A qualitative study of the operating room experience of patients who underwent surgery under spinal anesthesia: “It was like an adventure”

This study aimed to explore the experiences of the people who underwent orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia and to report their feelings and thoughts. The study was carried out using a qualitative approach. Twenty‐one patients were interviewed who underwent orthopedic surgery on the first or second postoperative day. Content analysis was performed after the collection of raw data. NVIVO 12 Pro software was used for data analysis. The frequency count (f) and participant codes (P) were used for the presentation of the findings. The themes and frequency counts obtained by analyzing the interviews with the patients were as follows: “Time passed like watching a movie” (f = 213), “Like an adventure” (f = 587), and “See, feel, look” (f = 405). Five of 21 participants (23.8%) stated that they would not recommend spinal anesthesia. The findings generally indicated the anxiety caused by the unknown, fear in the preanesthetic period, operation experienced like an adventure, and a process generally completed with satisfaction.     

Corrective Effect of Verbascoside on Histomorphological Differences and Oxidative Stress in Colon Mucosa of Rats in Which Colon Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury was Induced

BackgroundThis study aims to show the corrective effect of verbascoside on histomorphological and biochemical differences in the colon mucosa of rats in which colon ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury was induced.Methods: Fifty Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into 5 groups, of control, sham, ischemia (I), I/R, and I/R+verbascoside.Ischemia and reperfusion were applied to the suitable groups for 30 minutes and 120 minutes respectively, and 10 mg/kg verbascoside was administered intraperitoneally. Histomorphological assessment was done in the colon tissues obtained, and the goblet cells were assessed using the Alcian blue method. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), TUNEL, and hypoxia-induced factor 1 (HIF-1α) assays were used to assess oxidative stress with the immunohistochemical method. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and total thiol (TT) levels were checked, for a biochemical analysis of oxidative stress.Results: Compared with the I/R group, histomorphological differences were seen to be corrected in colon epithelium in the I/R+verbascoside group. The goblet cell number increased and cell proliferation was increased, as seen with the PCNA assay; and apoptosis was decreased, as seen with the TUNEL assay. HIF-1α expression also decreased in the drug group. In the drug group, SOD, GSH-Px, TAS, and TT levels increased, but TOS, OSI, and MDA levels decreased.Conclusion: It was seen that verbascoside had a corrective effect on histomorphological and biochemical differences caused by I/R injury.     

Increased Circulating Copeptin Levels Are Associated with Vaso-Occlusive Crisis and Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Sickle Cell Anemia

ObjectiveVaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is a common clinical manifestation of sickle cell anemia (SCA) and is associated with increased proinflammatory mediators. Copeptin is the C-terminal part of the prohormone for provasopressin and seems clinically relevant in various clinical conditions. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction significantly appears in SCA patients due to pulmonary hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the association of copeptin levels in VOC patients and evaluate RV dysfunction.Materials and MethodsA total of 108 patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-eight SCA patients in steady state (30.2 ± 0.9 years), 25 SCA patients in VOC (36.8 ± 11.8 years), and 55 healthy individuals (31.9 ± 9.4 years) with HbAA genotype were included. Clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory data were recorded. ELISA was used for the determination of serum levels of copeptin.ResultsVOC patients had significantly higher copeptin level compared both with controls and SCA subjects in steady state (22.6 ± 13.0 vs. 11.3 ± 5.7 pmol/L, 22.6 ± 13.0 vs. 12.4 ± 5.8 pmol/L, p = 0.009 for both). Additionally, the copeptin level was significantly higher in SCA patients with RV dysfunction than those without RV dysfunction (23.2 ± 12.2 vs. 15.3 ± 9.5 pmol/L, p = 0.024). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and copeptin levels were found to be associated with VOC.ConclusionThis study showed that copeptin and hs-CRP levels were increased in patients with VOC, and it was found that RV dysfunction was more common in SCA patients with VOC than in the control group. Copeptin can be considered for use as a potential biomarker in predicting VOC crisis in SCA patients and in the early detection of patients with SCA who have the potential to develop RV dysfunction.     

Evaluation of long-term efficacy,safety, and effect on life quality of pulsed dye laser in rosacea patients

Background: Rosacea is a chronic disease affecting the patients’ life quality negatively. Although various laser systems are used in the rosacea treatment, studies reporting efficacy and long-term continuity of benefit of laser therapies are scarce.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, continuity of benefit, and effect on life quality of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the rosacea patients.

Methods: Fourteen rosacea patients treated with PDL were enrolled in the study. The number of treatment sessions were varied from one to four. The efficacy was evaluated by the physicians’ clinical assessment (PCA), patients’ self-assessment (PSA), and erythema and telengiectasia grading scores. Additionally, the patients were asked about the continuity of the benefit and improvement in their life qualities after the treatment.

Results: Both the erythema and telangiectasia scores were significantly improved after the treatment (p < 0.001). According to PCA, nine patients had a clinical improvement of >50%. According to PSA, 11 patients had good/excellent improvement. Moderate/significant benefit of treatment continued in 12 patients at the follow-up period (mean 21.64 ± 14.25 months). The life quality scores were significantly improved. No serious side effects were observed.

Conclusion: PDL has high and long-term efficacy in the treatment of rosacea with a good safety profile.