Splenic artery angiography: clinical classification of origin and branching variations of splenic artery by multi-detector computed tomography angiography method

Background: The splenic artery (SA) variations are rarely reported in the literature. Knowledge of the range of the SA and other arterial anomalies and their specific frequencies is very important ever for every visceral surgeon as well as for treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, organ transplantation, transarterial chemoembolisation of neoplasm, infusion therapy, therapeutic arterial ligation, iatrogenic injuries. At the literature, there are more studies on the coeliac trunk, superior mesenteric artery and hepatic artery variations, but studies on the SA variations are uncommon. The studies on the SA variations are mostly in the form of case reports, but there are not many studies with large population on this issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the SA alone and to determine the variations determined separately from the other arteries. Accurate awareness of all the possible anatomic variations is crucial in the upper abdomen surgery. Materials and methods: Seven hundred fifty patients undergoing multi-detector computed tomography angiography between 2015 and 2017 were retrospectively evaluated for the SA variations. We created a new classification system to determine anatomic variations of the SA. Results: Twenty-three different types were identified related to anatomic variations in the origin and branching pattern of the SA. While 596 (79.47%) patients had standard SA anatomy, 154 (20.53%) patients had variant SA anatomy. Conclusions: The SA has quite different variation types and the practical context of the issue is of primary importance in surgery, gastroenterology, oncology and radiology. Liver and pancreas transplantation, splenectomy, embolisation of tumours of the abdominal organs, as well as other numerous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, require detailed anatomical knowledg

Investigation of antioxidant effects of rosmarinic acid on liver, lung and kidney in rats: a biochemical and histopathological study

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the protective effects of rosmarinic acid in rats exposed to hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Materials and methods: Thirty-two rats were randomly classified into four groups of 8 rats each: laparotomy without medication, rosmarinic acid (dose of 50 mg/kg via oral gavage) followed by laparotomy, laparotomy followed by hepatic I/R, and hepatic I/R with rosmarinic acid. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alaninę aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde levels and total oxidant activity and total antioxidant capacity levels of the liver, lung, and kidney were assessed. The histopathologic assessment was also performed. Results: Rosmarinic acid significantly reduced liver function test parameters and decreased oxidative stress and abnormal histopathologic findings in the liver. The oxidative stress in the lung significantly increased in the I/R group but significantly decreased in the I/R + rosmarinic acid group due to the addition of rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid led to no reduction in oxidative stress in kidney following hepatic I/R injury. There were no statistically significant differences among the groups regarding histopathologic changes in kidney and lung sections. Conclusions: Rosmarinic acid has antioxidant properties and is an effective hepatoprotective agent. However, although rosmarinic acid provides useful effects in the lung by increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative stress after I/R injury, it does not ameliorate histopathologic changes. These findings suggest that rosmarinic acid is likely to provide favourable outcomes in the treatment of hepatic I/R injury

The effect of intrapreneurship and organizational factors on the innovation performance in hospital

In the context of environmental uncertainty and competition, organizations are trying to find new ways to improve their performance. The development of novelties based on innovation, especially in the service sector, is the departure point for many organizations. Intrapreneurship and organizational structure are important factors for organizations to improve the innovation performance. In this study, it is aimed to investigate whether intrapreneurship and organizational factors influence the innovation performance. The data were collected from a hospital by means of intrapreneurship scale, organizational factors scale and innovation performance scale. According to the results of Structural Equation Model analysis, intrapreneurship has positive influences on innovation performance. Organizational factors directly and indirectly affect innovation performance. Moreover, intrapreneurship has mediation effect between organizational factors and innovation performance. Lastly, Intrapreneurship enhances the effect of organizational factors on innovation performance. © 2018, Expert Projects. All rights reserved

Utilization of glial fibrillary acidic protein and galectin-3 in the diagnosis of cerebral infarction patients with normal cranial tomography

Objective: It was aimed to determine whether levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Galectin-3 contribute to the diagnosis of cerebral infarction in clinically suspected ischemic stroke patients with normal computerized cranial tomography (CCT) in the emergency department.Materials and Methods: In this study, patients above the age of 18 years who presented to emergency department of Firat University between December 2011-November 2012 and were diagnosed with cerebral infarction were included. Exclusion criteria were as follows: symptom onset exceeding 24 hours, trauma, pregnancy, acute myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary embolism, chronic renal insufficiency and steroid therapy.Results: A total of 90 participants, forty patients with ischemic infarction who were diagnosed by CCT and clinical findings (Normal CCT in 17 patients and CCT with an area of infarction in 23 patients) and fifty healthy controls, were included in this study. Compared with the control group, levels of Galectin-3 and GFAP were found to be significantly increased in patients with ischemic infarction (P <0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively). It was found that levels of Galectin-3 and GFAP were significantly increased in ischemic stroke patients with normal CCT compared to the control group (P = 0.04 and P = 0.025, respectively). In ROC curve analysis, we detected %70.59 sensitivity and 70% specificity (AUC = 0.684, P = 0.0213, 95% CI: 0,558- 0.792) with a cutoff value of 33.24 ng/ml for GFAP and 76.47% sensitivity and 68% specificity (AUC = 0.734, P = 0.0048, 95% CI: 0.611-0.834) with a cutoff value of 0.84 ng/ml for Galectin-3. No correlation was found between National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and Galectin-3 and GFAP (r = 0.251, P = 0.118 and r = 0.164, P = 0.311, respectively).Conclusion: The levels of Galectin-3 and GFAP were increased in acute ischemic stroke patients.Keywords: Galectin-3, glial fibrillary acidic protein, ischemic strok