Diltiazem Increases the Liver Regeneration in Rats by Inhibiting TGF-β1

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF- β1) is the most important inhibitory cytokine during the hepatic regeneration process. Diltiazem is a Ltype calcium channel blocker that has inhibitory effect on TGF- β1. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of diltiazem on hepatic regeneration. Sixty female Wistar Albino rats were used. Three groups were created; the control, low dose diltiazem and high dose diltiazem groups, each consisting of 20 rats. After partial liver resection (70% hepatectomy), saline was introduced to control group, 5 mg/kg diltiazem was introduced to low dose group and 15 mg/kg diltiazem to high dose group intraperitoneally. Ten rats in each group were sacrificed on the first postoperative day and the remaining rats on the fifth day. Liver weight, mitotic rate and the Ki-67 ratio were measured for determining hepatic regeneration. Liver regeneration rate on the fifth postoperative day was significantly higher both in the low dose and high dose diltiazem groups than the control group (Low diltiazem vs control: P<0.001; High diltiazem vs control: P<0.001). No significant difference was found between the groups regarding the number of mitoses on the first and fifth days following partial hepatectomy (P>0.05). The Ki-67 ratio on the first postoperative day was significantly higher both in the low dose and high dose diltiazem groups than the control group (Low diltiazem vs control: P<0.001; High diltiazem vs control: P<0.001). Diltiazem increases liver regeneration by inhibiting TGF-β1

Formalin application is effective for the treatment of Hemorrhagic Proctitis caused by radiation therapy

Objective: Radiation proctitis is a serious complication due to pelvic radiotherapy after pelvic malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 4% formalin solution enema application in hemorrhagic proctitis caused by radiation therapy

Preoperative Serum Levels of Soluble Endoglin for Prediction of Recurrence in Stage III Colorectal Cancer Patients

Background: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum levels of soluble form of endoglin in stage III colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRC) patients for detection of recurrence. Methods: The case-control study consisted of 80 stage III CRC patients who underwent surgery with curative intent and 70 age-and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Serum levels of soluble form of endoglin (sol-end) were measured in both groups. Also, predictive factors of recurrence were evaluated using multivariate analyses. Results: Serum levels of sol-end in stage III CRC patients were significantly higher than those in controls. There was not a significant association between serum levels of sol-end and clinicopathological features in CRC patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed the LNR (hazard ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.46–4.34; p < 0.001), to be significant independent factors to estimate local recurrence in stage III CRC patients. Conclusion: Preoperative serum levels of sol-end do not seem useful as a marker for detection of recurrence in stage III CRC patients

Is Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen a Reliable Prostate Cancer Marker in Liver Transplant Candidates

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine whether the prostate-specific antigen level is a reliable marker of prostate cancer in patients with hepatic insufficiency, based on evaluation of alterations in serum prostate-specific antigen levels after liver transplant in patients with hepatic insufficiency

Solitary Plasmacytoma of the Cecum and the Ascending Colon: Surgical Resection as a Treatment Modality

Colonic solitary plasmacytoma is a rare disease, with few reports occurring in the literature. Solitary plasmacytoma is defined as a plasma cell tumour with no evidence of bone marrow infiltration. Plasmacytoma can present as a solitary tumour in bone or in other parts of the body. The gastrointestinal tract is rarely the site of the disease. We report on the case of a 51-year-old man presenting with a colonic symptomatic mass with unclear biopsy results. A resected specimen showed a solitary plasmacytoma. Surgical resection was an adequate treatment modality in this case. Endoscopic resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are also preferred treatments in selected gastrointestinal plasmacytoma cases

Effect of nebivolol on liver regeneration in an experimental 70% partial hepatectomy model

