Amitraz poisoning, an emerging problem: epidemiology, clinical features, management, and preventive strategies.

Background: Amitraz is a pharmaceutical, veterinary, and agricultural product which is used worldwide under numerous generic names as an acaricide and insecticide. Because of its widespread use amitraz poisoning has come emerged as a cause of childhood poisoning during the past decade, particularly more in certain countries such as Turkey.

Aims And Methods: To report the clinical features, the management, and the preventive strategies of amitraz poisoning in nine children, and review the previously reported 137 cases in humans.

99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in musculoskeletal tumours: the relationship between P-glycoprotein expression and tetrofosmin uptake in malignant lesions.

The aims of this study were to assess the role of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in the diagnosis of malignant vs. benign musculoskeletal tumours and to determine the relationship between P-glycoprotein expression and tetrofosmin uptake in malignant lesions. Forty-six patients (32 malignant, 14 benign) with various musculoskeletal lesions were studied.

The association between cervical rib and sacralization.

Study Design: After determining the normal reference values for the length of the transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebra, the association between the presence of cervical rib and sacralization was investigated.

Objective: To determine the length of cervical rib and search for any association between cervical rib and sacralization.

Summary Of Background Data: Both cervical ribs and sacralization have been noted in some patients in the authors' clinical practice.

An epidemicity of Paederus species in Cukurova region.

Two hundred four patients (117 females, 87 males; age range: 3-80 y) were admitted to our facility between May 1995 and June 1997 and studied to determine the endemicity of the Paederus species, which has been increasing for the last 6 years (especially in May and June) in the Cukurova region of southern Turkey. Clinically, infection with the Paederus species mimics contact dermatitis, herpes zoster, bullous impetigo, and phytophotodermatitis. Definitive diagnosis is made by historical and clinical findings.

Sonographic measurements of the liver, spleen and kidney dimensions in the healthy term and preterm newborns.

This study was conducted in order to assess normal liver, spleen and kidney dimensions in premature and term newborns and determine the acceptable range. A total of 253 (99 preterm and 154 term) healthy newborns were evaluated within the first week of life by sonography. Gestational age ranged from 24 to 41 weeks, weight ranged from 638 to 4800 g.

Coincidental visualization of an atypical bronchial carcinoid on Tc-99m-sestamibi scan in Kallmann's syndrome.

We report a case of an atypical bronchial carcinoid showing sestamibi uptake. A 27-year-old man with Kallmann's syndrome and hyperparathyroidism had parathyroid scintigraphy with 99mTc-sestamibi. A focal uptake was observed on the right perihilar region, and this right perihilar mass was demonstrated on computed tomography and proved histologically to be an atypical bronchial carcinoid tumor.

Anticipated administration of GM-CSF in the treatment of non small cell lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to verify the kinetic response of the human marrow myeloid progenitor cells to the short term use of GM-CSF and its impact on the therapeutic activity of this three-drug cisplatinum containing regimen in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sixty patients with stage III-B and IV NSCLC were randomised to receive GM-CSF for 3 days, five days prior to the onset of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of Mitomycin-C: 6 mg/m2 on day one, Ifosfamide: 2000 mg/m2 days 1 to 3, Mesna: 2000 mg/m2 days 1 to 3, Cisplatinum: 30 mg/m2 days 1 to 3, and was repeated every 4 weeks.

The efficacy of technetium-99m ciprofloxacin (Infecton) imaging in suspected orthopaedic infection: a comparison with sequential bone/gallium imaging.

Technetium-99m ciprofloxacin (Infecton) has recently become established as a new radiopharmaceutical for the imaging of infection. This study was performed to determine the value of Infecton imaging in demonstrating orthopaedic infection and to compare the results with bone/gallium imaging. Twenty-two patients (12 female, 10 male; mean age 51.

The relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and survival following granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration in burn sepsis.

Blood levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were determined in 78 patients with burn sepsis. Of these patients, 51 were managed with additional administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in addition to routine treatment procedures (group A), while 27 received only routine treatment (group B). G-CSF was administrated for at least nine and at most 14 days; doses were gradually decreased in each 3 day period.

Secondary involvement of breast with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a paediatric patient presenting as bilateral breast masses.

We report a paediatric case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with secondary breast involvement. On US exam there were bilateral multiple well-defined masses. Contrast-enhanced thorax CT demonstrated the breast lesions as well as enhancing masses.

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the heart presenting with increased intracranial pressure.

An 18-month-old boy presented with signs of increased intracranial pressure. Computed tomographic scans of the brain and lungs showed multiple masses in the brain and lungs. Echocardiography revealed homogeneous, irregular pericardial thickening, minimal pericardial effusion, and irregular echogenic areas in the left ventricular inferoposterior and apical regions.

