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There is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of severe neurological trauma, such as stroke and spinal cord injuries. However, many drugs with potential neuropharmacological activity, such as adenosine, are inefficient upon systemic administration because of their fast metabolization and rapid clearance from the bloodstream. Here, we show that conjugation of adenosine to the lipid squalene and the subsequent formation of nanoassemblies allows prolonged circulation of this nucleoside, providing neuroprotection in mouse stroke and rat spinal cord injury models. The animals receiving systemic administration of squalenoyl adenosine nanoassemblies showed a significant improvement of their neurologic deficit score in the case of cerebral ischaemia, and an early motor recovery of the hindlimbs in the case of spinal cord injury. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the nanoassemblies were able to extend adenosine circulation and its interaction with the neurovascular unit. This Article shows, for the first time, that a hydrophilic and rapidly metabolized molecule such as adenosine may become pharmacologically efficient owing to a single conjugation with the lipid squalene. The systemic circulation time of adenosine is prolonged by forming nanoassemblies with squalene, and this can improve neurologic recovery in mice affected by a stroke or spinal cord injury.

Tetracosactide is an engineered peptide that applies the same biological impacts as the endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone. Previous studies indicated that tetracosactide has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neurotrophic activity. In this study, we hypothesized that tetracosactide may have protective effects in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. Rabbits were randomized into the accompanying four groups of eight animals each: group 1 (control), group 2 (ischemia), group 3 (methylprednisolone) and group 4 (tetracosactide). In the control group, just a laparotomy was performed. In the various groups, the spinal cord ischemia model was made by the impediment of the aorta only caudal to the renal vein. Neurological assessment was conducted with the Tarlov scoring system. Levels of myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde and catalase were analyzed, similar to the activities of xanthine oxidase and caspase-3. Histopathological and ultrastructural assessments were additionally performed. After ischemia-reperfusion injury, increments were found in the tissue myeloperoxidase levels ( < 0.001), malondialdehyde levels ( < 0.001), xanthine oxidase action ( < 0.001) and caspase-3 movement ( < 0.001). Conversely, both serum and tissue catalase levels were diminished ( < 0.001 for both). After the administration of tetracosactide, declines were seen in the tissue myeloperoxidase levels ( < 0.001), malondialdehyde levels ( = 0.003), xanthine oxidase action ( < 0.001) and caspase-3 movement ( < 0.001). Conversely, both the serum and tissue catalase levels were expanded ( < 0.001). Besides, tetracosactide treatment indicated enhanced results related to the histopathological scores ( < 0.001), the ultra-structural score ( = 0.008) and the Tarlov scores ( < 0.001). The findings showed for the first time that tetracosactide shows significant neuroprotective activity against ischemia-reperfusion injury of the spinal cord.

Vulvar cancer is rare. The complex inguinofemoral anatomy and the limited number of surgical procedures per year per gynecological oncologist tends to decrease the competency level. This step-by-step, cadaveric educational video was produced to increase understanding of the anatomy and technique of inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the electron microscopic findings of the lens epithelial cells (LECs) in patients with Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS) who suffered from cataracts and to compare those with age-matched controls. This study was a prospective, comparative case series. The anterior lens capsules (ALC: basement membrane and associated LECs) were taken from 12 eyes of 12 cases of FUS and ten eyes of ten control patients. The ALCs were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). There were no statistically significant differences regarding the age or gender between the FUS group and the control group (P > 0.05). In the TEM examinations of the ALCs, all of the FUS cases revealed similar significant ultrastructural changes when compared to the control patients. In the FUS group, the LECs showed homogeneous thickening and irregularity which included some small vacuoles in different areas of the epithelial tissue. Moreover, in some areas of the LECs, widespread, oval-shaped, pigment clusters were detected. Conversely, in the control group, the LECs and all of their elements were in normal ultrastructural patterns, with the exception of some small intraepithelial vacuoles which were fewer and smaller than those in the FUS group. Ultrastructural analysis of the ALC of the patients with FUS disclosed some significant alterations which may be related to the summation of oxidative stress, intraocular inflammation, and iris atrophy.

To analyze protective/regenerative effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) on I-Radioiodine (RAI)-induced salivary gland damage in rats. Study population consisted of controls (n:6) and study groups (n:54): RAI (Group 1), ADMSC (Group 2), amifostine (Group 3), RAI+amifostine (Group 4), concomitant RAI+ADMSC (Group 5) and RAI+ADMSC after 48 h (Group 6). We used light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS), and analyzed data statistically. We observed the homing of ADMSC in salivary glands at 1 month on LM. RAI exposure affected necrosis, periductal fibrosis, periductal sclerosis, vascular sclerosis and the total sum score were in a statistically significant manner ( < 0.05). Intragroup comparisons with LM at 1 and 6 months revealed statistically significant improvements in Group 6 ( < 0.05) but not in Groups 4 and 5. Intergroup comparisons of the total score showed that Groups 4 and 5 in 1 month and Group 6 in 6 month had the lowest values. TEM showed vacuolization, edema, and fibrosis at 1 month, and an improvement in damage in 6 month in Groups 5 and 6. SGSs revealed significant differences for the maximum secretion ratio (Smax) ( = 0.01) and the gland-to-background ratio at a maximum count (G/BGmax) ( = 0. 01) at 1 month, for G/BGmax ( = 0.01), Smax ( = 0.01) and the time to reach the maximum count ratio over the time to reach the minimum count (Tmax/Tmin) ( = 0.03) at 6 month. 1 and 6 month scans showed differences for Smax and G/BGmax ( = 0.04), but not for Tmax/Tmin ( > 0.05). We observed a significant deterioration in gland function in group 1, whereas, mild to moderate deteriorations were seen in protective treatment groups. Our results indicated that ADMSC might play a promising role as a protective/regenerative agent against RAI-induced salivary gland dysfunction.

