Effect of Tropicamide on Laser Flare Meter Measurements in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the effect of 1% tropicamide on anterior chamber aqueous flare (ACAF) measurements acquired with laser flare meter in patients with pseudoexfoliation.     

CASE OF FASCIOLIASIS: EXTRACTION WITH ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

Fascioliasis is a worldwide zoonotic infection with fasciola hepatica and fasciola gigantica. The zoonoses are particularly endemic in sheep‐raising countries and are also endemic in Turkey. Clinical features of fascioliasis relate to the stage and intensity of infection. Fasciola hepatica infection comprises two stages: hepatic and biliary, with different signs and symptoms. Cholestatic symptoms may be sudden, but, in some cases, they may be preceded by a long period of fever, eosinophilia and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. We reported a case with fever and upper‐quadrant abdominal pain since 3 months that comes from an area endemic for fasciola hepatica, with suspected imaging about fasciola hepatica in common bile duct on ultrasonography. After that, fasciola hepatica was extracted with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.     

The use of tissue expanders in syndactyly repair

The syndactyly repairs of 11 hands in seven patients (average age 20.4) who had simple complete syndactyly between the third and fourth fingers were done by the use of tissue expanders in order to obtain adequate skin closure. At the first stage, a wedge type, 7 cc tissue expander was placed beneath the dorsal skin of the syndactylous digits via a vertical dorsal hand incision under local anesthesia. Inflation was begun on the 15th postoperative day. After the inflation period (average 32 days), syndactyly repair similar to the Littler technique was performed using axillary block anesthesia. During the expansion period one tissue expander became exposed and this hand was repaired by the classical skin grafting technique. In the remaining ten hands the expanded dorsal skin ensured skin closure of the digits and web reconstruction without any need for skin grafting. No complications were encountered during the postoperative period. Active and passive abduction angles, tip-to-tip length, active range of motion of the digits, and two point discrimination tests were done at follow-up (average six months). The web appearances were normal in all patients. Active abduction angles and active range of motion of the digits was always normal at the third postoperative month. Two point discrimination was 8.7 mm on the interdigital sides of the digits and there was no tip-to-tip length differences of the digits. No contractures were seen.Presented at the International Congress of Surgery of the Hand and Upper Extremity, Izmir, Turkey, September 25, 1994.     

Low-dose erythropoietin is effective and safe in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Hypertension is one of the most important complications of erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy in dialysis patients. In this study, the effect of two different dosage regiments of subcutaneous rHuEPO on blood pressure [BP] was evaluated in 20 anemic children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Patients were randomized to receive rHuEPO 50 U/kg, either once a week (group 1, 50 U/kg per week) or three times a week (group 2, 150 U/kg per week). At the beginning of the study, 8 patients in group 1 and 8 patients in group 2 were on antihypertensive therapy. In group 1, the hematocrit increased gradually and significantly from 18.98%±1.79% to 30.1%±1.62% after 6 months, while in group 2 it rapidly increased from 19.53%±1.86% to 32.4%±1.11% after 3 months. A significant increase in the mean arterial BP was observed in group 2. Antihypertensive therapy had to be increased in all of the 8 previously hypertensive patients and had to be initiated in 1 of the 2 originally normotensive patients in the same group. None of the patients in group 1 required a change in antihypertensive medication. We conclude that during treatment with rHuEPO pre-existing hypertension and the dose of rHuEPO are the most important risk factors for the development or worsening of hypertension in children on CAPD, and gradual elevation of hematocrit by low-dose rHuEPO avoids the development of severe hypertension. Received December 11, 1995; received in revised form September 16, 1996; accepted September 19, 1996     

Testicular torsion: Evaluation of contralateral testicular histology

Infertility may occur in patients with unilateral testicular torsion whose contralateral testis is intact. Depending on this observation, the physicians have begun to examine the contralateral testis. In the present prospective study we aimed to examine the histopathologic alterations occurring in the contralateral testicle with time. Sixty adult male albino rats were included in the programme, and following experimental torsion the histopathologic findings, especially those in the contralateral testis, were evaluated after 4–12 weeks. Long-term and high degree torsion of the testicle led to varying degrees of deterioration in the germinal epithelium and interstitial cells of the contralateral testicle. Histopathologic alterations were reversed in 12 weeks. Tubular diameter and testicular volume also decreased in accordance with the histopathologic alteration. In our opinion, orchiectomy following torsion of one testicle will limit potential histopathologic alterations in the contralateral testicle.     

Delay of cranial bone regeneration by CO2 and Nd-YAG laser application: an experimental study related to craniosynostosis

In this study we have investigated the negative influence of CO₂ and Nd-YAG laser irradiation on rapid cranial regeneration and whether it has any use in certain types of craniosynostosis. Twenty-two newborn rats were used in the study. Both CO₂ and Nd-YAG laser irradiation, which was applied to free bony edges after, suturectomies, resulted in a significant decrease in skull regeneration. Histopathological examinations revealed severe degeneration caused by both types of laser energies.     

Current approaches in the treatment of bladder cancer and policy in Marmara University Hospital

Bladder cancer is one of the malignancies encountered frequently in urological practice. Since the three main treatment modalities (surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy) may be used alone or together, there are many treatment options. In this paper the current approaches in the treatment of bladder tumours are reviewed and the policy in Marmara University Hospital is described.