Role of caffeic acid phenethyl ester, an active component of propolis, against NAOH-induced esophageal burns in rats

Objectives: This study was evaluated to investigate the efficacy of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which is a natural honeybee product exhibits a spectrum of biological activities including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-tumoral actions, on the prevention of stricture development after esophageal caustic injuries in the rat. Methods: Thirty healthy male Wistar albino rats were utilized in this study. The rats were randomly allotted into one of three experimental groups: group A (sham) animals were uninjured. Caustic esophageal burn was created by applying 1 ml 37.5% NaOH to the distal esophagus. Group B rats were injured but untreated. Group C rats were injured and received CAPE (10 µmol/kg/day i.p. for 28 days). Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by measuring the esophageal transit time, stenosis index, histopathologic damage score and biochemically by determining tissue hydroxyproline content, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities. Results: The esophageal transit time, the stenosis index, histopathologic damage score and the hydroxyproline level were significantly increased in the untreated group compared with the sham and CAPE-treated groups. Treatment with CAPE decreased tissue hydroxyproline levels, histological damage, and the stenosis index, but except the esophageal transit time. Caustic esophageal burn also increased the lipid peroxidation and decreased the antioxidant enzyme activities in the untreated group. CAPE treatments decreased the elevated lipid peroxidation and also increased the reduced antioxidant enzyme activities. In corrosive esophageal burn group with no treatment, the most consistent findings were degenerative changes and increased in submucosal collagen content, and the luminal narrowing. CAPE treatment protected esophagus. Nevertheless, there was the slight increase in submucosal collagen. Conclusions: It is concluded that CAPE has a preventive effect on the stricture development after esophageal caustic injuries in the rat. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

The effects of quercetin on bone minerals, biomechanical behavior, and structure in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of quercetin (QE) on bone minerals and biomechanics in insulin-dependent diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by 50 mg kg-1 intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) in a single dose. The rats were randomly allotted into four experimental groups: A (control), B (non-diabetic + QE), C (diabetic), and D (diabetic + QE) each containing 10 animals. The diabetic rats received QE (15 mg kg-1 day-1) for 4 weeks following 8 weeks of STZ injection. Blood samples were taken to determine glucose, insulin, calcium, and magnesium levels. The rats' femora were assessed biomechanically at femoral mid-diaphysis and neck. It was found that QE treatment increased insulin, calcium, and magnesium levels. Three-point bending of the femoral mid-diaphysis and necks showed significantly lower maximum load values (Fmax) in animals in the STZ group than the QE + STZ or control groups (p < 0.05). The results support the conclusion that QE treatment may decrease blood glucose and increase plasma insulin, calcium, and magnesium. QE treatment may also be effective in bone mineral metabolism, biomechanical strength, and bone structure in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Effect of working hours on behavioral problems in adolescents: a Turkish sample

Background: This study aimed to compare broad range of behavioral problems and their relations to working status of adolescents in samples of Turkish apprenticeship, technical and high schools. Method: The research was carried out on a total of 899 adolescents aged 15 to 20. The study sample was recruited from three different type of schools (High School, Technical School, Apprenticeship School), located in the city of Zonguldak, Turkey. Two questionnaires were administered to the students. First questionnaire evaluated the adolescents' sociodemographic variables, working status and working durations. Second questionnaire evaluated the behavioral problems namely Youth Self Report (YSR). Results: The majority of adolescents (75.2 %) in apprentice programs were working regularly. Compared to adolescents in high school and technical school, adolescent students in apprenticeship programs were found to have higher scores of withdrawn, somatic complaints, depression and anxiety, social problems, delinquent behaviors, internalization and externalization on the YSR. The Total Problems, Internalizing Problems, Somatic Complaints, Anxious/Depressed, Social Problems and Delinquent Behaviors scores of working adolescents were higher than nonworking adolescents. Conclusion: Compared to other schools, adolescents in apprenticeship programs were found to have higher behavioral problems. Longer working hours seems to be associated with withdrawn, somatic complaints, being anxious and depressed, social problems, delinquent behaviors, internalizing and externalization problems. We suggest that it is important to control working conditions of adolescents in order to prevent development of behavioral problems that may lead to several other health problems

The prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis and location in Zonguldak province, Turkey

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis, and location in Zonguldak, Turkey. Methods: The data of 1909 mentally retarded children recorded between 1995 and 2003 was obtained from the Learning Disability Guidance and Research Centre. Age, gender, IQ scores, the age of diagnosis, and living areas of cases were evaluated. Results: The distribution of mental retardation was as follows; 304 cases (15.9%) were profound and severe, 1060 (55.6%) were moderate and mild, and 545 (28.5%) were borderline. The prevalence of mental retardation was 12.1% (male: 15.1%, female: 9.1%). Of the cases, 1327 (69.5%) lived in urban areas. Conclusion: Most individuals with severe mental retardation become enrolled in the service system during early childhood, but children with mild mental retardation, especially those with no other neurological impairments, may never enter the system or may not do so until puberty. Most of our cases were diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 10. This proves the importance of school guidance of learning disability and their collaboration with The Learning Disability Guidance and Research Center

The prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis and location in Zonguldak province, Turkey

