Circadian pattern of spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported a circadian variation of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, there is no detailed information of the daily distribution of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) episodes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the daily distribution of episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. MATERIAL/METHODS: We used data stored by last-generation implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) to retrospectively evaluate the circadian distribution of VT and VF in 70 patients with ICD. The distribution of tachyarrhythmias was categorized into four time zones: zone 1 (06:00-11:59), zone 2 (12:00-17:59), zone 3 (18:00-23:59), and zone 4 (00:00-05:59). RESULTS: During a follow-up of a mean of 3.1+/-1.3 years, a total of 791 ventricular arrhythmias were recorded from which 631 events were VT and 160 VF. A circadian variation of episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmia was evident. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia sharply increased in zone 1 (8.82+/-2.13, p<0.0001). Episodes of VT had peaks in zones 1 and 2 (7.44+/-2.03 and 2.70+/-0.65, p<0.001) and episodes of VF had peaks in zones 1 and 4 (1.38+/-0.39 and 1.30+/-0.51, p<0.011). No difference was observed between patients who used betablocker and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias have a circadian distribution. VT peaks occur in the morning and noon hours and VF peaks occurs at the night and morning hours. Betablocker and/or amiodarone usage do not alter this distribution.     

Intraoperative localisation and management of coronary artery fistula using transesophageal echocardiography.

Coronary artery fistula is a rare congenital malformation that can be complicated by intracardiac shunts, endocarditis, myocardial infarction, coronary aneurysm and sudden death. Clinical symptomatology depends upon the underlying anatomy and the size of the fistulous connection between the left or right side of the heart. We report the successful management of a giant right coronary artery with fistulization into the right atrium. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography with colour flow Doppler was used for precise location of the fistulous communication, selective demonstration of vessels feeding the fistula and documentation of abolition of fistulous flow all without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Furthermore the effect of shunt occlusion on regional wall motion was documented which facilitated the successful ligation of the fistula.     

Chest trauma in children.

OBJECTIVES: Chest trauma in childhood is uncommon in clinical practice. The management and treatment principles of children with thoracic trauma were discussed with the data reported in the literature. METHODS: Of the chest injury diagnosed in 1653 patients, 225 were children in the last 17-year period. There were 199 boys (88.44%) and 26 girls (11.55%). The most common causes were blunt injuries in 135 cases (60%), stab wounds in 67 cases (29.77%) and gunshot wounds in 22 cases (9.77%). RESULTS: Out of 225, 217 patients were treated conservatively and eight patients were treated surgically. There was no mortality and morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chest trauma in children due to blunt injuries is high in Turkey. Extremity injury is thought to be the most commonly associated extra-thoracic injury. However, thoracic trauma in children can be managed conservatively in most of the cases.     

Comparison between pulmonary and hepatopulmonary hydatidosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical features and the surgical approaches between single pulmonary (SPH) and hepatopulmonary hydatidosis (HPH). METHODS: The hospital and follow-up records of 141 patients who had undergone surgery for pulmonary hydatidosis in our clinic between January 1991 and January 2001 were reviewed. Forty-nine patients (34.8%) had concomitant liver cysts in addition to the pulmonary cysts and they were regarded as HPH (Group I). The remaining 92 (65.2%) patients had SPH (Group II). Both groups were compared according to their clinical, radiological and surgical features. RESULTS: Seventeen (34.7%) male and 32 (65.3%) female patients had HPH. The mean age of the patients with HPH was significantly higher than the age of those with SPH (P<0.05) and the frequency of hepatopulmonary localization, which is contrary to single pulmonary cyst, was significantly higher in females (P<0.05). The majority (67.3%) of the cysts located in the liver were solitary. Multiple pulmonary cysts were in higher ratio in Group II, compared to Group I (45.7 vs. 22.8%) and bilateral pulmonary cyst ratio was higher in Group II, as well (26.5 vs. 13%) (P<0.05). In 14 patients (28.6%), the concomitant cysts localized in the dome of liver were extirpated via right thoracophrenotomy, and in one of them sternophrenotomy was performed. There was no statistically significant difference associated with the postoperative complications and hospital stay between groups. No recurrence and mortality were recorded in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-organ localizations (especially liver) should be examined in all patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts. HPH is more frequent in female patients over 40 years of age. The pulmonary cysts in HPH show a tendency to be bilateral and multiple. HPH should be regarded as a different entity since it can cause either economic or labour loss due to the multi-operations and prolonged postoperative care. The operative strategy and approach should be different in hepatopulmonary cysts especially if they locate in the right or bilateral lung. One-session operation with the improvements of its techniques and methods should be considered in selected cases.     

