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Biomedical subjects

I Savas

Publications and source records attributed to I Savas.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

[Vascular endothelial growth factor in benign and malignant pleural effusions].

OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent inducer of capillary permeability and its role as a crucial mediator in pleural fluid formation has been established. This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of VEGF for diagnosing malignant and non-malignant pleural effusions of various causes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: VEGF levels in pleural effusions collected from 52 patients (20 with malignant effusion, 12 with tuberculous effusion, 10 with transudative effusion, and 10 with parapneumonic effusion) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The median level of VEGF was significantly higher (P = .001) in exudative effusions (10.16 pg/mL) than in the transudative effusions (3.82 pg/mL). Although malignant pleural fluids tended to have higher median and mean levels of VEGF compared to tuberculous effusions, the difference was not statistically significant. Pleural VEGF levels in subtypes of lung cancer and in malignant effusions of different origins were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, although VEGF levels in pleural effusions of different origins vary, they were only able to discriminate exudates from transudates significantly in this study. Further studies in larger groups of patients are needed to establish the role of VEGF in diagnosing malignant and/or tuberculous effusions.

Biopsy↗

Gastro-oesophageal reflux during thiopentone or propofol anaesthesia in the cat.

Lower oesophageal pH was monitored in 50 cats anaesthetized with either thiopentone or propofol. Gastro-oesophageal reflux, as evidenced by a decrease in lower oesophageal pH to less than 4.0 or an increase to more than 7.5, occurred in 16% (4/25) and 12% (3/25) of the cats anaesthetized with thiopentone and propofol, respectively, the difference between the two groups being non-significant. Reflux usually occurred shortly after the induction of anaesthesia and had a mean duration of about 23 min. The refluxate was always acidic (pH < 4.0). Gastric contents of pH below 2.5 were refluxed on three occasions, two in the thiopentone group and one in the propofol group. Regurgitation and flow of gastric contents from the mouth occurred in only one cat anaesthetized with propofol. None of the cats that exhibited reflux developed any signs of postanaesthetic oesophagitis or stricture formation.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗

Sister chromatid exchange rate from pleural fluid cells in patients with malignant mesothelioma.

This study assessed the impact of malignant mesothelioma on the frequencies of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in the pleural effusion cells. Ten patients with mesothelioma and 20 control subjects were included in the study. The control subjects were the patients with tuberculosis pleurisy, and the remaining 10 subjects of control group were healthy volunteers and only heparinized blood samples were collected from these subjects. The pleural effusion cells were cultured with conventional culture methods. The samples were obtained from the patients after histopathologic confirmation of the malignancy but before the initiation of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. At the end of the culture period and 48 h prior the harvesting, BrdU was added into flasks. Totally, 100 metaphases were scored for each sample. In this study, we found that the SCE frequencies of malignant pleural mesotheliomas were significantly higher than the control subjects (P<0.001). Six of 10 patients came from central Anatolia, which is of great importance due to high rate of exposure to asbestosis in this region.

Adult↗