PURPOSE: The prevalence of obesity has significantly increased among children and adolescents worldwide and is becoming an important health care problem in parallel with the increased prevalence of obesity pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Betatrophin is a newly define hormone that is commonly secreted by liver and plays role in glucose tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum betatrophin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children. METHODS: The study included 40 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above 95th centile, and 35 non-obese subjects with a BMI 3-85th centile, whose age and gender were similar to those of the patient group. For the evaluation of metabolic parameters fasting serum glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid profile and serum betatrophin levels were measured. Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were calculated as “atherogenic indices.” RESULTS: Serum betatrophin levels of the obese subjects were similar to that of non-obese subjects (p=0.90). Betatrophin levels were not correlated with the metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: In the present study, levels of betatrophin are not different between obese and insulin resistant children and non-obese subjects, and they are not correlated with atherogenic indices. To elucidate the exact role of betatrophin in obesity, further studies are required to identify the betatrophin receptor and/or other possible cofactors.
Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Delivery of Health Care ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Obesity ; Prevalence

Tc-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy is generally used as a second-line diagnostic tool for obscured breast lesions. When the entire field of view is examined carefully, it is often possible to detect additional lesions unrelated to the initial intent and purpose of the examination. Herein we present a case of breast cancer incidentally detected by cardiac Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy. An area of uptake was detected in the breast during a cardiac imaging test. Further evaluation of this lesion revealed a histopathological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Sensitivity of this scintigraphic technique is not enough sufficient to use this test as a screening test for breast cancer, but it may provide supplemental information. Since it is not uncommon to find incidental lesions during imaging studies, examination of the image field may help clinicians find otherwise unrecognized or undiagnosed pathologies.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Mass Screening

PURPOSE: The repair of groin hernias with local anesthesia has gained popularity. Two main methods have been described for local anesthesia. This study was aimed at comparing percutaneous truncular ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric block and step-by-step infiltration technique by using cadaver dissections. METHODS: The study was performed on an adult male cadaver by using blue dye injection. A percutaneous nerve block simulation was done on right side and the dye was given in between the internal oblique and transversus muscles. On the left side, a skin incision was deepened and the dye was injected under the external oblique aponeurosis. Following the injections, stained areas were investigated superficially and within the deeper tissues with dissection. RESULTS: There was a complete superficial staining covering the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves in the inguinal floor at both sides. On the right side, intraabdominal observation showed a wide and intense peritoneal staining, while almost no staining was seen on the left side. Preperitoneal dissection displayed a massive staining including testicular vascular pedicule and vas deferens on the right side. The dye solution also infiltrated the area of the femoral nerve prominently. On the contrary, a very limited staining was seen on the left. CONCLUSION: It may not always be easy to keep the percutaneous block within optimum anatomical limits without causing adverse events. A step-by-step infiltration technique under direct surgical vision seems to be safer than percutaneous inguinal block for patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Cadaver ; Femoral Nerve ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Groin ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Nerve Block ; Skin ; Vas Deferens ; Vision, Ocular

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of rhinophototherapy with medical therapy on quality of life in persistent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: A prospective, randomized study was being performed between December 2009 and March 2010. The study included 65 patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. The diagnosis was confirmed with positive skin tests. All of the patients had house dust mite allergies. We divided the patients into two groups. First group (n=33) was given topical mometasone furoate 200 mcg/day and levocetirizine 5 mg/day for a month. Rhinophototherapy was applied with the same medical therapy to the second group (n=32), twice a week for three weeks continuously. Rhinophototherapy included visible light, ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B. We evaluated patients before the treatment, at the first month and at the third month after treatment with rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire, nasal symptom scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. RESULTS: Improvements of all variables of the quality of life questionnaire, nasal symptom scores and VAS were statistically significant in the second group both on the first and the third months when compared with the first group. CONCLUSION: Allergic rhinitis is a social problem and impairs quality of life. Rhinophototherapy with medical therapy improves the quality of life in allergic rhinitis.
Cetirizine ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Light ; Pregnadienediols ; Prospective Studies ; Pyroglyphidae ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Skin Tests ; Social Problems ; Mometasone Furoate ; Surveys and Questionnaires

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study investigating decrease in the nucleus pulposus signal intensity or disc height on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and disc degeneration. PURPOSE: Although a degenerated disc cannot self-regenerate, distraction or stabilization may provide suitable conditions for rehydration and possible regeneration. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes and disc regeneration via MRI in a series of patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) who underwent lumbar stabilization with a dynamic stabilization system (DSS). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A dynamic system provides rehydration during early DDD. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients (mean age, 46.5 years) who undedwent stabilization with DSS for segmental instability (painful black disc) between 2004 and 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent MRI preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration grades at the implanted segment were categorized using the Pfirrmann classification system. Patients were followed for a mean of 6.4 years, and clinical outcomes were based on visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores. RESULTS: Significant improvements in back pain VAS and ODI scores from before surgery (7 and 68%, respectively) were reported at 6 (2.85 and 27.4%, respectively) and 12 months postoperatively (1.8 and 16.3%, respectively). Postoperative IVD changes were observed in 28 patients. Improvement was observed in 20 patients (34%), whereas progressive degeneration was observed in eight patients (13.5%). Thirty-one patients (52.5%) exhibited neither improvement nor progression. Single Pfirrmann grade improvements were observed in 29% of the patients and two-grade improvements were observed in 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations support the theory that physiological movement and a balanced load distribution are necessary for disc regeneration. We conclude that DSS may decelerate the degeneration process and appears to facilitate regeneration.
Back Pain ; Classification ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Fluid Therapy* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Regeneration ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale

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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether surface treatments affect the translucency of laminate veneers with different shades and thicknesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 224 disc-shaped ceramic veneers were prepared from A1, A3, HT (High Translucent) and HO (High Opaque) shades of IPS e.max Press (Ivoclar Vivadent) with 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm thicknesses. The ceramics were divided into four groups for surface treatments. Group C: no surface treatments; Group HF: etched with hydrofluoric acid; Group SB: sandblasted with 50-microm Al2O3; and Group L; irradiated with an Er;YAG laser. A translucent shade of resin cement (Rely X Veneer, 3M ESPE) was chosen for cementation. The color values of the veneers were measured with a colorimeter and translucency parameter (TP) values were calculated. A three-way ANOVA with interactions for TP values was performed and Bonferroni tests were used when appropriate (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: There were significant interactions between the surface treatments, ceramic shades and thicknesses (P=.001). For the 0.5-mm-thick specimens there were significant differences after the SB and L treatments. There was no significant difference between the HF and C treatments for any shades or thicknesses (P>.05). For the 1-mm-thick ceramics, there was only a significant difference between the L and C treatments for the HT shade ceramics (P=.01). There were also significant differences between the SB and C treatments except not for the HO shades (P=.768). CONCLUSION: The SB and L treatments caused laminate veneers to become more opaque; however, HF treatment did not affect the TP values. When the laminate veneers were thinner, both the shade of the ceramic and the SB and laser treatments had a greater effect on the TP values.
Cementation ; Ceramics ; Dental Porcelain* ; Hydrofluoric Acid ; Resin Cements

Background: Interfascial plane block can be used to treat postoperative pain after laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided unilateral rhomboid intercostal and subserratus plane (RISS) block after laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the amount of analgesic consumption. Methods: Fifty patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in this quasi-experimental study. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were analyzed in two groups: RISS group (RISS block with 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine + intravenous patient-controlled analgesia [IV-PCA] tramadol [n = 25]); and Control group (IV-PCA tramadol [n = 25]). The primary outcome was the total amount of tramadol used over 24 h. Secondary outcomes included side effects, additional analgesic use, and postoperative pain (at rest and during activity) at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h according to numerical rating scale (NRS) scores. Results: Postoperative tramadol consumption at 24 h was significantly lower in the RISS group than in the Control group (P < 0.001). Resting NRS scores at 2 h and 6 h were significantly lower in the RISS group. NRS scores during movement in the RISS group were significantly lower at 2, 6, and 12 h postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of side effects and additional analgesic use between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions Unilateral RISS block was an effective method for pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and can be used as a part of multimodal analgesia.

Objective: It is aimed to present our experience in carotid artery stenting with attention to the patient selection, technique, success rate, perioperative complications, and efficacy. Methods: Patients presented with carotid stenosis treated by stenting were included. Symptomatic patients were defined as having a history of transient ischemic attack or stroke in the last 6 months. Patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis of at least 50% or asymptomatic carotid stenosis of at least 70% detected by catheter angiography were accepted for treatment. Distal embolic protection devices were used in all patients. Technical success was defined as the luminal patency at least 70%. Results: The study consisted of 94 patients with 98 procedures and the mean age was 66.38±11.13 years. The mean stenosis rate was 74.52±13.44%. A total of 109 stents were used in 97 procedures, and closed-cell design was used in 87.2% versus open-cell design in 12.8%. Technical success and complication rate were 98.9% and 8.2%, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 14.92±10.76 months. Conclusion: Carotid artery stenting with use of distal embolic protection devices is widely accepted, safe, feasible, less invasive when compared to surgery and can be performed successfully especially in patients with high risk factors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Poor sleep quality (SQ) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Additionally, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, no sufficient data regarding the relationship between ADMA levels and SQ have been reported. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the association between SQ and ADMA levels in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The study participants consisted of 78 normotensive type 2 diabetics. The SQ of all participants was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Patients with a global PSQI score > 5 were defined as "poor sleepers." Factors associated with poor SQ were analyzed using a multiple regression model. Serum ADMA levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The median ADMA levels of the poor sleepers were increased compared with patients defined as good sleepers (5.5 [4.2 to 6.6] vs. 4.4 [2.9 to 5.4], p < 0.01, respectively). However, the L-arginine/ADMA ratio was decreased in poor sleepers (p < 0.01). Global PSQI scores were positively correlated with ADMA levels (p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with the L-arginine/ADMA ratio (p = 0.02). ADMA levels were correlated with sleep latency (p < 0.01) and sleep efficiency (p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that ADMA levels (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 2.44; p = 0.01) and body mass index (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.31; p = 0.04) were associated with poor SQ independently of glomerular filtration rate, sex, age, duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported SQ was independently associated with ADMA levels in normotensive patients with diabetes mellitus.
Adult ; Arginine/*analogs & derivatives/blood ; Biomarkers/blood ; Cardiovascular Diseases/blood/*etiology/physiopathology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood/*complications/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; *Sleep ; Sleep Wake Disorders/blood/*complications/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires