OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between fruit seeds, plants residuals and appendicitis.

METHODSAmong cases that underwent appendectomy, the appendicitis cases having fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals in their etiology were examined retrospectively. Also, histopathological features, age, sex, and parameters of morbidity and mortality were used.

RESULTSFruit seed was found in one case (0.05%) with presence of pus in appendix lumen, undigested plant residuals in 7 cases (0.35%). It was determined that there were appendix inflammation in 2 of the plant residuals cases, while there were obstruction and lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix lumen of 5 cases. No mortality was observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe ratio of acute appendicitis caused by plants is minimal among all appendectomised patients, but avoidence of eating undigested fruit seeds and chewing plants well may help to prevent appendicitis.

Adult ; Appendicitis ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Digestion ; Female ; Fruit ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Seeds ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Appendectomy applied from the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is one the most common operations in surgery. The rates of negative appendectomy are still high. The rates of negative appendectomy in males and females differ and are higher in females. In our study, these differences, particularly in females, were studied and possible solutions were discussed. METHODS: Between October 2002 and October 2009, among women receiving urgent appendectomies, those whose primary cause was gynecological pathology were studied retrospectively. All our women subjects were examined by preoperative gynecologists. After gynecological consultation, the patients were evaluated by a general surgeon due to lack of urgent ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and diagnostic laparoscopy and the patient received appendectomy due to acute appendicitis. RESULTS: In our series of 1,969 appendectomies, the rate of female/male is 811/1,158. It was determined that the primary cause in 47 (47/811; 5.8%) women with applied appendectomy was gynecological pathology. As a gynecological pathology, it was observed that the most common cause was ovarian cyst ruptures at a rate of 72.3%. The negative appendectomy rate in males was found to be 14.94% (173/1,158), and in females it was 22.56% (183/811). The difference between them is significant (P < 0.01). Of these women, 5.8% were gynecologically-induced and 16.76% were unrelated to gynecological causes. CONCLUSION: We believe that gynecological consultation before appendectomy in women is necessary, but not sufficient. It is also important that at least one of the facilities, such as us, CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and diagnostic laparoscopy should be available in surgical use for the diagnosis of negative appendicitis.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Ovarian Cysts ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: Dietary intake of lycopene has been associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, suggesting its chemopreventive potential against ovarian carcinogenesis. Lycopene's molecular mechanisms of action in ovarian cancer have not been fully understood. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of lycopene on the ovarian cancer formation using the laying hen model, a biologically relevant animal model of spontaneous ovarian carcinogenesis due to high incidence rates similar to humans. METHODS: In this study, a total of 150 laying hens at age of 102 weeks were randomized into groups of 50: a control group (0 mg of lycopene per kg of diet) and two treatment groups (200 mg or 400 mg of lycopene per kg of diet, or ~26 and 52 mg/d/hen, respectively). At the end of 12 months, blood, ovarian tissues and tumors were collected. RESULTS: We observed that lycopene supplementation significantly reduced the overall ovarian tumor incidence (P < 0.01) as well as the number and the size of the tumors (P < 0.004 and P < 0.005, respectively). Lycopene also significantly decreased the rate of adenocarcinoma, including serous and mucinous subtypes (P < 0.006). Moreover, we also found that the serum level of oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde was significantly lower in lycopene-fed hens compared to control birds (P < 0.001). Molecular analysis of the ovarian tumors revealed that lycopene reduced the expression of NF-κB while increasing the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 and its major target protein, heme oxygenase 1. In addition, lycopene supplementation decreased the expression of STAT3 by inducing the protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 expression in the ovarian tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings strongly support the potential of lycopene in the chemoprevention of ovarian cancer through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Adenocarcinoma ; Birds ; Carcinogenesis ; Chemoprevention ; Diet ; Hemeproteins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malondialdehyde ; Models, Animal ; Mucins ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Oxidative Stress ; Transcription Factors