Evaluation of organochlorine pesticides in breast milk samples in Turkey applying features of the partial order technique

Exposure data to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) of mothers’ breast milk samples were measured in different locations in the Taurus Mountains/Turkey. Villages at five altitudes were looked upon. The data analysis method applied is the Hasse diagram technique, based on Discrete Mathematics. For each of the five regions, one Hasse diagram was calculated and showed the same maximal object, namely, p-p'-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE). In a further data investigation step, we performed the similarity analyses of the locations in order to quantify the similarities and incomparabilities. It was revealed that no correlation exists between most altitudes and the pattern of contamination of breast milk samples. The two lowest situated areas, Sahil at sea level and Ciftlikköy at 121 m above sea level were similar. We reduced the datasets by applying the interval analysis followed by similarity analyses. We observed that endrin (END1), mirex (MIRE), and pentachlorobenzene (PECB) reduce most severely the similarity.     

Intravenous administration of metoclopramide by 2?min bolus vs 15?min infusion: does it affect the improvement of headache while reducing the side effects?

Objective

To determine the therapeutic effect (alleviation of vascular type headache) and side effects of a slow intravenous metoclopramide infusion over 15 min compared with those effects of a bolus intravenous metoclopramide infusion over 2 min in the treatment of patients with recent onset vascular type headache.

Material and methods

All adults treated with metoclopramide for vascular type headache were eligible for entry into this clinical randomised double blinded trial. This study compared the effects of two different rates of intravenous infusion of metoclopramide over a period of 13 months at a university hospital emergency department. During the trial, side effects and headache scores were recorded at baseline (0 min), and then at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the medication''s efficacy and side effects.

Results

A total of 120 patients presenting to the emergency department met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 62 patients (51.7%) were given 10 mg metoclopramide as a slow intravenous infusion over 15 min (SIG group) and 58 patients (48.3%) were given 10 mg metoclopramide intravenous bolus infusion over 2 min (BIG group). 17 of the 58 patients in the BIG group (29.3%) and 4 of the 62 patients (6.5%) in the SIG group had akathisia (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between the BIG and SIG groups in terms of mean headache scores (p = 0.34) and no adverse reactions in the study period. Metoclopramide successfully relieved the headache symptom(s) of patients in both the BIG and SIG groups.

Conclusion

Slowing the infusion rate of metoclopramide is an effective strategy for the improvement of headache and reducing the incidence of akathisia in patients with vascular type headache.     

Comprehensive evaluation of occupational radiation exposure to intraoperative and perioperative personnel from <Superscript>18</Superscript>F-FDG radioguided surgical procedures

Purpose  The purpose of the current study was to comprehensively evaluate occupational radiation exposure to all intraoperative and perioperative personnel involved in radioguided surgical procedures utilizing ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG). Methods  Radiation exposure to surgeon, anesthetist, scrub technologist, circulating nurse, preoperative nurse, and postoperative nurse, using aluminum oxide dosimeters read by optically stimulated luminescence technology, was evaluated during ten actual radioguided surgical procedures involving administration of ¹⁸F-FDG. Results  Mean patient dosage of ¹⁸F-FDG was 699 ± 181 MBq (range 451–984). Mean time from ¹⁸F-FDG injection to initial exposure of personnel to the patient was shortest for the preoperative nurse (75 ± 63 min, range 0–182) followed by the circulating nurse, anesthetist, scrub technologist, surgeon, and postoperative nurse. Mean total time of exposure of the personnel to the patient was longest for the anesthetist (250 ± 128 min, range 69–492) followed by the circulating nurse, scrub technologist, surgeon, postoperative nurse, and preoperative nurse. Largest deep dose equivalent per case was received by the surgeon (164 ± 135 μSv, range 10–580) followed by the anesthetist, scrub technologist, postoperative nurse, circulating nurse, and preoperative nurse. Largest deep dose equivalent per hour of exposure was received by the preoperative nurse (83 ± 134 μSv/h, range 0–400) followed by the surgeon, anesthetist, postoperative nurse, scrub technologist, and circulating nurse. Conclusion  On a per case basis, occupational radiation exposure to intraoperative and perioperative personnel involved in ¹⁸F-FDG radioguided surgical procedures is relatively small. Development of guidelines for monitoring occupational radiation exposure in ¹⁸F-FDG cases will provide reassurance and afford a safe work environment for such personnel.     

Primary echinococcus cyst of the thyroid: a case report

Echinococcosis, although eradicated in many countries, is still widespread in communities where agriculture is dominant. Cystic hydatidosis is a significant public health problem in the regions with endemic echinococcosis. The hydatid cysts tend to form in the liver or lung, but may also be found in other organs of the body such as brain, heart, and bone, while thyroid gland involvement is rather rare. A 25 year old male presented with solitaire goiter. Laboratory tests and thyroid profile proved normal. Surgical exploration revealed hydatid cyst in the left lobe of the thyroid gland. Examination of the nodule showed it to be a solitary primary thyroid hydatid cyst.     

Development of large genital ulcer due to hydroxyurea treatment in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia and Behcet's disease

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease arising from abnormal stem cells and associated with splenomegaly and leukocytosis. Hydroxyurea and interferon alpha are used in treatment very frequently. Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, repetitive disease of unknown etiology and associated with mucocutaneous, ocular, vascular and central nervous system involvement. Cases with symptoms of BD have been reported during interferon alpha treatment of CML. However, similar symptoms due to hydroxyurea treatment have been reported in only one case until now. A 32-year-old female patient under follow up because of CML and BD, developed a large genital ulcer during hydroxyurea treatment. Ulcers due to hydroxyurea treatment and the co-existence of these two diseases has been reported in only one case in the literature while large genital ulcers have not been reported previously.