups except Group S were mechanically ventilated prior to HCl-induced ALI. Saline or HCl was administered via tracheostomy. Prior to treatment, HCl was administered to Group HCl, Group Dex, Group Mag, and Group DM to induce ALI. Dex and MgSO4 were administered intraperitoneally. The rats were monitored for 4 h after treatment to measure oxidative stress parameters in blood, and prolidase enzyme activity. Lung tissue damage were determined via histopathology. Results: A significant increase in heart rate and rapid desaturation was observed in HCl-administered groups. Treatment administration decreased the pulse values. Increased saturation values and decreased oxidative stress indices were observed in groups that were subsequently administered​ Dex and MgSO4. Serum prolidase activity increased significantly in Group HCl. Severe pathological findings were detected following HCl-induced ALI. Group Mag showed greater improvement in the pathology of HCl-induced ALI than did Group Dex. Administration of both Dex and MgSO4 did not improve the pathological scores. Conclusions: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Dex and MgSO4 ameliorated the detrimental effects of HCI-induced ALI. However, adverse effects on hemodynamics and lung damage were observed when the two drugs were administered together.

Background We originally aimed to determine the beneficial effects of Ecballium Elaterium (EE) on acute pancreatitis; however, we observed negative effects of EE on the pancreas. Thus, we used EE in rats to generate a new model of pancreatitis, which we compared with other established pancreatitis models. Methods A total of 32 Wistar albino rats were used. Rats were divided into 4 groups, each of which contained 8 rats. Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (L-Arginine (LA), Group 3 (LA + EE), Group 4 (EE): Twenty-four hours after that serum parameters were analyzed in the collected blood. Blood samples were transported on mice to the Biochemistry Laboratory following cardiac puncture. The levels of amylase, interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL) 1-β (IL-1β), malondialdhyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) were analyzed. Histopathological analysis: The pancreas and lung tissue samples obtained from the rats. Edema, inflammation, vacuolization, and necrosis of the pancreas were assessed using a scoring system ranging from 0 to 4. Edema, hemorrhage and inflammation of the lung tissue were evaluated using a scoring system ranging from 0 to 3. Results Histopathological analysis revealed that edema, inflammation, necrosis, and hemorrhage were significantly higher in the LA + EE group than in the control group. Moreover, necrosis was higher in the rats that received LA and EE compared to the rats that received only LA or EE. Increases in inflammatory mediator levels, including IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, MDA, and TOS, were observed in all groups as compared to the control group. Moreover, lower TAS levels were detected in all groups but the control group. The increase in IL-1β and TNF-α levels and the decrease in TAS were statistically significant in all groups (P Conclusions EE may be used to create a successful acute pancreatitis (AP) model, resulting in edema, necrosis, hemorrhage, and inflammation of the pancreas. The major advantage of this model is that it does not require laparotomy, and can be implemented with only an intraperitoneal injection (IP). Moreover, EE may be combined with other agents, such as LA, to create severe pancreatitis. Further molecular studies are warranted to determine the underlying effects of EE on the pancreas.

Objective: Prolidase enzyme, which exists in plasma, brain and various organs, is a cytosolic exopeptidase, that divisor the imidodipeptides with carboxyl terminal position of proline and hydroxyproline. The aim of the present study was to investigate serum prolidase activity level in major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This study included 22 patients with MDD as the study group, and 26 healthy subjects without any psychiatric disorders as the control group. Each patient underwent a detailed diagnostic evaluation by experienced psychiatrists. The sociodemographic information form given to both patients and the control subjects, while Hamilton Depression Scale Scoring (HDS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale Scoring (HAS), Clinical Global Impression Scoring (CGI) applied to patients. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical analyses. Results: The mean age of the patient group was 31.3±10.1 years old, whereas the mean age of the control group was 32.3±8.8 years old. The mean duration of the education for the patient group was 8.1±6.2 years, whereas for the control group was 10.2±3.8 years. There was no significant differences in terms of the mean age of participants and the mean duration of the education between two groups (p>0.05). The level of prolidase activity of patient group was 510.3±480.8 U/L, whereas the level of prolidase activity of control group was 457.8±386.0 U/L. No significant difference was observed in serum prolidase activity between patient and the control groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: In our study similar level of prolidase activity was found in MDD and healthy subjects. We suggest that this finding may be an evidence indicating that MDD and bipolar depression may be different clinical entities. J Clin Exp Invest 2015; 6 (3): 296-300

