BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of residual ductal flow after initial surgical ligation of the arterial duct. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between June 2005 and December 2009, transcatheter occlusion of residual postsurgical ductus arteriosus was performed in six children. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 10+/-5.5 years; mean post-procedural time since the initial surgical closure was 6.3+/-4.5 years. The mean diameter of the patent ductus arteriosus on angiography was 1.3+/-0.5 mm (range, 0.8 to 2.4 mm). Three different types of coils were used successfully without any complications. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter occlusion of residual postsurgical arterial duct is a safe and successful procedure. However, attention should be paid due to the distorting shape of the arterial duct.
Angiography ; Child ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Humans ; Ligation

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the oral mucosa with unknown etiology. Oxidative stress (OS) is suggested to play a main role in the etiopathogenesis in RAS. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we hypothesize that a systemic OS is present in patients with RAS. METHODS: Forty-four patients with active RAS lesions and 38 healthy controls were being included in the study. Serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and paraoxonase 1 arylesterase (ARES) activity were being determined. RESULTS: RAS patients had significantly lower TAS levels and higher TOS and OSI values than controls. The patients had a lower ARES activity when compared to healthy controls. No correlations were observed between OS parameters and age, gender, duration of disease or frequency of RAS attacks per month. CONCLUSION: A systemic OS is determined with an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant status and lower ARES activity in RAS. Systemic OS may have an important role in the pathogenesis of RAS formation.
Aryldialkylphosphatase ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oxidative Stress ; Stomatitis, Aphthous

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the oral mucosa with unknown etiology. Oxidative stress (OS) is suggested to play a main role in the etiopathogenesis in RAS. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we hypothesize that a systemic OS is present in patients with RAS. METHODS: Forty-four patients with active RAS lesions and 38 healthy controls were being included in the study. Serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and paraoxonase 1 arylesterase (ARES) activity were being determined. RESULTS: RAS patients had significantly lower TAS levels and higher TOS and OSI values than controls. The patients had a lower ARES activity when compared to healthy controls. No correlations were observed between OS parameters and age, gender, duration of disease or frequency of RAS attacks per month. CONCLUSION: A systemic OS is determined with an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant status and lower ARES activity in RAS. Systemic OS may have an important role in the pathogenesis of RAS formation.
Aryldialkylphosphatase ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oxidative Stress ; Stomatitis, Aphthous