Cavernous hemangioma of the glans penis: Concomitant surgical excision with circumcision in an uncircumcised patient

Hemangiomas are usually superficial, localized, and commonly involve the heador neck, although up to 30% may be seen in the liver. Hemangioma involving theglans penis is extremely rare. A patient with red swelling on the glans penis wasadmitted for circumcision to our clinic. We performed concomitant surgicalexcision together with circumcision, and presented the advantages of surgicaltreatment in such a case

Portosystemic shunt prevents apoptosis in rat intestinal mucosa caused by total hepatic ischemia

Background: Prolonged splanchnic congestion due to total hepatic ischemia (THI) has been shown to induce damage to the intestinal mucosa. The present study was conducted to examine whether the protective effect of portosystemic shunt (PSS) can be seen on apoptosis of intestinal mucosa in a rat model of THI. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into the following 3 groups: control group; the THI group underwent THI for 30 min, and the PSS group was subjected to THI for 30 min with PSS. Rats were killed after 1, 2, and 6 h of reperfusion. For each time point, levels of serum liver enzymes, intestinal morphology, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and DNA fragmentation in intestinal tissue were determined. In addition, the 7-day survival rate was measured. Results: The 7-day survival rate of THI group remained at 50%, whereas that of PSS group was significantly higher at 90% (p < 0.01). Serum AST and ALT levels of the THI and PSS groups rapidly increased after reperfusion, reaching peak values at 2 h. MDA levels after 1 and 2 h of reperfusion in the THI group were significantly increased as compared with the control group p < 0.001). Increases in the percentage of fragmented DNA peaked 1 h after reperfusion in the THI group. PSS resulted in the reduction of DNA fragmentation and preserved the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the intestinal mucosa. Conclusions: Splanchnic congestion due to portal occlusion increased apoptosis in the rat intestinal mucosa. PSS is very effective in counteracting the principal negative effects of total hepatic ischemia. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Role of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion in the intestinal epithelium

Background. To evaluate the effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on ischemia-reperfusion-induced apoptosis in the intestinal epithelium. Methods: In this study, 50 male Wistar albino rats were used. After midline laparotomy superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was identified only in the sham group, while 60 min of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion were performed in the control group. In the treatment groups, after 15, 30 and 60 min of ischemia, respectively, 1 mug/kg GM-CSF was administered subcutaneously, followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Malondialdehyde (MDA), campothecin (CAM), an indicator of DNA fragmentation, and histopathology were evaluated in the intestinal mucosa. Results: Tissue MDA levels were found significantly high in all groups at various times of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion compared with the sham group (p < 0.001). Administration of GM-CSF following 60 min of ischemia caused a significant increase in the MDA levels compared with the control group (6,430 +/- 725 vs. 4,174 +/- 565 nmol/g protein for jejunum. 7,576 +/- 618 vs. 4,938 +/- 809 nmol/g protein for ileum, p < 0.05). Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion resulted in a significant increase in tissue CAM levels (p < 0.05). The highest CAM value was found in the group in which 60 min of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion were performed (50 +/- 3.2 ng/ml for jejunum, 52.8 +/- 2.7 ng/mg for ileum). Compared with the control group, GM-CSF administration following 1 h of ischemia aggravated the tissue injury. Conclusions: Apoptosis was induced in the small intestine by ischemia-reperfusion. GM-CSF increased the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells and exacerbated mucosal injury due to ischemia-reperfusion. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

The Effect of Angiotensin (1-7) on Survival of Random Pattern Skin Flaps With Nicotine-Induced Ischemia in Rats

Objective: The purpose of this study was to reveal the effect of angiotensin (1-7) on survival of random pattern, nicotinized, ischemic flap model in rats

Experimental posterior perforating ocular injury in rabbit eyes: Effects of radiotherapy with or without intravitreal cyclosporin on vitreous proliferation

Double perforating ocular injuries were made in 30 rabbits and the effects of radiotherapy (RT) alone or in combination with cyclosporin (CS) on vitreous proliferation investigated. Thirteen rabbits in group 1 received RT alone (600 cGy), and 13 rabbits in group 2 received RT combined with 100 mu g of intravitreal CS. No treatment was given to 4 rabbits in the control group ( group 3). All animals were ophthalmologically examined on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days following the injury and the clinical findings scored; they were sacrificed on the 28th day, and histopathological scoring was made. The median histopathological score of the RT group (4.0; range: 0-8) was significantly higher than that of the CS + RT group (1.0; range: 0-5; p = 0.018). We conclude that intravitreal CS may be used as an adjunctive agent to RT to inhibit intraocular proliferation following penetrating ocular injury in rabbits. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Radiological findings of isolated hepatic tuberculosis in a child with tubulointerstitial nephritis-uveitis syndrome

Isolated hepatic tuberculosis is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis in children although its incidence has been increasing, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Imaging studies frequently present a diagnostic challenge, especially for the nodular form. Thus a high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis. On US, hepatic tuberculosis may rarely present as a macronodular form (also called pseudotumour or tuberculoma). We report a 15-year-old girl with multiple hepatic macronodular masses due to isolated hepatic tuberculosis

An AIDS Case with Systemic Zygomycosis

Although zygomycosis is a rare opportunistic infection, it is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in immunocompromised patients. A 50-year-old male patient was admitted with complaints of impaired consciousness, difficulty in speaking, headache, lethargy, diarrhea and weight loss. His history revealed that he had lived abroad and consumed alcohol regularly. The diagnosis of chronic alcoholism, AIDS and central nervous system infection were made. The patient died on the seventh day of his hospitalization. His autopsy revealed nonseptated hyphae with right-angled branching in cerebral, pulmonary and cardiac sections, particularly in vascular structures. In the light of these findings systemic zygomycosis was diagnosed

