Up-regulation of TGM2 with ITGB1 and SDC4 is important in the development and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: Tissue transglutaminase (TGM2) up-regulation is involved in the progression and dissemination of carcinomas through β1 integrin (ITGB1) association. Given that TGM2 interaction with syndecan-4 (SDC4) on the cell surface is important in the activation of ITGB1 and integrin-mediated survival signaling, we investigated the roles of TGM2, ITGB1, and SDC4 in the development and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Material And Methods: Expression levels of TGM2, ITGB1, and SDC4 mRNA were analyzed in primary tumor samples (n = 95) and their healthy counterparts in addition to control and RCC epithelial cell lines.

The influence of dietary α-solanine on the waxmoth Galleria mellonella L.

Plant allelochemicals are nonnutritional chemicals that interfere with the biology of herbivores. We posed the hypothesis that ingestion of a glycoalkaloid allelochemical, α-solanine, impairs biological parameters of greater wax moths Galleria mellonella. To test this idea, we reared wax moths on artificial diets with 0.

Effect of boric acid on antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, and ultrastructure of midgut and fat body of Galleria mellonella.

Boric acid is widely used as an insecticide, acaricide, herbicide, and fungicide and also during various industrial processings. Hence, numerous populations are subjects to this toxic compound. Its action on animals is still not fully known and understood.

Comparison of flexible and rigid cystoscopy-assisted ureteral catheter insertion before percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective randomized trial.

Background And Purpose: To compare the advantages of flexible and rigid cystoscopy-assisted ureteral catheter placement before prone percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Patients And Methods: From March to September 2012, a total of 80 patients with kidney stones underwent PCNL by the same surgical team. The patients were randomly assigned into one of the groups according to the technique used for ureteral catheter insertion: Flexible cystoscopy (group 1, n=40) or rigid cystoscopy (group 2, n=40).

Effect of propofol versus sodium thiopental on electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive disorder: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: To compare propofol and sodium thiopental as anesthetic agents for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in major depression with respect to clinical effect.

Methods: Participants were composed of 96 patients with depression who were administered either propofol or sodium thiopental as an anesthetic agent for bilateral ECT. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was administered at baseline and after 6 treatments.

Genotoxic and anti-genotoxic effects of vanillic acid against mitomycin C-induced genomic damage in human lymphocytes in vitro.

Vanillic acid, a vegetable phenolic compound, is a strong antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to determine its effects on mitomycin C-induced DNA damage in human blood lymphocyte cultures in vitro, both alone and in combination with mitomycin C (MMC). The cytokinesis block micronucleus test and alkaline comet assay were used to determine genotoxic damage and anti-genotoxic effects of vanillic acid at the DNA and chromosome levels.

Micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy in the treatment of moderate-size renal calculi.

Purpose: We present our initial experience with microperc in patients with moderate-size renal calculi.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 30 patients (male 14, female 16) with moderate-size (1-3 cm) kidney stones who underwent microperc between August 2011 and July 2012 was performed. The demographic values, perioperative and postoperative measures including age, stone size and location, body mass index, operative and fluoroscopy time, hemoglobin decrease, success and complication rates were prospectively recorded into a patient entry system.

Focal cemento-osseous dysplasia of mandible.

Fibro-osseous lesions are disturbances in bone metabolism in which normal bone is replaced by a connective tissue matrix that then gradually develops into cemento-osseous tissue. Typically, the lesion is asymptomatic and is detected on routine radiographic examination. Radiologically, this lesion has three stages of maturation: pure radiolucent, radiopaque/mixed radiolucent, and radiopaque appearance.

NLF2 gene expression in the endometrium of patients with implantation failure after IVF treatment.

The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), microfibril-associated protein 5 (MFAP5) and nuclear localized factor 2 (NLF2) genes in patients with repeated IVF failure and compare with fertile population. Total RNA was isolated from 38 patients (repeated implantation failure, group 1, n=22; fertile patients, group 2, n=16). mRNA expression levels were measured quantitatively using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The role of microperc in the treatment of symptomatic lower pole renal calculi.

Background And Purpose: The treatment of symptomatic lower pole (LP) calculi poses a challenge because of lower clearance rates. We present our experience with microperc in the treatment of LP renal calculi.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the symptomatic patients with LP renal calculi who underwent microperc between August 2011 and June 2012 from two referral hospitals.

Is fluoroscopic imaging mandatory for endoscopic treatment of ureteral stones?

Objective: To present the feasibility and safety of fluoro-less endoscopic treatment of ureteral stones to diminish radiation exposure of the patient and operating team, and to determine circumstances where a fluoroscopic imaging is mandatory.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2011, 93 patients with ureteral calculi who underwent ureteroscopic treatment by experienced urologists were retrospectively evaluated. Manipulations, such as guidewire, ureteral stent insertion, and balloon dilatation were performed with visual and tactile cues.

