Protective effect of adenosine triphosphate against sunitinib-related skin damage in rats

Cutaneous side effects associated with sunitinib use are a major problem in patients receiving cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) against possible skin damage resulting from sunitinib use in rats. Thirty Albino Winstar rats were divided into the following three groups: healthy controls (HCs, n = 10), sunitinib (SUN, n = 10), and sunitinib + ATP (SAT, n = 10). ATP was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 2 mg/kg. One hour subsequent to the administration of ATP and 0.9% NaCl, the SAT and SUN groups were orally administered a dose of 25 mg/kg sunitinib to the stomach. Macroscopic evaluation of the skin indicated lower levels of skin damage in the SAT group than in the SUN group. As an indicator of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were significantly higher in the SUN group than in the HC group, while total glutathione (tGSH) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly lower. However, MDA, TOS, and OSI levels were significantly lower in the SAT group than in the SUN group, while tGSH and TAS levels were significantly higher. Histopathological examination revealed keratin plugs with edema, vasopathology, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the SUN group. The SAT group showed less necrotic epithelium, keratin plugs, edema, and vasopathology than the SUN group. ATP can be effective in preventing skin damage caused by sunitinib use by reducing oxidative stress.

Investigation of Neuromuscular Transmission in Some Rare Types of Migraine

The aim of this study was to delineate any dysfunction of neuromuscular transmission (NMT) by single-fibre electromyography (SFEMG) in some rare types of migraine. Recent studies have shown subclinical dysfunction of NMT in migraine with aura and cluster headache by using SFEMG, whereas another recent study has shown NMT to be normal in familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) with CACNA1A mutations. Thirty patients with rare primary headache syndromes [18 with sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM), six with FHM and six with basilar-type migraine (BM)] and 15 healthy control subjects without any headache complaints underwent nerve conduction studies, EMG and SFEMG during voluntary contraction of the extensor digitorum communis muscle. Ten to 20 different potential pairs were recorded and individual jitter values calculated. The results obtained from patient groups were compared with those from the normal subjects. Of 600 individual jitter values of the patients, 27 (4.5%) were abnormally high, whereas only 3/205 (1.5%) jitter values from normal subjects were abnormal. Abnormal NMT was found in 4/30 (13.3%) patients (three SHM and one BM), but in none of the control subjects. Only in SHM patients was the number of individual abnormal jitter values slightly but significantly different from normal controls. The present study demonstrates that subclinical NMT abnormality is slightly present in only SHM and BM patients, but not in FHM patients.

Subclinical Neuromuscular Transmission Abnormality Detected by Single-Fibre EMG is More Pronounced in Cluster Headache Than in Migraine With Aura

The aim was to investigate neuromuscular transmission (NMT) by single-fibre EMG (SFEMG) in a large series of patients having migraine with aura (MA) or cluster headache (CH). Recent studies using SFEMG have shown subclinical dysfunction of NMT in MA and CH. Forty-three patients having MA, 51 with CH and 38 healthy control subjects underwent nerve conduction studies, EMG and SFEMG during voluntary contraction of the extensor digitorum communis muscle. Twenty different potential pairs were recorded and individual, mean and total abnormal individual jitter values were calculated. The results obtained from MA patients were compared with those from CH patients. In MA patients, 32 of 860 jitters were abnormally high, whereas 73 of 1020 of the jitters showed this abnormality in CH patients. None of the control subjects, five MA patients (11.6%) and 11 CH patients (21.6%) were designated as having subclinical NMT abnormality. Thus, patients having junction dysfunction were significantly more common in the CH group. The subclinical NMT abnormality shown by SFEMG is more common in CH than in MA. These two primary headache syndromes may have some shared functional abnormality of NMT constituents which is more evident in CH.

