Introduction: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare benign inflammatory breast disease that can clinically and radiographically mimic breast carcinoma and bacterial mastitis. The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of levels of the inflammation markers, interleukin-33 (IL-33), soluble ST2 receptor of IL-33 (sST2), procalcitonin (PCT), and CRP on differential diagnosis of IGM and breast cancer (BC). Methods: 25 patients with IGM and 32 patients with primary BC who applied to General Surgery Clinic, and 30 healthy volunteer women with similar demographic condition were enrolled in the study. While the IL-33, sST2, and PCT levels were measured with ELISA method, other biochemical parameters were studied with autoanalyzer. Results: IL-33, sST2 levels were significantly higher in both BC and IGM groups than in control (p < 0.001). More importantly, the IL-33 levels of IGM group were found to be significantly higher when compared to the group with BC (p < 0.001). Accordingly the sST2 levels of the patients with IGM were significantly lower than the patients with BC (p < 0.001). There was no statistical significance between PCT levels BC and IGM groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that measurement of IL-33 and its receptor sST2 levels, alongside radiological studies can help distinguishing IGM from BC. Findings of our study need to be supported with additional studies.

Background and objectives: Ischemia–reperfusion (IR) caused by infrarenal abdominal aorta cross-clamping is an important factor in the development of ischemia–reperfusion injury in various distant organs. Materials and Methods: We investigated potential antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects of thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) in a rat model of abdominal aortic surgery-induced IR. Tβ4 (10 mg/kg, intravenous (i.v.)) was administered to rats with IR (90-min ischemia, 180-min reperfusion) at two different periods. One group received Tβ4 1 h before ischemia, and the other received 15 min before the reperfusion period. Results: Results were compared to control and non-Tβ4-treated rats with IR. Serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue levels of oxidant parameters were higher, while antioxidant levels were lower in the IR group compared to control. IR also increased inflammatory cytokine levels. Tβ4 reverted these parameters in both Tβ4-treated groups compared to the untreated IR group. Conclusions: Since there is no statistical difference between the prescribed results of both Tβ4-treated groups, our study demonstrates that Tβ4 reduced lung oxidative stress and inflammation following IR and prevented lung tissue injury regardless of timing of administration.