A strategy for treatment of giant omphalocele

Background  

The management of giant omphalocele (GO) presents a major challenge to pediatric surgeons. Current treatment modalities may result in wound infection, fascial separation, and abdominal domain loss. We report a GO infant who required a delayed closure and was managed using sterile incision drape and polypropylene mesh.     

Hepatitis B core antigen expression pattern reflects the response to anti-viral treatment

BACKGROUND: In hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients, response predictors to current treatment regimens are not well known. Hepatocyte cell cycle may influence hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expression, which is a major target for antiviral immune response. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the role of HBcAg expression in liver tissue and the rate of hepatocyte proliferation in response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: A total of 33 chronic hepatitis B patients (nine HBeAg positive, 24 HBeAg negative) treated with either lamivudine and interferon combined or lamivudine alone were included. Liver expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and HBcAg were immunohistochemically determined. The HBV-DNA levels were measured by a hybrid capture assay. Complete response was defined as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and HBV-DNA negativity. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, 23 patients (67.7%) were responders (12 of 23 were sustained responders), while 10 (33.3%) were non-responders. Age, sex, ALT, HBV-DNA levels, HBeAg status, histological activity, fibrosis scores and PCNA labeling index were similar in responders versus non-responders at baseline. The number of patients with positive HBcAg staining was lower in responders compared to non-responders at the end of treatment (17.4% vs 80%, respectively, P < 0.001), although a similar number of sustained responders and non-responders had positive HBcAg staining. CONCLUSION: Absence or a low level of HBcAg expression may predict the end of treatment response to current therapies, especially in HBeAg (-) patients. The PCNA determination does not predict treatment response.     

The value of urine specific gravity in detecting diabetes insipidus in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus: urine specific gravity in differential diagnosis

When a patient with diabetes mellitus presents with worsening polyuria and polydipsia, what is a sensible, cost-effective approach? We report the unique coincidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. A 46-year-old woman with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes complained of polyuria with a daily output of 5 L. Although urinalysis demonstrated significant glucosuria, diabetes insipidus was suspected owing to a low urine specific gravity (1.008). The low specific gravity persisted during a water deprivation test. Ultimately, diabetes insipidus was confirmed when urine specific gravity and urine osmolality normalized following desmopressin administration. This case emphasizes the importance of accurately interpreting the urine specific gravity in patients with polyuria and diabetes mellitus to detect diabetes insipidus.     

Influence of Heavy Cigarette Smoking on Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Turbulence Parameters

Background: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular events related with several mechanisms. The most suggested mechanism is increased activity of sympathetic nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) has been shown to be independent and powerful predictors of mortality in a specific group of cardiac patients. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of heavy cigarette smoking on cardiac autonomic function using HRV and HRT analyses. Methods: Heavy cigarette smoking was defined as more than 20 cigarettes smoked per day. Heavy cigarette smokers, 69 subjects and nonsmokers 74 subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. HRV and HRT analyses [turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS)] were assessed from 24‐hour Holter recordings. Results: The values of TO were significantly higher in heavy cigarette smokers than control group (?1.150 ± 4.007 vs ?2.454 ± 2.796, P = 0.025, respectively), but values of TS were not statistically different between two groups (10.352 ± 7.670 vs 9.613 ± 7.245, P = 0.555, respectively). Also, the number of patients who had abnormal TO was significantly higher in heavy cigarette smokers than control group (23 vs 10, P = 0.006). TO was correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (r = 0.235, P = 0.004). While LF and LF/HF ratio were significantly higher, standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the 5‐minute mean RR intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and high‐frequency (HF) values were significantly lower in heavy smokers. While, there was significant correlation between TO and SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, LF, and high frequency (HF), only HF was correlated with TS. Conclusion: Heavy cigarette smoking has negative effect on autonomic function. HRT is an appropriate noninvasive method to evaluate the effect of cigarette on autonomic function. Simultaneous abnormal HRT and HRV values may explain increased cardiovascular event risk in heavy cigarette smokers.     

Resolution of late sirolimus-eluting stent thrombosis after tirofiban treatment

A 40-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with acute chest pain. A sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) had been deployed to the circumflex artery (Cx) 3 years before. Now, inferior ST-segment elevations were observed and coronary angiography revealed stent thrombosis with distal TIMI 3 grade flow in the Cx. Tirofiban infusion was administered and the control angiography 2 days later revealed complete resolution of the thrombus. Stent thrombosis is a rare but usually poor prognostic event, frequently associated with large myocardial infarction (MI) or death. Very late drug-eluting stent (DES) thrombosis remains a major problem of interventional cardiology due to its high morbidity and mortality. We conclude that tirofiban may be an interesting candidate drug for treatment of very late stent thrombosis.     

Pericardiacophrenic shunt: imaging finding of rare splenosystemic collateral. Case report

Portosystemic collaterals are the natural consequence of portal hypertension. These collaterals can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Apart from the usual sites, they can develop in some unusual and rare locations. In this report, imaging findings of an unusual venous collateral pathway between spleen and left subclavian vein in a 30-year-old female patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension are presented.     

Management of a fused central incisor in association with a macrodont lateral incisor: a case report

Fusion is developmental anomaly of the dental hard tissue and is defined as the joining of 2 developing tooth germs resulting in a single large tooth structure. Different treatment methods can be used according to the requirements of the situation. The purpose of this case report was to present the multidisciplinary treatment of a patient who had a permanent maxillary left central tooth fused with a supernumerary incisor and a macrodont permanent maxillary right lateral incisor. In the radiographic evaluation, it was determined that the fused tooth had 2 separate roots. The supernumerary tooth was extracted after hemisection, and endodontic treatment was performed on the remaining portion. The distal side of the macrodont lateral incisor was recontoured, and the right central incisor was reshaped with a strip crown to provide aesthetic appearance and to gain space for the alignment of teeth. Following the restoration of the incisors, orthodontic treatment was provided.     

Delayed assessment of the nasolacrimal system at naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures and a modified technique of dacryocystorhinostomy

Nineteen patients between 8 and 65 years of age (mean age 32) who were treated for naso-orbito-ethmoid area traumas and suffering from epiphora were evaluated. The time after the trauma was at least 4 months. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 10 (52.7%) patients who have undergone a surgical procedure for the fractures before. The second group has 9 (47.3%) members who have never been surgically treated after trauma. All of the patients were evaluated with dacryocystography. Obstruction was found to be in the bony nasolacrimal canal in 13 (68.4%) patients. The nasolacrimal canal was intact in six (31.6%) of the patients. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) was essential for five (50%) of the patients in the first group and eight (88.8%) of the patients in the second group. No additional surgical intervention was carried out for nasal deformities of the patients resulting from naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures. Palpebral malposition was present in six (32%) patients. Relief in tear flow was supplied in all patients. Our aim is to compare the outcomes of a modified technique of DCR and incidence of nasolacrimal system injury in patients with naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures and epiphora on whom reduction was or was not carried out. In conclusion, early surgical reduction of naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures should be performed to prevent problems and deformities of the nasolacrimal system.     

Two extreme conditions of xeroderma pigmentosum

Two atypical cases of xeroderma pigmentosum are reported. One of these cases with lung metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma in the first decade of life and the other with late onset disease (XP) in fifth decade of life. Lung metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma in first decade of life in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum has never been reported in the literature to our knowledge. Late onset of the disease in fifth decade is also a rare condition. Clinicians should be more alert for the internal organ metastases to improve the survival of the patients and should never forget that xeroderma pigmentosum has got a wide range of clinical presentation.