Synchronous testicular liposarcoma and prostate adenocarcinoma: a case report

Prostate adenocarcinoma is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in men. Testicular liposarcomas are uncommon soft tissue neoplasms. We report coexistence of prostate cancer and testicular liposarcoma in a 69 year-old-man because while orchiectomy endications are decreasing day by day, these second malignancies should not be missed

Interaction imaging with amplitude-dependence force spectroscopy

Knowledge of surface forces is the key to understanding a large number of processes in fields ranging from physics to material science and biology. The most common method to study surfaces is dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM). Dynamic AFM has been enormously successful in imaging surface topography, even to atomic resolution, but the force between the AFM tip and the surface remains unknown during imaging. Here, we present a new approach that combines high accuracy force measurements and high resolution scanning. The method, called amplitude-dependence force spectroscopy (ADFS) is based on the amplitude-dependence of the cantilever's response near resonance and allows for separate determination of both conservative and dissipative tip-surface interactions. We use ADFS to quantitatively study and map the nano-mechanical interaction between the AFM tip and heterogeneous polymer surfaces. ADFS is compatible with commercial atomic force microscopes and we anticipate its wide-spread use in taking AFM toward quantitative microscopy

Laser intervention on trabeculo-Descemet′s membrane after resistant viscocanalostomy: Selective 532 nm gonioreconditioning or conventional 1064 nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser goniopuncture?

Purpose: To compare the results of conventional 1064 nm neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum garnet laser goniopuncture (Nd:YAG-GP) and selective 532 nm Nd:YAG laser (selective laser trabeculoplasty [SLT])  gonioreconditioning (GR) on trabeculo-Descemet′s membrane in eyes resistant to viscocanalostomy surgery. Methods: Thirty-eight eyes of 35 patients who underwent laser procedure after successful viscocanalostomy surgery were included in the study. When postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was above the individual target, the eyes were scheduled for laser procedure. Nineteen eyes underwent 532 nm SLT-GR (Group 1), and the remaining 19 eyes underwent conventional 1064 nm Nd:YAG-GP (Group 2). IOPs before and after laser (1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and last visit), follow-up periods, number of glaucoma medications, and complications were recorded for both groups. Results: Mean times from surgery to laser procedures were 17.3 ± 9.6 months in Group 1 and 13.0 ± 11.4 months in Group 2. Mean IOPs before laser procedures were 21.2 ± 1.7 mmHg in Group 1 and 22.8 ± 1.9 mmHg in Group 2 (P = 0.454). Postlaser IOP measurements of Group 1 were 12.1 ± 3.4 mmHg and 13.8 ± 1.7 mmHg in the 1 st week and last visit, respectively; in Group 2, these measurements were 13.6 ± 3.7 mmHg and 14.9 ± 4.8 mmHg, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (P 0.05). Mean follow-up was 16.6 ± 6.4 months after SLT-GR and 18.9 ± 11.2 months after Nd:YAG-GP. Conclusions: While conventional Nd:YAG-GP and SLT-GR, a novel procedure, are both effective choices in eyes resistant to viscocanalostomy, there are fewer complications with SLT-GR. SLT-GR can be an alternative to conventional Nd:YAG-GP

A novel suturing technique for filtering glaucoma surgery: the accordion suture

AIM: To present a novel scleral flap suturing technique for filtering glaucoma surgery in order to control high postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: Description of ‘the accordion suture’ technique for mitomycin C augmented trabeculectomy. In cases of postoperative high IOP, pulling the loop of the suture helps to lift up the scleral flap by an even pressure on both edges. By means of this technique, the scleral flap opens up in an ‘‘accordion’’ manner, thus preventing flap obstruction and providing adequate aqueous flow. RESULTS: Our study group consisted of 8 eyes of 8 patients with neovascular glaucoma. Mean age of the subjects was 67.42±8.21y and female/male ratio was 4/4. Mean preoperative IOP was 37±7.48 mm Hg. Mitomycin C augmented trabeculectomy was carried out on the subjects without any complications. The scleral flap closure is performed with three separate sutures; initially, our accordion suture through the center of the flap, and two releasable sutures on both corners. All the patients received removal of two side releasable sutures concomitant with pulling the accordion suture, without any complications. The average traction time was 3.5±0wk postoperatively. The mean postoperative IOP was 11.37±2.72 mm Hg. No suture related complications were observed. CONCLUSION: This technique can be the suture of choice for filtering glaucoma surgery in experienced hands by its easy learning curve for precisely indicated patients

