PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the neuroprotective effect of granulocyte stimulating factor (G-CSF) on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven-day-old male newborn rat pups were subjected to 110 minutes of 8% oxygen following a unilateral carotid artery ligation. Apoptosis was identified by performing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining and flow cytometry with a combination of fluorescinated annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) and JC-1 (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolyl-carbocyanine iodide). The extent of cerebral infarction was evaluated at 2 weeks after recovery. RESULTS: With a single dose (50microgram/kg) of G-CSF treatment immediately after hypoxic-ischemic insult, hypoxia-ischemia induced increase in TUNEL-positive cells, annexinV+/PI- and JC-1 positive apoptotic cells in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex was significantly reduced at 24 hours, measured by flow cytometry, and the extent of cerebral infarction at 2 weeks after recovery was also significantly attenuated compared to the hypoxia-ischemia control group. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that G-CSF is neuroprotective by inhibiting apoptosis, thereby reducing the ensuing cerebral infarction in a newborn rat pup model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (HI).
Animals ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Brain/pathology ; Cerebral Infarction/pathology/prevention & control ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/*drug therapy/pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Organ Size ; Protective Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic heat probe coagulation (HP) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) are considered to be safe and effective for the treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of APC and HP for treating bleeding peptic ulcer. METHODS: Between May 2004 and November 2006 we conducted a prospective randomized trial on 99 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding and for whom a visible vessel or active bleeding was identified. The patients were randomized into two groups: the APC group that was comprised of 56 patients who received argon plasma coagulation and HP group that was comprised of 43 patients who received heat probe coagulation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of age, risk factors, the initial hemoglobin values, the number of patients who showed signs of hemodynamic impairment, the location of ulcer and the bleeding activity. The initial hemostatic rate was 89.3% in the APC group and 93% in the heat probe group (p=0.521). After successful initial endoscopic treatment, rebleeding was observed in 4 cases of the APC group (7.1%) and in 4 cases of heat probe coagulation group (9.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Argon plasma coagulation and heat probe coagulation are equally effective for controlling bleeding from peptic ulcer.
Argon ; Argon Plasma Coagulation ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoglobins ; Hemorrhage ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ulcer

In colon, smooth muscle tumors are extremely rare and represent only 3% of digestive tract leiomyomas. A 51-year- old women was admitted with complaints of epigastric pain and weight loss. Colonoscopy revealed a large pedunculated polyp covered with almost normal mucosa in the proximal transverse colon. After clipping of the stalk, we performed polypectomy successfully by colonoscopic snare electrocoagualtion. We report a case of endoscopic removal of colonic pedunculated leiomyoma with a review of literature.
Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Polyps ; Smooth Muscle Tumor ; SNARE Proteins ; Weight Loss