The comparison of histological results of experimentally created facial nerve defects repaired by 2 different anastomosis techniques: Classic suture technique or tissue adhesives for nerve anastomosis?

PubMedID: 24621715OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the histological regeneration characteristics of nerve fibers at the anastomosis lines performed by classic suture technique or a tissue adhesive (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate). METHODS: The control group consisted of 7 rabbits. The 21 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups based on the harvesting week. In the study group following preparation of facial nerve bilaterally, a 0.5-cm segment of facial dorsal buccal nerve was resected, and the defect was repaired with a nerve graft, which was harvested from sural nerve of the same side by 8-0 nylon suture technique and by application of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate on the other side. RESULTS: Electron microscopic examination at consecutive second, fourth, and sixth days (corresponding to 4th, 8th, and 12th week in human subjects) revealed increased nerve degeneration findings in N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate group when compared with microsuture repair technique. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that N-butyl-2- cyanoacrylate is not an appropriate material for nerve anastomosis. © 2014 Mutaz B. Habal

Urinary nitric oxide levels are increased and correlated with plasma concentrations in patients with Behcet's disease: Is it a new urinary activity marker?

Nitric oxide ( NO) is a free radical and serves many functions within the kidney. Excess NO causes glomerular injury. Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic immunoinflammatory vasculitis, affecting every organ in the body including the kidneys ( subclinic glomerulonephritis). We investigated the role of urinary total nitrite levels (end product of NO) in BD and evaluated whether urinary concentrations were correlated with its plasma levels or disease activity. Thirty-six consecutive Behcet's patients (19 men, 17 women; 35.9 years), and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control volunteers (12 men, eight women; 33.2 years) were divided into an active (n = 16) and inactive ( n = 20) period. Urinary and serum NO levels (mumol/mg urinary creatinine) were higher in BD patients (4.1 +/- 0.3) than control subjects (1.7 +/- 0.2; P < 0.001). Serum NO levels in Behcet's patients and control subjects were 51.3 &PLUSMN; 9.8 and 21.7 &PLUSMN; 7.3 &mu;mol/ L, respectively (P < 0.001). Active patients had higher urinary NO excretion (4.9 +/- 0.3) than inactive patients (3.3 +/- 0.3; P < 0.01). Urinary NO levels were correlated with its serum levels (r(2) = 0.69, P < 0.001). Higher urinary NO levels found in BD may be produced by the kidney as a result of an inflammatory stimulation. As excess NO is toxic to the tissues, increased NO levels may play a role in mediating subclinic glomerular injury of such patients. However, we could not determine the exact site(s) of NO synthesis by the kidney, such as the glomeruli, blood vessels and/or the tubular cells. Whatever the source, urinary NO levels may be used as a new activity marker in the diagnosis and follow up of BD by serial measurements