Kronik Hepatit C Tedavisinde İnterferon- +Ribavirin İle Peginterferon- RibavirinKombinasyonlarının Karşılaştırılması

Kronik hepatit C (KHC) enfeksiyonu tüm dünyada olduğu gibi ülkemizde de önemli bir sağlık sorunudur.Günümüzde pegile interferon alfa (PEG-IFN ) ve ribavirin kombinasyonu KHC tedavisinde standart kabuledilmekle birlikte, interferon alfa (IFN alfa) indüksiyon ve ribavirin kombinasyonunu ile ilgili karşılaştırmalı veriler yeterli değildir. Çalışmanın amacı KHC hastalarında ribavirinle kombine IFN-alfa indüksiyon tedavisi ile PEG-IFN-alfa 2a tedavisini karşılaştırmaktır. Çalışmaya 40 naif hasta alındı. Hastalar iki gruba ayrıldı. Birinci grupta 18 hastaya 52 hafta süreyle haftada üç gün IFN-alfa 2a (4 hafta 6 MÜ/gün ve 48 hafta 6 MÜ) uygulandı. İkincigrupta 22 hastaya 52 hafta süreyle PEG-IFN-alfa 2a 180 g/hafta uygulandı. Her iki gruba ayrıca vücut ağırlığınagöre ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/gün 52 hafta süreyle verildi. Karaciğer histolojisi ve virolojik yanıt üzerinetedavinin etkileri karşılaştırıldı. İndüksiyon grubunda üç hasta ve PEG-IFN grubunda beş hasta tedaviprotokolüne uyumsuzluk ve ilaç yan etkileri gibi nedenlerle çalışmadan çıkarıldı. Hastaların başlangıç demografik özellikleri değerlendirildiğinde gruplar arasında yaş dışında cinsiyet, nekroinflamasyon derecesi, fibrozis, viral yük, ağırlık, vücut kitle indeksi, karaciğer fonksiyon testleri ve hematolojik göstergeler bakımından anlamlı fark yoktu. Hastaların tamamında bulaşın parenteral yoldan olduğunu düşündüren öykü mevcuttu. Viral genotip tayini yapılan 34 hastanın tümünde genotip 1b saptandı. Her iki gruptakihastaların erken virolojik yanıt, tedavi sonu yanıt, kalıcı virolojik yanıt, yanıtsızlık, alevlenme ve nüks oranları benzerdi. Bu oranlar IFN-alfa 2a grubunda sırasıyla %93.8, %80, %73.3, %20, %15.3 ve %8.3 iken PEG-IFN grubunda sırasıyla %90, %82.4, %76.5, %17.6, %17.6 ve %7.1 bulundu. Her iki grupta en sık görülen yan etkiler grip benzeri semptomlar, gastrointestinal sistemle ilişkili semptomlar, dermatolojik semptomlar, solunumsistemi semptomları ve psikiyatrik semptomlar idi. Yan etkilerin görülme sıklığı açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark gözlenmedi. Bu veriler KHC'de yüksek doz indüksiyon tedavisi ile birlikte ribavirin uygulanmasının PEG IFN-alfa kadar güvenli olduğunu göstermiştir.Chronic HCV (CHC) infection is an important problem in our country as well as in worldwide.Although peginterferon- (PEG-IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin combination therapy is the standard approach for the treatment of CHC, data for the comparison of interferon alpha induction plus ribavirin with standard therapy is not sufficient.The aim of study is to compare PEG-IFN- 2a plus ribavirin combination with IFN- 2a plus ribavirin for treatment of the patients with naive CHC. Forty naive patients with CHC were included to this study. The patients were assigned into two groups. Eighteen patients received IFN- 2a (at a dose of 6 million units (MU)subcutaneously (sc) daily for 4 weeks and then 6MUthree times weekly for 48 weeks) plus ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day orally for 52 weeks. The other 22 patients received PEG IFN- 2a 180 interferon alpha sc each week plus ribavirin1000-1200 mg/day orally for 52 weeks. We evaluated the effects of treatment on virologic parameters and changes in liver histopathology. Three patients in the group and five patients in the PEG IFN group were excluded from the study due to miscellaneous reasons such as adverse effects of drugs or discordance to treatment protocol. No significant differences were observed at baseline characteristics as gender, body mass index, weight, the degree of necroinflammatory activity fibrosis. HCV viral load, possible transmission routes, liver function tests, hematological parameters and liver histopathology, except age between the two treatment groups. All patients had a history of parenteral exposure as transmission route. Viral genotyping could be studied for 34 patients and genotype 1b was detected for all of them. No significant differences were determined at rates of early virologic response, end of the treatment response, sustained virologic response,non-response, breakthrough and relaps in both groups. These rates were 93.8%, 80%, 73.3%, 20%, 15.3% and 8.3% in induction group and 90%, 82.4%, 76.5%, 17.6%, 17.6% and 7.1% in PEG IFN group, respectively. The most common adverse events in both groups were influenza-like symptoms as well as gastrointestinal, dermatologic and respiratory symptoms, and psychiatric disorders. The frequency of adverse events was similar in the two treatment groups. In conclusion, the data of the present study suggests that IFN- 2a plusribavirin combination is as effective and safe asPEGIFN- plus ribavirin combination therapy