The role of sialoadenectomy and epýdermal growth factor (EGF) in skin development

In this study, the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on skin development was investigated. A total of 24 adult female Spraque-Dawley rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into 3 equal groups as control, sialoadenectomy (SX) and sialoadenectomy+epidermal growth factor (SX+EGF). Sialoadenectomy was performed on the other groups except control. After a 21-day recovery period, subjects were made to mate. SX+EGF group rats were also given 12.5 ìg/day EGF for each animal orally in the 16, 17th, 18th and 19th days of pregnancy. After pregnancy, the offsprings obtained were grown until the 28th day. All 28-day-old offsprings in all groups were weighed and sacrificed. Skin samplesfrom interscapular region were examined under light and electron microscope. In light and electron microscopy, skin sections of SX group, atrophy in epiderm, hyperkeratosis, decrease in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, along with local thinning of basal membrane, hemidesmosome loss and necrotic cells were seen. In skin sections of SX+EGF group, the view was similar to controls. As a result, epidermal growth factor was concluded to have an important role in skin development

Metal Bioavailability in the Sava River Water

Metals present one of the major contamination problems for freshwater systems, such as the Sava River, due to their high toxicity, persistence, and tendency to accumulate in sediment and living organisms. The comprehensive assessment of the metal bioavailability in the Sava River encompassed the analyses of dissolved and DGT-labile metal species of nine metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the river water, as well as the evaluation of the accumulation of five metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in three organs (liver, gills, and gastrointestinal tissue) of the bioindicator organism, fish species European chub (Squalius cephalus L.).This survey was conducted mainly during the year 2006, in two sampling campaigns, in April/May and September, as periods representative for chub spawning and post-spawning. Additionally, metal concentrations were determined in the intestinal parasites acanthocephalans, which are known for their high affinity for metal accumulation. Metallothionein concentrations were also determined in three chub organs, as a commonly applied biomarker of metal exposure. Based on the metal concentrations in the river water, the Sava River was defined as weakly contaminated and mainly comparable with unpolluted rivers, which enabled the analyses of physiological variability of metal and metallothionein concentrations in the chub organs, as well as the establishment of their constitutive levels

Cause of Death and Predictors of All-Cause Mortality in Anticoagulated Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation : Data From ROCKET AF

M. Kaste on työryhmän ROCKET AF Steering Comm jäsen.Background-Atrial fibrillation is associated with higher mortality. Identification of causes of death and contemporary risk factors for all-cause mortality may guide interventions. Methods and Results-In the Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF) study, patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were randomized to rivaroxaban or dose-adjusted warfarin. Cox proportional hazards regression with backward elimination identified factors at randomization that were independently associated with all-cause mortality in the 14 171 participants in the intention-to-treat population. The median age was 73 years, and the mean CHADS(2) score was 3.5. Over 1.9 years of median follow-up, 1214 (8.6%) patients died. Kaplan-Meier mortality rates were 4.2% at 1 year and 8.9% at 2 years. The majority of classified deaths (1081) were cardiovascular (72%), whereas only 6% were nonhemorrhagic stroke or systemic embolism. No significant difference in all-cause mortality was observed between the rivaroxaban and warfarin arms (P=0.15). Heart failure (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.33-1.70, P= 75 years (hazard ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.51-1.90, P Conclusions-In a large population of patients anticoagulated for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, approximate to 7 in 10 deaths were cardiovascular, whereasPeer reviewe

A survey of trachoma: The histopathology and the mechanism of progressive cicatrization of eyelid tissues

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the spectrum of conditions encompassed by the term 'trachomatous cicatrization of eyelid tissue', to discuss the mechanisms of scar tissue formation and to describe sequelae in this potentially blinding condition. Specimens of eyelid tissues were taken from 27 upper eyelids of 21 patients with entropion who underwent surgical procedures and 2 post-mortem upper eyelids with severe trachomatous entropion, Upper palpebral conjunctival swabs and biopsy specimens were taken from 5 patients with active trachoma and they were examined by fluorescence microscopy and routine histopathological methods. Conjunctival impression cytology samples were collected in all patients, In specimens taken from patients with active trachoma the inflammatory infiltrate was organized as lymphoid follicles in the underlying stroma and impression cytology showed cytoplasm ic elementary bodies. In specimens taken from patients with scarring trachoma light microscopy studies showed subepithelial fibrous membrane formation, squamous metaplasia and loss of goblet cells, pseudogland formation in conjunctiva, degeneration of orbicularis oculi muscle fibres, subepithelial vascular dilatation, localized perivascular amyloidosis and subepithelial lymphocytic infiltration, Accessory lachrymal glands and the ducts of glands were compromised by subepithelial infiltration and scarring, The contraction of the subepithelial fibrous tissue formed by collagen fibres a nd anterior surface drying a re the main factors contributing to the chronic cicatrization and entropion formation

The treatment of severe trachomatous dry eye with canalicular silicone plugs

Purpose To evaluate the effects of temporary canalicular occlusion with silicone plugs on trachomatous dry eye patients who were on maximal tolerable medical therapy

Three-day course of oral azithromycin vs topical oxytetracycline/polymyxin in treatment of active endemic trachoma

Purpose: The aim of this study on endemic trachoma was to carry out a comparison of azithromycin (3-day course, oral dose of 10 mg/kg per day) with conventional treatment (topical oxytetracycline/polymyxin ointment; twice a day for 2 months) in a rural area near Sanliurfa, Turkey