Examination of microvascular structures of midcortical region in sheep kidneys: a three dimensional approach.

Polyester-crystic cast was observed to reach the peritubular capillary plexus following injection in sheep kidneys. Microvascular structures in this region are also reported in this study. Glomeruli were found to vary in size and shape. Diameters of afferent arterioles were larger than those of efferent arterioles. The glomerulus is supplied by more than one afferent arteriole, and in some regions, the blood in afferent arterioles joins collateral circulation via the intercapillary plexus. Morphological properties at the end of the peritubular capillary plexus were found to be remarkably significant.&#60;/P&#62;</p

Rapid fixation of whole organ specimens and attendant problems.

Gross specimens are valuable sources in morphology education. In this study, we investigated how the fixation of gross specimens may be accelerated. For this purpose, whole organ specimens from freshly killed rabbits: extremities, kidney, heart, liver, stomach and uterus were fixed in a mercaptoethanol-formaldehyde mixture for 3-3.5h under the following conditions: 1, at room temperature; 2, at gradually increasing temperatures up to 45 degrees C; and 3, at a gradually increasing vacuum ranging from 20 kPa to 40 kPa. The results were compared with those of formaldehyde-fixed controls, and the mercaptoethanol-formaldehyde mixture was found to be useful in shortening the fixation time and providing good fixation. Both heat and vacuum enhanced these phenomena.</p

What influences women’s contraceptive choice? A cross-sectional study from Turkey

Objectives: In our study, we tried to investigate the determinants of women’s choices about contraception with the aim of discovering whether or not there is a difference in their preferences before and after consultation with a gynaecologist. Material and methods: A total of 1058 women were enrolled. They were given detailed information regarding contraception and contraceptive methods. Subsequently, a survey which was made of 21 questions was administered. Results: Contraceptive counselling significantly changed the contraceptive choice of women. However, influences from social media and friends, their partners and religious belief affected their contraceptive choices. Significant differences in contraceptive choice were observed when women were categorized according to their marital status, education level, household income, age, and number of children. Conclusions: Although contraceptive counselling influenced Turkish women’s choices, there were still other determinants like social media and input from outside sources such as clerics and husbands, which should be overcome

Comparison of two different antibiotic regimens for the prophylaxisis of cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes: a randomized clinical trial

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of 1 g ampicillin prophylactic dosage whether it is as effective as the dosage of 2 g to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity in a randomized manner. Materials and methods: One hundred and fourty eight singleton pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes between 21 and 33 weeks of gestation were followed-up during the study period in our institution. We com­pared the efficacy of two different different dosages of ampicillin. The study population was randomized into 2 groups. In the group 1, 1 g of intravenous ampicillin was given every 6 hours. In the group 2, 2 g of intravenous ampicillin was given every 6 hours. Results: There was no significant difference between groups interms of fetal complications (RDS, icterus, mortality, sepsis, transient tachypnea of newborn and the pneumonia), rate of intensive care unit admission, fetal gender, fever, rate of clinical chorioamnionitis, high white blood cell count and the CRP, rate of cases &lt; 30 weeks (p &gt; 0.05). There was a significant differ­ence between the groups for the rate of previous preterm premature rupture of membranes history, steroid administration and the need for tocolysis (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Although antibiotics seems to be innocent, several side effects have been introduced. It is reasonable to use the lowest dosages in shortest period in order to minimize these unwanted effects

Therapeutic and protective effects of montelukast against doxorubicin-induced acute kidney damage in rats

Objective(s): The current study was designed to investigate the therapeutic and protective effects of montelukast (ML) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced acute kidney damage in rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty-five Wistar albino female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups as follows: Group I: Control; Group II: Control+ML; Group III: DOX; Group IV: DOX+ML; Group V: ML+DOX. At the end of the experiment, the kidney tissues of rats were collected. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase levels were determined from the kidney tissues. In addition, the kidney tissues were examined histologically.Results: DOX induced a significant increase in the kidney TBARS levels, whereas SOD contents significantly decreased when compared with the control group.  On the other hand, ML administration before and after DOX injection caused significant decreases in TBARS production and also increases in SOD levels. Histologically, the most remarkable damage was glomerulosclerosis and tubular changes in the DOX group. Moreover, marked tubular necrosis and swelling in tubular epithelial cells were observed in this group. Contrarily, although glomerulosclerosis was recognized as alleviated also in both DOX+ML and ML+DOX groups, the lesions did not completely ameliorate. However, treatment with ML after DOX injection was more effective than treatment with ML before DOX injection with respect to the protection of tubular structures. Conclusion: It was determined that ML treatment after DOX injection caused therapeutic effects against DOX-induced kidney damage. Thence, ML treatment is of some clinical properties for oxidative stress damage in kidney tissues

Obstrüktif uyku apneli ve horlayan erişkin erkek hastaların dentofasiyal özelliklerinin değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı obstrüktif uyku apne sendromu (OUAS) olan erişkin erkek hastaların kraniofasiyal morfolojik özellikleri değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada 80 erkek hastanın (60 sefalogramları değerlendirildi. Bireyler Grup 1: horlama (AHİ5); Grup 2: hafif OUAS (5AHİ15); Grup 3: orta OUAS(15 AHİ30) ; Grup 4: şiddetli OUAS (AHİ30) olarak değerlendirildi. Sefalogramlar üzerinde hyoid, dil kökü ve yumuşak damak konumu, kranioservikal postür ve havayolu genişliğini belirleyen ölçümler yapıldı. Gruplar arasındaki farklar normal dağılım gösteren değişkenlerde tek yönlü varyans analizi ve Duncan testiyle, normal dağılım göstermeyen değişkenlerde Kruskal düzeltmesi uygulanarak Mann Whitney U testiyle yapıld

Evaluation of nutritional status in pediatric intensive care unit patients: the results of a multicenter, prospective study in Turkey

IntroductionMalnutrition is defined as a pathological condition arising from deficient or imbalanced intake of nutritional elements. Factors such as increasing metabolic demands during the disease course in the hospitalized patients and inadequate calorie intake increase the risk of malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate nutritional status of patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Turkey, examine the effect of nutrition on the treatment process and draw attention to the need for regulating nutritional support of patients while continuing existing therapies.Material and MethodIn this prospective multicenter study, the data was collected over a period of one month from PICUs participating in the PICU Nutrition Study Group in Turkey. Anthropometric data of the patients, calorie intake, 90-day mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay and length of stay in intensive care unit were recorded and the relationship between these parameters was examined.ResultsOf the 614 patients included in the study, malnutrition was detected in 45.4% of the patients. Enteral feeding was initiated in 40.6% (n = 249) of the patients at day one upon admission to the intensive care unit. In the first 48 h, 86.82% (n = 533) of the patients achieved the target calorie intake, and 81.65% (n = 307) of the 376 patients remaining in the intensive care unit achieved the target calorie intake at the end of one week. The risk of mortality decreased with increasing upper mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.871/0.894; p = 0.027/0.024). The risk of mortality was 2.723 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h (p = 0.006) and the risk was 3.829 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at the end of one week (p = 0.001). The risk of mortality decreased with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.894; p = 0.024).ConclusionTimely and appropriate nutritional support in critically ill patients favorably affects the clinical course. The results of the present study suggest that mortality rate is higher in patients who fail to achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h and day seven of admission to the intensive care unit. The risk of mortality decreases with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score