The protective effect of Echinacea spp. (Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea) in a rat colitis model induced by acetic acid.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that causes an inflammatory condition in the colon. Several cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) are crucial components of these inflammatory pathways. New therapeutic strategies are needed for improved clinical outcomes in UC and with less adverse effects.

Decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural haematoma: an overview of current prognostic factors and a discussion about some novel prognostic parametres.

Objective: To identify specific factors that can be used to predict functional outcome and to assess the value of decompressive craniectomy in patients with acute subdural haematoma.

Methods: The retrospective study was done at the Zonguldak Karaelwas University Practice and Research Hospital, Turkey, and included 34 trauma patients who had undergone decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural haematoma from 2001 to 2009. At the 30th day of the operation, the patients were grouped as survivors and non-survivors.

Rosiglitazone treatment reduces hippocampal neuronal damage possibly through alleviating oxidative stress in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation may play significant roles in the progress of injury induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion of the central nervous system. Rosiglitazone, a well known activator of PPARγ, has neuroprotective properties in various animal models of acute central nervous system damage. In the present study, we evaluate the possible impact of rosiglitazone on chronic cerebral hypoperfused-rats in regard to the levels of oxidative stress, reduced glutathione, and hippocampal neuronal damage.

Trends in hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus seropositivity among blood donors over 15 years screened in the blood bank of a university hospital.

Blood transfusion carries well defined risks including hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus transmission. In this study, records of blood donation candidates between the years 1996-2010 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 220 841 apparently healthy adult donors were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Neuroprotective efficacy of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ ligand in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion can cause learning and memory impairment and neuronal damage resembling the effects observed in vascular dementia. PPAR-γ agonists were shown to modulate inflammatory response and neuronal death following cerebral ischemia. The present study was designed to evaluate possible neuroprotective effects of rosiglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist, in rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Clinical characterization of patients with macroprolactinemia and monomeric hyperprolactinemia.

Macroprolactinemia is often a cause of misdiagnosis, unnecessary expensive investigation, and unsuitable treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical findings and the concentrations of macroprolactin in patients with hyperprolactinemia in our region. Eighty-four female hyperprolactinemic patients were screened for macroprolactinemia.

Management of fetal bronchogenic lung cysts: a case report and short review of literature.

Congenital malformations of the lung (CML) are rare with similar embryological and clinical spectra and could result in mortality if left untreated. Bronchogenic cysts are formed during the budding of the tracheal diverticula and ventral foregut in the embryological period. In this paper we want to present a case of bronchogenic cyst with continuous intrauterine cyst aspiration follow-up.

Noncommunicating thoracolumbar intradural extramedullary arachnoid cyst in an 8-year-old boy: intact removal by spontaneous delivery.

Noncommunicating spinal intradural extramedullary arachnoid cysts are an extremely rare cause of spinal cord compression. An 8-year-old boy presented with progressive paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a posterior intradural extramedullary arachnoid cyst extending from T(11) to L(3) vertebral bodies.

Reduction of postsurgical adhesions in a rat model: a comparative study.

Background: Adhesion formation after peritoneal surgery is a major cause of postoperative bowel obstruction, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. In this study, we compared the possible individual effects of phosphatidylcholine (PC), Seprafilm II, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and the combined effects of phosphatidylcholine and t-PA on postoperative adhesion formation in a rat surgical model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 50 Wistar male rats underwent median laparotomy and standardized abrasion of the visceral and parietal peritoneum.

Is there a relationship between anterior knee pain and femoral trochlear dysplasia? Assessment of lateral trochlear inclination by magnetic resonance imaging.

It may be very difficult to diagnose the pathology in patients with anterior knee pain. Patients with chronic anterior knee pain have been reviewed for the study. Our aim was to delineate the presence of subtle trochlear dysplasia by measuring lateral trochlear inclination (LTI) in axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Spherical amyloid deposition in a prolactin-producing pituitary adenoma.

A 41-year-old man presented with headache, right-sided ophthalmic pain and visual deficit. His neurological examination was normal except for bitemporal hemianopsia and right lower quadranopsia. MRI demonstrated a mass arising from the pituitary gland.

Protective effects of L-arginine on rat terminal ileum subjected to ischemia/reperfusion.

