An enhanced treatment effect can be expected from a higher serum thyroglobulin level after radioactive iodine therapy

Annals of Nuclear Medicine - The aim of this study was to investigate if increased serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels after radioactive iodine (RAI) showed more therapeutic effects in patients with...     

Changes in retinal vessels related to varicocele: a pilot investigation

The aim of this study was to investigate whether retinal vasculature changes had occurred (retinal artery diameter, retinal vein diameter and artery/vein ratio) in patients with varicocele. This pilot study included 50 healthy subjects with any eye disease apart from slight refractive errors and 55 patients with varicocele. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured and summarised as central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE). Retinal microvascular diameters and the arteriolar–to‐venular ratio (AVR) were assessed with a digital retinal camera. All measurements and calculations were performed using a computer‐based program. The mean CRAE value was 151.8 ± 3.6 μm in the study group and 150.4 ± 4.5 μm in the control group. Mean CRVE value was 209.4 ± 5.9 μm in the study group and 200.1 ± 8.7 μm in the control group. AVR was found 0.72 ± 0.02 in the study group and 0.75 ± 0.03 in the control group. There were significant differences between groups in terms of CRVE and AVR. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of CRAE. The results of this study showed that the patients with varicocele showed significant changes on retinal vascular diameter.     

A comparative analysis of arterial blood flow in unexplained infertility,tubal infertility and fertile groups

We aimed to compare ovarian (O), uterine (U) and spiral (S) artery (A) resistance of patients diagnosed as fertile, unexplained infertility (UI) and tubal factor infertility (TFI) in the peri-implantation period and independent from the impact of the treatment. UI (n?=?70), TFI (n?=?75) and fertile (n?=?72) patients’ ovarian, uterine and spiral artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and the endometrial thickness, serum estradiol and progesterone levels were compared. The specificity and sensitivity values were calculated according to determined cutoff values. Both TFI and control groups’ UA PI values were significantly lower than the UI group’s PI values. The highest UA RI values were found in UI group and the lowest values were in the control group. UI and TFI groups’ OA PI/RI values were significantly higher than the control group. Both the control and TFI groups’ SA PI/RI values were significantly lower than UI group’s PI/RI values. UI patients’ uterine and spiral arteries PI values >1.86 and >0.85, RI values >0.80 and >0.53 can be used as a valuable test showing reduced uterine perfusion. Ovarian artery PI values >0.96 and RI values >0.58 can be used as tests showing decreased ovarian perfusion in patients with TFI. In these patients, embryo cryopreservation can be considered.     

Turkish women's level of knowledge on and attitude toward sexual health

OBJECTIVE: Sexuality is a basic human function that can affect general well-being and overall life quality. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge on and attitude toward sexuality of a subgroup of Turkish women. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey including 1007 women was carried out concurrently in gynecology and urology outpatient clinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey, between January 2003 and December 2003. A self-created questionnaire for data collection was administered to the participants, which addressed questions concerning their sexual life, sexual problems and attitudes towards sexuality. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) was used for the data analysis of the study (SPSS ver. 11.0 Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The data included 1007 patients aged 14-77 (mean: 35.6 +/- 11.1). Among the women assessed, 90.2% were married, 79.8% were premenopausal and 77.1% were currently sexually active. 68.7% entered sexual intercourse 1-2 times per week, while 28.5% had an average of 3-4. 77.8% were aware of experiencing an orgasm and 74.7% had at least one orgasm. Only 21.4% of all women had an orgasm during each sexual intercourse. 2.2% of those who had never experienced an orgasm concurrently applied to a medical center. The average age of first intercourse was 21.3 +/- 4.1 years. CONCLUSIONS: Because there is no national data on sexual health in Turkey, analysis and evaluation of the severity of the problem, and alternatives for international comparisons are not possible. In our opinion, this study presents a valuable perception into the current sexual behavior of Turkish women.     

