No abstract

Objectives: Breast and colon cancer are neoplasms well known to be related to obesity. Adiponectin, a protein that increases in obesity, seems to be involved in the relationship but clinical data are limited. Methods: In this study, we therefore evaluated the serum adiponectin levels in 87 breast and 27 colon cancer patients and assessed the relation with BMI, menopausal status, receptor status and stage of disease. Results: Serum adiponectin levels were lower in cancer cases (8583 ± 2095 ng/ml for breast cancer, 9513 ± 2276 for colon cancer) than in controls (13905 ± 3263). Conclusion: A low serum adiponectin level may be associated with both breast and colon cancer, and that this association is not statistically significant for either receptor or menopausal status in breast cancer groups.

Purpose: LigaSure (ValleyLab, CO, USA) is a bipolar diathermy system that seals vessels with reduced thermal spread. The device has been used successfully in abdominal surgery and has been introduced as a new method for hemostasis during thyroidectomy. This study compares the efficacy and advantages of LigaSure, when used for thyroidectomy in benign nodular thyroid disease, with the conventional clamp-and-tie technique. Methods: Between December 2003 and December 2008, 410 patients underwent thyroid surgery (333 with the conventional clamp-and-tie technique and 77 with LigaSure). Nine patients did not sign the ethical approval document and so were excluded from the study; the results of 68 LigaSure patients were evaluated. The main outcomes measured were age, sex, operating time, postoperative hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and drain use. 0078-6 11 Statistical analysis consisted of the chi-squared test and Student's t-test. Results: The mean operating time was significantly shorter in the LigaSure group by 24.1±1.7 minutes for a total thyroidectomy (P<0.0001) and 7.6±0.1 minutes for one side total plus other side subtotal thyroidectomy (P<0.0001). Bleeding during surgery was significantly lower in the LigaSure group (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and postthyroidectomy hemorrhage. Conclusion: TheLigaSure vessel sealer is a safe, effective alternative for thyroid surgery that reduces the overall operating time. However, its higher cost is a significant handicap for its use in surgery in developing countries.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to show the effectiveness of Alvarado score and its components to predict the correct diagnosis of acute appendicitis and to find an optimum cut-off value for Alvarado score. Material and Methods:The patients who underwent surgical operation between January 2011 and January 2012 with the suspicion of acute appendicitis were included in the study. Their demographic and clinical features and histopathological results were retrieved from the medical records. They were divided into three groups according to their Alvarado scores. With the use of "receiver operating characteristic" curve analysis, the optimum cut-off value needed to make a correct diagnosis of acute appendicitis was determined. Results:In all, 156 patients were included into the study. The mean age was 31.41±13.27 years. Histopathologically, acute appendicitis was detected in 125 (80.1%) patients, and negative appendectomy was found in 31 patients (19.8%). Mean Alvarado score was 6.44±1.49. There was a significant correlation between negative appendectomy and low Alvarado score (p<0.001). The main component of Alvarado score that makes the difference was rebound. Fever higher than 37.3°C, rebound, loss of appetite, and existence of shifting pain were statistically differential components (p=0.042, p<0.001, p=0.045, p<0.001, respectively). The rate of correct diagnosis of acute appendicitis was maximum in group 3 (100%) and minimum in group 1 (21.7%). Optimum cut-off value for Alvarado score was 7. Conclusion:Patients with an Alvarado score of over 7 can be taken into surgical operation without the need of imaging methods.

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The local injection of GM-CSF improved impaired wound healing in adriamycin-treated rats.

The case reported below is outstanding in literature for being the only case that has the most lymph node metastasis. Although malign transformation of dermal cylindromas is rare, aggressive surgery should be considered with locoregional metastasis of the tumor.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a serious health problem. Although it has been widely investigated, treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases currently remains as a challenging clinical problem. Over production of nitric oxide has been demonstrated to cause tissue damage and inflammation. In this study, the effect of methylene blue (MB), a well-known inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, was investigated in acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Eighty male rats randomized into 4 groups (control, control MB, colitis, colitis + MB). AA was applied to groups 3 and 4. MB was added into group 2 and 4. Three days later, animals were sacrificed and 8 cm distal colonic segment resected and the specimens are examined using macroscopical, histological, and biochemical methods. The results of the macroscopic and microscopic examination showed that in group 4 the mucosal damage and inflammation score significantly lower than group 3. Increased intestinal permeability in acetic acid-administered group was significantly reversed by MB application. Myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels increased significantly, while superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were suppressed after AA-administration. These biochemical parameters were reversed in MB-treated group. Administration of acetic acid resulted in increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, total nitrite/nitrate levels and nitric oxide synthase activity. These biochemical alterations were significantly reversed by MB application also. In conclusion, our results indicate that MB decreases the level of nitric oxide and decreases inflammation in acetic acid-induced colitis.