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Toxoplasmic lymphadenitis generally involves a solitary lymph node in the head and neck regions, without systemic symptoms. In order to determine the frequency of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, we reviewed the histological sections of 731 consecutive patients with reactive lymph node hyperplasia. Amongst 731 patients, 112 had histological features supporting a diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis (15.3 per cent). In 80 of these patients (71 per cent), either Indirect Haemaglutination test (IHA), in 37 cases, or the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for detecting toxoplasmic IgG or IgM antibodies, in 43 cases, were performed. In 76 out of 80 patients (95 per cent), histological features correlated well with serological studies. The IHA test was positive in 30 patients with a titre of 1/64 or higher. The IgG-ELISA test was positive in 11 whereas the IgM-ELISA test was positive in 28 patients. These results provide further evidence of the distinctive nature of the histological changes in toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, which should enable the clinician to make a confident diagnosis of acute acquired toxoplasmosis.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori that is generally acquired in childhood and infects the gastric mucosa is considered to be responsible for many pathobiological changes that are linked to the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. Although the majority of studies on the subject have been carried out in adults, there are a limited number of studies on children that reflect the early period of infection and may be of greater significance. AIM: We aimed to determine the role of H. pylori infection and/or gastritis in several histopathological changes, p53, p21, and cell proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen expression in the gastric mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 60 patients with a mean age of 7.5±4.5 years at referral. On the basis of endoscopic appearance and the evaluation of the gastric antral specimens, the patients were divided into three groups: patients without gastritis, patients with H. pylori-positive gastritis, and patients with H. pylori-negative gastritis. To determine the expression of p53, Ki-67, and p21 in gastric biopsy specimens, immunohistochemical stains were performed. RESULTS: The incidence of neutrophil activity, which was one of our histopathologic parameters, was significantly higher in the H. pylori-positive gastritis group than the other two groups. The presence of lymphoid aggregate was more frequent in H. pylori±gastritis groups than the nongastritis group. p53 expression was found to be significantly higher in the H. pylori-positive gastritis group than the nongastritis group. Ki-67 and p21 expressions were significantly more frequent in the H. pylori-positive gastritis group than the other two groups. When we evaluated the density of H. pylori, as the density of bacteria increases, we found that the expressions of p53, p21, and Ki-67 increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Expression of the studied precancerous markers in significant amounts indicates the importance of childhood H. pylori infection in the constitution of gastric cancer in adulthood. © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Aims: To determine the effects of different doses of melatonin treatment on endometrial implants, the activity of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), the angiogenesis factor, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the waste metabolite product of lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) in an oophorectomized rat endometriosis model.Methods: Thirty-two, female, non-pregnant, nulligravid Sprague–Dawley, albino rats were used in this prospective, randomized, controlled and experimental study. Endometriosis was surgically induced in oophorectomized rats, and estradiol treatment was started after the first operation and continued till the end of the study. Second look, third look and necropsy operations were performed in the 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. Mean volumes, histological scores and biochemical parameters were evaluated throughout the study.Results: The mean volumes of endometriotic foci were 98.8 mm3 ± 17.2 vs. 108.2 mm3 ± 17.5, 54.1 mm3 ± 15.6 vs. 25.8 mm3 ± 3.6, 42.8 mm3 ± 10.5 vs. 32.7 mm3 ± 6.0 and histopathological scores were 2.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.1, 2.6 ± 0.2 vs. 2.2 ± 0.2, 2.6 ± 0.1 vs. 2.7 ± 0.2 in the 10 vs. 20-mg/kg/day melatonin group at the end of the second, fourth and sixth weeks, respectively. When the groups were compared, no significant differences were seen in the histopathologic scores, SOD and VEGF levels between the groups. However, the endometriotic foci volumes were significantly decreased in both melatonin treatment groups with respect to the control group at the end of the fourth and sixth weeks. Moreover, the mean MDA levels were significantly lower in the control group than in the 10-mg/kg/day melatonin group at the end of the fourth and sixth weeks.Conclusion: Melatonin treatment resulted in the regression of endometriotic lesions in oophorectomized rats. Higher doses of melatonin treatment might be more effective in the regression of implants and improvement of histologic scores as well as in the precise evaluation of SOD, MDA and VEGF distributions in the rat experimental models. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