Mesoatrial shunts for Budd-Chiari syndrome and inferior vena cava thrombosis: angiographic and hemodynamic evaluations

When inferior vena caval obstruction complicates the Budd-Chiari syndrome, conventional portosystemic shunts are not possible. The mesoatrial shunt has been devised to enable portal and sinusoidal decompression in these patients. Findings in 12 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome and inferior vena caval obstruction in whom a mesoatrial shunt was performed are reported. Preoperative inferior vena cavography with pressure measurements is essential to determine the appropriate shunt procedure. Postoperatively, shunt patency is assessed with superior mesenteric arterial portography. Where possible, transvenous catheterization of the shunt is performed to confirm patency and assess hemodynamic function.     

Reconstructive options in severe cases of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hidradenitis suppurativa</Emphasis>

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory disease of apocrine glands characterized with abscesses and nodular lesions. The treatment of Hidradenitis suppurativa consists of topical antibacterial or antiseptic solutions, systemic antibiotics, steroids, hormonal therapy, anti-tumor necrosis factor, and various surgical procedures. In this report, we present a series of 14 cases with severe Hidradenitis suppurativa. Surgical options are reviewed to show the best outcomes in the long term. A total of 14 patients (9 female, 5 male) were treated for advanced cases of Hidradenitis suppurativa. They underwent excision of the affected regions followed by reconstruction. The reconstruction methods consisted of split-thickness skin grafting and various cutaneous and myocutaneous flaps. There was no flap necrosis or dehiscence. One patient developed contracture in the axilla, for which he underwent release surgery. There were recurrences in 4 cases. There was no limitation of the arm movements in cases with flap reconstruction. In the long-term, they were satisfied with the results. In conclusion, incision and drainage should be avoided because it is of limited value. Surgical removal of the involved tissue should be the first treatment of choice. Depending on the defect following excision, local flaps should be preferred over the grafts for recurrence prevention.     

Glycyrrhizic acid improved lipoprotein lipase expression,insulin sensitivity,serum lipid and lipid deposition in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Background  

The metabolic syndrome, known also as the insulin resistance syndrome, refers to the clustering of several risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidaemia is a hallmark of the syndrome and is associated with a whole body reduction in the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), an enzyme under the regulation of the class of nuclear receptors known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a triterpenoid saponin, is the primary bioactive constituent of the roots of the shrub Glycyrrhiza glabra. Studies have indicated that triterpenoids could act as PPAR agonists and GA is therefore postulated to restore LPL expression in the insulin resistant state.     

Equilibrium and Kinetics Characteristics of Copper (II) Sorption onto Gyttja

The sorption characteristics of gyttja to remove copper (Cu²⁺) ions from aqueous solutions were satisfactorily described with the Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin–Redushckevich (D–R) models. The sorption capacity (q _max) of gyttja was 11.76 mg g⁻¹. The D–R model indicated that the sorption of Cu²⁺ by gyttja was almost taken place by chemisorption. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS) suggested that the adsorption process of Cu²⁺ by gyttja was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Kinetic examination of the equilibrium data showed that the sorption processes of Cu²⁺ ions followed well pseudo-second-order kinetics model.