Growth of multiple hydatid cysts evaluated by computed tomography.

A case of multiple hydatid cysts, of embolic origin from a cyst of the left atrium, is discussed. The patient was first admitted to hospital with an intracerebral haemorrhage and was treated conservatively. There was not any cystic or mass lesion other than intracerebral haemorrhage on his computed tomography (CT) scans.

The roles of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and interleukin-6 levels in acute atherothrombotic and lacunar ischemic stroke.

The role of circulating, oxidized low-density lipoprotein and interleukin-6 levels in acute ischemic stroke considering the primary-vessel disease was investigated. The study consisted of 28 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 23 control subjects. Patients were subdivided into large-vessel (n = 12) and small-vessel (n =16) disease stroke groups according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria.

Segmentation of transitional cell carcinoma nuclei by nonsupervised thresholding in different color spaces.

Objective: To develop a method for nonsupervised thresholding of transitional cell carcinoma nuclei of hematoxylin-eosin-stained histologic sections.

Study Design: For grayscale, RGB, HSL and L*a*b* thresholding we used an extension of a clustering method, based on a between-class/within-class criterion, applying optimal gray-level thresholding to distributions of R, G, B, or H and S or L* color domains. Algorithms were tested on 20 hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections of bladder carcinomas.

Bovine and PTFE vascular graft results in hemodialysis patients.

Purpose. There are many reports of patency periods, failure rates, thrombosis and infection attacks connected with vascular grafts. In this article, the results of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Bovine grafts were compared in a forty-four month period.

Serum osteoprotegerin levels in patients with acute atherothrombotic stroke and lacunar infarct.

Background: Arterial calcification is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a cytokine involved in the bone metabolism and vascular calcification. Recent data support a relationship between high serum levels of OPG and increased risk for cardiovascular disease in human.

Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities of neural axis in Lenke type 1 idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Design: Patients with Lenke type 1 single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis were included in this prospective study. All patients had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective: To examine the frequency of neural axis abnormalities and the need for preoperative MRI in this group of patients.

Dysphagia as a primary manifestation of hyperthyroidism: a case report.

Myopathy effecting mainly skeletal muscles of the limbs are frequently seen in hyperthyroidism. Rarely bulbar muscles may also be involved, causing dysphagia, nasal speech, and aspiration. We report a 70-year-old woman with severe dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia.

Genital sympathetic skin responses in fibromyalgia syndrome.

The study was designed to investigate the autonomic dysfunction in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) by recording sympathetic skin response (SSR) from palmar, plantar and genital regions. The second aim was to evaluate the relation between sexual problems and autonomic dysfunction in FMS. SSR potential was recorded from palmar, plantar and genital regions in 28 married, female FMS patients and 18 married, healthy females.

Use of the medial side of the knee skin as a free flap: saphenous flap.

Background: The knee region is a good free skin flap donor site, as it has minimal subcutaneous tissue and provides a hidden donor site. Acland et al. first used the skin over the medial side of the knee as a "saphenous flap" based on the saphenous branch of the descending genicular artery.

Posterior epidural migration of sequestered lumbar disc fragment causing cauda equina syndrome.

Posterior epidural migration of free disc fragments is rare, and posterior migration of the free fragments causing cauda equina syndrome is exceptionally rare. This report describes a 53-year-old man with disc fragment extrusion at the levels of L3-4 and a 54-year-old man with disc fragment extrusion at L5-S1 intervertebral space. The patients responded well to the operative therapy with complete relief of the symptoms.

Results of complete hemivertebra excision followed by circumferential fusion and anterior or posterior instrumentation in patients with type-IA formation defect.

To evaluate the results of surgical treatment in patients with unlocked full-segmented hemivertebra treated by excision. Twenty-six patients with a mean age of 12.4+/-1.

Abacavir and lamivudine fixed-dose combination tablet once daily compared with abacavir and lamivudine twice daily in HIV-infected patients over 48 weeks (ESS30008, SEAL).

Background: Abacavir (ABC) and lamivudine (3TC) administered twice daily were compared with an ABC + 3TC fixed-dose combination (Epzicom, Kivexa; EPZ) administered once daily, both in combination with a protease inhibitor (PI) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

Methods: Two hundred sixty HIV-infected subjects with more than 6 months of ABC and 3TC administered twice daily plus a PI or NNRTI with an HIV-1 RNA level less than 400 copies/mL for more than 3 months and a CD4 count greater than 50 cells/mm were randomized 1:1 to ABC + 3TC administered twice daily or EPZ administered once daily.

Results: At baseline, median time on ABC and 3TC administered twice daily was 22 months, and median CD4 count and HIV-1 RNA level were 554 cells/mm and <50 copies/mL, respectively.

