INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori is one of the main causes of gastroduodenal diseases, such as chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. It has been shown that eosinophils increase in the stomach in H. pylori infection. Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is a cytotoxic molecule secreted by the activated eosinophils. However, there are no sufficient data about the role of ECP in H. pylori infection and its effect on ulcer development. In this study we investigated the gastric eosinophilic infiltration, gastric juice and serum ECP levels in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer associated with H. pylori.Materials and methods: Forty‐four H. pylori‐positive and 20 H. pylori‐negative patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy after admitting with dyspeptic complaints were enrolled in the study. Twenty‐one of the H. Pylori‐positive patients had gastric ulcer while 23 patients had none. During endoscopy, multiple gastric biopsies and juices were taken. In gastric biopsies, H. pylori and eosinophilic infiltration were assessed. Additionally, gastric juice and serum ECP levels were measured.Results: Eosinophil infiltration, gastric juice ECP levels, and gastric juice/serum ECP ratios in the H. pylori‐positive group were greater than in the H. pylori‐negative group (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference regarding serum ECP levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). When H. pylori‐positive patients were compared with regard to gastric ulcer presence, however, there was no significant difference in gastric eosinophil infiltration, gastric juice ECP levels, serum ECP levels, and gastric juice/serum ECP ratios (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that eosinophils and eosinophil‐released ECP may contribute to inflammatory changes seen in chronic gastritis, whereas there is no proof that they play a role in ulcer development.

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The aim of this study was to find out the effect of CSF leakage on wound healing after flap surgery. Sixteen male Wistar rats were used. The superiorly based rectangular dorsal skin flap 3 × 3 cm was elevated at the interscapular region. Through this opening, paraspinal muscle dissection and three-level bilateral laminectomy were done. Finally, a dura defect with a diameter of 3–4 mm was created. In the control group, laminectomy was performed as in the study group but the dura was left intact. Persistent CSF leakage was confirmed using isotope cisternography. At the end of 2-week study period, there was no necrosis, infection, or dehiscence of the flap in either group. On necroscopy, cyst formation over the dura defect was detected in 4 animals of the study group. Another gross finding in this group was intensive vascularization of the undersurface of the flap and wound bed. With HE staining, the tissue sections from the study group revealed new vessel formation with small diameter, increase in the reactional mesenchymal tissue, granulation tissue, degeneration of the striated muscle fibers, dystrophic calcifications, fat necrosis, and coagulation necrosis (ischemic necrosis). In the control group, there was only minimal lymphocytic invasion of the subdermal plane. In this study, we have shown that CSF leakage itself has effects on wound healing in the absence of known causative factors.

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Lipoma is the most frequently encountered benign soft tissue tumor. However, intra-articular lipomas are rarely seen. Anterior knee pain is a frequent complaint of adults and is of diverse etiology. This 42-year-old female patient had severe anterior knee pain, unresponsive to medical treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intra-articular tumor of the knee joint. Arthroscopic intervention and subsequent histological examination resulted in the diagnosis of strangulated lipoma originating from infrapatellar fat pad. We present clinical, radiological and operative features of this rare case of intra-articular lipoma.