Cytoprotective effects of amifostine,ascorbic acid and N-acetylcysteine against methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

AIM: To investigate the potential role of oxidative stress and the possible therapeutic effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), amifostine (AMF) and ascorbic acid (ASC) in methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity.

An unusual cause ofileal perforation:Report of a case and literature review

An ileal perforation resulting from a migrated biliary stent is a rare complication of endoscopic stent placement for benign or malignant biliary tract disease.We describe the case of a 59-year-old woman with a history of abdominal surgery in which a migrated biliary stent resulted in an ileal perforation.Patients with comorbid abdominal pathologies,including colonic diverticuli,parastomal hernia,or abdominal hernia,may be at increased risk of perforation from migrated stents.

Effect of low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) on congenital cataract surgery

AIM: To assess the efficacy of intracameral enoxaparin (a low-molecular-weight heparin) infusion, in variable doses on postoperative inflammatory response in congenital cataract surgery.METHODS: It is a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Eighty eyes of 53 children with congenital cataract were enrolled in this study. Every eye had primary posterior capsulorrhexis and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation after lens aspiration. The eyes were divided into 4 equal groups. In group 1 balanced salt solution (BSS) without enoxaparin was used as an irrigation solution. Whereas in group 2, 3 and 4, 40mg, 20mg and 10mg enoxaparin in 500mL BSS was used respectively. The inflammatory response in the anterior chamber was compared among the groups with slit-lamp biomicroscopy.RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was (17.75±3.95) months in group 1, (18.00±5.15) months in group 2, (19.20±5.47) months in group 3 and (18.65±5.16) months in group 4. Mean number of inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber in group 1 was significantly higher than that of group 2, 3, 4 (P <0.001). There was fibrin formation in the anterior chambers of 3 eyes in group 1 and one eye in group 4. There was synechiae formation in 3 eyes of group 1 and one eye of group 4. There was no significant difference among the groups by means of fibrin or synechiae formation (P>0.05). There were IOL precipitates in 4 eyes of group 1 and 2 eyes of group 4. IOL precipitate formation was significantly higher in group 1 than that of group 2 and 3 in which there was no IOL precipitate (P=0.048). There was IOL subluxation in only one eye of group 1, 3 and 4 while no subluxation was observed in group 2 (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference detected about IOL subluxation occurance in all 4 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Complications of cataract surgery in congenital cataract patients associated with postoperative inflammatory response found to be decreased with the use of enoxaparin in intraocular infusion solutions. Furthermore according to our results the anti-inflammatory effect of enoxaparin was dose dependant.

Outcomes of revision external dacryocystorhinostomy and nasal intubation by bicanalicular silicone tubing under endonasal endoscopic guidance

AIM: To evaluate the long-term treatment outcomes in patients who underwent revision of external dacryocysto- rhinostomy (DCR) and nasal intubation by bicanalicular silicone tubing (BSTI) under endonasal endoscopic guidance. · METHODS: Data from 28 patients with recurrent dacryocystitis were retrospectively reviewed. Revision external DCR and bicanalicular nasal intubation by silicone tubing under endonasal endoscopic guidance was performed in 28 eyes of 28 patients. The patients were evaluated with respect to the reason of recurrence, time to recurrence, time to revision, duration of follow-up and surgical success. · RESULTS: Endoscopic endonasal examination detected an osteotomy-side obstruction by the excessive granulation tissue in 24 patients (86%), nasal septal deviation in three patients (10%) and nasal polyp in one patient (4%). Recurrence occurred after a mean duration of 5.3±3.7 months following the first operation. The mean time between the first DCR operation and the revision DCR was 11.5 ± 9.3 months. After a mean follow-up of 14.9±7.8 months, the rate of anatomic success alone was 85% (24/28); the rate of subjective success was 78% (22/28). · CONCLUSION: Revision external DCR and bicanalicular nasal intubation by silicone tubing under endonasal endoscopic guidance can be recommended in patients with recurrent dacryocystitis as a surgical approach that achieves satisfactory objective and subjective success rates.

