Biomedical subjects

Tanju Ucar

Publications and source records attributed to Tanju Ucar.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Modified experimental mild traumatic brain injury model.

BACKGROUND: Experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI), using a variety of techniques and species, have been devised with the aim of producing repeatable lesions resembling those found in head injuries. There are various TBI models mentioned in the literature. In experimental head trauma models, emphasis has been placed on the severe head injuries. There are only a few models developed to study mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). In fact, MTBI is as important a problem as severe head injuries for neurosurgeons. METHODS: Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to MTBI with a weight-drop device, which was described by Marmarou et al. The said model was used in its original form as well as in modified forms by employing different weights dropped from the same height. Animals were divided into four groups of 14 rats as follows: Group I (n=14), head injury was induced using 450 g-1 m weight-height impact; Group II (n=14), head injury was induced using 350 g-l m weight-height impact; Group III (n=14), head injury was induced using 300 g-1 m weight-height impact; Group IV (n=14), control group, no injury was applied. Animals were evaluated neurologically, physiologically, electrophysiologically, and histopathologically. RESULTS: Group I and II animals (450 and 350 g-1m weight-height impact, respectively) showed the symptoms of severe head injury, whereas Group III animals (300 g-l m) showed more MTBI symptoms. CONCLUSION: We recommend the application of the modified MTBI model used for group III (300 g-l m weight-height impact) as the most appropriate and the simplest model for future MTBI studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Role of decompressive surgery in the management of severe head injuries: prognostic factors and patient selection.

Decompressive surgery or craniectomy (DC) is a treatment option, which should be considered when the intracranial pressure (ICP) cannot be treated by conservative methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of decompressive craniectomy in patients with intractable posttraumatic intracranial hypertension and to evaluate the patient selection criteria for this management protocol. In this study, 100 patients with severe head injuries were involved. All patients were treated according to the European Brain Injury Consortium (EBIC) guidelines for severe head injuries and were assessed based on individual initial Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS), age, Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS), presence of systemic injury, changes in ICP, presence of mass lesion and the right timing for DC. All patients presented with a GCS of 8 or below. Based on their initial GCS, the patients were divided in two groups of 60 (group I with GCS 4-5) and 40 (group II with GCS 6-8) in each, respectively. Prognosis was evaluated according to the (GOS). After treatment with DC, 84 of the patients (84%) showed unfavorable and 16 (16%) showed favorable outcomes. In group I, 58 patients (96.6%) showed unfavorable and two (3.4%) showed favorable outcomes. In group II, 26 (65%) patients showed unfavorable and 14 (25%) showed favorable outcomes. The importance of initial GCS and age in patient outcomes were statistically significant. The presence of systemic injuries or mass lesions in outcomes were not statistically significant. Based on our findings, we conclude that patients with Glasgow Coma Scores of 6-8 are the best candidates for DC treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of serum and cerebrospinal fluid protein S-100b levels after severe head injury and their prognostic importance.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) S-100b protein levels after a severe head injury. The changes in serum S-100b and CSF S-100b concentrations were investigated as indicators of brain damage for patients suffering from severe head injuries. METHODS: The sample included 48 patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 8 or below who had been admitted to the authors' emergency service soon after their severe head injury occurred. Both blood and CSF samples were taken within 1 to 11 hours after admission, then 24, 48, and 72 hours after the injury. Samples of CSF were taken using a ventricular catheter. The outcome was evaluated 6 to 9 months after hospital discharge using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS: The overall mean serum S-100b concentration was 3.5 +/- 6.4 among the patients with unfavorable outcomes and 1.3 +/- 2.5 among those with favorable outcomes. These results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The overall mean CSF S-100b concentration was 62.2 +/- 21.8 among the patients with unfavorable outcomes and 21.8 +/- 17.7 among those with favorable outcomes. These results, however, were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results show that CSF S-100b levels clearly are superior to serum S-100b levels for predicting outcome after severe head injury.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2002

Visceral Kaposi's sarcoma with intracranial metastasis: a rare complication of renal transplantation.

The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has increased in solid organ transplantation recipients. This type of KS tends to be aggressive, involving lymph nodes, mucosa and visceral organs in about half of patients, sometimes in the absence of skin lesions. Brain involvement of KS has rarely been reported. A 16-yr-old Turkish boy underwent renal transplantation from his mother. The immunosuppressive regimen included prednisolone, cyclosporin A and azathioprine. Fourteen months later the azathioprine was changed to cyclophosphamide (3 mg/kg/day) because of the development of a nephrotic syndrome. After 12 weeks, the cyclophosphamide was changed to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to control the nephrotic syndrome. At this time his serum creatinine level rose to 2.1 mg/dL. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies were never given. Multiple intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy was detected on abdominal tomography at the 32nd month after renal transplantation. Kaposi's sarcoma was diagnosed via laparotomy and biopsy. He had a generalized tonic and clonic seizure and contrast enhanced cranial tomography showed two intracranial masses which had an abundant vascular component which caused a mild shift. One of the masses was removed via a burr-hole with the aim of diagnosis and treatment of the shift. A pathologic examination of the intracranial lesion was also reported as Kaposi's sarcoma. Herpes virus-8 DNA was detected by PCR in the intracranial lesion.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