Is quantitative diffusion-weighted MRI a valuable technique for the detection of changes in kidneys after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability and the reliability of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the changes of kidneys occurring after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment for renal stones.

Materials And Methods: A total of 32 patients who underwent ESWL treatment for renal stone disease between June and December 2011 were enrolled in this prospective study. Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and DWI were performed before and within 24 hours after ESWL.

Biliopancreatic duct injection of ethanol as an experimental model of acute and chronic pancreatitis in rats.

In the present study, we described an easily reproducable experimental pancreatits model induced by biliopancreatic duct injection of ethyl alcohol. Seventy Wistar albino rats were divided equally into seven groups randomly: the control group (group 1), acute pancreatitis groups; induced by 20% ethanol (group 2), 48% ethanol (group 3), 80% ethanol (group 4), chronic pancreatitis groups; induced by 20% ethanol (group 5), 48% ethanol (group 6) and by 80% ethanol (group 7). Acute pancreatitis groups were sacrified on postoperative day 3, while the control group and chronic pancreatitis groups were killed on postoperative day 7.

Supra- and infra-torcular double occipital encephalocele.

An encephalocele is a protrusion of the brain and/or meninges through a defect in the skull that is closed or covered with skin. Occipital encephaloceles are the most frequent type in North America and Western Europe, where about 85% of encephaloceles take this form. To the best of our knowledge, there are only three other reported cases of double occipital encephaloceles in the literature.

Our experience in chordee without hypospadias: results of 102 cases.

Purpose: We present long-term surgical experience of 102 chordee without hypospadias cases.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 102 chordee without hypospadias cases who were surgically treated between 1999 and 2012. Range of patients' age was from 1 month to 31 years.

Relationship between the two surgical access of aortoiliac occlusive disease and recovery of ED.

Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) can occur anywhere from the distal abdominal aorta to the common femoral arteries. Patients with AIOD may be asymptomatic or may have intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia. ED in the young males may be the first symptom of aortoiliac disease.

Coagulation parameters in inflammatory bowel disease.

Thromboembolic events represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and they may occur both at the gastrointestinal tract and at extraintestinal sites. This study aimed to examine the alterations in coagulation parameters involved at different steps of hemostasis in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, in comparison with healthy individuals. Fifty-one patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 26 healthy controls were included in this study.

Hemostatic efficacy of a traditional medicinal plant extract (Ankaferd Blood Stopper) in bleeding control.

The aim of this study is to assess the in vivo hemostatic effect of Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) on rats using a tail bleeding model. Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups of 9 each: group 1, control, no pretreatment, irrigated with saline; group 2, no pretreatment, irrigated with ABS; group 3, control, heparin pretreatment, irrigated with saline; and group 4, heparin pretreatment, irrigated with ABS. To control bleeding, compressive dressings were placed after instilling 1 mL of either ABS or saline to the bleeding area.

The complementary benefit of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) assessment in the pre- and postsurgical management of full-thickness corneal grafts.

Methods: Seventy eyes of 58 patients who had penetrating keratoplasty were included in the study. High resolution AS-OCT scans of the cornea and the anterior segment were performed before and after transplantation in 17 eyes with the Visante™ optical coherence tomography.

A new arthroscopic technique for lateral parameniscal cyst decompression.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe an arthroscopic technique for lateral parameniscal cyst (LPC) decompression with preservation of meniscal substance and to report the short- to mid-term outcome of 20 patients.

Methods: All patients underwent a complete physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee prior to surgery. After arthroscopic diagnosis of a LPC, partial lateral meniscectomy was performed via anterolateral (AL) and anteromedial (AM) portals.

The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period.

Background: In pregnancy, increased numbers of hair follicles remain in the anagen phase for longer periods due to hormonal changes and return to the telogen phase within 3-6 months of delivery with a sudden drop in hormone levels. This results in excessive shedding of hair known as post-partum telogen effluvium.

Objective: To determine the changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period.

Increased noradrenaline levels in the rostral pons can be reversed by M1 antagonist in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and noradrenergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic systems are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder. The effect of selective M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist, pirenzepine on anxiety indices was investigated by using elevated plus maze, following exposure to trauma reminder. Upon receiving the approval of ethics committee, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to dirty cat litter (trauma) for 10 min and 1 week later, the rats confronted to a trauma reminder (clean litter).

Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, lipid profile, and oxidative damage in experimental ischemic colitis model.

Objective. In the present study, since PON1 is known as an HDL-associated antioxidant enzyme that inhibits the oxidative modification of LDL and oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of mesenteric ischemia, we investigated the changes in PON1 activity and lipid profile in an experimental ischemic colitis model. Methods.

Darbepoetin α ameliorates neuronal damage in a rat model of acute ethanol intoxication.

