BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare conventional suture closure of arteriotomy with N-butyl-cyanoacrylate-assisted suture closure. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups. Standard arteriotomy was performed to the abdominal aorta through a midline incision. In the first group, arteriotomy was closed by 3 stitches with 45 degrees between each and in the second by two stitches with 0.1 ml (12-12.5 mg) cyanoacrylate. Amount of blood loss, operation time and severity of myointimal hyperplasia by immunohistochemistry on aorta segments were measured on postoperative days 7 and 30. RESULTS: Mean anastomotic time was 13.5+/-1.64 in the first and 13.0+/-1.75 min in the second group (p=0.356). Operation time was 23.45+/-3.63 in the control and 21.0+/-3.09 min in the second group (p=0.027). Mean amount of bleeding was 473.75+/- 260.5 in the first and 327.5+/- 155.36 microl in the second group (p=0.037). Intimal thickness on the 7th day was 80.62+/-7.92 in the first and 83.24+/-3.42 microm in the second group, and on the 30th day was 81.64+/-5.11 in the first and 88.77+/-11.03 microm in the second group. The early and late intimal thicknesses were similar (p=0.35 and 0.87, respectively). CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of arteriotomies with fewer sutures in combination with cyanoacrylate is a safe method associated with less blood loss and shorter operation time. It also does not lead to increased myointimal hyperplasia.

Different cement samples commonly used in building construction in Turkey have been analyzed for natural radioactivity using gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations observed in the cement samples were 52, 40 and 324Bqkg(-1) for (226)Ra,(232)Th and (40)K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries and world average limits. The radiological hazard parameters such as radium equivalent activities (Ra(eq)), gamma index (I(gamma)) and alpha index (I(alpha)) indices as well as terrestrial absorbed dose and annual effective dose rate were calculated and compared with the international data. The Ra(eq) values of cement are lower than the limit of 370Bqkg(-1), equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5mSvy(-1). Moreover, the mass attenuation coefficients were determined experimentally and calculated theoretically using XCOM in some cement samples. Also, chemical compositions analyses of the cement samples were investigated.

The activity concentrations of (226)Ra,(232)Th, and (40)K in lime and gypsum samples used as building materials in Turkey were measured using gamma spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of (226)Ra,(232)Th, and (40)K were found to be 38 +/- 16, 20 +/- 9, and 156 +/- 54 Bq kg(- 1) for lime and found to be 17 +/- 6, 13 +/- 5, and 429 +/- 24 Bq kg(- 1) for gypsum, respectively. The radiological hazards due to the natural radioactivity in the samples were inferred from calculations of radium equivalent activities (Ra(eq)), indoor absorbed dose rate in the air, the annual effective dose, and gamma and alpha indices. These radiological parameters were evaluated and compared with the internationally recommended limits. The experimental mass attenuation coefficients (mu/rho) of the samples were determined in the energy range 81-1,332 keV. The experimental mass attenuation coefficients were compared with theoretical values obtained using XCOM. It is found that the calculated values and the experimental results are in good agreement.

In this study, Cadmium (Cd) genotoxicity was investigated in both bone marrow and peripheral blood treatment using rat micronucleus technique as genotoxicity test at acute and chronic treatment in the same animals. This study evaluated the frequency of micronuclei in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of male rats treated with unique cadmium dose (15 mg/kg. body w/day) by gavage for 60 days and acute treatment for 24 h, respectively. Mitomycin C (MMC) 2 mg/kg body wt was used as a positive control. This study shows that cadmium chloride treatment significantly induced the frequency of micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes in both tibia bone marrow and peripheral blood (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). This increase in micronucleus frequency shows that cadmium has a genotoxic effect on bone marrow and peripheral blood at this level. Also, in order to determine cytotoxicity in bone marrow and peripheral blood, the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes was calculated in bone marrow and peripheral blood. Cd treatment decreased this ratio in only bone marrow. The results of this study demonstrate that Cd has both toxic and genotoxic potential in bone marrow and only genotoxic potential in peripheral blood. There is a significant difference between the control group and exposed group, including acute and chronic treatment for blood Cd level (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between acute and chronic exposure group (p > 0.05).

Microalbuminuria, considered a marker for systemic vascular disease, is a significant predictor of increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population. The relationship between microalbuminuria and cardiovascular disease is unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the association between microalbuminuria and coronary collateral vessel (CCV) development in nondiabetic and nonhypertensive patients with unstable coronary artery disease (USCAD). One hundred and six patients that had USCAD without hypertension and diabetes participated in the study. Microalbuminuria was assessed by radioimmunoassay in 24-h urine collections performed on the first day, and coronary angiography was performed 2-4 days after admissions. In total, 26 patients (mean age 56+/-14 years) had the criteria of the microalbuminuria group and 80 patients with normoalbuminuria (mean age 59+/-11 years), who had one or more diseased vessels with 80% or more stenosis, were included in the control group. The CCVs are graded according to the Rentrop scoring system and a Rentrop grade >/=1 was accepted as CCV development. CCV development was detected in eight (23%) of 26 patients in the microalbuminuria group and in 53 (74%) of 80 patients in the normoalbuminuria group. CCV development in the patients in the normoalbuminuria group was significantly different from that of the patients in the microalbuminuria group (r =-0.15, P = 0.006). In conclusion, these findings suggest that CCV development is poorer in the microalbuminuria group than the normoalbuminuria group. This study shows that in patients with USCAD, microalbuminuria, which is related to systemic vascular disease, affects CCV development negatively.

