Effects of Rosiglitazone on Cardiac Function in CAPD Patients: A Tissue Doppler Study

Background. Insulin resistance was an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in uremic patients without diabetes. Rosiglitazone (ROS) improves insulin sensitivity in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. We prospectively investigated the effects of ROS on cardiac functions by standard (SDE) and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDI) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods. A total of 24 CAPD patients (13 males, 11 females; mean age 42.2 ± 14.8 years) were included. Routine blood samples were examined. Left and right ventricular functions were assessed, and myocardial performance index (MPI) was calculated by SDE and TDI at baseline and after 12-month ROS therapy. Left and right atrial volumes were measured and indexed to body surface area. Results. When compared with baseline, after 12 months of ROS treatment, it was shown that early (E) and late (A) diastolic velocities of atrioventricular valves, E/A ratio, mitral E-wave deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), and MPI were similar (p > 0.05). Also, no significant changes were detected in LV dimensions, LV mass index, LVEF, LA volume index, or RA volume index measured by SDE before and after ROS therapy (p > 0.05). Left and right ventricular function parameters measured by TDI including Sm, Em, Am, Em/Am ratio, E/Em ratio, and MPI were similar. Conclusion. It was found that there was no negative effect of long-term ROS therapy on cardiac functions measured by SDE and TDI in CAPD patients.     

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in a neonatal intensive care unit: who will be infected?

Objective: To determine the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) colonization in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over five-year period, rate of progression to VRE infection and associated risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective surveillance for VRE colonization and health care-associated infections was made. Contact precautions were taken against colonization, although the application varied over the years due to repairs in the unit.

Results: VRE rectal colonization was detected in 200/1671 neonates (12%) admitted to NICU. It showed great interannual variability from 1.9% to 30.3%. Sytemic VRE infection developed in 6/200 VRE-colonized patients (3%) within a median of 9 days (range: 3–58 days). The risk factors for VRE infection development identified in the univariate analysis were long hospital stay (≥30 days), necrotizing enterocolitis, surgical procedure, extraventricular drainage, receipt of amphotericin B and receipt of glycopeptides after detection of VRE colonization. Crude in-hospital mortality was higher in neonates who developed a systemic VRE infection (p?<?0.001).

Conclusion: Maintaining physical conditions in the unit favorable for infection control and rational use of antibiotics are essential in the control of VRE colonization and resultant infections. Special attention should be directed to VRE-colonized babies carrying the risk factors.     

Assessment the long-term effects of septoplasty surgery on olfactory function

Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate pre-operatively and post-operatively the olfactory function of patients who had undergone surgery in our clinic for chronic nasal blockage via the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) smell test.

Method: Thirty-seven patients (24 females, 13 males) were enrolled in this study. All had undergone surgery in our clinic due to chronic nasal blockage (not for smell dysfunction), having been diagnosed with septal deviation in conjunction with concha bullosa and/or inferior turbinate hypertrophy. This is a prospective study without a control group. The mean age was 33.74?±?8.98 (range =19–54). All of the operations were performed under general anesthesia. CCCRC smell tests were performed on every patient before the operation and at post-operative 1st week, 6th week, 6th month, and 1st year.

Results: In this study, we found that septoplasty, in conjunction with middle concha surgery and/or inferior concha radiofrequency, did not affect the olfactory function negatively.

Conclusion: Although nasal surgery has the potential to affect the smell function negatively, it was found that olfactory function was not affected after the surgery during a considerably long follow-up period. Moreover, an improvement in smell function was detected at post-operative 6th month and 1st year.     

An approach to the detection of lesions in mammograms using fuzzy image processing

An algorithm was developed in this study, using rule-based fuzzy logic, to enable masses that are hard to recognize or detect in mammograms to become more readily perceptible. Small lesions, such as microcalcifications and other masses that are hard to recognize, especially on film scan mammograms, were processed through segmentation. A total of 40 mammograms were used and they were classified by radiologists into three groups: those with microcalcifications (n=15), those with tumours (n=15), and those with no lesions (n=10). Five mammograms were taken as training data sets from each of the groups with microcalcifications and tumours. The algorithm was then applied to data not taken for training. The algorithm achieved a mean accuracy of 99% compared with the findings of the radiologists.     

Comparison of magnesium versus titanium screw fixation for biplane chevron medial malleolar osteotomy in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - This retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent biplane chevron medial...     

The long-term oncological outcomes of the 140 robotic sphincter-saving total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a single surgeon experience

Journal of Robotic Surgery - Robotic surgery became more popularly in the colorectal surgical field. The aim of the study was to evaluate of the oncological outcomes which patients who underwent...     

Surgical treatment of giant liver hydatid cysts: comparison of cystojejunostomy and partial cystectomy

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare partial cystectomy and internal drainage of the cyst cavity with cystojejunostomy for the surgical treatment of giant hepatic hydatid cysts.

Methods

Patients who underwent any type of surgical treatment between March 2009 and May 2013 for giant hepatic hydatid cysts were retrospectively evaluated. The data collected included demographic variables, diagnostic methods, surgical procedures, morbidity and mortality rates.

Results

Twenty-eight patients who underwent surgery for giant hepatic hydatid cysts were included. There were 16 (57 %) female patients, with a mean age of 32.8 years. The diagnostic methods primarily included abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography, which were performed in 62 % of the patients. The patients were divided into two groups with respect to the treatment modality: Group A (n = 13) treated with cystojejunostomy and Group B (n = 15) treated with partial cystectomy. The overall rate of cavity-related complications was 25 % in Group B, whereas none of the patients in Group A had a cavity-related complication during the follow-up period (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Cystojejunostomy is an effective and safe surgical approach for the treatment of giant hepatic hydatid cysts, with a lower rate of morbidity than partial cystectomy, and thus may be the surgical treatment of choice for giant hepatic hydatid cysts.