Fluorescence navigation with indocyanine green for detecting sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy using a vital dye is a convenient and safe method to assess lymph node status in breast cancer. However, intensive training is necessary to obtain a satisfactory detection rate and to avoid false-negative results. This paper presents a novel method using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging to detect sentinel lymph nodes.

Comparison of anterior instrumentation systems and the results of minimum 5 years follow-up in the treatment of tuberculosis spondylitis.

Anterior debridement, strut grafting and instrumentation have an increasing popularity in the treatment of tuberculosis of spine. Anterior fixation can be done either by a plate or a rod system. This study reports on the surgical results of 59 patients with Pott's disease that had anterior radical debridement and anterior fusion and anterior instrumentation with 5 years follow-up.

Two female nonsmoker Buerger's disease cases with anticardiolipin autoantibodies and a poor prognosis.

We present two female nonsmoker Buerger's disease cases with anticardiolipin autoantibodies and a poor prognosis. One was a 64-year-old female who has had multiple lower and upper extremity amputations, while the other was a 32-year-old female with extremity and visceral artery involvement. Since both were positive for anticardiolipin antibodies, we speculate that Buerger's disease is an autoimmune disorder.

Broken stent in oesophageal malignancy: a rare complication.

Metallic expandable stents are used increasingly for palliative treatment of inoperable malignant tumours of oesophagus to improve dysphagia. We report a rare case of oesophageal stent fracture that was broken and left in situ within the stomach uneventfully until the end of the patient's life after the application of another stent.

Reverse-flow first dorsal metacarpal artery flap for index fingertip reconstruction.

Dorsum of the hand is an ideal skin-flap donor site for coverage of hand or finger defects. We elevated 8 reverse-flow first dorsal metacarpal artery flap in 9 patients for soft-tissue cover of index fingertip injuries distal to distal interphalangeal joint with exposed bone. In 3 patients, the digital branch of the superficial radial nerve was coapted to the digital nerve.

Augmentation of third generation instrumentation with sublaminar titanium wiring in late onset idiopathic scoliosis: the surgical results and analysis of trunk balance.

In recent years, third generation instrumentation systems which achieve correction by maneuvers like derotation and translation, have been widely used in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. To increase correction, additional procedures that increase stability, such as screw application for every segment, have been used. In this study, as a new technique, the effects of combined translation and derotation maneuver with augmentation by using titanium double crimp Songer cable applied on apical region, on trunk balance, sagittal and frontal planes have been examined.

Left ventricular apical aneurysm as a consequence of diffuse type congenital nonfamilial supravalvular aortic stenosis in a 30-year-old female.

Congenital nonfamilial supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is relatively rare, its diffuse type being the least common. We present a 30-year-old woman with diffuse SVAS complicated with left ventricular apical aneurysm. We believe that subtle left ventricular myocardial ischemia or infarction and long-lasting severe pressure overload to the apical chamber caused LV apical aneurysm in our case.

[Infected urachal cyst].

The urachus is a vestigial remnant of the cloaca and allantois. It is usually obliterated at early postnatal life. When this obliteration is incomplete, in addition to congenital urachal anomalies such as patent urachus, umblical-urachal sinus, vesico-urachal diverticulum, and urachal cyst, acquired urachal pathologies as infections and neoplasms can emerge.

Spinal congenital dermal sinus associated with upper thoracic meningocele. Case Report.

The congenital dermal sinus is an abnormal epithelium-lined sinus tract between the skin surface and deeper tissues. It occurs during neurulation when the neural groove closes to form the neural tube on Day 26 of gestation and results from a failure of neuroectoderm to separate from the cutaneous ectoderm. The most frequent location is the lumbosacral area; an upper thoracic location is quite rare.

Prevalence of latex sensitization in healthy blood donors in Izmir, Turkey.

Although latex is a common allergen, the prevalence of natural rubber latex allergy in the general population in Turkey is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sensitization to natural rubber latex in a population of healthy blood donors. As skin prick testing of a sample of the general population was not feasible, the subgroup of adult healthy blood donors was chosen instead.

Auditory event-related brain potentials in fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive functions using auditory event-related brain potentials (ERP) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods: The P300 component of ERP was studied in 36 female FMS patients and 22 control subjects. The short form 36 (SF-36) medical outcome study was used to determine quality of life.

A case of acquired gastric outlet obstruction diagnosed at 16 years of age.

A 16-year-old boy was admitted with an 8-year history of abdominal pain, vomiting, and growth retardation. There was no history of peptic ulcer or caustic ingestion. He was severely cachexic, and barium meal showed a dilated stomach with delayed gastric emptying time and no contrast in the duodenum afterward.