Early-mid term follow-up results of percutaneous closure of the interatrial septal defects with occlutech figulla devices: a single center experience

Background: Percutaneous closure of secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) has gained widespread use in recent years. Herein, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Occlutech® Figulla devices for PFO and ASD closure in a reference tertiary center. Methods: All 143 patients (46.9% male, mean age 39.3 ± 12.2 years) who underwent transcatheter PFO (n = 85) and ASD (n = 58) closure with Occlutech® Figulla devices between February 2009 and October 2011 were included in this study. An echocardiographic follow‐up examination was performed at the 1st, 6th, and 12th month visits. Results: The devices were successfully implanted in all 143 patients (100%). In‐hospital periprocedural complications were device embolization (0.7%; 1 ASD patient), atrial fibrillation (1.4%; 1 ASD and 1 PFO patients), supraventricular tachycardia (0.7%; 1 PFO patient), and vascular access hematoma (0.7%; 1 ASD patient). Among ASD patients, 2 patients had trivial (jet width <1 mm in diameter) and 1 patient had small (1–2 mm) residual shunts before hospital discharge, which disappeared after the 6‐month visit. During the mean 15.4 ± 9.6 months follow‐up, all patients were asymptomatic and no ischemic stroke, cardiac perforation, device erosion, embolization, thrombus formation, or malposition of the device was observed. Conclusions: Percutaneous PFO and secundum type ASD closure with the novel Occlutech® Figulla Occluder devices without left atrial central pin and with significantly reduced meshwork was safe, feasible, and effective. (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:375–381)     

Tyrosinemia type II: Novel mutations in TAT in a boy with unusual presentation

Tyrosinemia type II is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT). It may occur with ocular and cutaneous symptoms with or without mental retardation, but epileptic seizure is a rare presentation of this disease. Herein we report the clinical, biochemical and genetic features of a 4‐year‐old boy who presented with afebrile seizure and photophobia. Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes from the whole family. Sequencing analysis was performed using the MiSeq next‐generation sequencing platform. Sequencing of TAT indicated two new homozygous mutations p.L312P (c.935T>C) and p.T408M (c.1223C>T) for the proband and his asymptomatic sister. During a 2 year follow‐up period, the patient had overall poor compliance with protein‐restricted diet, but his asymptomatic sister had good compliance with the diet. Cognitive function of the patient worsened steadily, but his asymptomatic sister maintained normal mental status. Tyrosinemia type II should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with epileptic seizure and photophobia; furthermore, early diagnosis and protein‐restricted regimen are important to reduce the risk of long‐term complications of tyrosinemia type II such as mental disability.     

Identification of clinical and simple laboratory variables predicting responsible gastrointestinal lesions in patients with iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a frequent disorder. Also, it may be a sign of underlying serious diseases. Iron deficiency points to an occult or frank bleeding lesion when occurred in men or postmenopausal women. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of endoscopy in patients with IDA and to define predictive factors of gastrointestinal (GI) lesions causing IDA. Ninety-one patients (77 women, 14 men; mean age: 43 years) who were decided to have esophago-duodenoscopy and/or colonoscopy for iron deficiency anemia were interviewed and responded to a questionnaire that included clinical and biochemical variables. The endoscopic findings were recorded as GI lesions causing IDA or not causing IDA. Endoscopy revealed a source of IDA in 18.6 % of cases. The risk factors for finding GI lesions causing IDA were as follows: male gender (p= 0.004), advanced age (> 50 years) (p= 0.010), weight loss (over 20% of total body weight lost in last 6 month) (p= 0.020), chronic diarrhea (p= 0.006), change of bowel habits (p= 0.043), epigastric tenderness (p= 0.037), raised carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (normal range: 0-7 ng/mL) (p= 0.039), < 10 gr/dl hemoglobin (Hb) level (p=0.054). None of these risk factors had been present in 21 (23%) women younger than 51 years. In this group, no patient had any GI lesion likely to cause IDA (negative predictive value= 100%). In multivariate analysis, advanced age (p=0.017), male gender (p< 0.01) and weight lost (p=0.012) found that associated with GI lesions in all patients. It may be an appropriate clinical approach to consider these risk factors when deciding for gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation in iron deficiency anemia.     

Clinical outcomes of 25-gauge vitrectomy surgery for vitreoretinal diseases: comparison of vitrectomy alone and phaco-vitrectomy

AIM: To compare the clinical outcomes of combined 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and phacoemulsification/posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL) implantation with vitrectomy alone surgery in patients with various vitreoretinal diseases. METHODS: A total of 306 eyes (145 with PPV alone and 161 with phaco-vitrectomy) were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The surgical approach was 25-gauge PPV combined with phacoemulsification and PC-IOL implantation at the same time in eyes in phaco-vitrectomy group and only PPV in eyes in vitrectomy alone surgery group. The main outcome measures were postoperative clinical outcomes included anterior chamber inflammation, changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: The most common postoperative complication was anterior chamber reaction which has higher incidence in phaco-vitrectomy group (P<0.001). The mean postoperative 1st day IOP of vitrectomy alone group was significantly lower than that of phaco-vitrectomy group (16.3±5.8 mm Hg vs 17.8±8.1 mm Hg, respectively, P=0.02). Hypotony (IOP(8 mm Hg) was not different between groups in the postoperative 1st day (P>0.05). The mean preoperative visual acuity was not different between groups (1.6±0.9 logMAR vs 1.8±0.9 logMAR, respectively, P>0.05). However, the mean visual acuity was decreased in vitrectomy alone group at the final visit compared to phaco-vitrectomy group (1.2±0.8 logMAR, 0.9±0.7 logMAR, respectively P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Twenty-five gauge PPV combined with phacoemulsification surgery is a safe and efficient procedure, which can be preferred in phacic patients with a variety of vitreoretinal diseases compared to vitrectomy alone. Despite improved outcomes, this approach is not free of limitations as anterior chamber complications especially with combined surgery.     

Effect of childbirth education on the perceptions of childbirth and breastfeeding self-efficacy and the obstetric outcomes of nulliparous women*,**,***

Abstract

In this quasi-experimental and prospective study, we aimed to determine the effect of education about childbirth on the perceptions of nulliparous women regarding the experience of childbirth, obstetric outcomes (e.g., type of delivery, use of induction, and instrument-assisted delivery), and breastfeeding self-efficacy. The study population comprised 121 women, of whom 64 and 57 were classified into the education and control groups, respectively. Study data were collected using a participant identification form, the Perception of Birth Scale, Visual Analog Scale, and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form. Compared to the control group, participants in the education group held significantly more positive birth-related perceptions (p?=?0.000) and experienced a lower level of pain during delivery (p?=?0.016). However, education did not affect the obstetric outcomes. During the first month postpartum, a higher level of breastfeeding self-efficacy was reported by mothers in the education group than by those in the control group. In conclusion, systematic childbirth education positively affected the mothers’ perceptions of the childbirth experience and their breastfeeding self-efficacy, but had no effect on the type of delivery or other birth-related obstetric interventions.