OBJECTIVE Lavender is used in herbal medicine for different therapeutic purposes. Nonetheless, potential therapeutic effects of this plant in ischemic heart disease and its possible mechanisms remain to be investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this experimental study, lavender oil at doses of 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg was administered through gastric gavage for 14 days before infarct-like myocar...

CASE REPORT A 48-year-old female with a body mass index of 38 kg/m and previous insertion of an Orbera intragastric balloon (Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon, Apollo Endosurgery, Austin, TX) 7 days before presented with vomiting, tachycardia, and hypotension with tenderness in the upper abdomen. Blood analyses showed elevated C-reactive protein, renal failure, and electrolyte disorder. Abdomina...

This is the unusual case of a 17-year-old girl affected by Rett Syndrome (RS) who suffered acute abdominal distension and constipation for a week. Laparotomy showed massive gastric dilatation, with total necrosis and perforation. Total gastrectomy and Y-Roux esophagojejunostomy were performed. We believe the clinical status was caused by the mechanism of air swallowing, present in our patient a...

BACKGROUND Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is involved in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced gastropathy. Nitric oxide (NO) is a mediator of gastrointestinal mucosal defence but, paradoxically, it also contributes to mucosal damage. AIMS We optimised the C57BL/6 mouse model of indomethacin induced gastropathy to evaluate the role of TNF-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synt...

HYPOTHESIS Mucosal cytokines may be involved in the process of gastric bacterial contamination that may occur after Roux-en-Y bypass for morbid obesity in both gastric chambers, with inflammation and gastritis mostly in the excluded stomach. DESIGN A prospective observational study in a homogeneous population with nonspecific complaints. SETTING Outpatient clinic of a large, public, academi...

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of topical anti-ischemic drug therapy in the salvage of failing, random-pattern skin flaps. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, therapeutic trial. SETTING Academic medical center. SUBJECTS Sixty-one adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTION Each experimental rat underwent a caudally based random-pattern skin flap using the modified ...