Detection of ideal reservoir level after laryngectomy using endoilluminator in voice rehabilitation.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of a novel device, the endoilluminator, in patients who can or cannot attain effective speech after application of voice prosthesis.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Methods: Thirty-four patients who underwent total laryngectomy and whose insufflation test was positive were included.

Autologous Serum Eye Drops Accelerate Epithelial Healing After LASEK.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of autologous serum on the rate of epithelial healing and clinical results after laser epithelial keratectomy (LASEK) for correction of myopia.

Materials And Methods: Thirty eyes of 15 patients received autologous serum drops (Study Group) while 30 eyes of 15 patients received conventional artificial tears (Control Group) after LASEK. LASEK was performed with 25-second application of 18% alcohol.

Determination of the efficiency of 8 mg doxazosin XL treatment in patients with an inadequate response to 4 mg doxazosin XL treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 4 mg and 8 mg doxazosin XL treatments in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia-related lower urinary tract symptoms and determine the efficiency of 8 mg in those patients with inadequate response to 4 mg.

Methods: A total of 162 patients were included in this study. Of the patients, 108 were randomized to receive 4 mg doxazosin XL (group 1), and 54 were randomized to receive 8 mg (group 2) treatments.

Dermatologic manifestations of tularemia: a study of 151 cases in the mid-Anatolian region of Turkey.

Background: Tularemia is a serious and potentially life-threatening zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis, a highly infective, gram-negative coccobacillus. Although there are plenty of case reports and studies of tularemia outbreaks, the literature is lacking in reports on dermatologic manifestations of the disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify skin manifestations in clinical forms of tularemia.

Multiple sclerosis and optic nerve: an analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and color Doppler imaging parameters.

Purpose: To compare both retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and orbital color Doppler ultrasonography parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) versus healthy controls.

Methods: This is an observational case-control study. Forty eyes from MS patients and twenty eyes from healthy volunteers were examined.

A rare cause of dysphagia in children: lymphangiomatous polyp of the palatine tonsil.

Oropharyngeal and tonsillar masses are a very rare cause of dysphagia in children. In this article, we describe a rare cause of dysphagia in children, a lymphangiomatous lesion of the palatine tonsil, and discuss the clinical and histopathologic features of these lesions.

Determining renal resistive and pulsatility indexes long-term after kidney transplantation in kidney transplant recipients on cyclosporine a-, tacrolimus-, or sirolimus-based regimens.

Background: Renal Doppler ultrasound intrarenal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are 2 noninvasive Doppler ultrasonographic markers to determine kidney allograft function, and have been used mainly for diagnosing allograft dysfunction during early posttransplantation periods. Little is known about the stability of RI and PI in allograft recipients receiving cyclosporine A (CyA)-, tacrolimus (TAC)-, or sirolimus (SRL)-based immunosuppressive regimens long-term after kidney transplantation.

Methods: This study assessed RI and PI by Doppler ultrasonography in 155 kidney allograft recipients between July 2012 and March 2013.

Migration of intrauterine devices with radiological findings: report on two cases.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are one of the most reliable and cheapest contraception methods. Our aims are to evaluate misplaced IUDs with radiological findings and to emphasise the importance of radiological imaging. We report two cases with radiological findings, one of complete migration to the abdomen without colonic perforation and one of partial migration to the bladder lumen with pregnancy.

A rare cause of unilateral parotid gland swelling: compensatory hypertrophy due to the aplasia of the contralateral parotid gland.

In this clinical report, 3 cases, admitted to the ears, nose, throat outpatient clinic with the complaints of unilateral swelling in the parotid region and facial asymmetry, are presented. In the etiology, contralateral parotid gland aplasia with compensatory hypertrophy and sialosis was detected. With this rare condition, clinical and radiological features of this anomaly are discussed.

Coronary artery perforation during diagnostic coronary angiography resulting in acute pericarditis.

We report a case of coronary artery perforation during diagnostic coronary angiography. No cardiac biomarker elevation was observed. However, the patient suffered acute pericarditis which was treated conservatively.

[Comparison of direct microscopy, culture, ELISA and molecular methods for diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica].

Amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide. Since it is still an important public health problem in developing countries, rapid differential diagnosis of amebiasis is crucial in terms of treatment. The most frequently used method for laboratory diagnosis is direct microscopy, however more reliable and specific methods are needed in order to differentiate the apathogenic Entamoeba dispar under the microscope.

Utility of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Troponin Elevation in the Emergency Department Setting.

There is little data regarding the diagnostic ability of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, we aimed to assess the predictive value of NLR in the discrimination of troponin-positive patients. We enrolled 244 patients (mean age 61.

An alternative noninvasive technique for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms: stethoscope-guided compression.

Objective: latrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysm is a well-known vascular access site complication. Many invasive and noninvasive techniques have been proposed for the management of this relatively common complication. In this study, we aimed to evaluate efficiency and safety of stethoscope-guided compression as a novel noninvasive technique in the femoral pseudoaneurysm treatment.

The contribution of teledermatoscopy to the diagnosis and management of non-melanocytic skin tumours.

We examined the contribution of dermatoscopy to the reliability of the diagnosis and management of non-melanocytic skin tumours using store-and-forward teledermatology. A total of 150 patients with non-melanocytic skin tumours were enrolled into the study. The reliability of the diagnoses and management plans was measured by comparing teledermatology with face-to-face examination; the effect of adding dermatoscopy images was also analysed.

Giant aortic pseudoaneurysm with stanford type a aortic dissection after aortic valve replacement.

Giant pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is a rare but dreadful complication occurring several months or years after aortic surgery. Thoracic aortic aneurysms tend to be asymptomatic and were previously often diagnosed only after a complication such as dissection or rupture. We present a rare case of giant ascending aneurysm with Stanford type A aortic dissection occurring 6 years after aortic valve replacement and also illustrate the potential dimensions the ascending aorta may reach by a pseudoaneurysm and dissection after AVR.

Red cell distribution width in patients with prehypertension and hypertension.

Objective: Red cell distribution width (RDW) which is reported as part of complete blood count in routine clinical practice, is a measure of variability in size of the erythrocytes in the circulation. It is a novel predictor of mortality both in unselected populations and in some selected group of patients. We aimed to search whether RDW values differ between the healthy population and the patients with pre-hypertension and hypertension who are otherwise healthy, considering the widely accepted role of RDW as a prognostic marker especially for mortality.

QT dispersion is not increased in familial Mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoimmune disease inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and sterile polyserositis. This study examined electrocardiographic ventricular repolarization parameters (QT interval and QT dispersion) in 38 FMF patients and 35 healthy controls. The QT interval was measured manually from the onset of QRS to the end of the T wave (return to the TP baseline).

A new combination of multiple autoimmune syndrome? Coexistence of vitiligo, autoimmune thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis.

The occurrence of three or more autoimmune disorders in one patient defines multiple autoimmune syndrome. The pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune syndrome is not known yet and environmental triggers and genetic susceptibility have been suggested to be involved. Herein, we report a 47-year-old woman who had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, vitiligo and newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis.

Dermatoscopy of non-melanocytic skin tumors.

Dermatoscopy is a cheap and non-invasive diagnostic technique that improves the diagnostic accuracy of non-pigmented benign and malignant skin tumors. Dermatologist should be aware of dermatoscopic features of non-melanocytic skin tumors to reach the correct diagnosis.

Relationship of the intensity of Helicobacter pylori and severity of inflammation with beta-2 microglobulin levels in serum according to the updated Sydney System.

Objective: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a cause of chronic gastritis. Beta-2 microglobulin has been used as a simple inflammatory indicator in some diseases. We investigate the usability of beta-2 microglobulin as a simple marker that may reflect the severity of inflammation and intensity of HP in gastric mucosa.

Effects of pravastatin on cellular ultrastructure and hemorheology in rats after traumatic head injury.

Pravastatin has neuroprotective effects against aging but its role in brain injury remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of pravastatin on the ultrastructural changes and hemorheological parameters in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI) of right parietal cortical contusion by a controlled weight-dropping method. There were three groups: (I) Sham operated group; (II) TBI + vehicle (saline) group; and (III) TBI + pravastatin group.