Serum N-Desmethylcitalopram Concentrations are Associated with the Clinical Response to Citalopram of Patients with Major Depression.

Objective: Citalopram (CITA) is a widely used and well-tolerated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible influences of serum concentrations of CITA and its major metabolite n-desmethylcitalopram (NDCITA) on the efficacy and tolerability of CITA in patients with major depressive disorder.

Methods: The study included 46 outpatients with major depressive disorder who received CITA.

Amniotic membrane covering for facial nerve repair.

Amniotic membranes have been widely used in ophthalmology and skin injury repair because of their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we measured therapeutic efficacy and determined if amniotic membranes could be used for facial nerve repair. The facial nerves of eight rats were dissected and end-to-end anastomosis was performed.

Analysis and comparison of changing in thyroid hormones after percutaneous and surgical tracheotomy.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy on the thyroid hormones and their comparisons.

Materials And Methods: Between January and May 2010, the surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy had been performed on 40 patients with respiration problems. The thyroid hormone levels were measured just before, after one and three hour of the operation and than these measurements were compared statistically.

Audiological and graft take results of cartilage reinforcement tympanoplasty (a new technique) versus fascia.

Our objective is to compare hearing and graft take results of temporal muscle fascia tympanoplasty and cartilage reinforcement tympanoplasty. Seventy seven patients are classified into two groups: Group 1 included 37 patients for whom cartilage graft, harvested from symba concha, is used as reinforcement under temporalis muscle fascia anteriorly and Group 2 included 40 patients for whom only temporalis muscle fascia is used in type 1 tympanoplasty. A pure-tone audiometry is done within 1 week prior to surgery and at 6 months postoperatively.

Steroid-responsive myeloneuropathy associated with antithyroid antibodies.

Background/objective: To present information about 2 steroid-responsive, antithyroid antibody-positive patients with myeloneuropathy and myelopathy.

Methods: Case reports.

Results: A 48-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man presented with acute onset tetraparesis and magnetic resonance imaging studies showing cervical spinal lesions.

Brainstem encephalitis following influenza vaccination: favorable response to steroid treatment.

We report a 44-year-old man presenting with left hemiparesis following influenza vaccination. The neuroimaging studies showed a large, contrast-enhancing brainstem lesion and multiple punctate lesions suggesting microhaemorrhages in both cerebral hemispheres. The patient showed a remarkable response to high dose steroid treatment.

Does local immersion in thermo-neutral bath influence surface EMG measurements? Results of an experimental trial.

This study investigated the effect of water immersion on surface electromyography (EMG) signals recorded from the brachioradial muscle of 11 healthy subjects, both in a dry environment and a thermo-neutral forearm bath (36 degrees C). EMG measurements were registered in a sitting position, using waterproof electrodes under 3 conditions: relaxed muscle, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC, 1s, grip test) and 70% of the MVC (5 s). In relaxed muscle, mean EMG values were significantly higher under immersion compared to the dry conditions (dry: 5.

Cricohyoidoepiglottopexy vs near-total laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma.

Objective: To compare functional and oncological outcomes of cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) and near-total laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction (NTLER) techniques in early glottic carcinoma.

Design: Case series, clinical study.

Setting: Two tertiary care referral centers.

Effects of the acute exposure to the electromagnetic field of mobile phones on human auditory brainstem responses.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) of mobile phones on human auditory brainstem responses. This prospective study of healthy adults evaluated the influence of EMF. Eighteen healthy adult volunteers participated in this study.

The effect of urethral catheterisation on serum prostate- specific antigen levels in male patients with acute urinary retention.

Urethral catheterisation is often used in acute urinary retention (AUR). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of urethral catheterisation on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with AUR. Our study subjects comprised 35 men with a mean age of 63.

Evaluation of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis for genital involvement.

Fifty-seven women hospitalized for active pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated for genital involvement using menstrual blood culture, curettage and hysterosalpinogography. Seven patients (12.3%) were diagnosed as genital tuberculosis.

A comparative study of laser ablation and transurethral electroresection for benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of a 6-month follow-up.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of standard transurethral electroresection of the prostate (TURP) and visual laser ablation in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Patients And Methods: In a randomized prospective study, the prostate glands of 60 patients with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction caused by BPH were treated with TURP or visual ablation with the Ultraline side-firing Nd:YAG laser; the patients were assessed using standard symptom scores, the measurement of residual urine and uroflowmetry both before and at 3 and 6 months after treatment.

Results: All patients in both treatment groups had a significant improvement in symptoms and objective measures of voiding.