Elif Agacayak,1 Serdar Basaranoglu,2 Senem Yaman Tunc,1 Mehmet Sait Icen,1 Fatih Mehmet Findik,1 Ibrahim Kaplan,3 Osman Evliyaoglu,3 Talip Gul1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Idil State Hospital, Sirnak, Turkey; 3Department of Biochemistry, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate whether estradiol (E2), E2 combined with progesterone (Prog) (E2/Prog), and genistein (Gen) treatment had antioxidative and antihyperlipidemic effects in the plasma of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.Materials and methods: Adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Rats in all groups, except for those in a sham group, underwent bilateral ovariectomy under general anesthesia. The groups were as follows: sham group; control OVX group; group treated with estrogen (0.014 mg/kg 17-β E2); group treated with a combination of E2 and Prog (0.014mg/kg 17-β E2 plus 0.028 mg/kg drospirenone), and group treated with Gen (10 mg/kg/day). Plasma of rats of each treatment group was analyzed to determine the total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, paraoxonase activity, lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-chol), total cholesterol (Total-C), triacylglycerols, lipoprotein (a), and oxidative stress index.Results: Plasma Total-C levels and body weight increased in all the OVX groups compared with the sham group (P

The aim of this study was to investigate whether anticoagulant and antiaggregant agents have protective effects against oxidative damage induced by peripheral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R). Groups were created as follows: control group, I/R group (sham group), I/R plus acetylsalicylic acid (Group I), I/R+clopidogrel (Group II), I/R+rivaroxaban (Group III), I/R+bemiparin sodium (Group IV), and I/R+enoxaparin sodium (Group V). In Groups I, II, III, IV, and V, drugs were administered daily for 1 week before I/R creation. Peripheral I/R was induced in the I/R groups by clamping the right femoral artery. The rats were sacrificed 1 hour after reperfusion. Nitrogen oxide levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, and prolidase activity were evaluated in both cardiac and renal tissues. There was no significant difference in nitrogen oxide levels between the groups. However, cardiac and renal MDA were significantly higher and PON1 activity was markedly lower in the I/R groups compared with the control group (p

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the autonomic nervous system caused by cerebral lesions due to acute stroke. We assessed heart rate variability and catecholamine levels in lieu of stroke lesion localization. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 stroke patients and 31 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured on the first, third, and seventh days following the stroke event. Heart rate variability was evaluated with time-domain and frequency-domain analyses via 24-hour Holter monitor recordings. Results: On the first and third day following the stroke, norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in all patient groups as compared to controls. Epinephrine levels on the first, third and seventh days after the stroke were significantly higher in patients with lesions in the right middle cerebral artery territory than controls. In frequency-domain analysis, patients with right middle cerebral artery territory lesions had greater low frequency and low frequency to high frequency ratio values than controls. Time-domain analysis revealed significant decreases in the standard deviation from the mean for 5-minute 288 R-R intervals in patients with lesions in the right middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery territory when contrasted with controls. Patients with lesions in the right middle cerebral artery territory demonstrated the highest increase in the percentage of consecutive R-R intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50) as compared to the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that autonomic dysfunction favoring an increase in sympathetic activity occurs in acute stroke patients.

To investigate the role of cordycepin in testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.Forty Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups, as follows: group one, control (C); group two, torsion and ischemia (I); group three: detorsion with ischemia-reperfusion (IR); and group four, detorsion/cordycepin. The rats were then analyzed macromorphologically and histopathologically, and blood tests were performed. Specifically, the total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined, and malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β levels were analyzed. In addition, pyknotic nuclei, spermatozoa, edema, and hemorrhage were assessed.When the IR and cordycepin groups were compared with the other groups, there was a statistically significant decrease in TNF-α and MDA levels (p0.05). Increased TAS levels were observed in the cordycepin group compared with the control group. TOS levels were significantly increased in the I and IR groups, but decreased in the cordycepin group (p0.05). Similar effects were observed in tissue biochemistry analysis. Histopathological evaluations revealed that the spermatozoa count was decreased in the I and IR groups. However, there was an increase in the cordycepin group, as well as a statistically significant difference between the IR and cordycepin groups (p0.01). Finally, edema and inflammation were increased in the I and IR groups, but decreased in the cordycepin group.Histological and biochemical findings revealed that cordycepin protected against IR-induced testicular injury.