AIM: The aim of our study was to determine and compare the shrinking rates of different prosthetic materials used in ventral hernia repair and to establish a possible correlation with macroscopic adhesions, histopathologic inflammation, and fibrosis. METHODS: Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups (T, V, S, and D). A midline laparotomy was performed under general anesthesia. A 30x40 mm-sized mesh was placed intraperitoneally and fixed with an interrupted 4/0 polypropylene suture to the anterior abdominal wall. In group T, TiMesh; group V, Vypro II; group S, Sepramesh; and group D, DynaMesh-IPOM were used. All rats were killed at the 90th day postoperatively and the mesh area and the shrinking rate were calculated. Each group was evaluated in correlation with shrinking, adhesion, histopathologic inflammation, and fibrosis, and compared with each other. RESULTS: The mean area was 1013.33 mm2 in the T group, 930.44 mm2 in the V group, 1024.44 mm2 in the S group, and 1073.8 mm2 in the D group. The shrinking areas were found as 186.67 mm2, 269.55 mm2, 177.55 mm2, and 126.2 mm2, respectively. The shrinking rates were statistically significant in each group. The lowest shrinking rate was found in group D and highest in group V, but the results were statistically insignificant. In terms of macroscopic adhesion, histopathologic inflammation, and fibrosis no statistically significant differences were found among all the groups in comparison with each other. CONCLUSIONS: Although the shrinking rate of DynaMesh is lowest among all the groups, the results are statistically insignificant. The results of our experimental study revealed no superiority in the means of mesh shrinkage among TiMesh, Vypro II, Sepramesh, and DynaMesh in the rats.

The Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is one of the main hazelnut producers in Turkey and in the world. Since this region was contaminated by the Chernobyl accident in 1986, a comprehensive study was planned and carried out to determine the radioactivity level in hazelnut growing region. The dose due to consumption of hazelnut by the public was estimated and it was shown that this dose imposes no threat to human health. In addition, heavy metal analysis was performed in the samples and the amount of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb were also detected. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metal are below the daily intake recommended by the international organizations.

A twenty-eight year old male with a cervical mass, complaining of hoarseness and weight loss, was referred to our clinic. A 3 x 4 cm cystic lesion localizing in the region of the suprajugular notch was seen with the aid of computerized chest tomography. A cervical ultrasound confirmed that it was a cystic lesion. It was discovered that the right vocal cord was paralytic after an ear-nose-throat examination. A percutaneous needle biopsy did not provide a diagnosis. The cyst was completely excised via suprajugular incision. Histopathologic examination showed that it was a bronchogenic cyst. The hoarseness was completely eliminated immediately after cystic removal. The patient was discharged after the third postoperative day. After a six-month of follow-up, no recurrence was detected.

We investigated the effect of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (BCA) on colonic anastomosis under clean contaminated procedure (CCP) and bacterial peritonitis (BP) conditions in rats. Male Wistar albino rats (n = 80) were divided into two groups: CCP and BP. In the CCP group, colonic resection and anastomosis were performed. BP was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. BCA was administered to the anastomosis in half of the rats in both groups. Anastomotic assessment was done on postoperative days 3 and 7 by evaluating the burst pressure, and gross anastomotic and histopathologic healing indices. The presence and severity of adhesion formation was also investigated. There were no differences in terms of gross healing parameters on days 3 and 7. Burst pressures were also similar on both days (p = 0.244 and p = 0.101, respectively). In the early phase (day 3), adhesion development (p < 0.001), granulocytic cell infiltration (p = 0.02), inflammation (p = 0.019) and necrosis (p = 0.019) were higher in the BCA groups. Mononuclear cell infiltration (p = 0.659), fibroblastic cell infiltration (p = 0.538) and capillary formation (p = 0.316) were similar. In the late phase (day 7), adhesion development (p < 0.001), necrosis (p = 0.001) and granulocytic cell infiltration (p = 0.034) were higher in the treatment groups. Fibroblastic cell infiltration (p = 0.017) and capillary formation (p = 0.016) were lower in BCA treated rats, particularly in the BP condition. Mononuclear cell infiltration did not differ (p = 0.176). The application of BCA did not provide any benefit under either CCP or BP conditions. Moreover, BCA caused increased inflammatory reactions, necrosis and adhesion formation. During the late phase of healing, the ongoing enhanced inflammation caused a reduction in capillary formation and fibroblastic infiltration, particularly under BP conditions.