Idiopathic scrotal calcinosis: surgical treatment and histopathologic evaluation of etiology.

Patients with idiopathic scrotal calcinosis present with multiple, asymptomatic calcified nodules on the scrotum that appear in childhood or early adulthood. The scrotal skin can be extensively affected, and scrotal reconstruction with complicated procedures usually seems to be needed after excision. However, primary closure is usually achievable.

Anencephalic fetuses can be an alternative for kidney transplantation: a stereological and histological investigation.

In the study, stereological, histological, and anatomical techniques were used to investigate structural and morphometrical features of anencephalic and normal fetal kidneys. Twenty human fetal kidneys (5 male and 5 female anencephalic fetuses, and 5 male and 5 female normal fetuses) at gestational ages 30 to 35 weeks were examined. Our study used two basic research methods.

Effects of female sex hormones on caffeine-induced epileptiform activity in rats.

Research on female sex hormones has demonstrated that estrogen aggravates epileptogenesis. Theoretically, this means that the frequency of epileptic attacks should be decreased in epileptic women during menopause. However, although epilepsy attacks are reported to decrease in some women during menopause, they may not change in others.

A case of Horner's syndrome after the surgical treatment of pulmonary hydatid cyst.

We report a case of right-sided iatrogenic Horner's syndrome developed after surgical treatment for pulmonary hydatid cyst. This occurred in a 10 year old girl who had been diagnosed as having a ruptured lung hydatid cyst on the basis of clinical, radiological, serological, histopathological and perioperative findings. The patient underwent right thoracotomy and the cystotomy-capitonnage for the cyst.

Genetic relationships within and between Capsicum species.

Genetic relationships were estimated among 24 accessions belonging to 11 species of Capsicum, using 2,760 RAPD markers based on touch-down polymerase chain reactions (Td-RAPD-PCR). These markers were implemented in analyses of principal coordinates, unweighted pair group mean average, and 2,000 bootstrap replications. The accessions were divided into four groups, corresponding to previously described Capsicum complexes: C.

Effect of acute and chronic administration of progesterone, estrogen, FSH and LH on oxidant and antioxidant parameters in rat gastric tissue.

This study was conducted to investigate whether gastro-protective and gastro-toxic effects of acute and chronic administration of progesterone, estrogen, FSH and LH were related to oxidant and antioxidant parameters. Chronic administration of progesterone at a low dose (1mg/kg), which probably could not stimulate progesterone receptors (PRs), inhibited oxidative stress of FSH in gastric tissue by suppressing FSH. Progesterone (5mg/kg) may have been caused oxidative stress as reflected by PR stimulation.

[The opinions of Turkish physicians about the tasks of tuberculosis central dispensary].

Department of tuberculosis control is the main tuberculosis branch of Minister of Health, with coordinators in cities as intermediate departments and Tuberculosis Central Dispensaries (TCD) as peripheral branches. This study was performed through January-May 2007 in seven different geographical regions to figure out opinions of physicians on tuberculosis dispensaries. A specific questionnaire was distributed to doctors in two cities in each geographical region.

Exploring functional beta-cell heterogeneity in vivo using PSA-NCAM as a specific marker.

Background: The mass of pancreatic beta-cells varies according to increases in insulin demand. It is hypothesized that functionally heterogeneous beta-cell subpopulations take part in this process. Here we characterized two functionally distinct groups of beta-cells and investigated their physiological relevance in increased insulin demand conditions in rats.

Can left internal mammary artery side branches affect blood flow rate?

The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is the most commonly used arterial graft for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and occluding the LIMA side branches during surgery is important to avoid myocardial ischaemia afterwards. In this study we investigated the incidence of patent LIMA graft side branches in our coronary angiography series, and compared LIMA flow rate changes by means of the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count in patients with and without LIMA graft side branches. Patients with a history of CABG surgery and who were scheduled for coronary angiography in our centre between 1 January and 15 December 2006 were enrolled in the study.

Protective effects of erythropoietin on ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat ovary.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) as an antioxidant and tissue protective agent and study the biochemical and histopathological changes in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries.

Study Design: 36 Adult female rats were used. The experimental groups were designed as Group 1: sham operation; Group 2: bilateral ovarian ischemia; and Group 3: 3 h period of ischemia followed by 3 h reperfusion.

Role of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in anti-ulcer effect mechanism of estrogen and luteinising hormone on rats.

