Are glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms linked to neonatal jaundice?

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a major group of phase II detoxification enzymes involved in the metabolism of both endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. In addition to their catalytic function in detoxification, GSTs participate in binding to nonsubstrate ligands such as bilirubin. Ligandin, which is one of the principal hepatic-binding proteins, is also a member of the GST family.

Bispectral index monitoring in confirmation of brain death in children.

Although the guidelines for the diagnosis of brain death in children are well established, the diagnosis is still under debate, and further confirmatory tests are required. Performing these confirmatory tests presents some drawbacks, such as high costs, the need for specialized personnel and technology, transportation of patients out of the intensive care unit, and the use of contrast media. Bispectral index monitoring can provide real-time, objective, continuous monitoring of the consciousness level in critically ill children.

Effect of combined therapy with hyperbaric oxygen and antioxidant on infarct volume after permanent focal cerebral ischemia.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of combination of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and an antioxidant on permanent focal cerebral ischemia. Male Wistar rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Then, animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the control group (n=9) received no treatment, HBO group (n=9) was treated for 90 min at 2.

Demographical, aetiological and clinical characteristics of poisonings in Mersin, Turkey.

Background: As acute poisoning continues to be an important public health problem, and represents a frequent cause of admission in emergency departments, there is a constant need to have up to date information about it. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the demographical, aetiological and clinical characteristics of acute poisonings who were admitted to a university hospital in the south part of Turkey.

Methods: The data of 195 acute poisoning patients who were admitted to the Emergency Department of Mersin University were retrospectively studied.

Eyelid ptosis associated with an undetected foreign body and a remote entrance wound.

A 12-year-old girl presented with ptosis 10 days after falling onto glass that penetrated the frontotemporal region. The immediate ptosis and palpable mass was attributed to an undetected foreign body. CT demonstrated a radiopaque foreign body.

The effect of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine therapy in chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background/aims: Immune-modulator and antiviral treatments for carriers of hepatitis B virus are known to have poor efficacy with a high cost and frequent side effects, which has led to investigation of new treatment modalities. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV DNA >5 pg/ml, ALT>60) infection diagnosed histopathologically and asymptomatic carriers (HBV DNA<5 pg/ml, ALT <40, Anti Hbe positive) of the virus.

Methods: The vaccine (Gen Hevac B Pasteur) was administered at baseline and at months one and six to patients with chronic hepatitis and asymptomatic carriers.

The usefulness of trauma scores in determining the life threatening condition of trauma victims for writing medical-legal reports.

Objectives: In the Turkish legal system the severity of the victim's injury determines the severity of the criminal penalty, and the life threatening condition stated in the medical-legal report is one of the main determinants for injury severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and usefulness of the trauma scores in determining the life threatening condition of trauma victims from the forensic aspect in order to write accurate medical-legal reports.

Methods: Data of 296 forensic cases with blunt and penetrating trauma were obtained.

The effect of N-acetylcysteine on pulmonary lipid peroxidation and tissue damage.

Background: We aimed to investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on pulmonary lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in experimental obstructive jaundice (OJ) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in this study.

Materials And Methods: We randomized 40 rats into five groups. Group A: Sham (n = 8); group B: OJ (n = 8); group C: OJ + lipopolysaccharide (LPS; n = 8); group D: OJ + NAC + LPS (n = 8); group E: OJ + LPS + NAC (n = 8).

Randomized clinical trial comparing primary closure with the Limberg flap in the treatment of primary sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease.

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare the outcome of excision and primary closure with that of rhomboid excision and the Limberg flap procedure in patients with primary sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease (SPD).

Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients with SPD were randomly allocated to undergo either excision and primary closure (group 1, n = 100) or rhomboid excision and the Limberg flap procedure (group 2, n = 100). Duration of operation, postoperative pain, time to first mobilization, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, time to resumption of work, recurrence and time to recurrence were recorded for all patients.

The effect of preoperative intravenous use of tenoxicam: a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the postoperative pain relief effect of preoperative tenoxicam usage in patients who undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy or groin hernia repair. Eighty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy or groin hernia repair procedures were randomized to receive either physiologic serum at 100 mL (group I, n = 40) or 20 mg iv tenoxicam (group II, n = 40) immediately before induction. Postoperative analgesic requirement, peroperative side effects and complications of drugs, operating time, post-operative mobilization time and pain score, hospitalization time, and patient pleasure were recorded.

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: clinical and radiologic features and endoscopic management.

