A new approach for preparing a controlled release ketoprofen tablets by using beeswax.

Solid lipid ketoprofen micropellets (SLKM) at different drug/beeswax ratios [(1:1) and (1:2)] were prepared by emulsion congealing technique and then compressed into tablets. Ketoprofen in solid state was incorporated into the melted beeswax at 90 degrees C and the mixture was emulsified in the hot aqueous Tween 80 solution by stirring at a constant rate. The SLKM were obtained by cooling the coarse emulsion down to room temperature and filtering.

Quadricuspid aortic valve: a chance for repair.

Quadricuspid aortic valve is an uncommon congenital anomaly that often causes aortic regurgitation in adulthood, necessitating valve replacement. A 54-year-old woman presented with symptoms and signs of aortic regurgitation, but during surgery a quadricuspid aortic valve was identified. The abnormal cusp was fibrotic, short, thick, and fenestrated.

Magnesium decreases cardiac injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: The calcium-channel blocking effect of magnesium might have protective effects in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. We assessed the effects of magnesium on hearts undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with intermittent warm blood hyperkalemic cardioplegia in the antegrade fashion.

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were randomly divided into two groups, a control group who received intermittent antegrade warm blood hyperkalemic cardioplegia for myocardial protection, and a study group who received the same solution with the addition of magnesium to the cardioplegia.

Laryngotracheal reconstruction with a muscle-pedicle hyoid bone flap: a series of 23 patients.

We conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of muscle-pedicle hyoid bone flaps in the repair and reconstruction of the larynx and trachea in 23 patients who had undergone extended partial laryngectomy. Of this group, 17 patients had undergone surgery to correct laryngotracheal stenosis and 6 to remove laryngeal carcinoma. Intervention resulted in successful decannulation in 20 of the 23 patients (87.

The cell graphs of cancer.

We report a novel, proof-of-concept, computational method that models a type of brain cancer (glioma) only by using the topological properties of its cells in the tissue image. From low-magnification (80x) tissue images of 384 x 384 pixels, we construct the graphs of the cells based on the locations of the cells within the images. We generate such cell graphs of 1000-3000 cells (nodes) with 2000-10,000 links, each of which is calculated as a decaying exponential function of the Euclidean distance between every pair of cells in accordance with the Waxman model.

Influence of surfactants on the physical stability of solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulations.

The choice of surfactant or surfactant mixtures at suitable concentrations contributes to the stability of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). In this study, it was found that 1.5% TegoCare 450 was the most effective stabilizer for the Witepsol E85 SLN dispersion compared to Tween 80, Tyloxapol and Pluronic F68 according to the data obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), zeta potential (ZP) measurements and particle size analysis.

The effect of taurine treatment on oxidative stress in experimental liver fibrosis.

Oxidative stress is important in pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, which is the result of deposition of excessive ECM proteins produced by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production decreases collagen accumulation in liver. We investigated the benefits of antioxidant therapy in liver fibrosis and its association with HSC apoptosis.

Partial regeneration/proliferation of the beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans by Nigella sativa L. in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of N. sativa L. on histopathology of pancreatic beta-cells, and blood insulin and glucose concentrations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

High ligation to treat pain in varicocele.

Purpose: There are limited data about the effectiveness of surgery in patients with painful varicocele. We report a retrospective study done for the follow up on all varicocele high ligations performed for pain to evaluate the effectiveness of the operations.

Materials And Methods: The patients who were all physically active workers and who underwent high inguinal ligation of varicocele for pain from January 1995 to January 2000, were invited for interviews.

Is late antibiotic prophylaxis effective in the prevention of secondary pancreatic infection?

Background: Secondary infection of the inflamed pancreas is the principal cause of death after severe acute pancreatitis (AP). Although patients are not always managed early in the course of AP in clinical practice, prophylactic antibiotics that were used in experimental studies in rats were always initiated early after induction of pancreatitis. The effectiveness of antibiotics initiated later is unknown.

Arteriovenous malformation of the maxillary sinus and mandible: a case report.

Vascular tumors are rarely encountered in the paranasal sinuses. When they do arise there, they can be life-threatening because of the risk of bleeding. Embolization alone and in combination with surgical resection has been the mainstay of treatment.

Hemangioendothelioma of the frontal bone in a child.