Obturator mononeuropathy due to adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin

A 35-year-old woman presented with a three-month history of left groin and thigh pain. Neurological examination and electromyography showed pathological features consistent with obturator nerve involvement. Imaging studies revealed a left retroperitoneal mass, which by pathological examination was shown to be metastatic adenocarcinoma of possible Mullerian origin. Primary tumor could not be detected in a follow-up period of three years. Obturator mononeuropathy can be the first manifestation of cancer. Cancer of unknown primary origin may occasionally be local, well-restricted and carry a good prognosis.

Dopaminergic toxicity associated with oral exposure to the herbicide atrazine in juvenile male C57BL/6 mice

The herbicide atrazine (ATR) is a very commonly used pesticide in the United States. and a major ground water contaminant. It has also been recently implicated as a potential basal ganglia toxicant. In the present study, our objective was to determine the effects of ATR exposure on striatal neurochemistry, on the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and, as a reference, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of male juvenile C57BL/6 mice. Oral exposure to ATR for 14 days dose-dependently decreased the levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in the striatum for up to a week post-treatment. ATR exposure also time- and dose-dependently decreased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) dopaminergic neurons in both SNpc and VTA (with effects being slightly more prominent in SNpc), such that the decreases were most evident at 7 weeks post-cessation of exposure to ATR. Together, these data indicate that, in the juvenile male C57BL/6 mouse, the neurotoxic effects of ATR appear to cause transient neurochemical alterations, whereas the loss of TH+ neurons appears to be persistent, possibly confined to basal ganglia dopaminergic neurons, but not exclusive to the SNpc.

The loneliness level of patients with gynecological cancer

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the loneliness levels and the variables that have an effect on the loneliness of women with a gynecological cancer diagnosis. The main questions that the study addressed were as follows: (1) What is the loneliness level of patients with gynecological cancer? and (2) What kind of relationships are there between general demographic characteristics of patients with gynecological cancer and their loneliness? This descriptive study was conducted at Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Application and Investigation Hospital, Maternity and Women Diseases Gynecology Clinic, from July to December 2002. Maternity and Women Diseases Clinic Oncology Service treated 161 patients during this time period. While all patients hospitalized between the specified dates constituted the universe of the investigation; the actual sample was 94 patients. As data collection tools, a questionnaire form, which aimed at identifying sociodemographic characteristics of patients and the features related to their diseases relevant to the literature and the UCLA-loneliness scale were used. The general loneliness mean score of women with gynecological cancer was 35.85 +/- 9.302. Women's mean scores of loneliness were affected by whether psychologic support was needed, genital organ diseases were treated, or a family member had a gynecological operation, and by the income situation. The disease of cancer, which creates the most fear and anxiety in the community, has adverse psychologic effects on both the patient and the family. In societies where men dominate, as is the case in our society, women's place in the society has been reduced to their reproductive capacity, and thus, the health of their genital organs is very important.

Primary T-lymphoma of the breast with bilateral involvement, unusual presentation

Primary or secondary involvement of the breast is a rare form of extranodal lymphoma. Most reported primary non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the breast have a B-cell phenotype, those of T-cell phenotype are even more rare. Bilateral breast involvement at diagnosis also is very rare. We herein report a young female patient with bilateral breast involvement by low-grade T-cell malignant lymphoma.

Abdominal actinomycosis: a case report

Actinomycosis is an anaerobic infection caused by actinomycetes, which are part of the normal flora in the intestinal, anal and genital tracts. Although the infection is often cured medically with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, diagnosis is usually made surgically. We report the case of a 41 year-old woman with intra-abdominal mass secondary to extensive actinomycosis involving the hepatic flexura. She required emergency surgery during which the mass was excised. A review of the literature on abdominal actinomycosis during the last 20 years is reported. Emergency surgery has been rarely described in this condition. Although the incidence of actinomycosis has decreased, the abdominal form has been observed with increasing frequency: it could be the result of prolonged use of intra-uterine device. Abdominal actinomycosis is an extremely rare infection that can mimic multiple disease processes and requires accurate diagnosis for successful therapy.

