In vitro antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide mixed with different vehicles against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans

WOS: 000268052600025PubMed ID: 19615665Objective. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide (CH) in combination with glycerin, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), cetrimide, or distilled water against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. Study design. Standard holes in the cultivated agar plates were filled with one of the CH preparations and control agents. The zones of microbial inhibition were measured after incubation period. Results. The CH preparations with glycerin and CHX demonstrated more antifungal activity than CH preparations with cetrimide and distilled water. The CH-glycerin preparations had no effect against E. faecalis, and CH-CHX preparation was the most effective medication. Conclusion. Antimicrobial activity of CH may change with the type of the vehicle and against different microorganisms. Enterococcus faecalis was more resistant than C. albicans to CH preparations. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 108: 297-301

Investigation of Some Physicochemical Traits and Changes After Storage of Fruits Belonging to 'Zivzik' Pomegranate Genotypes Grown in Siirt, Turkey

Pomegranate genotypes called 'Zivzik' are widely grown in Siirt, Turkey, and these genotypes have sweet, tart, and sour fruits. This study was carried out to determine the physicochemical traits of fruits belonging to 'Zivzik' pomegranate genotypes, as well as changes in fruit characteristics after storage. Sweet, tart, and sour 'Zivzik' pomegranate genotypes were harvested in Sirvan and Pervari districts of Siirt. The fruits were placed in modified atmosphere packages and kept at 6 degrees C and 90% relative humidity for 3 months. Some physicochemical traits were determined in both harvested and stored pomegranate fruits. Fruit weight (280.8 g), berry weight (0.41 g), fruit width (84.5 mm), and fruit length (8.57 mm) of the fruits of the sweet pomegranate genotype were found to be higher than in the other genotype fruits. However, the total soluble solids content (17.57%), titratable acid content (3.02 g/100 ml), total phenol content (163.43 mg GAE/100 ml), and antioxidant activity (49.95 mu mol TE/ml) of the fruits of the sour pomegranate genotype were higher than in fruits of other genotypes. There were differences between pomegranate genotypes in fruit peel color and berry size. After storage, there was a significant decrease in the titratable acid content of fruits in all genotypes, while their total soluble solids, total phenol content, and antioxidant activities increased. However, no significant change was found in fruit peel color in any genotype. Consequently, there were differences between the physicochemical traits of the fruits belonging to the sweet, tart, and sour 'Zivzik' pomegranate genotypes, but there were no significant changes in these traits after storage

Gallbladder duplication accompanied by gallstones: A rare congenital anomaly

Gallbladder diseases are among the most common pathologies requiring surgical intervention in general surgery practice. Gallbladder duplication is a rare anomaly of the biliary system. Congenital anomalies and anatomical variations of the gallbladder constitute one of the significant difficulties encountered by surgeons since these variations can cause great uncertainty in defining the anatomical structures of the gallbladder and may lead to significant complications during surgery. Congenital malformations are important predisposing factors for iatrogenic bile duct injuries during cholecystectomy. This case report presents a case of symptomatic gallbladder duplication and a double cystic duct treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. [Med-Science 2023; 12(2.000): 599-601

Giant malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of thigh in an adolescent with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report

WOS: 000215307400056PubMed: 26604833Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare sarcomas of children and adolescents, and they are aggressive tumors with a high rate of local recurrence. We present a 15-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), who had a giant MPNST on the right thigh taking into account the available literature. Diagnosis of MPNST may be delayed in NF1 patients due to confusion with a neurofibroma and/or a plexiform neurofibroma. Malignancy should be considered, especially in cases with big masses, with heterogeneous involvement, or in the presence of cysts or necrotic nodules. The aim of surgical treatment is complete surgical excision

The effect of lumbar facet joint injection levels on spinopelvic parameters and functional outcome

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a very common musculoskeletal complaint that impacts patients' quality of life in numerous ways. Facet joint injection is a widely used spinal intervention to relieve back pain. Effects of facet joint injection on spinopelvic parameters and the relationship between injection levels and spinopelvic parameter changes have not been evaluated before

Correlation between chest CT severity scores and clinical and biochemical parameters of COVID‐19 pneumonia

Abstract Background The COVID‐19 pandemic, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and spread rapidly around the globe, continues to be a serious threat today. Rapid and accurate diagnostic methods are needed to identify, isolate and treat patients as soon as possible because of the rapid contagion of COVID‐19. In the present study, the relation of the semi‐quantitative scoring method with computed tomography in the diagnosis of COVID‐19 in determining the severity of the disease with clinical and laboratory parameters and survival of the patients were investigated along with its value in prognostic prediction. Material and method A total of 277 adult patients who were followed up in the chest diseases clinic because of COVID‐19 pneumonia between 11.03.2020 and 31.05.2020 were evaluated retrospectively in the present study. Both lungs were divided into five regions in line with their anatomical structures, and semiquantitative radiological scoring was made between 0 and 25 points according to the distribution of lesions in each region. The relations between semiquantitative radiological score and age, gender, comorbidity, and clinical and laboratory parameters were examined. Results A significant correlation was detected between advanced age, lymphopenia, low oxygen saturation, high ferritin, D‐dimer, and radiological score in the univariate analysis performed in the present study. The cut‐off value of the semiquantitative radiology score was found to be 15 (AUC: 0.615, 95% CI: 0.554–0.617, p = 0.106) in ROC analysis. The survival was found to be better in cases with a radiology score below 15, in Kaplan–Meier analysis (HR: 4.71, 95% CI: 1.43–15.46, p < 0.01). In the radiological score and nonparametric correlation analyses, positive correlations were detected between CRP, D‐dimer, AST, LDH, ferritin, and pro‐BNP, and a negative correlation was found between partial oxygen pressure and oxygen saturation (p = 0.01, r = 0.321/0.313/0.362/0.343/0.313/0.333/−0.235/−0.231, respectively) Conclusion It was found that the scoring system that was calculated quantitatively in thorax HRCTs in Covid‐19 patients is a predictive actor in determining the severity and prognosis of the disease in correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters. Considering patients who have a score of 15 and above with semiquantitative scoring risky in terms of poor prognosis and short survival and close follow‐up and early treatment may be effective to reduce mortality rates

