Effect of transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection on neuropathic pain, quality of sleep and life.

Objectives: Transforaminal anterior steroid injections are frequently used for low back pain. In the current study, It was aimed to investigate the effects of transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection (TAESI) in patients with low back pain in regards to quality of life and sleep, and neuropathic pain.

Methods: Ethics committee approval and patient consent were obtained.

The use of train of four monitoring for clinical evaluation of the axillary brachial plexus block.

The axillary approach of brachial plexus anesthesia is the most commonly used technique for forearm and hand surgery. Dynamometer is known as objective test for the clinical assessment of motor block of the nerves in brachial plexus block. However, the use of this device may not always be practical in operating room.

Prevalence of asthma among preschool children in Edirne, Turkey.

Allergic diseases generally begin early during childhood, but a late diagnosis is common. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms among kindergarten children in Edirne, Turkey. 873 subjects based on a modified ISAAC questionnaire were included.

Lornoxicam in extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy; comparison with tenoxicam and placebo in terms of analgesic consumption.

Objective: To assess the analgesic efficacy of lornoxicam and compare it with that of tenoxicam in patients undergoing extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for renal stones.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out in a randomized, double-blind fashion and involved 60 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II) undergoing ESWL who were divided into three groups. Patients in the placebo group (n = 20) received saline and those in the lornoxicam group (n = 20) received lornoxicam 8 mg intravenously 60 min before the procedure.

Effects of tramadol on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of tramadol on isolated rat hearts subjected to global ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Design: Langerdorff perfused isolated rat hearts were subjected to 60 min of global ischemia following 60 min of reperfusion. In group I and III hearts were received tramadol before the onset of ischemia.

High C-reactive protein and low cholesterol levels are prognostic markers of survival in severe sepsis.

Study Objective: To evaluate serum C-reactive protein and cholesterol as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with severe sepsis.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University hospital.

Analysis of intervariable relationships between major risk factors in the development of coronary artery disease: a classification tree approach.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine how the major risk factors are related to each other in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) using Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID).

Methods: All patients with suspected CAD seen in the cardiology clinic between January 1999 and February 2003 who underwent coronary angiography were included in the study. A retrospective analysis was performed in 1381 patients.

Contrast-enhanced MR 3D angiography in the assessment of brain AVMs.

Background And Purpose: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the current reference standard for the diagnosis, assessment, and management of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic utility of three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and contrast-enhanced 3D MRA in patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in different sizes and locations. The AVM diagnosis was proved via DSA and almost half of the patients had also hematoma.

Predictive value of thyroid hormones on the first day in adult respiratory distress syndrome patients admitted to ICU: comparison with SOFA and APACHE II scores.

Background: Thyroid hormone dysfunction could affect outcome and increase mortality in critical illness. Therefore, in a prospective, observational study we analyzed and compared the prognostic accuracy of free tri-iodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), along with the APACHE II and SOFA scoring systems in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in critically ill patients.

Patients And Methods: Physiology scores were calculated for the first 24 hours after ICU admission in 206 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

[Pediatric head injuries: a retrospective analysis of 280 patients.].

Background: To assess etiological factors, clinical features, radiological findings and recovery rates in pediatric head injuries.

Methods: Patients (n =280) with head injuries (age range: 0 - 16 years) hospitalized in Trakya University Department of Neurosurgery between January 1995 and 2004 were analyzed statistically.

Results: According to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) the patients had minor (GCS: 13- 15 ; 70.

[Comparison of multiple prediction models for hypertension (Neural networks, logistic regression and flexible discriminant analyses)].

Objective: In this study, we compared performances of logistic regression analysis (LR), flexible discriminant analysis (EAA) and neural networks (SA) in prediction of primary hypertension.

Methods: Predictor variables were family history, lipoprotein A, triglyceride, smoking and body mass index. The data were collected from Cardiology Clinic of Trakya University Medical Faculty in Turkey, 2001.

Analgesic effects of gabapentin after spinal surgery.

Background: A combination of opioid and nonopioid analgesic drugs may improve the quality of postoperative analgesia as well as reduce opioid requirements and their associated side effects. Studies have shown synergism between gabapentin and morphine in animal and human experiments and in the treatment of incisional pain. Therefore, the authors investigated, in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, the effects of gabapentin on acute postoperative pain and morphine consumption in patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Adding dexmedetomidine to lidocaine for intravenous regional anesthesia.

Unlabelled: Dexmedetomidine is approximately 8 times more selective toward the alpha-2-adrenoceptors than clonidine. It decreases anesthetic requirements by up to 90% and induces analgesia in patients. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine when added to lidocaine in IV regional anesthesia (IVRA).