The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Malignant melanoma metastasis to sigmoid colon: New endoscopic appearance detected for the first time

Malignant melanoma (MM) develops as a result of malignant transformation of melanocytes. It accounts for 4% of all skin cancers. MM metastases usually occur in regional lymph nodes, bones and central nervous system. In this case report, a case of a 50-year male, who was found to have MM infiltration on colonoscopy performed for the etiology of anemia, is discussed. The patient underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy for the determination of the primary tumor. Colonoscopic examination showed multiple submucosal hyperpigmented areas and a sessile polyp with a diameter of 4-5 mm in the sigmoid colon. Biopsies of hyperpigmented lesions were consistent with MM infiltration. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) metastases are rare in MM. In literature, MM metastases to GIT have endoscopic appearances of 3 types. Typically, on endoscopy, ulceration with nodule or mass is visualised. However, in this case, an appearance of 'only submucosal melanosis without mass or nodule' was identified, distinct from previously described three endoscopic views and it was verified histopathologically. This case will help increase awareness of endoscopists in terms of being careful to look for MM metastasis on endoscopic examinations, which may be defined as 4th type of endoscopic appearance

Agenesis of the isthmus of the thyroid gland

WOS: 000440304200016PubMed: 29756110The thyroid is an endocrine gland composed of two lobes connected by the isthmus tissue. Thyroid isthmus agenesis is a rare condition, and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Here, we discuss the case of a 56-year-old female patient in whom agenesis of the thyroid isthmus was discovered incidentally during surgery for a multinodular goitre. When agenesis of the isthmus is found, associated thyroid lobe agenesis and the presence of ectopic thyroid tissue must be considered. In addition, associated autoimmune thyroid nodule, thyroiditis, primary thyroid carcinoma, metastasis, and amyloidosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Preoperative awareness of potential agenesis of the isthmus and its associated thyroid anomalies in patients with planned thyroid surgery will significantly contribute to safety during surgical procedures and result in fewer surgery-related complications

Agenesis of isthmus of thyroid gland in the presence of ectopic thyroid tissue associated with papillary carcinoma

WOS: 000455434800020PubMed: 30630576The thyroid is an endocrine gland composed of two lateral lobes connected by a strip of thyroid tissue called an isthmus. The thyroid gland is usually associated with extensive morphological variations and developmental anomalies. During the 4th intrauterine week, the thyroid gland begins to develop mainly from the invagination of the endodermal cells of the ventral floor of the primitive pharynx. One of the anomalies of the thyroid gland is the agenesis of the isthmus of the thyroid. It is a rare condition and very few cases have been reported in the literature. Another rare developmental abnormality is the presence of ectopic thyroid tissues, which are characterised by the presence of thyroid tissue in locations other than the anterolateral region of the second and fourth tracheal cartilages. Ectopic thyroid tissues are most commonly found in the lingual region but are also found in the other head/neck localisations as well. In this present case report, a 54-year-old female patient with the agenesis of the isthmus of the thyroid gland with accompanying tissues of multifocal and multicentric papillary thyroid carcinoma will be discussed. When an agenesis of the isthmus of the thyroid is detected, the agenesis of the thyroid lobes or the presence of an ectopic thyroid tissue must be considered. Especially in the patients who will undergo a thyroid surgery, it should not be forgotten that the identification of an agenesis of the isthmus as well as the other thyroid anomalies during the preoperative examination, will make a remarkable contribution in deciding the strategy of the surgery and will help in preventing the development of surgical complications. However, it is not always possible to detect the presence of these anomalies, during the preoperative examinations of the patients who will undergo thyroid surgeries; therefore, one must be careful with regard to these type of anomalies in the perioperative examinations. To the best of authors' information, the present case is considered to be the first in the literature in English, presenting with an agenesis of the isthmus of the thyroid gland in the presence of ectopic thyroid tissues associated with papillary carcinoma

Effects of levobupivacaine on wound healing.

İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi.BACKGROUND: Local anesthetic infiltration along the incision may be used to provide surgical anesthesia or postoperative analgesia. However, the effect of local anesthetics on wound healing remains controversial. In this investigation, we evaluated the effects of levobupivacaine on wound healing. METHODS: Sixty Wistar albino female rats weighing 230 +/- 20 g were included, with 10 rats in each group: group early c (early control): 3 mL isotonic saline; group early I-1.25 (early levobupivacaine 1.25): 1.25 mg/kg per 3 mL levobupivacaine; group early I-2.5 (early levobupivacaine 2.5): 2.5 mg/kg per 3 mL levobupivacaine; group late c (late control): 3 mL isotonic saline; group late I-1.25 (late levobupivacaine 1.25): 1.25 mg/kg per 3 mL levobupivacaine; and group late I-2.5 (late levobupivacaine 2.5): 2.5 mg/kg per 3 mL levobupivacaine. Rats in groups early c to early I-2.5 were euthanized on the 8th day. Rats in groups late c to late I-2.5 were euthanized on the 21st day. Wound tension strength, tissue hydroxyproline, and fibrotic index levels of the tissue samples from the early c and early I-2.5 and late c and late I-2.5 groups, respectively, on the 8th and 21st days were examined. RESULTS: Levobupivacaine decreased wound tension strength on the 8th day, especially a 2.5 mg/kg dose (P < 0.001), and increased it on the 21st day (P < 0.001). It also increased the inflammatory response (P < 0.001) and collagen synthesis (8th day, P = 0.109; 21st day, P = 0.103) on both the 8th and 21st days. CONCLUSIONS: While levobupivacaine had a positive effect on wound healing during the early period, negative effects were observed thereafter. Additional studies at the molecular level are necessary to determine the cause of these apparently opposite effects

Effects of Levobupivacaine on Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Local anesthetic infiltration along the incision may be used to provide surgical anesthesia or postoperative analgesia. However, the effect of local anesthetics on wound healing remains controversial. In this investigation, we evaluated the effects of levobupivacaine on wound healing