Background: The goal of our study was to determine the therapeutic effects of thymoquinone in a dose-dependent manner in a model of neuropathic pain following an experimentally applied spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Fifty female adult Wistar albino rats weighing between 220 and 260 g were included in the study and were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group S (sham), Group C (control), Group T100 (100 mg/kg thymoquinone), Group T200 (200 mg/kg thymoquinone), and Group T400 (400 mg/kg thymoquinone). To begin the experiment, SCI was applied to all groups (with the exception of the sham group) following a mechanical and heat–cold test. Two weeks later, the mechanical and heat–cold tests were repeated, and a single normal saline dose was given to the sham and control groups, whereas 3 varying doses of thymoquinone were given to the other groups. The mechanical and heat–cold tests were repeated at 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after receiving thymoquinone. Finally, the animals were put to death via the removal of intracardiac blood. The levels of nitric oxide, total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, paraoxonase, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β were determined in all of the blood samples. Results: The withdrawal threshold and withdrawal latency values recorded from the mechanical and heat–cold allodynia measurements for all 3 thymoquinone groups were higher than that of the control group at all time points (ie, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes). There were no differences in these results between the 3 thymoquinone groups. The paraoxonase and total antioxidant status serum levels of all 3 thymoquinone groups were higher than those of the control group, whereas total oxidant status, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, interleuken-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were lower in the 3 thymoquinone groups than in the control group. Conclusions: Thymoquinone is beneficial for decreasing experimental neuropathic pain following SCI. However, increasing the dose does not change the effect.

Venous flaps are flaps by which tissue perfusion is accessed through the venous network. Despite originally being questioned due to potential perfusion problems, as the dynamics of tissue perfusion have been more fully comprehended, venous flaps appear to have a far wider range of application than first thought. In our study, we analyzed the clinical results of the applications of free arterialized venous flaps along with the factors that can affect flap survival. Forty-one flaps were assessed retrospectively. Type of the trauma, traumatized area, the time duration between trauma and application of the flap, donor area, type and count of the anastomosis, encountered complications, and flap survival rates were analyzed. Regression and classification trees were used to study the relationship between flap surface area, anastomosis count, and flap survival. Circulatory abnormalities such as early congestion and edema were seen in 53.6% of the applied flaps. A total of four flaps (9.7%) developed necrosis which presented as full thickness in three flaps and partial thickness in one flap. It can be said that there was a weak but positive correlation between the size of the flap area and the number of anastomosis. Although the results of arterialized venous flaps are inconsistent in the literature, those flaps can be preferred as an alternative treatment option in single finger defects where tissue compatibility and cosmetic results are quite impressive. In the meantime, syndactylized venous flaps are the preferred method regarding multiple finger soft-tissue defects.

Objectives: Urinalysis and urine culture are most common tests for diagnosis of urinary tract infections. The aim of our study is to examine the diagnostic performance of urine analysis and the role of urine analysis to determine the requirements for urine culture. Methods: Urine culture and urine analysis results of 362 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Culture results were taken as a reference for chemical and microscopic examination of urine and diagnostic accuracy of the test parameters, that may be a marker for urinary tract infection, and the performance of urine analysis were calculated for predicting the urine culture requirements. Results: A total of 362 urine culture results of patients were evaluated and 67% of them were negative. The results of leukocyte esterase and nitrite in chemical analysis and leukocytes and bacteria in microscopic analysis were normal in 50.4% of culture negative urines. In diagnostic accuracy calculations, leukocyte esterase (86.1%) and microscopy leukocytes (88.0%) were found with high sensitivity, nitrite (95.4%) and bacteria (86.6%) were found with high specificity. The area under the curve was calculated as 0.852 in ROC analysis for microscopic examination for leukocytes. Conclusion: Full-automatic urine devices can provide sufficient diagnostic accuracy for urine analysis. The evaluation of urine analysis results in an effective way can predict the necessity for urine culture requests and especially may contribute to a reduction in the work load and cost. J Clin Exp Invest 2014; 5 (2): 286-289, Amaç: Tam idrar analizi ve idrar kültürü idrar yolu enfeksiyonlarının tanısı için sıklıkla yapılan incelemelerdendir. Çalışmamızın amacı tam idrar analizinin tanısal performansını ve idrar kültürü gerekliliğini belirlemedeki rolünü incelemektir. Yöntemler: İdrar kültürü ve tam idrar analizi sonucu olan 362 hasta sonucu retrospektif olarak incelendi. Kültür sonuçları referans kabul edilerek, idrarın kimyasal ve mikroskopik incelemesinde, idrar yolu enfeksiyonu göstergesi olabilecek testlerin tanısal doğruluk parametreleri hesaplandı ve kültür istemini öngörmedeki performansı değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Toplam 362 hastaya ait idrar kültürü sonuçlarının %67 si negatifti ve bu kültür sonucu negatif olan örneklerin %50,4 ünde kimyasal analizde lökosit esteraz, nitrit ve mikroskopik analizde lökosit ve bakteri sonuçları normal olarak bulundu. Tanısal doğruluk hesaplamalarında, lökosit esteraz (%86,1) ve mikroskopide lökosit (%88,0) testlerinin sensitiviteleri yüksek bulunurken, nitrit (%95,4) ve bakteri (%86,6) incelemelerinin spesifiteleri yüksek bulundu. Mikroskopide lökosit incelemesi için yapılan ROC analizinde eğri altındaki alan 0,852 olarak hesaplandı. Sonuç: Tam otomatik idrar cihazları, tam idrar analizi için yeterli tanısal doğruluğu sağlayabilmektedir. Tam idrar analizi sonuçlarının etkin bir şeklide değerlendirilmesi kültür istemleri için gerekliliği öngörebilir ve laboratuvarlarda özellikle iş yükü ve maliyetin azalmasına katkı sağlayabilir.