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of mental retardation by gender, age of diagnosis, and location in Zonguldak, Turkey. Methods: The data of 1909 mentally retarded children recorded between 1995 and 2003 was obtained from the Learning Disability Guidance and Research Centre. Age, gender, IQ scores, the age of diagnosis, and living areas of cases were evaluated. Results: The distribution of mental retardation was as follows; 304 cases (15.9%) were profound and severe, 1060 (55.6%) were moderate and mild, and 545 (28.5%) were borderline. The prevalence of mental retardation was 12.1% (male: 15.1%, female: 9.1%). Of the cases, 1327 (69.5%) lived in urban areas. Conclusion: Most individuals with severe mental retardation become enrolled in the service system during early childhood, but children with mild mental retardation, especially those with no other neurological impairments, may never enter the system or may not do so until puberty. Most of our cases were diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 10. This proves the importance of school guidance of learning disability and their collaboration with The Learning Disability Guidance and Research Center

Retrospective evaluation of patients with hairy cell leukemia: Single center experience

Objective: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare chronic lymphoproliferative disease which is characterized by circulating B lymphocytes with prominent cytoplasmic projections. Treatment of patients with HCL has changed rapidly during the last 40 years by the introduction of the purine analogs into clinical setting. Splenectomy was the first effective treatment modality increasing the survival. Recently, given the effectiveness of the purine analogs, as well as the ease of administration, other therapies have been abandoned. The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the patients with HCL treated and followed-up in our Center. Method: We retrospectively evaluated 15 patients (14 male, 1 female)who were diagnosed, treated and followed-up in our centerbetween 1992 and 2004. Median age was 50 (28-79) years and median symptom duration was 11.5 months (2-48). Median follow up duration was 48 months (9-148). The most prominent symptoms were as follows; weakness (60%), fever (20%), night sweatening (20%), fatigue (20%). Splenomegaly was found in 14 (93%) of the patients while hepatomegaly was seen only in 3 patients. Pancytopenia was determined in all patients. Peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were applied to all patients. TRAP test was evaluated in 10 patients and was positive in 9 of them. Results: Four patients were treated with interferon alpha only, 1 patient was treated with splenectomy, 3 patients were treated with interferon alpha+cladribine and 6 patients were treated with only cladribine. Splenic radiotherapy was given to only 1 patient. Pancytopenia disappeared after treatment in 13 patients. Relapse was detected in 3 patients after interferon use and all these patients were treated with cladribine. Spleen size reduced to normal size in 13 patients after therapy. All patients are still alive under regular follow up. Conclusion: Cladribine was found to be effective treatment modality in HCL patients either in first line setting or in relapsed patients. It also provides long term survival for our patients. © Hellenic Society of Haematology

Effect of working hours on behavioral problems in adolescents: A Turkish sample

Background: This study aimed to compare broad range of behavioral problems and their relations to working status of adolescents in samples of Turkish apprenticeship, technical and high schools. Method: The research was carried out on a total of 899 adolescents aged 15 to 20. The study sample was recruited from three different type of schools (High School, Technical School, Apprenticeship School), located in the city of Zonguldak, Turkey. Two questionnaires were administered to the students. First questionnaire evaluated the adolescents' sociodemographic variables, working status and working durations. Second questionnaire evaluated the behavioral problems namely Youth Self Report (YSR). Results: The majority of adolescents (75.2 %) in apprentice programs were working regularly. Compared to adolescents in high school and technical school, adolescent students in apprenticeship programs were found to have higher scores of withdrawn, somatic complaints, depression and anxiety, social problems, delinquent behaviors, internalization and externalization on the YSR. The Total Problems, Internalizing Problems, Somatic Complaints, Anxious/Depressed, Social Problems and Delinquent Behaviors scores of working adolescents were higher than nonworking adolescents. Conclusion: Compared to other schools, adolescents in apprenticeship programs were found to have higher behavioral problems. Longer working hours seems to be associated with withdrawn, somatic complaints, being anxious and depressed, social problems, delinquent behaviors, internalizing and externalization problems. We suggest that it is important to control working conditions of adolescents in order to prevent development of behavioral problems that may lead to several other health problems. © Universitätsverlag Ulm GmbH 2007

Acute lymphoblastic leykemia in apatient with wilson disease treated with D-pencillamine

Wilson disease (WD) is a rare inherited disease of copper metabolism, characterized by liver and central nervous system dysfunction. It is usually associated with some other diseases such as autoimmune disorders and malignancies. We hereby report a case with diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia which developed in the course of WD under the treatment of D-penicillamine. Twenty five years old female patient was diagnosed WD ten years ago. Therapy was started with D-penicillamine, zinc sulfate and a low copper diet has been given during the course of the disease. The disease has been under control for the last ten years. She was admitted to the hospital with complaints of pallor, fatigue, fever and ecchymoses. The diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) according to bone marrow analysis. Although she responded to remission/induction regimen, she relapsed in early period and accepted as refractory disease after 2 cycles of intensive chemotherapy regimen. Coexistence of WD and acute leukemia is very rare phenomenon although genetical and etiological background of these two entities could not be enough for explanation of this co-existence so far. It is also not clearly documented yet whether WD induces leukemia or D-penicillamine could cause additional malignancy. Further investigations are still needed to clarify this situation. Copyright © Hellenic Society of Haematology