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Biomedical subjects

S Palaoğlu

Publications and source records attributed to S Palaoğlu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Restorative neurosurgery.

Restorative neurosurgery currently is the frontier of neuroscientists for the restoration of lost neuronal function especially in neurodegenerative diseases and ischemic and traumatic central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The striking developments in molecular neurobiology and bio-technology are progressively offering new opportunities for a better quality of life to patients suffering from loss of neuronal function. Besides all new and challenging medical therapeutic interventions, great emphasis is also given to transplantation for neuronal restoration as well.

Animals↗

Cervical tuberculous spondylitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of cervical tuberculous spondylitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Infection is a frequent problem in SLE, especially in patients hospitalised with the complications of the disease. Tuberculous spondylitis very rarely occurs in SLE patients, and cervical involvement has not been previously reported. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of neck pain radiating to her shoulder of 2 months' duration. The neurological examination was completely normal and radiological investigations revealed narrowing, angulation and destruction of the end plates of the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. She has received corticosteroid and colchicine treatment for the diagnosis of SLE during the last 10 years. The anterior cervical approach was used and pyogenic material was debrided from the C5-6 intervertebral space, and an otogenous bone graft with a Smith Robinson type fusion was performed. CONCLUSION: High doses of corticosteroids are implicated as a risk factor for infection in SLE patients. Early diagnosis and appropriate medical and surgical treatment, as well as increased awareness of higher susceptibility to opportunistic infections, such as tuberculous spondylitis, are keystones for decreasing morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Intraradicular disc herniations in the lumbar spine and a new classification of intradural disc herniations.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of intraradicular disc herniation. Intraradicular disc herniation is a special type of intradural disc herniations. In this report, we present the tenth case of intraradicular lumbar disc herniation and suggest a new classification for intradural disc herniations. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old male was admitted to hospital having experienced pain in the lower back and right leg for 1 month prior to admission. Neurological examination revealed weakness of the extensor hallucis longus, positive Laségue's sign, decreased ankle reflex in his right lower extremity, and bilateral paravertebral muscle spasm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a disc herniation with a posterolateral extruded fragment on the right at the level of the L5-S1 space. He underwent L5 laminectomy. During the operation, the right S1 root was found to be swollen and immobile. A longitudinal incision was made in the dura of the right S1 root and an intradural free disc fragment was removed, and the S1 root was relieved. The patient was free of pain postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We suggest a new classification for intradural disc herniations with this unusual case presentation and review the literature for pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment.

Adult↗

Effect of melatonin on cerebral edema in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Melatonin (5-methoxy-N-acetyltrypamine), a chemical naturally produced in the pineal gland, has been suggested to be a free radical scavenger and an antioxidant. In the present study, the effect of melatonin on cold-induced brain edema was evaluated by determination of cerebral water content, blood-brain barrier permeability, and areas of infarct; the effects were also studied histopathologically. METHODS: Brain edema was produced in rats by creating a lesion via cortical freezing. Animals were separated into four groups: sham-operated (craniectomy only); control (cold injury); sham-vehicle (cold injury plus saline); and melatonin treatment (cold injury plus melatonin). Melatonin was administered (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) 15 minutes after the cold injury was induced. Twenty-four hours later, tissue samples from the core, from the periphery of the cold-injured hemisphere, and from the contralateral hemisphere symmetrical to the cold injury were obtained. RESULTS: Melatonin treatment reduced edema (mean +/- standard deviation; 86.22 +/- 1.54% in the control group versus 80.78 +/- 2.76% in the melatonin treatment group, P < 0.001) and blood-brain barrier permeability (45.34 +/- 2.75% in the control group versus 38.26 +/- 3.40% in the melatonin treatment group, P < 0.001) at the periphery of cold injury. Area of infarct reduced from 5.84 +/- 0.58% in the control group to 3.30 +/- 0.89% in the melatonin treatment group (P < 0.001). The effect of melatonin was also confirmed histopathologically. CONCLUSION: Melatonin was found to be neuroprotective in instances of cold-induced brain edema. Thus, melatonin may be a valuable therapeutic agent in the treatment of cerebral edema.

