Evaluation of ultrasonography guidance for single-puncture temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis: A randomized clinical study

Objective To evaluate ultrasonography (US) guidance on the single-puncture temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis technique.

Methods Twenty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 12 in each group), and single puncture arthrocentesis (SPA) was performed with and without US guidance in groups 1 and 2. During the one-year follow-up period, the groups were statistically evaluated by the visual analog scale for pain, maximum mouth opening, lateral excursion, and protrusion within each group and between the two groups.

Results Both treatment groups showed significant improvement, compared to the baseline levels for almost all outcome variables. However, there were no statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2 (p > 0.05).

Conclusion US guidance can be used for cannula placement in SPA. However, the outcome results are the same with or without its use.     

Impact of the estimated blood loss during radical prostatectomy on functional outcomes

Objective

To investigate the effect of the estimated blood loss (BL) during radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (CaP) on functional outcomes. We hypothesized that the estimated BL during RP for clinically localized CaP does not affect the functional outcomes.

The problems of women working in greenhouse agriculture in rural area in Turkey: A phenomenological study from health and social perspective

Working in agriculture may cause serious health problems due to heavy working conditions and chemical exposure. This Husserlian phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with 22 women working in greenhouse agriculture to investigate the health and social problem(s). In the evaluation of the data, Colaizzi's seven-step content analysis method and thematic analysis were used. The Kappa analysis was performed with two independent experts to measure the reliability of comparative fit, and the value obtained in the analysis was 1.00 (perfect fit). Based on the content analysis, six themes were defined. All participants indicated that they had different reproductive health-related problems. Some participants stated that their children had respiratory system-related problems and that they were subjected to physical, verbal/emotional and sexual violence by their husbands. It is important to provide health education, counselling services and screening programmes for women who work in greenhouse agriculture and thus are in the at-risk group for poor health.     

The efficacy of superior rectus recession with simultaneous inferior oblique disinsertion on superior oblique palsy with superior rectus contracture

Purpose: The information about superior rectus (SR) recession in cases with SR contracture coexisting with superior oblique palsy (SOP) is very limited in previous literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of SR recession, as a combined procedure with inferior oblique (IO) disinsertion, in long-standing SOP with secondary SR contracture.

Methods: The medical records of the 145 patients operated for SOP were retrospectively reviewed and 15 patients who underwent SR recession met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up was 50.4 months.

Results: The preoperative angle of deviation was within the range of 16–35 prism dioptres (PD) with a mean of 23.0 ± 5.03 PD. In all of the cases, SR recession was performed in combination with IO disinsertion. Adult patients (12) underwent adjustable SR recession. Postoperative overcorrection developed in 3 cases (20%), and in 12 patients, the postoperative vertical deviation was within the range of 0–5 PD with a mean of 1.41 ± 1.88 PD. The overcorrected three patients underwent botulinum toxin A (BTXA) injection into the ipsilateral inferior rectus muscle. The deviation is well controlled by BTXA injection in two patients, whereas the other one was considered as masked bilateral SOP and underwent IO disinsertion in the other eye.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that SR recession in combination with IO disinsertion is an effective procedure to control large vertical deviations in SOP with SR contracture in the majority of cases. However, the risk of overcorrection should be considered despite adjustable SR weakening and BTXA injection seems efficient to rescue overcorrections in long term.     

Effectiveness and SEM–EDX analysis following bleaching with an experimental bleaching gel containing titanium dioxide and/or chitosan

Odontology - The aim of this study was to evaluate the bleaching effectiveness and mineral alterations following the use of experimental bleaching gels that included 6% hydrogen peroxide (HP),...     

Pulmonary involvement in inflammatory bowel disease

AIM:To determine the relationship of pulmonary abnormalities and bowel disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS:Thirty ulcerative colitis(UC)and nine Crohn’s disease patients,and 20 control subjects were enrolled in this prospective study.Detailed clinical information was obtained.Extent and activity of the bowel disease were established endoscopically.Each patient underwent pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT).Blood samples for measurement of C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),angiotensin converting enzyme and total IgE were delivered by the patients.RESULTS:Ten(25.6%)patients had respiratory symptoms.A pulmonary function abnormality was present in 22 of 39 patients.Among all patients,the most prevalent abnormalities in lung functions were a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s(FEV1),FEV1/forced vital capacity(FVC),forced expiratory flow(FEF)25%-75%,transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide(DLCO),DLCO/alveolar volume.Increased respiratory symptoms score was associated with high endoscopic activity index in UC patients.Endoscopic and clinical activities in UC patients were correlated with FEV1,FEV1/FVC,and FEF 25%-75%.Smoking status,duration of disease and medication were not correlated with pulmonary physiological test results,HRCT abnormalities,clinical/endoscopic disease activity,CRP,ESR or total IgE level or body mass index.CONCLUSION:It is important that respiratory manifestations are recognized and treated early in IBD.Otherwise,they can lead to destructive and irreversible changes in the airway wall.     

Thyroid surgery: what has changed from (1970 to 2004): a Turkish perspective

Background

Turkey is an endemic region for goiter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changing factors concerning thyroid disease and thyroid surgery in a referral center in Turkey.

Methods

This study was a retrospective evaluation of reports of patients who underwent surgery for thyroid disease at Hacettepe University Medical School between the years 1970 and 1974, 1980 and 1984, 1990 and 1994, and 2000 and 2004.

Results

A total of 1,270 patients were included in the study. There were 140, 141, 402, and 587 patients in the 1970-1974, 1980-1984, 1990-1994, and 2000-2004 groups, respectively. In the past decade, the use of ultrasonography has increased significantly; more thyroid cancer cases have been diagnosed and more extensive surgical procedures have been applied.

Conclusions

During the past 40 years, significant changes have occurred in the treatment of thyroid disease, particularly diagnostic tools, pathologies, and surgical procedures.     

Ex vivo and in vivo investigations of the novel 1,470 nm diode laser for potential treatment of benign prostatic enlargement

Perioperative haemorrhage is still the major complication of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign enlargement of the prostate. Photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) with the potassium–titanyl–phosphate (KTP) laser has been shown to achieve instant tissue ablation with excellent haemostatic properties. Our aim was to determine the tissue removal capacity, coagulation and haemostatic property of the novel 1,470 nm diode laser, ex vivo and in vivo. We evaluated two prototype diode laser systems at 1,470 nm in an ex vivo, isolated, blood-perfused, porcine kidney model (n = 5; 10 W–50 W) and in an in vivo investigation of beagle prostate (n = 4; 100 W) to assess vaporisation capacities and coagulation properties at different generator settings. The diode laser evaluation was compared with an 80 W KTP laser in the porcine model. After the laser treatment we performed a histological examination to compare the depth of coagulation and vaporisation. The diode laser system (50 W) showed significantly lower (P < 0.0001) capacities for tissue removal than the 80 W KTP laser (0.96 mm ± 0.17 mm and 5.93 mm ± 0.25 mm, respectively, P < 0.0001), while coagulation zones were significantly (P < 0.001) larger in diode laser-treated kidneys (3,39 mm ± 0.93 mm and 1.27 mm ± 0.13 mm, respectively). In vivo, the diode laser displayed rapid ablation of prostatic tissue with no intraoperative haemorrhage. Histological examination revealed coagulation zones of 2.30 mm (±0.26) at 100 W in the diode laser-treated prostates.