WOS: 000344714900011 PubMed: 24739899 Background Pneumoconiosis is a form of diffuse interstitial lung disease, often resulting from occupational exposures. As dental prosthetic technicians (DPTs) build prostheses, they are exposed to many chemical materials that increase their risk of developing pneumoconiosis. Aims To document pulmonary function and prevalence of pneumoconiosis in DPTs. Methods A cross-sectional study of DPTs working in prosthetic laboratories who underwent pulmonary function test and high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) scanning. Results There were 76 participants and pneumoconiosis was diagnosed in 46%. The most commonly seen radiological finding was round opacities, present in 38%. Agreement among HRCT readers was moderate to good. As defined by HRCT, emphysema was diagnosed more often in those with a longer occupational history or a history of smoking, and low carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), but not in those with pneumoconiosis. Forced expiratory rate and DLCO were significantly lower in those who had worked 16 years or more (all P < 0.05). DLCO values were significantly lower in technicians with emphysema and in current smokers (all P < 0.01). Round opacities were also present in a substantial proportion of DPTs who had 15 years or less exposure. Because HRCT is able to detect radiological changes of occupational lung disease very early, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis in our participants was quite high. Conclusions Pneumoconiosis identified by HRCT was present in almost half of DPTs surveyed. Appropriate education and workplace protection should be given to DPTs in order to prevent exposure to hazardous materials in dental prosthetics laboratories.

Purpose of nvestig,a lion: To evaluate the preventive and reducing effect of aloe vera gel on surgically-induced endometrial foci in rats. Materials and methods: Twenty-four reproductive aged female non-pregnant, nulligravid Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used. The rats were randomly divided to three groups (Group 1: control, Group 2: aloe vera endometriosis formation, and Group 3: aloe vera endometriosis treatment). A peritoneal lavage using one-ml saline was taken at all the operations for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and catalase (CAT). Forty-eight horns were implanted in 24 rats. Results: All the implants were properly formed after implantation. In Group 3, before aloe vera application, the sum of the volumes was 87.2 +/- 20.4 mm(3) and after treatment the volumes dropped to 28.9 +/- 14.9 mm(3) (p = 0.01). As evaluation of aloe vera on the formation of endometriosis in the second operation in Group 2, the sum of the volumes was 2.9 +/- 1.4 mm(3) and in Group 1, 118.9 +/- 20.0 mm(3) (p = 0.001). Likewise, similar changes were observed in the histopatological scores. Conclusion: The application of aloe vera was seen to raise antioxidant levels in the peritoneal fluid and to reduce oxidative stress markers. Aloe vera is effective in the inhibition of formation and regression of endometriotic lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of melatonin on endometriotic lesions induced by implanting human endometriotic cells in SCID mice. Materials and Methods: Prospective, randomized, controlled, experimental study. Experimental Research Center of Yeditepe University (YUDETAM). Thirty female, non-pregnant, nulligravid severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Endometriotic cells collected from patients with endometriosis were implanted subcutaneously in 30 SCID mice. These mice were randomized into two study groups: in the first group, mice were administered melatonin (20 mg/kg/day) following induction of endometriosis for four weeks; in the second group, nothing was administered. All the mice were given a high dose of exogenous estradiol (50 mu g/kg/d, twice weekly). Four weeks after inoculation, necropsies were performed and endometriotic lesions were collected. All the lesions were evaluated histopathologically and the levels of SOD and MDA were assessed in the lesions. Results: Successful implantation was observed in the 28 mice that survived. Mean MDA level was 5.0 +/- 1.7 and 8.8 +/- 2.6 in the melatonin and control groups, respectively (p = 0.01); mean SOD level was 1.1 +/- 0.1 and 1.0 +/- 0.1 in the melatonin and control groups, respectively (p = 0.49). Mean histopathological score was lower in the melatonin group (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Melatonin was effective in the treatment of experimental endometriosis induced in SCID mice.

