Constrictive pericarditis impressing and narrowing the ascending aorta.

A 77-year-old male patient was admitted to our institution with 1-year history of progressive dyspnea on exertion, and lower extremity edema. His chest x-ray showed a circumferential pericardial calcification and right-sided pleural effusion. The electrocardiography revealed atrial fibrillation with low voltage in all derivations and diffuse nonspecific T-wave inversions.

Longitudinal development of chlorophyll and phytoplankton assemblages in a regulated large river (the Ebro River).

The distribution of chlorophyll and phytoplankton communities were compared to nutrient concentrations and hydrological parameters along the main stretch of the river Ebro. A progressive increase in planktonic chlorophyll was observed from the upper reaches to the middle section of the river. Chlorophyll reached a maximum (60-80 microg L(-1)) in the meandering section (downstream of the city of Zaragoza), where nutrient inputs (both N and P) and the residence time of the water are very high.

Donor safety and remnant liver volume in living donor liver transplantation.

Living donor liver transplantation is now a common practice in countries in which the availability of cadaveric organs is limited. The preoperative preparation, intraoperative surgical technique, and postoperative care of donors and recipients have evolved in recent years. We retrospectively compared 67 donors with a remnant liver volume equal to or more than 30% (group 1) with 14 donors who had less than 30% remnant liver volume (group 2) for donor outcomes.

Splenic abscess after splenic artery ligation in living donor liver transplantation: a case report.

Although recent developments in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) yield promising results, a size mismatch between the weights of the graft and the recipient remains a significant problem. Recipients of LDLT may have hyperdynamic splanchnic circulations resulting in graft hyperperfusion and increased portal vein flow leading to small-for-size syndrome. Splenic artery ligation is one of the least invasive measures to prevent occurrence of this syndrome.

Simultaneous preconcentration of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II) from environmental samples on Amberlite XAD-2000 column and determination by FAAS.

A new method for the preconcentration of some trace metals (Co, Ni, Cu, and Cd) as complexed with ammonium pyrrolidynedithiocarbamate (APDC) was developed using a mini-column filled with Amberlite XAD-2000 resin. Metal contents were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after the metal complexes accumulated on the resin were eluted with 1M HNO(3) in acetone. The effects of the analytical parameters such as sample pH, quantity of complexing agent, eluent type, resin quantity, sample volume, sample flow rate, and matrix ions were investigated on the recovery of the metals from aqueous solutions.

A new approach to separation and pre-concentration of some trace metals with co-precipitation method using a triazole.

A new co-precipitation method was developed to separate and pre-concentrate Fe(3+), Cu(2+), Cr(3+), Zn(2+), and Pb(2+) ions using an organic co-precipitant, 3-benzyl-4-p-nitrobenzylidenamino-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazole-5-on (BPNBAT) without adding any carrier element, following flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) determinations. Effect of some analytical conditions, such as pH of the solution, quantity of the co-precipitant, standing time, centrifugation rate and time, sample volume, and interference of concomitant ions were investigated over the recovery yields of the metal ions. The recoveries of the analyte ions were in the range of 95-102%.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the tarsal navicular.

A 27-year-old male athlete presented with chronic right dorsal midfoot pain and limitation in midfoot movements. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an nondisplaced osteochondral fragment within the proximal articular surface of the tarsal navicular. Imaging findings of this disease are presented and discussed.

In vitro study of percutaneous aortic valve replacement: selection of a tissue valve.

Background: Selection of the best tissue valve is an essential step before percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) becomes a clinical reality. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro three different tissue valves mounted within the same endovascular stent.

Methods: Thirty stented valves (10 aortic porcine, 10 pulmonary porcine, and 10 pericardial tubular) were sutured within a 32-mm long by 23-mm diameter cobalt-nickel stent.

Assessment of metal element concentrations in mussel (M. Galloprovincialis) in Eastern Black Sea, Turkey.

The main goal of this work is to determine the effects of pollution of copper, lead and zinc mines on the Eastern Black Sea. Metal and heavy metal concentrations in the Eastern Black Sea mussels were measured using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). The analytical results showed that the tissue of mussel in Eastern Black Sea contains K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Sr elements, and the shell of mussel contains Ca, Cu, Sr, and Ba elements.