Multiple soft tissue finger defects in different shapes and locations are usually difficult to manage. Such defects commonly involve tendons and bones. Palmar soft tissue defects may also lead to vascular compromise. In this retrospective report, we report the results of seven patients with multiple soft tissue finger defects that were covered by syndactylizing arterialized venous flaps. Six of the patients suffered hot-pressing machine and crushing injuries, one patient had a rolling belt injury. All patients presented with soft tissue defects on palmar or dorsal sides involving at least two digits. The palmar forearm was donor site for all patients. At least one afferent artery and two efferent veins were selected for the anastomosis. Lengths of afferent and efferent veins were long enough to perform healthy anastomosis outside the injury zone. The afferent vessels were anastamosed to the digital arteries with the largest possible diameter or to the common digital arteries to maximize flow. The efferent veins were anastamosed to dorsal veins. Separations of the digits were performed after three weeks by longitudinal incisions. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. None of our patients suffered a flap loss. Syndactylizing arterialized venous flaps may be used for composite or single tissue reconstruction for multiple finger defects with satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 34:527–534, 2014.

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to investigate levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (il-6), tumor necrosis factor α (tnf-α ) and neopterin and oxidative stress status in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (iCp) as well as their potential role in the pathophysiology. Material and methods: thirty patients with iCp (Group 1) and 30 healthy pregnant women (Group 2) were included in this prospective case-control study. levels of il-6, tnf-α and neopterin were determined in both of the groups. total anti-oxidant status (tAS) and total oxidative stress (tOS) levels were determined by means of a fully automated erel method. Oxidative stress index (OSi) was calculated as the ratio of tOS to tAS. Results: t here was no significant difference between the groups in il -6 and tnf -α levels (p = = 0.105 and p = 0.722, respectively). the mean neopterin level was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (2.34 ±0.77 and 1.57 ±0.38, respectively, p = 0.001). in addition, tAS, tOS and OSi levels were significantly higher in Group 1 (p = 0.004, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) compared to Group 2. Discussion: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is an inflammatory disorder in which maternal immune reaction may play a role. interleukin 6 and tnf-α, which are some of the markers of humoral reaction, act as an indicator of abnormal reaction rather than acute-phase reaction in iCp. further clinical trials and supportive placental findings are needed on the role of cytokines in cellular and humoral immune reactions during the symptomatic period and delivery to better understand the role of immune mechanisms in the aetiology of iCp.

Background This study was designed to evaluate the effects of carvacrol (CRV) and pomegranate extract (PE) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced lung injury in rats. Material and methods A total of 32 male rats were subdivided into 4 groups: control (group I), MTX treated (group II), MTX+CRV treated (group III), and MTX+PE treated (group IV). A single dose of 73 mg/kg CRV was administered intraperitoneally to rats in group III on Day 1 of the investigation. To group IV, a dose of 225 mg/kg of PE was administered via orogastric gavage once daily over 7 days. A single dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX was given intraperitoneally to groups II, III, and IV on Day 2. The total duration of experiment was 8 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured from rat lung tissues and cardiac blood samples. Results Serum and lung specimen analyses demonstrated that MDA, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly greater in group II relative to controls. Conversely, the TAC level was significantly reduced in group II when compared to the control group. Pre-administering either CRV or PE was associated with decreased MDA, TOS, and OSI levels and increased TAC levels compared to rats treated with MTX alone. Histopathological examination revealed that lung injury was less severe in group III and IV relative to group II. Conclusions MTX treatment results in rat lung oxidative damage that is partially counteracted by pretreatment with either CRV or PE.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of cytokines, plays an important role in cell growth, signal transduction, and apoptosis regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum GDF-15 levels and their relationships with disease-related variables in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Forty-six patients diagnosed with BD and 30 demographically matched healthy control subjects participated in the study. GDF-15 levels were measured in blood samples from patients and controls. The Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) was used to evaluate the disease activity of BD. There were no significant differences between the two groups in C-reactive protein (CRP) level, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), age, body mass index, and mean GDF-15 levels (P > 0.05). Serum GDF-15 levels were positively correlated with findings for peripheral arthritis and CRP, and with BDCAF erythema nodosum, BDCAF arthralgia, and BDCAF arthritis scores. Patients with BD were divided into two groups according to the presence of peripheral arthritis; nine subjects (20%) were positive for peripheral arthritis. Serum ESR, CRP, white blood cell counts, and GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in the group that was positive for peripheral arthritis (P < 0.05). GDF-15 may play a role in the progression and pathway of Behcet's joint involvement and erythema nodosum that is independent of classic inflammatory response measures.

