Cutaneous Horn-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma: A Case Report

Cutaneous horn is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal keratinized material and may occur in association with a variety of benign, premalignant, and malignant cutaneous lesions. Cutaneous horn occurs very rarely in association with soft-tissue neoplasias. A cutaneous horn located on the toe was completely removed by excision in a 78-year-old male patient. Macroscopic examination revealed a hemorrhagic nodular lesion, 0.5 cm in diameter, located on the dermis underlying the cutaneous horn with a height of 1 cm. Histopathological examination revealed a neoplastic lesion consisting of fusiform cells and extravasated erythrocytes underlying the compact keratin mass. The immunohistochemical analysis showed immunoexpression of endothelial markers and HHV8 in fusiform cells. The case was evaluated as “cutaneous horn developed in a nodular stage Kaposi's sarcoma.” Our case is the second case of cutaneous horn related to Kaposi's sarcoma reported in the English literature and is presented in this case report with its clinical and histopathological features

Intrauterine growth restriction and placental angiogenesis

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are factors that take part in placental angiogenesis. They are highly expressed during embryonic and fetal development, especially in the first trimester. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of placental angiogenesis in the development of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by comparing the levels of expression of VEGF-A, b-FGF, and eNOS in normal-term pregnancy and IUGR placentas.Methods: The expression of VEGF-A, b-FGF, and eNOS was studied using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method in placental tissues diagnosed as normal (n = 55) and IUGR (n = 55). Results were evaluated in a semi-quantitative manner.Results: The expression of all the markers was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, extravillous trophoblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, chorionic villous stromal cells, and villous vascular endothelial cells of the IUGR placentas when compared with those collected from normal-term pregnancies.Conclusion: Increased expression of VEGF-A, b-FGF, and eNOS may be the result of inadequate uteroplacental perfusion, supporting the proposal that abnormal angiogenesis plays a role in the pathophysiology of IUGR. © 2010 Barut et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Examination of lung toxicity, oxidant/antioxidant status and effect of erdosteine in rats kept in coal mine ambience

Occupational exposure to coal dust causes pneumoconiosis and other diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coal dust-induced lung toxicity. In this experimental study, we investigated the oxidant/antioxidant status, nitric oxide (NO) and hydroxyproline (HP) levels in lungs and blood of rats exposed to coal dust in mine ambience. In addition, we also investigated the attenuating effects of erdosteine. At the end of the experiment processes, tissue levels of HP, malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, xanthine oxidase (XO), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were evaluated in the lung tissues, plasma samples or erythrocytes of rats. Exposure to coal dust resulted in a significant increase in the oxidant parameters (MDA, NO levels, and XO activity) and HP levels, as compared to the controls. A decrease in activities of antioxidant enzymes, and an increase in MPO activity were found in the study group, compared to the controls. Increased NO levels of lung were found in the study groups, that were significantly reduced by erdosteine. Our studies provide evidence that supports the hypothesis for ROS mediated coal workers' pneumocomosis. Erdosteine may be beneficial in the coal dust-induced lung toxicity via antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The structural profile of HPV 18 in terms of chromosomal and nuclear degenerative changes and the ratio of nucleus/cytoplasm on liquid based cervical cells

Background: HPV 18 is one of the important oncogenic types. HPV 18 is generally evaluated together with HPV 16 and/or high-risk HPV types in light microscopic studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of only HPV 18 on the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, and chromosomal and nuclear degenerative changes in liquid-based samples. Materials and Methods: Eighty liquid-based cervical samples were used in this retrospective study. These smears were prepared by HPV Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) detection and genotyping with the Cobas 4800 HPV system. Forty HPV 18 infected and forty smears with no infection agent were evaluated for chromosomal (nuclear budding, micronuclei), nuclear degenerative changes (membrane irregularity, nuclear enlargement, hyperchromasia, abnormal chromatin distribution, binucleation (BN), karyorrhexis (KR), karyolysis (KL), karyopyknosis (KP)), and cytologic findings (koilocyte (KC), cells with perinuclear PR) using light microscopy. Cellular diameters were evaluated using image analysis software. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 19.0. p values < .05 were considered significant. Results: The statistically significant difference between the presence of HPV 18 and karyorrectic cell, KC, nuclear membrane irregularity, enlargement, the mean nuclear width and height (p < 0.05). No cellular changes other than those mentioned were observed. Conclusions: The present study is significant in that, it reveals the relationship between only and particularly HPV 18 and nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, and chromosomal and nuclear degenerative changes in liquid-based cytology. HPV 18 affects KR, koilocytosis, nuclear membrane irregularity, enlargement, and nuclear diameters. Light microscopic analysis of these abnormalities increases the sensitivity and specificity of cytology in the evaluation of cellular pictures due to HPV 18

Immunohistochemical Comparison of Traditional and Modified Harvesting of the Left Internal Mammary Artery