Background: Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is mostly a non-immunoglobulin E-mediated disease where a T-cell-mediated reaction to cow's milk protein has been suggested. We determined the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, TGF-β receptor-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, CD86, and CD23 on the colon mucosa to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of the two subtypes of FPIAP, i.e. infantile FPIAP and FPIAP in older children. Methods: Group 1 comprised children with infantile FPIAP (age 1.5 years, n = 7), and group 3 included children with juvenile hyperplastic polyps (n = 22). Immunohistochemical staining of colonic biopsy specimens was performed. Results: The expression of TNF-α was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 compared to group 3. Group 2 patients had a significantly lower TGF-β expression compared to the other groups. The expression of CD86 was higher in group 1 than in group 3 (p = 0.012). Eosinophil counts per high-power field in the lamina propria were significantly correlated with CD86 expression (p = 0.026, r = 0.388). Conclusion: Our results suggest that TNF-α is implicated in the pathogenesis of both types of FPIAP. The decreased activity of TGF-β receptor-1 accompanied by the increased expression of CD86 in infants and the decreased activity of TGF-β in older children appear to play a role in the development of FPIAP.

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a very rare cause of gastritis. Gastritis caused by VZV can be presented as abdominal pain, vomiting. Most of the cases reported with varicella gastritis in the literature are immunocompromised patients with various kinds of malignancy, and most of these patients are adults. Here we report an adolescent girl with acute abdominal pain. The girl was immunocompetent. Her endoscopically taken biopsy material revealed varicella, and her gastritis was healed with acyclovir therapy. This is a very rare condition and not frequently reported in the literature. The authors want to drive attention to the fact that varicella gastritis can be seen in immunocompetent children, the presentation can be nausea, vomiting and/or (severe) abdominal pain. Serological studies may be less helpful than tissue studies, so interventional procedures should be done. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

… Amer Soc Reprod Med

Bronchogenic cysts that formed during the development of the tracheobronchial tree in the gestational period are mostly asymptomatic until adulthood. Cysts localized in the middle mediastinum, specifically in the subcarinal region, on the other hand, may cause serious symptoms by compressing the heart and major vessels due to their close proximity. In this report it is suggested that surgical resection of a giant bronchogenic cyst that compresses the heart and great vessels should be securely performed in the presence of a readily available cardiopulmonary bypass capability. © 2009 Forum Multimedia Publishing, LLC.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of enthesopathy in familial Mediterranean fever by using a newly developed sonographic method, the Madrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index (MASEI). METHODS The study included 50 consecutive patients with familial Mediterranean fever and 57 healthy sex- and age-matched control participants. Six entheseal sites (olecranon tuberosity, superior and inferior poles of the patella, tibial tuberosity, and superior and inferior poles of the calcaneus) on both lower limbs were evaluated. All sonographic findings were identified according to MASEI. Validity was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curves. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS Mean total enthesitis scores ± SD were 7.54 ± 4.99 for patients and 3.63 ± 3.03 for controls (P < .001). No statistically significant correlation was found between the MASEI score and familial Mediterranean fever duration or colchicine treatment duration. There was no difference between the MASEI score and the presence or absence of arthritic involvement among the patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.649-0.839). When analyzed by sex, men with familial Mediterranean fever had significantly higher MASEI scores than women (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS This study showed significant enthesopathy in patients with familial Mediterranean fever. The findings support the hypothesis that familial Mediterranean fever and spondyloarthropathy may have common inflammatory mechanisms and suggest that the MASEI scoring system can be incorporated into clinical protocols for studying patients with familial Mediterranean fever in daily practice.

e15667Background: Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is a rare alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producing carcinoma arising in extrahepatic organs, morphologically resembling hepatocellular carcinoma. HAC arises...