A new method to estimate dental age.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Demirjian's method in estimating the dental age in Turkish children and to estimate the validity of Demirjian's standards for the studied population.

Materials And Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 756 northwestern Turkish children aged 5-13 years were examined. The new method for dental age estimation for both genders was studied to determine the relationship between dental age, chronological age and Demirjian's scores.

Reconstruction of distal urethral strictures confined to the glans with circular buccal mucosa graft.

Objective: To report our results with 1-stage reconstruction in short distal urethral strictures using circular buccal mucosa graft (cBMG).

Methods: The data of 19 patients (median age 41.8 years, range 25-58) operated between 2001 and 2010 were reviewed.

Demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic features in patients with narcolepsy: an experience of 181 patients with narcolepsy from a Turkish sleep center.

The present study was designed to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic features of patients diagnosed with narcolepsy in our sleep center. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 181 patients diagnosed with narcolepsy based on the results of clinical evaluation, polysomnography (PSG), and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) between 1993 and 2009. Approximately 70% of the patients had cataplexy, whereas 42% had hallucinations and 55.

[Event-related potentials in major depressive disorder: the relationship between P300 and treatment response].

Objective: Although conflicting results have been obtained regarding P300 amplitude and latency in major depressive patients, most studies have reported that major depressive patients have smaller P300 amplitudes and longer latencies than healthy people. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between P300 and treatment response in major depressive disorder patients.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients suffering from major depression who completed 12 weeks of follow-up appointments and 28 healthy people, whose age and gender were matched with patients, were included in the study.

Impact of percutaneous renal access technique on outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Background And Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is regarded as the gold standard for the treatment of patients with renal stones larger than 2 cm in diameter. Creating a percutaneous renal access is the initial and probably the most important step in performing a PCNL. Two primary methods of obtaining proper percutaneous renal access under fluoroscopic guidance are described: The "triangulation" and the "eye of the needle" techniques.

Oral and maxillofacial considerations in Gardner's Syndrome.

Gardner's Syndrome is a variant of familial adenomatosis polyposis (FAP) with a triad consisting of polyps of the colon, multiple osteomas and surface tumors of soft and hard tissue. The intestinal polyps have a %100 risk of undergoing malignant transformation, therefore early identification of this disease is very important. There are several symptoms of Gardner's syndrome in the oral and maxillofacial surgery, which can be discovered during routine dental examination.

Unusual presentation of neurobrucellosis: a solitary intracranial mass lesion mimicking a cerebral tumor : a case of encephalitis caused by Brucella melitensis.

Among the diverse presentations of neurobrucellosis, solitary intracranial mass lesions are extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, we describe here the second case of neurobrucellosis mimicking a cerebral tumor caused by Brucella melitensis. The mass lesion was clinically and radiologically indistinguishable from a brain tumor.

Intraarticular Hyaluronic Acid Injection after Microfracture Technique for the Management of Full-Thickness Cartilage Defects Does Not Improve the Quality of Repair Tissue.

Objective: Tissue repair that occurs after microfracture does not include hyaline-like cartilage. Therefore, other treatment modalities must be combined with microfracture to improve repair tissue quality. In this study, we combined exogenous hyaluronic acid with microfracture.

Use of cone-beam computerized tomography for evaluation of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws in an experimental rat model.

Background: Bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ) is a frequently reported complication. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological presentation of BONJ with the Hounsfield score and to evaluate the reliability of the score for determining necrosis in an animal model.

Material/methods: Eighty rats were prospectively and randomly divided into two groups of 40 each: a control group and an experimental group.

A rare renal epithelial tumor: mucinous cystadenocarcinoma case report and review of the literature.

Primary renal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is a very rare lesion of kidney which originates from the metaplasia of the renal pelvic uroepithelium. Only one case with primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma has been reported in the English literature. We report second case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma which was radiologically classified as type-IIF Bosniak cyst in peripheral localization.

Evaluation of light-emitting diode (LED-660 nm) application over primary osteoblast-like cells on titanium surfaces: an in vitro study.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the behavior of neonatal rat calvarial osteoblast-like cells cultured on different implant surfaces and exposed once or three times to a 660-nm light-emitting diode (LED).

Methods: An LED with a 660-nm wavelength was applied once or three times to cultured cells on standard and modified sandblasted acid-etched surfaces (SLA and SLActive; Straumann, Basel, Switzerland). To analyze the effect of the LED on cell proliferation, numbers, and viability, cells were cultured on titanium discs, and measurements were taken after 72 h.