High-dose acyclovir and pre-emptive ganciclovir in prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in pediatric patients following peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We evaluated high-dose acyclovir (HDACV) and pre-emptive ganciclovir to prevent CMV disease in 76 children who underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) and were at risk for CMV reactivation and disease (both recipient and donor seropositive) from May 1998 to April 2003. All received HDACV from day -9 to 6 months post transplant in conjunction with weekly CMV pp65 antigenemia monitoring.

The Arg753GLn polymorphism of the human toll-like receptor 2 gene in tuberculosis disease.

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), a member of the Toll-like receptor family, plays an important role in recognition of, and subsequent immune response activation against, mycobacteria. The genetic polymorphism of TLR2 (arginine to glutamine substitution at residue 753 (Arg753Gln)) has been associated with a negative influence on TLR2 function, which may, in turn, determine the innate host response to mycobacteria. The aim of the present study was to investigate the Arg753Gln single nucleotide polymorphism of the TLR2 gene in tuberculosis (TB) patients compared to healthy controls.

Dietary L-arginine restores aspirin-induced endothelial dysfunction in rat aorta.

L-Arginine induced elevation of the vascular prostanoid led us to think that the risk of coronary spasm may increase in L-arginine consumers when they are subjected to cyclooxygenase inhibitors and this limits the therapeutic value of aspirin. So the aim was to investigate the interaction of aspirin and dietary L-arginine in male rats. Animals were divided into four groups and fed with normal food.

The effects of citicoline and lamotrigine alone and in combination following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

The neuroprotective efficacies of citicoline and lamotrigine, alone and in combination, were investigated in experimental permanent focal ischemia. Seven groups of adult male rats underwent focal cerebral ischemia and were given the following treatments: placebo (P), low and high doses of citicoline (C250 and C500, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day i.p.

The effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of Escherichia coli peritonitis with or without ceftriaxone in a nonneutropenic rat model.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the treatment of Escherichia coli peritonitis with and without ceftriaxone in a nonneutropenic rat model.

Methods: The rats were divided into five groups: control group (C) receiving physiological saline; peritonitis group (P) infected intraperitoneally with a live bacterial suspension of E. coli; peritonitis and antibiotic group (PA) receiving ceftriaxone 3 h after being infected; peritonitis, antibiotic, and G-CSF group (PAG) receiving G-CSF and antibiotic 3 h after infection; and peritonitis and G-CSF group (PG).

Early postoperative pain management after thoracic surgery; pre- and postoperative versus postoperative epidural analgesia: a randomised study.

Objectives: Effective analgesia and blockade of the perioperative stress response may improve outcome and epidural analgesia plays a role in the reduction of pulmonary complications following thoracic surgery. In this study, we assessed preoperative and postoperative thoracic epidural analgesia (Preop-TEA and Postop-TEA) techniques on post-thoracotomy pain in 61 patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy.

Methods: A thoracic epidural catheter was inserted into all the patients before surgery.

Accident profile of older people in Antalya City Center, Turkey.

Accidents are major health problems leading to deaths and injuries among older people. The present study was performed to investigate the characteristics of the accidents experienced within the last 1 year in people aged 60 years and older living in Antalya City Center. The study was planned as a cross-sectional research.

The effect of body weight and weight loss on thyroid volume and function in obese women.

Objective: Thyroid volume and thyroid function may vary in obese and nonobese women. It is not known whether weight loss could affect thyroid volume and function in obese subjects.

Patients And Methods: The study population consisted of 98 premenopausal euthyroid obese [body mass index (BMI) = 30 kg/m2] women (mean age 40.

The inhibitory action of protamine on human internal thoracic artery contractions: the effect of free hemoglobin.

Objective: We investigated the mechanism of the protamine action and the effects of free hemoglobin on protamine-induced responses in endothelium-denuded and-intact human internal thoracic artery (ITA) rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PE) or high KCl.

Methods: Samples of redundant ITA obtained from patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft surgery were cut into 3 mm wide rings and suspended in 20 ml organ baths. Isometric tension was continuously measured with an isometric force transducer connected to a computer-based data acquisition system.

Operative management of substernal goiter: analysis of 52 patients.

Thyroid surgery for substernal goiter is an uncommon operation. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinical presentation, workup, surgical complications, and risk of malignancy for substernal goiter. From January 1995 to June 2001, 52 patients [27 men and 25 women (ratio, 1.

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents. Clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of 15 patients.

Background: Thyroid carcinoma in childhood and adolescence is uncommon and because of the slow progression of disease the standard treatment is controversial. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of treatment results for differentiated thyroid carcinoma in this age group treated in our clinic.

Materials And Methods: From August 1988 to February 2001, 15 patients between the ages of 8 and 21 years (average 16.