Lower vitamin D level is associated with poor coronary collateral circulation

Objectives. Vitamin D regulates calcium and bone homeostasis, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Cross-sectional associations between lower vitamin D levels and cardiovascular diseases have been reported, but the relationship between vitamin D levels and collateral arteries in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been reported before. Design. Two hundred and fourteen patients with above 95% stenosis in at least one epicardial coronary artery were consecutively recruited after coronary angiography (CAG) during the winter season. The coronary collateral circulation (CCC) was graded using Rentrop classification. Poor CCC group included patients with Rentrop Grade 0–1 CCC and control group included patients with Rentrop Grade 2–3 CCC. Vitamin D and PTH levels were measured on the day of CAG. Results. In the poor CCC group, vitamin D levels were lower (34 ± 25 pmol/L vs. 49 ± 33 pmol/L; p = 0.01) and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (< 37 pmol/L) was higher (67% vs. 43%; p = 0.01) compared to the controls. PTH levels, calcium, and phosphate levels were not significantly different between the groups. Female gender, lower HDL cholesterol, and lower vitamin D levels were independently correlated with poor CCC in the study population. Conclusion. Lower vitamin D levels may be associated with poor collateral development in patients with stable CAD.     

Change in amputation rate in a Turkish diabetic foot population

Diabetic foot, an important cause of morbidity and mortality, is an important economic problem in all countries. We examined the duration of diabetes, ratio of hospitalization, and the amputation rates of our diabetic foot patients between 1996 and 2002 and compared the results with those obtained between 1985 and 1995. Medical reports of 117 patients with diabetic foot referred to Gazi University Medical Faculty between 1996 and 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age was 61.09+/-10.87 years and mean duration of diabetes was 16.14+/-9.44 years. Sixty-one patients were hospitalized and 56 patients were followed in our outpatient clinic. The mean duration of hospitalization was 45.00+/-18.74 (20-74) days in amputees and 28.95+/-11.61 (10-47) days in the nonamputees (P=.023). The mean age and duration of diabetes were significantly higher in amputees in the present group than that in the previous group. The amputation rate was significantly lower in the group studied between 1996 and 2002 compared to the group followed between 1985 and 1995 (9.4% vs. 21%, respectively, P<.001). Appropriate diabetes education and systematic follow-up in an outpatient clinic may delay preventable diabetic foot lesions and reduce the amputation rate.     

Serum galectin-3 level in systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by progressive fibrosis. Activated fibroblasts are mainly responsible for fibrosis in SSc. Galectin-3, a β-galactoside-binding lectin, plays many important regulatory roles in both physiological and pathological processes including proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the serum galectin-3 levels in patients with SSc. Thirty-seven SSc patients, 23 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (serving as patient control group), and 28 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Disease activity and severity scores were detected with Valentini disease activity index and Medsger disease severity scale in the SSc group and SLE disease activity index and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index in the SLE group. The serum levels of galectin-3, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, and interleukin-6 were determined. Compared to the control group, the galectin-3 levels were higher in the SSc and SLE groups. The galectin-3 levels were not correlated with the disease activity and severity indexes in both patient groups. But, the serum galectin-3 levels were higher in the active SSc and SLE subgroups than in the inactive SSc (4.6?±?5.8 vs. 1.3?±?1.1 ng/ml, p?=?0.015) and SLE (17.4?±?11.3 vs. 6.5?±?8.9 ng/ml, p?=?0.019) subgroups. These results suggest that galectin-3, which is associated with fibrosis and inflammation by previous studies, may be a prominent biomarker of disease activity in SSc.     

The effect of preoperative anxiety on postoperative analgesia and anesthesia recovery in patients undergoing laparascopic cholecystectomy

Purpose

In patients who are hospitalized for surgery, anxiety disorders are frequently observed. Anxiety affects the patient’s perception of postoperative pain and has a negative impact on recovery from anesthesia. This study attempted to compare the effect of preoperative anxiety on postoperative pain control and recovery from anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

A total of 80 patients were enrolled who were undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. Beck’s anxiety ?nventory (BAI) was administered to the patients: patients with anxiety were included in the high-anxious patient group (group H) and patients without anxiety were enrolled in the low-anxious group (group L). Duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, extubation time, and adverse effects were recorded. During the postoperative period, patient-controlled analgesia with tramadol was used for pain control. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and tramadol consumption of all patients were recorded.

Results

Among all patients, 31 (38.75 %) patients had preoperative anxiety, and significant correlation was found between the days of hospitalization and preoperative score of BAI. In group L, extubation time, the time for the modified Aldrete score to reach 9, was seen as significantly shorter and fewer postoperative side effects were determined. Also in group L, postoperative VAS score and tramadol consumption were significantly lower, and less tenoxicam was needed.

Conclusion

A high preoperative anxiety level negatively affects recovery from anesthesia and control of postoperative pain. In this patient group, the increased need for postoperative analgesia must be adequately met.