The left internal mammary artery is the conduit of choice for coronary artery bypass grafting. In the traditional (“clipped-artery”) harvesting technique, this artery is prepared as a pedicle; the distal part is clipped, cut, and covered with a papaverine-soaked cloth until anastomosis is performed. In modified (“nonclipped-artery”) harvesting, the prepared artery is kept in situ and left connected to the systemic circulation until anastomosis. Better outcomes from use of the nonclip technique have been reported. In order to determine comparative endothelial integrity and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, we performed an immunohistochemical study of arterial graft segments that were procured by each technique

Effect of intraabdominal administration of Allium sativum (garlic) oil on postoperative peritoneal adhesione

WOS: 000337863200008PubMed: 24793933Objective(s): Peritoneal adhesion is a serious problem that develops after most abdominopelvic surgeries. Allium sativum (garlic) has been used for centuries as both a nutrient and a traditional medicine. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, fibrinolytic, and wound-healing properties of garlic are well-recognized. We evaluated the effect of garlic on formation of postoperative adhesions in rats. Study design: Thirty Wistar-Albino female rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into three groups (10 rats/group). Group 1 rats received 5 ml/kg garlic oil intraperitoneally and no surgery was performed. The ceca of Group 2 rats (controls) were scraped, to trigger adhesion formation, and no treatment was given. In Group 3 rats, 5 ml/kg garlic oil was added to the peritoneal cavity immediately after the cecum was scraped. All animals were sacrificed 10 d after surgery and adhesions graded in terms of severity and histopathologic characteristics. Results: All animals tolerated the operations well. No adhesions were evident upon laparotomy of Group 1 animals. In Group 2 three rats had an adhesion grade 2 and seven rats had an adhesion of grade 3, whereas in Group 3 no adhesions were found in four rats, five rats had an adhesion grade of 1. Only one rat had a grade 2 adhesion. Macroscopic adhesions and mean adhesion scores of Group 3 were significantly lower than Group 2(p < 0.001). Histopathologic evaluation of the specimens also revealed a statistically significant differences in inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization scores between Group 2 and 3 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.011, respectively). Inflammation, fibrosis and vascularization scores in Group 3 were found significantly lower than Group 2. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, fibrinolytic, antithrombotic, and wound-healing effects of garlic likely prevent formation of peritoneal adhesions in a rat model, and garlic may be effective and cheap when used to prevent such adhesions in humans. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

The effect of atorvastatin and its role on systemic cytokine network in treatment of acute experimental colitis

WOS: 000296643200014PubMed: 21428710Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by disabilities in gastrointestinal system and defects in mucosal immune system. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor and are used to treat hypercholesterolemia in patients with coronary artery and atherosclerotic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that statins have immunomodulatory role by effecting different pathways in immune system. In this study, we investigated the effect of atorvastatin and its mechanism on systemic immune response in treatment of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice. We observed that atorvastatin significantly suppressed the severity of TNBS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. This was manifested in reduced rectal bleeding, decrease in colon length, reduction of histological damage, and improved survival. Concurrently, we investigated the immunomodulatory role of atorvastatin on systemic immune system. We investigated the proinflammatory (IL-1 alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha), Th1 (IFN-gamma, IL-2), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10), and Th17 (IL-17, IL-23) cytokine levels in serum samples of colitis and atorvastatin-administered mice. We discovered that administration of atorvastatin significantly down-regulates systemic TNF-a level and Th17 cytokine levels. Furthermore, atorvastatin treatment switches Th1 type T-cell response toward/to Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) type response

Obstructive jaundice leads to accumulation of oxidized low density lipoprotein in human liver tissue

WOS: 000240185800031PubMed: 16937517Oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) molecule is one of the most important modified lipoproteins produced during the oxidative stress. Modified lipoproteins have been defined as being part of the immune inflammatory mechanisms in association with oxidant stress. We have reported the accumulation of ox-LDL in Balb/c mice liver after bile duct ligation previously. Here, we investigated this finding in human beings with obstructive jaundice. Our study demonstrates that obstructive jaundice results in tremendous accumulation of ox-LDL in the liver tissue of patients. (C) 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved

More than an Uterotonic Agent: Oxytocin Prevents Peritoneal Adhesion

WOS: 000374312100011Prevention of postoperative adhesions (PPA) has become an important issue. The aim is to investigate the effect of Oxytocin (OT) on PPAs. A total of thirty female Wistar-albino rats were randomly divided into three groups (10 rats/group). The cecal peritone of Group I rats (controls) were scraped, to trigger adhesion formation, and no treatment were given. After cecal scrubbing, 1 mL saline solution was applied to each rat in Group II (i.p. saline treated group) and 80 IU/kg of OT (Pituisan (R), Ege Vet, Turkey) to Group III (i.p. OT treated group) intraperitoneally. All animals were sacrificed 10 days after surgery and adhesions graded in terms of severity and histopathologic characteristics. The median scores for the extent, severity, and degree of adhesions in Group I and Group II were statistically significant and considerably higher than those scores for Group III (P<0.001). The inflammation, neovascularization, and fibrosis scores for Group III were statistically significant and considerably lower than those scores for Groups I and II (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.002 respectively). OT, significantly prevented adhesion formation improving wound healing possibly by suppressing adhesion formation with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. OT may be useful in the prevention of PPA in humans