The effect of rural and urban life on peritonitis rates in chronic peritoneal patients

BackgroundIt has been reported that living far from the peritoneal dialysis (PD) unit is a risk factor for peritonitis. Considering that PD units are urban located; the question of whether living in a rural area compared to an urban area is a risk factor for peritonitis has arisen.MethodsFrom March 2010 to August 2020, 335 episodes of peritonitis in 202 PD patients followed in a single center were evaluated retrospectively. People living in areas with a population <1000 were defined as living in rural areas regardless of their distance from the PD center. Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with peritonitis.ResultsA total of 202 PD patients were followed during 791 patient-years (mean follow-up of 3.9 years per patient). Total patients had 335 episodes of peritonitis and the rate of peritonitis was 0.42 episodes per year (episodes/patient-year). Cox regression analysis revealed that living environment (urban vs. rural) was not a risk factor for peritonitis (p = 0.57).ConclusionsIn Turkey, we report that living in a rural area in our region is not a risk factor for peritonitis. It is not the right approach for both the physician and the patient to be reluctant in the choice of PD due to the concern of peritonitis in rural areas.     

Angio-Seal Used as a Bailout for Incomplete Hemostasis After Dual Perclose ProGlide Deployment in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

BackgroundThe failure rate of vascular closure devices remains a significant cause of major vascular complications in contemporary transcatheter aortic valve implantation practice.MethodsThis research aimed to evaluate use of the Angio-Seal device in a bailout context in the setting of incomplete hemostasis following use of dual Perclose ProGlide devices in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation. A total of 185 patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation with either dual Per-close ProGlide (n = 139) or a combination of dual Perclose ProGlide and Angio-Seal (n = 46) were retrospectively analyzed. The baseline, procedural characteristics, and all outcomes (defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria) were compared.ResultsNo significant differences were seen between the dual Perclose ProGlide vs dual Perclose ProGlide+Angio-Seal groups with regard to the in-hospital Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 primary end points of major vascular complications (n = 13 [9.4%] vs n = 2 [4.3%]; P = .36), minor vascular complications (n = 13 [9.4%] vs n = 8 [14.7%]; P = .14), major bleeding (n = 16 [11.5%] vs n = 2 [4.3%]; P = .25), and minor bleeding (n = 9 [6.5%] vs n = 5 [10.9%]; P = .34), with higher rates of hematoma in the dual Perclose ProGlide+Angio-Seal group (n = 4 [2.9%] vs n = 5 [10.9%]; P = .044).ConclusionFinding from the current study suggest that adjunctive Angio-Seal deployment may be feasible and safe, especially in patients with incomplete hemostasis following dual Perclose ProGlide use, and can be an optimal “bailout” procedure.     

A New Insight Into Pathophysiological Mechanism of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Novel Parameters Salusin-β and Arterial Stiffness

BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has risk factors similar to those of atherosclerosis. Salusin-β and arterial stiffness are novel parameters that have been shown to predict atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders. However, their predictive value for detecting AAA remains unclear.MethodsForty-eight patients with AAA and 47 age- and sex-matched participants without AAA were enrolled in the study. Arterial stiffness parameters were obtained via an oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph PWA Monitor device (IEM GmbH) with integrated ARCSolver software (Australian Institute of Technology). Plasma salusin-β levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reagent kit (Abbkine, Inc). The measured salusin-β levels and arterial stiffness parameters of the AAA and control groups were compared.ResultsSalusin-β levels were significantly lower in patients with AAA (P = .014). There was a significant negative correlation between salusin-β levels and abdominal aorta diameter. No significant difference was detected between AAA and control groups in terms of arterial stiffness parameters (P > .05). In backward multiple regression analysis, the presence of AAA, platelet count, and augmentation index were found to be independent predictors of salusin-β levels (P = .006 and P = .023, respectively).ConclusionArterial stiffness parameters were not found to be associated with AAA. Contrary to previous results regarding atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders, salusin-β levels were found to be lower in patients with AAA. Although AAA is thought to have similar risk factors as atherosclerosis, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear.     

Perception of COVID-19 Pandemic Among IBD Clinicians and IBD Surgeons in Black Sea Region: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

Background:Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an increasing challenge in managing inflammatory bowel disease patients both medically and surgically. Although several international and national medical/surgical associations published guidelines in this area, there is still a huge difference between daily practices and these guidelines, especially depending on regional practices and governmental policies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate and define gastroenterologists’ and surgeons’ fear of COVID-19 and how they have managed inflammatory bowel disease patients during this pandemic in the Black Sea region.Methods:A 20-question survey was administered to 70 gastroenterology specialists and 80 general surgeons who are mainly focused on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in 5 countries in the Black Sea region.Results:The majority of respondents (81.3%) mentioned that they have concerns that their inflammatory bowel disease patients were at risk of contracting COVID-19. In addition, the majority of respondents (80.3%) believed that inflammatory bowel disease itself, independent of medications, might increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. The majority of gastroenterologists told that they did not stop inflammatory bowel disease medications due to the COVID-19 pandemic unless patients had COVID-19 disease. Surgeons overwhelmingly reached a consensus on how to test patients for COVID-19 perioperatively and came to a conclusion on which of the patients cannot wait to be operated. Both gastroenterologists and general surgeons, usually have similar perceptions.Conclusion:Despite the increasing number of definitive studies, it seems that there are still regional differences in the perception of COVID-19 and inflammatory bowel disease patient care during the pandemic.     

