Is auditory function affected after Le Fort I osteotomy?

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes to the Eustachian tube and middle ear function and hearing level in individuals undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy. 20 consecutive patients underwent Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy with advancement, impaction or a combination of both. All individuals underwent hearing sensitivity tests, including pure tone audiometry and acoustic impedance measurements (middle ear pressure and compliance), which were carried out by an audiologist 1 week before surgery (t(0)), and then again 1 week (t(1)) and 4 weeks (t(2)) after surgery. Regarding pure tone audiometry, the differences between t(0) and t(2) at a frequency of 125Hz (P=.002), between t(0) and t(1) and between t(0) and t(2) at a frequency of 250Hz, and between t(0) and t(1) at a frequency of 1000Hz (P=.006) were statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference at any other frequency. Regarding middle ear pressure, no statistically significant difference was observed between t(0) and t(1), and t(0) and t(2). Following Le Fort I osteotomy, mild changes in hearing sensitivity and middle ear pressure are possible, but these changes were clinically insignificant.     

Two-suture fish-mouth end-to-side microvascular anastomosis with fibrin glue

The most decisive step during free tissue transfers and replantation surgery may be respected as microvascular anastomosis. The conventional end-to-side anastomosis technique with simple interrupted sutures is well established and proven to be successful. On the other hand, conventional technique can be time consuming and can cause vascular thrombosis, vessel narrowing, and foreign-body reactions. Search for a more rapid and secure alternative to conventional technique is carried on. In this study, we defined a new technique for end-to-side anastomosis with fish-mouth incisions and application of fibrin glue and compared our results with those we obtained with conventional end-to-side anastomosis. We evaluated end-to-side anastomosis of carotid arteries of a total number of 64 Wistar-Albino rats. In control group (n = 32), conventional anastomoses with 8 to 10 sutures were performed. In experimental group (n = 32), fish-mouth incisions were applied first on the recipient artery, followed by performing anastomosis with only 2 corner sutures and applying commercially available fibrin glue. Time taken to perform the anastomosis was significantly shorter with the experimental group (P = 0.001), whereas early and late patency and aneurysm rates were comparable to those achieved with control group. Histological evaluation did not point out any significant differences between the groups. We have defined a rapid and safe alternative technique of end-to-side anastomosis with the use of fibrin glue. This method may be an alternative especially where multiple anastomoses are required or where it is difficult to approach anastomotic line, as it is easily performed, rapid, safe, and not involving any complex equipments.     

A case of cellulitis causing tissue defect during etanercept therapy

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists are employed increasingly during recent years in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Contraindications such as infections, auto-antibody formation and hypersensitive reactions can be observed during the treatment with TNF-α antagonist drugs. Our case was a 52-year-old woman, followed by several centers for a period of 21 years with a seropositive, erosive and nodular RA diagnosis. Anti TNF-α treatment was commenced due to the failure to control the disease. During the treatment, a serious cellulite developed, which required hospitalization and surgical debridement as well as intravenous antibiotics treatment. Through the present case, we aimed to draw attention to the skin infection during the use of etanercept in a patient with RA.     

The effect of local corticosteroid injection on F-wave conduction velocity and sympathetic skin response in carpal tunnel syndrome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of steroid injection for the treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), with F-wave parameters and sympathetic skin response (SSR). Seventeen hands of 10 women patients were treated with local steroid injection with 2-month follow-up. All patients underwent single injection into the carpal tunnel. Response to injection was measured nerve conduction studies (NCSs), median nerve F waves, and SSR before and after treatment. To determine the normal values, 42 hands of 21 healthy women were also studied. There was a significant improvement of sensory and motor nerve conduction values when compared to baseline values (P < 0.01). At the end of follow-up period, the median sensory distal latency and the sensory latency differences between the median and the ulnar nerve were improved 35 and 65%, respectively. The maximum, mean F-wave amplitudes and chronodispersion showed a slight improvement with respect to baseline values and controls, but statistical significance was not achieved after treatment. Although no statistically significant improvements were observed in SSR parameters, slightly decreased amplitudes and increased habituation of SSR were noted at the end of the treatment. The present study shows that the local steroid injection results in improvement in NCSs values, but the F-wave parameters were not effectual in short-term outcome of CTS treatment. These findings suggest that the sensory latency differences between the median and the ulnar wrist-to-digit 4 are better parameters in the median nerve recovery after treatment than the median sensory distal latency. Furthermore, the SSR does not seem to be a sensitive method in follow-up of CTS treatment.     