The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical entheseal involvement in patients with Behçet disease via ultrasound using a newly developed method, the Madrid sonography enthesitis index.The study was conducted with 36 patients with Behçet disease and 46 healthy sex- and age-matched control subjects. All patients with Behçet disease who had no clinical evidence of arthritis or enthesitis underwent an ultrasound examination. All sonographic findings were identified according to the Madrid sonography enthesitis index. Madrid sonography enthesitis index values of patients and control subjects were compared by Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test. Validity was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve.Total enthesitis score was 12.16 ± 6.16 among patients with Behçet disease and 2.06 ± 2.18 among healthy control subjects (p0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve established an ultrasound score greater than 4.5 in the Behçet disease group as the best cut-off point differentiating case subjects from control subjects. This cutoff was exceeded by 88.8% of the patients with Behçet disease. When the Madrid sonography enthesitis index score in each affected enthesis was evaluated, patients with Behçet disease had significantly higher scores than did control subjects when all entheseal sites were compared (all p values0.05).This is the first study to our knowledge to show significant subclinical enthesopathy of the triceps tendon enthesis in patients with Behçet disease who had no arthritic involvement. These data suggest that the Madrid sonography enthesitis index scoring system for sonographic detection of enthesopathy should be incorporated into the clinical protocol for evaluating patients with Behçet disease in routine clinical practice.

Asbestos-related cases admitted to Chest Diseases Clinic of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Medical Faculty generally came from Buyuktatlar, a town adjacent to the Afsin district of Kahramanmaraş city. This led us to screen for lung pathologies due to exposure to environmental asbestos in the town of Buyuktatlar. Six hundred and eighty-five inhabitants older than 30 years living in the town were identified as the study group and 488 persons (71·2%) were accepted for evaluation. Then, chest X-rays of these cases were taken and bilateral pleural plaque, bilateral pleural thickening, reticular lung infiltrations, and costophrenic angle obliteration were evaluated as asbestos-related disorders (ARD). ARD were diagnosed in 56 (11·5%) of the 488 chest X-rays that were assessed and no differences were observed between genders. Twenty-five of the cases were investigated by high-resolution computed tomography. Twenty-four were confirmed as ARD. In addition, chrysotile fiber was found in two of four soil samples taken from the town.