Golimumab Ameliorates Pancreatic Inflammatory Response in the Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

Background:The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a new and successful treatment opportunity can be provided in acute pancreatitis and may prevent symptomatic treatments and show its effect through etiopathogenesis. Therefore, we want to investigate the efficacy of golimumab in an experimental rat model of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.Methods:A total of 35 rats, including 7 rats in each group, were distributed into 5 groups (sham, acute pancreatitis, placebo, acute pancreatitis + golimumab 5 mg/kg, and acute pancreatitis + golimumab 10 mg/kg). An experimental cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis model was accomplished by intraperitoneal cerulein injections. After sacrification, rat blood samples were collected for amylase, IL-6, and IL-1beta measurements. Histopathological analysis of the pancreas was performed with Tunel and hematoxylin & eosin staining.Results:Amylase, IL-6, and IL-1beta levels were found to be increased in the acute pancreatitis group. IL-1beta, amylase, IL-6 levels, and pancreatic inflammation were all significantly decreased in golimumab groups (P < .01). Moreover, in both golimumab groups, golimumab treatment significantly reduced apoptosis in pancreatic tissues (P < .05). Golimumab treatment was found to significantly reduce edema formation, inflammation, vacuolization, and fat necrosis of pancreatic tissues (P < .05).Conclusion:Firstly in the literature, we investigated the efficacy of golimumab in the experimental acute pancreatitis model. In the light of our findings, it could be suggested that golimumab may be an effective and safe therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with acute pancreatitis.     

Why do infants pull their ears?

ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnoses of the infants who were admitted to our outpatient clinic with the complaint of pulling on the ear and to identify the related factors which may contribute to the diagnosis.MethodsThis prospective study included a total of 102 infants who were admitted to our hospital with the complaint of tugging and pulling on, touching, and rubbing the ears on the shoulder or pillow and shaking the head between July 2016 and July 2017. The complaints were evaluated throughout the day, and the application seasons, the person referred the patient to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, the child development specialist and child psychiatrist, allergy and atopy histories, and the relationship between the results and diagnoses were evaluated.Results46.1% of the patients had normal examination findings, while the second most common finding was cerumen in 37.2%, and the third one was otitis media with effusion (OME) in 16.7%. In infants who were directly referred by the family, normal and serological diagnosis were found to be statistically significantly higher than that of OME diagnosis, whereas in the infants referred by the family physicians and pediatrist, the OME was found to be statistically significantly higher than normal and cerumen levels. The presence of additional complaints in the OME group was found to be higher than normal and cerumen group. In those with complaints during the day, the most common finding was OME, while it was cerumen in those with complaints a few times in a day and normal examination finding in those tugging on their ears only, when they were falling asleep, indicating statistical significance. Of 47 infants with normal physical examination findings, 37 were assessed by the child psychiatrist, and depression was found in six of one of the parents during the family interviews.ConclusionIn this study, the majority of the infants referred to the ENT outpatient clinic had normal examination findings, while the rate of OME diagnosis was high. Considering the negative consequences of EOM in infants, the diagnosis of the EOM becomes extremely important. If there are no otologic pathologies in the majority of infants who were admitted with ear pulling and tugging, the possibility of different factors in etiology gives rise to thought. Therefore, further studies are required to prove this condition.     

Mirtazapine-induced acute angle closure

Acute angle closure (AAC) is an ocular emergency with symptoms including blurred vision, eye pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and reddening of the eye those results from increased intraocular pressure. This clinical condition can lead to permanent damage in vision, thus causing blindness by generating progressive and irreversible optic neuropathy if left untreated. There are several reasons of AAC, including several types of local and systemic medications; mainly sympathomimetics, cholinergics, anti-cholinergics, mydriatics, anti-histamines, antiepileptics like topiramate, tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, sulfa-based drugs and anticoagulants. Mirtazapine, a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, is an atypical antidepressant with a complex pharmacological profile. This case report describes a patient with major depressive disorder, who experienced AAC after the first dosage of mirtazapine treatment, and highlights the importance of close monitoring of individuals under antidepressant treatment particularly immediately after initiation of the drug.     

Evaluation of oxidative stress in children with congenital heart defects

Background: A significant cause of death and chronic illness in childhood is caused by cardiovascular diseases, including congenital heart disease (CHD). This study aims to investigate the oxidative stress status and to establish its association with CHD in children. Methods: The study involves measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO), total anti‐oxidant capacity, high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), fibrinogen and cytokine (interleukin [IL‐6] and tumor necrosis factor‐α) levels in 43 children with CHD and 30 healthy age‐matched children. Results: MDA, PCO, hs‐CRP, fibrinogen, IL‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α were significantly elevated while total anti‐oxidant capacity was significantly declined in patients compared with the controls. MDA was positively correlated with PCO, hs‐CRP, Qp/Qs and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. PCO was positively correlated with hs‐CRP, fibrinogen, IL‐6 and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusion: Oxidative stress and its association with other markers in children with CHD was established. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that PCO has been used as a biomarker in CHD and it may be employed as a new diagnostic biomarker in CHD and in the assessment of its severity.