A head to head comparison of oral vs intravenous omeprazole for patients with bleeding peptic ulcers with a clean base,flat spots and adherent clots

AIM： To compare the effect of intravenous and oral omeprazole in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers without high-risk stigmata.METHODS： This randomized study included 211 patients [112 receiving iv omeprazole protocol （Group 1）, 99 receiving po omeprazole 40 mg every 12 h （Group 2）] with a mean age of 52.7. In 144 patients the ulcers showed a clean base, and in 46 the ulcers showed fiat spots and in 21 old adherent clots. The endpoints were re-bleeding, surgery, hospital stay, blood transfusion and death. After discharge, re-bleeding and death were reevaluated within 30 d.RESULTS： The study groups were similar with respect to baseline characteristics. Re-bleeding was recorded in 5 patients of Group 1 and in 4 patients of Group 2 （P = 0.879）. Three patients in Group 1 and 2 in Group 2 underwent surgery （P = 0.773）. The mean length of hospital stay was 4.6 ± 1.6 d in Group 1 vs 4.5 ± 2.6 d in Group 2 （P = 0.710）; the mean amounts of blood transfusion were 1.9 ±1.1 units in Group 1 vs 2.1 ±1.7 units in Group 2 （P = 0.350）. Four patients, two in each group died （P = 0.981）. After discharge, a new bleeding occurred in 2 patients of Group 1 and in 1 patient of Group 2, and one patient from Group 1 died.CONCLUSION： We demonstrate that the effect of oral omeprazole is as effective as intravenous therapy in terms of re-bleeding, surgery, transfusion requirements, hospitalization and mortality in patients with bleeding ulcers with low risk stigmata. These patients can be treated effectively with oral omeprazole.

Internet and social media usage of orthopaedic patients:A questionnaire-based survey

AIM To evaluate social media usage of orthopaedic patients to search for solutions to their health problems. METHODS The study data were collected using face-to-face questionnaire with randomly selected 1890 patients aged over 18 years who had been admitted to the orthopaedic clinics in different cities and provinces across Turkey. The questionnaire consists of a total of 16 questions pertaining to internet and social media usage and demographics of patients, patients' choice of institution for treatment, patient complaints on admission, online hospital and physician ratings, communication between the patient and the physician and its effects.RESULTS It was found that 34.2%(n = 647) of the participants consulted with an orthopaedist using the internet and 48.7%(n = 315) of them preferred websites that allow users to ask questions to a physician. Of all questionaskers, 48.5%(n = 314) reported having found the answers helpful. Based on the educational level of the participants, there was a highly significant difference between the rates of asking questions to an orthopaedist using the internet(P = 0.001). The rate of questionasking was significantly lower in patients with an elementary education than that in those with secondary, high school and undergraduate education(P = 0.001) The rate of reporting that the answers given was helpful was significantly higher in participants with an undergraduate degree compared to those who were illiterate, those with primary, elementary or high school education(P = 0.001). It was also found that the usage of the internet for health problems was higher among managers-qualified participants than unemployed-housewives, officers, workers-intermediate staff(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION We concluded that patients have been increasingly using the internet and social media to select a specific physician or to seek solution to their health problems in an effective way. Even though the internet and social media offer beneficial effects for physicians or patients, there is still much obscurity regarding their harms and further studies are warranted for necessary arrangements to be made.

Short term apoptotic activity of intravitreal bevacizumab on rabbit retina

AIM:To evaluate the safety and the short term apoptotic activity of intravitreai bevacizumab in rabbit eyes by histopathological analysis.METHODS:Twenty-eight eyes of 14 rabbits were divided into three groups:8 rabbits in group 1 and 3rabbits in each of group 2 and group 3.Intravitreai bevacizumab(1.25mg/0.05mL)was applied to the right eyes of each subject in group 1 and group 2(11 eyes)and the same volume of saline was applied to the left eyes of each subject in group 1 and group 3(11 eyes).The left eyes in group 2 and the right eyes in group 3were left untreated and used as control.Enucleated eyes were used for histopathologic analyses.RESULTS:After immunohistochemical staining with caspase-3 and p53,there was no histological evidence of toxicity to the retina and the optic nerve in any of the sections that were analyzed in all three groups.In addition,vascular endothelial cells located at the retina and the optic nerve tissues in all groups showed a similar staining pattern with caspase-3 and p53.CONCLUSION:Our study showed that intravitreai bevacizumab with the dose of 1.25mg/0.05mL caused no histological signs of toxicity or apoptotic activity on the rabbit retina.

Importance and Risk Prediction of ABO Blood Group and Rh Factor in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Objective:There are limited data in the literature regarding the potential relationship between thyroid cancer and ABO blood types and Rh factor.The aim of our study was to investigate whether papillary thyroid cancer(PTC)is associated with blood type.Materials and Methods:The present study included patients who pre­sented to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine between June 2009 and December 2020 and were diagnosed with PTC as a result of postoperative(thyroidectomy)histopathological analysis.The control group consisted of individuals whose blood type was analyzed at a random blood center.Results:Of the 223 patients diagnosed with PTC,163(73.1%)were fe­males and 60(26.9%)were males.In the comparison of patients based on ABO blood types and Rh factor,A Rh positive blood type was found 31%less frequently in the PTC group compared with the control group,and thus it was associated with a lower risk of PTC(OR:0.69;95%Confidence In­terval:0.50-0.96,p=0.029).Conclusions:In our study,we found A Rh positive blood type to be signifi­cantly less frequent among patients with PTC.A Rh positive blood type can be considered as a protective factor indicating a reduced risk of PTC.