Objective: To determine the effects of etanercept (anti-TNF-?) on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model. Materials and methods: This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, experimental study that was carried out at the Experimental Research Center of Yeditepe University (YUDETAM). Thirty female nonpregnant, nulligravid Wistar-Hannover albino rats were used. The summary of the technique: surgical induction of endometriosis, administration of estrogen for 2 weeks, and laparotomy; administration of etanercept for 2 weeks following the induction of endometriosis and laparotomy; administration of estrogen for 2 weeks and necropsy. The volume and histopathological scores of the endometriotic foci were evaluated. Results: One-hundred twenty uterine horns were implanted in 30 rats. Endometriosis was completely formatted in 112 lesions (93.3%). No rats were lost. In the etanercept group, the lesions' volumes were 83.9 ± 13.1, 47.2 ± 8.4, and 96.7 ± 34.8 mm3 at the end of the second week (pretreatment stage), at the end of the fourth week (post-treatment stage), and at the end of the sixth week, respectively (P = 0.007). Histopathologic scores were 2.3 ± 0.2, 1.7 ± 0.2, and 1.9 ± 0.1, respectively (P = 0.08). The changes in the other groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Etanercept, a fusion protein consisting of human recombinant soluble TNF receptor-2, neutralizes TNF activity. Anti-TNF therapy could be a new non-hormonal therapeutic option for the treatment of endometriosis in humans. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Objective: To determine the effects of letrozole and melatonin on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat endometriosis model. Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, experimental study. Setting: Experimental Research Center of Yeditepe University (YUDETAM). Animal(s): Thirty female, nonpregnant, nulligravid Wistar-Hannover albino rats. Intervention(s): Surgical induction of endometriosis, administration of estrogen for 2 weeks, and laparotomy; administration of letrozole or melatonin for 2 weeks after induction of endometriosis, and laparotomy; administration of estrogen for 2 weeks and necropsy. Main Outcome Measure(s): The volume and histopathologic scores of endometriotic foci, and levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde in the peritoneal fluid. Result(s): The mean volumes of the endometriotic foci were 99.6 ± 18.8 mm3, 21.5 ± 7.4 mm3, and 29.2 ± 17.5 mm3, and histopathologic scores were 2.5 ± 0.7, 2.0 ± 0.8, and 1.7 ± 0.9 in the melatonin group at the end of the second, fourth, and sixth weeks, respectively. The mean volumes of the endometriotic foci were 75.9 ± 26.3 mm3, 29.8 ± 14.7 mm3, and 121.2 ± 35.1 mm3 and the histopathologic scores were 2.5 ± 0.5, 2.2 ± 0.8, and 2.7 ± 0.4 in the letrozole group at the end of the second, fourth, and sixth weeks, respectively. In the melatonin group, peritoneal fluid superoxide dismutase and catalase levels increased statistically significantly. Conclusion(s): Melatonin caused more pronounced regression of endometriotic foci when compared with letrozole in a rat model. After the cessation of melatonin treatment, the recurrence rate was lower than that observed after the cessation of letrozole treatment. © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Following major tissue injury, hyaluronic acid production increases as a rapid response survival mechanism. Increased hyaluronic acid production and turnover are often associated with increased hyaluronidase activity, the enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid. We investigated whether hyaluronic acid and hyaluronidase can be used as non-invasive markers of acute disease activity in hepatitis C by studying 26 patients with acute hepatitis C, 89 with chronic hepatitis C and 32 healthy controls. Chronic hepatitis C subjects were classified into five subgroups according to the stage of liver fibrosis. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities and hyaluronic acid levels were increased in hepatitis C patients compared with the controls. Serum hyaluronic acid elevation correlated with disease progression. Serum hyaluronidase activities were also increased in patients compared with the controls, but decreased with disease progression. We conclude that both hyaluronidase and hyaluronic acid may be useful as early non-invasive serum indicators of disease activity in acute hepatitis C.

Background: YKL-40, also called human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (HC gp-39) and chitotriosidase are homologs of family 18 glycosyl hydrolases secreted by human macrophages. Although high levels of YKL-40 and chitotriosidase are associated with several diseases, the physiological functions of these enzymes are still unclear. YKL-40, a growth factor for connective tissue cells, a migration factor for endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, is expressed by several types of solid human carcinoma, including prostate carcinoma. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare serum YKL-40 levels and chitotriosidase activity both in benign prostatic hyperplasia and primary prostate cancer. Methods: YKL-40 and chitotriosidase were determined in serum samples from 93 patients with primary prostate cancer and 61 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Serum YKL-40 levels were measured by ELISA and chitotriosidase activity was determined by fluorometer. PSA levels were also measured by using an automated system. Results: Serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with prostate cancer compared with control group whereas there was no significant difference between BPH and control group. Serum chitotriosidase activities were significantly higher in carcinoma patients with high Gleason score than the control group (P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in BPH patients (P > 0.05). Both YKL-40 and chitotriosidase were found statistically significant higher in primary prostate cancer and BPH. Conclusion: High serum YKL-40 levels in patients with primary prostate cancer indicate that YKL-40 may have a function in the progression of malignant diseases, whereas no significant elevation was observed in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Meanwhile, high serum chitotriosidase activity was observed only in patients with Gleason high grade, indicating possible macrophage involvement in cancer progression. Further studies are needed to elucidate the biologic role of YKL-40 in cancer aggressiveness and in progression of malignant diseases. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.