The effect of octreotide on healing of injured colonic anastomosis with immediate postoperative intraperitoneal administration of 5-Fluorouracil.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effect of octreotide on side effects of immediate usage of 5-fluorouracil after colonic anastomosis.

Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups and underwent standardized left colonic anastomosis. The rats served as control or received intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil (20 mg/kg daily), subcutaneous octreotide (20 mug/kg daily), or both.

Relationship between airway colonization, inflammation and exacerbation frequency in COPD.

Rationale: To evaluate bacterial colonization and the airway inflammatory response, and its relationship to the frequency of exacerbation in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Quantitative bacteriologic cultures, neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-8 were measured in bronchoalveoler lavage (BAL) in 39 patients with stable COPD [19 with frequent exacerbation (> or = 3/year), and 20 with infrequent] and in 18 healthy controls (10 smokers and 8 non-smokers).

Results: BAL revealed the microorganisms with potential pathogenicity above the established threshold (> or = 10(3)cfu/ml) in 68.

Roles of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and fibronectin in an experimental peripheral nerve ischemia-reperfusion model.

Although there are many studies of the neuropathology of the ischemic degeneration of peripheral nerves, the pathogenesis is not well-understood. The roles of several biomolecules on this process were previously reported. An adhesion molecule, fibronectin, which is applied locally (as a conduit material), is very effective in nerve recovery.

The effect of circulating nitric oxide level on axial bone mineral density in postmenopausal Turkish women with rheumatoid arthritis: A preliminary report.

The aim is to investigate the differences in the circulating nitric oxide (NO) levels of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, healthy controls and osteoporotic (OP) patients. We also examined whether the circulating NO levels may be correlated with bone mineral density (BMD) in RA patients. Forty-five patients with RA, 30 healthy women and 30 osteoporotic patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic.

Is there a role of free oxygen radicals in primary male osteoporosis?

Objective: There is not enough evidence about the relationship between free radicals and male osteoporosis. In this study we investigated the role of free oxygen radicals and antioxidants on male osteoporosis in 31 male patients with primary osteoporosis and 21 subjects as controls.

Methods: Bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar and femoral neck region were evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorbsiometry.

Effects of trapidil after crush injury in peripheral nerve.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of trapidil on crush injury by monitoring nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and transforming growth factor-Beta2 levels and by transmission electron microscopy in the rat sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve was compressed for 20 sec by using a jewelers forceps. Trapidil treatment groups were administrated a single dose of trapidil (8 mg/kg) intraperitoneally just after the injury.

CT in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural disease.

Background: CT plays a valuable role in assessment of patients with a wide variety of diseases of the pleura, and pulmonologists should be aware of the significance of different CT findings for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural diseases.

Methods: 155 patients with pleural disease who had undergone CT scans of the lungs and thorax before treatment were enrolled. We retrospectively reviewed CT findings in 146 patients with proven pleural disease.

Successful treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in an immunocompetent host.

Immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to pulmonary Aspergillus infection, but invasive Aspergillus infection is extremely rare in the presence of normal immunity. A case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in an immunocompetent 57-year-old female who was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin-B is reported here.

Hemoglobin screening in prospective blood donors: comparison of different blood samples and different quantitative methods.

Portable photometers are increasingly used for hemoglobin screening in blood centers. In a total of 500 unselected prospective blood donors, venous hemoglobin concentrations were measured using a hematology analyzer, and fingerstick hemoglobin concentrations were measured on both a HemoCue B and a Biotest hemoglobin photometer. In 100 of the donors, earstick hemoglobin levels were also measured on the HemoCue system.

The urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and plasma nitric oxide levels in irritable bowel syndrome: a preliminary study.

Background And Aims: Postprandial increase of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been implicated in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There is evidence that nitric oxide (NO) may act as a mediator of 5-HT-evoked secretions in the colon. Our aim is to investigate the role of urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) and plasma NO levels (with diarrhoea) in IBS patients.

The relationship between patient stress and the blood levels of acute phase proteins in rhinoplasty: the report of a prospective study.

Objective: This study aims to interrogate the relationship between patient stress and the levels of acute phase proteins (APP) in rhinoplasty.

Methods: Twenty-six primary rhinoplasty patients were asked about the most stressful step of the rhinoplasty process, which were (1) deciding on the operation, (2) waiting in the preoperative room, (3) the first few postoperative hours, and (4) withdrawing the nasal pack, in order beginning from the most stressful one, preoperatively, and then postoperatively. C-reactive protein (CRP), alfa-1-acide glycoprotein (AAG), ceruloplasmin (CER), haptoglobulin (HPT), and alfa-1-antitrypsin (AT) have been studied in blood to detect a relation between the patient stress and the levels of APP.

The diagnostic importance of prolactin subgroups in patients with stalk mass.

