Nutritional Deficiencies in Morbid Obese Patients Before and After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Background:This study aims to assess the prevalence of preoperative and postoperative nutritional deficiencies and associated factors in patients who are eligible for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.Methods:Patients who underwent primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between December 2018 and April 2020 were included in the study. All patients were screened by detailed laboratory tests pre- and post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy 6th and 12th months. Patients’ data, which were recorded prospectively, were analyzed retrospectively.Results:A total of 228 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 39 ± 11.5 (60% female), and the mean body mass index was 41.2 ± 6.3 kg/m². In the preoperative period, anemia was detected in 20 female patients (9%), low ferritin levels were detected in 25%, B12 and folic acid deficiencies were detected in 2.6% and 12.3%, respectively, and vitamin D deficiency was detected in 76% of the patients. During the postoperative follow-up, 77% of the patients received multivitamin supplements regularly. Mean body mass index regressed to 27.1 ± 4.2 kg/m² in the first year. Incidence of anemia was found at 4.8%, low ferritin levels were 14%, folate deficiency was 5.3%, B12 deficiency was 5.3%, and vitamin D deficiency was 25% in the 12th month. Vitamin A, zinc, biotin, and thiamine deficiencies were 8.8%, 6.6%, 11%, and 2.2% in the 12th month, respectively.Conclusion:In the preoperative period, we detected significant deficiencies in some vitamins. The incidence of de novo vitamin ­deficiency during post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy follow-up was low. Regular multivitamin–multimineral use may have an effect on this.     

Corneal densitometry in patients with arcus senilis and its correlation with serum lipid levels

Purpose:To evaluate corneal densitometry (CD) of patients with arcus senilis (AS) and its association with the serum lipid markers.Methods:This is a cross-sectional, case-control study. The AS diagnosis was made clinically. Forty-five eyes of 45 patients with AS and 38 eyes of 38 age-matched control subjects with no noticeable AS were enrolled in the study. All participants underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination along with corneal Scheimpflug imaging with CD measurement. The evaluated serum lipid markers of the participants included total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The Spearman correlation analysis was used to correlate the serum lipid values and the CD. P < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant.Results:The male to female ratio was 26/19 and 14/24 in the study and control groups, respectively (P = 0.057). The mean age was 59.56 ± 8.7 and 56.47 ± 8.6 years in the study and control groups, respectively (P = 0.117). The mean total CD values in the zones extending from 2 to 12 mm were higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The serum HDL level was found to be significantly decreased in the study group compared to the control group (P = 0.048 and Z = −1.976). There was a significant positive correlation between the serum triglyceride level and the CD value of the outermost zone (10–12 mm) (r = 0.334 and P = 0.025).Conclusion:The CD of patients with AS was found to increase not only in the peripheral zone but also in the cornea’s paracentral zone compared to the healthy controls. The serum triglyceride level should give an insight into the intensity of arcus senilis. The serum HDL levels were decreased in patients with AS.     

A Case of Distal Vaginal Agenesis Presenting with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection and Pyuria in a Prepubertal Girl

Background

Isolated distal vaginal agenesis is a rare anomaly and mostly becomes symptomatic after menarche. We describe an unusual presentation of this anomaly in a prepubertal girl.

Pars plana vitrectomy and removal of the internal limiting membrane in the treatment of chronic macular oedema

Background To evaluate the results of pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in eyes with chronic macular oedema.Methods PPV with indocyanine green (ICG) assisted peeling of the ILM was performed in 33 eyes with diabetic (21 eyes) or non-diabetic (12 eyes) macular oedema. Postoperatively, resolution of macular oedema, improvement of visual acuity (VA) and complications were documented. The peeled membranes were submitted for light and transmission electron microscopic evaluation.Results The mean follow-up time was 12.2 months. The macular oedema decreased or was resolved in 17 (81%) eyes in the diabetic group and in 11 (92%) eyes in the non-diabetic group. VA improved by at least 2 lines in 11 (52%) eyes in the diabetic group and in 7 (58%) eyes in the non-diabetic group. The difference between visual acuity improvements of the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, in the diabetic group the difference of visual improvement between cystoid and diffuse type of macular oedema eyes was statistically significant (14% versus 71%, P=0.02). Light and transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of ILM in all specimens. During the follow-up period no recurrence of macular oedema or epiretinal membrane formation was observed.Conclusion Pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the ILM and epiretinal membrane leads to the resolution of macular oedema in the majority of eyes. This however, is not always associated with VA improvement. In diabetic eyes, cystoid type of macular oedema appears to be a poor prognostic factor for improved VA.     

How to evaluate the patient with a suspected mast cell disorder and how/when to manage symptoms

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The Safety of Isotretinoin Treatment in Patients with Peanut Allergies

BackgroundIsotretinoin, the gold standard treatment for nodulocystic acne vulgaris, is contraindicated in patients with a soy allergy. Due to potential cross-reactivity, a history of peanut allergy is listed as a contraindication to isotretinoin use in some countries.ObjectiveWe sought to further evaluate the safety of isotretinoin use in patients with peanut allergy.MethodsUsing Epic’s SlicerDicer, patients were identified with both an allergy to peanuts and history of isotretinoin use for treatment of acne vulgaris. Clinical manifestation to peanut exposure, peanut-specific skin prick and/or IgE testing, and adverse reactions to isotretinoin use were recorded via chart review and phone interviews.ResultsTen patients were identified having both a peanut allergy and treatment for acne vulgaris with isotretinoin. All patients tolerated isotretinoin without evidence of allergy.ConclusionIsotretinoin use did not result in allergic eruptions in patients with a known peanut allergy, however, more robust clinical studies are needed to confirm the extent of its use in this patient population.     

A New Insight Into Pathophysiological Mechanism of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Novel Parameters Salusin-β and Arterial Stiffness

BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has risk factors similar to those of atherosclerosis. Salusin-β and arterial stiffness are novel parameters that have been shown to predict atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders. However, their predictive value for detecting AAA remains unclear.MethodsForty-eight patients with AAA and 47 age- and sex-matched participants without AAA were enrolled in the study. Arterial stiffness parameters were obtained via an oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph PWA Monitor device (IEM GmbH) with integrated ARCSolver software (Australian Institute of Technology). Plasma salusin-β levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reagent kit (Abbkine, Inc). The measured salusin-β levels and arterial stiffness parameters of the AAA and control groups were compared.ResultsSalusin-β levels were significantly lower in patients with AAA (P = .014). There was a significant negative correlation between salusin-β levels and abdominal aorta diameter. No significant difference was detected between AAA and control groups in terms of arterial stiffness parameters (P > .05). In backward multiple regression analysis, the presence of AAA, platelet count, and augmentation index were found to be independent predictors of salusin-β levels (P = .006 and P = .023, respectively).ConclusionArterial stiffness parameters were not found to be associated with AAA. Contrary to previous results regarding atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders, salusin-β levels were found to be lower in patients with AAA. Although AAA is thought to have similar risk factors as atherosclerosis, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear.