MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM MORPHOLOGY AND SPERMATOPHORE FORMATION IN ASTACUS LEPTODACTYLUS (ESCHSCHOLTZ, 1823) (DECAPODA: ASTACIDAE)

We studied the morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatophore formation in Astacus leptodactylus. The testis has two anterior lobules and only one posterior lobule, which lie dorsal to the gut on the large hepatopancreas. Collecting tubule Cells comprise a simple cuboidal epithelium with synthetic activity. Vasa deferentia are laterally connected with the testis and have three parts: proximal vas deferens (PVD), middle vas deferens (MVD) and distal vas deferens (DVD). While the PVD is off-white in color similar to the testis and has no convolutions, the MVD is intensely white in color and convoluted. On the other hand. the DVD is the widest of all and an intensely white structure. The spermatophore, which is non-pedunculate and tubular, extrudes an uninterrupted column and consists of a sperm mass covered with primary and secondary layers. The primary layer is stained with bromephenol blue, while secondary layer gives positive reaction with Alcian blue and aldehyde fuchsin. The histochemical results indicate that the functions of layers are different

Mechanical prosthetic valve disease is related with an increase in depression and anxiety disorder

Aim Patients with organic disease can present with psychiatric symptoms. We hypothesized that since patients with prosthetic heart valve require frequent hospital followup and are at higher risk for complications, the incidence of depression and anxiety is higher in these patients. Methods This cross-sectional study prospectively studied 98 consecutive patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valve. All patients fulfilled prosthetic heart valve evaluation form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS). Complete blood count, basic metabolic panel and echocardiogram results were collected for all the patients. Results Using the BDI, there were 26 patients (27%) with no depression, 20 (20%) with mild depression, 38 (39%) with moderate, 4 (4%) with severe and 10 (10%) patients with very severe depression. Avarege score was 18.3±11.4 on BDI and 19.1±11.1 on HAS. The depression level was positively associated with prothrombin time (p<0.001) and international normalized ratio (INR) level (p<0.001). Hamilton Anxiety Scale was significantly correlated with comorbidities (r: 0.344; p=0.002), blood transfusion (r: 0.370; p<0.001), obesity (r: 0.319; p=0.007) and Beck Depression Scale was correlated with comorbidities (r: 0.328; p=0.002), in patients with prosthetic heart valve disease. Conlusion Patients with prosthetic heart valve have higher prevalence of depression and higher scores of anxiety and depression. Early recognition and appropriate treatment of depression and anxiety may decrease the morbidity in prosthetic heart valve disease. Besides, use of new oral anticoagulant agents that do not need INR check, could decrease anxiety and depression in the future

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Children with Emphasis on Pubertal Status and Association with BRAF^V600E Mutation.

Objective: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) may behave differently in prepubertal children as compared to pubertal children and adults. BRAF gene activating mutations may associate with PTC by creating aberrant activation. We aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of PTC patients with emphasis on the pubertal status and also to investigate the association of BRAF(V600E) mutation with disease characteristics

Diagnostic spectrum of congenital hypothyroidism in Turkish children

Background