Objective: To evaluate anti-ulcer effect of estrogen and luteinising hormone (LH) on indomethacin-induced ulcer model in female rats.

Study Design: Ovariectomy in healthy adult famale rats. Acute administration of estradiol to ovariectomised rats.

Functional pancreatic beta-cell mass: involvement in type 2 diabetes and therapeutic intervention.

In the adult, the pancreatic beta-cell mass adapts insulin secretion to meet long-term changes in insulin demand and, in particular, in the presence of insulin resistance that is either physiological, such as pregnancy, or pathophysiological, such as obesity. The failure of beta cells to compensate for insulin resistance is a major component of impaired glucose homeostasis and overt diabetes. This defect is clearly the consequence of a decline of insulin response to glucose due to functional beta-cell deficiency.

Protective effects of telmisartan on ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat ovary: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of telmisartan as an antioxidant and for its tissue protective properties and to study the biochemical and histopathologic changes in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion injuries in rat ovaries.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Experimental surgery laboratory in a university department.

The relationship between nicotine dependence level and community-acquired pneumonia in young soldiers: a case control study.

Objective: Smoking is an important risk factor in the development of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study was designed to investigate the relationship between nicotine dependence level and the development of CAP.

Materials And Methods: The Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND) was performed to measure nicotine dependence level (NDL).

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species are obligatory signals for glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Objective: Insulin secretion involves complex events in which the mitochondria play a pivotal role in the generation of signals that couple glucose detection to insulin secretion. Studies on the mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generally focus on chronic nutrient exposure. Here, we investigate whether transient mitochondrial ROS production linked to glucose-induced increased respiration might act as a signal for monitoring insulin secretion.

Echocardiographic Predictors of Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation In Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis and Normal Sinus Rhythm.

Unlabelled: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS) increases the risk of both atrial fibrillation (AF) and thromboembolism. Patients with mitral stenosis and normal sinus rhythm were enrolled in the study prospectively.The present study was designed to study whether echocardiographic evaluation in patients with mitral stenosis and normal sinus rhythm could predict the occurrence of symptomatic AF .

Ophthalmic manifestations of 107 cases with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count syndrome.

Objective: To present various ophthalmologic disorders in a clinical series of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome cases.

Methods: This is a prospective clinical study performed between 2002 and 2005. One hundred seven HELLP patients attended in either Departments of Ophthalmology or Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey were evaluated.

Marjolin ulcer of the scalp: intruder of a burn scar.

Childhood burn accidents are still a problem all over the world. Besides the contractures and hypertrophic scar conditions, malignant transformation in the burn scar is one of the primary concerns later in adulthood. Marjolin ulcer, commonly seen after burn scar, is a neoplastic change in the scar tissue.

The informed consent status for surgery patients in eastern Turkey: a cross-sectional study.

This study assesses the quality of the informed consent process and satisfaction with the informed consent process, for surgery patients in Turkey. Four hundred and eighty three patients were interviewed after their surgeries. More than half of the patients were satisfied with the information on eight issues that pertained to the informed consent process.

Effect of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking waters on the QT interval and transmural dispersion of repolarization.

This study investigated the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on QT- and QTc-interval prolongation, QTc dispersion (QTcd) and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR). We compared cardiac parameters from 40 male subjects chronically exposed to arsenic (group A) with those of 40 male subjects not exposed to arsenic (group B). Although subjects in both groups had non-corrected QT intervals within normal limits, subjects in group A had significantly longer QTc and QTcd intervals compared with group B.

Oxidative stress contributes to aging by enhancing pancreatic angiogenesis and insulin signaling.

JunD, a transcription factor of the AP-1 family, protects cells against oxidative stress. Here, we show that junD(-/-) mice exhibit features of premature aging and shortened life span. They also display persistent hypoglycemia due to enhanced insulin secretion.

Does the copper intrauterine device affect serum cancer antigen 125 levels?

Purpose: This study aimed to reveal the effect of the copper IUD, if any, on serum CA-125 levels in patients who use the device as a contraceptive.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained two times from 20 healthy volunteers before and after IUD insertion, and sera were isolated. The sera, centrifuged at 2000 G and kept at -70 degrees C in a deep freezer until analyzed, were processed for CA-125 levels by the CA-125 kit using VIDAS PC analyzer (Biomerieux, France) and results were compared.