Milk-borne epidermal growth factor modulates bilirubin levels in neonatal rats

Objectives: Breast milk jaundice (BMJ) is commonly of undetermined etiology. Recently, it has been shown that the degree of BMJ was associated with the increased levels of milk-borne EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor). The aim of the present study was to test the effects of enteral administration of EGF on the development of hyperbilirubinemia in neonatal rats. Methods: Pups were divided into three groups: Group 1; artificially fed with formula, Group 2; artificially fed with formula supplemented with 500 ng/ml rat EGF, Group 3; fed by their mothers. Hyperbilirubinemia was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of unconjugated bilirubin suspension once daily for 5 consecutive days. Bilirubin levels, length of ideal villi, and EGF-R expression in the intestine was determined at postnatal day 6. Results: In the groups of 2 and 3, serum bilirubin levels were significantly higher when compared to animals in the group 1. There was no significant difference in terms of serum bilirubin levels between the Group 2 and Group 3. Length of ileal villi was significantly longer in the Group 2 and Group 3 than the Group 1 animals. The pattern of EGF-R expression in the Group 2 was similar to that seen in Group 3 animals. In contrast, animals given formula without EGF had markedly decreased expression of the EGF-R. Conclusion: Results suggest that EGF supplementation in newborn rats leads to a significant increase in intestinal mucosal proliferation and a significant decrease in bilirubin elimination. These data suggest that EGF possibly increases intestinal bilirubin absorption and may have a role in development of breast milk jaundice. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis

Carnosine attenuates oxidative stress and apoptosis in transient cerebral ischemia in rats

Cerebral ischemia leads to cognitive decline and neuronal damage in the hippocampus. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the neuronal loss after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Carnosine has both antioxidant and neuroprotective effects against ROS. In the present study, the effects of carnosine on oxidative stress, apoptotic neuronal cell death and spatial memory following transient cerebral ischemia in rats were investigated. Transient ischemia was induced by occlusion of right common carotid artery of rats for 30 min and reperfusion for 24 h or 1 week. Rats received intraperitoneal injection of 250 mg/kg carnosine or saline 30 min prior to experiment. Determination of antioxidant enzyme activities was performed spectrophotometrically. To detect apoptotic cells, TUNEL staining was performed using an In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit. Carnosine treatment elicited a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and increase in antioxidant enzyme activities in ischemic rat brains. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was decreased significantly in carnosine-treated group when compared with the ischemia-induction group. Carnosine treatment did not provide significant protection from ischemia induced deficits in spatial learning. The results show that carnosine is effective as a prophylactic treatment for brain tissue when it is administered before ischemia without affecting spatial memory

Preparation of I-131-Pyrimethamine and evaluation for scintigraphy of experimentally Toxoplasma gondii-infected rats

WOS: 000314475400006PubMed ID: 23113799We aimed to assess the ability of I-131-Pyrimethamine scintigraphy to detect the lesions of Toxoplasma gondii infection. An experimental model of toxoplasmosis was developed. The presence of toxoplasmosis was confirmed 60 days after implantation. Pyrimethamine was radioiodinated with I-131. The radioligand was validated by the requisite quality control tests to check its radiolabeling efficiency, in vitro stability and radiochemical purity etc. I-131-Pyrimethamine (specific activity: 7.08 MBq/mu mol) was injected intravenously into the tail vein of the control and infected rats. Static whole body images of the rats were acquired under the gamma camera at 5 min, 45 min, 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h following the intravenous administration of the radioactivity (3.7 MBq/rat). Then the scintigraphic data were analyzed both visually and semiquantitatively. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn over the organs (thyroid, stomach, liver, bladder, and soft tissues) to calculate the ratios of the radiotracer in infected vs. control rats. The mean ratio of radiotracer in infected/control rats in the liver and diaphragm was over 1 at 45 min which persisted till 24 h. In conclusion, I-131-Pyrimethamine may be useful agent for diagnosis toxoplasmosis especially involving liver and diaphragm, needs further preclinical validation before being extended for use in clinical applications

Potential Novel Biomarkers for Diabetic Testicular Damage in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats: Nerve Growth Factor Beta and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

WOS: 000333171500001PubMed ID: 24771956Background. It is well known that diabetes mellitus may cause testicular damage. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nerve growth factor beta (NGF-beta) are important neurotrophic factors for male reproductive system. Objective. We aimed to investigate the correlation between testicular damage and testicular VEGF and NGF-beta. levels in diabetic rats. Methods. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 45mg/kg/i.p.) in adult rats. Five weeks later testicular tissue was removed; testicular VEGF and NGF-beta. levels were measured by ELISA. Testicular damage was detected by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining, and apoptosis was identified by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Seminiferous tubular sperm formation was evaluated using Johnsen's score. Results. In diabetic rats, seminiferous tubule diameter was found to be decreased; basement membrane was found to be thickened in seminiferous tubules and degenerated germ cells. Additionally, TUNEL-positive cells were increased in number of VEGF+ cells and levels of VEGF and NGF-beta. were decreased in diabetic testes. Correlation between VEGF and NGF-beta. levels was strong. Conclusion. These results suggest that the decrease of VEGF and NGF-beta. levels is associated with the increase of the apoptosis and testicular damage in diabetic rats. Testis VEGF and NGF-beta. levels could be potential novel biomarkers for diabetes induced testicular damage