Evaluation of the Wound Healing Properties of Luteolin Ointments on Excision and Incision Wound Models in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Rats

Luteolin, which is structurally classified under the flavonoids, is naturally distributed abundant among medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits. The wound healing effects of Luteolin ointments were evaluated for incision and excision wound models on non-diabetic and Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats by using macroscopical, biomechanical, biochemical and histopathological methods. Two different concentrations (0.5 % and 1 % (w/w)) of the Luteolin ointment were prepared with the mixture of glycol stearate:propylene glycol:liquid paraffin (3:6:1) and 0.5 g of the ointments were applied topically on wounds once daily for 7 and 14 days. During the experiments, wounds were visually observed, photographically documented and wound areas were measured. After 7 and 14 days treatment, animals were sacrificed under anesthesia and hydroxyproline measurement and biomechanical analysis were performed. Histopathology of the wound area was evaluated considering features of re-epithelialization, thickness of the granulation tissue, angiogenesis, presence of inflammation, number of mast cells. Outcomes of this study revealed that Luteolin ointments improved wound healing process of skin tissue both in non-diabetic and diabetic wounds. The best wound healing activity was observed in incision and excision wounds (97.6 %, 96.1 %, respectively) treated with 0.5 % (w/w) Luteolin ointment on day 14 according to macroscopic results

Sonographic scoring of solid thyroid nodules: effects of nodule size and suspicious cervical lymph node

Abstract Introduction Ultrasound is the most frequently used imaging method to evaluate thyroid nodules. Sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules which are concerning for malignancy are important to define the need for fine needle aspiration biopsy or open surgery. Objective To evaluate malignancy risk of solid thyroid nodules through sonographic scoring. The effects of nodule size ≥2 cm and associated pathologic cervical lymph node in scoring were examined in addition to generally excepted suspicious features. Methods Medical data of 123 patients underwent thyroid surgery were reviewed, and 89 patients (58 females, 31 males) were included in the study. The presence and absence of each suspicious sonographic feature of thyroid nodules were scored as 1 and 0, respectively. Total ultrasound score was obtained by adding the positive ultrasound findings. Differently from the literature, nodule size ≥2 cm and associated pathologic cervical node were added in scoring criteria. The diagnostic performance of nodule characteristics for malignancy and the effect of total US score to discriminate malignant and benign disease were calculated. Results A significant relationship was found between malignancy and hypoechogenity, border irregularity, intranodular vascularity, and microcalcification (p < 0.05). Pathologic cervical node was observed predominantly in association with malignant nodules. Positive predictive value of suspicious cervical node for malignancy was 67%, similar to microcalcification. Nodule size ≥2 cm was not distinctive for diagnosis of malignancy. The number of suspicious sonographic features obtained with receiver operating characteristic analysis to discriminate between malignant and benign disease was three. Conclusion Sonographic scoring of thyroid nodules is an effective method for predicting malignancy. The authors suggest including associated pathologic node in the scoring criteria. Further studies with larger cohorts will provide more evidence about its importance in sonographic scoring

The effect of carbamazepine, which increases oestrogen destruction, on the endometriotic implants; an experimental rat model

We planned this experimental study to investigate the effect of carbamazepine (CMZ) on the endometriotic implants. Rats were randomised into four groups after endometriosis surgery. Drinking water was given to the sham group, 0.2 mg/kg oestradiol valerate (EV) to the EV group, 100 mg/kg/day CMZ to the CMZ group, and 0.2 mg/kg EV and 100 mg/kg/day CMZ to the EV-CMZ group. The endometrium of the rats using CMZ stained more intensely with cytochrome P450-3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. No endometrial hyperplasia was found in these rats. Endometriotic implants weight was found to be higher in these rats. There was no difference between the groups in terms of staining of the endometriotic implants with CYP3A4 enzyme. Endometriotic implants were less stained with the CYP3A4 enzyme than the endometrium. According to our results, CMZ does not increase the destruction of oestrogen in the endometriotic implants, unlike the endometrium. It may even cause the lesion to enlarge.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Endometriosis is an oestrogen-dependent, progressive disease. Carbamazepine (CMZ) is known to increase oestrogen degradation by activating the cytochrome P450-3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. CMZ can be used in the treatment of endometriosis because it increases oestrogen breakdown in tissues. What do the results of this study add? CMZ can protect the endometrium against hyperplasia by increasing the amount of CYP3A4 enzyme in the endometrium. This effect could not be demonstrated in the endometriotic implants. The presence of CYP3A4 enzyme less in the endometriotic implants than in the endometrium may explain this situation. In addition, the fact that CMZ does not increase the enzyme in the endometriotic implants may contribute to this situation. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? CMZ may not be a suitable alternative in the treatment of endometriosis. However, it may protect against endometrial hyperplasia. Clinical studies are needed for this effect