Quantitative ultrasound evaluation of the hand: side dominance or overuse?

Mechanical loading is considered a very important factor affecting bone mass. To investigate the effect of heavy hand use on bone status in the dominant and nondominant hands, 17 ironers and a control group were evaluated with a new quantitative ultrasound system measuring the speed of sound (SOS). Both the dominant and nondominant hands were measured in all subjects, at both the proximal III phalanx and distal one-third radius. The ironers had significantly (p = 0.001) higher SOS values at the proximal III phalanx of the dominant hand than at the nondominant hand, whereas no difference was found between the hands in this group when measured at the distal one-third radius. There was no significant difference in SOS values as related to hand dominance in the control group. In conclusion, the SOS differences of the hands seems to be related to overuse rather than to side dominance.     

The protective effect of betanin and copper on spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury

Context: Both copper and betanin have been implicated as having significant bioactivity against ischemic damage in a variety of experimental and clinical settings. The aim of this study is to investigate whether betanin and copper have any protective effect on spinal cord in an ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) model in rats.Design: Spraque-Dawley rats were used in four groups: Sham group (n = 7), control group (laparotomy and cross-clamping of aorta, n = 7), betanin treatment group (dosage of 100 mg/kg of betanin administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 60 min before laparotomy, n = 7), copper sulfate treatment group (administered copper sulfate i.p. at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day for 7 days before laparotomy, n = 7). Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay was also performed to evaluate apoptosis.Setting: Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Kars, Turkey.Results: I/R injury was successfully demonstrated with the surgical model. Betanin and copper treatment significantly decreased MDA levels, MPO activity and the number of apoptotic cells in the spinal cord. Betanin and copper treatment significantly increased GSH levels. Copper treatment significantly increased SOD activity, whereas betanin was not as effective. Apoptotic cells were significantly decreased in both treatment groups.Conclusion: I/R injury of the spinal cord can be successfully demonstrated by aortic clamping in this surgical model. Betanin/Copper sulphate has ameliorative effects against operative I/R injury. Low toxicity of those agents makes them ideal targets for clinical research for this purpose.     

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea due to temporosphenoidal encephalocele.

A 57-year old man was referred to our hospital with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea of 6 years duration. He had an episode of meningitis 2 months previously. CT cisternography and cranial MRI revealed a defect in the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus, with an anteromedial temporosphenoidal encephalocele. Surgery was performed transcranially through a pterional approach. The temporal encephalocele was amputated, the sphenoid sinus obliterated and the dural defect repaired. Lumbar drainage was used for 5 days after surgery. Spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea is only infrequently due to temporal encephalocele. Anteromedial temporosphenoidal encephaloceles are the least common type of temporal encephalocele, with only 12 reported in the literature.     

Abscess formation within invasive pituitary adenoma.

Pituitary abscess secondary to an adenoma is rare. To date, only 19 cases have been reported. This is the first report of a patient who presented with bilateral total ophthalmoplegia. A 59-year-old male patient presented with headache, nausea, vomiting, decreasing visual acuity, diplopia and bilateral ophthalmoplegia with ptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of a pituitary abscess with adenoma. Transphenoidal surgery was performed and, during debulking of the tumour, the abscess was seen and excised. After the operation, the patient received antibiotic therapy and his neurological condition improved. Pituitary abscess with adenoma is a serious condition that has a high mortality rate. Therefore, early diagnosis and surgical intervention with antibiotic therapy are necessary.     

Neuroprotective effect of etomidate on functional recovery in experimental spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: Primary impact to the spinal cord causes rapid oxidative stress after injury. To protect neural tissue, it is important to prevent secondary pathophysiological mechanisms. Etomidate, a strong antiexcitotoxic agent, stimulates the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. The purpose of this study was to investigate neurobehavioral and histological recovery and to evaluate the biochemical responses to treatment of experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats with etomidate or methylprednisolone (MP) or both etomidate and MP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-two rats were randomly allocated into six groups: a control group (laminectomy alone), a trauma group (laminectomy+trauma), a methylprednisolone group (30 mg/kg MP), an etomidate group (2 mg/kg), a methylprednisolone and etomidate combined treatment group (30 mg/kg MP and 2 mg/kg etomidate) and a vehicle group. Six rats from each group were killed at the 24th hour after the injury. Malondialdehyde, glutathione, nitric oxide and xanthine oxidase levels were measured. Neurological functions of the remaining rats were recorded weekly. Six weeks after injury, all of those rats were killed for histopathological assessment. RESULTS: Etomidate treatment revealed similar neurobehavioral and histopathological recovery to MP treatment 6 weeks after injury. Combined treatment did not provide additional neuroprotection. CONCLUSION: Etomidate treatment immediately after spinal cord injury has similar neuroprotection to MP. In spite of different neuroprotection mechanisms, combined treatment with MP and etomidate does not provide extra protection.     

Blocked Atrial Bigeminy Presenting with Bradycardia

Blocked premature atrial contractions can cause bradycardia by resetting sinoatrial node and prolonging the RR intervals. Herein, we report the management of a patient with frequent premature atrial contractions in bigeminal pattern. The patient presented with symptomatic bradycardia and was successfully treated with propafenone.