Electron-stimulated reactions and O2 production in methanol-covered amorphous solid water films.

The low-energy, electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) of molecular products from amorphous solid water (ASW) films capped with methanol is investigated versus methanol coverage (0-4x10(15) cm(-2)) at 50 K using 100 eV incident electrons. The major ESD products from a monolayer (ML) of methanol on ASW are quite similar to the ESD products from bulk methanol film: H(2), CH(4), H(2)O, C(2)H(6), CO, CH(2)O, and CH(3)OH. For 40 ML ASW films, the molecular oxygen, hydrogen, and water ESD yields from the ASW are suppressed with increasing methanol coverage, while the CH(3)OH ESD yield increases proportionally to the methanol coverage.

Reduction of postsurgical adhesions in a rat model: a comparative study.

Background: Adhesion formation after peritoneal surgery is a major cause of postoperative bowel obstruction, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. In this study, we compared the possible individual effects of phosphatidylcholine (PC), Seprafilm II, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and the combined effects of phosphatidylcholine and t-PA on postoperative adhesion formation in a rat surgical model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 50 Wistar male rats underwent median laparotomy and standardized abrasion of the visceral and parietal peritoneum.

Comparison of the effects of new and conventional hormone replacement therapies on left ventricular diastolic function in healthy postmenopausal women: a Doppler and ultrasonic backscatter study.

We aimed to compare the effects of new treatment modalities to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, by means of conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography and the myocardial integrated backscatter (IBS) in postmenopausal women. One hundred and fifty healthy postmenopausal women were included in this study. Subjects were assigned to one of the five groups receiving 1 year of treatment (estrogen, estrogen plus progesterone, raloxifene, tibolone or placebo).

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.

Objective: To discuss the clinical and radiological features and treatment approaches in 14 patients diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (GM).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical features, radiological findings, and treatment approaches in 14 patients with idiopathic GM in the General Surgery Department, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey between April 2000 and June 2006.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 34.

Effects of levosimendan on left atrial functions in patients with ischemic heart failure.

Background: With further progression of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, the left atrial (LA) contribution to LV filling gradually decreases, and LA dysfunction deteriorates the decreased LV filling in patients with heart failure (HF).

Hypothesis: This study sought to investigate the effects of levosimendan on LA function in patients with HF.

Methods: A total of 60 patients having acute decompensated HF with ischemic cardiomyopathy and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% were included in the study.

Circadian and infradian rhythms of vasovagal syncope in young and middle-aged subjects.

Background: The most cardiovascular physiological and pathophysiological events show a circadian rhythm. It is thought that the autonomic nervous system and biologic factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS). In this study, we investigated the circadian and infradian variation of VVS.

Acute hemiscrotum due to inguinoscrotal Littre hernia: a case report.

Meckel diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract that is generally asymptomatic and only manifests in a specific way when complications exist. An unusual complication of MD is known as Littre hernia. It comprises less than 1% of all MD.

Lightning strike: an unusual etiology of gastric perforation.

Lightning strike is an unusual form of trauma in terms of being one of the leading causes of death from natural phenomenon. Lightning strike can cause severe damage to many systems and results in a high mortality. The most common cause of death in the lightning strike victim is cardiopulmonary arrest.

[The determination of the factors impacting on in-hospital mortality in patients with acute heart failure in a tertiary referral center].

Objective: Despite impressive advances in therapeutics in the last years, acute heart failure (AHF) remains a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Patients hospitalized because of heart failure (HF), irrespective of left ventricular systolic function, represent a high-risk population with limited short-term prognosis. A substantial component of HF-related mortality occurs during a hospital stay.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on colonic anastomosis in rats with peritonitis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the healing effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on colonic anastomoses in the presence of experimentally induced peritonitis. Thirty-two rats were allocated randomly into short-term anastomosis (STA), short-term anastomosis + HBO treatment (STA+HBO), long-term anastomosis (LTA), and long-term anastomosis + HBO (LTA+HBO) treatment groups. The STA and LTA groups were administered fluid resuscitation and antibiotics for 3 and 7 days, respectively, whereas the HBO treatment groups received additional HBO therapy for 3 and 7 days, respectively.

Resterilized mesh in repair of abdominal wall defects in rats.

A variety of negative opinions about repeated usage of relatively expensive resterilized synthetic meshes have been considered. It had been stated that resterilized polypropylene meshes inhibits fibroblastic activity, decreases proliferative activity, and increases apoptosis in human fibroblast culture, in vitro. The purpose of this study is the in vivo evaluation of the resterilized mesh repairs of abdominal hernia defects in rat models of incisional hernia by comparing primer repair and original mesh repairs.

