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Biomedical subjects

G Aftimos

Publications and source records attributed to G Aftimos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Protective effect of taurine against free radicals damage in the rat myocardium.

Free radicals are highly cytotoxic to the heart and are involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this study, we tested the ability of taurine to neutralize the deleterious effects of free radicals generated ex vivo and in vitro. Taurine was added at a concentration of 0.1 mM to the drinking water of experimental rats during 6 months. The animal hearts were then isolated and submitted to regional ischemia and reperfusion; ventricular fibrillation was significantly reduced as compared to a control group of non-treated animals. Moreover, at a concentration of 1 mM, taurine provided significant cardio-protection against the deleterious effect of free radicals generated by the electrolysis of Krebs-Henseleit buffer. When isolated hearts were perfused with electrolysed buffer, extensive fiber necrosis occurred, as observed by staining with nitro blue tertrazolium, a soluble dye which yields a dark blue formazan stain in the presence of reducing agents This stain was barely detectable when taurine was added to the perfusing electrolysed buffer. To further understand the protecting mechanism of taurine, we used xanthine-xanthine-oxidase as a superoxide (O2-) generating system and monitored the O2- through yield O2--dependent cytochrome c reduction. We demonstrated that taurine did not affect this system, which indicated that it did not scavenge O2- directly. On the other hand, taurine inhibited the auto-oxidation of adrenaline to adrenochrome at pH 7.8 where this auto-oxidation is O2--independent and superoxide dismutase insensitive. We thus conclude that taurine acts as a potent, but non-specific, scavenger of free radicals that cause heart damage and protects against reperfusion-induced ventricular

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Myofibroblasts in healing laser excision wounds.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The lack of myofibroblasts, cells responsible for wound contraction, has been suggested to be the underlying factor to the clinically observed minimal contraction in CO2 laser wounds. However, the histologic background to this phenomenon in laser excisions has not been thoroughly clarified. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of myofibroblasts in healing laser excisions and control excisions made by scalpel. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: CO2 laser (continuous wave, 5 W) or scalpel excision wounds were created in the dorsal tongue mucosa of 144 rats. Sixteen additional rats were kept as untreated controls. Specimens from the tongues were cut at 16 different healing time points and fixed in 10% formalin. Immunohistochemical stainings with monoclonal antibodies to vimentin and to alpha-smooth muscle actin were done to determine microscopically the contractile type of myofibroblasts. RESULTS: The maximum amount of myofibroblasts was almost three times higher in scalpel than in laser excisions. The peak value was reached at 4 days in laser and at 3 days in scalpel wounds. The increase reverted to normal levels at 14 days in laser and at 6 days in scalpel wounds, respectively. CONCLUSION: Myofibroblasts appeared and disappeared slower in laser wounds. There were clearly fewer myofibroblasts in CO2 laser than in corresponding scalpel excisions known to heal by contraction. The lack of contractile myofibroblasts, therefore, is suggested as the reason for the minimal degree of contraction in CO2 laser excision wounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis].

BACKGROUND: Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is rare disease of autosomal recessive inheritance. CASE REPORT: A 14-year old boy, born to consanguineous parents was admitted because he suffered from multiple tumors since the age of 5 years. These tumors were mobile, painful varying in size, located mainly on the head, the back, and extremities; they were associated with gingival overgrowth. Bone X-rays showed osteolytic lesions. The cognitive development was normal. Biopsy of tumors showed cords of spindle-shaped cells embedded in homogeneous eosinophilic matrix. The child was progressively disabled due to articular changes. Two of his brothers presented the same features. CONCLUSION: This new case of JHF confirms the severity of prognosis of such a fibromatosis presently considered as a hereditary disorder of collagen metabolism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Papillary carcinoma developed in the wall of a thyroglossal duct cyst].

A case of papillary carcinoma arising in the wall of a thyroglossal duct cyst is described. This is a rare occurrence (1% of cases). Controversies exist concerning its nature (cancer of the thyroid or primary cancer of the thyroglossal cyst) and its treatment (Sistrunk's operation alone or combined with thyroidectomy).

Carcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1996

[Generalized amyloidosis associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism].

Involvement of the thyroid gland in systemic amyloidosis is known since 1855, most frequently histologic than clinical. We report here a case of systemic amyloidosis associated with myxedema and Hashimoto's thyroiditis which has been rarely reported in the literature, and may represent a new example of auto-immune diseases associated with systemic amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1994

Conservative surgical treatment of 27 cases of umbilical pilonidal sinus.

A retrospective study of 27 cases of umbilical pilonidal sinus (UPNS) was conducted at the Central Military Hospital of Beirut between 1987 and 1991. In this study a simple conservative surgical technique is described by removing the dead hair and the cotton like dirt as an outpatient procedure without need for anaesthesia or hospitalization. There were 26 male and one female, a mean age of 26 years, patients were followed for a period of 2 years (1987-1991). The cure rate was 98% with only four cases which needed more than one session of treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Gastric leiomyoblastoma, 2 case reports with a selective literature review].

The gastric Leiomyoblastoma is a smooth muscle described in 1960 by Martin and in 1962 by Stout. These rare tumors are generally benign but may have a sarcomatous evolution in 11% of cases. They are characterized by the presence of large round or polygonal cells. Thin filaments are visible on electronic microscopy. Treatment of choice is the surgical resection.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Malignant struma ovarii: report of two cases and selected review of the literature.

Malignant struma ovarii is an extremely rare tumor. Two new cases are described and current perspectives provided. Both cases are examples of the mixed form of the disease, and both were treated by surgery alone. One patient underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy; the other had unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Both patients remained free of recurrent disease at 20 and 33 months from diagnosis. The controversies relating to therapy and diagnosis are discussed in detail.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Carcinoma in situ of the testis (CIST). Apropos of 7 cases].

Can cancer of the testis be detected at a pre-invasive in situ stage? What are the situations where there is a high suspicion of this stage and of what value is early detection and by what diagnostic and therapeutic means can this histological entity, described by Skakkebaek in 1972, be controlled? Taking into account the study of 7 patients who presented with a CIST, this article tries to define the response of the authors to these questions.

Adult↗