BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Systemic inflammation has an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, which is associated with arterial stiffness (AS). Aortic flow propagation velocity (APV) is a new echocardiographic parameter of aortic stiffness. The relationship between systemic inflammation and AS has not yet been described in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). We aimed to investigate the early markers of AS in patients with FMF by measuring APV and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one FMF patients (43 women; mean age 27.3±6.7 years) in an attack-free period and 57 healthy individuals (36 women; mean age 28.8±7.1 years) were included in this study. The individuals with atherosclerotic risk factors were excluded from the study. The flow propagation velocity of the descending aorta and CIMT were measured to assess AS. RESULTS: APV was significantly lower (60.2±16.5 vs. 89.5±11.6 cm/sec, p<0.001) and CIMT was significantly higher (0.49±0.09 vs. 0.40±0.10 mm, p<0.001) in the FMF group compared to the control group. There were significant correlations between APV and mean CIMT (r=-0.424, p<0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=-0.198, p=0.032), and left ventricle ejection fraction (r=0.201, p=0.029). APV and the ESR were independent predictors of FMF in logistic regression analysis (OR=-0.900, 95% CI=0.865-0.936, p<0.001 and OR=-1.078, 95% CI=1.024-1.135, p=0.004, respectively). Mean CIMT and LVEF were independent factors associated with APV in linear regression analysis (β=-0.423, p<0.001 and β=0.199, p=0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that APV was lower in FMF patients and is related to CIMT. According to our results, APV may be an independent predictor of FMF.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Sedimentation ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Echocardiography ; Familial Mediterranean Fever* ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Observational Study* ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Stiffness

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive surgical technics have benefits such as decreased pain, reduced surgical trauma, and increased potential to perform as day case surgery, and cost benefit. The primary aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled study was to compare the effects of single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) procedures regarding postoperative pain. METHODS: Ninety adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. Patients were randomized to either SILC or CLC. Patient characteristics, postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain scores, rescue analgesic use, and intraoperative and early postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients completed the study. Patient characteristics, postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain scores and rescue analgesic requirement were similar between each group except with the lower abdominal pain score in CLC group at 30th minute (P = 0.04). Wound infection was seen in 1 patient in each group. Nausea occurred in 13 of 43 patients (30%) in the SILC group and 8 of 40 patients (20%) in the CLC group (P > 0.05). Despite ondansetron treatment, 6 patients in SILC group and 7 patients in CLC group vomited (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, SILC or CLC techniques does not influence the postoperative pain and analgesic medication requirements. Our results also suggest that all laparoscopy patients suffer moderate and/or severe abdominal pain and nearly half of these patients also suffer from some form of shoulder pain.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Nausea ; Ondansetron ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Shoulder Pain ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: The efficacy of octreotide in the treatment of acute pancreatitis is controversial. Octreotide treatment for acute pancreatitis often shows poor correlation between results obtained in experimental studies and results of clinical trials. In a clinical setting, there is always a delay between the onset of the disease and initiation of the octreotide treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the beginning of treatment and alteration in effectiveness of octreotide. METHODS: Acute pancreatitis was induced by pancreatic duct ligation in 50 rats. The rats were randomly divided into five groups. Octreotide was not used in group 1 (control group). Only single dose (4 microg/kg) octreotide was administered subcutaneously to rats in group 2, having induced pancreatitis. Octreotide treatment was begun at different times (8th, 24th, 48th hour) in three other groups and continued treatment at a dosage of 4 microg/kg t.i.d. The animals were sacrificed at the end of the 72nd hour and blood and tissue samples were collected. RESULTS: Leukocyte count and plasma amylase values were less in groups 2 and 3. Hemorrhagic focuses were encountered less at pancreas tissues in group 3. Pancreatic necrosis and alveolar capillary basal membrane damage were lower in groups 3 and 4. No difference was found in fasting blood glucose, calcium and hematocrit. CONCLUSION: Octreotide had benefical effects in acute pancreatitis when octreotide treatment was begun in the first 24 hours.
Amylases ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Capillaries ; Fasting ; Leukocyte Count ; Ligation ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Octreotide ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma ; Rats

