A boy with spastic paraparesis and dyspnea

A 4 1/2-year-old boy with signs and symptoms of spastic paraparesis and dyspnea is presented. Biotinidase deficiency was considered and was confirmed by both urine organic acid analysis and biotinidase activity measurement. The child recovered gradually on biotin therapy. Because other systemic signs and symptoms of the disease might not be present initially or might develop later, biotinidase deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child presenting with acute or subacute spastic paraparesis.     

Volumetric determination of medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle of humerus in male and female volleyball players

The aim of this study was to assess the volume of the medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle in comparison with the distal end of humerus volume in male and female elite athletes participating in an impact loading sport (volleyball). The volleyball group consisted of 17 female, aged 20.47 +/- 2.47 years (mean +/- SD), 16 male aged 21.68 +/- 3.47 years (mean +/- SD); training for about 8 hours/week. The control group consisted of 15 nonactive females aged 21.73 +/- 2.68 years (mean +/- SD) and 14 nonactive males aged 23.35 +/- 4.16 years (mean +/- SD). Anthropometric determinations (height, weight, limb length, girth of arm and forearm) were made on each subjects. Range of motion was evaluated by standard goniometric technique. Comparative plain films of both elbows were obtained in an anteroposterior projection. The volumes of the medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle were determined by the principle of Cavalieri which is an effective stereologic volume calculation method. In the volleyball players, increased medial epicondyle volume was recorded in the dominant and nondominant arms as compared with the control subjects (P < 0.05). Wrist flexors are highly involved in spiking, blocking and serving in volleyball. In this study we founded volume of medial epicondyle which is the connection point of flexor muscle was increased because of loading.     

Comparative study of 0.1% olopatadine hydrochloride and 0.5% ketorolac tromethamine in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

PURPOSE: To compare the therapeutic effects of two ophthalmic solutions (0.1% olopatadine hydrochloride and 0.5% ketorolac tromethamine) with different pharmacological mechanisms on the clinical signs and Symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC). METHODS: Forty patients with the signs and symptoms of SAC (i.e. hyperaemia, itching, mucus discharge, tearing) were included in this placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group, single centre study. In group 1 (20 patients) one eye of each patient was treated with olopatadine and the other with placebo. In group 2 (20 patients) one eye of each patient was treated with ketorolac solution and the other with placebo. The principal signs and symptoms of SAC (hyperaemia and itching) were evaluated at 30 mins and at 2, 7 and 15 days. RESULTS: In group 1, both parameters improved significantly in eyes treated with olopatadine compared with those receiving placebo at all control examinations (all p < 0.05). Similarly, eyes treated with ketorolac showed significant reductions in signs and symptoms compared with those receiving placebo (all p < 0.05). When the clinical parameters of eyes treated with olopatadine were compared with those treated with ketorolac, the mean score of hyperaemia was found to be lower in the olopatadine group, but the difference was not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). However, the itching score was significantly lower in the olopatadine group from the second day through to the end of the study (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both olopatadine and ketorolac ophthalmic solutions were found to be effective in alleviating the clinical signs and symptoms of SAC compared to placebo. However, olopatadine reduces ocular itching significantly more than ketorolac.     

Fatal poisonings in the Aegean region of Turkey

Between January 1996 and November 2000, 4,251 autopsies were performed at the Council of Forensic Medicine, Morgue Specialization Office, Izmir, Turkey. Among these medicolegal autopsies, 331 fatal poisoning cases (206 men and 125 women) were evaluated retrospectively for their legal investigation results, autopsy findings, and reports of toxicological analyses. The most common cause of fatal poisoning was insecticides (43%). Then followed carbon monoxide (27%) and alcohol (20%). Among the insecticides, the organophosphorus insecticides comprised 78%; all insecticide poisoning cases were suicidal oral ingestions. In fatal alcohol poisoning cases the cause of death was ethanol, methanol and both with 34, 15 and 51% respectively. Drug related deaths were rare.     

The ameliorating effect of melatonin on protamine sulfate induced bladder injury and its relationship to interstitial cystitis

PURPOSE: The pineal hormone melatonin was recently shown to have free radical scavenging ability and it reduces lipid peroxidation. In this morphological study we investigated the effects of melatonin on protamine sulfate (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Missouri) induced bladder injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Albino Wistar female rats were catheterized and intravesically infused with phosphate buffered solution (control group) or protamine sulfate (bladder injury group) dissolved in phosphate buffered solution. In the protamine sulfate plus melatonin group after protamine sulfate instillation melatonin was injected intraperitoneally. Bladder morphology was investigated by light and electron microscopy. Tissue samples were also obtained to determine bladder malondialdehyde levels. RESULTS: In the bladder injury group ulcerated areas, an irregular glycosaminoglycan layer, increased number of mast cells, vacuole formation, dilated perinuclear cistern, formation of pleomorphic and uniform microvilli, and dilated urothelial intercellular spaces were observed. In the bladder injury plus melatonin group a relatively normal urothelial topography, glycosaminoglycan layer and decreased number of mucosal mast cells, some dilatation between intercellular areas, less uniform microvilli and in most areas regular tight junctions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Increased malondialdehyde levels as a result of protamine sulfate induction lead us to propose that free radicals may have a critical role in this injury. The significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels in the protamine sulfate plus melatonin group was in accordance with morphological findings. Thus, melatonin appears to exert a urothelial protective activity in a bladder injury model.     

Partial agenesis of the corpus callosum with partial seizures and bilateral congenital lacrimal duct atresia

Patients with partial agenesis of the corpus callosum can be readily detected by magnetic resonance imaging.     

Lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome with QT prolongation

We present a case of a young boy in whom lacrimo-auriculo-dental-digital (LADD) syndrome with QT prolongation was detected. According to Bazett's formula, corrected QT was 504 ms. There were no published data about LADD syndrome with QT prolongation. This is the first case concerning LADD syndrome associated with QT prolongation. It is known that deafness and QT prolongation occur in potassium channel dysfunction. QT prolongation and deafness may be associated with potassium channel dysfunction in patients with LADD syndrome. As a result QT prolongation may be a new component of the LADD syndrome.     

Intraosseous hemangioma of the zygoma

Zygomatic hemangioma is an extremely rare, benign, slow-growing tumor occurring mostly in adult women. The radiologic findings are diagnostic. Total excision of the tumor with primary reconstruction of the defect is the preferred treatment modality. We present a case of zygomatic hemangioma and a brief review of the literature.     

Anti-hyperglycemic and antigenotoxic potential of Ulva rigida ethanolic extract in the experimental diabetes mellitus

An increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and insufficient antioxidant activity is known in diabetes mellitus (DM). Antioxidant compounds in the human foods or supplementary diets can be used to counteract several diseases. The analysis of micronuclei (MN) is a cytogenetic technique used to show chromosomal damage caused by clastogenic affects. The present study was designed to evaluate: (i) the effects of diabetes mellitus on bone marrow MN frequency, (ii) the effect of oral administration of Ulva rigida ethanolic extract (URE) on MN frequency produced by DM, and (iii) some hematological values in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Daily fluid and food consumptions, weekly body weights, blood glucose concentrations and serum insulin levels were also examined in the study groups during the two different administration periods. The blood glucose concentration and MN frequency have been significantly increased in diabetic rats compared with the normal rats (p < 0.0001). Especially, URE-30d group treatment in diabetic rats was significantly decreased blood glucose concentrations and MN frequency. This is the first report on the anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidative and genotoxic/antigenotoxic capacity of U. rigida in vivo. Our results suggest that URE shows strong anti-hyperglycemic and antigenotoxic effect on the genotoxicity produced by DM in rats.