Diagnostic utilities of tracheal ultrasound and USB-endoscope for the confirmation of endotracheal tube placement: A cadaver study

Objectives

Confirmation of the endotracheal tube placement (CoETP) has the utmost importance in the management of an airway. Visualization of tracheal rings or carina with a fiber-optical bronchoscope (FOB) has considered to be a reliable method for the CoETP. However, FOB is expensive, time-consuming, and not always practical. Inexpensive endoscopic USB-cameras were shown to aid intubation successfully and reliably. On the other hand, there have been no studies investigating their use for the CoETP. Tracheal ultrasonography (TUS) is also a new, inexpensive and widely available alternative. A cadaver study has planned to evaluate the diagnostic utility of TUS and a USB-camera.

Interrelationship between noninvasive predictors of atherosclerosis: transthoracic coronary flow reserve, flow-mediated dilation, carotid intima-media thickness, aortic stiffness, aortic distensibility, elastic modulus, and brachial artery diameter

BACKGROUND: In this study, we searched for a correlation between transthoracic coronary flow reserve (CFR) and well-established surrogates of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: The study was conducted on 136 healthy subjects (mean age: 39.9 +/- 7.3 years) who were free of coronary risk factors. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to measure the aortic stiffness index (AoSI), aortic distensibility (AoD), and aortic elastic modulus (AoEM). High-resolution ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery endothelium-dependent and independent vasomotion and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). In addition, transthoracic second harmonic Doppler echocardiography was used to measure CFR. RESULTS: All of the parameters significantly correlated with each other except brachial endothelium-independent dilation. CFR correlated significantly with brachial endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) (r = 0.302, P < 0.01), carotid IMT (r =-0.388, P < 0.01), brachial artery diameter (r = 0.340, P < 0.01), AoD (r = 0.275, P < 0.01), AoS (r =-0.299, P < 0.01), and AoEM (r =-0.30,7 P < 0.01). Carotid IMT correlated significantly with brachial EDD and modestly with brachial artery diameter, AoD, AoS, and AoEM.In multivariate analysis, carotid IMT (beta=-0.323, P < 0.0001) and brachial artery diameter (beta = -0.259, P = 0.001) were significant independent predictors of CFR. The left ventricular mass index (beta= 0.371, P < 0.0001), brachial EDD (beta = -0.232, P = 0.002), and CFR (beta = -0.228, P = 0.003) were significant predictors for IMT. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic CFR correlated significantly with well-established noninvasive predictors of atherosclerosis, and we suggest that it can be used as a surrogate for coronary atherosclerosis.     

Short- and long-term effect of simvastatin therapy on the heterogeneity of cardiac repolarization in diabetic patients

The interlead variability of QT interval in the 12-lead electrocardiogram, QT dispersion (QTd), has been shown to reflect dispersion of ventricular refractoriness and may provide a measure of arrhythmogenic potential in diabetic patients. QTd and heart rate corrected QTd (QTcd) were also proposed to be accurate predictors of cardiac death in patients with diabetes. In recent years, experimental and clinical evidence demonstrates that statins exert antiarrhythmic properties. Therefore, in the present study, we have examined whether simvastatin treatment has any effect on the QTd and QTcd in patients with diabetes mellitus. Sixty type 2 diabetic patients without known coronary artery disease and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >100mg/dl and 30 age and sex-matched non-diabetic controls were included in a prospective study. Out of 60 diabetic patients, 30 were treated with simvastatin 40 mg/day for 1 year and the remaining 30 subjects were served as diabetic controls. No lipid lowering therapy was administered to the diabetic and the non-diabetic controls. QTd and QTcd of treated diabetics and the non-diabetic controls were measured at baseline, 6, 12 weeks and at 1 year. QTd and QTcd of the diabetic controls were obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Both QTd and QTcd were significantly greater in patients with the diabetes than in the non-diabetic controls at baseline (52+/-13 ms vs. 41+/-12 ms, p<0.001 and 62+/-17 ms vs. 42+/-11 ms, p<0.001, respectively). Simvastatin therapy significantly decreased both QTd and QTcd at the end of first year compared to baseline (51+/-15 ms vs. 33+/-11 ms, p<0.001 and 60+/-18 ms vs. 38+/-12 ms, p<0.001, respectively). No significant change were found in QTd and QTcd in the non-diabetic (p=0.29 and p=0.87 by ANOVA, respectively) and in the diabetic controls (p=0.72 and p=0.57, by ANOVA, respectively). This study suggests for the first time that simvastatin treatment in diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia is associated with an improvement in the heterogeneity of cardiac repolarization. This may be one of the mechanisms for the reduction in clinical events reported in the survival studies with statins. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted to confirm our findings.     