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of ellagic acid on L-arginin ınduced acute pancreatitis in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two were split into four groups. Group 1 (control) rats were performed only laparotomy, no drugs were administered. Group 2 (control+EA) rats were administered 85mg/kg EA orally. Rats were sacrificed by cardiac puncture 24 hours after the administration. Group3 (AP) 24 hours after intraperitoneal L-arginine administration, rats were sacrificed by cardiac puncture. Group 4 (EA)-(AP): 85mg/kg EA was administered orally after the L-arginine administration. 24 hours later, rats were sacrificed by cardiac puncture. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), amylase levels were determined in all groups. RESULTS: Group 3 (AP) rats showed significantly raised TOS level as compared to Group1 (control) rats (p

In this study we aimed to investigate serum cortisol, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in children who are sexual abuse victims. The study included 38 children who sustained child sexual abuse and 38 age- and gender-matched children who did not have a history of trauma. Cortisol levels reflecting the status of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, anti-oxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, natural anti-oxidant coenzyme Q, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine as the indicator of DNA damage were analyzed in serum samples using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the child sexual abuse group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of oxidative stress and DNA damage. Cortisol and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels decreased as the time elapsed since the sexual abuse increased. Coenzyme Q level was lower in victims who sustained multiple assaults than in the victims of a single assault. Cortisol and superoxide dismutase levels were lower in the victims of familial sexual abuse. Decreases in cortisol and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels as time elapsed may be an adaptation to the toxic effects of high cortisol levels over a prolonged period of time. Child sexual abuse did not result in oxidative stress and DNA damage; however, some features of sexual abuse raised the level of oxidative stress.

The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to assess vascular repair modalities and function in type IV ring finger replantations. Thirty-seven of 43 patients with complete ring avulsion amputations were replanted. After resection of the damaged arterial segments under microscopic magnification the arterial flow pattern was evaluated. The type of repair was chosen according to the adequacy of arterial flow and the defect between the vessels. The methods of bridging the arterial defect consisted of digital artery transfer from adjacent digit in 21 fingers, vein graft interposition in six fingers and end to end anastomosis in ten fingers. Thirty-one of the 37 fingers survived. The failures were due to four arterial and two venous insufficiencies. In our opinion, radical resection of damaged zones of vessels is important to evaluate the proximal flow pattern and decide which treatment modality is necessary for healthy vascular anastomosis.

Amac: Bu calismada stent takilarak tedavi edilen ileri evre ozofagus kanserli hastalarda serum C-reaktif protein (CRP), prealbumin ve transferrin duzeylerinin prognostik degeri arastirildi. Ca­lis­ma­ pla­ni:­ Temmuz 2007 ve Aralik 2008 tarihleri arasinda gerceklestirilen prospektif randomize bir calismada lokal olarak ilerlemis hastalik veya uzak organ metastazi nedeniyle stent takilarak tedavi edilen ardisik 61 hastada, stent takilmadan 1-3 gun once serum CRP, prealbumin ve transferrin duzeyleri calisildi. Tum hastalar olunceye kadar takip edildi. Bul gu lar: Stent tum hastalarda basari ile takilarak oral alim tekrar saglandi. Isleme bagli mortalite gozlenmedi. Hastalarin ortalama sagkalim suresi 164.3±120.3 gun (dagilim 15-450 gun) idi. Serum CRP seviyesi ≥10 mg/L olan hastalarda (n=38) ortalama sagkalim 103.2±82.3 gun iken serum CRP seviyesi

