Thyroid function tests in pregnant women with and without goiter in the eastern Black Sea region.

Maternal thyroid function was investigated in 29 pregnant women with goiter and 51 pregnant women without goiter in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, which is an endemic goiter area. Ten women with goiter and 10 healthy women without goiter were used as controls in the study. In all of the pregnant women, increased concentrations of total and free thyroxine, total and free tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine-binding globulin were found.

Effect of cisapride on portal haemodynamics in patients with liver cirrhosis using duplex Doppler ultrasonography.

Purpose: Cisapride, a benzimide derivative, is a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent without dopamine-antagonistic or cholinomimetic effects. This study aims at assessing the effect of cisapride oral administration on portal flow in patients with advanced post hepatitic cirrhosis using duplex Doppler ultrasound (US).

Methods: A total of 12 patients with post-hepatitic liver cirrhosis were included in the study.

Action of somatostatin analogue (octreotide) on experimental hepatic encephalopathy in rats.

Background/aims: We investigated the effect of a somatostatin analogue (octreotide) on hepatic encephalopathy in a rat model. Fulminant hepatic failure was induced by thioacetamide twice daily for 3 consecutive days.

Methodology: Animals with hepatic encephalopathy grade III were divided into 2 groups.

The effect of cola consumption on oral mucosa in rats.

Drinks that contain phosphoric acid have been shown to have erosive effects and cola drinks are strongly acidic (pH 2.5). Gingivitis may be caused by dietary acids.

Influence of lignin and its degradation products on enzymatic hydrolysis of xylan.

The influence of lignin, lignin model compounds, and black liquor from the kraft pulping process on the hydrolysis of xylan by xylanase was investigated. Addition of vanillic acid, acetovanillone, and protocatechuic acid increased the rate of hydrolysis of xylan by as much as 18-50% at low concentrations, but reached maxima at about 0.05% concentration.

High dose methylprednisolone therapy in nephrotic syndrome.

This study was done to determine the efficacy of oral high dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) therapy in the treatment of childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS). Fifteen patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were arbitrarily divided into two groups.

Oxidative damage of erythrocyte membrane in nephrotic syndrome.

Erythrocytes are target cells for peroxidative damage. Abnormal susceptibility of erythrocyte lipids to peroxidation is believed to reflect a similar abnormality in other organs and tissues. The changes in erythrocyte lipid peroxidation [measured by malonyldialdehyde (MDA) concentration] and erythrocyte membrane cholesterol (EMC) and their correlation with plasma lipid changes were studied in 36 children with steroid-responsive minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) (16 in relapse, 20 in remission) and 30 matched healthy controls.

Breath holding spells in 91 children and response to treatment with iron.

To evaluate the prognosis of breath holding spells (BHS) after iron treatment, 91 children (56 boys, 35 girls) aged between 6 months and 40 months (median, 17) were followed prospectively for a median of 45 months (range, 6-89). In 49 of the children, the frequency of BHS was less than 10 each month, in 22 it was 10-30 each month, and in 20 more than 30 each month. The spells were cyanotic in 60 children.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa in a child and a review of the literature.

The cutaneous form of polyarteritis nodosa in children is extremely rare. Findings are usually limited to the skin, muscles and joints. It has a benign but often chronic course.

The role of high dose methylprednisolone and splenectomy in the accelerated phase of Chédiak-Higashi syndrome.

The Chédiak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive immunodeficiency disorder. Some cases with CHS develop the accelerated phase characterized by pancytopenia, high fever and lymphohistiocytic infiltration of liver, spleen and lymph nodes. The treatment of the accelerated phase of CHS is difficult.

A rare case of truncal duplication.

A rare case of truncal duplication is presented in which the infant had an extra truncus with well-formed extremities, a hypoplastic thorax, and a small abdomen. The truncus was attached to the infant from the thorax to the umbilicus. Successful separation of the truncus and reconstruction of the thoracoabdominal wall defect were performed in the neonatal period.

Body mass index and age at natural menopause.

A population of 1.076 women aged between 40 and 54 years has been studied using the method of cluster-stratified and random sampling. The median age at menopause was 46.