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening serious parasitic disease, developing as a result of intrahepatic growth of Echinococcus multilocularis larvae. It may present as an invasive mass causing biliary obstruction or portal hypertension due to invasion of the biliary and vascular structure of the liver. The only curative treatment of the disease is surgical resection; however, early diagnosis is the key point to achieve complete cure.

Treatment of electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep with high-dose corticosteroid.

A 4-year-old female patient with epilepsy with continuous spike-and-waves during slow-wave sleep not classified as Landau-Klefner syndrome, refractory to antiepileptic drugs including valproate, benzodiazepines, and lamotrigine, was treated successfully with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy. Valproate, clobazam, and lamotrigine were continued at the same dose during and after high-dose intravenous corticosteroid therapy. During corticosteroid therapy, awake and sleep electroencephalogram was recorded every day.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression in lymphomas.

Lymphoma is a malign disease of the lymphoid system. A variety of risk factors have been described in pathogenesis of disease. We investigated the role of Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) in malign lymphomas.

A randomised study comparing systemic transdermal treatment and local application of glyceryl trinitrate ointment in the management of chronic anal fissure.

Objective: To compare a systemic transdermal therapeutic system with local application of glyceryl trinitrate ointment in the treatment of anal fissure.

Design: Prospective, multicentre, randomised trial.

Setting: Three teaching hospitals, Turkey.

Hepatobiliary fascioliasis: clinical and radiologic features and endoscopic management.

Fasciola hepatica is a zoonotic liver fluke that can cause disease in humans. Fascioliasis is an uncommon disease. We retrospectively analyzed 9 cases of fascioliasis and reviewed the relevant literature.

Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphism as a susceptibility factor in smoking-related coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, and cigarette smoking is a major contributing factor to the disease. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme is implicated in the detoxification of carcinogens present in tobacco smoke and consequent polymorphisms in this gene may confer susceptibility to cardiovascular disease if DNA damage is important in CAD. Therefore, we examined this question in a case-control study of subjects having coronary atheroma by angiography and with a past history of myocardial infarction (MI).

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.

Ileal atresia associated with a congenital vascular band anomaly: observations on pathogenesis.

We report the case of a newborn, who developed intestinal obstruction soon after birth. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a congenital vascular band anomaly extending from the antimesenteric border of the terminal ileum to the gallbladder in association with ileal atresia. Surgical intervention was performed for correction of the disorder.

Efficacy of tramadol versus meperidine for pain relief and safe recovery after adenotonsillectomy.

Background And Objective: Adequate relief of pain after tonsillectomy is a common problem. We compared meperidine and tramadol when given at induction of anaesthesia with respect to their effects on postoperative pain relief and emergence characteristics after adenotonsillectomy in children.

Methods: Fifty children aged 4-7 yr undergoing tonsillectomy were randomly assigned to receive either tramadol 1 mg kg(-1) (n = 25) or meperidine 1 mg kg(-1) (n = 25) before commencement of the surgical procedure.

Endoscopic management of biliary obstruction caused by cavernous transformation of the portal vein.

Background: Symptomatic biliary obstruction caused by cavernous transformation of the portal vein is an extremely rare disorder for which there is no consensus as to optimal treatment. The results of endoscopic treatments in a small group of patients is reviewed.

Methods: A total of 10 patients (5 men, 5 women; mean age 36.

The effects of corticosteroids and vitamin A on the healing of tracheal anastomoses.

Objective: This study investigates the deleterious effects of corticosteroids on tracheal anastomotic healing and the ability of vitamin A to reverse these effects in a rat model.

Methods: Forty-two adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. The animals underwent tracheal transection and primary anastomoses.

Effect of electromagnetic fields and early postoperative 5-fluorouracil on the healing of colonic anastomoses.

Background And Aims: Studies have indicated a deleterious effect of perioperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration on the healing of intestinal anastomoses. This study examined the effect of early postoperative 5-FU on the healing of colonic anastomoses and investigated the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on colonic anastomotic repair under normal physiological conditions and in the presence of 5-FU therapy in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups and underwent a standardized left colonic resection and anastomoses.

The effects of dexamethasone on lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels on the healing of tracheal anastomoses: an experimental study in rats.

Corticosteroids are shown to have deleterious effects on wound healing for various tissues. Arginine metabolism and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis play an important role in many aspects of inflammation and wound healing. The study was designed to evaluate the relationship of dexamethasone impaired healing of tracheal anastomoses to NO metabolism and lipid peroxidation.