In some situations, the identification of subgroups of patients with elevated serum prolactin (PRL) levels on the basis of different forms of PRL present in the blood, may be complementary to generally accepted and performed biochemical and radiological examinations in addition to a thorough clinical evaluation. Further analysis of elevated PRL subgroups is advisable especially for cases lacking the signs of amenorrhea and galactorea harboring a space occupying lesion in the sellar region. We present the case report of a patient with a high ratio of macroprolactin with regard to total serum PRL harboring a radiologically confirmed stalk mass lesion.

Effects of triazolopyrimidine on lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels in the corticosteroid-impaired healing of rat tracheal anastomoses.

Corticosteroids are used to reduce the oedema and prevent scar tissue formation of the upper airways by their ability to inhibit influx of inflammatory cells, limit capillary permeability and block collagen synthesis in the early stages of wound healing. Triazolopyrimidine (Trapidil) is an antiplatelet agent that acts in part as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and as a competitive inhibitor of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor. Trapidil, with its vasodilator and NO releasing effect may have some potential to diminish the tissue injury.

Protective effect of L-carnitine on renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of L-carnitine in ischaemia and reperfusion of the rat kidney. Rats were randomly allocated into three groups. Group I (control group; n = 6) received no treatment.

Elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels in coronary sinus during rapid right atrial pacing in patients with slow coronary flow.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether there was an imbalance between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NOx) release and diffuse atherosclerotic changes existed in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF). Baseline and post-atrial pacing coronary sinus ET-1 and NOx levels were measured in 19 patients with SCF (11 female, 56 +/- 9 years) and in 14 control subjects (nine female, 54 +/- 7 years). All patients underwent subsequent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) investigation at the same setting with right atrial pacing.

Effects of atrial pacing on coronary sinus endothelin-1 and nitric oxide levels in patients with myocardial bridging.

Myocardial bridging (MB) is associated with clinical and metabolic evidence of ischaemia. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the extent of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with MB. The study population consisted of 15 patients with MB [9 women (60%), aged 56 +/- 9 years] and 14 control subjects [8 women (57%), aged 54 +/- 10 years].

Fibronectin levels in chronic viral hepatitis and response of this protein to interferon therapy.

Background/aims: In this study, the plasma fibronectin levels in the cases of chronic hepatitis B and C infection and this protein's response to the interferon therapy were examined.

Methodology: Totally, 38 patients with chronic hepatitis, 21 of them being hepatitis B, 17 of them being hepatitis C; and 24 healthy blood donors, as the control group, took part in this study. The quantitative determinations of fibronectin in plasma samples were performed with the Bohring Nephelometer BN 100 (N Antiserum to Human Fibronectin, code no OUND, Dade Behring Marburg GmbH, Marburg Germany).

Prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix and have an important role in tumour metastases. We investigated the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The serum samples of patients with HD (n = 12), NHL (n = 30) and healthy control (n = 22) were analysed for MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide concentrations and their response to exercise in patients with slow coronary flow.

In this study, the endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in slow coronary flow (SCF) patients were assessed before and at the peak of the exercise stress test and compared with the values from healthy controls. The study population was 25 patients who underwent coronary angiography and were diagnosed as SCF (11 females (44%), aged 56.7+/-9.

Effects of trapidil on the healing of colonic anastomoses in an experimental rat model.

Background: Trapidil has various properties including vasodilatation, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and platelet aggregation as well as, and reduction of, the inflammatory response to injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of trapidil on dexamethasone-impaired colonic anastomotic healing in an experimental rat model.

Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats underwent colonic transsection and primary anastomosis.

The effect of alprostadil on ischemia-reperfusion injury of peripheral nerve in rats.

Objective: To determine the effect of alprostadil on the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the sciatic nerve in rats.

Materials And Methods: Pre-reperfusion administration of alprostadil (0.05 microg kg(-1)) was assessed in the I/R injury model of the rat sciatic nerve.

The effect of L-carnitine on the prevention of experimentally induced myringosclerosis in rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effect of L-carnitine on the prevention of experimentally induced myringosclerosis. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally myringotomized. The rats were divided into two groups randomly: group 1 which were intraperitoneally administered saline and group 2 which were intraperitoneally administered L-carnitine.

Elevation of procalcitonin level in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and in medical staff with close patient contact.

Background: Several studies have shown that serum procalcitonin levels increase conspicuously in acute and systemic inflammatory diseases. However, there is insufficient information concerning its activity in chronic infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. In this study, we aimed to assess serum level of procalcitonin in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and in medical staff at high risk due to close patient contact (high-risk staff).

Bronchoscopy induces intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction: a possible role for nitric oxide.

Objective: This study investigates the effect of bronchoscopy on intestinal mucosal barrier function and its association with intestinal nitric oxide production.

Methods: 30 rats were used. The study group (n=15) underwent rigid bronchoscopy.