Adipokines and ghrelin in gastric cancer cachexia.

Aim: To investigate the roles of the adipocytokines, ghrelin and leptin in gastric cancer cachexia.

Methods: Resistin, ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), were measured in 30 healthy subjects, and 60 gastric cancer patients of which 30 suffered from cancer-induced cachexia and 30 served as a control group. The relationships between hormones, body mass index (BMI) loss ratio, age, gender, and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) were investigated.

Saphenous nerve block is an effective regional technique for post-menisectomy pain.

In this study we have evaluated the post menisectomy pain relief offered by Saphenous nerve block. This study was planned on 40 patients with a pre-operative and post operative diagnosis of medial meniscus lesion undergoing partial menisectomy arthroscopically. Patients were randomized into 2 groups where Group I received a preoperative Saphenous block while group 2 did not receive a peripheral block, but received 1 ml of saline as placebo injection.

Late presentation of blunt right diaphragmatic rupture (hepatic hernia).

Diaphragmatic rupture occurs in 0.8% to 3.6% of patients after blunt or penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma, and the preoperative diagnosis is difficult.

Comparison of free jejunal graft with gastric pull-up reconstruction after resection of hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal carcinoma.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the operative outcomes of a gastric pull-up and free jejunal graft reconstruction after resection of hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal carcinoma. Records of all patients who underwent esophageal resection for carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus were reviewed. Reconstruction after esophagectomy was performed using the gastric pull-up (n = 38) or free jejunal graft (n = 14) techniques.

The road to zero preventable birth injuries.

Background: The Seton Family of Hospitals' experience in developing and implementing transformational practices in labor and delivery (L&D) units aimed at reducing the rate of birth trauma at our facilities was previously reported.

Methods: Seton began its individual perinatal safety effort in earnest in October 2003. The endeavor brought together the four hospitals that offer obstetrical services, resulting in the establishment of an interdisciplinary team.

Rhomboid excision and Limberg flap for managing pilonidal sinus: long-term results in 411 patients.

Objective: To investigate the results of rhomboid excision and the Limberg flap procedure to treat pilonidal sinus disease.

Method: The records of 411 patients with pilonidal sinus disease, who underwent rhomboid excision and Limberg flap procedure, were analysed. All sinus tracks were resected en bloc, and a Limberg flap was prepared from left or right gluteal region.

The role of tilt training in preventing recurrent syncope in patients with vasovagal syncope: a prospective and randomized study.

Background: Recurrent vasovagal syncope (VVS) can be a severely disabling disorder that may lead to an important deterioration of quality of life because of the severity and recurrence of episodes. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of repeated orthostatic self-training in preventing syncope in patients with recurrent VVS.

Methods: Eighty-two consecutive patients (mean age 41 +/- 4 years, 37 males) with recurrent VVS episodes and positive head-up tilt testing (HUT) were enrolled in this study.

Haemorrhoidectomy with electrocautery or ultrashears and stapled haemorrhoidopexy.

Background: This study evaluated in a randomized, prospective manner the possible differences in operative time, postoperative pain and analgesic requirement, early complications, time off-work and patient satisfaction between patients undergoing haemorrhoidectomy using the electrocautery (ECH), UltraShears (ultrasonically activated scalpel; USH) or stapled haemorrhoidopexy (SH).

Methods: Patients with symptomatic third-degree or fourth-degree haemorrhoids were randomized into one of the three groups: ECH, SH (PPH stapler; Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH, USA) or USH groups. The operative times and complications, if any, were recorded.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy might lead to misdiagnosis of ischaemic heart disease.

Purpose: In this study, demographic, clinic, electrocardiographic and angiographic properties of patients, on whom coronary angiography was performed with the pre-diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and whose ventriculography demonstrated typical apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM), were investigated.

Methods: Seventeen patients (mean age 58 +/- 10 years, 10 male) with CAD pre-diagnosis, on whom coronary angiography was performed and had typical spade-like appearance on left ventriculography, were included in the study between January 2000 and May 2005.

Results: As risk factor for CAD, 8 (47%) patients had hypertension, 8 (47%) patients had dyslipidaemia, 2 (11%) patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus, 13 (77%) patients had a history of smoking, and 2 (11%) patients had family history.

Vascular endothelial functions, carotid intima-media thickness, and soluble CD40 ligand levels in dipper and nondipper essential hypertensive patients.

Objective: The lack of nocturnal decline in blood pressure (BP) is associated with an increase in cardiovascular events. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is involved in the pathogenesis of risk factor-related vascular damage. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vascular endothelial functions, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), plasma sCD40L levels and circadian BP profile in patients with essential hypertension.