PurposeTo demonstrate the morphological and physiological characteristics of lens epithelial cells (LECs) in patients with traumatic cataract using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to further understand penetrating ocular injury-induced cataract morphology and epithelial repair mechanisms involved at a cellular level.MethodsThis is a prospective international study. Sixteen eyes of 16 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as traumatic white cataracts following the anterior lens capsule perforation and 13 eyes of 13 patients with idiopathic posterior subcapsular cataract were included to the study. The anterior lens capsules (aLCs: basement membrane and associated LECs) were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for TEM.ResultsTwo prominent cell types were observed in all aLCs of the traumatic cases: degenerated type LECs having variable sized intraepithelial vacuoles close to injury site and normal appearing LECs having an euchromatic nucleus distant from the injury site. In control group, the LECs and all their elements were in normal ultrastructural pattern except some small intraepithelial vacuoles, which were fewer and smaller than the vacuoles in the degenerated LECs of the traumatic group.ConclusionsThe ultrastructural findings of our cases support that traumatically induced dysfunction of the lens epithelium may lead to an edema in superficial cortical lens fibers that subsequently undergo degeneration and produce a localized zone of vacuolization.

PurposeTo investigate the ultrastructure of the lens epithelial cells (LECs) in patients with idiopathic congenital cataract.MethodsThis is a prospective interventional study. The anterior lens capsules (aLC: basement membrane and associated LECs) were taken from 16 eyes of 12 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having idiopathic congenital cataracts. The aLCs were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM).ResultsSome significant ultrastructural changes were observed in all aLCs of the participants. The anterior LECs showed alterations in different areas which were partly cuboidal and partly squamous in shape. The LECs had euchromatic nucleus and included some vacuoles in the cytoplasms as a remarkable alteration. The sizes of these intraepithelial cell vacuoles were changeable.ConclusionsWe identified remarkable changes in LECs of the eyes with idiopathic congenital cataract by TEM. It can be assumed that oxidative damage may be associated with these ultrastructural changes in LECs of the eyes with idiopathic congenital cataracts.

Asterion is the junction of lambdoid, parietomastoid and occipitomastoid sutures and it corresponds to the location of the posterolateral fontanelle. It is close related to the location of junction of transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Mastoid process, posterior end of zygomatic arch, external occipital protuberance and lambda are bony features in close proximity of asterion. In the present study we measured the distance between asterion and each of aforementioned bony points. Twenty human dry skulls were included in this study. Distance between asterion and mastoid process was 43.65 ± 6.75 mm on the leftside and 45.01± 6.04mm on the right side. Distance between asterion and posterior end of zygomatic arch was 43.97 ± 7.37 mm on the leftside and 43.95± 7.02 mm on the right side. Distance between asterion and external occipital protuberance was 62.59 ± 8.83 mm on the leftside and 54.75 ±5.57mm on the right side. Distance between asterion and lambda was 81.40 ± 7.36 mm on the leftside and 82 ± 4.96 mm on the right side. In 84 % of the cases asterion was at the junction of transverse and sigmoid sinuses. In 12% of the cases asterion was below the junction of transverse and sigmoid sinuses. In 4 % of the cases asterion was above the junction of transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Asterion is the essential point to indicate safety zone for surgical approach and to determine sex and age. It is of great interest of anatomists, anthropologists, forensic experts, radiologists and neurosurgeons

As far as our literature searches showed us, morphological characteristics of cranium such as sutures, sutural bones and fontanelles had been examined in the skulls in the museums and dry specimens until now. As a modern method, three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of cranial bones by using multidetector computed tomography-computed tomography angiography (MDCT-CTA) can display in vivo morphological characteristics. In our study, we aimed to determine the presence and incidence of these morphological characteristics that can be clinically significant in our population, by using radiologic methods. We examined head and neck regions of 185 patients via MDCT-CTA. We evaluated radiologically detectable variations of the metopic sutures, lambda, bregma, asterion and pterion, which can be very easily confused with fractures. Additionally, the differences between the genders and incidence of coexistence of these variations were evaluated. According to our study, the incidence of persistent metopic suture was 8.1% and the incidence of lambda variations was 5.9%. Variations were most commonly encountered on the left asterion, and least commonly on the bregma and left pterion. In the evaluation of the coexistence of the parameters and combinations, the Wormian bones located at the right and left asterions were detected. There were no statistically significant differences between genders. Variations of the sutures and sutural bones can be easily misdiagnosed with the fractures of related bony regions in unconscious patients with multiple traumas. During surgical interventions in these patients, surgeons must take this fact into consideration in order to make differential diagnosis of fractures and intersutural bone variations.

Introduction and hypothesis This study investigated light and electron microscopic findings in cardinal ligaments of women with or without uterine prolapse. Methods Cardinal ligament samples were obtained from hysterectomy specimens of ten women with and ten women without uterine prolapse. Results Light microscopy showed altered connective tissue properties in eight of ten women with prolapse and in only three of ten women without prolapse ( p  = 0.025). The alterations included loosely arranged connective tissue fibers and less dense extracellular matrix with sparsely distributed fibroblasts. Under electron microscopy, collagen fibers were more sparsely distributed and thicker in women with prolapse. Mean diameter of collagen fibers was 61.2 ± 11.4 nm in women with prolapse while it was 52.5 ± 6.1 nm in women without prolapse ( p  < 0.001). Conclusions Uterine prolapse is associated with connective tissue alterations including total amount of connective tissue components and diameter and distribution of collagen fibers.