Protective effect of astaxanthin against cisplatin-induced gastrointestinal toxicity in rats

European Surgery - The aim of the present study was to demonstrate astaxanthin’s attenuating effects against cisplatin (CIS)-induced gastrointestinal toxicity in a rat model....     

Immediate Continence Rates in RALRP: A Comparison of Three Techniques

Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the patients who underwent RALRP for localized prostate cancer by a single surgeon in our clinic from January 1, 2009–February 1, 2016. Continence was defined as no leakage or use of a safety pad for minimal leakage. The main outcome measure was continence at postoperative week 1 and months 1, 6, and 12.Results:Between 2009 and 2016, 239 patients underwent RALRP for localized prostate disease. Seventy-four patients underwent a standard approach (group 1), 88 had posterior reconstruction (group 2), and 77 had posterior reconstruction with total anatomic restoration (group 3). After 1 week, 24.3% of the patients in group 1 (18/74), 31.8% in group 2 (28/88), and 45.8% in group 3 (33/72) were continent (P = .02). One month after the surgery, continence rates for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 56.7, 67, and 75%, respectively (0.065). After 6 and 12 months, continence rates for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 72.9 and 87.8%, 81.8 and 89.7%, and 84.7 and 91.6%, respectively (P = .178 and .7484).Conclusion:Anatomic restoration improves continence rates in the early period after RALRP. Even though other parameters were higher in the total restoration group, immediate continence (at 1 week) was significantly better.     

Serum adipokine levels in patients with sarcoidosis

Clinical Rheumatology - Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granuloma which etiology is unknown yet. Adipokines are different proteins synthesized by...     

Cold restraint stress-induced gastric mucosal dysfunction role of nitric oxide

The objectives of this study were to determine the cold restraint stress-induced changes in gastric mucosal permeability and to assess whether nitric oxide synthesis inhibition affects gastric mucosal integrity after cold-restraint administration. Cold-restraint stress caused multiple gastric lesions in 90% of animals. The lesion index was found to be 3.87 ± 0.97 mm. Gastric mucosal permeability to the [⁵¹Cr]EDTA molecule was significantly elevated in the cold-restraint group compared to control. In order to evaluate the role of nitric oxide in cold restraint stress-induced gastropathy,l-arginine analogN ^G-nitro-l-arginie methyl ester (l-NAME) was given as a bolus (10 mg/kg, intravenously) and infused at a rate of 2 mg/ml/hr for 2 hr after cold-restraint administration.l-NAME greatly exacerbated gastric mucosal dysfunction associated with cold-restraint stress.d-NAME, the biologically inactive enantiomer, did not enhance mucosal dysfunction, whereasl-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide, reversed the effect ofl-NAME. In an additional group of experiments, effects of cold-restraint stress andl-NAME on net transmucosal fluid flux as well as tissue myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) were assessed. Cold-restraint stress administration significantly reduced the absorptive capacity of stomach, whereasl-NAME treatment did not affect the stress-induced alterations on net fluid absorption. Furthermore,l-NAME treatment did not affect the cold restraint stress-induced changes in tissue MPO activity. Our results suggest that gastric barrier function is altered after cold-restraint stress and nitric oxide production is important in minimizing mucosal barrier dysfunction associated with cold-restraint stress administration. Our results also indicate thatl-NAME-induced alterations on mucosal permeability are not related to net transmucosal fluid flux and tissue neutrophils.Supported by a grant from the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TÜBITAK, TAG 1209).     

Living donor liver hilar variations: surgical approaches and implications

BACKGROUND: Varied vascular and biliary anatomies are common in the liver. Living donor hepatectomy requires precise recognition of the hilar anatomy. This study was undertaken to study donor vascular and biliary tract variations, surgical approaches and implications in living liver transplant patients. METHODS: Two hundred living donor liver transplantations were performed at our institution between 2004 and 2009. All donors were evaluated by volumetric computerized tomography (CT), CT angiography and magn...