OBJECTIVES: Bilateral vocal fold abductor paralysis (BVFAP) both deteriorates quality of life and may cause life-threatening respiratory problems. The aim of this study was to reduce respiratory symptoms in BVFAP patients using cricothyroid (CT) botulinum toxin (BTX) injection. METHODS: Before and 2 weeks and 4 months after bilateral BTX injection into the CT muscles under electromyography; alterations in respiratory, acoustic, aerodynamic and quality of life parameters were evaluated in BVFAP patients with respiratory distress. For the respiratory evaluation modified Borg scale and spirometry, for the voice and aerodynamic evaluations Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30), GRBAS, acoustic analysis (sound pressure level, F0, jitter%, shimmer%, noise-to-harmonic ratio) and maximum phonation time and for the quality of life assessment Short Form-36 (SF-36) form were used. RESULTS: All patients were female with a mean age of 47±8.1 years. There was a mean time of 11.8±5.5 (minimum 2, maximum 23) months between BVFAP development and BTX injection. In all cases, other than one case with unknown aetiology, the cause of vocal fold paralysis was prior thyroid surgery. In total 18.6±3.1 units of BTX were applied to the CTs. In the preinjection period, and the 2nd week and 4th month after injection, the Borg dyspnea scale was 7.3/5.3/5.0, FIV1 (forced inspiratory volume in one second) was 1.7/1.7/1.8 L, peak expiratory flow (PEF) was 1.4/1.7/2.1 L/sec, maximum phonation time was 7.0/6.4/6.2 seconds and VHI-30 was 63.2/52.2/61.7 respectively. There was no significant alteration in acoustic analysis parameters. Many of the patients reported transient dysphagia within the first week. There were insignificant increases in SF-36 sub-scale values. CONCLUSION: After BTX injection, improvements in the mean Borg score, PEF and FIV1 values and SF-36 sub-scale scores showed the restricted success of this approach. This modality may be kept in mind as a transient treatment option for patients refused persistent tracheotomy or ablative airway surgeries.
Acoustics ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dyspnea ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Muscles* ; Muscles ; Paralysis* ; Phonation ; Quality of Life ; Spirometry ; Thyroid Gland ; Tracheotomy ; Vocal Cords* ; Voice

We present a case of oral myiasis in a 15-year-old boy with tuberculosis meningitis. The diagnosis was based on the visual presence of wriggling larvae about 1 cm in size and on the microscopic features of the maggots, especially those relating to stigmatic structures. The larvae were identified as third stage larvae of Sarcophaga sp.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Cross Infection/microbiology/*parasitology ; *Diptera ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth Diseases/complications/*parasitology ; Myiasis/complications/*diagnosis ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/complications ; Turkey

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition of increased intracranial pressure in the absence of clinical, laboratory or radiological pathology. Spinal intradural hematoma formation after lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) implantation is very rare, but it can cause sudden and serious deterioration. In this report, we present a patient who developed an intradural hematoma following LPS operation. A 27-year-old male patient suffering from headaches and progressive vision loss was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. He underwent LPS operation in January 2009. Four hours after the operation, he developed urinary and fecal incontinence with paraparesis (1/5). Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging identified an intradural hematoma at the level of L2-L3, and he was reoperated. The intradural hematoma was removed. Physical therapy was started because of paraparesis. Two months later, the patient's muscle strength had increased to 3/5. Surgeons must remember that, LPS implantation can cause a spinal intradural hematoma in a small percentage of patients, with catastrophic results.
Adult ; Fecal Incontinence ; Headache ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Muscle Strength ; Paraparesis* ; Pathology ; Polyradiculopathy ; Pseudotumor Cerebri

