Do we damage nucleus pulposus tissue while treating cerebrovascular ischemic neurological deficits with nimodipine?

Aim: Nimodipine is used to prevent cerebrovascular-originated ischemic neurological deficits, yet its effects on nucleus pulposus (NP) cells or annulus fibrosus (AF) cells weren’t studied. This study aimed to examine nimodipine’s effects on vitality and proliferation of chondroadherin (CHAD), type II collagen (COL2A1), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF 1?) gene expression in human primary NP/AF cells. Material and Methods: NP/AF cell cultures obtained from 6 patients who underwent microdiscectomy were treated with 100 µMolar nimodipine and analyzed at 0, 24, and 48 h. Data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey HSD with 95% confidence interval. Results: We observed suppressed cell proliferation and increased necrosis in nimodipine-treated NP/AF cell cultures, especially degenerated tissue. COL2A1 gene expression wasn’t detected in any experimental groups. CHAD and HIF 1? expression had timedependent decreases in control. CHAD and HIF 1? expression were found to decrease at 24h, but increased at 48h in degenerated tissue. In nimodipine-applied intact tissues, CHAD expression was stable at 24h but 1.62 times higher than control at 48h. HIF 1? levels were lower than control. Conclusion: In nimodipine-treated degenerated AF/NP cultures, CHAD and HIF 1? expressions had time-dependent decreases. However, after complete RT-PCR data evaluation, no correlation between nimodipine application and gene expression occurred

Serial murders in Hatay : case series

Özet Türkiye'de seri cinayet olarak kabul edilen bir olgu sunumu bulunmamaktadır. Bu çalışmamızda, üç ayrı olayda, aynı kişi veya kişilerce öldürülen beş kişinin seri cinayet kapsamında sunulması ve literatür eşliğinde tartışılması amaçlanmıştır. İlk olayda bir erkek, tenha bir alanda, araç içerisinde bir kadınla birlikteliği sırasında biri maskeli iki kişi tarafından ateşli silah ile öldürülmüştür. Ancak kadın serbest bırakılmıştır. İkinci ve üçüncü olaylar da benzer şekilde meydana gelmiş ve hem erkek hem de kadın olgular öldürülmüştür. Yapılan incelemelerde her üç olayda da aynı silahla, uzak atış mesafesinden ateş edildiği, ölümün tenha bir alanda, araç içerisinde meydana geldiği saptanmıştır. Ayrıca mağdurların evlilik dışı partnerleriyle cinsel birliktelikleri esnasında vuruldukları belirlenmiştir. Olgularımız, “birden fazla kurbanın aynı katil veya katiller tarafından farklı zaman ve olaylar sonucu öldürülmesi" olarak tanımlanan “seri cinayet” sınıfına girmektedir. Mağdurların ortak yönlerive zanlılara ait özellikler dikkate alındığında cinayetlerin "görev odaklı" veya “hayalci” olarak değerlendirilebileceği görüşündeyiz.There is not any case report in Turkey on serial murders. In this paper, we aim to present a serial murder case in which five people were killed in a row of three different incidents, and discuss it comparing with literature. In the first incident, a man making love with a woman in his car was shot dead by two men one with mask, while the woman was released. The second and third events occurred also in the same manner however both men and women were killed. All five victims were killed in their cars at a desolate area and they were fired from outside the car. All were making love with their partners in the car at that moment. Therefore these five murders are included in the definition of serial murder “unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s) in separate events”. According to characteristics of suspects and common features of victims, murders can be classified as “mission” or “visionary” type

Evaluation of Patients Referred to the Surgery Clinic of Afyon Kocatepe University Veterinary Faculty: 1090 Cases (2001-2008)

Bu çalışmada 2001-2008 tarihleri arasında AKÜ Veteriner Fakültesi Cerrahi Kliniğine getirilen hastaların değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. 1090 olgunun %42,38’ini sığır, %35,04’ünü köpek, %10,55’ini kedi, %4,12’sini kanatlı (%2,11 şahin, %1,46 pelikan, %0,45 baykuş, %0,09 deve kuşu), %4,03’ ünü koyun-keçi, %3,21’ini at, %0,45’ini tavşan, %0,18’ini ceylan oluşturmuştur. Tüm hastaların yıllara göre dağılımı incelendiğinde 2001 yılından 2008 yılına doğru sırasıyla %1,74, %1,74, %3,3, %9,08, %15,32, %21,46, %28,07 ve %19,17 olduğu görülmüştür. Hayvan türlerine göre sığırlarda eklem hastalıkları, köpek, kedi, ceylan ve kanatlılarda kemik doku ve iskelet sistemi lezyonları, atlarda travmatik lezyonlar, koyunlarda ayak hastalıkları, en sık karşılaşılan hastalıklar olmuştur. Buzağılarda ise yüksek oranda göbek lezyonu olduğu belirlenmiştir.This study aims at evaluating the patients referred to the surgery clinics of Afyon Kocatepe University, Veterinary Faculty between 2001-2008. Of 1090 patients, 42,38% cattle, 35,04% dogs, 10,55% cats, 4,12% avian species (2,11% falcon, 1,46% pelican, 0,45% owl and 0,09% ostrich), 4,03% sheep-goat, 3,21% horse, 0,45% rabbits and 0,18% antelope were recorded. Distribution of patients according to the year from 2001 to 2008 was %1,74, %1,74, %3,3, %9,08, %15,32, %21,46, %28,07 and %19,17. With respect to the animal species joint diseases in cattle; bone tissue and skeleton lesions in dogs, cats, antelopes and avian species; traumatic lesions in horses and foot diseases in sheep were the most commonly seen disorders. Umbilical lesions were predominantly seen in calves