Prevalence and molecular analysis of β-thalassemia in Adiyaman, Turkey

Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders in the Mediterranean region. We report here the results of a premarital screening carried out in Ad?yaman in the southeastern region of Turkey, a region with a hitherto unknown incidence of β-thalassemia (β-thal). In order to detect β-thal carrier frequency and genotypes of carriers from the city of Ad?yaman, Turkey, both high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the red blood cell counts of 1616 people who applied for premarital tests were analyzed. Blood cell counts were measured by a cell counter and the hemoglobin (Hb) fractionation was carried out by HPLC. The frequency of β-thal carriers in the city of Ad?yaman was 1.91% and the frequency of abnormal Hbs was 0.07%. We report 28 chromosomes of β-thal traits with 10 different mutations, including the first report of codon 17 (AAG>TAG) in Turkey and one individual who was heterozygous for Hb D-Los Angeles [β121(GH4)Glu→Gln, GAA>CAA]. This study was the first to be performed on the frequency and molecular pathology of β-thal mutations in Ad?yaman in the southeastern region of Turkey. We report that the prevalence of the thalassemia trait is similar in all regions of our country, but the prevalence of mutation heterogeneity varies from region to region.     

Quantitative evaluation of right ventricle function by transthoracic echocardiography in childhood congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension

Introduction and Objective: The present study aims to quantitatively evaluate the right ventricle (RV) function by means of transthoracic echocardiography in normal children and childhood congenital heart disease patients with pulmonary hypertension. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in a cohort including 40 healthy children and 30 pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension who were diagnosed under close surveillance at the study center between October 2009 and November 2010. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the patient and control groups for the right ventricle myocardial performance index (RVMPI), the left ventricle myocardial performance index (LVMPI), the tricuspid valve systolic flow velocity (Ts), the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery pressure to the right ventricle outflow tract systolic flow velocity time integral (sPAP/RVOT VTI), and the ratio of systolic pulmonary artery pressure to right ventricle outflow tract systolic flow velocity time integral × heart rate (sPAP/[RVOT VTI×HR]). When the children were divided into three groups based on their pulmonary vascular resistance significant differences emerged that predicted an increasing severity of RV dysfunction. Significant differences were also observed for the RVMPI, the LVMPI, and the Ts as well as for echocardiographic pulmonary flow (Qp) and systemic flow (Qs). Discussion: The present study demonstrates that echocardiographic parameters can be used for the quantitative detection of RV dysfunction in childhood congenital heart disease patients with high pulmonary artery pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean) or pulmonary vascular resistance.     

Parapharyngeal chordoma: A diagnostic challenge and potential mimic of pleomorphic adenoma on fine‐needle aspiration cytology

Chordomas are rare tumors that are usually located in the sacrococcygeal and sphenooccipital region. Their cytologic diagnosis is rather straightforward when sampled by fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) from these characteristic locations, especially when physalipherous cells are present. However, chordomas may pose difficult diagnostic challenges when encountered in unusual locations, such as the parapharyngeal region. We report the cytologic findings of a recurrent chordoma sampled through transoral FNA from the parapharyngeal space of a 66‐year‐old woman. As the prior history of chordoma was not available during the rapid onsite evaluation, the presence of bland epithelioid nonvacuolated cells and spindle cells intimately admixed with a fibrillary, intensely metachromatic material led to an initial diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. Review of the patient's prior pathology specimen and of the Papanicolaou‐stained smears and cellblock sections showing rare multivacuolated (physalipherous) cells led to the correct diagnosis, which was supported by immunoperoxidase stains (cytokeratin AE1/AE3+, S100+, GFAP?). A review of the literature found no previous instances in which chordomas mimicked pleomorphic adenoma on FNA. However, since the two tumors show significant cytomorphologic overlap, including the presence of abundant fibrillary matrix with embedded neoplastic cells and single bland spindle and epithelioid tumor cells with occasional intranuclear pseudoinclusions, we compared their cytologic features. A review of the FNA cytologic features of this case of chordoma and of 17 consecutive cases of pleomorphic adenoma found that the presence of a more abundant, focally vacuolated cytoplasm favors chordoma over pleomorphic adenoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.