Objectives: Studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) may play a major role in sustaining mucosal integrity; however, NO has been also implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-related tissue injury. We investigated the effects of L-arginine and NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the acetylcholine-induced contractile response of ileum and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Histopathological changes were also evaluated in ileal preparations.

Isolated central nervous system relapse during cytologic and molecular hematologic remission in two patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Extramedullary involvement in the absence of bone marrow disease is rare in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). We report two patients with APL who had central nervous system (CNS) relapse without evidence of cytologic and molecular disease of bone marrow after all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) treatment. Both of the patients were treated successfully with combination of intrathecal chemotherapy and radiotherapy with or without systemic chemotherapy.

Frozen section and fine needle aspiration biopsy in thyroid surgery - needles and sections.

Purpose: To review our own experience with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and frozen section (FS) in thyroid surgery and to assess the value of FNAB and FS in predicting malignancy in patient with thyroid disease.

Methods: The records of 300 patients who underwent thyroid surgery between April 2001 and June 2006 were analyzed.

Results: Of the 153 patients who had preoperative FNABs performed, 8 (5.

Do we still need the TRH stimulation test?

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test in the diagnosis of central hypothyroidism in patients with Sheehan's syndrome.

Design: TRH stimulation test was performed in 72 patients with Sheehan's syndrome. Basal free triiodothyronine (fT(3)) and free thyroxine (fT(4)) levels were measured.

Posterior pituitary function in Sheehan's syndrome.

Objective: We studied posterior pituitary function in 27 patients with Sheehan's syndrome and 14 controls.

Design: All patients were investigated by water deprivation test and 26 of them by 5% hypertonic saline infusion test. None of the patients had symptoms of diabetes insipidus and all patients were on adequate glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone replacement therapy before testing.

An unusual case of lymphedema tarda.

Background: Lymphedema is the result of the equilibrium between the load to be cleared and the transport capacity of the clearing system. Lymphedema may be classified as primary or secondary, based on the underlying etiology. Primary lymphedema is an unusual disorder characterized by inadequate lymphatic drainage.

Investigation of adrenal functions in patients with idiopathic hyperandrogenemia.

Objective: Some patients with hyperandrogenemia had no identifiable cause, which was named as idiopathic hyperandrogenemia (IHA). The role of the adrenal glands in these patients was investigated.

Design: Clinical study in patients with IHA at the Endocrinology Department of a University Hospital.

Erythropoietin stimulates wound healing and angiogenesis in mice.

Erythropoietin exerts hematopoietic effects by stimulating proliferation of early erythroid precursors. Nonhematopoietic effects of erythropoietin have also been shown. It may act as a new angiogenic factor in wound healing.

Anatomic localization of the popliteal artery at the level of the knee joint: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

Purpose: The anatomic localization of the popliteal artery in the mediolateral plane at the level of the joint line was investigated on axial knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to study anatomic variations.

Methods: The transverse and central axes were described on axial MRI scans of 334 knees. The distance between the popliteal artery and central axis was measured; the course of the central axis bisected the posterior cruciate ligament in almost all of the cases.

Neurocutaneous melanosis associated with Dandy-Walker malformation.

Neurocutaneous melanosis is an uncommon congenital disorder consisting of benign or malignant melanocytic tumors of the leptomeninges with large or numerous cutaneous congenital melanocytic nevi. The Dandy-Walker malformation occurs as an enlarged posterior fossa with high insertion of the tentorium, hypoplasia or aplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle. To our knowledge, the association of these two conditions has been reported only 14 times.

An unusual cause for anterior knee pain: strangulated intra-articular lipoma.

Lipoma is the most frequently encountered benign soft tissue tumor. However, intra-articular lipomas are rarely seen. Anterior knee pain is a frequent complaint of adults and is of diverse etiology.

Dyspeptic complaints after 20 weeks of gestation are not related to Helicobacter pylori seropositivity.

Background: This study was to test whether an association exists between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms after 20 weeks of gestation in pregnant women.

Material/methods: Pregnant women (n=103) with gestational ages between 20-41 weeks and healthy non-pregnant women (controls, n=79) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Anti-H.

A training model for lumbar discectomy.

Training models are becoming increasingly important for gaining surgical skills. We present an easy to prepare and cheap model using cadaver sheep spine appropriate to learn and practice various discectomy procedures.