The efficiency of mirror therapy in peripheral nerve injuries.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mirror therapy on pain, sensory, and functional development in addition to conventional rehabilitation and occupational practices in patients with a peripheral nerve injury in the hand.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six patients with peripheral nerve injury in the hand were included in this randomized controlled study between November 2017 and May 2018. The patients were randomly assigned to the mirror group (n=14) and the control (n=12) group.

Topical cyclosporine versus allergen specific immunotherapy in perennial allergic conjunctivitis.

Purpose: Symptom control in the long-term with less side effects is important in perennial allergic conjunctivitis, since would improve quality of life. This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacies of topical cyclosporin A and subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) in terms of sign control in perennial allergic conjunctivitis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 20 adult patients with perennial allergic conjunctivitis and confirmed sensitization to house dust mites with skin prick test.

Enhanced External Counterpulsation Effects on Venous Leg Symptoms.

Background: Venous diseases encompass a large spectrum of abnormalities in the venous system with complaints, such as aching and swelling. Enhanced external counterpulsa-tion, proven safe and effective in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure, is a technique that increases venous return and augments diastolic blood pres-sure. This study assessed the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation on symp-toms of venous disease using the Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study-Quality of Life/Symptoms questionnaire.

Systolic Blood Pressure to Diastolic Blood Pressure Ratios in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients: Deviation from Golden Ratio.

Introduction: Cardiovascular measures like, systolic to diastolic time intervals on ECG recordings, end-diastolic to end-systolic diameters of the left ventricle on echocardiography, pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic measures have gained an interest in terms of Golden ratio or Golden proportions. Ratio of SBP to DBP as a reflection of GR has been recently evaluated in patients who have undergone ABPM to assess the presence of hypertension.

Aim: To assess and compare the ratios of SBP to DBP as a reflection of GR in 24 h ABPM recordings in patients with and without DM who were not on medical treatment.

Cardiac myxoma as a potential trigger of takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A brief review on mechanistic and clinical perspectives.

In clinical practice, cardiac myxomas constitute the majority of benign cardiac neoplasms, and might potentially present with a variety of embolic, obstructive as well as constitutional symptoms. On the other hand, these neoplasms might be potentially associated with the evolution of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) that is universally considered as a transient form of acute myocardial dysfunction. Accordingly, the present paper primarily aims to focus on potential mechanisms and associated clinical implications of TTC evolution in the setting of cardiac myxomas.

Assessment of venous leg symptoms in patients with hemorrhoidal disease (VEIN-HEMORRHOID study).

Background: Coexistence of dilating venous diseases in different vascular territories has raised the idea that they have similar vascular wall abnormality in their evolutionary process. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate venous leg symptoms in patients with hemorrhoidal disease (HD) by means of VEINES-Sym questionnaire.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 249 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy and met the inclusion criteria.

Late Coronary Aneurysm Formation after Kawasaki Disease: a Review of Mechanistic and Clinical Aspects.

In patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), evolution of coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) generally emerges within the first few weeks after disease onset. However, CAA formation in these patients might occasionally arise as a late-onset phenomenon after a long latent period. Characteristically, late CAAs manifest as new-onset vascular pathologies or expansion of long-stable CAAs on coronary imaging modalities, and might have diverse mechanistic and clinical implications.

Takotsubo syndrome in association with pheochromocytoma: clinical and practical considerations.

In clinical practice, pathophysiology of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) has been attributed to adrenergic discharge mostly associated with a variety of stressors. Occasionally, organic sources of adrenergic discharge (including pheochromocytoma) might also account for this phenomenon and are not considered as exclusion criteria for the diagnosis of TTS (as opposed to previous suggestions). We read with great interest the recently published article by Maffè et al.

Systemic inflammation in patients with Takotsubo syndrome: a review of mechanistic and clinical implications.

Over recent decades, systemic inflammation  as  quantified  with  inflammation  markers  or  indices has been extensively  investigated  in the setting of  various  cardiovascular  conditions  including heart failure (HF),  acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In contrast, systemic inflammation  in patients with  takotsubo syndrome (TTS) has been an underrated  phenomenon in clinical practice. On the other hand, experimental and clinical data  have been  rapidly  accumulating  in the recent years  regarding   pathogenetic, prognostic as well as therapeutic implications of  systemic inflammation in TTS.

Fontan Circulation Might be Associated with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: A Review of Mechanistic and Clinical Aspects.

Fontan operation has been defined as a palliative surgery connecting systemic venous return and pulmonary circulation in patients with certain forms of complex congenital heart disease (CHD). Fortunately, it has improved overall survival and chance of successful pregnancies among these patients. However, Fontan circulation (FC), as a potential trade-off, might be associated with specific late or post-gestational complications, including peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) largely through its adverse effects on the placenta and inflammation-oxidation stress.