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition of increased intracranial pressure in the absence of clinical, laboratory or radiological pathology. Spinal intradural hematoma formation after lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) implantation is very rare, but it can cause sudden and serious deterioration. In this report, we present a patient who developed an intradural hematoma following LPS operation. A 27-year-old male patient suffering from headaches and progressive vision loss was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. He underwent LPS operation in January 2009. Four hours after the operation, he developed urinary and fecal incontinence with paraparesis (1/5). Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging identified an intradural hematoma at the level of L2-L3, and he was reoperated. The intradural hematoma was removed. Physical therapy was started because of paraparesis. Two months later, the patient's muscle strength had increased to 3/5. Surgeons must remember that, LPS implantation can cause a spinal intradural hematoma in a small percentage of patients, with catastrophic results.
Adult ; Fecal Incontinence ; Headache ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Muscle Strength ; Paraparesis* ; Pathology ; Polyradiculopathy ; Pseudotumor Cerebri

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of volume of the specimen/body mass index (VS/BMI) ratio for recurrence after surgical therapy of pilonidal disease. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with primary pilonidal disease were enrolled in this study. The VS/BMI ratio was calculated for each patient. This ratio was defined as the specimen index (SI). VS, BMI and SI were evaluated to determine whether there is a relationship between these parameters and recurrence of pilonidal disease. In addition, the predictive ability of SI for recurrence was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: VS and SI were found to be higher in patients with recurrence. ROC curve analysis showed that VS and SI are predictive factors for recurrence in patients treated with primary closure, nevertheless our new index had higher sensitivity and specificity than VS (sensitivity 85.7% vs 71.4% and specificity 90.7% vs 85.1%, respectively). The cut-off level for the greatest sensitivity and specificity for SI was 1.29. CONCLUSION: Recurrence is higher in patients with high VS regardless of the operation method. SI may be a predictive value in patients treated with primary closure.
Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Pilonidal Sinus ; Recurrence ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We present the case of a 38-year-old woman admitted to our outpatient clinic with accelerating back pain and fatigue following a kick to her back by her husband. Upon arrival, we detected ST segment elevation in the D1, aVL, and V2 leads and accelerated idioventricular rhythm. She had pallor and hypotension consistent with cardiogenic shock. We immediately performed coronary angiography and found a long dissection starting from the mid-left main coronary artery and progressing into the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex arteries. She was then transferred to the operating room for surgery. A saphenous vein was grafted to the distal LAD. Since the patient was hypotensive under noradrenaline and dopamine infusions, she was transferred to the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator and intra-aortic balloon pump. During follow-up, her blood pressure remained low, at approximately 60/40 mmHg, despite aggressive inotropic and mechanical support. On the second postoperative day, asystole and cardiovascular arrest quickly developed, and despite aggressive cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she died.
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm ; Adult ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arteries ; Back Pain ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dopamine ; Fatigue ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Norepinephrine ; Operating Rooms ; Oxygenators, Membrane ; Pallor ; Saphenous Vein ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Spouses ; Transplants

BACKGROUND:Carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study was to investigate the levels of serum paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (ARYL), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and sulfhydryl (-SH) in the treatment of COP, and to further understand the pathophysiology of COP. METHODS:This prospective study comprised 107 individuals with COP (group 1) and 50 healthy volunteers (group 2). Serum, plasma, and erythrocyte samples were taken on admission from allparticipants with COP. This process was repeated in the 90th and 180th minutes of treatment. Samples were taken from the control group only once. The levels of plasma PON, ARYL, Cp activity and -SH were measured in both groups. RESULTS:Age, gender, and carboxyhemoglobin level were not correlated with PON, ARYL, Cp, and -SH levels. PON, ARYL, and -SH levels were significantly decreased in group 1 compared with group 2. Conversely, Cp was significantly elevated in group 1 in contrast to group 2. Although ARYL was lower on admission in patients with COP than that was observed in the 90th and 180th minutes (P<0.001), Cp was higher on admission than at the other time points (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Participants with COP had decreased levels of antioxidants (PON, ARLY, and -SH). COP represses the antioxidant system.