Solid and cystic tumors of the pancreas: A report of two cases

Two patients operated on for solid and cystic tumors of the pancreas are presented. One of them had a history of a benign cerebral tumor (astrocytoma) for which a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt had been done 3 years previously. The operations performed were a type-I regional pancreatectomy in one patient and a Whipple's procedure in the other. The patients were discharged well without complications and no recurrence has been detected 1 year after the operation     

Adolescent renomedullary interstitial cell tumor: a case report

A 14-year-old boy presented with painless gross hematuria after a blunt trauma to his right lumbar region. Abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computerized tomography revealed that the right kidney was hydronephrotic; contrast material delineated a hematoma inside the kidney. The patient underwent a right simple nephrectomy and after histopathological examination was found to have a renomedullary interstitial cell tumor of the right kidney. This tumor is common in patients older than 50 years, whereas our patient was very young. The diagnosis of this small tumor is not possible by conventional radiological techniques and histopathological examination is mandatory for its diagnosis.     

The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in the treatment of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits. It was hypothesized that HBO therapy improves the regression of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An experimental animal study was conducted on 48 rabbits (48 right eyes of these rabbits) to evaluate the effects of HBO therapy on endotoxin-induced acute anterior uveitis in rabbits. To induce acute anterior uveitis, Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) was intravitreally injected into the right eyes of the rabbits. The animals were randomly assigned to five groups. No treatment was given to the rabbits in Group A. Prednisolone acetate was topically administered to the rabbits in Group B. Methylprednisolone acetate was administered by anterior subtenon injection to the rabbits in Group C four hours after LPS application. HBO therapy was administered to the rabbits in Group D. Both HBO therapy and anterior subtenon injection of methylprednisolone therapy were administered to the rabbits in Group E. To compare the effects of the different therapies on the progression of endotoxin-induced uveitis, examinations including clinical scoring of anterior uveitis, microscopic examination of aspirated aqueous humor for inflammatory responses, and aqueous protein level assessment were performed once a day after LPS injection. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the control group (Group A) and other groups (Groups B-E) with respect to the number of inflammatory cells and protein levels in the aqueous one and three days after LPS injection (p < 0.05), indicating that the treatments resulted in less inflammation in Groups B-E compared to Group A. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and C, Groups B and D, Groups B and E, Groups C and D, and Groups C and E with regard to the number of inflammatory cells in the aqueous at Day 1 after LPS injection (p > 0.05). In addition, Groups B and C and Groups B and D were comparable with regard to cell counts at Day 3 (p > 0.05), showing that HBO was comparable to corticosteroids in reducing inflammation. The differences between Groups B and E and Groups C and E were significant with regard to aqueous cell counts at Day 3 (p < 0.05), showing that HBO plus steroid was more effective than steroids alone. CONCLUSION: The intensity of ocular inflammation in the group receiving HBO therapy combined with anterior subtenon injection of methylprednisolone therapy was lower than in the other groups. We also demonstrated that HBO therapy was an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits with an efficacy comparable to that of corticosteroids. Moreover, HBO plus steroid was superior to steroids alone in reducing inflammation.     

Periosteal chondroma that presented as a subcutaneous mass in the ring finger

We present an unusual case of periosteal chondroma of the middle phalanx in the right ring finger that presented as a subcutaneous mass in a 21-year-old man. It was treated by marginal excision, with no postoperative local recurrence.     

Superiority of medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flap in scrotal reconstruction

Scrotal skin has unique cosmetic and functional features that make its reconstruction difficult. Coverage of the testicles and constituting a good cosmetic appearance are major expectations from a successful reconstruction. Usually flaps are the choice for scrotal reconstruction, but every single flap has its own characteristics. In our series, between January 2006 and January 2010, the medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flap was used in 7 male patients for scrotal coverage after Fournier gangrene. Six flaps were raised based on a single perforator from the gracilis muscle; however in one flap 2 perforators were used. Flaps were carried to the defect either by transposition or by V-Y advancement. Donor areas were closed directly in all patients, and stable scrotal coverage was achieved with an acceptable scrotal contour and cosmesis. No major complication was seen due the perforator flap surgery, in 2 patients wound dehiscence were noted and they healed by secondary intention or by secondary suturing. For scrotal reconstruction, the medial circumflex femoral artery perforator flap is a good option with its good mobility, thinness for scrotal contour, possibility for muscle preservation, and direct closure of the donor site. All these advantages can be accomplished in 1 procedure.     

Nurses' locations as organ transplantation coordinators in the Turkey National Coordination System

Background

Turkey is one of the worst countries in the European region for the number of deceased organ donors (3.6) per million people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the location of nurses who have been attached to the National Coordination System as coordinators to increase this number.

Methods

We chose 4 regional coordination centers in which the most brain death cases were reported: Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Ankara. Coordinators were classified according to their occupations. We evaluated the numbers of brain deaths and of donors from 2006 to 2009 in hospitals that have coordinators.

Results

The centers that have only nurse organ transplantation coordinators reported 60.3 (total n = 138) of the brain deaths in 2007, 54.8% (n = 97) in 2008, and 47.5% (n = 152) in 2009 in the Istanbul region; 8.4% (n = 131) in 2007, 25% (n = 164) in 2008, and 20% (n = 169) in 2009 in the Izmir region; 42.6% (n = 61) in 2007, 42.6% (n = 56) in 2008, and 32.4% (n = 111) in 2009 in the Antalya region; and 54% (n = 120) in 2007, 45.2% (n = 104) in 2008, and 41.8% (n = 122) in 2009 in the Ankara region.

Conclusion

Brain death numbers have increased in all regions after the nurses started to work as coordinators. Still many potential donor center have no transplantation coordinator.     

Bilateral posterior shoulder dislocation with defect secondary to hypoglycemic coma

Posterior dislocation of the shoulder is a rare clinical entity with incidence of 6 per 1,000,000. It is more common in middle-aged men [1] and more than half of all cases may initially be missed [2]. Posterior shoulder dislocation is related to internal rotation, flexion, and abduction forcing of the shoulder secondary to grand mal seizure, electric shock, or trauma [3]. One case of posterior dislocation secondary to a seizure caused by a brain tumor has been reported [4]. Bilateral anterior dislocation because of hypoglycemic coma is very rare [5], and, to our knowledge, no case reports of bilateral posterior shoulder dislocation owing to hypoglycemic coma have been published.     

Evaluation of lung epithelial permeability in the volatile substance abuse using Tc-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy

Aim  

Chronic inhalant use is associated with significant toxic effects, including neurological, renal, hepatic, and pulmonary damage. However, there is a paucity of reports regarding respiratory complications in inhalant abusers. The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary epithelial permeability in the volatile substance abuse (VSA) using Tc-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.