Background: Factors affecting liver regeneration are still relevant. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of nebivolol treatment on liver regeneration in rats in which 70% partial hepatectomy was performed. Methods: Three groups were created: the control group, the low dose group, and the high dose group, with 20 rats in each group and 70% hepatectomy was performed in all rats. Immediately after partial liver resection, 2 mL physiological saline solution was administered to the control group via oral gavage, 0.5 mg/kg nebivolol was administered via oral gavage to the low dose group and 2 mg/kg nebivolol was administered via oral gavage to the high dose group. On the 1st and 5th days after liver resection, 10 subjects were sacrificed from each group, and liver weights and the mitotic count and Ki-67 were measured. Results: Regenerating liver weight on the 1st and 5th days after partial hepatectomy was statistically different in the low dose and high dose nebivolol groups compared to the control group. Mitotic count on the 1st day after partial hepatectomy was significantly higher in the low dose and high dose nebivolol groups than the control group. There was no statistically significant difference detected between the three groups for the 5th day. On the 1st day, Ki-67 rates were significantly higher in both groups given nebivolol than the control group. However, 5th day results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Nebivolol increases regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats

Increased collagen maturity with sildenafil citrate: experimental high risk colonic anastomosis model.

Inadequate healing and high anastomosis leak rates at rectal anastomosis may be due to lack of supportive serosal layer and technical difficulty of low anterior resections. Positive effects of sildenafil on wound healing were observed. The aim of this study was to simulate rectal anastomosis as a technical insufficient anastomosis and investigate the effects of sildenafil on anastomosis healing

Is Serum Placental Growth Factor a Prognostic Marker for Stage III Colorectal Cancer Patients?

Background/Aims: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum placental growth factor (sPIGF) levels in stage III colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRC). Methodology: Serum PIGF were measured in 70 healthy controls and in 80 stage III CRC patients. Also the association between preoperative sPGF levels, clinicopathological features and patients survival were evaluated in stage III CRC patients. Results: sPIGF levels in stage III CRC patients were significantly higher than those in controls. There was no significant association between sPIGF levels and clinicopathological features and sPIGF is not a prognostic factor for survival. Multivariate regression analysis showed the sPIGF levels (hazard ratio=3.28; 95% CI=1.10-9.5, p=0.032) to be significant independent factors for local recurrence. Conclusions: Serum PIGF levels in stage III CRC patients are significantly higher compared with normal controls and may be an indicator of local recurrence in stage III CRC patients

Diagnostic Significance of Serum Eotaxin-1 Level in Gastric Cancer Patients

Introduction. Gastric cancer is the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Delayed diagnosis leads to high mortality rates. Eotaxin-1 was originally discovered as an eosinophil-selective chemoattractant and may play a role in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and other gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to analyse diagnostic and prognostic significance of serum eotaxin-1 (s-eotaxin-1) levels in gastric cancer. Methods. Sixty gastric cancer patients and 69 healthy subjects were included into the study. S-eotaxin-1 levels were compared with clinicopathological features and outcomes in gastric cancer. Results. Serum levels of eotaxin-1 in gastric cancer patients were significantly higher than controls (74.51 +/- 16.65 pg/mL versus 16.79 +/- 5.52 pg/mL, respectively (P < 0.001)). The s-eotaxin-1 levels did not differ significantly with histopathological grade, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor localization, lymph node metastases, positive lymph node ratio, size, perineural and perivascular invasion. So there is no relationship found between s-eotaxin-1 level and prognosis. Conclusion. S-eotaxin-1 levels may be used as an easily available biomarker for gastric cancer risk and may alert physicians for early diagnosis. Due to the limited number of patients included in this study, larger cohort studies are warranted to validate the diagnostic value of s-eotaxin-1 level in gastric cancer

Repair of an extensive iatrogenic tracheal rupture with a pleural patch and a vascular graft

Here we describe a 48-year-old woman who suffered a 7-cm rupture in the lower trachea after intubation with a double-lumen tube. We repaired the rupture with a new technique using a pleural patch reinforced by a ringed vascular graft. This technique appears to be appropriate for use in patients who have large tracheal ruptures to avoid tracheal stenosis