Animals↗

The effect of pinealectomy on immune parameters in different age groups in rats: results of the weekly alteration of the zinc level and the effect of melatonin administration on wound healing.

It is generally accepted that the pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ. Several recent experiments have shown that the pineal gland has functional and anatomic connections with many organs and systems, particularly with the immune system, and, therefore, the gland is now recognised as an important immunoneuroendocrine organ both in man and animals. The present study investigates the effect of pinealectomy on some immune parameters including zinc pool alterations and wound healing process in different age group in rats and also investigates the effect of melatonin administration on wound healing in different age groups. Experiments were performed on two different age groups of rats (neonatal and young). We have experimentally shown the induction of immune depression by pinealectomy and the restorative competence of melatonin administration in the present study. The results also showed that the plasma zinc level was significantly reduced in the third week after the pinealectomy particularly in pinealectomised neonatal rats and the wound healing process affected only in pinealectomised neonatal rats but restored to normal by melatonin administration. In view of these data, as described previously, the pineal gland has a main regulatory function in immune physiology, but our study indicates that only neonatal immune functions are significantly affected by pinealectomy.

Age Factors↗

Intraparenchymal meningioma originating from underlying meningioangiomatosis. Case report and review of the literature.

The authors present the case of a 20-year-old woman with right-sided temporal intraparenchymal meningioma originating from underlying meningioangiomatosis. The patient manifested temporal-type seizures as the initial symptom. She had no stigmata of neurofibromatosis Type 2. Neuroradiological studies revealed an intraaxial, contrast-enhancing lesion in the right temporal lobe. After gross-total removal of the tumor, histological examination revealed a transitional meningioma with surrounding neural parenchyma and features of meningioangiomatosis. Although there were no signs of anaplasia, necrosis, or increased mitosis, tumor islands were observed in the adjacent neuropil. The rare association of meningioangiomatosis and meningioma is discussed, along with radiological and surgical findings.

Adult↗

The neurosurgical aspects of neurofibromatosis 2: diagnosis and management.

NF-2 is an extremely rare form of neurofibromatosis (NF) characterized by central system (CNS) neural crest-derived tumors and frequently cafe au lait spots (CLS). The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and imaging findings of seven patients with this disorder and to stress that value of surgical treatment in its management. Seven patients between 8 and 32 years of age who had NF-2 were included in the study. Clinical charts, surgical and pathological findings, and imaging studies were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were followed up for to 142 months. Clinical evaluation and neuroimaging studies detected the clinical criteria of NF-2 in all patients. Two deaths occurred after surgical intervention in our series. None of the patients suffered from recurrent tumor following surgery. Our results show that NF-2 is an uncommon entity which has a good prognosis after surgical intervention, in spite of the presence of multiple cranial and/or spinal lesions.

Adolescent↗

Neurotransmitter and amino acid analysis and ultrastructural observations of fetal brain cortex transplantation to adult rat brain under the effect of dexamethasone.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an investigation of fetal cortical tissue graft survival using transmission electron microscopy and analyzing neurotransmitters and amino acids and their function, with special reference to the effect of dexamethasone. METHODS: Transplantation of fetal cortical brain tissue to 100 adult Wistar albino rats weighing 170 to 220 g was performed. The rats were divided into three groups. Only transplantation of fetal cortical brain tissue was performed in the first group (n=36). In the second group (n=48), dexamethasone was administered in addition to fetal cortical tissue transplantation. The third group (n=16) was used as the surgical control group. The rats were allowed to live for 6 weeks and were then decapitated. The grafts were examined by electron microscopy. Additionally, quantitative analyses of the neurotransmitters and amino acids of the grafts were conducted using high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Electron microscopic observations revealed that the grafts were still surviving at the end of the 6th week in both groups. However, in the group that received dexamethasone, neurons and their organelles were better developed than in the group that did not receive dexamethasone. Concommitantly, results of quantitative analysis in the dexamethasone group revealed statistically extremely significant higher amino acid values for glutamic acid, aspartic acid, beta-alanine, and lysine and significantly higher values for gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamine, glycine, and serine when compared to the nondexamethasone group. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone is effective in increasing the survival and in developing the ultrastructural and functional outcome of transplanted neurons in fetal grafts.