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate longterm clinical and functional results of major upper extremity replantations.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 26 male patients (mean age 27 years; range 3 to 69 years) who underwent major upper extremity replantations and had a mean follow-up of 11.3 years (range 5 to 19 years). The levels of the replantations were transmetacarpal (n=6), wrist (n=4), forearm (n=5), elbow (n=4), and arm (n=7). Amputations were of clean-cut, crush, and avulsion types in seven, eight, and 11 patients, respectively. Secondary operations were performed in 19 patients. Functional results were assessed using the Chen’s criteria and the Turkish version of the DASH questionnaire (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) was administered.Results: The mean surgical shortening was 37.2 mm, and the final mean radiographic shortening was 52.2 mm. The mean grip and pinch strengths on the affected side were 12.3 kg and 3.6 kg, compared to the strengths of 37.6 kg and 8.7 kg on the normal side, respectively. Monofilament testing showed sensory recovery in 20 patients. Two-point discrimination could be made by 18 patients for the median nerve, and by 17 patients for the ulnar nerve. According to the Chen’s criteria, the results were very good or good in 17 patients (65.4%), moderate in three patients (11.5%), and poor in six patients (23.1%). Functional results were correlated with the level (r=0.71) and type (r=0.65) of injury, with injuries at the elbow level and avulsion injuries being associated with a worse outcome. The mean DASH score was 6.7 (range 0 to 32.5) and the mean scores of Chen’s grade I-II and grade III-IV patients differed significantly (p, Amaç: Üst ekstremitede majör replantasyon uygulanan olguların uzun dönem izlemlerinde elde edilen klinik ve fonksiyonel sonuçlar değerlendirildi.Çalışma planı: 1987-2003 yılları arasında 26 erkek hastaya (ort. yaş 27; dağılım 3-69) uygulanan üst ekstremite majör replantasyon cerrahisi sonuçları, ortalama 11.3 yıl (dağılım 5-19 yıl) izlem süresi sonunda geriye dönük olarak değerlendirildi. Replantasyonlar transmetakarpal (n=6), el bileği (n=4), önkol (n=5), dirsek (n=4) ve kol (n=7) seviyesinden yapıldı. Yaralanma, yedi hastada keskin sınırlı, sekiz hastada ezilme, 11 hastada sıyrılma şeklindeydi. Ondokuz hastaya ikincil cerrahi uygulandı. Fonksiyonel sonuçların yorumlanmasında Chen ölçütleri ve DASH-T (Kol, Omuz ve El Sorunları Anketi-Türkçe) kullanıldı.Sonuçlar: Ameliyat sırasındaki kısaltma miktarı ortalama 37.2 mm, takip sonundaki radyografik kısalma miktarı ortalama 52.2 mm idi. Yaralı tarafta ortalama kavrama gücü 12.3 kg, çimdik gücü 3.6 kg (sağlam tarafta sırasıyla 37.6 kg ve 8.7 kg) bulundu. Monofilaman testinde duyunun 20 hastada geri döndüğü görüldü. İki nokta ayrım testinde 18 hastanın median sinir için, 17 hastanın ulnar sinir için iki nokta ayrımı yapabildiği görüldü. Chen ölçütlerine göre 17 hastada (%65.4) çok iyi veya iyi, üç hastada (%11.5) orta, altı hastada (%23.1) kötü sonuç elde edildi. Yaralanma seviyesi (r=0.71) ve yaralanma türüyle (r=0.65) Chen ölçütleri arasında korelasyon saptandı. Dirsek seviyesindeki yaralanmaların ve sıyrılma tarzındaki yaralanmaların sonucu olumsuz etkilediği görüldü. DASH-T skoru ortalaması 6.7 (dağılım 0-32.5) olarak hesaplandı. Chen I-II grubu ile III-IV grubu hastaların ortalama DASH-T skorları arasında anlamlı fark bulundu (p

Systemic damage in acute pancreatitis (AP) can be characterized by oxidative stress and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Roflumilast has been shown to be a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of roflumilast in cerulein-induced AP. Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups: group 1 (sham), group 2 (Roflumilast), group 3 (AP), and group 4 (AP + Roflumilast). AP was induced by injecting 4 × 75 μg/kg of body weight at an interval of 1 h. Rats were killed after 12 h following the last cerulein administration. AP was confirmed by measuring the serum amylase level and inflammatory features. Morphological changes were observed in the pancreas. Amylase levels were higher in the AP and AP + Roflumilast groups than the sham and Roflumilast groups. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 increased in the AP group, whereas they decreased in the Roflumilast group. The total oxidant activity (TOA) was higher and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was lower in the AP group. The administration of roflumilast decreased the TOA and increased the TAC in comparison with the AP group (p

Background To evaluate the relationship between disease activity and levels of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and pentraxin 3 in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Methods Forty-eight patients with BD and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. Serum pentraxin 3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ng/ml), and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein levels were measured using nephelometry (mg/dl). Disease activity was assessed using the BD Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Results Serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein levels were significantly higher in patients with BD compared to the control group (P = 0.048). There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of levels of pentraxin 3 (P = 0.697). According to Pearson's analysis, alpha 1-acid levels are significantly positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and skin lesions and arthritis of BDCAF scores. Pentraxin 3 levels did not correlate with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, or any domains of BDCAF scores. Conclusion The results of the present study demonstrate that serum levels of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein were significantly higher in patients with BD relative to the control group. Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein is greatly associated with skin lesions and arthritis in patients with BD. We did not find high serum levels of PTX3 in patients with BD compared to healthy controls, and pentraxin 3 is not associated with disease activity in BD.