Hemangioendothelioma is a vascular tumor of endothelial cell origin. It may involve bone or soft tissues and can behave like a benign or malignant tumor. In the literature, there are several case reports on the involvement of the head and neck region, but involvement of the frontal bone is extremely rare.

The role of Urtica dioica and Nigella sativa in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The role of Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) (NS) and Urtica dioica L. was investigated (UD) in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Event-related potentials and neuropsychological tests in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: Previous studies have provided evidence from event-related potentials (ERPs) and neuropsychological testing of abnormal cognitive processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of this study was to further characterize the cognitive functions of the patients with OCD by utilizing ERPs and neuropsychological tests.

Methods: ERPs were recorded in a group of 31 drug-free OCD patients without depression and 30 normal controls following verbal auditory stimuli using an oddball paradigm.

Effect of vehicles and penetration enhancers on the in vitro percutaneous absorption of celecoxib through human skin.

The aim of this study was the comparison of three different formulations (gel, o/w emulsion, oleagenous cream) and two penetration enhancers (oleic acid and menthol) as vehicle systems for celecoxib in respect of release and penetration through excised human skin in vitro. The influence of the vehicle on the release rate was studied in vitro using a cellulose acetate membrane. The release rate could be increased by up to 6.

Bacterial colonization of double J stents and bacteriuria frequency.

Aim: Stents and catheters are widely used in urology. In our study the frequency of double J stent (DJS) colonization and stent associated bacteriuria is investigated.

Materials And Methods: Between June 2000-April 2001, 61 patients (17-72 years old) to whom DJ stenting was done (5 of them bilateral) were included in this study.

Importance of using solid lipid microspheres as carriers for UV filters on the example octyl methoxy cinnamate.

The aim of this study was to prepare solid lipid microspheres (SLM) of octyl methoxy cinnamate (2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxy cinnamate; OMC) to achieve controlled release, decrease penetration of this UV absorber from skin and improve its photostability. The influence of the carrier on the rate of release was studied in vitro with a cellulose acetate membrane and in vivo from excised rat skin with Franz diffusion cells. The release rate was decreased by up to 13-80% with the SLM formulation.

The effect of antibiotic and probiotic combination therapy on secondary pancreatic infections and oxidative stress parameters in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Introduction: Ciprofloxacin and meropenem have effects on intestinal bacteria that are responsible for pancreatic infection, and on the basis of recent data it has been argued that probiotics, especially those used in the food industry, could improve efforts to prevent and treat secondary pancreatic infections by inhibiting bacterial translocation.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of probiotic treatment alone or in combination with early administration of two different antibiotics on serum amylase, pancreatic histopathology, bacterial translocation, and oxidative markers.

Methodology: Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats with 3% sodium taurocholate (1 mL/kg intraductally), except in group VI (sham group).

Giant benign fibrous tumor of the pleura in a pregnant woman: report of a case.

While most pleural neoplasms are malignant and associated with asbestos exposure, benign tumors may also occur. Benign fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare and, unless diagnosed and resected early, they may reach an enormous size and cause severe symptoms. We report the case of a pregnant woman with a giant benign fibrous tumor localized in the pleura.

Giant frontoethmoid mucocele with intracranial extension: case report.

We report the case of a 31-year-old woman who came to us with a giant frontoethmoid mass that had extended into the intracranial region and invaded the left orbit. We removed the lesion in its entirety via a combined intranasal and transcranial approach. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different surgical approaches, and we explain why we recommend a combined approach for the type of giant lesion that we encountered.

Examination of the variations of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves: report of two cases.

The origins, courses and relations of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves (LFCNs) were examined bilaterally in 28 cadavers, and the variations were observed in two. On the right side of one cadaver, the ventral rami of the first and second lumbar spinal nerves were united and then this nerve was divided into four branches. From medial to lateral, these branches were the obturator nerve, the femoral nerve, the medially located LFCN and the laterally located LFCN.

Activity concentration of caesium-137 in agricultural soils.

In this study, we measured 137Cs activity concentrations in the soil samples taken from agricultural lands in the Buyuk Menderes Basin in Turkey in 1997 and 1998. The soil samples were collected from 42 sites in this Basin. The activity concentration of 137Cs was found to range between 2.