Risk factors for depression in the first postnatal year

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for depression and to estimate its prevalence in postnatal mothers. METHODS: This cross-sectional and multi-centre study was carried out on 1,350 Turkish women in their first postnatal year. Measures included a structured questionnaire and the Turkish version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS: Of the women, 31.1% had a score of 13 or higher on the EPDS. The mean score and standard deviation was 9.8+/-5.7. In the multivariate analysis, EPDS scores were significantly associated with economic status, access to support from family members and close friends, emotional distress at the pregnancy, whether the pregnancy was planned, health problems during pregnancy, the perceived standard of baby care after delivery, and mental disorder before and during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of EPDS-based depression among Turkish women in postnatal the period was high, and was associated with several social, economic and demographical factors.     

Left Thyroid Lobe Hemiagenesis with Hyperthyroidism: Report of a Case

Thyroidal hemiagenesis resulting from the failure of development of one thyroidal bud to develop accounts for fewer than 0.1% of thyroidal disorders necessitating surgery. This rare congenital anomaly usually occurs on the left side. Any nonfunctional lobe detected by scintigraphy needs to be evaluated further by ultrasonography, because thyroid hemiagenesis is associated with varying degrees of morbidity when it coexists with other anomalies requiring surgical intervention. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with preoperatively diagnosed thyroidal hemiagenesis, who underwent surgery in our clinic. We review the literature in relation to this case, and discuss the problems and complications associated with this unusual congenital anomaly.     

The distribution of symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in school age children in Turkey

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in school age children in Sivas province centre and to examine the distribution of symptoms according to subtypes. Method The study population was made up of 1425 children between the ages of 6 and 15 from eight primary schools selected by random sampling method in Sivas province centre. All students were given a questionnaire prepared according to DSMIV criteria that was completed by their parents or teachers. This form includes 18 symptoms of ADHD and eight symptoms of ODD. Students t-test and variance analysis were used for statistical evaluation. Results A prevalence of 8.1% was found for ADHD in our study. According to subtypes, 32.2% of these were inattentive, 40% were hyperactive and 27.8% were combined type. A prevalence of 11.5% was found for ODD. The boy/girl ratio was > 1 for both ADHD and ODD, and 52.2% of those with ADHD were established as having ODD at the same time. Conclusions The prevalence of ADHD and ODD in primary school children was not considered to be small. Studies concerning the distribution of symptoms in different societies, cultures, and viewpoints and identification of children with this type of problem are beneficial for early diagnosis and prophylactic treatment.     

Polycythemia vera in a 12-year-old girl: a case report

A case of a 12-year-old girl presenting with headache and splenomegaly and fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of polycythemia vera is reported. Her peripheral blood values were as follows: hemoglobin 18 g/dL, red blood cells 7,000,000/mm 3 , white blood cells 22,000/mm 3 , and platelets 1,248,000/mm 3 . Phlebotomy was performed initially but was ineffective. Afterward 100 mg/kg per day aspirin and 30/mg/kg per day hydroxyurea were given. The patient has been asypmtomatic for 1 year and her recent hemoglobin level is 15.5 g/dL, platelet count 922,000/mm 3 , and white blood cell 12,800/mm 3 . Polycythemia vera is an extremely uncommon disease in childhood and for this reason its treatment is not well established.