Maxillary molar distalization with a bone-anchored pendulum appliance

To obtain an effective and compliance-free molar distalization without an anchorage loss, we designed the bone-anchored pendulum appliance (BAPA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of the anchoring screw, distalization of the maxillary molars, and the movement of teeth anterior to maxillary first molars. The study group comprised 10 patients (mean age 13.5 +/- 1.8 years) with Class II molar relationship. A conventional pendulum appliance was modified to obtain anchorage from an intraosseous screw instead of the premolars. The screw was placed in the anterior paramedian region of the median palatal suture. Skeletal and dental changes were measured on cephalograms, and dental casts were obtained before and after distalization. A super Class I molar relationship was achieved in a mean period of 7.0 +/- 1.8 months. The maxillary first molars distalized an average of 6.4 +/- 1.3 mm in the region of the dental crown by tipping distally an average of 10.9 degrees +/- 2.8 degrees . Also, the maxillary second premolar and first premolar moved distally an average of 5.4 +/- 1.3 mm and 3.8 +/- 1.1 mm, respectively. The premolars tipped significantly distally. No anterior incisor movement was detected. The BAPA was found to be an effective, minimally invasive, and compliance-free intraoral distalization appliance for achieving both molar and premolar distalization without any anchorage loss.     

An infrequent cause of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding: "Dieulafoy's lesion"

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dieulafoy's lesions are uncommon sources of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Endoscopists must be aware of these lesions when evaluating patients with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. METHODOLOGY: The aim of this study is to analyze the results of active bleeding or recurrently bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions treated either by endoscopic injection therapy (EIT) or endoscopic band ligation (EBL). Fifteen patients who had active bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesions were evaluated retrospectively with respect to demographic properties, comorbidities, endoscopic therapy procedures, and the success rate of the procedure. RESULTS: The incidence of Dieulafoy's lesions was 4.5% in all cases of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Among the 15 patients there were nine men and six women with a median age of 52 years (25-84 years). Eleven of these lesions were located in the stomach, two were in the duodenum, and two were in the distal esophagus. Eight patients were initially treated by EIT and seven patients had EBL therapy. There was no recurrent bleeding in any of the patients treated with EBL, but five patients (62.5%) treated with EIT bled again and were treated secondarily with EBL. Two of these patients required surgical intervention and one died on the 15th day of surgery due to myocardial infarction. No endoscopy-related complications were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic methods should be the first choice in treating bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions. Both EIT and EBL are successful methods for achieving initial hemostasis. However, EIT therapy has a higher re-bleeding rate. EBL is a safe and effective method for the treatment of bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions.     

Fusarium oxysporum infection of stasis ulcer: eradication with measures aimed to improve stasis

Fusarium species may cause localised skin infections in immunocompetent individuals. At least half of these infections are preceded by skin breakdown. The lesions are characterised by slow progression and good response to therapy. Here we present a 60‐year‐old non‐diabetic man with stasis ulcers showing Fusarium oxysporum growth in culture of both pus swabs and skin biopsy specimens. The patient was confined to wheelchair because of recurrent sacral chordoma of 15 years duration, which was not under treatment for the last 3 years. Leg ulcers were resistant to antifungal therapy, and healed rapidly after improving of stasis with local and systemic measures.     

Impact of symptom burden and self-efficacy on functional status in advanced breast cancer patients: A path analysis

This correlational study aims at exploring the correlations between symptom burden, functional status, and self-efficacy in advanced breast cancer patients and to analyze their paths of influence. The study was performed with 122 patients with advanced breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy between April 10, 2021 and April 29, 2022. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Functional Living Index-Cancer, and the Symptom Management Self-Efficacy Scale for Breast Cancer Related to Chemotherapy. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Spearman correlation tests and path analysis were used for data evaluation. Less-educated individuals had a higher symptom burden and poorer self-efficacy. Low-income level was related to poor self-efficacy. Symptom severity did not directly influence functional status but affected it indirectly through self-efficacy, while symptom interference and self-efficacy had a direct impact on functional status. This study mainly concludes that symptom burden and self-efficacy affect functional status in advanced breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Self-efficacy-enhancing interventions may be helpful strategies for symptom relief and improvement in functional status in this population.     