OBJECTIVE Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) is known to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, the relationship between early onset schizophrenia and BDNF has not been extensively studied. The aim of the study was to compare the levels of BDNF between adolescent patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and the healthy control subjects. METHOD The study was conducted in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Dicle University. A total of 26 adolescent patients aged between 11 and 17 years who had not received previous therapy and whose conditions were diagnosed with psychosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy adolescent control subjects were included. Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime version, and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale were conducted with all participants. The clinical global impression was used to evaluate disease severity. The BDNF levels were measured in the serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS The mean (SD) age was 14.6 (1.6) years in both FEP group (male/female, 11/15) and the control group (P > 0.05). The FEP group had significantly lower serum BDNF levels (2.0 ± 1.9 ng/mL) compared with the control group (3.4 ± 3.0 ng/mL, P = 0.03). There was no significant relationship between BDNF concentration and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (positive and negative scores) scores (r = -0.14, P = 0.74 and r = 0.49, P = 0.22, respectively). There was no significant relationship between the duration of untreated psychosis and serum BDNF levels (r = -0.22, P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS High incidence of schizophrenia in patients with FEP suggests a relationship between BDNF levels and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. We suggest that BDNF may be a useful neurobiological marker of early onset schizophrenia.

Background: New tumour biomarkers are being intensely investigated for malignant mesothelioma (MM). Fibulin-3 is produced in MM but its role remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of measuring serum fibulin-3 in the diagnosis and prognosis of MM. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was performed on 43 patients and 40 healthy controls who were admitted to our hospital between January 2012 and January 2014. Data from MM patients, including demographic and clinical features, routine laboratory data, levels of serum fibulin-3, and treatment outcomes were defined as potential prognostic factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for fibulin-3 was used to detect the cut-off value with highest sensitivity and specificity. Univariate survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method in patients with MM. Afterwards, the possible factors identified with univariate analyses were entered into the cox regression analysis. Results: Our results revealed that patients with MM had significantly higher serum levels of fibulin-3 than controls. The results showed that the best cut-off point was 36.6 ng/ml with an AUC (area under the curve)=0.976, sensitivity=93.0% and specificity=90.0. In our study, the initial significant poor prognostic factors were advanced stage, high white blood cell count, high platelet count, high C-reactive protein (p

ObjectiveCarcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofetal glycoprotein that is widely used as a tumour marker in adenocarcinomas. However, several non-neoplastic conditions, including acute and chronic inflammation and other inflammation-related conditions, are characterised by increased CEA concentrations.Bipolar disorder (BD) ranks seventh among the worldwide burden of non-fatal diseases. Inflammatory biomarkers have been considered as one of the main key pillars of a multifactorial approach for prediction of BD in an at-risk population.BP is accompanied by activation of inflammatory, cell-mediated and negative immunoregulatory cytokines.MethodsWe measured the levels of CEA in serum samples from 44 individuals with euthymic BP out-patients and 45 healthy controls. Patients were diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria. CEA was measured by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.ResultsThe mean serum CEA concentration was 2.36±1.52 and 1.77±0.98 µg/l in patients and controls, respectively. CEA levels were significantly increased in euthymic BP patients when compared with controls (p=0.031).ConclusionsThis study suggests that CEA is increased in BD and supports a role for immune activation in the core pathological mechanisms of BP. CEA levels may be a secondary marker for diagnosing BP.

Introduction and Aim: Expression and peptide immunoreactivity of apelin messenger RNA have been described in a variety of tissues, including gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, brain, kidney, liver, cardiovascular system, and lungs. This study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of the endogenous apelin in the pathophysiological events that occur in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and Methods: In total, 53 patients with PE and 35 healthy volunteers were included the study. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care university hospital and among patients diagnosed as having PE. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers who applied to hospital for a routine checkup examination. Serum apelin 13 levels were measured in both the groups and their results were compared. Results: The median ages were 57 and 53 years, and female–male ratios were 30/23 and 20/15, in the PE and control groups, respectively. The mean serum apelin 13 levels were found to be significantly higher in the PE group (76.94 ± 10.70 ng/mL) than in the control group (50.01 ± 7.13 ng/mL; P < .001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that apelin 13 levels are elevated in patients with PE. These results suggest that apelin may be a novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in patients with acute PE in the future.