Earthquake related startle reaction and its EEG correlates

The acute effect of traumatizing events on the human brain has long been studied. The major obstacles to this endeavor have been the severity and the delay from time of exposure to the traumatizing events. To avoid these issues, EEG and clinical examinations of 18 healthy, drug-free subjects were performed 2 weeks after an earthquake occurred in Turkey in 1999. It was found, for the first time to our knowledge, that EEG parameters can predict startle response in acute stress reaction correctly in 100% of the cases. EEG measures of the reactivity to eyes opening were especially important in this regard.

An unusual complication of endotracheal intubation: ingestion of a laryngoscope bulb

Many well described complications can result from endotracheal intubation in neonates during resuscitation. Ingestion of a laryngoscope bulb is a rare event with potentially serious consequences. We are reporting this unusual complication in a neonate during delivery room resuscitation and point to the importance of checking the integrity of the equipment prior to resuscitative efforts.

The management of renal candidiasis in the newborn

Renal candidiasis in the neonate is encountered infrequently. We report a newborn with ichthyosis, who during the hospital course had five episodes of culture-proven sepsis, probably due to skin lesions. For these infections various antibiotic combinations were used. During the therapy of the last sepsis attack, unilateral hydronephrosis developed secondary to renal candidiasis. Percutaneous nephrostomy with amphotericin B irrigation, coupled with five weeks of intravenous amphotericin B therapy was successful. We believe that with this approach the mortality and morbidity of renal candidiasis could be reduced.

Fatal intracranial hemorrhage in a newborn with factor VII deficiency

Factor VII deficiency is a rare congenital coagulopathy. Prolonged prothrombin time with normal partial thromboplastin time indicates factor VII deficiency. For the definitive diagnosis, the specific factor VII level should be investigated. We report a seven-day-old, male, full-term newborn who was admitted with the diagnosis of sepsis. Hematological tests revealed prolonged prothrombin time and a factor VII level of five percent. After antibiotic therapy and fresh frozen plasma replacement his clinical status improved but the prothrombin time continued to be prolonged. On the 14th day, just before the end of antibiotic therapy, the infant died of sudden intracerebral hemorrhage. In this article, the clinical features and management of factor VII deficiency are discussed.

Nephrocalcinosis in newborn

Nephrocalcinosis is uncommon in childhood, and almost always develops outside the newborn period. Over the last decade, nephrocalcinosis due to multifactorial pathogenesis has increased in very low birthweight infants. In this report a 23 day old full-term baby with nephrocalcinosis secondary to distal renal tubular acidosis is described.

Breast milk beta-glucuronidase and prolonged jaundice in the neonate

Breast milk samples from mothers of breast-fed, healthy, term newborns with unexplained prolonged jaundice were analyzed for beta-glucuronidase activity. Mean enzyme activity was 75.7 +/- 34.5 modified Sigma units/ml in the breast milk samples ingested by the study group of jaundiced babies (n = 25) and 82.2 +/- 40.1 modified Sigma units/ml in the samples ingested by the control group of non-jaundiced babies (n = 20) (p > 0.05). Enzyme activities at 2, 3 and 4 postnatal weeks were 101.0 +/- 39.9, 66.0 +/- 20.7 and 57.0 +/- 22.4 modified Sigma units/ml in the study group and 87.9 +/- 36.1, 58.5 +/- 15.0 and 88.3 +/- 49.1 modified Sigma units/ml in the controls. The differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). We conclude that breast milk beta-glucuronidase activity may be a contributory factor, in the presence of other variables, in hyperbilirubinemia but it is neither the main nor the only cause of prolonged jaundice in neonates.

Neonatal suppurative parotitis: a vanishing disease?

A case of neonatal suppurative parotitis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae is described. This is the first case reported in the last 20 years. Infection with unusual microorganisms should be taken into account when planning antibiotic treatment, especially in hospital acquired infections of the salivary glands in the newborn.