Autonomie Dysreflexia in a Man With Multiple Sclerosis

Background/Objective: To report manifestation of autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in a man with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: Case report.

Findings: A young man presented with a history of several admissions to the emergency department with complaints of hypertensive attacks, palpitations, difficulty in breathing, headaches, and flushing. The attacks were attributed to a previously diagnosed anxiety disorder. Onset of numbness of the left leg numbness prompted a more thorough study, which showed evidence of MS. AD was suspected as the cause of his recurrent attacks of hypertension. Bladder distension was identified as the cause of AD, and his hypertensive attacks were controlled by management of neurogenic bladder.

Conclusions: This report emphasizes that AD can occur in MS. Somatic symptoms warrant thorough investigation before attributing them to psychosomatic causes.     

Improved endothelium dependent vasodilation in endurance athletes and its relation with ACE I/D polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Aerobic exercise enhances endothelium-dependent vasodilation in healthy individuals. It is thought that exercise increases nitric oxide (NO) production and decreases NO inactivation, leading to an increase in NO bioavailability. Angiotensin II and NO have important roles in maintaining vascular tone. There are polymorphisms of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the presence of the deletion (D) allele has been associated with higher concentrations of circulating and tissue ACE. In this study, the relationship between endothelial function and ACE gene polymorphisms was investigated in athletes and sedentary subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 56 endurance athletes and 46 sedentary subjects who underwent brachial artery ultrasonographic examination. ACE insertion (I) and D allele frequencies were analyzed in all patients. Baseline brachial artery diameter and resting blood flow were similar in athletes and controls (p > 0.05). The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was 8.48+/-3.65% in athletes and 5.16+/-2.5% in controls (p = 0.0001). FMD was significantly different between ACE genotypes in the athletes (p < 0.0001): it was higher in ACE II (10.5+/-1.6%) subjects than in the DI (8.4+/-2.3%) or DD (7+/-1.2%) subgroups. CONCLUSION: Regular isotonic exercise can improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation especially in those with the ACE II genotype.     

Planned second-look laparoscopy in the management of acute mesenteric ischemia

AIM： To investigate the role of second-look laparoscopy in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia （AMI）.
METHODS： Between January 2000 and November 2005, 71 patients were operated for the treatment of AMI. The indications for a second-look were low flow state, bowel resection and anastomosis or mesenteric thromboembolectomy performed during the first operation. Regardless of the clinical course of patients, the second-look laparoscopic examination was performed 72 h post-operatively at the bed side in the ICU or operating room.
RESULTS： The average time of admission to the hospital after the initation of syrnptoms was 3 d （range, 5 h-9 d）. In 14 patients, laparotomy was performed. In 11 patients, small and/or large bowel necrosis was detected and initial resection and anastomosis were conducted. A low flow state was observed in two patients and superior mesenteric artery thromboembolectomy with small bowel resection was performed in one patient. In 13 patients, a second-look laparoscopic examination revealed normal bowel viability, but in one patient, intestinal necrosis was detected. In two of the patients, a third operation was necessary to correct anastomotic leakage. The overall complication rate was 42.8%, and in-hospital mortality rate was 57.1% （n = 6）.
CONCLUSION： Second-look laparoscopy is a minimally invasive, technically simple procedure that is performed for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. The simplicity and ease of this method may encourage wider application to benefit more patients. However, the timing of a second-look procedure is unclear particularly in a patient with anastomosis.     

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary functions of workers employed in Turkish textile dyeing factories

Dyes are known to be a causative agent of occupational asthma in workers exposed to them. We have evaluated respiratory symptoms among textile workers. The study population comprised 106 exposed workers and a control (unexposed) group. Data were collected by a questionnaire. PFTs (Pulmonary Function Test) were performed. Among the exposed workers 36.8% defined phlegm. Respiratory symptoms were not significantly different between two groups. The employment duration of the exposed workers with phlegm was longer than those without phlegm (p = 0.027). The mean % predicted of FEF(25-75) of the exposed workers was found to be significantly lower than the control (unexposed) group (p = 0.01). Our study suggests that textile dyeing might cause respiratory symptoms in workers.