Ulcerative colitis increases oxidative damage accompanied by production of free oxygen radicals. Selenium (Se) and vitamin E are two natural antioxidants. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective role of Se and vitamin E combination in experimental colitis induced by acetic acid (AA) in rats. This study was carried out on three groups, namely the first (control), the second (experimental colitis group, 2 ml 5% acetic acid), and the third groups (2 ml 5% acetic acid, vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight (bw)) plus Se (0.2 mg/kg bw)). The activities of catalase (CAT), prolidase (PRS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), total thiol (T-SH) were determined in plasma and colon samples. Macroscopic and microscopic damages in colon were increased by AA treatment (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas they were decreased by selenium and vitamin E treatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The activities of CAT and PRS in the plasma and colon were significantly affected (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) by treatment of AA, Se, and vitamin E. MPO activity in colon was increased (p < 0.01) by AA treatment and decreased (p < 0.05) by Se and vitamin E administration. The values of TOS and OSI in plasma were increased (p < 0.5) by AA. The TAC and T-SH in colon were decreased (p < 0.05) by AA and increased (p < 0.05) by Se and vitamin E. Based upon these results, Se and vitamin E may play an important role in preventive indication of the oxidative damage associated by acetic acid caused inflammation.

Scar endometriosis, also referred to as abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE), is a rare form of endometriosis that usually develops in the scar after obstetric or gynecological surgeries, including cesarean section (CS). Recently, the occurrence of scar endometriosis has been increasing together with the increase of CS incidence. Scar endometriosis can be clinically misdiagnosed as hernia, lipoma, or hematoma. Here we retrospectively analyzed the clinical aspects of scar endometriosis and surgical approach in 14 patients from a tertiary hospital, who were treated by surgery, between 2012 and 2017. The mean age was 32.71 ± 8.61 years (range: 19-45). Palpable mass and cyclic pain at the scar site were the most common complaints. Twelve patients had previously undergone CS, and two patients had undergone a surgery of ovarian endometrioma. The preoperative diagnosis was determined with ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT). Preoperatively, scar endometriosis was diagnosed in 12/14 patients (85.7%), while 2 patients (14.3%) were diagnosed with inguinal hernia. The treatment was surgical excision in all patients; in addition, mesh repair surgery was performed in 1 patient with recurrent scar endometriosis. Postoperatively, endometriosis was confirmed by histology in all patients. The average size of endometriomas was 24.71 ± 6.67 mm (range: 11-35). No woman had concurrent pelvic endometriosis. In the follow-up period (mean: 9 months) the recurrence of endometriosis was not observed. Scar endometriosis should be considered in all women of reproductive age presenting with cyclic pain and swelling in their abdominal incision sites.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. The immune system is an important defence mechanism against cancer and is often dysfunctional in patients with malignancies. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and CD28 genes encode receptors that provide negative and positive signals, respectively. Polymorphisms in these genes can affect their functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of cancer with the frequencies and roles of CTLA-4/+49A > G (exon 1) and -318C > T (promoter), and CD28/IVS3 + 17T > C (intron 3 position + 17). These polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 218 Turkish subjects (56 patients with CRC and 162 healthy controls). No statistically significant differences in the genotype distributions of CTLA-4/+49GG (1.8% vs. 6.8%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.250, P = 0.305) and CTLA-4/-318TT (0% vs. 0.6%, OR = 1.006, P = 1.000), and CD28/IVS3 + 17CC (8.9% vs. 3.7%, OR = 0.2411, P = 0.155) between patients with CRC and healthy controls, were observed. We also found that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of CTLA-4/+49G (18.8% vs. 20.1%, OR = 0.920, P = 0.891) and CTLA-4/-318T (7.1% vs. 4.3%, OR = 1.653, P = 0.314), and CD28/IVS3 + 17C alleles (25.9% vs. 19.1%, OR = 1.353, P = 0.139) between two study groups. Present results suggested that CTLA-4 and CD28 gene polymorphisms did not play an important role in Turkish patients with CRC.

This study indicates that the CO(2) pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position used during laparoscopy increase endotracheal cuff pressure and lead to discomfort in the postoperative patient. Measurement of endotracheal cuff pressure is a simple and inexpensive procedure and should be applied in patients under going laparoscopic surgery.

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