Frequency of atopy and allergic disorders among adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus in the southern Marmara region of Turkey.

Aim: Autoimmune disorders are considered to be associated with a Th1 immune response whereas allergic diseases with a Th2 response. Studies mainly performed on children revealed conflicting results regarding the association of atopy/allergic disease and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of allergic diseases in adult Type 1 diabetic patients.

The effect of metformin treatment on VEGF and PAI-1 levels in obese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on markers of endothelial function, vascular inflammation and factors of thrombosis in obese type 2 diabetic patients. Twenty-four type 2 diabetic patients (15 female, 9 male) previously under medical nutrition treatment (MNT)+regular exercise programme (REP) without chronic micro or macrovascular complications with the mean age of 50.5+/-1.

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: correlation with Oswestry Disability Index and MR imaging.

Because neither the degree of constriction of the spinal canal considered to be symptomatic for lumbar spinal stenosis nor the relationship between the clinical appearance and the degree of a radiologically verified constriction is clear, a correlation of patient's disability level and radiographic constriction of the lumbar spinal canal is of interest. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between the degree of radiologically established anatomical stenosis and the severity of self-assessed Oswestry Disability Index in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Sixty-three consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who were scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled in the study.

Evidence-based policy and procedures: an algorithm for success.

Evidence-based practice is defined as the use of current best evidence by clinicians when making patient care decisions. Barriers to an evidence-based practice are well identified in the literature and significantly impact the use of research findings in practice. A key feature of a practice environment that supports and promotes the use of best evidence is requiring clinical practice policies and procedures to be evidence-based.

The value of magnetic resonance cholangiography in the preoperative assessment of living liver donors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in the depiction of biliary anatomy of living liver donors by using intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) as a gold standard.

Materials And Methods: Between 2004 and 2006, 86 potential adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation donors had preoperative MRC at our institution. Of these, 24 potential donors were excluded due to various clinical factors.

Further information from a sonometric study of the normal tricuspid valve annulus in sheep: geometric changes during the cardiac cycle.

Background And Aim Of The Study: In a previous sono-metric study, changes were described that occurred in the normal tricuspid valve during the cardiac cycle. However, the wealth of data available suggested the need for reporting further findings that should contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of the tricuspid valve.

Methods: Thirteen sonomicrometry transducers were placed in the hearts of each of seven sheep.

Sciatic nerve compression due to femoral neck osteochondroma: MDCT and MR findings.

A 34-year-old man presented with a 15-month history of pain along the left sciatic nerve. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) revealed an exostosis on the postero-inferior aspect of the left femoral neck. Ultrasonographic examination of left upper thigh and a pelvic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed an enlarged sciatic nerve adjacent to the exostosis.

Analysis of mosses along Sarp-Samsun highway in Turkey.

The elemental analysis of mosses along Sarp-Samsun highway in Turkey was determined using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence method. A radioisotope excited X-ray fluorescence analysis using the method of multiple standard additions is applied for the elemental analysis of mosses. An annular 50 mCi (241)Am radioactive source and annular 50 mCi (55)Fe radioactive source were used for excitation of characteristic K X-rays.

Pulmonary cement embolism: a complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Background: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) has recently become a very common procedure for vertebral compression fractures. Extravasation of cement, a common event associated with vertebroplasty, may lead to cement emboli in the lungs.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of pulmonary cement embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Spatial variation of DDT and its metabolites in fish and sediment from Cinca River, a tributary of Ebro River (Spain).

The Cinca River is a tributary of Ebro River in the NE of Spain which receives input from different activities. One of the most important is related to an industry where DDT is used as an intermediate in the production of dicofol. This study evaluated the DDT contamination along the Cinca River.

Mitral valve basal chordae: comparative anatomy and terminology.

Background: Recent awareness of the importance of the mitral valve's basal chordae stimulated a comparative anatomic study of these chordae in 11 human, 10 ovine, and 10 porcine hearts.

Methods: The basal chordae were defined as the chordae that arise from the papillary muscles and insert into the ventricular aspect of the leaflets.

Results: All leaflet insertions of the basal chordae were close to the annulus, except at the anterior mitral leaflet, where insertion was at the junction of the smooth and rough zones.