Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection that occurs in immunocompromised patients. The most common predisposing risk factor for mucormycosis is diabetes mellitus. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is the most common form in diabetic patients and is characterized by paranasal sinusitis, ophthalmoplegia with blindness, and unilateral proptosis with cellulitis, facial pain with swelling, headache, fever, rhinitis, granular or purulent nasal discharge, nasal ulceration, epistaxis, hemiplegia or stroke, and decreased mental function.

Sinolith: a rare isolated sphenoid sinus lesion.

Sinolith is a calculus in the paranasal sinuses. It has been also known as antrolith, rhinolith, antral calculi, antral stone, or antral rhinolith. The pathogenesis of calculi formation within a paranasal sinus is still not known.

[The effects of thermal welding tonsillectomy on postoperative pain].

Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of the thermal welding tonsillectomy and conventional cold dissection tonsillectomy on the postoperative pain.

Patients And Methods: Between November 2009 and May 2011, 60 pediatric patients (38 boys, 22 girls; mean age 8.4 years; range 5 to 15 years) who underwent tonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis or obstructive sleep apnea were included.

Role of uncoupling protein 3 in ischemia-reperfusion injury, arrhythmias, and preconditioning.

Overexpression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in cultured cardiomyocytes. However, it is not known whether UCPs play an essential role in cardioprotection in the intact heart. This study evaluated the cardioprotective efficacy of UCPs against I/R injury and characterized the mechanism of UCP-mediated protection in addition to the role of UCPs in ischemic preconditioning (IPC).

Serum testosterone levels, testis volume, and the risk of prostate cancer: are these factors related?

Objective: Inconclusive results have been published in the literature regarding the relationship between free and total serum testosterone levels and prostate cancer. We investigated the relationship between total and free serum testosterone levels, testes volume, and prostate cancer in our patient population.

Material And Methods: Total and free serum testosterone levels and serum PSA levels were recorded for 102 consecutive patients.

P50 sensory gating in hypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition characterized by progressive airway obstruction and recurrent attacks. Multisystem involvement with extrapulmonary manifestations has been seen in COPD patients. Numerous neurological involvement like cerebrovascular diseases, polyneuropathies, motor neuron diseases and cognitive impairement has been reported in COPD patients.

Prevalence of confirmed immediate type drug hypersensitivity reactions among school children.

Background: Despite drug-related hypersensitivity reactions are an important health problem, epidemiologic data on drug allergy and hypersensitivity are limited, and studies including diagnostic work-up are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the actual frequency of immediate type drug hypersensitivity using diagnostic tests in school children with parent-reported drug allergies.

Methods: This study involved three phases.

Vitamin D level in children is correlated with severity of atopic dermatitis but only in patients with allergic sensitizations.

Vitamin D is believed to affect the progression and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD). Allergic sensitization may cause this effect to vary. Individuals who fulfilled the Hanifin and Rajka criteria for AD underwent epidermal prick tests and blood tests for specific immunoglobulin E(IgE), serum total IgE, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, and peripheral blood eosinophil count and percentage.

The relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and asthma during childhood.

Background: The relationship between GERD and asthma is complex. It is not yet clear whether GERD is an accompanying finding or a cause of asthma, or even if it is an aggravating factor. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of asthma and allergic diseases in patients who underwent 24-h pH monitoring for a suspicion of GERD, including a comparison between subjects with and without GERD.

The effect of a structured empathy course on the students of a medical and a nursing school.

Aim: The study aims to determine the effect of an empathy course for medical and nursing school students in one university in Turkey. Being able to relate to others empathetically is important for health professionals who need to develop therapeutic relationships with people who are sick, weak, sensitive and vulnerable. Professionals need empathic communication skills and professionalism not only for patients and their families but also for colleagues and other members of the health team.

Knowledge and attitudes of primary care physicians regarding food allergy and anaphylaxis in Turkey.

Background: Food allergy, which becomes an important public health problem, can lead to important morbidity and mortality. Patients with food allergies are more likely to first present to their primary care physicians. We aimed to determine the knowledge of primary care physicians with regard to management of food allergies and anaphylaxis.

The effect of oral contraceptives on current wheezing in young women.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that sex steroid hormones may influence respiratory symptoms. The existing literature about the role of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) on respiratory disease is scarce and conflicting especially during the adolescent period. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of OCPs on current wheezing among adolescents and young adults.

The prognostic value of an increased mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in the early phase of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the value of mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet count in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) patients and in control subjects. Fifty-three patients with evidence of CVST and thirty-five controls with similar baseline characteristics were included in the study. CVST patients were further divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of parenchymal lesions in cranial MRI.