The aim of this study was to investigate novel urinary biomarkers including N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).Totally, 52 patients (29 boys, 23 girls) with β-TM and 29 healthy controls (3-17 years) were included. Various demographic characteristics and blood transfusions/year, disease duration, and chelation therapy were recorded. Serum urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and ferritin and urinary creatinine, protein, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and uric acid in first morning urine samples were measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. Routine serum and urinary biochemical variables, urinary NAG to Creatinine (U(NAG/Cr)), U(NGAL/Cr), U(KIM-1/Cr), and U(L-FABP/Cr) ratios were determined.Patients had similar mean serum urea, creatinine and eGFR levels compared with controls (p 0.05 for all). The mean urinary protein to creatinine (U(Protein/Cr)) ratio was significantly higher in patients compared to the healthy subjects (0.13 ± 0.09 mg/mg and 0.07 ± 0.04 mg/mg, respectively; p 0.001). Significantly increased U(NAG/Cr) (0.48 ± 0.58 vs. 0.23 ± 0.16, p = 0.026) and U(NGAL/Cr) (22.1 ± 18.5 vs. 11.5 ± 6.17, p = 0.01) ratios were found in β-TM patients compared with healthy controls. However, no differences were found in serum and urinary electrolytes or U(KIM-1/Cr) and U(L-FABP/Cr) ratios between patients and controls (p 0.05). Significant correlations were found between urinary biomarkers and urinary electrolytes (p 0.05).Our results suggest that urinary NAG and NGAL may be considered to be reliable markers to monitor renal injury in β-TM patients.

ObjectiveOxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although there are some studies on oxidative stress and PTSD, there is no report available on the serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with PTSD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with chronic PTSD.Material and MethodsThe study group included 45 earthquake survivors with PTSD and 40 earthquake survivors without PTSD. The oxidative status was determined using the total antioxidant status and total oxidant status (TOS) measurements and by calculating the oxidative stress index (OSI).ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in the total antioxidant status, TOS, or OSI when comparing individuals with and without PTSD (all,p>0.05). There were no correlations between Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores and oxidant and antioxidant stress markers (all,p>0.05).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the total oxidant and antioxidant status may not affect earthquake survivors with PTSD. This is the first study to evaluate the oxidative status in earthquake survivors with PTSD. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Aim Ethanol causes oxidative degradation of the mitochondrial genome in the brain. This effect could contribute to the development of brain injury in some alcoholic patients. We investigated the protective effect of caffeic acid phenyl esther (CAPE) and intralipid (IL) on oxidative stress and neurotoxicity induced by ethanol intake. Material and methods The forty-eight rats were randomly divided into seven groups. Ethanol was administered for acute toxicity. IL and CAPE were administered immediately after ethanol intake. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative status index (OSi) were evaluated and histologic examination of cerebellum and brain tissue with Hematoxylin-Eosin and immuno-histochemical dyes was performed. Results In the ethanol group, TAS levels were significantly lower than the other groups and this finding indicates that the toxic effect of ethanol reduces antioxidant levels. In the ethanol group, TOS levels were significantly higher than the other groups. These results showed that ethanol induced oxidative stress. IL treatment increased TAS levels, and CAPE decreased TOS levels against ethanol toxicity. There was correlation between TAS and TOS levels. Also, histopathologic results confirmed these biochemical results. Conclusion CAPE and IL treatment could be effective course of therapy to enhance therapeutic efficacy and may provide a promising approach for the treatment of neurotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by ethanol in clinic.

Tacrolimus and cyclosporine A are immunosuppressant drugs with narrow therapeutic windows. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of tacrolimus and cyclosporin A levels in whole blood samples under different storage conditions. Whole blood samples were obtained from 15 patients receiving tacrolimus and 15 patients receiving cyclosporine A. Samples were immediately analyzed and then stored at different conditions (room temperature (24°C−26°C) for 24 hours, +4°C for 24 and 48 hours, and −20°C for one month) and then analyzed again. For tacrolimus, there was a significant difference between samples analyzed immediately and those kept 24 hours at room temperature (P=0.005) (percent change 32.89%). However, there were no significant differences between the other groups. For cyclosporine A, there was a significant difference between samples analyzed immediately and those kept 24 hours (P=0.003) (percent change 19.47%) and 48 hours (P=0.002) (percent change 15.38%) at +4°C and those kept 24 hours at room temperature (P=0.011) (percent change 9.71%). Samples of tacrolimus should be analyzed immediately or stored at either +4°C or −20°C, while samples of cyclosporine A should be analyzed immediately or stored at −20°C.