Radical vs conservative surgery for hydatid liver cysts:Experience from single center

AIM:To compare the efficacy and safety of radical and conservative surgical interventions for liver hydatid disease.METHODS:The study comprised 59 patients in two groups who had undergone radical and conservative surgical procedures for liver hydatid disease in our department between 2004 and 2009. Preoperative diagnostic tools,medical treatments,demographic and clinical characteristics,postoperative follow-up,and recurrence were compared in both groups. RESULTS:This non-randomized retrospective studyincluded 59 patients who had undergone liver hydatid disease surgery. The radical technique was used in 18 patients (mean age:42.1 ± 13.5 years,seven male,11 female),and the conservative technique was used in 41 patients (mean age:43.5 ± 13.9 years,17 male,24 female). The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 58 mo. Although operative time was significantly shorter in the conservative group (P < 0.001),recurrence was significantly reduced in the radical group (P = 0.045). No statistically significant differences were found in terms of hospitalization duration,cyst count and size,location,postoperative complications,scolicidal solution usage,or follow-up duration between the two groups.CONCLUSION:The more effective method for pre-venting postoperative recurrence is radical surgery. En-doscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for bile leakage in the early postoperative period may decrease the requirement for repeat surgery.

Secondary glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery

AIM: To determine the incidence and risk factors of secondary glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery.METHODS: Two hundred and forty nine eyes of 148 patients underwent cataract surgery without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (group 1), and 220 eyes of 129 patients underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation (group 2) retrospectively, were evaluated between 2000 and 2011. The outcome measure was the presence or absence of post-cataract surgery glaucoma, defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥26mmHg, as measured on at least two occasions along with corneal or optic nerve changes.RESULTS: The mean follow-up periods of group 1 and 2 were (60.86 ±30.95) months (12-123 months) and (62.11±31.29) months (14-115 months) respectively. In group 1, 12 eyes of 8 patients (4.8% ) developed glaucoma. None of the patients developed glaucoma after surgery in group 2. The mean age of the patients at the cataract surgery was (2.58±0.90) months (1 month-4 months) and the average period for glaucoma development after surgery was (9.50 ±4.33) months (4-16 months) in group 1. Three of the 12 glaucomatous eyes were controlled with antiglaucomatous medication and 9 eyes underwent trabeculectomy+mitomycinC surgery.Onepatientunderwent a second trabeculectomy+mitomycin C operation for both of his eyes.CONCLUSION:The incidence of glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery is very low in patients in whom IOL is implanted. The aphakic eyes after pediatric cataract surgery are at an increased risk for glaucoma development particularly if they underwent surgery before 4 months of age.

Prevalence of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures and related factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background Osteoporosis and vertebral factures are well recognized features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis （AS）.The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in patients with AS.Methods Fifty-nine AS patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.Bone mineral density （BMD） was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry （DEXA） at posterior-anterior （PA） lumbar,lateral lumbar and hip regions.Thoracic and lumbar X-rays were obtained for morphometric measurements.Clinical,biological and radiological statuses were evaluated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index （BASDAI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index （BASMI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index （BASFI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index-total （BASRI-t）,erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and the C-reactive protein levels.Results Osteoporosis was present in 32% of patients and 5% of controls according to lateral vertebral BMD measurements.Fracture was present in 31% of patients.The effect of some clinical and laboratory parameters on BMD status and vertebral fractures was analyzed in the patient group.Osteoporosis in lateral lumbar DEXA was associated with higher BASMI,BASFI,BASRI-t scores and ESR level.Low hip BMD was associated with low BMI and high BASFI and BASRI-t scores.Vertebral fractures were associated with advanced age,longer disease duration,longer duration since diagnosis,higher BASMI and BASRI-t scores,higher ESR level,reduced femoral and lateral lumbar BMD.Logistic regression analysis revealed that only BASRI-t score was significantly associated with low lateral spinal BMD and BMI and BASFI score were independently associated with low hip BMD.The presence of compression fractures was independently associated with BASRI-t score and low lateral lumbar BMD.Conclusions Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in AS seem to be related to the extent of radiological involvement.A low lateral lumbar BMD is an important risk factor for vertebral fractures.