Hatay’da Seri Cinayetler Olgu Serisi

Türkiye’de seri cinayet olarak kabul edilen bir olgu sunumu bulunmamaktadır. Bu çalışmamızda, üç ayrı olayda, aynı kişi veya kişilerce öldürülen beş kişinin seri cinayet kapsamında sunulması ve literatür eşliğinde tartışılması amaçlanmıştır. İlk olayda bir erkek, tenha bir alanda, araç içerisinde bir kadınla birlikteliği sırasında biri maskeli iki kişi tarafından ateşli silah ile öldürülmüştür. Ancak kadın serbest bırakılmıştır. İkinci ve üçüncü olaylar da benzer şekilde meydana gelmiş ve hem erkek hem de kadın olgular öldürülmüştür. Yapılan incelemelerde her üç olayda da aynı silahla, uzak atış mesafesinden ateş edildiği, ölümün tenha bir alanda, araç içerisinde meydana geldiği saptanmıştır. Ayrıca mağdurların evlilik dışı partnerleriyle cinsel birliktelikleri esnasında vuruldukları belirlenmiştir. Olgularımız, “birden fazla kurbanın aynı katil veya katiller tarafından farklı zaman ve olaylar sonucu öldürülmesi" olarak tanımlanan “seri cinayet” sınıfına girmektedir. Mağdurların ortak yönlerive zanlılara ait özellikler dikkate alındığında cinayetlerin "görev ( ıdaklı" veya “hayalci” olarak değerlendirilebileceği görüşündeyiz. Anahtar kelimeler: seri cinayetler; Hatay; Türkiye; adli tı

Evaluation of Patients Referred to the Surgery Clinic of Afyon Kocatepe University Veterinary Faculty: 1090 Cases (2001-2008)

Bu çalışmada 2001-2008 tarihleri arasında AKÜ Veteriner Fakültesi Cerrahi Kliniğine getirilen hastaların değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. 1090 olgunun %42,38’ini sığır, %35,04’ünü köpek, %10,55’ini kedi, %4,12’sini kanatlı (%2,11 şahin, %1,46 pelikan, %0,45 baykuş, %0,09 deve kuşu), %4,03’ ünü koyun-keçi, %3,21’ini at, %0,45’ini tavşan, %0,18’ini ceylan oluşturmuştur. Tüm hastaların yıllara göre dağılımı incelendiğinde 2001 yılından 2008 yılına doğru sırasıyla %1,74, %1,74, %3,3, %9,08, %15,32, %21,46, %28,07 ve %19,17 olduğu görülmüştür. Hayvan türlerine göre sığırlarda eklem hastalıkları, köpek, kedi, ceylan ve kanatlılarda kemik doku ve iskelet sistemi lezyonları, atlarda travmatik lezyonlar, koyunlarda ayak hastalıkları, en sık karşılaşılan hastalıklar olmuştur. Buzağılarda ise yüksek oranda göbek lezyonu olduğu belirlenmiştir.This study aims at evaluating the patients referred to the surgery clinics of Afyon Kocatepe University, Veterinary Faculty between 2001-2008. Of 1090 patients, 42,38% cattle, 35,04% dogs, 10,55% cats, 4,12% avian species (2,11% falcon, 1,46% pelican, 0,45% owl and 0,09% ostrich), 4,03% sheep-goat, 3,21% horse, 0,45% rabbits and 0,18% antelope were recorded. Distribution of patients according to the year from 2001 to 2008 was %1,74, %1,74, %3,3, %9,08, %15,32, %21,46, %28,07 and %19,17. With respect to the animal species joint diseases in cattle; bone tissue and skeleton lesions in dogs, cats, antelopes and avian species; traumatic lesions in horses and foot diseases in sheep were the most commonly seen disorders. Umbilical lesions were predominantly seen in calves

Safety and efficacy of instrumented convex growth arrest in treatment of congenital scoliosis

İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi.Background: Anterior and posterior convex hemiepiphysiodesis is a widely used surgical alternative in the treatment of congenital scoliosis. This procedure has the disadvantage of the need for both anterior and posterior approaches. Furthermore, outcomes may be unpredictable. Posterior convex growth arrest (CGA) with pedicle screws at each segment on the convex side may obviate the need for anterior surgery and provides more predictable outcomes. This study retrospectively evaluates the safety and efficacy of instrumented posterior CGA in congenital scoliosis. Methods: Patients who had posterior CGA with convex pedicle screw instrumentation for congenital scoliosis were evaluated retrospectively. Thirteen patients (6 male, 7 female) were included in the study. Preoperative, early postoperative, and last follow-up standing posteroanterior and lateral x-rays were evaluated. Cobb angles were recorded for the instrumented segment (main curve). Global thoracic kyphosis was measured between T2 and T12 on sagittal plane. These values were compared preoperatively, postoperatively, and at last follow-up. The T1-S1 vertical height and the height between the concave side pedicles of the upper and lower end vertebra of the main curve was also determined and recorded as the concave height. Results: The average follow-up was 56.1 +/- 10 months (range, 36 to 74 mo) and the average age of the patients at the time of operation was 64.5 +/- 30.1 months (range, 15 to 108 mo). All patients were Risser zero at the time of surgery. The average curve magnitude was 49 +/- 10.9 degrees (range, 34 to 68 degrees) preoperatively, 38.3 +/- 9.7 degrees (range, 28 to 58 degrees) early postoperatively, and 33.5 +/- 12.4 degrees (16 to 52 degrees) at last follow-up. There was a significant difference between the preoperative and early postoperative main curve Cobb angle measurements (P=0.001). The average concave height was 94.2 +/- 20.2 mm in the early postoperative period and 104.7 +/- 21.7 mm at last follow-up (P=0.003). The average T1-S1 height was 292.1 +/- 67.1 mm in the early postoperative period and 363.9 +/- 94.5 mm at last follow-up (P=0.005). There was at least >= 5 degrees improvement in 9 of the 12 patients in the follow-up period after the index procedure. In 3 patients, the curve did not change and the correction was maintained. Curve progression was observed in 1 patient due to a technical error. There were no wound infections or instrumentation failures during follow-up. Conclusions: Instrumented CGA can safely be used in long sweeping curves of immature spines. Using this technique; thoracotomy, anterior procedure, and 2-stage surgery can be avoided. Moreover, it guarantees some degree of correction in all patients because of the instrumentation effect, eliminating the unpredictable nature of classic CGA. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic level IV study

The Effect of Calmodulin Antagonists on Scoliosis: Bipedal C57Bl/6 Mice Model

C57BL6 mice are melatonin deficient from birth and have been shown to develop scoliosis when rendered bipedal. Our previous work suggested that tamoxifen and trifluoperozine may change the natural course of scoliosis in a chicken model. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the incidence of scoliosis or the magnitude of curves may be decreased by the administration of pharmacological agents tamoxifen or trifluoperozine in a mice scoliosis model. Sixty female 3-week-old C57BL6 mice underwent amputations of forelimbs and tails. Available 57 mice were divided into three groups, Group-I received no medications whereas Groups II and III received 10 mg TMX and 10 mg TMX + 10 mg TFP per liter of daily water supply, respectively. PA scoliosis X-rays were obtained at 20th and 40th weeks. Deformities were compared for incidence and the severity of the curves as well as disease progression or regression. At 20th week, overall, upper thoracic (UT), lower thoracic (T), and lumbar (L) scoliosis rates were similar (P = 0.531; P = 0.209; P = 0.926; P = 0.215, respectively) but thoraco-lumbar (TL) scoliosis rate was higher inTMX group (P = 0.036). However, at 40th week, although TL and L rates were similar (P = 0.628, P = 0.080), overall rate as well as the rates of UT and T scoliosis of TMX group were significantly lower (P = 0.001, P = 0.011, P = 0.001, respectively). As for curve magnitudes, T mean Cobb angle at 20th week was significantly higher in the C group (14 +/- A 2.55) compared to TMX + TFP group (9 +/- A 2.708; P = 0.033); at 40th week, TL mean Cobb angle was lower in the TMX + TFP group (17.50 +/- A 3.45) compared to C (29.40 +/- A 5.98; P = 0.031); and TMX group had lower TL Cobb angles compared to C (8.67 +/- A 11.72) although not significant (P = 0.109). Double curve incidence at 40th week was significantly lower in TMX group compared to other groups (P = 0.001), triple curve incidence was lower in TMX + TFP and TMX groups, albeit not significant (P = 0.167). Between the 20th and 40th weeks, overall, double curve, and UT scoliosis rates showed an increase in C and TMX + TFP groups whereas TMX group showed a decline (P = 0.01, P = 0.002, P = 0.007, respectively). When specific regions were compared a similar significant difference was observed (P = 0.012 for upper thoracic; P = 0.018 for thoracic; P = 0.047 for thoraco-lumbar). This study has demonstrated that TMX is effective in changing the natural history of scoliotic deformities in C57BL6 mice model favorably.Wo