The clinicopathological features and survival of Castleman disease: a multicenter Turkish study

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and survival of CD, which is quite rare and has many unknowns.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study was conducted by retrospectively evaluating patients diagnosed with CD in six different centers in Turkey.

RESULTS

The median age of 33 patients included in the study was 49 and 51.5% (n = 17) of these patients were women. 18 (54.5%) patients were in the hyaline vascular subtype and most of the patients were UCD (n = 20, 60.6%). The most common involvement region was head and neck (n = 19, 57.5%). The UCD group was younger than the MCD group (p=0.027). Visceral lymph node involvement was higher in MCD than in UCD (p=0.001). Similarly, it was observed that there was more hepatomegaly (p=0.035) and splenomegaly (p=0.013) in the MCD group. During the median 19.5 months follow-up period, there were no patients who died.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that UCD and MCD are different clinical entities. Promising survival times can be achieved with surgical and systemic treatments in both subtypes of this extremely rare disease. However, this result should be supported by well-designed prospective comprehensive studies.

Investigation of hepatoprotective effect of some algae species on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate hepatoprotective effect of some algae species such as Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, Laminaria japonica, Sargassum sp. on experimental acute hepatotoxicity model that induced with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats. Algaes at a dose of 200 mg/kg and Silymarin at a dose of 25 mg/kg were orally administered for 7 days followed by CCl₄ at a single dose (0.5 ml/kg), at the 8th day to cause experimental acute hepatotoxicity. Levels of biochemical (AST, ALT etc.), lipid peroxidation (MDA), antioxidant (GSH, CAT, GPx) parameters and histopathological examination were carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of algae. In Sp group ALT and ALP levels were significantly decreased compared with CCl₄ (p < .05). Histological liver structures of Sp group were similar to the control group. MDA, GPx and CAT levels of Sp and La groups were significantly different compared with CCl₄ (p < .05). Based on these results, algae species able to minimise the toxic effects of CCl₄ and especially S. platensis could be used in the purpose of protection against chemical-induced hepatotoxicity.

A Neural Circuit Arbitrates between Persistence and Withdrawal in Hungry Drosophila

In pursuit of food, hungry animals mobilize significant energy resources and overcome exhaustion and fear. How need and motivation control the decision to continue or change behavior is not understood. Using a single fly treadmill, we show that hungry flies persistently track a food odor and increase their effort over repeated trials in the absence of reward suggesting that need dominates negative experience. We further show that odor tracking is regulated by two mushroom body output neurons (MBONs) connecting the MB to the lateral horn. These MBONs, together with dopaminergic neurons and Dop1R2 signaling, control behavioral persistence. Conversely, an octopaminergic neuron, VPM4, which directly innervates one of the MBONs, acts as a brake on odor tracking by connecting feeding and olfaction. Together, our data suggest a function for the MB in internal state-dependent expression of behavior that can be suppressed by external inputs conveying a competing behavioral drive.

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Hunger motivates persistent food odor tracking even without reward

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Two synaptically connected MBONs, -γ1pedc>αβ and -α2sc, regulate odor tracking

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Octopamine neurons connect feeding and counteract MBON and odor tracking

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Dopaminergic neurons and Dop1R2 signaling promote persistent tracking

Restless legs syndrome and quality of life in chronic hemodialysis patients

Context

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder that often has a profound impact on sleep and one of the most troublesome conditions experienced in hemodialysis patients. Aims: The aim of study was to search frequency of RLS and effects of RLS on quality of life (QoL) in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Settings and Design

Chronic hemodialysis patients of classical hemodialysis units were chosen. Length of the study was approximately 1 year.

Subjects and Methods

Two hundred and thirty-seven patients were investigated. RLS was diagnosed using to international the RLS questionnaire. The International RLS (IRLS) rating scale was used to calculate RLS severity. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization QoL brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument.

Statistical Analysis Used

Student's t-test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, and Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis were used. Significance level was P < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of RLS according to the four essential criteria was 18.6% (n = 44). According to IRLS, 22.7% of the patients with RLS were mild (n = 10), 63.6% were moderate (n = 28), and 13.7% were severe (n = 6). The parameters of QoL were compared in RLS-positive and negative patients. There was no significant difference in psychological health (P = 0.971), social relationships (P = 0.462), and environment (P = 0.483) between two groups. Only the physical health scores were higher in without RLS than patients with RLS (P = 0.027).

Conclusions

This study revealed that the frequency of RLS among chronic hemodialysis patients is 18.6% and RLS leads to physical life quality disturbances.