Amino Acids↗

Multiple meningiomas of the central nervous system without the stigmata of neurofibromatosis. Clinical and therapeutic study.

Multiple meningiomas are relatively rare tumors without known neurofibromatosis. In this paper, such eight cases of multiple meningiomas as described by CUSHING and EISENHARDT are presented. Certain aspects of diagnosis and surgical management of this rare condition are discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of the distinction among multiple meningioma, meningiomatosis, or recurrences of these tumors. Fortunately, many of these patients tolerate multiple surgical interventions well, although the removal of these tumors in critical areas is a difficult problem. Thus, we think that it is important to examine and supervise all patients who have had a meningioma for a possible occurrence of a second meningioma.

Adult↗

Giant schwannoma of the trigeminal nerve misdiagnosed as maxillary sinusitis. A case report.

A 24-year-old woman presented with left-sided ptosis, diplopia, sensory impairment on the left side of her face and diminished hearing in her left ear. The neurological findings were hypo-anesthesia in all three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, left-sided facial paralysis of the oculomotor and abducens nerves. Initially the condition was misdiagnosed as maxillary sinusitis and was treated with antibiotics. It seems that this presentation has not been previously described in commonly read English-language journals. In our case, the tumour was removed totally and the neuropathological diagnosis was schwannoma. The case report describes the presentation, investigations, management and outcome in this patient.

Adult↗

The effect of pinealectomy and foetal pineal transplantation of collagen ageing in rats.

Recent progress in pineal research emphasized the importance of this circumventricular organ in the phenomenon of ageing as well. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of pineal gland on collagen ageing by spectrofluorometrically measuring collagen-cross-link bound fluorescein. Experiments were performed on three different age groups of rats (3-4 weeks, 8-10 weeks, 15 and more weeks). Fluorescein values were found to increase causally by age in the control group. Eight weeks after sham operation of all the groups fluorescein level increments were shown to be parallel with the values of normal physiological ageing values. In experimental groups; in 3-5 weeks old rats pinealectomy produced a significant premature collagen ageing and this was found to be completely reversed by foetal pineal gland transplantation, but the reversal was limited to a sham operation level. On the other hand although a premature collagen ageing was found to be induced 8 weeks after pinealectomy in 8-10 weeks old rats with a statistical significance both within subject values and between sham operation and pinealectomy, foetal pineal gland transplantation was found not to reverse the premature ageing induced by pinealectomy. In 15 weeks old and older groups of rats, pinealectomy was found to facilitate the intrinsic ageing phenomenon of collagen with statistical significance again both within subject values and between sham operation and pinealectomy. Foetal pineal gland transplantation was not performed in this age group of rats. On interpretation of the data of pinealectomy against sham operation for all the age groups, the maximum degree of percentage increase in collagen-cross-link bound fluorescein was found in 3-5 weeks old rats (%218). The percentage increase in fluorescein values was found to be %170 and %126 in 8-10 weeks old and 15 weeks old and older rat groups, respectively. Consequently, we have experimentally shown the induction of collagen ageing by pinealectomy and the restorative competence of foetal pineal gland transplantation in the present study. The results seem to be impressive and details of the ageing process are the subject of further research.

Aging↗

Low cervical chordoma: case report.

We report a case of a 32-year old woman with radicular symptoms associated with a low cervical chordoma. According to our knowledge this is the 10th case of low cervical chordoma reported in the literature.

Adult↗

Ossified adamantinous type craniopharyngiomas. A series of 13 patients.