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis presenting as massive cervical lymphadenopathy and hearing loss.

Lymphadenitis is the most common form of tuberculosis in the head and neck region, but it can be seen in the other areas of the head and neck. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare condition without pulmonary and systemic involvement. The majority of patients present with neck mass.

Sinonasal glomangiopericytoma.

Glomangiopericytoma (sinonasal-type hemangiopericytoma) is a rare tumor arising from the periyctes surrounding capillaries and accounts for less than 0.5% of all sinonasal tumors. It falls within the category of borderline and low-malignant-potential soft tissue tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Does the diameter of dextranomer microspheres affect the success in endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux?

Objective: To evaluate whether the polymer microsphere diameter affects the success rate in the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux.

Methods: In our consecutive series, 56 patients underwent subureteral injection with Dexell and 60 patients were treated with Deflux. Patients were evaluated with pediatric lower urinary tract scoring system, uroflowmetry, and a residual urine volume and voiding diary at the time of injection and control.

Increased mean platelet volume in cervicocephalic artery dissections.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of cervicocephalic artery dissections by measuring the mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with evidence of cervicocephalic artery dissection were included in the study. Cervicocephalic artery dissection patients were divided into two subgroups as vertebral artery dissections and carotid artery dissections.

Unpredictable battery depletion of St Jude Atlas II and Atlas+ II HF implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Background: Predictable progression to battery depletion is necessary for device management in patients with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, particularly in patients who either are pacemaker dependent or have required implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapies.

Objective: To determine the incidence and characteristics of unexpected battery depletion in patients implanted with a cardiac resynchronization therapy - defibrillator (CRT-D) device.

Methods: All patients with a St Jude Atlas+ HF or Atlas II HF CRT-D device implanted between 2004 and 2007 at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Nashville VA Medical Center (Vanderbilt University) were studied.

Evaluation of respiratory viral pathogens in acute asthma exacerbations during childhood.

Objective: Common upper respiratory tract viruses are the most frequent and important causes of asthma exacerbations in both children and adults. Prospective epidemiologic studies report that up to 80% of childhood exacerbations are associated with viral upper respiratory tract infections.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 104 children with asthma aged 3-17 years who received treatment for asthma exacerbations in our clinic between September 2009 and 2010.

Psychodrama: an innovative way of improving self-awareness of nurses.

The aim of this educational session was to form a group interaction model for improving the self-awareness of nurses via psychodrama. The structured group interaction session was conducted three times, with three separate groups, during the 'Intensive Care Nursing' training programme at a teaching hospital in Ankara. An assessment was made using the written records and observations of the group director and co-directors and feedback from nurses regarding the session.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in preeclampsia with or without eclampsia in a Turkish population.

Aim: To evaluate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms in preeclampsia with or without eclampsia in a Turkish population.

Material And Methods: Fifty-seven preeclamptic and 60 normotensive women were enrolled in the present study. The study focused on two functional variants: a variant in exon 7-G to T conversion at nucleotide position 894 resulting in the replacement of glutamic acid with aspartic acid at codon 298 (Glu298Asp) and a variant variable number of 27 bp tandem repeats in intron 4 (VNTR intron 4).

Unusual complication of otitis media with effusion: facial nerve paralysis.

Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) is a very rare complication of otitis media with effusion (OME). There are few patients with OME and FNP in the literature. A 5-year-old girl was admitted to our department with right facial weakness.

Cryoballoon catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation.

Pulmonary vein isolation with catheter ablation is an effective treatment in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation refractory or intolerant to antiarrhythmic medications. The cryoballoon catheter was recently approved for this procedure. In this paper, the basics of cryothermal energy ablation are reviewed including its ability of creating homogenous lesion formation, minimal destruction to surrounding vasculature, preserved tissue integrity, and lower risk of thrombus formation.

No association between serum paraoxonase, arylesterase activities, and hydatidiform mole.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between hydatidiform mole (HM) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and phenotyping in comparison with healthy subjects (both pregnant and nonpregnant women).

Methods: Eighty women were enrolled in this study. Of these, 26 had HM (group 1).

Measurement of the placental total antioxidant status in preeclamptic women using a novel automated method.

Aim: We aimed to measure the levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) in placental samples from preeclamptic pregnant women and evaluate the relation of placental TAS, total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) with fetomaternal compartments using the more recently designated Erel method.

Material And Methods: Thirty four preeclamptic and 27 normotensive pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. Subjects were selected from women attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Gaziantep University.