Internal State Dependent Odor Processing and Perception-The Role of Neuromodulation in the Fly Olfactory System

Animals rely heavily on their sense of olfaction to perform various vital interactions with an ever-in-flux environment. The turbulent and combinatorial nature of air-borne odorant cues demands the employment of various coding strategies, which allow the animal to attune to its internal needs and past or present experiences. Furthermore, these internal needs can be dependent on internal states such as hunger, reproductive state and sickness. Neuromodulation is a key component providing flexibility under such conditions. Understanding the contributions of neuromodulation, such as sensory neuron sensitization and choice bias requires manipulation of neuronal activity on a local and global scale. With Drosophila's genetic toolset, these manipulations are feasible and even allow a detailed look on the functional role of classical neuromodulators such as dopamine, octopamine and neuropeptides. The past years unraveled various mechanisms adapting chemosensory processing and perception to internal states such as hunger and reproductive state. However, future research should also investigate the mechanisms underlying other internal states including the modulatory influence of endogenous microbiota on Drosophila behavior. Furthermore, sickness induced by pathogenic infection could lead to novel insights as to the neuromodulators of circuits that integrate such a negative postingestive signal within the circuits governing olfactory behavior and learning. The enriched emporium of tools Drosophila provides will help to build a concrete picture of the influence of neuromodulation on olfaction and metabolism, adaptive behavior and our overall understanding of how a brain works.

Synthesis, FT-IR, FT-Raman, dispersive Raman and NMR spectroscopic study of a host molecule which potential applications in sensor devices

The solid phase FT-IR, FT-Raman and dispersive Raman spectra of the host molecule which potential applications in sensor devices have been recorded in the region 400-4000 and 50-3500cm(-1), respectively. The spectra were interpreted in terms of fundamentals modes, combination and overtone bands. The structure of the molecule was optimized and the structural characteristics were determined by density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP method with 6-31G(d) basis set. The vibrational frequencies were calculated for the studied molecule by DFT method, and compared with the experimental frequencies, which yield good agreement between observed and calculated frequencies. Finally the calculation results were applied to simulate infrared and Raman spectra of the compound. Obtained these spectra also showed good agreement with observed spectra. The dipole moment, linear polarizability and first hyperpolarizability values were also computed. The linear polarizability and first hyperpolarizability of the studied molecule indicate that the compound is a good candidate of nonlinear optical materials.

The incidence of non-proliferative and precancerous lesions of reduction mammoplasty: evaluation of 273 cases

BACKGROUND

Reduction mammoplasty (RM) is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures to treat symptomatic macromasty or to correct asymmetry. Occult breast carcinomas were rarely defined in RM specimens. There are few studies aiming to define the incidence of non-proliferative and precancerous lesions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We evaluated the pathological findings of the RM specimens that have been submitted to our Center for the last 6 years (2005-2011).

RESULTS

A total of 273 cases with bilateral RM were enrolled to the study. Of them, 229 cases had pathological changes. Eight cases (2.9%) had atypical ductal/lobular hyperplasia. One case (0.3%) had lobular carcinoma in situ; however, no invasive breast carcinoma was detected. Other pathological findings included fibrocystic changes, fibrosis, adenosis, fibroadenoma (without complex features), mastitis and duct ectasia.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological examination of the RM specimens is quite important to define the lesions precancerous of breast carcinoma. Unknown occult breast lesions could be identified and early interventions may be taken into account.

Iodine and zinc, but not selenium and copper, deficiency exists in a male Turkish population with endemic goiter

Although endemic goiter has been shown to have a high prevalence in Turkey, little is known about the concentration of urinary iodine, plasma selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in these patients. We studied on 140 male patient with endemic goiter (mean age: 22.2 +/- 0.19 yr) and 140 healthy male subjects (mean age: 21.8 +/- 0.28 yr). Daily urinary iodine excretion was determined by the ionometric method. Plasma Se, Zn, and Cu were determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry. Daily urinary iodine excretion was found to be significantly lower in the patient group (38.7 +/- 2.26 microg/d) than that of controls (50.73 +/- 2.56 microg/day, p = 0.001). Plasma Zn concentrations were also found to be significantly lower in the patient group (1.04 +/- 0.03 microg/mL) than that of controls (1.16 +/- 0.02 microg/mL, p = 0.001). No significant difference was determined in Se and Cu concentrations between the patient and control groups. Our study shows that a moderate iodine deficiency exists in both patients with endemic goiter and control subjects, which indicates the important role of iodine deficiency in the etiopathogenesis of endemic goiter in Turkey. Zinc deficiency may also contribute to the pathogenesis of endemic goiter. However, Se and Cu do not seem to have any role in the etiopathogenesis of endemic goiter in Turkey. A community-based iodine fortification program throughout the country may be proposed to take over the problem, which also can prevent the contributing effects of other element deficiencies that occur when iodine deficiency is the prevailing factor.