Thirteen patients admitted to hospital mainly with visual disturbances (100%), retarded growth (39%) and diabetes insipidus (23%) were all diagnosed as ossified adamantinous craniopharyngioma. Tumour size was found to be large in all patients. Localization displayed a heterogenous dissemination; 8% intra-suprasellar, 69% suprasellar-extraventricular, 15% extra-intraventricular, and 8% in the suprasellar region extending bilaterally to the frontal and temporal lobes. During the early postoperative period, four patients died with hypothalamic deterioration. Three patients underwent a second operation in view of recurrence, and one died from an infection. Thus, the postoperative survival rate was 62%. All the patients who survived continued to have visual disturbances, but only one deteriorated. Five patients exhibited diabetes insipidus during the postoperative period, among them 4 after surgical intervention and 5 patients displayed panhypothyroidism, three of them after surgery. Consequently, it is confirmed by the present review that craniopharyngiomas still offer a potential dilemma in their management. Difficulties caused by adhesion or invasion of ossified craniopharyngiomas and thus the increase in morbidity and mortality during surgical intervention and in the postoperative period are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Ossified somatotropinoma.

Calcification of pituitary adenomas as a histopathologic finding is reported in up to 25% of all degenerated adenomas. On the other hand, ossification of these adenomas is an extremely rare finding, with only one reported case, a prolactinoma. Here, we report a case of somatotropinoma in a 42-year-old acromegalic female. The adenoma, about 2 cm in diameter, was removed by the transsphenoidal route. Pathologic examination revealed ossification areas in the adenoma and the patient showed dramatic progress with relief of acromegaly signs and normalization of serum growth hormone levels. This case seems to be a unique report of osteoid metaplasia of a somatotropinoma.

Adenoma↗

Labelling of neurons in the rat superior cervical ganglion after injection of wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase into the contralateral ganglion: evidence of transneuronal labelling.

Recent studies have shown that injection of the tracer wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of one side results in labelling of neurons in the contralateral SCG and the stellate ganglion. This study was designed to verify whether or not bilateral projections from the superior cervical ganglion to the midline structures, particularly to the pineal gland, play a role in the transport of WGA-HRP to the contralateral SCG. One group of rats received WGA-HRP injection into the right SCG (group I). Four groups of rats underwent the following operations prior to the injection of WGA-HRP into the right superior cervical ganglion: transection of the external carotid nerve (group II), transection of the internal carotid nerve (group III), transection of the external carotid nerve combined with pinealectomy (group IV), transection of both the internal and the external carotid nerves (group V). The mean number of labelled neurons in the left SCG of each group were found as follows: group I, 1516 +/- 221 (mean +/- S.D.); group II, 861 +/- 122; group III, 543 +/- 99; group IV, 562 +/- 144; group V, 220 +/- 52. The results of this study suggest that the contralateral labelling depends on the transneuronal transport of WGA-HRP through the terminal fields of innervation of the midline structures that receive bilateral projections from both SCGs.

Animals↗

Improved survival of transplanted cortical brain tissue grafts by iloprost in rats.

The cytoprotective effect of iloprost on the viability and survival of embryonic cortical brain tissue grafts was examined ultrastructurally under light and electron microscopy before and 4 weeks after transplantation surgery. It was shown that neural grafts stored in iloprost solution (50 ng/mL) for 3 hours were more or less in a normal cytoarchitecture compared with saline-preserved grafts. Moreover, it was demonstrated that 4 weeks after transplantation, graft tissues stored in iloprost solution for 3 hours before implantation maintained a successful survival. Thus, a higher cellular population with new vascularization areas and preservation of myelin formation were accepted as a desirable integration of the graft tissue into the host brain tissue. The mechanism of action of iloprost is discussed.

Animals↗

Examination of autologous and embryonic cortical brain tissue transplantation to adult brain cortex in rats.

Autologous and embryonic cortical brain tissue was transplanted to adult rats in order to reconstruct experimentally degenerated cortical brain tissue. Rats were decapitated within 6 or 12 weeks. Viability of the graft tissues was studied by light and electron microscopy. Embryonic cortical brain tissue grafts became enlarged but adult cortical brain tissue grafts were found to be unaltered. Electron-microscopically observed mitochondria and other cell organellae and the newly vascularized areas clearly showed that the graft tissues were alive.

Animals↗