The use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in combination with single or fractionated doses of ifosfamide and doxorubicin in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

Sixty patients with stage III-B and IV soft tissue sarcomas were randomized to receive either ifosfamide 5 g/m2xdx1 and doxorubicin 60 mg/m2xdx1 given every 3 weeks (arm A) or ifosfamide 1.8 g/m2xdx5 and doxorubicin 60 mg/m2xdx1 given every 4 weeks (arm B). Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (r-met Hu G-CSF: 250 micrograms/m2xd) was applied with a prophylactic intent to patients in arm A only.

A serious complication of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty: systemic embolism. How can we decrease it? Case history.

Systemic embolism is a potential and severe complication of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). The incidence of systemic embolism during PBMV has been reported to be less than 5% and only 0.6% with the Inoue technique.

A randomised trial of two cisplatin-containing chemotherapy regimens in patients with stage III-B and IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Seventy-four newly diagnosed patients with histologically proven Stage III-B and IV non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to receive either cisplatin: 20 mg/m2 x day x 5, ifosfamide: 1.8 g/m2 x day x 5, mesna: 1.2 g/m2 x day x 5, etoposide: 100 mg/m2 x day x 5 (ICE) or cisplatin: 20 g/m2 x day x 5 and etoposide: 100 mg/m2 x day x 5.

DNA ploidy, proliferative activity, and concanavalin A reactivity in breast cancer.

Paraffin-embedded primary tumor specimens from 48 patients with breast cancer were examined for DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction (SPF), and concanavalin A (Con A) reactivity. The results were correlated with clinicopathological prognostic factors, including patients' age and menopausal status, stage of disease, nuclear grade, and size of the primary tumor. There were no associations among ploidy, SPF, Con A reactivity, and menopausal status, stage of disease, or size of the primary tumor.

Studies on red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: evaluation of reference values.

The analytical, intra-individual, inter-individual variation and reference values were determined for red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Different procedures for the conditions for storage of red blood cells and the preparation of haemolysates were investigated. A total of 2170 samples of blood were taken from apparently healthy persons-1212 males and 958 females--from randomly selected villages and city centres in the southern part of Turkey.

Helicobacter pylori prevalence in a routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy population.

The presence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in gastric biopsy specimens of 500 patients referred for routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for various abdominal complaints was investigated histologically and microbiologically. HP was detected in 429 of the 500 patients (86%). Antral biopsy specimens revealed gastritis in 457 out of 500 cases (91.

A case of infiltrating lipomatosis with diffuse, symmetrical distribution.

Infiltrating lipomatosis represents a distinct clinicopathological entity characterised by collections of non-encapsulated, mature lipocytes that infiltrate local tissues. The lesions are usually first observed during the first three decades of life, but congenital types exist. Although a predilection for the lower extremity exists in approximately 80% of patients, they can affect a multitude of anatomic sites.

Poisoning due to amatoxin-containing Lepiota species.

Twenty-seven consecutive mushroom poisoning cases were followed up over a period of 14 days. Fourteen out of 27 died of liver failure. There were no deaths from renal failure.

Lead poisoning from contaminated flour in a family of 11 members.

Eleven members of a family living in southeastern Turkey are presented. They were diagnosed as suffering from 'lead poisoning' with typical clinical manifestations and high blood lead concentrations. Contaminated flour (665 micrograms Pb/g) was the cause of poisoning, by oral ingestion.

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency both in red blood cells and lenses of the normal and cataractous native population of Cukurova, the southern part of Turkey. Part II.

A possible correlation between development of cataract and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in red blood cells and lenses was investigated. The distribution of cataract types in both G6PD-positive and G6PD-deficient patients, the incidence of G6PD deficiency in cortical cataract groups and the distribution of G6PD-deficient cases according to age were determined. The results showed that quite a high percentage of cortical cataractous patients had G6PD deficiency in both red blood cells and lenses.

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency both in red blood cells and lenses of the normal and cataractous native population of Cukurova, the southern part of Turkey. Part I.

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was measured in both red blood cells and lenses of persons with cataracts living in Cukurova, the southern part of Turkey, where G6PD deficiency is well documented. The incidence of red blood cell G6PD deficiency among the patients with cataract (33.3%) was significantly higher than that in individuals with clear lenses (8.

Incomplete Behçet's syndrome with unusual manifestations.

We report a case of incomplete Behçet's syndrome with two major criteria plus interstitial pneumonia. The patient had also hypoplastic bone marrow and disseminated intravascular coagulation developed during the terminal stage.