Late diagnosis of severe colchicine intoxication.

A 4-year-old Turkish girl was referred to our hospital with the findings of encephalopathy and pancytopenia. She had a history of severe abdominal cramps and gastrointestinal bleeding. A confused state, muscle pain and weakness, erythema-bullous and erythema-nodosum-like skin lesions, and alopecia were observed at her hospitalization.

IgG and IgG subclasses deficiency in children undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and its provocative factors.

Background: Low levels of serum IgG or IgG subclasses may be responsible for the defective peritoneal defense and for peritonitis attacks in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) children. Malnutrition, peritoneal loss or frequent peritonitis may lead to IgG or IgG subclasses deficiency.

Methods: Levels of IgG subclasses were determined in 12 children undergoing CAPD treatment.

Magnesium infusion reduces perioperative pain.

Background And Objective: Magnesium has antinociceptive effects in animal and human models of pain. These effects are primarily based on the regulation of calcium influx into the cell. The aim of this study was to determine whether perioperative infusion of magnesium would reduce postoperative pain and anxiety.

Effects of the temporary clipping in aneurysm surgery on the remnant.

The residual aneurysm rate is reported between 3,8% and 21% in the cases followed after intracranial aneurysm surgery. In the formation of the residual aneurysm, the risk factors include such structural characteristics as the size and lobulation of the aneurysm, posterior circulation, para-ophthalmic localisation and intra-operative rupture. The rates and causes of postoperative residual aneurysms were analyzed in 186 intracranial aneurysm of 160 patients, including the possible effects of temporary clipping on the residual rates.

Predictors of distant metastasis at presentation in breast cancer: a study also evaluating associations among common biological indicators.

Background: To investigate the correlation among some of the commonly used clinical, pathological factors and newer biological indicators, and to identify the independent predictors of distant metastasis at presentation in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: The pathological specimens from 73 patients with breast cancer were retrospectively evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Data on 13 biological indicators; ER, PR, P53, c-erbB-2, PCNA, CEA, Ki-67, Vimentin, Ulex, Nm23, Cathepsin D, Factor VIII, PS2 together with clinical and pathological factors were collected.

Does treatment delay affect survival in non-small cell lung cancer? A retrospective analysis from a single UK centre.

We analysed survival in relation both to time to treatment and other clinical parameters in the care pathway of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Medical notes of 189 patients diagnosed with NSCLC presenting in 1998 were reviewed. Median time to treatment in all patients was 48 days.

Vertebral pneumatocysts.

Objective: To review the prevalence and location of vertebral pneumatocysts and evaluate the CT findings of these benign lesions.

Material And Methods: Retrospectively we reviewed CT images of 89 patients with suspected disc disease during a 6-month period.

Results: Distinctive CT pattern of intraosseous pneumatocysts involving the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine was found.

Absence of the azygos vein.

A rare case of the absence of the azygos vein (AV) is presented. Imaging findings on plain chest film and on contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) are described, and embryology of azygos and hemiazygos veins (HV) is reviewed. On PA chest radiographs, both the absence of AV shadow on its usual location and the presence of the aortic nipple may consider agenesis of AV, and this anomaly can be easily confirmed by CT.

Intrapulmonary right brachiocephalic vein associated with azygos lobe.

A rare case of right brachiocephalic vein (RBV) following an extramediastinal and intrapulmonary course in the anterior portion of the azygos fissure is presented. The appearance of the RBV and superior vena cava (SVC) on the chest radiograph in patients with an azygos lobe reflects the variable relationship between these veins and their mediastinal attachments. Computed tomography (CT) can easily demonstrate the mediastinal vascular anatomy thereby allowing identification of such variants and differentiation from anomalous pulmonary veins draining into the systemic vein.

Red blood cell rheological alterations in hypertension induced by chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a major role in vascular regulation. Modulation of NO synthesis is known to influence blood pressure. Inhibition of NO synthesis by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 72 mg/kg/day, p.

Severe propafenone poisoning responded to temporary internal pacemaker.

We report a serious propafenone overdose which responded to a temporary pacemaker after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Serum prolactin levels in Behçet's disease.

Purpose: Evaluation of serum prolactin levels in Behçet's disease patients in Turkey.

Methods: Serum prolactin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 17 patients with ocular findings, and 20 patients without ocular findings of Behçet's disease, and in 17 healthy volunteers.

Results: The average prolactin levels were measured as 9.

Social class, income, education, area of residence and psychological distress: does social class have an independent effect on psychological distress in Antalya, Turkey?

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the separate effects of social class, income, education and area of residence on psychological distress. The study also assesses whether the association between prevalence of high score on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) and social class is independent of other variables.

Method: Psychological distress was assessed by means of the GHQ 12.