Objective: Acute ethanol intoxication has been shown to cause oxidative damage in many organ systems including the brain. Erythropoietin has antioxidant effects and prevents neuronal damage in the animal model of ischemic brain injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of darbepoetin alpha, an analog of erythropoietin with a longer half-life and higher in vivo activity, on ethanol-induced acute brain injury.

Flow cytometric detection of anti-AB antibody titers in blood group O recipients of blood group A2 donor kidneys.

Aim: ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation has been accepted for end-stage renal failure patients who have no ready opportunity for a deceased or living donor. Antibody titration for ABO-incompatible renal transplantation is not only difficult but also lacks conformity among laboratories. Herein we analyzed 20 living related renal transplant couples to detect recipient anti-A2 antibody using flow cytometric analysis.

The impact of C4d staining as a humoral injury marker.

Purpose: Acute and chronic humoral injuries in renal transplant recipients are the main reasons for graft rejection and failure. Histological and clinical characteristics of humoral rejection and symptoms are variable and not always helpful for differential diagnosis. Clinical monitoring of the allograft, an elevated serum panel-reactive antibody (PRA), and the presence of donor-specific antibody (DSA) during immune monitoring as well as C4d staining of biopsy material can establish the differential diagnosis.

Serum flow cytometric C1q binding antibody analysis of renal recipients with low levels of sensitization.

Aim: Patients displaying flow cytometric crossmatch results within the grey zone of positivity are hard to evaluate, especially if they are undergoing their first transplantation. For these patients assays of donor-specific anti-HLA (human leukocyte antigen) antibodies with complement-fixing properties to cause cell lysis are important for antibody-mediated rejection and graft failure. The aim of this study was to detect the relevance of serum C1q-binding antibodies detected in renal recipients with grey zone crossmatch reactivity who were considered to show low levels of sensitization against their potential donors.

The effect of adenotonsillectomy on serum insulin like growth factors and the adenoid/nasopharynx ratio in pediatric patients: a blind, prospective clinical study.

Objectives: Obstructive adenoid and tonsillar hyperplasia may present with retardation of growth. An adenoid-nasopharynx (A/N) ratio determined by means of lateral cephalometric radiographs has long been used as a diagnostic tool in the assessment of adenoid size. This study was designed to investigate the effect of adenotonsillectomy on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels and correlation between A/N ratio and IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome with atypical progress in a renal transplant recipient: a case report.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare complication of herpes zoster disease in which reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus infection occurs in the geniculate ganglion causing otalgia, unilateral vesicular eruption in a restricted dermatomal distribution, and peripheral facial paralysis. Dermal infections caused by human pathogenic herpes viruses are common in organ transplant recipients. For a transplant surgeon, it is imperative to remember that viral prophylaxis is essential in the follow-up of the transplant patients.

Videodermoscopic pattern analysis of acral melanocytic nevi.

Three major and three minor types of acral melanocytic lesions have been described: parallel furrow, lattice-like, fibrillar, reticular, homogeneous and globular. To examine the dermoscopic patterns of acral melanocytic lesions and to investigate the association of these patterns with clinical features. This study included 419 acral melanocytic lesions of 295 patients.

The effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy on the cardiovascular system in children.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is a common and important problem in children. OSAS can lead to significant cardiopulmonary complications, poor growth and problems with learning and behavior. Many studies in the literature show that OSAS due to ATH causes pulmonary hypertension, ventricular hypertrophy and systemic hypertension in the pediatric population.

The role of computed tomography scanning in chronic otitis media.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of high-definition computed tomography (CT) in chronic otitis media (COM) patients and to present which parameters were useful or misleading for preoperative evaluation for management. Fifty cases of COM that underwent preoperative CT scanning at a tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed. Their CT scan reports were compared with the operative findings.

The investigation of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in male patients with early-onset androgenetic alopecia.

Epidemiological studies have shown that diseases associated with insulin resistance and coronary artery disease are more frequently observed in men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). We aimed to identify the presence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in male patients with early-onset AGA. Fifty male patients (18-30 years) with AGA stage ≥ 3 (Hamilton-Norwood scale), body mass index < 27 and 40 weight- and age-matched male subjects were the study population.

Dermatologic findings in renal transplant recipients: Possible effects of immunosuppression regimen and p53 mutations.

Objective: To analyze the dermatologic lesions and possible effects of immunosuppression treatment and p53 gene mutations on dermatologic findings in renal transplant recipients.

Materials And Methods: The study included 163 renal transplant recipients. After dermatologic examination, cultures, and histopathologic and genetic analyses were performed.

Evaluation of intraoperative parathormone measurement for predicting successful surgery in patients undergoing subtotal/total parathyroidectomy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives/background: The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of intraoperative parathormone measurement addressing successful surgical resection in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: The study included 42 consecutive patients operated on between May 2006 and July 2008. Patients were grouped according to successful surgery (Group 1, n = 36) and persistent postoperative hyperparathyroidism (Group 2, n = 6).